Lower Energy Costs Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. MATSUI. Madam Chair, I rise today to reaffirm my commitment and that of my Democratic colleagues to reducing energy costs for the American people.

Last Congress, we delivered a historic bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, that will save Americans money and make transformative investments to fight climate change.

The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program, in particular, gives Americans up to $14,000 to electrify their homes and improve energy efficiency. It covers up to 100 percent of electrification project costs for low-income households, who often bear the brunt of both high-energy costs and extreme weather.

I know this program will save lives and money because the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or as we call it SMUD, is doing this in my district. Last November, I visited a constituent, a retired nurse whose home had been fully electrified and weatherized by SMUD. This includes a heat pump, water heater, induction stove, ceiling fans, energy- efficient refrigerator, and insulation.

The Inflation Reduction Act would allow SMUD to significantly expand this program, which would positively impact my constituents.

H.R. 1 would repeal the home rebate program. This legislation would repeal a program that could save Americans up to $14,000. This is nothing more than a shameless giveaway to Big Oil when we need to be accelerating the clean energy transition.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

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