5TH DISTRICT

​

Jerico Matias Cruz

Independent

U.S. House, Illinois 5

 

1.         WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT CONGRESS CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF BUILDINGS TO HELP MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE?

 

We support the renewal and expansion of tax incentives for green energy efficient commercial and industrial buildings for real estate developers, landlords and business owners , including tax rebates for residential homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements.

 

2. WHICH SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT AND WOULD WORK TO ENACT IF ELECTED?

 

We support all of them, but mainly the tax incentives.

 

3.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?

 

We support tax incentives for all Americans regardless of socioeconomic status. 

 

4.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO TRAIN AND PREPARE PEOPLE FOR CLEAN ENERGY JOBS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND BUILDING COMPONENTS?

 

We support the professional and continuing education programs for adults in the City Colleges of Chicago under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act signed into law on July 22, 2014. Any residents and adults who meet the financial requirements to enroll into the professional and continuing education programs with the City Colleges of Chicago, the City Colleges of Chicago will enroll, register and train any Chicago residents and adults to any green energy education programs that are currently being offered per semester at no cost.

 

5.         ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING SECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS IS PART OF THE POLICY DEBATE IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING JOINING CAUCUSES THAT ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES? IF YES, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

 

Yes, we support the improvement of the Building Codes nationwide to integrate the energy efficient and/or green technologies that are being developed by promising green and/or clean energy technology companies. 

 

6.         DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS (E.G., SUPPORTING LEGISLATION IN ELECTED OFFICE, MADE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO A HOME, OFFICE, COMMUNITY-WIDE, ETC.)?

 

Please visit my website.

​

​

Mike Quigley (Incumbent)

Democratic

U.S. House, Illinois 5

 

1.         WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS THAT CONGRESS CAN HELP TO REDUCE THE ENERGY AND WATER CONSUMPTION OF BUILDINGS TO HELP MAKE THEM MORE SUSTAINABLE?

 

The role of Congress in modernizing our country’s construction of buildings to make them energy and water efficient is to begin incorporating these practices at the federal level and commercializing them into the future. Through the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, the EPA received $100 million to identify and label low-carbon construction material for federal buildings. Additionally, the GSA Federal Buildings Fund received $2.15 billion to acquire and install low-carbon building materials.

At the residential level, the Inflation Reduction Act provided funding to make homes more energy efficient, further commercializing and ensuring that energy efficient projects are affordable, not expensive, specialty products that only some companies can access.

Congress can also incentivize innovation by creating tax credits for the utilization of green energy technologies. In the 116th Congress, the House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act which included tax incentives for energy-efficient buildings.

 

2. WHICH SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT AND WOULD WORK TO ENACT IF ELECTED?

 

b. Provide rebates to homeowners who invest in energy efficiency improvements

d. Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient buildings

g. Invest in the retrofitting of schools, community centers, libraries and other civic buildings to improve occupant safety and reduce energy consumption, especially in underserved communities

 

3.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ENSURE THAT ALL AMERICANS, REGARDLESS OF SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, ARE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS?

 

We cannot protect our environment and create a sustainable future without ensuring every person has equal access to clean energy. This means centering our conversations about the future of our environment around those who have historically been harmed by fossil fuel energy and discriminatory environmental destruction. I was proud to support a 40% investment tax credit for solar and wind projects in low-income communities and a 20% investment tax credit for facilities in low-income residential housing as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

I promise to continue my work in this space to ensure a just transition to clean energy for all of our communities. That’s why I’m a cosponsor of the Environmental Justice For All Act which focused on ways to guarantee that marginalized communities have autonomy over the decisions being made in their neighborhoods.

 

4.         IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO TRAIN AND PREPARE PEOPLE FOR CLEAN ENERGY JOBS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS AND BUILDING COMPONENTS?

 

Skilled craftspeople are critical to our clean energy transition, whether that means retraining the workers at coal plants to be able to work at clean energy power plants. This will include increased support of job training programs at the Department of Labor and providing financing options for young people wishing to enter into the trade through the Department of Education.

 

5.         ARE YOU WILLING TO WORK WITH THE BUILDING SECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT TRANSFORMING BUILDINGS IS PART OF THE POLICY DEBATE IN CONGRESS, INCLUDING JOINING CAUCUSES THAT ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING POLICIES? IF YES, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?

 

Like all issues that impact my constituents, I welcome first-hand knowledge from the communities most affected by sustainable building policies. As we discuss sustainable building policies, I hope to have voices from the building sector involved in the conversation. Additionally, I hope to hear from environmental organizations, labor groups, and any other stakeholders who can provide their expertise. 

 

6.         DO YOU HAVE ANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS (E.G., SUPPORTING LEGISLATION IN ELECTED OFFICE, MADE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO A HOME, OFFICE, COMMUNITY-WIDE, ETC.)?

 

Since beginning my time in Congress, I have advocated for legislation that would improve sustainable buildings. In 2011, I visited one of the highest-scoring residential LEED for Homes projects, which was also one of the first net-zero energy homes in Chicago. As a Cook County Commissioner, I helped draft and pass an ordinance requiring LEED certification of all county buildings. I’m also the sponsor of the Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act which would ensure that federal buildings be updated with bird-safe building materials to prevent migratory bird species from unnecessary death.

​