6th DISTRICT

​

​Seth Moulton

Democratic

U.S. House, Massachusetts 6

 

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?

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I support the policies laid out below as a way to do so.

 

 

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

 

a. Set benchmarking requirements for commercial buildings and encourage cities and states to adopt performance-based standards for buildings

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

c. Provide incentives to states and localities to adopt the most up-to-date energy building codes

d. Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient buildings

e. Require federal buildings to meet aggressive energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets

f. Provide support to states and localities to make buildings more resilient from natural hazards and disasters

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

h. Conduct research into the most promising technologies, products and materials that improve occupant health and reduce transmission of contagious disease while saving energy

i. Support programs or incentives to accelerate the electrification of buildings.

 

 

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?

 

I will continue to push for the type of policies and programs I was proud to vote for in such transformational legislation as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Championing the development of more residential and commercial buildings near transit is a top priority of mine. Through my work on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, being the lead sponsor of the American High-Speed Rail Act (H.R. 7600), and my push for the Massachusetts Rail Link (among other development projects in Massachusetts and across the country), I am a national leader in advocating for sustainable building that will do more to create affordable housing, transit-oriented development, and an equitable economy in the 21st century than almost anything else we can do as a country. I consistently push local government in my state to remove bureaucratic obstacles to the development of more sustainable building in our communities. Also, as part of the annual Appropriations process, I have secured Community Project Funding for projects in my district that are specifically designed to retrofit and upgrade public buildings to make them more energy efficient and sustainable. I also advocate for programmatic funding in the appropriations process for more healthy and sustainable building.

 

 

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

 

I am a strong supporter of the jobs training and apprenticeship provisions in the IRA, IIJA, and the CHIPS and Science Act. I consistently advocate for increased funding for jobs training and apprenticeship programs through the annual appropriations process. I am also proud to support legislation that would increase apprenticeship, such as H.R. 3179 (Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act of 2023) and H.R. 3816 (Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship Act).

 

 

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. I have an open door policy and regularly meet with stakeholders from the construction and development industries, including labor. I meet regularly with officials across Congress, federal agencies, the Massachusetts state government, and public-private partnerships to push for more development projects.

 

 

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.)?

 

I recently joined the House "YIMBY Caucus" to help advocate for sustainable building policies. As noted above, I am a national leader in fighting for the creation of sustainable development through projects such as the Massachusetts Rail Link, Massachusetts East-West Rail, nationwide High Speed Rail, and numerous other development projects that will jumpstart sustainable building across Massachusetts and the entire country.