[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4359 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4359

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy 
              efficient dwellings, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2009

 Mr. Boozman (for himself and Mr. Walz) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to guarantee housing loans for the construction energy 
              efficient dwellings, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Warriors Adapting Residences with 
Mortgages for Energy Renovations Act'' or the ``WARMER Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOANS FOR CONSTRUCTION 
              OF ENERGY EFFICIENT DWELLINGS.

    (a) Loans Authorized.--Section 3710(d) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting 
                ``(A) The Secretary'';
                    (B) by striking ``for the acquisition of'' and all 
                that follows through the end and inserting ``for any of 
                the following purposes:'';
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
            ``(i) The acquisition of an existing dwelling and the cost 
        of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
            ``(ii) The construction of a new dwelling and the cost of 
        making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling.
            ``(iii) Energy efficiency improvements to a dwelling owned 
        and occupied by a veteran.''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraphs:
    ``(B) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a loan may 
be guaranteed under this subsection only if it meets the requirements 
of this chapter.
    ``(C) The Secretary shall determine appropriate energy efficiency 
standards for purposes of this subsection and shall require that 
dwellings purchased, constructed, or improved using a loan guaranteed 
under this subsection meet such standards.'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the greater of'' and 
        all that follows through the period and inserting ``five 
        percent of the total established value of the property, 
        dwelling, and improvements, unless the Secretary specifically 
        provides for a higher amount.''; and
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively, and inserting after 
        paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):
    ``(3) In order to determine the value of energy efficiency 
improvements made to a dwelling using a loan guaranteed under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall adopt existing applicable Federal 
standards and valuation programs.''; and
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3710(d), as amended by 
subsection (a), is further amended in paragraph (5), as redesignated by 
subsection (a)(3), by striking ``paragraph (3)(B)'' and inserting 
``paragraph (4)(B)''.
    (c) Regulations.--
            (1) Interim policy guidance.--Not later than 90 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall prescribe interim policy guidance on 
        energy efficiency audits and the conditions under which the 
        performance of such audits may be included in the amount 
        guaranteed by the Secretary under section 3710(d) of title 38, 
        United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
            (2) Regulations.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe 
        regulations to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a).
            (3) Energy efficiency audit defined.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``energy efficiency audit'' means a 
        measurement of the effects of an improvement made to a dwelling 
        for the purpose of reducing energy consumption or increasing 
        energy efficiency that is carried out by a certified 
        professional auditor, as determined by the Secretary.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to a loan secured on or after October 1, 2010.
                                 <all>