,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bjda ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #b1 #bjai,mr4 ,tonko 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rush1 and ,ms4 ,kaptur7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the weatherization assistance program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,weatherization ,enhancement and ,local ,energy ,efficiency ,investment and ,accountability ,act4 #b4 ,weatherization assistance program 7a7 ,reauthorization of weatherization assistance program ,section #dbb of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhgb7 is amended by striking appropriated-- and all that follows through #bjab44 and inserting appropriated #cej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd44 7b7 ,modernizing the definition of weatherization materials ,section #dab7i77;,j7 of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfb7i77;,j77 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 1 including renewable energy technologies and other advanced technologies1 after devices or technologies2 and 7#b7 by striking 1 after consulting with the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 and the ,director of the ,community ,services ,administration4 7c7 ,consideration of health benefits ,section #dac7;b7 of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfc7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraphs 7#d7 through 7#f7 as paragraphs 7#e7 through 7#g71 respectively2 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#c71 the following3 7#d7 ,the ,secretary may amend the regulations prescribed under paragraph 7#a7 to provide that the standards described in paragraph 7#b77;,a7 take into consideration improvements in the health and safety of occupants of dwelling units1 and other non-energy benefits1 from weatherization4 4 7d7 ,contractor optimization 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act is amended by inserting after section #dad;,b 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfd;b7 the following3 #dad;,c4 ,contractor optimization 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may request that entities receiving funding from the ,federal ,government or from a ,state through a weatherization assistance program under section #dac or section #dad perform periodic reviews of the use of private contractors in the provision of weatherization assistance1 and encourage expanded use of contractors as appropriate4 7b7 ,use of training funds ,entities described in subsection 7a7 may use funding described in such subsection to train private1 non-,federal entities that are contracted to provide weatherization assistance under a weatherization program1 in accordance with rules determined by the ,secretary4 4 7#b7 ,table of contents amendment ,the table of contents for the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #dad;,b the following3 ,sec4 #dad;,c4 ,contractor optimization4 4 7e7 ,financial assistance for ,,wap enhancement and innovation 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act is amended by inserting after section #dad;,c 7as added by subsection 7d7 of this section7 the following3 #dad;,d4 ,financial assistance for ,,wap enhancement and innovation 7a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this section are-- 7#a7 to expand the number of dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons that receive weatherization assistance by making such dwelling units weatherization-ready2 7#b7 to promote the deployment of renewable energy in dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons2 7#c7 to ensure healthy indoor environments by enhancing or expanding health and safety measures and resources available to dwellings that are occupied by low-income persons2 and 7#d7 to disseminate new methods and best practices among entities providing weatherization assistance4 7b7 ,financial assistance ,the ,secretary shall1 to the extent funds are made available1 award financial assistance through a competitive process to entities receiving funding from the ,federal ,government or from a ,state through a weatherization program under section #dac or section #dad1 or to nonprofit entities1 to be used by such an entity-- 7#a7 with respect to dwelling units that are occupied by low-income persons1 to-- 7,a7 implement measures to make such dwelling units weatherization-ready by addressing structural1 plumbing1 roofing1 and electrical issues1 environmental hazards1 or other measures that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate2 7,b7 install energy efficiency technologies1 including home energy management systems1 smart devices1 and other technologies the ,secretary determines to be appropriate2 7,c7 install renewable energy systems 7as defined in section #dae7;c77#f77;,a772 and 7,d7 implement measures to ensure healthy indoor environments by improving indoor air quality1 accessibility1 and other healthy homes measures as determined by the ,secretary2 7#b7 to improve the capability of the entity-- 7,a7 to significantly increase the number of energy retrofits performed by such entity2 7,b7 to replicate best practices for work performed pursuant to this section on a larger scale2 and 7,c7 to leverage additional funds to sustain the provision of weatherization assistance and other work performed pursuant to this section after financial assistance awarded under this section is expended2 7#c7 for innovative outreach and education regarding the benefits and availability of weatherization assistance and other assistance available pursuant to this section2 7#d7 for quality control of work performed pursuant to this section2 7#e7 for data collection1 measurement1 and verification with respect to such work2 7#f7 for program monitoring1 oversight1 evaluation1 and reporting regarding such work2 7#g7 for labor1 training1 and technical assistance relating to such work2 7#h7 for planning1 management1 and administration 7up to a maximum of #ae percent of the assistance provided72 and 7#i7 for such other activities as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7c7 ,award factors ,in awarding financial assistance under this section1 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7#a7 the applicant's record of constructing1 renovating1 repairing1 or making energy efficient single-family1 multifamily1 or manufactured homes that are occupied by low-income persons1 either directly or through affiliates1 chapters1 or other partners 7using the most recent year for which data are available72 7#b7 the number of dwelling units occupied by low-income persons that the applicant has built1 renovated1 repaired1 weatherized1 or made more energy efficient in the #e years preceding the date of the application2 7#c7 the qualifications1 experience1 and past performance of the applicant1 including experience successfully managing and administering ,federal funds2 7#d7 the strength of an applicant's proposal to achieve one or more of the purposes under subsection 7a72 7#e7 the extent to which such applicant will utilize partnerships and regional coordination to achieve one or more of the purposes under subsection 7a72 7#f7 regional and climate zone diversity2 7#g7 urban1 suburban1 and rural localities2 and 7#h7 such other factors as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7d7 ,applications 7#a7 ,administration ,to be eligible for an award of financial assistance under this section1 an applicant shall submit to the ,secretary an application in such manner and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,awards ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall make a first award of financial assistance under this section4 7e7 ,maximum amount and term 7#a7 ,in general ,the total amount of financial assistance awarded to an entity under this section shall not exceed #b1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,technical and training assistance ,the total amount of financial assistance awarded to an entity under this section shall be reduced by the cost of any technical and training assistance provided by the ,secretary that relates to such financial assistance4 7#c7 ,term ,the term of an award of financial assistance under this section shall not exceed #c years4 7f7 ,requirements ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall issue requirements to implement this section1 including1 for entities receiving financial assistance under this section-- 7#a7 standards for allowable expenditures2 7#b7 a minimum saving-to-investment ratio2 and 7#c7 standards for-- 7,a7 training programs2 7,b7 energy audits2 7,c7 the provision of technical assistance2 7,d7 monitoring activities carried out using such financial assistance2 7,e7 verification of energy and cost savings2 7,f7 liability insurance requirements2 and 7,g7 recordkeeping and reporting requirements1 which shall include reporting to the ,office of ,weatherization and ,intergovernmental ,programs of the ,department of ,energy applicable data on each dwelling unit retrofitted or otherwise assisted pursuant to this section4 7g7 ,compliance with ,state and local law ,nothing in this section supersedes or otherwise affects any ,state or local law1 to the extent that the ,state or local law contains a requirement that is more stringent than the applicable requirement of this section4 7h7 ,review and evaluation ,the ,secretary shall review and evaluate the performance of each entity that receives an award of financial assistance under this section 7which may include an audit74 7i7 ,annual report ,the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress an annual report that provides a description of-- 7#a7 actions taken under this section to achieve the purposes of this section2 and 7#b7 accomplishments as a result of such actions1 including energy and cost savings achieved4 7j7 ,funding 7#a7 ,amounts 7,a7 ,in general ,for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd1 of the amount made available under section #dbb for such fiscal year to carry out the weatherization program under this part 7not including any of such amount made available for ,department of ,energy headquarters training or technical assistance71 not more than-- 7i7 #b percent of such amount 7if such amount is #bbe1jjj1jjj or more but less than #bfj1jjj1jjj7 may be used to carry out this section2 7ii7 #d percent of such amount 7if such amount is #bfj1jjj1jjj or more but less than #cjj1jjj1jjj7 may be used to carry out this section2 and 7iii7 #f percent of such amount 7if such amount is #cjj1jjj1jjj or more7 may be used to carry out this section4 7,b7 ,minimum ,for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd1 if the amount made available under section #dbb 7not including any of such amount made available for ,department of ,energy headquarters training or technical assistance7 for such fiscal year is less than #bbe1jjj1jjj1 no funds shall be made available to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,limitation ,for any fiscal year1 the ,secretary may not use more than #be1jjj1jjj of the amount made available under section #dbb to carry out this section4 4 7#b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #dad;,c the following3 ,sec4 #dad;,d4 ,financial assistance for ,,wap enhancement and innovation4 4 7f7 ,increase in administrative funds ,section #dae7;a77#a7 of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfe7;a77#a77 is amended by striking #aj percent and inserting #ae percent4 7g7 ,amending re-,weatherization date ,paragraph 7#b7 of section #dae7;c7 of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfe7;c77 is amended to read as follows3 7#b7 ,dwelling units weatherized 7including dwelling units partially weatherized7 under this part1 or under other ,federal programs 7in this paragraph referred to as #8previous weatherization'71 may not receive further financial assistance for weatherization under this part until the date that is #ae years after the date such previous weatherization was completed4 ,this paragraph does not preclude dwelling units that have received previous weatherization from receiving assistance and services 7including the provision of information and education to assist with energy management and evaluation of the effectiveness of installed weatherization materials7 other than weatherization under this part or under other ,federal programs1 or from receiving non-,federal assistance for weatherization4 4 #c4 ,report on waivers ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,energy shall submit to ,congress a report on the status of any request for a waiver of any requirement under section #bjj4cac of title #b1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as such requirement applies with respect to the weatherization assistance program under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,energy ,conservation and ,production ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fhfa et seq471 including a description of any such waiver that has been granted and any such request for a waiver that has been considered but not granted4