I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7325 
To make grants to support online training of residential contractors and 
rebates for the energy efficiency upgrades of homes, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2020 
Mr. WELCH (for himself, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. TONKO, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mr. 
CARSON of Indiana, and Mrs. HAYES) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provi-
sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To make grants to support online training of residential 
contractors and rebates for the energy efficiency up-
grades of homes, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘HOPE for HOMES Act of 2020’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
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Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—HOPE TRAINING 
Sec. 101. Notice for HOPE Qualification training and grants. 
Sec. 102. Course criteria. 
Sec. 103. HOPE Qualification. 
Sec. 104. Grants. 
Sec. 105. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—HOME ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT REBATE PROGRAM 
Sec. 201. Establishment of Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program. 
Sec. 202. Partial system rebates. 
Sec. 203. State administered rebates. 
Sec. 204. Special provisions for moderate income households. 
Sec. 205. Evaluation reports to Congress. 
Sec. 206. Administration. 
Sec. 207. Treatment of rebates. 
Sec. 208. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
Sec. 301. Appointment of personnel. 
Sec. 302. Maintenance of funding. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CONTRACTOR
CERTIFICATION.—The term 
‘‘contractor certification’’ means an industry recog-
nized certification that may be obtained by a resi-
dential contractor to advance the expertise and edu-
cation of the contractor in energy efficiency retrofits 
of residential buildings, including— 
(A) a certification provided by— 
(i) the Building Performance Insti-
tute; 
(ii) the Air Conditioning Contractors 
of America; 
(iii) the National Comfort Institute; 
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(iv) the North American Technician 
Excellence; 
(v) RESNET; 
(vi) the United States Green Building 
Council; or 
(vii) Home Innovation Research Labs; 
and 
(B) any other certification the Secretary 
determines appropriate for purposes of the 
Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Pro-
gram. 
(2) CONTRACTOR COMPANY.—The term ‘‘con-
tractor company’’ means a company— 
(A) the business of which is to provide 
services to residential building owners with re-
spect to HVAC systems, insulation, air sealing, 
or other services that are approved by the Sec-
retary; 
(B) that holds the licenses and insurance 
required by the State in which the company 
provides services; and 
(C) that provides services for which a par-
tial system rebate, measured performance re-
bate, or modeled performance rebate may be 
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provided pursuant to the Home Energy Savings 
Retrofit Rebate Program. 
(3) ENERGY AUDIT.—The term ‘‘energy audit’’ 
means an inspection, survey, and analysis of the en-
ergy use of a building, including the building enve-
lope and HVAC system. 
(4) HOME.—The term ‘‘home’’ means a resi-
dential dwelling unit in a building with no more than 
4 dwelling units that— 
(A) is located in the United States; 
(B) was constructed before the date of en-
actment of this Act; and 
(C) is occupied at least 6 months out of 
the year. 
(5) HOME ENERGY SAVINGS RETROFIT REBATE 
PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Home Energy Savings Ret-
rofit Rebate Program’’ means the Home Energy 
Savings Retrofit Rebate Program established under 
section 201. 
(6) HOMEOWNER.—The term ‘‘homeowner’’ 
means the owner of an owner-occupied home or a 
tenant-occupied home. 
(7) HOME
VALUATION
CERTIFICATION.—The 
term ‘‘home valuation certification’’ means the fol-
lowing home assessments: 
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(A) Home Energy Score. 
(B) PEARL Certification. 
(C) National Green Building Standard. 
(D) LEED. 
(E) Any other assessment the Secretary 
determines to be appropriate. 
(8) HOPE QUALIFICATION.—The term ‘‘HOPE 
Qualification’’ means the qualification described in 
section 103. 
(9) HOPE 
TRAINING
CREDIT.—The term 
‘‘HOPE training credit’’ means a HOPE training 
task credit or a HOPE training supplemental credit. 
(10) HOPE TRAINING
TASK
CREDIT.—The 
term ‘‘HOPE training task credit’’ means a credit 
described in section 102(a). 
(11) HOPE TRAINING SUPPLEMENTAL CRED-
IT.—The term ‘‘HOPE training supplemental cred-
it’’ means a credit described in section 102(b). 
(12) HVAC SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘HVAC sys-
tem’’ means a system— 
(A) consisting of a heating component, a 
ventilation component, and an air-conditioning 
component; and 
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(B) which components may include central 
air conditioning, a heat pump, a furnace, a boil-
er, a rooftop unit, and a window unit. 
(13) MEASURED PERFORMANCE REBATE.—The 
term ‘‘measured performance rebate’’ means a re-
bate provided in accordance with section 203 and 
described in subsection (e) of that section. 
(14) MODELED PERFORMANCE REBATE.—The 
term ‘‘modeled performance rebate’’ means a rebate 
provided in accordance with section 203 and de-
scribed in subsection (d) of that section. 
(15) MODERATE
INCOME.—The term ‘‘mod-
erate income’’ means, with respect to a household, a 
household with an annual income that is less than 
80 percent of the area median income, as deter-
mined annually by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development. 
(16) PARTIAL
SYSTEM
REBATE.—The term 
‘‘partial system rebate’’ means a rebate provided in 
accordance with section 202. 
(17) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of Energy. 
(18) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes— 
(A) a State; 
(B) the District of Columbia; 
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(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
(D) Guam; 
(E) American Samoa; 
(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; 
(G) the United States Virgin Islands; and 
(H) any other territory or possession of the 
United States. 
(19) STATE ENERGY OFFICE.—The term ‘‘State 
energy office’’ means the office or agency of a State 
responsible for developing the State energy conserva-
tion plan for the State under section 362 of the En-
ergy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6322). 
TITLE I—HOPE TRAINING 
SEC. 101. NOTICE FOR HOPE QUALIFICATION TRAINING 
AND GRANTS. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director of 
the Building Technologies Office of the Department of 
Energy, shall issue a notice that includes— 
(1) criteria established under section 102 for 
approval by the Secretary of courses for which cred-
its may be issued for purposes of a HOPE Qualifica-
tion; 
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(2) a list of courses that meet such criteria and 
are so approved; and 
(3) information on how individuals and entities 
may apply for grants under this title. 
SEC. 102. COURSE CRITERIA. 
(a) HOPE TRAINING TASK CREDIT.— 
(1) CRITERIA.—The Secretary shall establish 
criteria for approval of a course for which a credit, 
to be known as a HOPE training task credit, may 
be issued, including that such course— 
(A) is equivalent to at least 30 hours in 
total course time; 
(B) is accredited by the Interstate Renew-
able Energy Council or is determined to be 
equivalent by the Secretary; 
(C) is, with respect to a particular job, 
aligned with the relevant National Renewable 
Energy Laboratory Job Task Analysis, or other 
credentialing program foundation that helps 
identify the necessary core knowledge areas, 
critical work functions, or skills, as approved by 
the Secretary; 
(D) has established learning objectives; 
and 
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(E) includes, as the Secretary determines 
appropriate, an appropriate assessment of such 
learning objectives that may include a final 
exam, to be proctored on-site or through remote 
proctoring, or an in-person field exam. 
(2) INCLUDED COURSES.—The Secretary shall 
approve one or more courses that meet the criteria 
described in paragraph (1) for training related to— 
(A) contractor certification; 
(B) energy auditing or assessment; 
(C) home energy systems (including HVAC 
systems); 
(D) insulation installation and air leakage 
control; 
(E) health and safety regarding the instal-
lation of energy efficiency measures or health 
and safety impacts associated with energy effi-
ciency retrofits; and 
(F) indoor air quality. 
(b) HOPE TRAINING SUPPLEMENTAL CREDIT CRI-
TERIA.—The Secretary shall establish criteria for approval 
of a course for which a credit, to be known as a HOPE 
training supplemental credit, may be issued, including 
that such course provides— 
(1) training related to— 
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(A) small business success, including man-
agement, home energy efficiency software, or 
general accounting principles; 
(B) the issuance of a home valuation cer-
tification; 
(C) the use of wifi-enabled technology in 
an energy efficiency upgrade; or 
(D) understanding and being able to par-
ticipate in the Home Energy Savings Retrofit 
Rebate Program; and 
(2) as the Secretary determines appropriate, an 
appropriate assessment of such training that may in-
clude a final exam, to be proctored on-site or 
through remote proctoring, or an in-person field 
exam. 
(c) EXISTING APPROVED COURSES.—The Secretary 
may approve a course that meets the applicable criteria 
established under this section that is approved by the ap-
plicable State energy office or relevant State agency with 
oversight authority for residential energy efficiency pro-
grams. 
(d) IN-PERSON AND ONLINE TRAINING.—An online 
course approved pursuant to this section may be con-
ducted in-person, but may not be offered exclusively in- 
person. 
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SEC. 103. HOPE QUALIFICATION. 
(a) ISSUANCE OF CREDITS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, or an entity 
authorized by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph 
(2), may issue— 
(A) a HOPE training task credit to any 
individual that completes a course that meets 
applicable criteria under section 102; and 
(B) a HOPE training supplemental credit 
to any individual that completes a course that 
meets the applicable criteria under section 102. 
(2) OTHER ENTITIES.—The Secretary may au-
thorize a State energy office implementing an au-
thorized program under subsection (b)(2), an organi-
zation described in section 104(b), and any other en-
tity the Secretary determines appropriate, to issue 
HOPE training credits in accordance with para-
graph (1). 
(b) HOPE QUALIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may certify 
that an individual has achieved a qualification, to be 
known as a HOPE Qualification, that indicates that 
the individual has received at least 3 HOPE training 
credits, of which at least 2 shall be HOPE training 
task credits. 
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(2) STATE PROGRAMS.—The Secretary may au-
thorize a State energy office to implement a pro-
gram to provide HOPE Qualifications in accordance 
with this title. 
SEC. 104. GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, to the extent 
amounts are made available in appropriations Acts for 
such purposes, provide grants to support the training of 
individuals toward the completion of a HOPE Qualifica-
tion. 
(b) PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may provide a 
grant of up to $20,000 under this section to an or-
ganization to provide training online, including es-
tablishing, modifying, or maintaining the online sys-
tems, staff time, and software and online program 
management, through a course that meets the appli-
cable criteria established under section 102. 
(2) CRITERIA.—In order to receive a grant 
under this subsection, an organization shall be— 
(A) a nonprofit organization; 
(B) an educational institution; or 
(C) an organization that has experience 
providing training to contractors that work with 
the weatherization assistance program imple-
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mented under part A of title IV of the Energy 
Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 
6861 et seq.) or equivalent experience, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(3) ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.—In addition 
to any grant provided under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary may provide an organization up to $5,000 for 
each additional course for which a HOPE training 
credit may be issued that is offered by the organiza-
tion. 
(c) CONTRACTOR COMPANY.—The Secretary may 
provide a grant under this section of $1,000 per employee 
to a contractor company, up to a maximum of $10,000, 
to reimburse the contractor company for training costs for 
employees, and any home technology support needed for 
an employee to receive training pursuant to this section. 
Grant funds provided under this subsection may be used 
to support wages of employees during training. 
(d) TRAINEES.—The Secretary may provide a grant 
of up to $1,000 under this section to an individual who 
receives a HOPE Qualification. 
(e) STATE ENERGY OFFICE.—The Secretary may 
provide a grant under this section to a State energy office 
of up to $25,000 to implement an authorized program 
under section 103(b). 
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SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title $500,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2020 
through 2025. 
TITLE II—HOME ENERGY SAV-
INGS RETROFIT REBATE PRO-
GRAM 
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF HOME ENERGY SAVINGS 
RETROFIT REBATE PROGRAM. 
The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known 
as the Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program, 
to— 
(1) provide rebates in accordance with section 
202; and 
(2) provide grants to States to carry out pro-
grams to provide rebates in accordance with section 
203. 
SEC. 202. PARTIAL SYSTEM REBATES. 
(a) AMOUNT OF REBATE.—In carrying out the Home 
Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program, and subject to 
the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the 
Secretary shall provide a homeowner a rebate, to be known 
as a partial system rebate, of, except as provided in section 
204, up to— 
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(1) $800 for the purchase and installation of 
insulation and air sealing within a home of the 
homeowner; and 
(2) $1,500 for the purchase and installation of 
insulation and air sealing within a home of the 
homeowner and replacement of an HVAC system, 
the heating component of an HVAC system, or the 
cooling component of an HVAC system, of such 
home. 
(b) SPECIFICATIONS.— 
(1) COST.—The amount of a partial system re-
bate provided under this section shall, except as pro-
vided in section 204, not exceed 30 percent of cost 
of the purchase and installation of insulation and air 
sealing under subsection (a)(1), or the purchase and 
installation of insulation and air sealing and replace-
ment of an HVAC system, the heating component of 
an HVAC system, or the cooling component of an 
HVAC system, under subsection (a)(2). Labor may 
be included in such cost but may not exceed— 
(A) in the case of a rebate under sub-
section (a)(1), 50 percent of such cost; and 
(B) in the case of a rebate under sub-
section (a)(2), 25 percent of such cost. 
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(2) REPLACEMENT OF AN HVAC SYSTEM, THE 
HEATING COMPONENT OF AN HVAC SYSTEM, OR THE 
COOLING
COMPONENT
OF
AN
HVAC
SYSTEM.—In 
order to qualify for a partial system rebate described 
in subsection (a)(2)— 
(A) any HVAC system, heating component 
of an HVAC system, or cooling component of 
an HVAC system installed shall be Energy Star 
Most Efficient certified; 
(B) installation of such an HVAC system, 
the heating component of an HVAC system, or 
the cooling component of an HVAC system, 
shall be completed in accordance with standards 
specified by the Secretary that are at least as 
stringent as the applicable guidelines of the Air 
Conditioning Contractors of America that are in 
effect on the date of enactment of this Act; 
(C) if ducts are present, replacement of an 
HVAC system, the heating component of an 
HVAC system, or the cooling component of an 
HVAC system shall include duct sealing; and 
(D) the installation of insulation and air 
sealing shall occur within 6 months of the re-
placement of the HVAC system, the heating 
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component of an HVAC system, or the cooling 
component of an HVAC system. 
(c) ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES FOR CONTRACTORS.— 
In carrying out the Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate 
Program, the Secretary may provide a $250 payment to 
a contractor per home for which— 
(1) a partial system rebate is provided under 
this section for the installation of insulation and air 
sealing, or installation of insulation and air sealing 
and replacement of an HVAC system, the heating 
component of an HVAC system, or the cooling com-
ponent of an HVAC system, by the contractor; 
(2) the applicable homeowner has signed and 
submitted to the Secretary a release form made 
available pursuant to section 206(b) authorizing the 
contractor access to information in the utility bills of 
the homeowner; and 
(3) the contractor inputs, into the Department 
of Energy’s Building Performance Database— 
(A) the energy usage for the home for the 
12 months preceding, and the 24 months fol-
lowing, the installation of insulation and air 
sealing or installation of insulation and air seal-
ing and replacement of an HVAC system, the 
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heating component of an HVAC system, or the 
cooling component of an HVAC system; 
(B) a description of such installation or in-
stallation and replacement; and 
(C) the total cost to the homeowner for 
such installation or installation and replace-
ment. 
(d) PROCESS.— 
(1) FORMS; REBATE
PROCESSING
SYSTEM.— 
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, shall— 
(A) develop and make available rebate 
forms required to receive a partial system re-
bate under this section; 
(B) establish a Federal rebate processing 
system which shall serve as a database and in-
formation technology system that will allow 
homeowners to submit required rebate forms; 
and 
(C) establish a website that provides infor-
mation on partial system rebates provided 
under this section, including how to determine 
whether particular measures qualify for a re-
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bate under this section and how to receive such 
a rebate. 
(2) SUBMISSION OF FORMS.—In order to re-
ceive a partial system rebate under this section, a 
homeowner shall submit the required rebate forms, 
and any other information the Secretary determines 
appropriate, to the Federal rebate processing system 
established pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(e) FUNDING.— 
(1) LIMITATION.—For each fiscal year, the Sec-
retary may not use more than 50 percent of the 
amounts made available to carry out this title to 
carry out this section. 
(2) ALLOCATION.—The Secretary shall allocate 
amounts made available to carry out this section for 
partial system rebates among the States using the 
same formula as is used to allocate funds for States 
under part D of title III of the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.). 
SEC. 203. STATE ADMINISTERED REBATES. 
(a) FUNDING.—In carrying out the Home Energy 
Savings Retrofit Rebate Program, and subject to the 
availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Sec-
retary shall provide grants to States to carry out programs 
to provide rebates in accordance with this section. 
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(b) STATE PARTICIPATION.— 
(1) PLAN.—In order to receive a grant under 
this section a State shall submit to the Secretary an 
application that includes a plan to implement a 
State program that meets the minimum criteria 
under subsection (c). 
(2) APPROVAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
receipt of a completed application for a grant under 
this section, the Secretary shall either approve the 
application or provide to the applicant an expla-
nation for denying the application. 
(c) MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR STATE PROGRAMS.— 
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall establish and publish min-
imum criteria for a State program to meet to qualify for 
funding under this section, including— 
(1) that the State program be carried out by 
the applicable State energy office or its designee; 
(2) that a rebate be provided under a State pro-
gram only for a home energy efficiency retrofit 
that— 
(A) is completed by a contractor who 
meets minimum training requirements and cer-
tification requirements set forth by the Sec-
retary; 
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(B) includes installation of one or more 
home energy efficiency retrofit measures for a 
home that together are modeled to achieve, or 
are shown to achieve, a reduction in home en-
ergy use of 20 percent or more from the base-
line energy use of the home; 
(C) does not include installation of any 
measure that the Secretary determines does not 
improve the thermal energy performance of the 
home, such as a pool pump, pool heater, spa, or 
EV charger; and 
(D) includes, after installation of the appli-
cable home energy efficiency retrofit measures, 
a test-out procedure conducted in accordance 
with guidelines issued by the Secretary of such 
measures to ensure— 
(i) the safe operation of all systems 
post retrofit; and 
(ii) that all improvements are included 
in, and have been installed according to— 
(I) 
manufacturers 
installation 
specifications; and 
(II) all applicable State and local 
codes or equivalent standards ap-
proved by the Secretary; 
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ance with procedures developed by the Sec-
retary, including through quality-control inspec-
tions for a portion of home energy efficiency 
retrofits completed by each applicable con-
tractor; and 
(B) under which a quality-control inspec-
tion of a home energy efficiency retrofit is per-
formed by a quality assurance provider who— 
(i) is independent of the contractor 
for such retrofit; and 
(ii) will confirm that such contractor 
is a contractor who meets minimum train-
ing requirements and certification require-
ments set forth by the Secretary; 
(5) that the State program include require-
ments for a homeowner, contractor, or rebate 
aggregator to claim a rebate, including that the 
homeowner, contractor, or rebate aggregator submit 
any applicable forms approved by the Secretary to 
the State, including a copy of the certificate pro-
vided by the applicable contractor certifying pro-
jected or measured reduction of home energy use; 
(6) that the State program may include require-
ments for an entity to be eligible to serve as a rebate 
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aggregator to facilitate the delivery of rebates to 
homeowners or contractors; 
(7) that the State program include procedures 
for a homeowner to transfer the right to claim a re-
bate to the contractor performing the applicable 
home energy efficiency retrofit or to a rebate 
aggregator that works with the contractor; and 
(8) that the State program provide that a 
homeowner, contractor, or rebate aggregator may 
claim more than one rebate under the State pro-
gram, and may claim a rebate under the State pro-
gram after receiving a partial system rebate under 
section 202, provided that no 2 rebates may be pro-
vided with respect to a home using the same baseline 
energy use of such home. 
(d) MODELED PERFORMANCE REBATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out a State pro-
gram under this section, a State may provide a 
homeowner, contractor, or rebate aggregator a re-
bate, to be known as a modeled performance rebate, 
for an energy audit of a home and a home energy 
efficiency retrofit that is projected, using modeling 
software approved by the Secretary, to reduce home 
energy use by at least 20 percent. 
(2) AMOUNT.— 
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(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
section 204, and subject to subparagraph (B), 
the amount of a modeled performance rebate 
provided under a State program shall be equal 
to 50 percent of the cost of the applicable en-
ergy audit of a home and home energy effi-
ciency retrofit, including the cost of diagnostic 
procedures, labor, reporting, and modeling. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in 
section 204, with respect to an energy audit 
and home energy efficiency retrofit that is pro-
jected to reduce home energy use by— 
(i) at least 20 percent, but less than 
40 percent, the maximum amount of a 
modeled performance rebate shall be 
$2,000; and 
(ii) at least 40 percent, the maximum 
amount of a modeled performance rebate 
shall be $4,000. 
(e) MEASURED PERFORMANCE REBATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out a State pro-
gram under this section, a State may provide a 
homeowner, contractor, or rebate aggregator a re-
bate, to be known as a measured performance re-
bate, for a home energy efficiency retrofit that re-
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duces home energy use by at least 20 percent as 
measured using methods and procedures approved 
by the Secretary. 
(2) AMOUNT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
section 204, and subject to subparagraph (B), 
the amount of a measured performance rebate 
provided under a State program shall be equal 
to 50 percent of the cost, including the cost of 
diagnostic procedures, labor, reporting, and en-
ergy measurement, of the applicable home en-
ergy efficiency retrofit. 
(B) LIMITATION.—Except as provided in 
section 204, with respect to a home energy effi-
ciency retrofit that is measured as reducing 
home energy use by— 
(i) at least 20 percent, but less than 
40 percent, the maximum amount of a 
measured performance rebate shall be 
$2,000; and 
(ii) at least 40 percent, the maximum 
amount of a measured performance rebate 
shall be $4,000. 
(f) COORDINATION
OF
REBATE
AND
EXISTING 
STATE-SPONSORED
OR
UTILITY-SPONSORED
PRO-
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GRAMS.—A State that receives a grant under this section 
is encouraged to work with State agencies, energy utilities, 
nonprofits, and other entities— 
(1) to assist in marketing the availability of the 
rebates under the applicable State program; 
(2) to coordinate with utility or State managed 
financing programs; 
(3) to assist in implementation of the applicable 
State program, including installation of home energy 
efficiency retrofits; and 
(4) to coordinate with existing quality assur-
ance programs. 
(g) ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT.— 
(1) REVIEW
OF
APPROVED
MODELING
SOFT-
WARE.—The Secretary shall, on an annual basis, list 
and review all modeling software approved for use in 
determining and documenting the reductions in 
home energy use for purposes of modeled perform-
ance rebates under subsection (d). In approving such 
modeling software each year, the Secretary shall en-
sure that modeling software approved for a year will 
result in modeling of energy efficiency gains for any 
type of home energy efficiency retrofit that is at 
least as substantial as the modeling of energy effi-
ciency gains for such type of home energy efficiency 
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retrofit using the modeling software approved for 
the previous year. 
(2) OVERSIGHT.—If the Secretary determines 
that a State is not implementing a State program 
that was approved pursuant to subsection (b) and 
that meets the minimum criteria under subsection 
(c), the Secretary may, after providing the State a 
period of at least 90 days to meet such criteria, 
withhold grant funds under this section from the 
State. 
SEC. 204. SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR MODERATE INCOME 
HOUSEHOLDS. 
(a) CERTIFICATIONS.—The Secretary shall establish 
procedures for certifying that the household of a home-
owner is moderate income for purposes of this section. 
(b) PERCENTAGES.—Subject to subsection (c), for 
households of homeowners that are certified pursuant to 
the procedures established under subsection (a) as mod-
erate income the— 
(1) amount of a partial system rebate under 
section 202 shall not exceed 60 percent of the appli-
cable purchase and installation costs described in 
section 202(b)(1); and 
(2) amount of— 
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pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(A) a modeled performance rebate under 
section 203 provided shall be equal to 80 per-
cent of the applicable costs described in section 
203(d)(2)(A); and 
(B) a measured performance rebate under 
section 203 provided shall be equal to 80 per-
cent of the applicable costs described in section 
203(e)(2)(A). 
(c) MAXIMUM AMOUNTS.—For households of home-
owners that are certified pursuant to the procedures estab-
lished under subsection (a) as moderate income the max-
imum amount— 
(1) of a partial system rebate— 
(A) under section 202(a)(1) for the pur-
chase and installation of insulation and air seal-
ing within a home of the homeowner shall be 
$1,600; and 
(B) under section 202(a)(2) for the pur-
chase and installation of insulation and air seal-
ing within a home of the homeowner and re-
placement of an HVAC system, the heating 
component of an HVAC system, or the cooling 
component of an HVAC system, of such home, 
shall be $3,000; 
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(2) of a modeled performance rebate under sec-
tion 203 for an energy audit and home energy effi-
ciency retrofit that is projected to reduce home en-
ergy use as described in— 
(A) 
section 
203(d)(2)(B)(i) 
shall 
be 
$4,000; and 
(B) 
section 
203(d)(2)(B)(ii) 
shall 
be 
$8,000; and 
(3) of a measured performance rebate under 
section 203 for a home energy efficiency retrofit that 
reduces home energy use as described in— 
(A) 
section 
203(e)(2)(B)(i) 
shall 
be 
$4,000; and 
(B) 
section 
203(e)(2)(B)(ii) 
shall 
be 
$8,000. 
(d) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall establish proce-
dures to— 
(1) provide information to households of home-
owners that are certified pursuant to the procedures 
established under subsection (a) as moderate income 
regarding other programs and resources relating to 
assistance for energy efficiency upgrades of homes, 
including the weatherization assistance program im-
plemented under part A of title IV of the Energy 
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Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 
et seq.); and 
(2) refer such households, as applicable, to such 
other programs and resources. 
SEC. 205. EVALUATION REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter until 
the termination of the Home Energy Savings Retrofit Re-
bate Program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
report on the use of funds made available to carry out 
this title. 
(b) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) how many home energy efficiency retrofits 
have been completed during the previous year under 
the Home Energy Savings Retrofit Rebate Program; 
(2) an estimate of how many jobs have been 
created through the Home Energy Savings Retrofit 
Rebate Program, directly and indirectly; 
(3) a description of what steps could be taken 
to promote further deployment of energy efficiency 
and renewable energy retrofits; 
(4) a description of the quantity of verifiable 
energy savings, homeowner energy bill savings, and 
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other benefits of the Home Energy Savings Retrofit 
Rebate Program; 
(5) a description of any waste, fraud, or abuse 
with respect to funds made available to carry out 
this title; and 
(6) any other information the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
SEC. 206. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide such 
administrative and technical support to contractors, rebate 
aggregators, States, and Indian Tribes as is necessary to 
carry out this title. 
(b) INFORMATION
COLLECTION.—The Secretary 
shall establish, and make available to a homeowner, or the 
homeowner’s designated representative, seeking a rebate 
under this title, release forms authorizing access by the 
Secretary, or a designated third-party representative to in-
formation in the utility bills of the homeowner with appro-
priate privacy protections in place. 
SEC. 207. TREATMENT OF REBATES. 
For purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
gross income shall not include any rebate received under 
this title. 
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SEC. 208. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this title 
$1,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 
2025, to remain available until expended. 
(b) TRIBAL ALLOCATION.—Of the amounts made 
available pursuant to subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the 
Secretary shall work with Indian Tribes and use 2 percent 
of such amounts to carry out a program or programs that 
as close as possible reflect the goals, requirements, and 
provisions of this title, taking into account any factors 
that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 
TITLE III—GENERAL 
PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. APPOINTMENT OF PERSONNEL. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of title 5, United 
States Code, regarding appointments in the competitive 
service and General Schedule classifications and pay rates, 
the Secretary may appoint such professional and adminis-
trative personnel as the Secretary considers necessary to 
carry out this Act. 
SEC. 302. MAINTENANCE OF FUNDING. 
Each State receiving Federal funds pursuant to this 
Act shall provide reasonable assurances to the Secretary 
that it has established policies and procedures designed 
to ensure that Federal funds provided under this Act will 
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be used to supplement, and not to supplant, State and 
local funds. 
Æ 
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