Jack Reed
Senator for Rhode Island · Democratic · United States
“This winter, Rhode Island was struck by the largest blizzard in State history. Over 3 feet of snow fell on the State in a 24-hour period--the highest 1-day snowfall on record for Rhode Island. The storm hit Rhode Island with the [[Page S4140]] intensity of a category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles per hour.”
“However, after months of waiting, on July 2, 2026, President Trump denied the request from Rhode Island with no explanation. On the same day Trump denied Rhode Island's request, he also denied requests from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts that all reportedly exceeded FEMA's damage thresholds.”
“However, after months of waiting, on July 2, 2026, President Trump denied the request from Rhode Island with no explanation. On the same day Trump denied Rhode Island's request, he also denied requests from New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts that all reportedly exceeded FEMA's damage thresholds.”
“The storm hit Rhode Island with the [[Page S4140]] intensity of a category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles per hour. It caused widespread power outages and tragically resulted in two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits.”
“The storm hit Rhode Island with the [[Page S4140]] intensity of a category 2 hurricane, with heavy winds up to 74 miles per hour. It caused widespread power outages and tragically resulted in two fatalities and hundreds of emergency room visits.”
“Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Disaster Relief Fairness Act, along with Senator Whitehouse. This bill would approve major disaster declarations requested under the Trump administration for incidents that meet or exceed FEMA's damage thresholds.”
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“The United States Constitution, the Rhode Island constitution, and Rhode Island State law explicitly state that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote. Under Federal law, it is a felony for non-U.S. citizens to vote. These laws are enforced, and they are a significant deterrent. An exhaustive study by the Brennan Center found that at least 30 cases of noncitizen voting were referred for investigation or prosecution during the 2016 election. Trump's Department of Justice in his first term indicted 19 people. The law was enforced, but the objectives of this law are trivial compared to the millions of Americans who must have the right to vote. Now, those 19 should not have voted, but it is 19 votes out of 129 million cast.”
“According to the Rhode Island secretary of state who is one of the most, I think, effective secretaries of state in the country, the State government would need to change its voter registration systems and forms. It may need to purchase new voting machines and equipment, and it would need to pursue a significant public outreach campaign to educate voters about changes in the law. But the SAVE Act provides zero dollars to cover these costs. States and localities will need to cover this unfunded mandate. Well, why is the Trump administration imposing these costs and interfering with Americans' fundamental rights as citizens to vote? They claim it is to combat noncitizen voting, but this legislation isn't necessary to do that.”
“What the Constitution and the spirit of America suggests and what countless generations of American servicemen have fought for is access to the polls for all and enthusiastic voting by American citizens. And what about the servicemembers who are just deployed overseas and didn't have time to register? How does that young American report in person--because that is what this says, in person--to establish his or her citizenship? According to military and veterans service organizations, registration methods used for decades by millions of American civilians and uniformed servicemembers abroad ``would likely become impossible under the SAVE Act.'' We will send them to war, but we won't let them vote. Trump's policy would also impose unfunded mandates on States.”
“As 15 secretaries of state recently wrote: REAL IDs do not indicate citizenship status. Even if the Federal laws for REAL ID were amended, the nearly 140 million REAL IDs that have been issued over the last decade could not be used as proof of citizenship. And these are the experts on elections, the secretaries of state of our 50 States. Now, some people may still think it is easy to get these documents or register to vote in person, but if you don't have the money to spare to get the proper documents, if you are elderly or disabled or can't easily get to your townhall, what are you to do? Faced with these barriers, they may just give up and not vote at all, which I believe is the ultimate objective of this legislation. Voter suppression is the way, I believe, that President Trump and others believe they can succeed at the polls.”
“Women who change their names after getting married, and that is 69 million Americans, will not be able to use a birth certificate alone to establish their citizenship, and they might not be able to vote. Americans could use a passport to satisfy the Trump policy, but according to the State Department, only half of Americans have a passport. And it will set you back $165 to get one just so you can exercise your constitutionally protected right to vote. By the way, I wonder if that could be considered a poll tax, which was outlawed through our Constitution, and we have to respect our Constitution. We all take an oath to do that. The Trump policy allows citizens to use a REAL ID ``that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the United States,'' but that is a false promise.”
“They have introduced the so-called SAVE Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. It attempts to codify the President's dubious Executive order. Now, I can see people saying: Well, what is the big deal about making someone show ID? Well, like many catchy sales pitches, this policy is really a bunch of ``gotchas'' that will stand between millions of voters and the ballot box. According to the Brennan Center, more than 9 percent of voting-age American citizens, 21 million people, don't have proof of citizenship-- typically a birth certificate or a passport--readily available to show as they try to vote. [[Page S2702]] And 4 million Americans don't have these documents available at all-- perhaps they were lost, destroyed, or stolen--and these Americans could be prevented from voting.”
“That is why Democrats vigorously support Federal funding and Federal anti-cyber interference in our elections. But what isn't essential is breaking a system that successfully prevents fraud and replacing it with one that makes it less likely that American citizens can exercise their constitutional right to vote. Yet that appears to be the Republican plan. Indeed, through a brazen, illegal, and unconstitutional Executive order, the Trump administration is attempting to mandate that every State change how it operates its elections. Its starkest proposal is to throw out State rules about voter identification requirements and require what is effectively a national ID--while ignoring current law that already makes it a serious crime for a noncitizen to vote.”
“Anthony who worked so zealously for the right of women to vote, and men like Martin Luther King, Jr., and thousands of Americans who dedicated themselves to opening the voting booths to all Americans. Indeed, the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are now advancing policies that could disqualify tens of millions of Americans from voting in elections. If adopted, these policies will make it harder for low-income individuals, the elderly, women, and even U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas to cast a ballot. Now, that is very ironic. These men and women in uniform are in dangerous locations to protect our fundamental rights, perhaps the most fundamental right is to vote, and yet this legislation would impair their ability to exercise that right. Election integrity is essential to our democracy.”
“Mr. President, I rise today alongside my colleagues to speak out against the attack on a fundamental right of every American citizen: the right to vote. I want to thank Senator Padilla for leading this important effort. The progress, the prosperity, and success of our Nation, both as an economic power and as an inspiration for freedom-loving people everywhere, has been aided by our efforts to tear down the obstacles that prevent citizens from voting. Today, the President and, seemingly, too many of my Republican colleagues want to throw that progress away. At the President's urgings, they appear to believe that it is OK to turn their backs on the work, the advocacy, and the sacrifice of women like Susan B.”
“It is time for America's business leaders and congressional Republicans to stand up and join us all in saying enough is enough. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.”
“He wants a ``big, beautiful bill.'' And what is in that ``big, beautiful bill?'' Big cuts for Medicaid and SNAP, which feeds children and disabled Americans, and big giveaways to the donors who financed his campaign and populate his administration. The American people see it, and survey after survey proves they do. The question is whether my colleagues, Senate Republicans, will go along with that. Will they listen to the people of America or will they still be under the thrall of Donald Trump? Americans deserve better than cuts to Medicaid. They deserve an economy headed upward, not backward. And they deserve a President who respects the Constitution and the rule of law that made our society and our economy the ``shining city on the hill,'' as President Reagan once said. The first 100 days of chaos and self-inflicted damage must end.”
“Before Trump undertook his campaign of economic chaos, the economy was on a good trajectory. In fact, that chart illustrates the trajectory. These Trump tariffs have been a huge blunder. Instead of implementing a thoughtful policymaking process to boost key domestic manufacturing, the President has chosen a blunt, blanket-tariff approach. In doing so, he has treated allies like enemies and driven global partners into the arms of China. What we are seeing now and what we will experience in the coming months: higher prices for families, fewer jobs, smaller retirement accounts, and a weaker economy. And it is entirely on the shoulders of the President. It is a self-inflicted wound on the economy and the American people. But it appears that the President isn't done.”
“Markets continue to move wildly as he erratically threatens schemes like doing away with the independence of the Federal Reserve, firing the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and trying to seize the power to lower interest rates themselves, manipulating interest rates themselves and future tariffs. We are still in this uncertain period because he just suspended them for 90 days. If these future tariffs come back, it would rock the market again. And by the way, when the market was collapsing after his grand announcement, where was he? He was in Florida at his golf course where the Saudis and others have sent millions of dollars to him so they could host a tournament, and he could play golf with them. That is not the definition of Presidential leadership.”
“Researchers at Yale University estimate that Donald Trump's current tariff regime--not including the tariffs he announced then backed away from--the current tariffs in place today will raise costs by $4,900 for families this year while increasing inflation as high as 5.5 percent and cutting economic growth. Other analysts project new car prices will rise by as much as $12,000 and new home prices by more than $9,000. I have spoken to multiple Rhode Island companies whose suppliers are already sending them higher quotes for their goods. Goldman Sachs estimates that the President's baseline 10-percent tariff on [[Page S2623]] all imports would lead to fewer--not more--American jobs. Goldman estimates that this tariff will lead to roughly 400,000 fewer jobs nationwide.”
“Each of these items on its own would be a cause for outrage, but Trump hopes that he will overwhelm Americans by ``flooding the zone'' with one stunt after another. But the inescapable fact is, his policies are hurting the American people, and they see it--not last January at the inauguration but today when they are looking at prices that are still too high; when they are evaluating his promise of ending inflation on the first day and solving the Ukrainian crisis on the first day. They see it in the prices they pay at the grocery store, in the cost of a new car or a new home. Sadly, it looks like it is going to get worse for American families.”
“He has also essentially extorted law firms to represent him and his causes for free. He has attempted to dictate how our colleges and universities are run, whom they hire and what they teach, essentially changing a prosperous knowledge-based economy--that is what we were talking about. That is how we would compete in the world. We are the knowledge-based economy. We are the innovators. We are changing everything. When you destroy our university systems and our health research systems, you turn a knowledge-based economy into a failing, ignorance-based economy. He has deported American citizens, threatened to annex Greenland, boosted Russia, and somehow found a way to alienate Canada, our neighbor and ally.”
“Well, if you are going to systematically break the law, you might as well get rid of those people who are checking on whether the law is properly enforced. He is defunding libraries and Head Start centers and halting critical medical research. He has closed the Agency for International Development and even withheld funding to feed starving children here in America and across the globe, and he has done incredible damage to our standing in the world. And as a result of his efforts to completely undermine the USAID, what is happening? Well, I will tell you what is happening: China is moving aggressively to take our place. And so, to people across the globe, when they look around and ask: Who is our friend? China? That is not good for us, and that is not what we, as Americans, have done for many, many years.”
“I got a call last night to get back as soon as possible--because the ability to protect and to develop our nuclear weapons could not be sustained without the presence of that lady and many others. And yet, given all of these issues, he has populated his administration with leadership that, at best, is uninterested in the challenges facing average Americans and, too often, unqualified to do the jobs they were hired to perform. He has withheld funding that was legally and constitutionally appropriated by Congress. He, in fact, has ignored the Constitution and Congress. One of his first acts was to fire the inspectors general throughout the government. Such a measure, by law, requires notice to Congress and 30 days' wait. He ignored that. And why?”
“The National Weather Service is renowned for its incredibly accurate and detailed and scientifically based forecasts. In fact, we all depend upon it and, I am told, particularly farmers in the Midwest, because if you are trying to figure out the day to plant your crops, you better know what the temperature is going to be in the morning and at noontime and in the evening. And the National Nuclear Security Administration is critical to protecting our nuclear weapons and developing them. I was in the airport in Providence, RI, and a young woman came up to me and said: Excuse me, Senator, but, 5 days ago, I was fired from the NNSA because I was a provisional worker.”
“Well, that is very easy for a billionaire and his family to say: I don't think they would miss their Social Security check. But for working Americans who depend on Social Security, their retirement benefits, their disability benefits--just to make ends meet, to have food on the table--they would certainly miss the delay of a Social Security check. And it is not just the Social Security Administration. We also know President Trump has purged Federal employees by the thousands, without regard for their job performance or the importance of their work--every agency, from the office that runs the LIHEAP program to the National Weather Service, to the National Nuclear Security Administration. LIHEAP is essential to my constituents in the wintertime. That is how they stay warm. That is how they are able to live.”
“Musk: He doesn't do anything unless there is a profit connected to it. Musk and DOGE are rifling through our IRS and Social Security records. Meanwhile, Americans can't get their questions answered about their Social Security benefits because Mr. Musk and DOGE and President Trump have cut staff and administrative funding. They have even tried to cut the phone lines for basic services. And Trump officials just laugh it off. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, a billionaire--which is not unusual in the Trump circuit--said on a podcast: Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who's 94, she wouldn't call and complain. She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”
“Mr. President, if you look clearly at the facts as they are today, by any measure, Donald Trump's first 100 days have been disastrous--not a success--for regular Americans and our Constitution. His administration has been marked by mismanagement, poor leadership, prickly egos, and policies that punch down rather than offer a hand up. In fact, that is reflected in the polls--not in January but today-- where his approval rating is the lowest of any President at the 100-day mark, I believe, in the history of this country. And as a result of these policies, America's economy and our standing in the eyes of our allies have fallen significantly. He has granted Elon Musk free reign to enter any Federal Agency and ferret through the data and files and personal information of every American citizen. And my impression of Mr.”
“I join so many of Noel's colleagues and peers in thanking him for his friendship and kindness and in wishing him a happy and healthy retirement, filled with new adventures, in the company of his wife Patti and their children. He has earned it. ____________________”
“Noel also spearheaded the creation of RISLA's College Planning Center, a free service that works directly with thousands of students to guide them through the college application process, including everything from writing a strong essay to selecting a college that best fits their goals. As the father of a high school senior, I can personally attest to the invaluable service the College Planning Center provides. Today, RISLA helps thousands of Rhode Islanders plan for and finance college, a number that has grown exponentially under Noel's leadership. His dedication has opened the door of higher education for a generation of Rhode Islanders. That is a legacy that has made a difference for our State and for students and families.”
“Students learn about financial aid eligibility criteria and the application process, such as completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The goal of this workshop is to educate students who need help paying for college, helping students navigate complicated and unfamiliar financial decisions. Noel has regularly served as moderator for these sessions, sharing his deep expertise and enthusiasm for student aid and financial literacy and making higher education more accessible. Indeed, Noel has been instrumental in bringing a variety of resources to college hopeful students throughout the Ocean State. For many years, Noel brought College Planning Sunday to Rhode Island, where high school seniors gathered to learn about how to [[Page S2605]] apply for financial aid.”
“Over the next several years, Noel led the rapid expansion of RISLA, developing a full team of professional staff and allowing the organization to become a leading voice on student loans and financial services in Rhode Island. As RISLA grew, Noel's career did as well, with Noel rising through the ranks and being named chief financial officer, deputy director, and eventually senior director. For the last 25 years, I have been proud to team up with Noel and RISLA to host our annual ``Financial Aid Nights.'' These workshops are dedicated to giving college-bound students and families a chance to learn firsthand from student aid experts about how to access financial aid opportunities for college.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S2604-S2605] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO NOEL SIMPSON Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Noel Simpson, senior director of the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA), on his upcoming retirement and thank him for his more than three decades of service dedicated to Rhode Island students, families, and educators. Noel joined RISLA as a consultant in 1993. At the time, Noel was one of just the handful of employees managing the duties of the organization.”
“I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and work with us to ensure it is passed on its own or as part of legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. ____________________”
“It provides support for college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations to support adult learners where they live. Finally, it invests in innovation and accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches for measuring program performance and learner outcomes. [[Page S2528]] In developing this legislation, Senator Young and I worked closely with key stakeholders, who are on the frontlines in the adult education community. I am pleased to count the American Library Association, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, the National Coalition for Literacy, National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, the TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, International Association, and the Urban Libraries Council among the supporters of this legislation.”
“It calls for increased resources, nearly doubling funding for adult education by 2030. At the same time, it makes significant improvements to the adult education system. It calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy, which are essential for success in the workplace and in navigating everyday life. It enhances the role of adult education providers, with a special focus on public libraries and community-based organizations throughout the workforce development system, ensuring coordination and efficient use of resources. It invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening State certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators.”
“A recent study from the Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network, found that over 80 percent of the adults surveyed indicated a strong or moderate interest in developing their skills, but only 20 percent reported knowing about existing programs in their communities. At current funding levels, the Department of Education reports that 1.1 million individuals were served, with over one-third of programs reporting waiting lists. In my home State of Rhode Island, there are over 61,000 adults who could benefit from English language instruction and nearly 64,000 working-age adults without a high school credential. Yet, under current funding levels, the adult education program serves just over 5,100 individuals. The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis.”
“Without the opportunities provided through adult education programs, many adults will be left on the sidelines. The latest results for U.S. adults on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIAAC, are sobering. Between 2017 and 2023, literacy and numeracy skills sank, with the percentage of adults at the lowest performance levels increasing from 19 to 28 percent in literacy and from 29 to 34 percent in numeracy. Building a sustainable economy that truly works for everyone is going to require helping these individuals acquire the basic skills they need to succeed. Unfortunately, we are reaching only a fraction of these individuals today.”
“Today, I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation--the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act--or the Adult Education WORKS Act--with my colleague Senator Young. Adult education provides numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, work readiness, soft skills, high school equivalency, and numerous wraparound services to millions of adult learners nationwide. These essential skills can make the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet. A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimated that getting all U.S. adults to the equivalent of a sixth grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S2527-S2528] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Young): S. 1400. A bill to amend the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to strengthen adult education; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Mr. REED. Mr. President, we have a longstanding adult literacy crisis that affects the quality of life for individuals and families and holds our economy back, and the latest international assessments show that it is only getting worse. It is time for a major expansion of adult education.”
“I am pleased to count the American Library Association, the Center for Law and Social Policy, the Coalition on Adult Basic Education, the National Coalition for Literacy, National Skills Coalition, ProLiteracy, the TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, International Association, and the Urban Libraries Council among the supporters of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and work with us to ensure it is passed on its own or as part of legislation to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. ____________________”
“It invests in the professionalization of the adult education field, strengthening State certification policies, encouraging full-time staffing models, and expanding professional development opportunities and career pathways for adult educators. It provides support for college and career navigators in public libraries and community-based organizations to support adult learners where they live. Finally, it invests in innovation and accountability through pilot projects that test new approaches for measuring program performance and learner outcomes. [[Page S2528]] In developing this legislation, Senator Young and I worked closely with key stakeholders, who are on the frontlines in the adult education community.”
“The Adult Education WORKS Act provides a roadmap for addressing this crisis. It calls for increased resources, nearly doubling funding for adult education by 2030. At the same time, it makes significant improvements to the adult education system. It calls for a new emphasis on digital and information literacy, which are essential for success in the workplace and in navigating everyday life. It enhances the role of adult education providers, with a special focus on public libraries and community-based organizations throughout the workforce development system, ensuring coordination and efficient use of resources.”
“Unfortunately, we are reaching only a fraction of these individuals today. A recent study from the Adult Literacy and Learning Impact Network, found that over 80 percent of the adults surveyed indicated a strong or moderate interest in developing their skills, but only 20 percent reported knowing about existing programs in their communities. At current funding levels, the Department of Education reports that 1.1 million individuals were served, with over one-third of programs reporting waiting lists. In my home State of Rhode Island, there are over 61,000 adults who could benefit from English language instruction and nearly 64,000 working-age adults without a high school credential. Yet, under current funding levels, the adult education program serves just over 5,100 individuals.”
“A study commissioned by the Barbara Bush Foundation estimated that getting all U.S. adults to the equivalent of a sixth grade reading level would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income for the country. Without the opportunities provided through adult education programs, many adults will be left on the sidelines. The latest results for U.S. adults on the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, PIAAC, are sobering. Between 2017 and 2023, literacy and numeracy skills sank, with the percentage of adults at the lowest performance levels increasing from 19 to 28 percent in literacy and from 29 to 34 percent in numeracy. Building a sustainable economy that truly works for everyone is going to require helping these individuals acquire the basic skills they need to succeed.”
“Mr. President, we have a longstanding adult literacy crisis that affects the quality of life for individuals and families and holds our economy back, and the latest international assessments show that it is only getting worse. It is time for a major expansion of adult education. Today, I am proud to introduce bipartisan legislation--the Adult Education Workforce Opportunity and Reskilling for Knowledge and Success Act--or the Adult Education WORKS Act--with my colleague Senator Young. Adult education provides numeracy, literacy, digital literacy, English language skills, work readiness, soft skills, high school equivalency, and numerous wraparound services to millions of adult learners nationwide. These essential skills can make the difference between earning a family-sustaining wage and struggling to make ends meet.”
“These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation. ____________________”
“And that is why I am introducing this bill--to ensure it continues to work for years to come. This bill will help expand the program to many more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes need minor structural repairs before they can be weatherized. The bill will authorize a weatherization readiness fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve. At the same time, it will raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, and it will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home.”
“An independent study of the Weatherization Assistance Program by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that children in weatherized households miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to the economy. Families also reported experiencing fewer flu and cold symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing costly medical expenses. The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy. The Department of Energy has reported that the program supports over 8,500 jobs while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 billion per year. The program is a win-win for all involved. That is why, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led my colleagues in supporting strong funding for it every year.”
“Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7 million low-income households reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $372 or more in energy bills annually. Those energy savings free up limited financial resources for essentials, like groceries and medicine. In addition to traditional services like attic and wall insulation, the program also provides services that help with home health and safety measures, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S2477-S2478] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Coons): S. 1342. A bill to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to improve the weatherization assistance program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, along with Senators Collins, Coons, [[Page S2478]] and Shaheen. Our bipartisan bill will make critical updates to ensure this important program can effectively serve even more households across the country.”
“At the same time, it will raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, and it will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home. These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense legislation. ____________________”
“That is why, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have led my colleagues in supporting strong funding for it every year. And that is why I am introducing this bill--to ensure it continues to work for years to come. This bill will help expand the program to many more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes need minor structural repairs before they can be weatherized. The bill will authorize a weatherization readiness fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve.”
“Energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. An independent study of the Weatherization Assistance Program by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that children in weatherized households miss less school, improving educational outcomes. Adults miss less work, increasing both their own incomes and their contributions to the economy. Families also reported experiencing fewer flu and cold symptoms and emergency room visits, decreasing costly medical expenses. The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy. The Department of Energy has reported that the program supports over 8,500 jobs while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 billion per year. The program is a win-win for all involved.”
“Our bipartisan bill will make critical updates to ensure this important program can effectively serve even more households across the country. Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7 million low-income households reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $372 or more in energy bills annually. Those energy savings free up limited financial resources for essentials, like groceries and medicine. In addition to traditional services like attic and wall insulation, the program also provides services that help with home health and safety measures, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S2477-S2478] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS ______ By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Coons): S. 1342. A bill to amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to improve the weatherization assistance program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, along with Senators Collins, Coons, [[Page S2478]] and Shaheen.”