This week, President Obama announced that the Administration and congressional Republicans had arrived at a “bipartisan agreement” to extend Bush-era tax cuts for two years, jobless benefits for 13 months, and other tax incentives to support business expansion. The compromise measure includes an extension of the energy-efficient new home tax credit program (45L) for two years. This provision is vitally important for manufactured and modular home producers and consumers.

Manufacturers who build ENERGY STAR homes were eligible to receive a $1,000 tax credit while modular homebuilders are eligible to receive a $2,000 tax credit by exceeding the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by 50 percent. This tax credit, which expired in December of 2009, is a critical component of broader Congressional efforts to spur job growth, increase energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in our nation’s built environment.

The compromise agreement, which makes numerous concessions to Republican demands, has angered Democrats in both chambers—particularly over provisions extending tax cuts to higher income earners. Senate leaders are still struggling to garner the necessary votes to pass the bill.

The Senate is expected to vote on The Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2010 as early as December 13. If the Senate passes the bill, it will be referred to the House of Representatives where many Democrats have voiced strong opposition to the bill in its present form.

MHI members are urged to call their Representatives and ask them to vote in favor of the legislation. A complete list of Congressional phone numbers is available by clicking here.

For more information, MHI members can contact Jason Boehlert at (703) 558-0660 or jboehlert@mfghome.org or Rae Ann Bevington at (703) 558-0675 or rbevington@mfghome.org.