National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) president John Engler issued the following statement May 6 regarding passage of H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act:
“Manufacturers applaud members of the House of Representatives who voted for passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act. This important piece of legislation will spur consumer demand for energy-efficient products and building materials by providing significant and immediate rebates for home energy-efficiency retrofits.
“U.S. manufacturing unemployment has fallen by nearly 2.2 million since December 2007, and the steep decline in the housing market has significantly impacted manufacturing. Home Star will quickly create much-needed jobs in the manufacturing, distribution and sale of energy-efficient products in a recovering economy. American manufacturers have taken the lead in making energy efficiency a priority. Improvements on this front over the past 40 years have already made our nation 46 percent more energy efficient. The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act promotes job creation and energy efficiency, and we thank the members of the House who supported this measure today.
“We will continue to urge the U.S. Senate to act quickly so the bill can get to the President’s desk and signed into law as fast as possible.”
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing has a presence in every single congressional district providing good, high-paying jobs. For more information, visit www.nam.org.