Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Rural Energy Savings Program Act and the Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program contained in today's substitute amendment. Together, these complementary initiatives will create good paying American jobs, save consumers money and enhance our nation's energy security. The Rural Star program will enable rural electric cooperatives to borrow money from the USDA Rural Utilities Service to fund voluntary and cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades for the citizens they serve. The resulting low-interest loans would bear an interest rate of no greater than three percent and would be repaid on the participating consumers' utility bill over a ten year period of time. The Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program is designed for those citizens not served by rural electric cooperatives. Under this companion measure, which tracks the National Home Energy Savings Revolving Fund legislation I introduced earlier this Congress, states would be able to borrow federal funds they could then make available to electric utilities and other entities capable of administering a loan program for cost-effective residential energy efficiency retrofits. As an added ``Made in America'' benefit, it is estimated that 92 percent of the products and materials that would be used in the Home Star program are manufactured in the United States. Mr. Chair, this is common-sense, forward-looking legislation that will meaningfully advance America's clean energy future.…”