III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 612 

Recognizing the Weatherization Assistance Program during its 40th anniversary year for its history of reducing the energy costs of families with 

low incomes, making low-income households healthier and safer, positively 

impacting the environment, and supporting jobs and new technology. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 

Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. COONS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, 

Science, and Transportation 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Weatherization Assistance Program during 

its 40th anniversary year for its history of reducing 

the energy costs of families with low incomes, making 

low-income households healthier and safer, positively impacting the environment, and supporting jobs and new 

technology. 

Whereas Congress has long recognized the disproportionate 

energy burden on families and individuals with low incomes; 

Whereas, in 1976, Congress and the Department of Energy 

developed the Weatherization Assistance Program (in this 

preamble referred to as the ‘‘WAP’’) to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-inVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:10 Sep 30, 2016 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR612.IS SR612

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•SRES 612 IS 

come individuals, reduce the total residential energy expenditures of those individuals, and improve the health 

and safety of those individuals, especially low-income individuals who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, 

high residential energy users, and households with high 

energy burdens; 

Whereas low-income households on average pay 7.2 percent 

of the income of those households on utilities, more than 

3 times the amount that higher income households pay; 

Whereas at least 1⁄4 of low-income households in many regions experience an energy burden that is greater than 

14 percent of household income; 

Whereas nearly 9,000,000 families across the United States 

live in energy inefficient, unhealthy homes; 

Whereas the WAP operates in all 50 States, the District of 

Columbia, 5 territories of the United States, and Indian 

tribal governments; 

Whereas more than 7,400,000 homes have been weatherized 

since the inception of the WAP in 1976; 

Whereas, in a typical year, the WAP produces more than 

$300,000,000 in energy cost savings; 

Whereas a typical low-income family saves between $250 and 

$450 per year after receiving weatherization services; 

Whereas every dollar invested in weatherization returns $4.10 

to society in energy, health, and safety benefits; 

Whereas children in households that receive weatherization 

services miss fewer days of school due to incidences of 

asthma, respiratory difficulties, and other health-related 

issues; 


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Whereas investment in the WAP by the Federal Government 

and other sources supports more than 25,000 jobs across 

the United States in related industries; 

Whereas the WAP decreases pollution and improves air quality; 

Whereas the WAP has increased its impact through a strategic partnership with the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (commonly known as the ‘‘LIHEAP’’) 

of the Department of Health and Human Services; 

Whereas the WAP has implemented rigorous quality control 

standards and procedures; 

Whereas the WAP has incorporated cutting edge technologies; and 

Whereas, by decreasing the amount of personal income spent 

on home energy, the WAP makes housing more affordable, improves the quality of life for families with low incomes, reduces forced mobility, and increases the energy 

security of the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the Weatherization Assistance 

3 Program for 40 years of reducing the energy burden 

4 of families with low incomes, making low-income 

5 households healthier and safer, positively impacting 

6 the environment, and supporting jobs and new tech7 nology; 

8 (2) encourages the Weatherization Assistance 

9 Program to continue performing essential weather10 ization services in the future; 


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1 (3) applauds the dedicated professionals at the 

2 Federal, State, and local levels who run the daily op3 erations of the Weatherization Assistance Program; 

4 and 

5 (4) congratulates the Weatherization Assistance 

6 Program on the 40th anniversary of the Weatheriza7 tion Assistance Program being signed into law on 

8 August 14, 1976. 

Æ 


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