I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1749 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 26, 2009 Mr. Hill introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide assistance to owners of manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 to purchase Energy Star qualified manufactured homes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009.
2.
Findings
The Congress finds the following: (1)There are more than 2,000,000,000 manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 still occupied as permanent residences throughout the United States. (2)Manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 generally have very poor energy efficiency, as such homes pre-date any Federal energy efficiency standards for manufactured homes. (3)Replacing manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 with new Energy Star qualified manufactured homes will dramatically lower energy consumption and costs for residents of such homes, most of whom are in low-income households.
3.
Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes
(a)
Definitions
In this section: (1)
Manufactured Home
The term manufactured home has the meaning given such term in section 603 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402). (2)
Energy Star qualified manufactured home
The term Energy Star qualified manufactured home means a manufactured home that has been designed, produced, and installed in accordance with Energy Star's guidelines by an Energy Star certified plant. (b)
Purpose
The purpose of this section is to assist low-income households residing in manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 to save energy and energy expenditures by providing support toward the purchase of new Energy Star qualified manufactured homes. (c)
Grants to State agencies
(1)
Grants
The Secretary of Energy may make grants to State agencies responsible for developing State energy conservation plans under section 362 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6322) (or such other existing State agency that exercises similar functions as the Governor of a State may designate), to provide owners of manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 rebates to use toward purchases of new Energy Star qualified manufactured homes. (2)
Allocation of grants
Grants under paragraph (1) shall be distributed to State agencies in States on the basis of their proportionate share of all manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 that are occupied as primary residences in the United States, based on the most recent and accurate data available. (3)
Rebates
(A)
Primary Residence Requirement
A rebate described under paragraph (1) may only be made to an owner of a manufactured home constructed prior to 1976 that is used on a year-round basis as a primary residence. (B)
Destruction and replacement
A rebate described under paragraph (1) may be made only if the manufactured home constructed prior to 1976 will be— (i)destroyed (including appropriate recycling); and (ii)replaced, in the same general location, as determined by the applicable State agency, with an Energy Star qualified manufactured home. (C)
Single rebate
A rebate described under paragraph (1) may not be provided to any owner of a manufactured home constructed prior to 1976 that was or is a member of a household for which any member of the household was provided a rebate pursuant to this section. (D)
Eligible households
To be eligible to receive a rebate described under paragraph (1), an owner of a manufactured home constructed prior to 1976 shall demonstrate to the applicable State agency that the total income of all members the owner’s household does not exceed 200 percent of the Federal poverty level for income in the applicable area. (4)
Rebate limitation
Rebates provided by State agencies under this section shall not exceed $7,500 per manufactured home from any funds appropriated pursuant to this section. (5)
Use of State funds
A State agency providing rebates under this section may supplement the amount of such rebates under paragraph (4) by any amount such agency approves if such additional amount is from State funds and other sources, including private donations or grants from charitable foundations. (6)
Similar programs
(A)
State programs
A State agency conducting a program that has the purpose of replacing manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 with Energy Star qualified manufactured homes, may use funding provided under this section to support such a program, provided such funding does not exceed the rebate limitation amount under paragraph (4). (B)
Federal programs
The Secretary of Energy shall seek to achieve the purpose of this section through similar Federal programs including— (i)the Weatherization Assistance Program under part A of title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.); and (ii)the program under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.). (7)
Administration
(A)
Controls and procedures
Each State agency receiving funding under this section shall establish fiscal controls and accounting procedures sufficient, as determined by the Secretary of Energy, to ensure proper accounting for disbursements made from such funds and fund balances. Such procedures shall conform to generally accepted Government accounting principles. (B)
Coordination with other State agencies
A State agency receiving funding under this section may coordinate its efforts, and share funds for administration, with other State agencies involved in low-income housing programs. (C)
Administrative expenses
A State agency receiving funding under this section may expend not more than 10 percent of such funds for administrative expenses. (d)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy, $1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2012 to carry out this section. (2)
Administrative expenses
Of the amounts available each fiscal year to carry out this section, the Secretary of Energy may expend not more than 5 percent to pay administrative expenses.