[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  Mr. REED. Madam President, I would ask my colleague, Senator 
Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, if she would join 
me and our colleague Senator Collins in a colloquy on the 
Weatherization Assistance Program.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I would be pleased to join my 
colleagues.
  Mr. REED. I thank the Chairwoman.
  I know a major reason that the Chairwoman wants to get back to 
regular order is that continuing resolutions are blunt instruments that 
do not allow for the adjustments for specific programs. One place where 
that has played out is in the Energy and Water Development bill, 
specifically with respect to the Weatherization Assistance Program.
  I know the chairwoman has long supported the weatherization program, 
which helps provide energy efficient retrofits to low-income 
individuals and families. It also provides jobs, which is so important 
given the continuing challenges in our economy.
  President Obama described the program this way in an interview in 
2009, ``[y]ou're getting a three-fer. Not only are you immediately 
putting people back to work but you're also saving families on [their] 
energy bills and you're laying the groundwork for long-term energy 
independence. That's exactly the kind of program that we should be 
funding.''
  Under the Recovery Act, we made a one-time investment of $5 billion 
in this program, which has historically received $175 to $200 million 
in annual appropriations. As the program worked through this infusion, 
funding for the regular program was temporarily scaled back. In FY 
2013, funding for the program will be only $68 million even before the 
sequester is applied. Since there will no longer be carry-over funds 
available, there will not be enough funding to mount a viable program 
in all 50 States. That is regrettable, particularly when the Senate 
bill contained $145 million, $6 million more than the budget request. 
It is also counterproductive to our goals to create jobs and increase 
energy efficiency.
  I would ask the Chairwoman if she would work with us and the 
Department of Energy to find ways to sustain the program through 
appropriate reprogramming so that it does not cease to be a 50-State 
program. I would also ask if she would work with us in fiscal year 2014 
to see how we can support this important initiative. Before I yield to 
the Chairwoman to respond, I would ask Senator Collins if she would 
like to comment.
  Ms. COLLINS. I would like to echo Senator Reed's comments and thank 
the Chairwoman for her support of the Weatherization Assistance 
Program.
  This program is currently facing significant funding challenges and 
its viability in many States is threatened. Weatherization plays an 
important role in permanently reducing home energy costs for low-income 
families and seniors, lessening our reliance on foreign oil, and 
training a skilled workforce. The current funding level represents a 
substantial reduction for the program, and the ability of the program 
to continue to deliver services is in serious jeopardy.
  I too would like to ask the Chairwoman if she would work with us and 
the Department of Energy to find ways to sustain the program through 
appropriate reprogramming, so that low-income families and seniors in 
every State can continue to receive the energy savings from the 
weatherization of their homes.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. I thank the Senators for their comments and would be 
pleased to work with them on this important issue and ways to maintain 
a 50-State weatherization program.
  Mr. REED. I thank the Chairwoman for that response. I look forward to 
working with her, Senator Collins, and others to support this program 
in fiscal year 2013 and during the fiscal year 2014 funding cycle.

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