[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2041 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2041
To reauthorize the weatherization assistance program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2019
Mr. Tonko (for himself, Mr. Rush, and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the weatherization assistance program, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Weatherization Enhancement and Local
Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act''.
SEC. 2. WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Reauthorization of Weatherization Assistance Program.--Section
422 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6872) is
amended by striking ``appropriated--'' and all that follows through
``2012..'' and inserting ``appropriated $350,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2020 through 2024.''.
(b) Modernizing the Definition of Weatherization Materials.--
Section 412(9)(J) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42
U.S.C. 6862(9)(J)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``, including renewable energy
technologies and other advanced technologies,'' after ``devices
or technologies''; and
(2) by striking ``, after consulting with the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture,
and the Director of the Community Services Administration''.
(c) Consideration of Health Benefits.--Section 413(b) of the Energy
Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6863(b)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as
paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3), the following:
``(4) The Secretary may amend the regulations prescribed under
paragraph (1) to provide that the standards described in paragraph
(2)(A) take into consideration improvements in the health and safety of
occupants of dwelling units, and other non-energy benefits, from
weatherization.''.
(d) Contractor Optimization.--
(1) In general.--The Energy Conservation and Production Act
is amended by inserting after section 414B (42 U.S.C. 6864b)
the following:
``SEC. 414C. CONTRACTOR OPTIMIZATION.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may request that entities
receiving funding from the Federal Government or from a State through a
weatherization assistance program under section 413 or section 414
perform periodic reviews of the use of private contractors in the
provision of weatherization assistance, and encourage expanded use of
contractors as appropriate.
``(b) Use of Training Funds.--Entities described in subsection (a)
may use funding described in such subsection to train private, non-
Federal entities that are contracted to provide weatherization
assistance under a weatherization program, in accordance with rules
determined by the Secretary.''.
(2) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents for
the Energy Conservation and Production Act is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 414B the
following:
``Sec. 414C. Contractor optimization.''.
(e) Financial Assistance for WAP Enhancement and Innovation.--
(1) In general.--The Energy Conservation and Production Act
is amended by inserting after section 414C (as added by
subsection (d) of this section) the following:
``SEC. 414D. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR WAP ENHANCEMENT AND INNOVATION.
``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
``(1) to expand the number of dwelling units that are
occupied by low-income persons that receive weatherization
assistance by making such dwelling units weatherization-ready;
``(2) to promote the deployment of renewable energy in
dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons;
``(3) to ensure healthy indoor environments by enhancing or
expanding health and safety measures and resources available to
dwellings that are occupied by low-income persons; and
``(4) to disseminate new methods and best practices among
entities providing weatherization assistance.
``(b) Financial Assistance.--The Secretary shall, to the extent
funds are made available, award financial assistance through a
competitive process to entities receiving funding from the Federal
Government or from a State through a weatherization program under
section 413 or section 414, or to nonprofit entities, to be used by
such an entity--
``(1) with respect to dwelling units that are occupied by
low-income persons, to--
``(A) implement measures to make such dwelling
units weatherization-ready by addressing structural,
plumbing, roofing, and electrical issues, environmental
hazards, or other measures that the Secretary
determines to be appropriate;
``(B) install energy efficiency technologies,
including home energy management systems, smart
devices, and other technologies the Secretary
determines to be appropriate;
``(C) install renewable energy systems (as defined
in section 415(c)(6)(A)); and
``(D) implement measures to ensure healthy indoor
environments by improving indoor air quality,
accessibility, and other healthy homes measures as
determined by the Secretary;
``(2) to improve the capability of the entity--
``(A) to significantly increase the number of
energy retrofits performed by such entity;
``(B) to replicate best practices for work
performed pursuant to this section on a larger scale;
and
``(C) to leverage additional funds to sustain the
provision of weatherization assistance and other work
performed pursuant to this section after financial
assistance awarded under this section is expended;
``(3) for innovative outreach and education regarding the
benefits and availability of weatherization assistance and
other assistance available pursuant to this section;
``(4) for quality control of work performed pursuant to
this section;
``(5) for data collection, measurement, and verification
with respect to such work;
``(6) for program monitoring, oversight, evaluation, and
reporting regarding such work;
``(7) for labor, training, and technical assistance
relating to such work;
``(8) for planning, management, and administration (up to a
maximum of 15 percent of the assistance provided); and
``(9) for such other activities as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
``(c) Award Factors.--In awarding financial assistance under this
section, the Secretary shall consider--
``(1) the applicant's record of constructing, renovating,
repairing, or making energy efficient single-family,
multifamily, or manufactured homes that are occupied by low-
income persons, either directly or through affiliates,
chapters, or other partners (using the most recent year for
which data are available);
``(2) the number of dwelling units occupied by low-income
persons that the applicant has built, renovated, repaired,
weatherized, or made more energy efficient in the 5 years
preceding the date of the application;
``(3) the qualifications, experience, and past performance
of the applicant, including experience successfully managing
and administering Federal funds;
``(4) the strength of an applicant's proposal to achieve
one or more of the purposes under subsection (a);
``(5) the extent to which such applicant will utilize
partnerships and regional coordination to achieve one or more
of the purposes under subsection (a);
``(6) regional and climate zone diversity;
``(7) urban, suburban, and rural localities; and
``(8) such other factors as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
``(d) Applications.--
``(1) Administration.--To be eligible for an award of
financial assistance under this section, an applicant shall
submit to the Secretary an application in such manner and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Awards.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall make a first
award of financial assistance under this section.
``(e) Maximum Amount and Term.--
``(1) In general.--The total amount of financial assistance
awarded to an entity under this section shall not exceed
$2,000,000.
``(2) Technical and training assistance.--The total amount
of financial assistance awarded to an entity under this section
shall be reduced by the cost of any technical and training
assistance provided by the Secretary that relates to such
financial assistance.
``(3) Term.--The term of an award of financial assistance
under this section shall not exceed 3 years.
``(f) Requirements.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue requirements to
implement this section, including, for entities receiving financial
assistance under this section--
``(1) standards for allowable expenditures;
``(2) a minimum saving-to-investment ratio; and
``(3) standards for--
``(A) training programs;
``(B) energy audits;
``(C) the provision of technical assistance;
``(D) monitoring activities carried out using such
financial assistance;
``(E) verification of energy and cost savings;
``(F) liability insurance requirements; and
``(G) recordkeeping and reporting requirements,
which shall include reporting to the Office of
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs of the
Department of Energy applicable data on each dwelling
unit retrofitted or otherwise assisted pursuant to this
section.
``(g) Compliance With State and Local Law.--Nothing in this section
supersedes or otherwise 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.
``(h) Review and Evaluation.--The Secretary shall review and
evaluate the performance of each entity that receives an award of
financial assistance under this section (which may include an audit).
``(i) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress an
annual report that provides a description of--
``(1) actions taken under this section to achieve the
purposes of this section; and
``(2) accomplishments as a result of such actions,
including energy and cost savings achieved.
``(j) Funding.--
``(1) Amounts.--
``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2020
through 2024, of the amount made available under
section 422 for such fiscal year to carry out the
weatherization program under this part (not including
any of such amount made available for Department of
Energy headquarters training or technical assistance),
not more than--
``(i) 2 percent of such amount (if such
amount is $225,000,000 or more but less than
$260,000,000) may be used to carry out this
section;
``(ii) 4 percent of such amount (if such
amount is $260,000,000 or more but less than
$300,000,000) may be used to carry out this
section; and
``(iii) 6 percent of such amount (if such
amount is $300,000,000 or more) may be used to
carry out this section.
``(B) Minimum.--For each of fiscal years 2020
through 2024, if the amount made available under
section 422 (not including any of such amount made
available for Department of Energy headquarters
training or technical assistance) for such fiscal year
is less than $225,000,000, no funds shall be made
available to carry out this section.
``(2) Limitation.--For any fiscal year, the Secretary may
not use more than $25,000,000 of the amount made available
under section 422 to carry out this section.''.
(2) Table of contents.--The table of contents for the
Energy Conservation and Production Act is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 414C the following:
``Sec. 414D. Financial assistance for WAP enhancement and
innovation.''.
(f) Increase in Administrative Funds.--Section 415(a)(1) of the
Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(a)(1)) is
amended by striking ``10 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''.
(g) Amending Re-Weatherization Date.--Paragraph (2) of section
415(c) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C.
6865(c)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) Dwelling units weatherized (including dwelling units
partially weatherized) under this part, or under other Federal programs
(in this paragraph referred to as `previous weatherization'), may not
receive further financial assistance for weatherization under this part
until the date that is 15 years after the date such previous
weatherization was completed. This paragraph does not preclude dwelling
units that have received previous weatherization from receiving
assistance and services (including the provision of information and
education to assist with energy management and evaluation of the
effectiveness of installed weatherization materials) other than
weatherization under this part or under other Federal programs, or from
receiving non-Federal assistance for weatherization.''.
SEC. 3. REPORT ON WAIVERS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress a report on the status
of any request for a waiver of any requirement under section 200.313 of
title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, as such requirement applies with
respect to the weatherization assistance program under part A of title
IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et
seq.), including a description of any such waiver that has been granted
and any such request for a waiver that has been considered but not
granted.
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