To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to certain entities that agree that the funds will be used to make loans to consumers to implement energy efficiency measures involving structural improvements and investments in cost-effective, commercial off-the-shelf technologies to reduce energy use, and for other purposes.
Latest action · Sep 20, 2010 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 9, 2010
- Passed HouseSep 16, 2010
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
(Sec. 1) Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program of interest free loans to states to support financial assistance provided by qualified financing entities for the installation of qualifying energy savings measures.
Defines "eligible participant" as a homeowner with a gross annual household income of less than $250,000 who receives financial assistance from a qualified financing entity to carry out qualifying energy savings measures and who is not also a qualified consumer. Prohibits participation by a homeowner who is more than six months delinquent in child support payments.
Directs the Secretary to publish: (1) a list of appropriate residential energy efficiency measures (which shall not include the installation or replacement of pool heaters or the installation of Energy Star televisions); and (2) an energy savings verification protocol.
Sets forth eligibility criteria for qualifying financing entities.
Authorizes FY2010-FY2014 appropriations subject to the requirement that enactment of this Act would not increase direct spending.
(Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), through the Rural Utilities Service, to establish the Rural Star Energy Savings Program to make interest-free loans to eligible entities for loans to qualified consumers (which may bear interest of up to 3%) to implement approved residential or farm energy efficiency measures.
Directs the Secretary to allow an eligible entity to request a special advance to defray initial startup costs.
Prohibits loans from being used to: (1) purchase a manufactured home; or (2) purchase personal property that is not attached to real property as a fixture.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) establish a measurement and verification advisory committee; and (2) maintain a directory of energy efficiency auditors.
Authorizes the Secretary to enter into agreements with qualified entities to provide technical assistance and employee training.
Prohibits the Secretary from using such authority to: (1) develop a public labeling system that rates and compares energy performance among qualified consumers; or (2) require public disclosure of an energy performance evaluation developed for any qualified consumer.
Directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with eligible entities, or groups of eligible entities, that have specified energy efficiency programs for energy efficiency loan demonstration projects that: (1) implement energy audit and investment approaches that yield measurable and predictable savings; (2) use measurement and verification processes to determine loan effectiveness; (3) provide for employee training; (4) provide for participation of a majority of eligible entities in a state; (5) reduce the need for generating capacity; (6) provide efficiency loans to specified numbers of consumers of a single entity or a group of entities; and (7) serve areas where a large percentage of consumers reside in manufactured homes or in housing units that are more than 50 years old.
(Sec. 3) Requires lenders under this Act to give priority to members of the Armed Forces on active duty and to veterans.
(Sec. 4) Prohibits the Secretary of Energy (DOE) and the Secretary of Agriculture from providing funds under this Act to any contractor that employs an employee to work in a consumer's home if that employee has been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a crime of child molestation, rape, or any other form of sexual assault.
(Sec. 5) Prohibits a loan under this Act from being provided to a federal employee who: (1) has a seriously delinquent tax debt; (2) received, but was ineligible for, a payment under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981; or (3) has been officially disciplined for viewing, downloading, or exchanging pornography, including child pornography, on a federal government computer or while performing official federal government duties.
(Sec. 7) States that: (1) funds authorized by this Act shall only be made available for the purpose of carrying out qualifying energy savings measures on a primary residence; and (2) neither the Secretary of Energy nor the Secretary of Agriculture shall provide funds authorized by this Act to any contractor that has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any fraudulent offense.
(Sec. 8) States that the provisions of this Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if this Act will have a negative effect on the U.S. national deficit.
Recorded votes 2
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| House 530 | On Passage | Passed240–172 | Sep 16, 2010 |
| House 529 | On Agreeing to the Amendment | Agreed to402–0 | Sep 16, 2010 |
Cosponsors 56
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Mar 9, 2010 to Sep 14, 2010, with 3 there on the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-KY | Ed Whitfield | Original | Mar 9, 2010 |
| D-SC | John M. Spratt, Jr. | Original | Mar 9, 2010 |
| D-VA | Thomas S.P. Perriello | Original | Mar 9, 2010 |
| R-SC | Henry E. Brown, Jr. | Mar 12, 2010 | |
| R-SC | Joe Wilson | Mar 12, 2010 | |
| D-MI | Bart Stupak | Mar 19, 2010 | |
| R-SC | Bob Inglis | Mar 19, 2010 | |
| D-TN | Bart Gordon | Apr 14, 2010 | |
| D-CO | Betsy Markey | Apr 14, 2010 | |
| D-AZ | Ed Pastor | Apr 14, 2010 | |
| D-GA | Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. | Apr 14, 2010 | |
| D-KY | Ben Chandler | Apr 20, 2010 | |
| D-CA | Bob Filner | Apr 20, 2010 | |
| D-AL | Bobby Bright | Apr 20, 2010 | |
| D-IN | Brad Ellsworth | Apr 20, 2010 |
Actions 35
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Sep 20, 2010Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sep 16, 2010Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1620. (consideration: CR H6777-6791)
- Sep 16, 2010DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Butterfield amendment.
- Sep 16, 2010DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cuellar amendment.
- Sep 16, 2010DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCarthy (NY) amendment.
- Sep 16, 2010DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1620, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Holden amendment.
- Sep 16, 2010DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the Shadegg motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment which requires certain provisions be met in order for funds to be made available. The amendment also states that the provisions of the Act shall be suspended and shall not apply if the Act will have a negative effect on the national budget deficit of the United States.
- Sep 16, 2010GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4785.
- Sep 16, 2010House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1620 and Rule XVIII.
- Sep 16, 2010Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Sep 16, 2010Mr. Shadegg moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce. (consideration: CR H6789-6790; text: CR H6789)
- Sep 16, 2010On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote.
- Sep 16, 2010On passage Passed by recorded vote: 240 - 172 (Roll no. 530).
- Sep 16, 2010Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 240 - 172 (Roll no. 530).
- Sep 16, 2010POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Holden amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Holden demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
- Sep 16, 2010Rule H. Res. 1620 passed House.
- Sep 16, 2010Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4785 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in Part B of the report. All points of order against the amendments in part B except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The resolution provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.
- Sep 16, 2010The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text: CR H6782-6785)
- Sep 16, 2010The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4785.
- Sep 16, 2010The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6788)
- Sep 16, 2010The previous question was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H6790)
- Sep 16, 2010The Speaker designated the Honorable John T. Salazar to act as Chairman of the Committee.
- Sep 16, 2010The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Sep 16, 2010UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
- Sep 15, 2010Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1620 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4785 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in Part B of the report. All points of order against the amendments in part B except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The resolution provides that the Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.
- Sep 14, 2010Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.
- Sep 14, 2010Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 335.
- Sep 14, 2010Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Agriculture. H. Rept. 111-585, Part I.
- Jul 14, 2010Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- May 12, 2010Subcommittee Hearings Held.
- Mar 10, 2010Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
- Mar 9, 2010Introduced in House
- Mar 9, 2010Referred to House Agriculture
- Mar 9, 2010Referred to House Energy and Commerce
- Mar 9, 2010Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Related bills 2
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRES 1620 | Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4785) to amend the miscellaneous rural development provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make loans to certain entities that will use the | Procedurally related | Sep 16, 2010 |
| S 3102 | Rural Energy Savings Program Act | Identical bill | Jun 17, 2010 |
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Agriculture and Food.
Text 4
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Sep 20, 2010Referred in Senate
- Sep 16, 2010Engrossed in House
- Sep 14, 2010Reported in House
- Mar 9, 2010Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov.