Alex Cornell du Houx was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2008, representing District 66, Brunswick for two terms. He served on the Veterans’ and Legal Affairs Committee and the Energy, Technology and Utilities Committees. He was chair of the Veterans Caucus and served on the task force to combat veteran’s homelessness. Cornell du Houx served as vice-chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Agriculture and Energy Committee and served on NCSL’s Criminal Justice Committee. He helped found and lead the Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now. He is also a vice-chair of the DNC’s Veteran and Military Families Council.
According to Maine.gov, Cornell du Houx sponsored or co-sponsored 155 bills, rules, memorials, sentiments or resolutions during the 124th Legislature and 136 during the 125th Legislature. This includes seven bills enacted into law sponsored (as compared with bills co-sponsored, rules, memorials, sentiments or resolutions) by Rep. Cornell du Houx in 2008-2010 (124th) and seven bills sponsored and enacted in 2011/2012 (125th). Successful legislation co-sponsored by Cornell du Houx includes 98 bills in 2008-2010.
Energy and Economic Development
Renewable Energy Investment –Alex Cornell du Houx submitted legislation to create “Pine Tree Economic Development Zones” to encourage renewable energy investment, which was rolled into a committee bill and is now helping boost economic investment in Maine.
Weatherization —Alex Cornell du Houx worked on legislation with the aim to weatherize every house in the state and half of all businesses. He has traveled to the White House to promote Maine’s leadership in this area and sits on the board for Habitat for Humanity in midcoast Maine, where they launched a weatherization and rehab program to weatherize 150 houses in the community.
Brunswick Naval Air Station Redevelopment —Alex Cornell du Houx worked hard with the region’s delegation to ensure the redevelopment of BNAS brings quality jobs and turns into an economic boost to Brunswick and the region. He worked on legislation to bring the University of Maine’s and Southern Maine’s Community College’s advanced composite program to the Brunswick Landing.
Veterans and Green Jobs – A third of those who deployed with the Maine National Guard did not have employment when they deployed.Alex Cornell du Houx worked to bring a “Veterans Green Jobs” program to the state, which trains veterans in weatherization and clean energy technology jobs.
Preserve Home-ownership and Protecting Tenants During Foreclosure –Alex Cornell du Houx submitted and cosponsored legislation to protect tenants during foreclosures and help homeowners keep their homes, which is now helping homeowners and tenants across the state.
United Nations Climate Change Conference –Alex Cornell du Houx traveled to Copenhagen for the climate negotiations, where he spoke at an international press conference, participated on panels, and promoted Maine’s leadership in weatherization and Regional New England Greenhouse Gas Initiative programs.
Renewable-energy portfolio (RPS) –Alex Cornell du Houx successfully defended Maine’s RPS and worked with the NH state legislature to successfully defend their RPS. Mane’s RPS has boosted the state’s economy, according to a recent London Economics report.
Weatherize the Statehouse –Alex Cornell du Houx successfully created a law to weatherize the state house as we should be leading by example and saving needed taxpayer funds.
Reduce the state’s dependency on oil –Alex Cornell du Houx passed legislation to set real goals for the state to reduce our dependence on oil as Maine is one of the most dependent states on oil in the nation. He worked to adopt the legislation in a number of states and California recently singed it into law. It will improve our energy security, economic security and environment.
Protecting oil and gas consumers –Alex Cornell du Houx worked with both parties, Rep. Prescott and the oil and gas companies in Maine to write legislation praised by Gov. LePage, to protect oil and gas consumers from fraud.
Rail and Amtrak – As a member of the Rail Caucus,Alex Cornell du Houx worked hard to bring passenger and freight trains to Brunswick and the rest of the state. Maine recently 35 million dollars to upgrade the tracks from Portland to Brunswick in stimulus funding because of the work accomplished to make the project shovel ready. We are pleased to see Amtrak is now serving Brunswick.
Education
Alex Cornell du Houx volunteered in the Brunswick school system for six years as an America Counts and Reads tutor and coaches boy’s lacrosse and soccer at the Brunswick junior high school. He also worked to improve the Maine Learning Results in underage substance abuse and athletic policy.
Alex Cornell du Houx chairs the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council and sits on their advisory board – founded by Senator Mitchell to give Maine students the opportunity to attend college and further their professional development. The council works to provide resources for Mitchell Institute Alumni and current Mitchell Scholars.
Veterans Education –Alex Cornell du Houx passed legislation to make Maine one of the only states in the nation that allows any veteran to take advantage our quality higher education system at no cost in conjunction with the 21st Century GI Bill.
Community College Development –Alex Cornell du Houx worked hard with the Brunswick delegation to bring a bond to the ballot to fund the development of Southern Maine Community College at the redeveloped Brunswick Naval Air Station to focus on composite technology.
Financial Literacy –Alex Cornell du Houx implemented a financial literacy program to Brunswick’s high school with former state representative Tommy Davison at no cost to the district.
Local Food and farms –Alex Cornell du Houx wrote legislation that was rolled into another successful bill to promote the use of local food form Maine farms in our school lunch and breakfast programs.
Environment
Alex Cornell du Houx is vice chair of the National Council of State Legislators Energy Committee and is a member of the National Council of Environmental Legislators. He worked for a summer on a local organic farm and supports organic farms and farmers’ markets.
Climate Change –Alex Cornell du Houx works on climate change, energy and national security issues with the Truman National Security Project. He traveled to Copenhagen for the climate negotiations where he spoke at an international press conference and panels on this issue and promoted Maine’s leadership through our weatherization and Regional New England Greenhouse Gas Initiative programs.Alex Cornell du Houx’s efforts on national security and climate change have been mentioned by President Obama and recognized nationally in the media (www.operationfree.net).
Preserving Maine’s Quality of Place –Alex Cornell du Houx introduced legislation to promote renewable energy investment at the Brunswick Naval Air Station and sponsored/co-sponsored legislation to help prevent tarsand oil from entering the state, lead in wheels and recycling of fluorescent light bulbs to prevent mercury from spreading, responsible water extraction, and supported funding for land for Maine’s future, as well as legislation to weatherize every house and half of businesses in Maine.
Healthcare
Alex Cornell du Houx worked for the Governor’s Office of Health Policy and Finance and has been active in lobbying for quality, accessible, affordable healthcare for everyone at the national, state and community level with the Oasis health clinic.
Dental Care — Alex is co-sponsored successful legislation to ensure insurance companies provide dental care for all children by age one, not age four, as by then their teeth and long term health are permanently harmed.
Physical Education – Alex co-sponsored successful legislation to promote physical education in our school system to prevent childhood obesity.
Family Caregivers – Alex worked on and co-sponsored legislation to protect family caregivers with Rep. Walsh Innes to provide for mothers in the workplace.
Community Dental Care – Alex wrote successful legislation that allows retired dentists to volunteer at clinics to provide a much-needed service to the community. Before the legislation they had to pay hefty maintenance fees just to volunteer.
Veterans
Alex is a Marine who deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2006 and sits on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. He also sits on the VA Homeless Veterans Working Group and chairs the Veterans Caucus. He is currently taking a commission in the Maine National Guard.
Veterans Education –Alex Cornell du Houx passed legislation to make Maine one of the only states in the nation that allows any veteran to take advantage our quality higher education system at no cost in conjunction with the 21st Century GI Bill.
Homelessness –Alex Cornell du Houx sponsored and passed legislation to evaluate and address the issue of Maine’s homeless veterans and sits on the VA Homeless Veterans Working Group.
Veterans’ Service Officer –Alex Cornell du Houx worked hard with members of his committee to find the funding to hire a veterans’ service officer in southern Maine as the veteran center was closed there and Cumberland and York County have the highest population of veterans.
State Parks –Alex Cornell du Houx was successful in providing free access to all veterans to our state parks and historical sites as a small token of thanks and a chance to relax after returning from deployment.
Women Veterans’ Memorial –Alex Cornell du Houx co-sponsored successful legislation to recognize the heroic efforts of women veterans and provide for a memorial in the State House Hall of Flags.
Military Children –Alex Cornell du Houx co-sponsored successful legislation to join an interstate compact to make the transition easier for children of military members entering new school systems.
Maine Armories –Alex Cornell du Houx passed a resolution to request that Congress provide a higher percentage of the funding to operate our armories as our service members are being utilized at a higher level by the federal government. Currently, the National Guard sells property to pay for armory upkeep.
Government & Service
Lobbyist Disclosure and Photos –Alex Cornell du Houx co-sponsored and worked on successful legislation in his committee to require all lobbyists to wear name tags and provide a photo of themselves online at the ethics commission’s website.
Native Americans – At the start of his first session, Alex Cornell du Houx worked to change the rules to allow our two Native American representatives to have their names displayed with the rest of the legislature.
Strengthening Clean Elections –Alex Cornell du Houx co-sponsored successful legislation to strengthen our clean election system and make it viable for the future.
Equality –Alex Cornell du Houx co-sponsored legislation to end discrimination in civil marriage and affirm religious freedom.
Non-Profits –Alex Cornell du Houx successfully co-sponsored legislation to allow non-profits to hold larger ticket raffles to benefit the community. Alex also successfully sponsored legislation that allowed retired dentists to obtain licenses to practice in nonprofit clinics.
Click the link below to access via download all successful legislation from 2008-2012.
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