{"id":220,"date":"2010-08-03T13:02:30","date_gmt":"2010-08-03T18:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manufacturedhomepronews.com\/industryvoices\/?p=220"},"modified":"2010-08-03T13:02:30","modified_gmt":"2010-08-03T18:02:30","slug":"action-needed-contact-senators-and-request-they-support-s-1320","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.manufacturedhomepronews.com\/industryvoices\/action-needed-contact-senators-and-request-they-support-s-1320\/","title":{"rendered":"Action Needed: Contact Senators and Request they Support S. 1320"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Thursday, August 5, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will mark up a number of energy bills. Included in the mark up is the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act (S. 1320) sponsored by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT). Assistance is needed from MHI members to ensure the committee favorably reports the measure.<\/p>\n

ACTION NEEDED:<\/b><\/p>\n

MHI members with Senators serving on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee are urged to personally contact their offices and ask them to vote in favor of S. 1320. A list of the Energy Committee members is below. In addition, Senators should be urged to contact both Democratic and Republican Senate leaders to request the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act be included as part of any energy legislation or job creation measure the chamber may be developing. Contact Rae Ann Bevington at 703-558-0675 or RBevington@mfghome.org<\/a> for additional information.<\/p>\n

BACKGROUND:<\/b><\/p>\n

In March 2009, Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) introduced the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act (H.R. 1749). Companion legislation (S. 1320) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) on June 22, 2009.<\/p>\n

On May 6, 2010, the House of Representatives adopted a broad-scale home energy retrofit bill (Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010; HR 5019), which includes amended provisions from the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act. The legislation was referred to the Energy & Natural Resources Committee for consideration.<\/p>\n

Both bills authorize the Department of Energy (DOE) to make grants to states to provide owners of manufactured homes constructed prior to 1976 with a one-time only rebate of up to $7,500 to use towards the purchase of a new Energy Star qualified manufactured home. To cover the additional cost of removing and recycling the old home an additional grant of up to $2,500 to be provided upon proof of decommissioning. To be eligible, home owners could not have a total household income in excess of 200 percent of an area’s poverty level. The legislation permits replacement of substandard mobile homes with ENERGY STAR homes as an eligible use of up to $6,500 of the American Recovery and Renewal Act Weatherization Assistance Program funds. Current law forbids weatherization funds from being used for replacement.<\/p>\n

KEY TALKING POINTS:<\/b><\/p>\n

Members of Congress are asked to endorse the Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act (H.R. 1749 & S. 1320) for the following reasons:<\/p>\n