Where Missouri Candidates Stand

In Focus

Election 2022:

Where Candidates for Congress Stand

Missouri

3rd District

6th District

7th District

3RD DISTRICT

Bethany Mann

Democratic

U.S. House, Missouri 3

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?

Renew and expand tax incentives and grants to ease the upfront cost for building owners and businesses to adopt sustainability measures to decrease or optimize energy usage and reduce carbon footprint. Give lower-income homeowners grants and tax rebates to update their HVAC or electrical to improve energy efficiency, Fully fund local and state measures to update school and library infrastructure, including air and water quality. Fully fund public schools, and include green job training as secondary education in coordination with community resources like trade centers and technical/community colleges. All funding should be equitable, so that rural or low-income communities get their fair share of resources.

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?

Improve community infrastructure like schools (from pre-k to secondary education) and libraries, particularly in rural or low-income communities. Lower utility costs through grants and programs to make energy more efficient and affordable for working families. I would make sure that programs available to lower-income households get properly communicated to families by working with state House candidates within my district.

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 think that providing secondary education that includes the option for trade school through a community college, trade program, or labor apprenticeship at no cost would provide incentive for students to choose energy jobs. Supporting pro-union initiatives like fair wages, prevailing wage, and safer working conditions would uphold the quality pay necessary to retain workers in this industry. Advocating for more STEM education in public schools at an earlier age would encourage younger students to think about jobs in this field at a younger age.

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 would work with colleagues, as well as consult with scientists and engineers in government agencies to come up with practical solutions and proper messaging for these programs. My professional experience as a chemist with electrical, mechanical, and computer science experience makes me uniquely qualified to speak to complex issues simply.

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 have experience helping public and private laboratories find greener ways of doing chemistry that do not require hazardous materials or chemicals. Sometimes, this means upgrading equipment that works more energy efficiently. I have worked on projects with the EPA to remotely monitor water nutrients in algal blooms using green chemistry, remote sensing, and solar energy.

3

6TH DISTRICT

Andy Maidment

Libertarian

U.S. House, Missouri 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?

Get out of the way. When Congress takes action and mandates policies it creates market distortions. The solutions Congress chooses are typically the best solution right now and ignore potential future developments. Rarely does Congress have the foresight to provide for better alternatives in the future and too often it leaves decision making power on those solutions in the hands of bureaucrats who are easily swayed to a particular course of action. Often, Congress and/or bureaucrats choose solutions that are best for one or a few regions but terrible for others. Enforcing these mandates comes with an economic cost larger than the potential benefit through market inefficiency and, of course, tax burdens. Most people and businesses want to be efficient and will choose to be so when building new, replacing, or upgrading, as long as they are able. More market distortions means less capital in their hands, and that means they are slower to adopt because they must use what they already have. The best thing Congress can do is get out of the way and let States and the market decide the best solutions.

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

Renew and expand tax incentives for energy efficient 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?

This is not a proper function of the Federal government. The Federal government can best ensure this by getting out of the way of the States and the market.

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

This is a State/Local policy. The Federal government has no Constitutional authority to create policy in regards to education or training, except as regards to Veteran's benefits.

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?

No. The Federal government should not enforce any policy. If any policy is to be enacted it should be by States or regional cooperation.

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 have solar panels on my home and switch to efficient products (such as LED light bulbs) whenever it makes sense.

Henry Martin

Democratic

U.S. House, Missouri 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?

Congress can pass legislation and allocate funding for activities that increase solar panels on Federal buildings and projects and require that any new construction be equipped with energy reducing materials.