Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act of 2022”.
Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act of 2022
A BILL
To amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to improve the weatherization assistance program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization Readiness Fund— Section 414 of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6864) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(d) Weatherization Readiness Fund
“(1) In general—The Secretary shall establish a fund, to be known as the “Weatherization Readiness Fund”, from which the Secretary shall distribute funds to States receiving financial assistance under this part, in accordance with subsection (a).
“(2) Use of funds
“(A) In general—A State receiving funds under paragraph (1) shall use the funds for repairs to dwelling units described in subparagraph (B) that will remediate the applicable structural defects or hazards of the dwelling unit so that weatherization measures may be installed.
“(B) Dwelling unit—A dwelling unit referred to in subparagraph (A) is a dwelling unit occupied by a low-income person that, on inspection pursuant to the program under this part, was found to have significant defects or hazards that prevented the installation of weatherization measures under the program.
“(3) Authorization of appropriations—In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 422, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $65,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.”
State average cost per unit—
In general— Section 415(c) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6865(c)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—
in the first sentence, by striking “$6,500” and inserting “$12,000”; and
by striking “(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4)” and inserting the following:
“(c) Financial assistance
“(1) In general—Except as provided in paragraphs (3), (4), and (6)”
by conforming the margins of subparagraphs (A) through (D) to the margin of subparagraph (E);
in subparagraph (D), by striking “, and” and inserting “; and”; and
in subparagraph (E), by adding a period at the end;
in paragraph (2), in the first sentence, by striking “weatherized (including dwelling units partially weatherized)” and inserting “fully weatherized”;
in paragraph (4), by striking “$3,000” and inserting “$6,000”;
in paragraph (5)—
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking “(6)(A)(ii)” and inserting “(7)(A)(ii)”; and
by striking “(6)(A)(i)(I)” each place it appears and inserting “(7)(A)(i)(I)”;
by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
“(6) Limit increase—The Secretary may increase the amount of financial assistance provided per dwelling unit under this part beyond the limit specified in paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that market conditions require such an increase to achieve the purposes of this part.”
Conforming amendment— Section 414D(b)(1)(C) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6864d(b)(1)(C)) is amended by striking “415(c)(6)(A)” and inserting “415(c)(7)”.