[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1001-S1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. 
        Kelly):
  S. 997. A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of 
permits under title V of that Act for certain emissions from 
agricultural production; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 997

       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 ``Livestock Regulatory 
     Protection Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON PERMITTING CERTAIN EMISSIONS FROM 
                   AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

       Section 502(f) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7661a(f)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as clauses 
     (i) through (iii), respectively, and indenting appropriately;
       (2) in the undesignated matter following clause (iii) (as 
     so redesignated), by striking ``Approval of'' and inserting 
     the following:
       ``(B) No relief of obligation.--Approval of'';
       (3) by striking the subsection designation and heading and 
     all that follows through ``No partial'' in the matter 
     preceding clause (i) (as so redesignated) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(f) Prohibitions.--
       ``(1) Partial permit programs.--
       ``(A) In general.--No partial''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Certain emissions from agricultural production.--No 
     permit shall be issued under a permit program under this 
     title for any carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or 
     methane emissions resulting from biological processes 
     associated with livestock production.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Coons, and Mrs. 
        Shaheen):
  S. 1005. A bill to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act 
to improve the weatherization assistance program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. REED. Madam President, today I am introducing the Weatherization 
Assistance Program Improvements Act, along with Senators Collins, 
Coons, and Shaheen. Our bipartisan bill will make critical updates to 
ensure this important program can effectively serve even more 
households across the country.
  Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more 
than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills by 
making their homes more energy efficient. The Department of Energy 
estimates that these upgrades help each household save $372 in energy 
bills annually. Those energy savings free up limited financial 
resources for essentials, like groceries and medicine.
  In addition to traditional services like attic and wall insulation, 
the program also provides services that help with home health and 
safety measures, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide 
detectors. Energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon 
footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate 
change.
  An independent study of the Weatherization Assistance Program by Oak 
Ridge National Laboratory found that children in weatherized households 
miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less

[[Page S1002]]

work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to the 
economy. Families also reported experiencing fewer flu and cold 
symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing costly medical expenses.
  The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy. 
The program supports over 8,500 jobs for energy experts and 
contractors, while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 
billion.
  The program is a win-win for all involved. That is why, as a member 
of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led my colleagues in 
supporting strong funding for it every year. And that is why I am 
introducing this bill--to ensure it continues to work for years to 
come.
  This bill will help expand the program to many more low-income 
households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services 
because their homes need minor structural repairs before then can be 
weatherized. The bill will authorize a Weatherization Readiness Fund to 
repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization 
assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to 
serve.
  At the same time, it will raise the amount of funding allowed to be 
spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, 
and it will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent 
on renewable energy upgrades in each home. These provisions are 
essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over 
the past few decades.
  I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense 
legislation.

                          ____________________