[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 68 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HOME STAR ENERGY RETROFIT ACT OF 2010

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5019) to 
     provide for the establishment of the Home Star Retrofit 
     Rebate Program, and for other purposes:

  Mr. CASTLE. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the Home Star 
Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019), which aims to provide an 
incentive based program for homeowners who invest in improving their 
home's energy efficiency.
  Energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to reduce our 
energy consumption in the home, and cut energy costs for American 
households. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, the average 
American household spends $2,100 each year paying for home energy, and 
could save 25 percent through better energy efficiency. Beyond the 
benefits of lowering the cost of energy bills for American households, 
energy efficiency plays a critical role throughout the U.S. by reducing 
energy consumption, which improves our energy security.
  Recognizing that the national debt continues to grow, Congress has 
the responsibility to pay-as-we-go, and ensure that appropriated funds 
proceed through the budget process. For this reason, I also support the 
amendment to sunset the Act if the funding for this program will have a 
negative net effect on the federal budget deficit.
  Because funding under the ARRA for the weatherization program has 
been slow to implement, I also have concerns regarding the Department 
of Energy's ability to implement this new program under the tight 
deadlines required by the bill. Authorizing this program, instead of 
providing emergency spending, will hopefully give Congress adequate 
oversight over implementation of the program, which will still be 
subject to available funding through the regular appropriations 
process.

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