Home Star Energy Retrofit Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Chair, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5019, the ``Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010.'' I am a proud cosponsor of this important legislation, which will create thousands of good paying jobs, help millions of consumers and families, and make our nation more energy efficient and independent. This bill is good for business, good for labor, good for families, and good for America. It is little wonder that it enjoys broad based and bipartisan support.

I thank Chairman WAXMAN for his leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation, Congressman WELCH, for recognizing the positive effect that home energy retrofitting can have on our economy, our energy supply, and our planet.

Madam Chair, our nation faces a serious energy crisis. We must adopt a comprehensive energy strategy that weans us off of our dependence on foreign oil and ensures our nation's long term prosperity. This strategy has to include becoming more efficient in our everyday use of energy, and that starts in our homes.

H.R. 5019 will spur home retrofits by offering rebates to homeowners who install energy saving products, such as insulation, duct sealing, air sealing, water heaters, and windows. Retrofitting will save homeowners $9.2 million on their energy bills over the next 10 years. Additionally, investing in the green economy creates jobs. This bill will create 168,000 new jobs by restarting the assembly lines that produce energy-saving devices and creating a demand for home construction and installations. Construction and installation jobs cannot be shipped overseas and 90 percent of energy efficiency technologies are manufactured here in the United States.

As importantly, this legislation will help the individuals in this country who are the most vulnerable. I know individuals in my Congressional district and across the country are struggling to pay their bills as energy costs skyrocket. Many do not know how long they will be able to afford hot water, heat for the winter, or cold air to make stifling summers bearable. This bill will lower energy costs for those individuals and help them ensure that they can afford safe and decent living conditions for themselves and their families.

This bill is supported by a wide-ranging coalition of religious, conservation, and pro-growth groups. H.R. 5019 is the right thing to do for our economy, our environment, and our communities. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5019.

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