I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3420 
To reauthorize the weatherization and State energy programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2015 
Mr. TONKO (for himself, Mr. NADLER, Mr. PIERLUISI, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. 
NORTON, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. CARSON of Indi-
ana, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. WELCH, and Mr. RUSH) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the weatherization and State energy 
programs, 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 
‘‘Weatherization Enhancement, and Local Energy Effi-
ciency Investment and Accountability Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
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TITLE I—WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
Sec. 101. Reauthorization of weatherization assistance program. 
Sec. 102. Grants to eligible multistate housing and energy nonprofit organiza-
tions. 
Sec. 103. Quality assurance program. 
TITLE II—STATE ENERGY PROGRAMS 
Sec. 201. Reauthorization of State energy programs. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the State energy program established under 
part D of title III of the Energy Policy and Con-
servation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq.) (referred to 
in this section as ‘‘SEP’’) and the Weatherization 
Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons estab-
lished under part A of title IV of the Energy Con-
servation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et 
seq.) (referred to in this section as ‘‘WAP’’) have 
proven to be beneficial, long-term partnerships 
among Federal, State, and local partners; 
(2) the SEP and the WAP have been reauthor-
ized on a bipartisan basis over many years to ad-
dress changing national, regional, and State cir-
cumstances and needs, especially through— 
(A) the Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act (42 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.); 
(B) the Energy Conservation and Produc-
tion Act (42 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.); 
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(C) the State Energy Efficiency Programs 
Improvement Act of 1990 (Public Law 101– 
440; 104 Stat. 1006); 
(D) the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 
U.S.C. 13201 et seq.); 
(E) the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801 et seq.); and 
(F) the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17001 et seq.); 
(3) the SEP, also known as the ‘‘State energy 
conservation program’’— 
(A) was first created in 1975 to implement 
a State-based, national program in support of 
energy efficiency, renewable energy, economic 
development, energy emergency preparedness, 
and energy policy; and 
(B) has come to operate in every sector of 
the economy in support of the private sector to 
improve productivity and has dramatically re-
duced the cost of government through energy 
savings at the State and local levels; 
(4) Federal laboratory studies have concluded 
that, for every Federal dollar invested through the 
SEP, more than $7 is saved in energy costs and al-
most $11 in non-Federal funds is leveraged; 
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(5) the WAP— 
(A) was first created in 1976 to assist low- 
income families in response to the first oil em-
bargo; 
(B) has become the largest residential en-
ergy conservation program in the United 
States, with more than 7,100,000 homes weath-
erized since the WAP was created; 
(C) saves an estimated 35 percent of con-
sumption in the typical weatherized home, yield-
ing average annual savings of $437 per year in 
home energy costs; 
(D) has created thousands of jobs in both 
the construction sector and in the supply chain 
of materials suppliers, vendors, and manufac-
turers who supply the WAP; 
(E) returns $2.51 in energy savings for 
every Federal dollar spent in energy and non-
energy benefits over the life of weatherized 
homes; 
(F) serves as a foundation for residential 
energy efficiency retrofit standards, technical 
skills, and workforce training for the emerging 
broader market and reduces residential and 
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addressed in a manner that will ensure that WAP 
funds are used more effectively; 
(10) through the history of the WAP, the WAP 
has evolved with improvements in efficiency tech-
nology, including, in the 1990s, many States adopt-
ing advanced home energy audits, which has led to 
great returns on investment; and 
(11) as the home energy efficiency industry has 
become more performance-based, the WAP should 
continue to use those advances in technology and the 
professional workforce. 
TITLE I—WEATHERIZATION 
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 
SEC. 101. REAUTHORIZATION OF WEATHERIZATION ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 422 of the Energy Conservation and Produc-
tion Act (42 U.S.C. 6872) is amended by striking ‘‘appro-
priated—’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
end and inserting ‘‘appropriated $450,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.’’. 
SEC. 102. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE HOUSING AND NONPROFIT 
ORGANIZATIONS. 
The Energy Conservation and Production Act is 
amended by inserting after section 414B (42 U.S.C. 
6864b) the following: 
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‘‘SEC. 414C. GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE HOUSING AND NON-
PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. 
‘‘(a) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are— 
‘‘(1) to expand the number of low-income, sin-
gle-family and multifamily homes that receive energy 
efficiency retrofits; 
‘‘(2) to promote innovation and new models of 
retrofitting low-income homes through new Federal 
partnerships with covered organizations that lever-
age donations, donated materials, volunteer labor, 
homeowner labor equity, and other private sector re-
sources; 
‘‘(3) to assist the covered organizations in dem-
onstrating, evaluating, improving, and replicating 
widely the model low-income energy retrofit pro-
grams of the covered organizations; and 
‘‘(4) to ensure that the covered organizations 
make the energy retrofit projects undertaken by the 
covered organizations with awarded funds self-sus-
taining by the time grant funds have been expended. 
‘‘(b) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘covered 
organization’ means an organization that— 
‘‘(1) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the In-
ternal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax-
ation under 501(a) of that Code; and 
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‘‘(2) has an established record of constructing, 
renovating, repairing, or making energy efficient an 
aggregate quantity of not less than 250 owner-occu-
pied, single-family or multifamily homes for low-in-
come households, either directly or through affili-
ates, chapters, or other direct partners (using the 
most recent year for which data are available). 
‘‘(c) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make grants 
to covered organizations through a national competitive 
process for use in accordance with this section. 
‘‘(d) AWARD FACTORS.—In making grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall consider— 
‘‘(1) the number of low-income homes the appli-
cant— 
‘‘(A) has built, renovated, repaired, or 
made more energy efficient as of the date of the 
application; and 
‘‘(B) can reasonably be projected to build, 
renovate, repair, or make energy efficient dur-
ing the grant period beginning on the date of 
the application; 
‘‘(2) the qualifications, experience, and past 
performance of the applicant, including experience 
successfully managing and administering Federal 
funds; 
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‘‘(3) the number and diversity of States, com-
munities, and climates in which the applicant works 
and the diversity of housing types requiring weather-
ization as of the date of the application; 
‘‘(4) the amount of non-Federal funds, donated 
or discounted materials, discounted or volunteer 
skilled labor, volunteer unskilled labor, homeowner 
labor equity, and other resources the applicant will 
provide; 
‘‘(5) the extent to which the applicant could 
successfully replicate the proposed energy retrofit 
project and sustain the project after the grant funds 
have been expended; and 
‘‘(6) such other factors as the Secretary deter-
mines to be appropriate. 
‘‘(e) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall solicit proposals from covered organiza-
tions. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under this section, an applicant shall 
submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
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‘‘(3) AWARDS.—Not later than 90 days after 
the closing date established by the Secretary for re-
ceipt of proposals, the Secretary shall award grants 
under this section. 
‘‘(f) ELIGIBLE USES OF GRANT FUNDS.—A grant 
under this section may be used to— 
‘‘(1) conduct energy efficiency audits; 
‘‘(2) perform cost-effective retrofit and related 
weatherization activities, including purchase of en-
ergy efficient materials and supplies; 
‘‘(3) conduct training activities and provide on-
going technical assistance; 
‘‘(4) provide information to homeowners on 
proper maintenance and energy savings behaviors; 
‘‘(5) conduct data collection, measurement, and 
verification activities to facilitate program moni-
toring, oversight, evaluation, and reporting; 
‘‘(6) manage and administer the grant (up to a 
maximum of 10 percent of the total grant); and 
‘‘(7) obtain and conduct such other materials 
and activities as the Secretary determines to be ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(g) MAXIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of a grant 
provided under this section shall not exceed $5,000,000. 
‘‘(h) GUIDELINES.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Sec-
retary shall issue guidelines to implement the grant 
program established under this section. 
‘‘(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The guidelines shall 
establish— 
‘‘(A) criteria for allowable expenditures; 
‘‘(B) a methodology to determine a min-
imum energy savings-to-investment ratio; 
‘‘(C) criteria for— 
‘‘(i) the conduct of weatherization 
training programs; 
‘‘(ii) the conduct of energy audits and 
program activities; 
‘‘(iii) the conduct of project moni-
toring activities; and 
‘‘(iv) the use of methodologies to 
verify energy and cost savings; 
‘‘(D) liability insurance requirements; and 
‘‘(E) recordkeeping requirements, which 
shall include reporting to the Office of Weather-
ization and Intergovernmental Programs of the 
Department of Energy applicable data on each 
home retrofitted. 
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‘‘(i) REVIEW AND EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall 
review and evaluate the performance of any covered orga-
nization that receives a grant under this section (which 
may include an audit), as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(j) COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW.— 
Nothing in this section or any program carried out using 
a grant provided under this section supersedes or other-
wise affects any State or local law, to the extent that the 
State or local law contains a requirement that is more 
stringent than the applicable requirement of this section. 
‘‘(k) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Secretary shall submit 
to Congress annual reports that provide a description of 
energy and cost savings achieved and actions taken under 
this section. 
‘‘(l) FUNDING.—Of the funds made available to carry 
out this part for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 
under section 422, the Secretary shall make available to 
carry out this section— 
‘‘(1) 2 percent of the amount if less than 
$225,000,000 is available; 
‘‘(2) 5 percent of the amount if $225,000,000 
or more but less than $260,000,000 is available; 
‘‘(3) 10 percent of the amount if $260,000,000 
or more but less than $400,000,000 is available; and 
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‘‘(4) 20 percent of the amount if $400,000,000 
or more is available.’’. 
SEC. 103. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM. 
Section 415 of the Energy Conservation and Produc-
tion Act (42 U.S.C. 6865) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(f) QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) CONTRACTOR
QUALIFICATION.—Effective 
beginning January 1, 2016, to be eligible to carry 
out weatherization using funds made available under 
this part, a contractor shall be selected through a 
competitive bidding process and be— 
‘‘(A) accredited by the Building Perform-
ance Institute; 
‘‘(B) an Energy Smart Home Performance 
Team accredited under the Residential Energy 
Services Network; or 
‘‘(C) accredited by an equivalent accredita-
tion or program accreditation-based State cer-
tification program approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) 
GRANTS
TO
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to re-
ceive a grant under section 414C, a covered or-
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ganization (as defined in section 414C(b)) shall 
use a crew chief who— 
‘‘(i) is certified or accredited in ac-
cordance with paragraph (1); and 
‘‘(ii) supervises the work performed 
with grant funds. 
‘‘(B) VOLUNTEER
LABOR.—A volunteer 
who performs work for a covered organization 
that receives a grant under section 414C shall 
not be required to be certified under this sub-
section if the volunteer is not directly installing 
or repairing mechanical equipment or other 
items that require skilled labor. 
‘‘(3) MINIMUM
EFFICIENCY
STANDARDS.—Ef-
fective beginning October 1, 2016, the Secretary 
shall ensure that— 
‘‘(A) each retrofit for which weatherization 
assistance is provided under this part meets 
minimum efficiency and quality of work stand-
ards established by the Secretary after weather-
ization of a dwelling unit; 
‘‘(B) at least 10 percent of such dwelling 
units are randomly inspected by a third party 
accredited as described in paragraph (1) (A) 
through (C) to ensure compliance with the min-
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imum efficiency and quality of work standards 
established under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(C) the standards established under this 
subsection meet or exceed the industry stand-
ards for home performance work that are in ef-
fect on the date of enactment of this subsection, 
as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
TITLE II—STATE ENERGY 
PROGRAMS 
SEC. 201. REAUTHORIZATION OF STATE ENERGY PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 365(f) of the Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act (42 U.S.C. 6325(f)) is amended by striking 
‘‘$125,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
2012’’ and inserting ‘‘$75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2016 through 2020’’. 
Æ 
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