OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Home Star Energy Retrofit Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

Date: May 6, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Natural Resources

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Mr. NYE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I rise today to offer a commonsense, yet important, amendment to the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act which will provide much-needed savings for our military families.

I represent one of the highest concentrations of veterans and servicemembers of any congressional district in the country, and this amendment is especially important to my constituents in Hampton Roads.

Under the bill, homeowners, renters and contractors will be able to claim a credit for home energy efficiency upgrades and for high-energy-use appliances, such as air conditioners and water heaters. My amendment will simply add Armed Forces exchanges to the list of qualified entities that can provide these credits instantly to servicemembers and veterans.

Many servicemembers and their families shop at base exchanges because they are one-stop shops for everything from fresh produce to energy-efficient light bulbs and other home needs. Providing them easy access to the great benefits in this bill is a simple and commonsense way to make their day-to-day duties more hassle free.

Madam Chair, we should do all we can to support our military families. Often, it is the families who have the toughest jobs because, really, they are doing two jobs: being strong and supportive for their husbands or wives who are overseas, and also taking care of the families back home and the household finances. Saving them a few hundred dollars a year, if not more, would really provide a boost to their finances. This amendment would make that easier.

I would like to thank Representative Welch, Chairman Markey, and Chairman Waxman for their hard work in bringing this legislation to fruition.

Passing the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act will go a long way toward promoting energy efficiencies throughout our country. So I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill and the amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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