Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus

Congressman Russ Carnahan co-founded and co-chairs the Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus.  The Caucus serves as a forum for lawmakers and congressional staff to raise awareness and seek solutions for individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disabling autoimmune disease.

Carnahan became familiar with MS after a family member was diagnosed with the disease; last year, he was encouraged to become more involved in combating the disease by the active Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society.  The Caucus is the first of its kind to target the specific needs of people with MS.  It aims to focus on critical health care, disability and medical research issues.  The Caucus is designed to help build bipartisan awareness and education in Congress about issues important to those impacted by MS.  The bipartisan Caucus is made up of more than 100 members.

Congressional High Performance Buildings Caucus

Congressman Russ Carnahan co-founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional High Performance Buildings Caucus in an effort to highlight the benefits - economic, environmental, and societal - of high performance buildings and to provide leadership and encouragement in both the public and private sectors for these buildings.

Through a new and more sustainable approach to designing, constructing, and operating new buildings and retrofitting and operating older buildings, Congress can address and reduce the numerous and varied environmental, climate, health, and economic impacts that result from homes and buildings.  This active and engaged Caucus serves as a forum and a focal point to present new policies, learn about emerging best practices, and bring together experts from a variety of disciplines to address these issues and highlight the environmental and economic value of high performance buildings.

Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus

The Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus, co-chaired by Congressman Carnahan, brings together members of Congress who understand the value of America's historic places and their potential.  Members join together to support and encourage the preservation and thoughtful economic development of historic places in their districts and states as a matter of national policy. The caucus serves as a clearinghouse for members seeking information and sharing ideas on local, state and national issues and opportunities in historic preservation.

Congressman Carnahan has made strengthening federal historic tax credits a priority of his since taking office. As a State Representative, Carnahan helped promote Missouri's historic tax credits. Missouri is known to have some of the strongest incentives in the nation.

The caucus creates and examines legislative proposals regarding historic preservation and history conceived or

introduced by Members to determine the need, effects and potential support.

Intelligent Transportation Caucus

Congressman Carnahan co-chairs the Intelligent Transportation Caucus in an effort to highlight the benefits – including reducing congestion, increasing safety, improving the efficiency of transit and commercial vehicles, and reducing the environmental impact of growing travel demand - of intelligent transportation systems.

Over the past decade the application of intelligent transportation systems have provided significant benefits to the transportation sector through reductions in traffic, improving the predictability of travel times and increasing highway safety.

Importantly, these technologies have also been used effectively by law enforcement agencies to increase their ability to manage and resolve emergency situations.  Notably, after the September 11th attack, ITS technologies were used to re-route traffic in New York and around the Pentagon allowing first responders to reach the sites more efficiently.

Congressional Caucus for Bosnia

Congressman Russ Carnahan co-founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Bosnia.  The Caucus helps direct attention to the needs of all citizens of Bosnia and Bosnian-Americans, and fosters and improves relations between the United States and Bosnia.

Congressman Carnahan represents one of the largest Bosnian-American populations in the U.S.  The Caucus works to draw attention to various issues critical to Bosnia and the region, such as diplomatic relations, humanitarian rights, and religious freedom.  It also advocates certain policy positions, promotes legislation, and conducts briefings on issues that are critical to the area.  In addition, the Caucus works to foster international support for continued improvements to end corruption, support religious freedom, and protect the rights of all citizens of Bosnia.

Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC)

Congressman Russ Carnahan is a founding member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC). The coalition was created at the start of the 111th Congress to advance policies that promote clean energy innovation and job creation, environmental protections and the arresting of global climate change.

As a member, Congressman Carnahan has worked to pass legislation that will invest in American clean-energy jobs and industries, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce carbon pollution. Specifically, as chairman of the Green Buildings Task Force, he has led policies to promote energy efficient buildings systems and continued U.S. investment in efficiency technologies that will reduce energy costs and pollution, and create jobs in every state.

New Democrat Coalition

New Democrats support policies to expand economic growth and ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to benefit from that growth; a fiscally responsible and efficient government; a secure homefront; and a robust foreign policy that includes trade, constructive U.S. leadership throughout the world, and a modern and strong military.

Congressman Carnahan first joined the New Democrat Coalition because of its belief in offering common-sense ideas.  Missouri constituents have a ‘Show-Me' philosophy and expect their leaders to talk straight to them and provide common-sense solutions to their problems.  As a member of this coalition, he is proud to serve on the Energy Task Force to make the U.S. a global leader in the investment of renewable energy and conservation as well as the Task Force on Health Care to provide health care to every American enabling us to compete globally again.