Congressman Cleaver Fights to Help Families and the Environment

Press Release

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, along with his fellow members of the House Committee on Financial Services, Reps. Dennis Ross (R-FL-3), Sean Duffy (R-WI-7), Jim Himes (D-CT-4), and John Delaney (D-MD-6), today introduced the Pay for Success Affordable Housing Energy Modernization Act, bipartisan legislation that will provide the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the authority to establish a demonstration program and enter into budget-neutral, performance based agreements that result in the reduction in energy or water costs for multi-family housing.

"This bipartisan bill, which I am proud to cosponsor, will increase energy efficiency, help our environment, and reduce utility bills for consumers at no cost to the taxpayer. Creating energy efficient homes has been a priority of mine since the creation of the Green Impact Zone in urban Kansas City, and this bill will further increase energy efficiency for multifamily housing."

Currently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) spends more than $7 billion in annual energy and water costs. These high costs are attributable in large part to older housing stock that is not energy efficient. Many multi-family buildings are years behind current energy efficient technology and owners lack capital and incentives to invest in updates. Owners of HUD-assisted properties, such as senior housing and housing for persons with disabilities, typically lack both the capital and incentives to perform energy upgrades that could save HUD millions in utility costs.

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