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FY 2020 WAP Appropriations

Today the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee released its draft FY 2020 appropriations bill which contains the funding levels for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP). The House bill contains increases for both programs:

WAP- The committee provides $290 million for WAP in FY 2020. This is an increase of $33 million over the FY 2019 level of $257 million.

SEP- The committee provides $70 million for SEP in FY 2020. This is an increase of $15 million over the FY 2019 level of $55 million.

The funding increase for WAP is significant and a signal of the committee Chairwoman Marcy Kaptur's (D-OH) strong support of the program. Report language found on page 93 and 94 of the bill also directs DOE to investigate community-scale or neighborhood level approaches to weatherization, and encourages more collaboration with HUD, LIHEAP, and the Department of Veterans affairs. Report language also encourages DOE to explore how health benefits, specifically those resulting from decreased lead exposure, could be better incorporated into the program.

The Senate Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee will take up its version of the bill after they return from the Memorial Day recess. Most Congressional staffers expect that the levels contained in the Senate bill will be lower than the House, potentially flat with FY 2019 levels. A conference committee will have to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate before a final bill is passed.

WAP Reauthorization Update

The House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Energy held a markup of several energy bills last week on Thursday May 16th. One of the bills covered was the WAP reauthorization bill H.R. 2041 “Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act”. H.R. 2041 was passed out of subcommittee by voice vote and will move to a full committee markup in the coming weeks. At that markup, members of the committee will have the opportunity to offer and debate amendments. A corresponding bill has also been introduced in the Senate (S. 983), however the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee has not yet taken any action on the bill.

NASCSP will keep you updated as the appropriations process continues and the reauthorization bill moves through Congress.