Home Star Passes U.S. House

Today, Congress stepped up for millions of unemployed workers and every American paying too much in home energy costs.

By a vote of 246 to 161, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the long-awaited Home Star legislation (H.R. 5019). The proposal, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, will give direct rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy efficient.

In the final hours before bill passage, thousands of organizations voiced their support for Home Star. The Alliance sent a letter to Congress urging the bill’s passage, as did the National Association of Manufacturers, the Chamber of Commerce, and the 1,300-member-strong Home Star Coalition. All agree that this is smart policy.

Better Homes, New Careers

The measure couldn’t come quickly enough. The burst of the housing bubble leveled the construction industry and put 2.1 million construction workers out of work. Home Star will put those workers back on track by creating immediate jobs that capture their skills.

And this time around, these careers will last. With Home Star, Congress can help Americans invest in ways to make their homes more affordable – rather than in homes they can’t afford – and set a strong foundation for steady growth in the construction industry.  These new careers in home energy performance will continue to bring savings to individual homeowners, jobs in construction and manufacturing, and billions of dollars in avoided energy costs back into our economy each year.

By passing Home Star, the U.S. House of Representatives took an important step for American homeowners, workers of all stripes, and businesses working to make ours the most energy-efficient country in the world. Let’s hope the Senate can do the same.