Johnny Isakson: “I rise to praise the ranking member and the chairman of the committee on the great job they have done on this…”

“I rise to praise the ranking member and the chairman of the committee on the great job they have done on this legislation. I have worked for years with Senator Murkowski. She is a real trooper and has done a great job for our country and for her State of Alaska. Senator Cantwell of Washington is the same. I am pleased to work with them on this particular legislation, which I support today. I am rising to talk for a minute about an amendment Senator Bennet of Colorado and I will be offering to the bill at the appropriate time called the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act is a way to encourage people to finance and include in the purchase of a new home the right types of energy efficiency additions to that home, which will lower the cost of energy to the home, improve the rate of consumption of energy in the home, and make it easier for people to afford energy-saving R-factors for insulation, Thermopane for doors and windows, and other treatments they need to reduce costs. I spent 33 years in residential real estate. I don't know much about anything, but I know a lot about people buying houses and about housing laws and about financing, and I know this: For the entry-level borrower--and this addresses only FHA loans--the most important thing to have the right type of energy efficiency is to be able to afford it, and the best way to be able to afford it is to be able to finance it.…”