Foreign Policy Position: Peace, Security, and Human Dignity – In the Middle East
My foreign policy position is guided by a simple principle: the dignity of human life. Every person, no matter where they are born, deserves the opportunity to live in peace, security, and dignity. At its best, American leadership reflects not only our strength, but our values: respect for human life, a commitment to stability, and the conviction that diplomacy, pursued with seriousness and resolve, remains one of the most powerful tools for advancing peace. That leadership must be grounded in moral clarity, strategic discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the security of the United States and its allies.
The Israeli Palestinian conflict remains one of the most difficult and consequential challenges in the world today. For generations, it has brought violence, grief, fear, and profound insecurity to Israelis and Palestinians alike. The toll on innocent civilians has been devastating, and the status quo is neither sustainable nor acceptable. We cannot grow numb to that suffering, and we cannot accept endless bloodshed as inevitable. The path to peace is difficult, but difficulty does not excuse indifference, and complexity does not relieve the United States of its responsibility to lead.
I believe clearly and without hesitation that Israel has the right to exist as a sovereign state within its borders recognized by the United Nations. Israel has the right to defend its people against terrorism and those who seek its destruction. The United States must maintain its commitment to Israel’s security as Israel is one of our closest and most important allies. The U.S.-Israel relationship is rooted in shared democratic values, deep strategic cooperation, and longstanding partnerships in intelligence, defense, technology, and economic innovation. That alliance has strengthened both American and Israeli security, advanced regional deterrence, and served as a cornerstone of stability in a deeply volatile region. The continuation of the United States robust military aid to Israel and sale of weapons to Israel should however be conditioned on Israel use of those weapons for defense purposes and should require that the use of weapons obtained from the United States are used in a manner that preserves the lives of innocent civilians.
Hamas’ terrorist attacks, including the atrocities of October 7, 2023, must be condemned unequivocally. The deliberate targeting of civilians, the taking of hostages, and the use of terror as a political instrument are moral outrages that no nation should ever be expected to tolerate. The United States must continue to work with urgency to secure the release of hostages, confront terrorist organizations, and counter the regional networks and state sponsors that fuel violence and extremism. The indiscriminate killing of Palestinians that has resulted in over 100,000 deaths must all stop immediately. Too many innocent Palestinians have died and the United States and the world cannot condone the actions that led to their deaths.
At the same time, I believe just as clearly that the Palestinian people have a right to self-determination, dignity, and statehood. These are not competing truths. They are complementary truths, and any lasting peace requires both to be recognized and secured. I support a negotiated two-state solution that guarantees Israel’s security and establishes a viable, peaceful Palestinian state with defined and secure borders. While the road to that outcome remains extraordinarily difficult, it is still the most credible and durable framework for peace. Peace requires more than the absence of war. It requires security, dignity, economic opportunity, responsible leadership, and mutual recognition.
American leadership must also prioritize protecting innocent civilian life, expanding humanitarian relief, and renewing diplomacy aimed at a durable peace. Innocent Palestinian civilians have endured extraordinary suffering, loss, and displacement. Their lives, like the lives of innocent Israeli civilians, carry equal value. Even in times of war, the protection of civilian life must remain both a moral and strategic imperative. A commitment to human dignity means refusing to look away from the suffering of families, children, and entire communities caught in the devastation of conflict, even as we remain resolute in confronting terrorism and defending our allies.
Regional normalization efforts, particularly through the Abraham Accords, represent one of the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in decades. These agreements have strengthened diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Israel and several Arab nations, demonstrating that cooperation, mutual recognition, and shared interests can replace longstanding hostility. The Abraham Accords have not only advanced Israel’s integration into the region but also created new opportunities for trade, innovation, security coordination, and broader regional stability. The United States should continue to build on that progress and support efforts that deepen and expand normalization.
In particular, the inclusion of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations in the Abraham Accords would be transformative. Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in the region, along with its economic and political influence, makes its participation critical to advancing a more stable and peaceful Middle East. Broader Gulf cooperation would strengthen regional security, deepen economic integration, improve coordination against extremism, and reinforce the legitimacy of peaceful coexistence. The United States should play an active and sustained role in encouraging these efforts, because a more integrated region is a stronger foundation for peace, deterrence, and long-term prosperity.
The United States should work closely with allies and regional partners to isolate terrorist actors, counter Iran’s destabilizing influence, expand humanitarian access, support responsible governance, and create the conditions for serious negotiations. America must be a force for principled leadership, strong alliances, and steady diplomacy. The goal must remain clear: two peoples, two states, living side by side in peace, security, and mutual respect. That is not only a moral imperative. It is in the strategic interest of the United States, the security of Israel, and the cause of a more stable world. America’s commitment to Israel’s security must remain ironclad, even as we continue to pursue the hard but necessary work of peace.
Nuclear Power
As a mayor with more than 12 years of experience finding real solutions at the local level, I know that most issues are not simply black and white. Governing requires honesty, balance, and the willingness to look at complicated problems with clear eyes. But no matter how complex the issue may be, any path forward must begin with the same priorities: the health, safety, and well-being of the people we serve.
That is especially true when we talk about energy, climate change, and the looming energy crisis facing our country. We have to reduce carbon emissions. We have to move away from an overreliance on fossil fuels. We have to invest aggressively in renewable energy, battery storage, energy efficiency, and a modernized electric grid. But we also have to make sure families can afford their utility bills, businesses can keep operating, and communities have access to reliable power.
That is why I believe nuclear power must remain part of a serious clean-energy conversation. I do not support any energy policy blindly or unconditionally. But if we are serious about addressing global warming while also meeting our growing energy needs, then we must be willing to consider reliable, carbon-free energy sources, including nuclear power, provided they are subject to strict safety standards, transparent oversight, responsible waste-management plans, and strong protections for surrounding communities.
For me, this comes down to responsible leadership. Climate action cannot come at the expense of public trust. Energy independence cannot come at the expense of public health. And innovation cannot come at the expense of safety. The goal should be a cleaner, more reliable, more affordable energy future that protects our environment while also protecting the people who depend on us to make sound decisions.
So my position is clear: I support a clean-energy future led by renewables, efficiency, storage, and grid modernization, and I believe nuclear power can have a role in that future if, and only if, it is pursued responsibly, safely, transparently, and with the well-being of our communities placed first.
Healthcare Access and Affordability
Healthcare Is a Right, Not a Privilege
Healthcare should not depend on how much money a person makes, where they live, or whether they can afford to pay out of pocket. From mental wellness to affordable medicine, every family deserves access to quality care.
Adrian O. Mapp believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege. As a Certified Public Accountant, fiscal expert, and longtime Mayor, he understands that healthcare costs can devastate a family’s budget and, in some cases, push families into bankruptcy.
In Congress, he will bring the same fiscal discipline he used to help stabilize Plainfield’s taxes, but his priority will be clear: people over profits.
Lowering Prescription Drug Costs
Too many families are forced to choose between paying for medicine, groceries, utilities, or rent. That should never happen.
Adrian Mapp will fight to lower prescription drug costs and expand the protections already created through the Inflation Reduction Act.
He supports expanding the $35 insulin cap and the $2,000 out-of-pocket prescription drug limit so they apply to all residents of New Jersey’s 12th District, not just those on Medicare.
Affordable medicine should not be limited to one group of people. If a drug is necessary to keep someone healthy or alive, it should be within reach.
Expanding Mobile Health Units
Not everyone can easily get to a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. This is especially true for homebound seniors, working families with limited schedules, and residents in more rural or spread-out parts of New Jersey’s 12th District.
Adrian Mapp will fight to expand federal funding for mobile screening clinics and mobile health units.
These mobile units can bring preventive care, screenings, wellness checks, and basic health services directly into communities where access is limited.
Healthcare should meet people where they are, especially when transportation, distance, age, or work obligations make care harder to reach.
Treating Mental Health as Healthcare
Mental health must be treated with the same seriousness as physical health.
Adrian Mapp believes that “it’s okay to not be okay” should be more than a slogan. It should be a commitment to fully funded support, trained professionals, and care that reaches people before they are in crisis.
He is committed to shifting mental health crises out of the legal system and into the healthcare system.
That means families in crisis should be met with care, not criminalization.
Protecting Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare
Programs like Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare are essential for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families who cannot afford private insurance.
In Congress, Adrian Mapp will strongly oppose community engagement requirements or work requirements that threaten healthcare coverage for families across the district, including communities like Ewing and Middlesex.
Healthcare coverage should not be taken away from people because of paperwork barriers, unstable work hours, caregiving responsibilities, or political gamesmanship.
The goal should be to help people stay healthy, not create new ways to push them out of coverage.
Funding Co-Responder Programs
Adrian Mapp will fight for federal funding to support co-responder programs that pair mental health professionals with local police.
This approach ensures that when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, the response includes clinical expertise.
It also allows law enforcement to focus on public safety while families receive the specialized care they need.
Mental health emergencies require trained mental health support. This model helps protect residents, families, and first responders alike.
Strengthening Medicare and Social Security
Medicare and Social Security are promises made to seniors who worked, contributed, and paid into these systems throughout their lives.
Adrian Mapp will reject any effort to privatize these programs or raise the retirement age.
He believes Medicare and Social Security must be protected for seniors in South Brunswick and across New Jersey’s 12th District.
These are not giveaways. They are earned benefits. Seniors should be able to retire with dignity and confidence after a lifetime of work.
Creating Youth Mental Health and Wellness Hubs
Young people are facing serious mental health challenges, and too many families do not know where to turn.
Building on Mayor Mapp’s Center of Excellence concept, he will push in Congress for federal Wellness Hubs that provide free, confidential counseling for students outside of school hours.
These hubs would give young people a safe place to seek help, talk to trained professionals, and receive support without stigma.
Students should not have to wait until a crisis becomes an emergency before they can get help.
Restoring Community-Based Care
When hospitals close or services are reduced, communities suffer. Families lose access to emergency care, preventive care, specialists, and trusted local providers.
One of Mayor Mapp’s major healthcare achievements in Plainfield was helping attract developers and Rutgers Health to the Muhlenberg Hospital campus, restoring vital services to a site that had served the community for more than 130 years.
In Congress, he will take that same approach districtwide.
The Muhlenberg Model for New Jersey’s 12th District
Adrian Mapp will advocate for federal grants to create Federally Qualified Health Centers in high-need areas and medical deserts.
Federally Qualified Health Centers provide accessible, community-based care, especially in places where residents may otherwise struggle to find affordable healthcare.
If a healthcare facility closes or limits services anywhere in the district, Mapp will use federal leverage to help ensure that a replacement provider is secured quickly.
No community should be left without care simply because a hospital closes, a provider leaves, or services are cut.
Protecting SNAP and WIC
No senior, child, or family in New Jersey’s 12th District should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from.
Adrian Mapp will fight to protect and expand SNAP and WIC benefits so these vital programs keep pace with the rising cost of groceries in New Jersey.
As food prices continue to strain household budgets, food assistance programs must be strong enough to meet the real needs of families.
This is about dignity, health, and basic security.
Treating Food as Medicine
Access to healthy food is a healthcare issue.
Adrian Mapp will work to eliminate food deserts in communities like Trenton and New Brunswick by supporting incentives that encourage grocery stores to invest in underserved neighborhoods.
He will also support “Prescription Produce” programs that connect nutrition directly to healthcare.
That means doctors and healthcare providers can help patients access fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods as part of their care plan.
Preventing illness starts with making sure families can access the food they need to live healthy lives.
Raising the Standard for Local Behavioral Healthcare
Every community deserves access to high-quality behavioral health services.
Adrian Mapp will fight for federal funding to establish regional behavioral health centers across the district.
These centers would help ensure that every community in New Jersey’s 12th District has access to specialized care, regardless of ZIP code.
The goal is simple: bring high-tier, life-saving care closer to the people who need it.
Strengthening the Food Safety Net
Health is not only about doctors, hospitals, and medicine. It is also about whether families have enough food to eat.
In Plainfield, Mayor Mapp has participated in large-scale food distribution events and supported local pantries. He understands that food banks and pantries are often the first line of defense for seniors, children, working families, and vulnerable residents.
In Congress, he will use his executive experience to coordinate federal, state, and local resources to strengthen the food banks, pantries, and community organizations that fight hunger every day across New Jersey’s 12th District.
A Healthcare System That Puts People First
Adrian Mapp’s healthcare plan is built around affordability, access, dignity, and prevention.
It lowers prescription costs. It protects Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, SNAP, and WIC. It expands community-based care. It brings healthcare closer to seniors, students, working families, and underserved communities. It treats mental health as healthcare. And it recognizes that food security is part of public health.
For Adrian Mapp, this fight is personal and practical. Families should not go bankrupt because someone gets sick. Seniors should not have to ration medicine. Parents should not have to choose between groceries and healthcare. Young people should not struggle in silence. Communities should not be abandoned when hospitals close.
In Congress, Adrian Mapp will fight for a healthcare system that puts people first, protects families, and makes care more affordable and accessible across New Jersey’s 12th District.
Education and Opportunity
Every Child Deserves a Fair Shot
Every child deserves a fair shot, from the classroom to their career. A student’s future should not be limited by their ZIP code, the age of their school building, the resources of their district, or the income of their family.
Adrian O. Mapp believes education must prepare young people not only for the jobs of today, but for the opportunities of tomorrow.
As he has said, “We aren’t just training students for the jobs of today; we are building a foundation so they can own the companies of tomorrow.”
In Congress, he will fight for stronger schools, safer learning environments, better mental health support, modern career pathways, and more affordable higher education for families across New Jersey’s 12th District.
Fully Funding the Future
Federal education funding must reach the school districts that need it most.
Adrian Mapp knows that communities cannot build strong futures if schools are underfunded, overcrowded, or forced to rely too heavily on local property taxpayers.
In Congress, he will fight for education funding that is fair, targeted, and responsive to real community needs.
That means supporting students with disabilities, helping high-growth districts keep up with expanding enrollment, modernizing older school buildings, protecting financial aid, and making sure every child has access to a quality education.
Expanding Mental Health Support in Schools
Students across the district are facing anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health challenges. Too often, these struggles remain hidden until they become a crisis.
Adrian Mapp will work to secure federal funding to place a licensed mental health counselor in every public school.
This would help schools address the student mental health crisis early, consistently, and professionally.
Every child should have access to someone trained to listen, support, and respond before the situation reaches a breaking point.
Turning Schools Into Community Hubs
Public school buildings should be more than places where students go during the day. They can also serve as safe, trusted community spaces after school, in the evenings, and on weekends.
Adrian Mapp will support expanding federal Community Schools grants to help turn public schools into hubs for:
-
After-school enrichment
-
Adult literacy
-
Safe recreational activities
-
Weekend programming
-
Programs that reflect the needs and interests of local communities
This would help families, students, and residents access support close to home.
A strong school can also be a strong community center.
Fully Funding IDEA and Title I
Adrian Mapp will advocate for full federal funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA, and Title I.
IDEA helps ensure that students with disabilities receive the support and services they need to learn and thrive. Title I helps school districts serving higher numbers of low-income students provide stronger academic support.
Fully funding these programs would help districts across the 12th District, including high-growth communities like Monroe Township, keep pace with expanding student populations and growing educational needs.
Schools should not have to choose between serving students well and balancing a budget. The federal government must meet its responsibility.
Modernizing School Buildings Through Green Schools
Many older school districts are trying to educate students in aging buildings that need upgrades, repairs, and modernization. At the same time, energy costs continue to strain school budgets and local taxpayers.
Adrian Mapp will support a federal “Green Schools” grant program to help older districts, including communities like North Plainfield, modernize aging school facilities and reduce long-term energy costs.
This approach would help schools become safer, healthier, and more efficient without placing the full burden on local homeowners.
It is also consistent with the strategy Mayor Mapp has used in Plainfield: invest responsibly, modernize infrastructure, and work to keep taxes stable.
Protecting Educational Endowments
Universities play an important role in research, innovation, student aid, and economic opportunity.
Adrian Mapp will oppose taxes on university endowments, including institutions like Princeton University, when those taxes would take resources away from student financial aid and important academic research.
The goal should be to expand access to education and research, not reduce the resources that help students afford college or support breakthroughs that benefit the broader public.
Higher education must remain a pathway to opportunity.
Learning Should Not Stop at 3:00 PM
Adrian Mapp believes learning does not end when the school day ends.
Students need safe places to go after school. Families need support. Communities need programs that help young people grow academically, emotionally, socially, and creatively.
In Congress, Mapp will fight for expanded after-school, weekend, and community-based programs that give young people more opportunities to learn, lead, play, and prepare for their futures.
Education should be a full-community commitment, not something limited to classroom hours.
Reducing Student Debt and Expanding Pell Grants
Higher education should open doors, not trap students in lifelong debt.
Adrian Mapp will champion the expansion of the Pell Grant program so more students can afford college without taking on excessive loans.
He will also push for flat, non-compounding interest rates on student loans.
That means student loan interest would not keep growing on top of itself, making it harder for borrowers to ever get ahead.
This would help young professionals afford to stay in New Jersey, buy their first homes, start families, and build stable lives.
The federal government should not profit from the struggles of students.
Supporting Mentorship and Leadership
Young people need more than classroom instruction. They need role models, mentors, exposure, and guidance.
Adrian Mapp supports creating a federal mentorship tax credit that would encourage local professionals and businesses in New Jersey’s 12th District to partner with schools.
These formal mentorship programs would focus on leadership on and off the court, helping students build discipline, confidence, career awareness, and life skills.
When students can see professionals, entrepreneurs, tradespeople, public servants, and community leaders investing in them, they can better imagine what is possible for their own lives.
From Classrooms to Careers
New Jersey’s 12th District is home to major industries, including technology, pharmaceuticals, research, clean energy, and the skilled trades.
Adrian Mapp believes local students should be first in line for the high-paying jobs being created in and around their communities.
That means giving young people exposure to these industries early, preparing them with modern skills, and building direct pathways from school to career.
Education should not only help students graduate. It should help them compete, lead, earn, and build a future here in New Jersey.
Preparing Students for AI, STEM, and the Modern Economy
Artificial intelligence and technology are changing the way people work, learn, and live.
Adrian Mapp supports the 2026 mandates for K-12 AI literacy and will advocate for federal grants to train teachers so students in every town are prepared for the modern economy.
This is especially important because access to advanced technology education should not be limited to the wealthiest districts.
Students in every community deserve the chance to understand AI, build STEM skills, and compete for the jobs of the future.
Building Workforce Development Pipelines
As Mayor, Adrian Mapp has supported workforce development efforts that connect residents to opportunity.
In Congress, he will use the Plainfield Workforce Development Cooperative as a model for federal action.
This model would create stronger pipelines between high schools, community colleges, and local industries, including:
-
Biotechnology
-
Clean energy
-
Skilled trades
-
Technology
-
Research-based industries
The goal is to connect education directly to real jobs, real training, and real economic mobility.
Students should be able to see a path from the classroom to a career that can support a family.
An Education System Built for Opportunity
Adrian Mapp’s education plan is built around fairness, access, preparation, and long-term opportunity.
It fully funds critical education programs. It supports students with disabilities. It helps growing districts meet demand. It modernizes aging school buildings. It protects financial aid and academic research. It expands mental health support. It turns schools into community hubs. It connects students with mentors. It prepares young people for AI, STEM, and high-growth industries. And it makes higher education more affordable.
For Adrian Mapp, education is not just about what happens inside a classroom. It is about what kind of future we are building for every child.
In Congress, he will fight for an education system that gives every student a fair shot, supports families, strengthens communities, and prepares young people not just to find opportunity, but to create it.
Data Center Accountability and Environmental Justice
Data Center Accountability and Environmental Justice
Technology is growing quickly across New Jersey, and data centers are becoming a major part of that growth. These facilities support the digital economy, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, online services, and the technology people use every day.
But growth must be responsible.
Adrian O. Mapp believes New Jersey’s 12th District can support innovation without sacrificing the health, safety, affordability, or quality of life of the communities that host these facilities.
Data centers should not increase pollution, strain water supplies, raise energy costs, displace local uses, or place new burdens on communities that are already overburdened.
In Congress, Adrian Mapp will fight for data center accountability that protects residents, promotes clean energy, safeguards water resources, and ensures that host communities receive real, measurable benefits.
The Challenge: Protecting Overburdened Communities
Data centers are expanding across New Jersey, and many are being located in or near communities that already face environmental and economic challenges.
Without strong safeguards, these projects can add new pressure to neighborhoods that are already dealing with pollution, high utility costs, limited green space, and public health concerns.
Adrian Mapp’s position is clear: technological growth should not deepen environmental injustice.
Any major data center development must be held to strong standards for water use, energy demand, air quality, land use, local hiring, transparency, and community benefit.
Protecting Local Water Supplies
Data centers can use large amounts of water for cooling. Some facilities require millions of gallons of water each year.
That level of demand can place pressure on local aquifers, reservoirs, and public water systems. It can also compete with residential water needs, local food production, urban agriculture, and community gardens.
In already burdened communities, increased water demand can also contribute to higher water costs for residents.
Adrian Mapp will fight for strong water protections so data centers do not take more than communities can afford to give.
Reducing Energy Strain and Fossil Fuel Dependence
Large data centers can use enormous amounts of electricity, especially during peak demand periods.
A single large facility can consume 100 to 500 megawatts during peak demand, which is comparable to the power used by tens of thousands of homes.
When the electric grid must meet that kind of demand, it often relies on natural gas and other fossil fuels. That can increase greenhouse gas emissions and reinforce fossil fuel infrastructure in environmental justice communities.
Adrian Mapp believes new data center development must align with clean energy goals, not move communities backward.
Addressing Peak Power and Backup Generator Impacts
Data centers often operate at high power levels for long periods of time. During peak demand, they can place serious stress on the electric grid.
Many facilities also rely on diesel backup generators. These generators can create pollution spikes in nearby neighborhoods, especially during testing, outages, or emergency use.
Grid stress can also increase electricity costs for nearby residents.
Adrian Mapp will push for standards that reduce peak power impacts, limit diesel generator use, and require cleaner backup energy alternatives.
Learning Should Not Stop at 3:00 PM
Adrian Mapp believes learning does not end when the school day ends.
Students need safe places to go after school. Families need support. Communities need programs that help young people grow academically, emotionally, socially, and creatively.
In Congress, Mapp will fight for expanded after-school, weekend, and community-based programs that give young people more opportunities to learn, lead, play, and prepare for their futures.
Education should be a full-community commitment, not something limited to classroom hours.
Reducing Student Debt and Expanding Pell Grants
Higher education should open doors, not trap students in lifelong debt.
Adrian Mapp will champion the expansion of the Pell Grant program so more students can afford college without taking on excessive loans.
He will also push for flat, non-compounding interest rates on student loans.
That means student loan interest would not keep growing on top of itself, making it harder for borrowers to ever get ahead.
This would help young professionals afford to stay in New Jersey, buy their first homes, start families, and build stable lives.
The federal government should not profit from the struggles of students.
Protecting Air Quality and Public Health
Pollution from diesel backup generators and increased fossil fuel power production can contribute to fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
These pollutants are linked to serious health risks, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality.
Communities of color and historically overburdened neighborhoods often face the greatest health burden from this kind of pollution.
Adrian Mapp believes no community should be asked to carry the health costs of technological development without strong protections, monitoring, and enforcement.
Protecting Food Systems and Community Land
Data center development can also affect local food systems and land use.
When industrial land is converted to large-scale data centers, it can displace community gardens, local food hubs, and other productive community spaces.
Large facilities can also increase urban heat island effects, making nearby areas hotter and reducing the viability of urban agriculture.
Adrian Mapp will support land use standards that protect active food production sites and prevent communities from losing valuable local resources without replacement.
Requiring Transparency and Enforcement
Accountability only works if residents can see what is happening and if rules are enforced.
Under this plan, data center operators would be required to publicly
disclose, every year:
-
Energy use
-
Water consumption
-
Emissions
-
Local economic contributions
If developers fail to meet their obligations, they would face enforceable penalties, including fines and possible revocation of operating permits.
Promises to communities must be measurable, public, and enforceable.
Preventing Economic Displacement
Data centers can bring investment, but they do not always bring enough long-term local jobs.
In some cases, they replace more labor-intensive industrial uses with facilities that require fewer permanent workers. Many of the available jobs are highly specialized and may go to workers from outside the host community.
At the same time, major development can increase property values and create displacement pressure for nearby residents and small businesses.
Adrian Mapp believes communities hosting data centers should receive real economic benefits, including local hiring, workforce training, and protections against displacement.
The Goal: Responsible Growth With Community Benefits
Adrian Mapp’s data center policy is built around a simple principle: innovation must benefit the people and communities that make it possible.
Data center development should:
-
Avoid worsening environmental injustice
-
Provide direct and measurable benefits to host communities
-
Support clean energy and water sustainability
-
Create real local workforce opportunities
-
Protect residents from higher utility costs, pollution, and displacement
New Jersey’s 12th District can be a model for how technology, environmental justice, and economic fairness work together.
Federal Leadership on Data Center Accountability
In Congress, Adrian Mapp will fight for national Data Center Environmental Justice Standards.
These standards would help ensure that large-scale data centers are reviewed not only for economic development, but also for their impact on water, energy, emissions, public health, and nearby communities.
He will support federal incentives for renewable-powered data infrastructure and water-efficient cooling technologies.
He will also advocate for Environmental Justice Impact Statements for large-scale facilities so communities can clearly understand the risks, costs, and benefits before projects move forward.
A Local Model: The Data Center Accountability Act
Adrian Mapp supports a model local ordinance that municipalities across New Jersey’s 12th District can use to hold data center developers accountable.
This framework would help towns set clear expectations before projects are approved and give residents a stronger voice in how these developments affect their neighborhoods.
The Data Center Accountability Act would focus on water use, renewable energy, community energy benefits, air quality, local hiring, land use protections, transparency, and enforcement.
Requiring Water Impact and Mitigation Plans
Under this framework, data center developers would be required to submit a Water Impact and Mitigation Plan.
This plan would include net-zero water usage goals where feasible, the use of recycled or non-potable water systems, and investments in local water infrastructure.
Developers would also be expected to support aquifer recharge or stormwater capture systems where appropriate.
Annual public reporting of water consumption would be required so residents can see how much water is being used and whether commitments are being met.
Requiring Renewable Energy and Green Building Standards
Data centers should be built to modern environmental standards.
The proposed framework would require 100% renewable energy sourcing, either on-site or through verified offsets.
Where feasible, facilities would also be expected to include on-site solar, battery storage, or geothermal systems.
The policy would prohibit reliance on new fossil fuel generation capacity and require LEED Gold certification or an equivalent green building standard.
It would also require advanced cooling technologies, such as liquid cooling and closed-loop systems, along with waste heat reuse where possible.
Providing Energy Relief for Nearby Residents
If a data center increases local energy demand, nearby residents should not be forced to absorb the cost.
Adrian Mapp supports a Community Energy Equity Requirement that would require developers to provide energy subsidy credits to residents living within a half-mile radius of the facility.
Those credits would reflect the facility’s per-household share of increased energy demand.
The relief could be delivered through direct utility bill credits or through a community energy trust fund.
This is a practical fairness measure: if a facility benefits from local infrastructure, the surrounding community should benefit too.
Strengthening Air Quality and Urban Ecology Protections
The proposed framework would require strong protections for air quality and neighborhood health.
Developers would be required to install micro forests, green buffers, and vegetative barriers around facilities.
They would also be required to provide continuous air quality monitoring systems with data made publicly available.
Diesel backup generators would be eliminated or strictly limited, with a shift toward battery storage or other clean backup alternatives.
Communities deserve clean air, real-time information, and enforceable safeguards.
Creating Local Jobs and Workforce Pipelines
Data center development should create opportunity for local residents, not just profits for developers.
The policy would require a minimum 33% local hiring standard, defined as hiring residents from the host municipality or adjacent communities.
Developers would also be required to create workforce development programs in partnership with local schools, unions, and community colleges.
These programs would provide paid training pipelines for jobs in information technology, facilities management, and clean energy technology.
Annual reporting would be required to track job creation and local hiring compliance.
Protecting Land Use and Community Priorities
Before a data center is approved, the community should have a meaningful role in reviewing its impact.
The proposed framework would require approval by a Community Impact Review Board for siting decisions.
It would prioritize redevelopment of brownfields instead of displacing active community uses.
It would also prohibit development that eliminates active food production sites unless those sites are replaced.
Development should strengthen communities, not erase the spaces they depend on.
A Model for Innovation and Environmental Justice
Adrian Mapp believes New Jersey’s 12th District can lead the nation in responsible technology growth.
This plan ensures that data centers do not grow at the expense of vulnerable communities. It sets clear expectations for developers, protects residents, strengthens clean energy goals, and requires direct community benefits.
Under Adrian Mapp’s leadership, the district can become a national model where innovation and environmental justice go hand in hand.
Communities should benefit directly from infrastructure investment. Clean energy, water sustainability, public health, and equitable economic development must be non-negotiable.
Housing That Working Families Can Actually Afford
The Problem
Across New Jersey’s 12th District, housing has become one of the biggest pressures facing families.
Rents keep going up. Home prices keep climbing. Wages have not kept pace. Too many working families are caught in the middle: they earn too much to qualify for traditional assistance, but not enough to afford today’s housing market.
That is not sustainable.
In communities like Plainfield, Area Median Income, often called AMI, has increased from $73,569 in 2024 to approximately $83,579 today. AMI is the number often used to determine what counts as “affordable.” But the reality is simple: what looks affordable on paper does not always feel affordable to the families trying to pay rent, buy groceries, cover childcare, save for college, and plan for the future.
That is why rents can still range from about $600 a month for some studio apartments to as much as $3,000 a month for larger units. For many families, those numbers are not just statistics. They are the reason people delay buying a home, move farther from work, combine incomes across generations, or wonder whether they can stay in the communities they love.
The Families Caught in the Middle
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp believes housing policy must meet people where they actually are.
Many families in New Jersey are working hard, earning steady incomes, and contributing to their communities, but still cannot compete in a housing market where prices keep rising faster than paychecks.
These families are often part of what is called the “missing middle.” They may earn too much for traditional housing subsidies, but not enough to comfortably afford market-rate rents or buy a home.
They are teachers, nurses, municipal workers, young professionals, first responders, small business employees, caregivers, and families combining multiple incomes just to keep up.
They deserve a real path to stability, homeownership, and wealth-building.
What Mayor Mapp Has Delivered in Plainfield
As Mayor of Plainfield, Adrian Mapp has taken a practical, results-driven approach to housing.
He has worked with responsible developers to create more housing options for working families, especially families who are too often left out of traditional housing programs.
In Plainfield, his administration has helped create newly built four-bedroom homes priced between $500,000 and $650,000. In nearby communities, similar homes can be valued at more than $800,000.
That difference matters.
It can be the difference between a family staying renters forever and finally becoming homeowners.
For families who qualify, $30,000 in down payment assistance can help them cross that bridge from renting to owning. That is not only about purchasing a house. It is about building equity. It is about stability. It is about giving families a real stake in their community. It is about creating the kind of generational wealth that too many families have been locked out of for too long.
Making Growth Work for Residents
Mayor Mapp has also made sure that growth works for residents, not just developers.
In Plainfield, developer contributions help fund down payment assistance for local residents. Deed-restricted affordability helps keep certain rents connected to real local incomes, so affordability does not disappear after construction is complete.
Smart land use planning has helped create a balanced mix of housing options, from apartments near transit to townhomes and family homes in established neighborhoods.
He has also used PILOT programs to support major development while generating critical revenue for city services without raising property taxes.
In plain language, that means growth helps pay for the services residents rely on every day while reducing pressure on taxpayers.
What Adrian Mapp Will Fight for in Congress
Adrian Mapp will bring the same practical, results-driven approach to Congress.
In Washington, he will fight to expand affordable housing supply, support working families, and create more pathways to homeownership.
He will fight to:
Expand affordable housing supply by amending the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program so it can serve households earning up to 100% of AMI.
Create a Federal Homeownership Tax Credit Program for households earning up to 150% of AMI, helping more working and middle-class families move closer to homeownership.
Increase down payment assistance for working families, because for many people, the biggest barrier is saving enough money upfront while already paying high rent.
Incentivize public-private partnerships that produce below-market housing, meaning housing priced lower than what the private market would normally charge.
Protect residents from rising rents and displacement, because growth should not mean pushing longtime residents out of the communities they helped build.
Promote smart, mixed-income community development, because strong communities need housing for seniors, young adults, working families, first-time homebuyers, renters, and homeowners.
The Bottom Line
Housing is not just about buildings.
It is about whether families can stay in the communities they love. It is about whether young adults can afford to build a life near the places that raised them. It is about whether seniors can remain rooted with dignity. It is about whether working families can move from renting to owning. It is about whether the next generation has a fair chance to build wealth.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp’s housing record shows that practical leadership can deliver real results.
He has not just talked about affordability. He has used the tools available to create housing options, protect taxpayers, support homeownership, and help working families build stability.
In Congress, he will take that same approach to New Jersey’s 12th District: more housing people can actually afford, more support for first-time homebuyers, stronger protections against displacement, and more pathways for families to build wealth and stay rooted in the communities they call home.
Tax Relief and Economic Fairness
Putting More Money Back in the Pockets of Working Families
Families across New Jersey’s 12th District are working hard, paying their bills, and still feeling squeezed by rising costs, high property taxes, childcare expenses, healthcare costs, and the cost of owning or renting a home.
Adrian O. Mapp believes the federal tax system should work better for working people. As a Member of Congress, he will fight for a tax policy that gives families real relief, helps homeowners, rewards work, and ensures that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.
This plan is focused on a simple goal: helping families keep more of what they earn while building a fairer economy for everyone.
Restoring the Full SALT Deduction
In high-cost states like New Jersey, property taxes and state taxes can place a heavy burden on families. Adrian Mapp supports restoring a permanent 100% deduction for State and Local Taxes, commonly known as SALT, for:
Families with adjusted gross incomes up to $450,000
Single filers with incomes up to $300,000
This would provide meaningful relief for middle-class and upper-middle-class households in New Jersey and help reduce the pressure families feel from high local and state taxes.
For many homeowners, this is not a luxury. It is a matter of fairness.
Supporting Homeowners and Making Housing More Affordable
Homeownership is one of the most important ways families build stability and wealth. But too many families are struggling with the cost of buying and keeping a home.
Adrian Mapp supports making the full deduction for mortgage insurance permanent for homeowners whose mortgages and home equity loans fall within FHA loan limits based on county or state.
This would help more families afford homeownership and stay in their homes over the long term.
At a time when housing costs continue to rise, federal tax policy should make homeownership more attainable, not more difficult.
Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Earned Income Tax Credit helps working families keep more of what they earn. Adrian Mapp supports expanding the credit so that it provides stronger support to low- and moderate-income households.
His plan would increase the Earned Income Tax Credit to:
$1,000 for workers with no children
$5,000 for families with 1 child
$8,000 for families with 2 children
$10,000 for families with 3 or more children
This would put more money directly into the hands of working people and help families cover everyday expenses like food, rent, utilities, transportation, and childcare.
This is about rewarding work and strengthening family stability.
Lowering Tax Rates for Working Families
Adrian Mapp supports restructuring federal tax rates so that low- and middle-income households pay less, while the wealthiest Americans pay a fairer share.
Under his plan, tax rates would be reduced for lower and middle-income brackets. For example, the lowest tax rate would be reduced from 10% to 5%, giving immediate relief to working people.
The plan would also modestly increase the top tax rate for the highest earners to 40%.
The goal is to create a more balanced tax system: lower taxes for working families, fairer contributions from those at the very top, and a stronger economy for everyone.
Investing in Education, Healthcare,
and Childcare
Tax relief alone is not enough. Families also need relief from the major costs that drain household budgets.
Adrian Mapp supports restoring federal education funding to 2023 levels and increasing investment in universal healthcare and childcare.
These investments would help:
Reduce pressure on local property taxes
Lower out-of-pocket childcare costs
Increase disposable income for working families
Support students, parents, and communities
Make everyday life more affordable
When the federal government does its part, local taxpayers should not be forced to carry the burden alone.
A Fairer Tax System for Working People
Adrian Mapp’s tax plan is built around fairness, balance, and economic opportunity.
It would provide immediate tax relief, strengthen support for working families, make homeownership more affordable, and help reduce the cost of education, healthcare, and childcare.
At the same time, it asks the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.
Billionaires do not need more tax breaks. Working families need relief. Homeowners need relief. Parents need relief. Seniors need relief. Communities like those across New Jersey’s 12th District need a tax system that recognizes how hard people are working and how expensive life has become.
Adrian Mapp will fight for a federal tax policy that puts working people first.
PRIORITIES
I’m running for Congress to bring practical, people-first leadership to Washington—because the families of New Jersey’s 12th District deserve a representative who understands the challenges they face every day. From Trenton to New Brunswick to Plainfield, from the farms of Hopewell Township to the suburbs of Monroe and Bridgewater, our communities need a leader focused on lowering costs, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and creating real economic opportunity. As your Mayor, I’ve delivered results by listening and putting people over politics. I’m ready to do the same for all of NJ-12 in Congress.
LIST OF ISSUES
Housing & Community Development
Housing as an economic and social foundation.
Housing is the foundation of strong families. In NJ-12, from Trenton and Plainfield to East Brunswick and Franklin Township, too many families are being priced out of the communities they helped build. As mayor, I’ve worked to expand affordable housing and stabilize neighborhoods.
In Congress, I’ll fight for federal partnerships that address our housing shortage, revitalize main streets in towns like Bound Brook and Dunellen, and keep families rooted in the communities they love.
-
Expanding affordable housing supply across Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties
-
Revitalizing downtowns (from Princeton to South River)
-
Federal investment to ease local property tax burdens
Economic Opportunity &
Cost-of-Living Relief
Economic growth that reaches families, not just corporations
Making life affordable in NJ-12. Whether you're a small business owner in Cranbury, a commuter in Hillsborough Township, or raising a family in North Brunswick, rising costs are straining family budgets.
I believe economic growth must reach Main Street, not just Wall Street. I'll bring my mayoral focus on results to Washington to cut through the red tape, support our local entrepreneurs, and fight for policies that lower the cost of living for working families, seniors, and young people trying to put down roots here.
-
Supporting small businesses (the backbone of towns like Jamesburg, Spotswood, and Rocky Hill)
-
Workforce training to connect residents to good-paying jobs
-
Fighting inflation and reducing hidden costs for families
Infrastructure & Environmental Resilience
Building communities that last.
Fixing the roads, rails, and water we rely on. Anyone who commutes through South Brunswick, deals with traffic in Manville, or worries about flooding in Bound Brook knows our infrastructure is struggling.
We need a Congress member who has actually managed a budget and fixed potholes. I'll fight to ensure our fair share of federal infrastructure dollars go toward modernizing our roads, investing in clean water in communities like Trenton and Plainfield, and protecting our towns from the storms that threaten the Millstone River region.
-
Modernizing transportation (fixing traffic on Route 1 and I-287)
-
Ensuring clean water and flood resilience in the Raritan Valley
-
Smart federal investment in our local infrastructure
Good Government & Effective Leadership
Less Politics, More Progress
Less politics, more progress for Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties. People across NJ-12 are tired of the gridlock and partisan bickering. You deserve a leader who delivers results, not rhetoric. As Mayor of Plainfield, I've worked across party lines to balance budgets and get things done.
In Congress, I'll bring that executive experience to break through the dysfunction and deliver transparent, accountable government that works for you—from Pennington to Milltown to Montgomery Township.
-
Bipartisan problem-solving
-
Accountability and transparency in spending
-
Using local government experience to fix federal gridlock
Education & Youth Opportunity
Every child deserves a fair shot.
Every child in NJ-12 deserves a fair shot. From the public schools in West Windsor and North Plainfield to the educational excellence of Princeton, education is the key to our future. I believe we must invest in strong public schools, expand mental health resources for our kids, and create clear pipelines from our classrooms to good-paying careers so our graduates can afford to stay and raise families here in towns like Monroe Township and Old Bridge.
-
Fully funding public education
-
Expanding youth mentorship and after-school programs
-
Connecting education to workforce needs
Healthcare & Public Health
Healthcare as a basic responsibility of government.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. No family in Ewing Township, South Brunswick, or Middlesex should have to choose between paying the rent and seeing a doctor. I believe access to affordable, quality healthcare is a basic responsibility of government.
I will fight to protect coverage for seniors, lower prescription drug costs, and ensure mental health care is treated with the same urgency as physical health care for every resident of NJ-12.
-
Lowering healthcare and prescription costs
-
Strengthening mental health services for youth and families
-
Protecting Medicare and Social Security
Public Safety & Community Trust
Safety through prevention, trust, and smart investment.
Safety through trust and smart investment. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their neighborhood and respected by those sworn to protect it—whether in Trenton, Plainfield, or Helmetta. Public safety isn't just about response—it's about prevention.
As mayor, I've worked to support our first responders while building trust between police and the community. In Congress, I'll support community-based strategies and ensure our law enforcement has the resources they need to keep all of NJ-12 safe.
-
Supporting law enforcement with a focus on accountability
-
Violence prevention and youth engagement
-
Building trust to make communities stronger
