[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 115 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H7065]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to work with my 
colleagues to try to make those adjustments to our budget which are 
reasonable and fair to all citizens.
  In my own county and across Pennsylvania and for that matter the 
United States, we need to make those kinds of adjustments to our energy 
budget which, in fact, would give assistance to the weatherization 
assistance program.
  I salute the gentleman from Colorado [Mr. Skaggs] for his assistance 
in making an initial change of $3.5 million additional for this 
program. I would have preferred having the program that was supported 
by many Members on both sides of the aisle, working with the gentleman 
from Vermont [Mr. Sanders] and others for the figure of $50 million, 
and correspondingly we would have made a reduction in the Energy 
Information Administration. Frankly I think the need for the 
assistance, whether they be poor or elderly, to have the weatherization 
programs to help them get through
 the winters that can be so severe in many parts of the country, that 
this tradeoff of technical assistance to companies frankly that could 
in fact through user fees take that particular information and receive 
it rather than taking funds away from weatherization.

  I thank those Members of the body, both Republican and Democrat, who 
have worked with us on this weatherization program. The intent of our 
amendment tonight would be to protect a program which is important to 
many families across the United States. The weatherization program is a 
cost-conscious energy conservation program which makes renovations to 
low-income homes to increase energy efficiency and make health and 
safety improvements.
  These improvements make a significant difference in the home heating 
bills of thousands of families every year. For instance, Mr. Speaker, 
in the cold climate region, a 1989 study found that the first year net 
saving for natural gas consumption represented a 25-percent reduction 
in gas used for space heating and an 18-percent reduction in total gas 
usage. This program can be the difference in whether or not an elderly 
couple maintains their independence and are able to stay in their own 
home.
  I would like to stress that the amendment we were offering which was 
scored by CBO as being budget neutral and, in fact, reduced outlays by 
$15 million, the offset would come out of the Energy Information 
Administration. We believe that the EIA data which is valuable and 
currently provided free of charge could best be provided on a fee-for-
service basis.
  When I am given the choice between documents and statistics for 
helping people who are cold or trapped in unhealthy, dilapidated homes, 
I think most colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both Chambers, 
the House and the Senate, would agree that this is an intelligent use 
of funds as opposed to giving statistics and not the taking care of 
services.
  I thank those Members on both sides of the aisle who have helped me 
on this. I yield to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida 
[Mr. Stearns], who has been very active in this movement.
  Mr. STEARNS. I thank my colleague.
  I also am sorry that you were not able to offer the amendment because 
I think it is an important amendment. People in rural counties like 
Lake Country in Florida which is part of my congressional district
 often use this assistance to make the necessary improvements that keep 
homes livable while reducing the portion of their budget which they 
must also spend on utilities. Without such assistance, the homes can 
become too expensive to maintain and often become uninhabitable. I want 
to congratulate my colleagues. I hope my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle will realize this is an important amendment and that we can 
have an opportunity to debate on it and vote on it up or down in the 
near future.

  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. 
Stearns] for his support on this program. It has been very helpful. I 
thank the gentlewoman from New York [Ms. Molinari] who has been very 
helpful and many others who have given their assistance and their 
support. I frankly say the group involved in my community, the CADCOM, 
the community action group, has been working day and night to help 
those who are in need. Weatherization is a major program that CADCOM 
has been involved with. Keith Sampson, their executive director, knows 
full well that the needs keep growing. While the Federal Government 
cannot answer all those needs, the weatherization program administered 
by the States is one that is financially secure and one where the funds 
are checked to make sure that those who need the assistance get the 
assistance and we reduce the amount of bureaucracy involved but expand 
the services to those who are in need has been an excellent program 
under CADCOM's assistance in Montgomery County and all the poverty 
agencies in Pennsylvania administered through each county.
  I thank the Speaker for this time to speak out for weatherization and 
to make the changes that we figure are intelligent with energy 
assistance to make sure we do less on bureaucracy and more on direct 
services for the people. I thank my colleagues for their thoughtful 
attention and support.

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