Ann Kirkpatrick: “The House considers today H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program. I am a cosponsor of the original, bipartisan…”

“The House considers today H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program. I am a cosponsor of the original, bipartisan legislation that would address a critical need in rural America--energy efficiency improvements that will reduce our energy consumption and lower consumers' utility bills. This original bill creates new loans under the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service. The voluntary loans to electric cooperatives will facilitate their providing low-interest loans to consumers, to be repaid through utility bills. Loans will allow cooperative customers to make only energy efficiency improvements that are proven to be worth the investment. After the small loans for improvements are repaid, consumers will have a lasting reduction in their bills as their energy consumption declines. The federal government will be repaid, wisely leveraging these taxpayer dollars for long-term benefits. This program is a win-win-win for consumers, the cooperatives that serve them, and taxpayers, and I strongly support this model. Unfortunately, the bill we are considering today also includes the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act--a measure the House considered in May of this year and that I opposed.”