[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING MINNESOTA COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS FOR 
                     SUCCESS AT WEATHERIZING HOMES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 12, 2010

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the many workers and 
contractors who are part of Minnesota Community Action Partnership 
weatherization programs. Minnesota is being honored this week by the 
U.S. Department of Energy as one of the top five States in the country 
for its work utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 
weatherize homes.
  The installation of blower doors, energy efficient water heaters and 
furnaces, improved insulation, and energy efficient windows is vital 
work that saves energy, saves money, and helps low-income households. 
During the last year, Minnesota Community Action Partnership 
organizations have used American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 
help weatherize an additional 17,000 homes. These investments are 
saving families an average of $350 in energy costs this year and 
keeping them warm during Minnesota's coldest months.
  I have seen the benefits of this work firsthand through the Community 
Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, CAPRW, which 
serves a majority of my constituents. Under the guidance of Executive 
Director Clarence Hightower, CAPRW has been able to serve over 200,000 
low-income households each year, and over the past 30 years has 
completed energy improvements on over 13,000 homes. CAPRW invested 
funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand the 
number of homes weatherized in our community by more than three times. 
As a result, the community benefited from new jobs, a cleaner 
environment, and lower energy costs for working class families.
  These Recovery Act investments are strengthening our community by 
allowing Community Action Agencies to build on the legacy begun in 1964 
as part of President Johnson's Economic Opportunity Act, which served 
as a major step in the war on poverty. Today, Community Action Agencies 
continue to provide a wide variety of services to those living in 
poverty. In addition to weatherization efforts, local agencies also 
offer energy assistance, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, 
training programs for job training, financial literacy, and education, 
as well as senior nutrition programs. These efforts build stronger 
communities by providing opportunities for families to work towards 
economic independence.
  Madam Speaker, in honor of the recognition by the U.S. Department of 
Energy of Minnesota's Weatherization Programs as one of the top in the 
Nation, I am pleased to submit this statement for the Congressional 
Record recognizing this achievement and the hard work and dedication of 
our Community Action Agencies in fighting poverty.

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