Critical Green Provisions Included in HOPE VI Housing Bill (Rep. Ed Perlmutter)

This past week, the House Financial Services Committee passed H.R. 3524, the Hope VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007.  As part of this bill, the Committee demonstrated its commitment to promoting energy efficiency standards by including important green energy standards.

As chair of the Energy Efficiency Task Force within the Financial Services Committee, I am pleased to see important provisions included in this HOPE VI legislation requiring public housing authorities to institute Green/LEED or similar approved energy standards in all new public housing developments.

The HOPE VI program, created in 1992, is a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant program providing for the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of distressed public housing projects. In addition to the green development provisions, this legislation includes provisions to provide for the retention of public housing units, prevent re-screening of returning residents, increase resident involvement, and improve the efficiency and expediency of HOPE VI construction.

The Energy Efficiency Task Force has been working throughout the summer to develop ways to promote energy efficiency throughout the financial services and housing sectors encouraging individuals to buy and build in an energy efficient manner.  Quite simply, instituting these principles in all facets of our lives is good for national security, good for the climate and good for jobs.

I encourage members of the full House to vote for this important bill when it comes up for a vote.  This program is desperately needed in our communities, and will provide hope and opportunities for so many of our families.