Energy conservation is one of the cheapest, quickest and cleanest ways to meet the nation's energy needs. It cuts down on pollution, conserves natural resources and reduces environmental damage from mining, drilling, and energy development.

The vote is on the Carper amendment to reduce the funds in the bill for helping poor people insulate their homes from $500 million down to $200 million. This was extremely "penny wise and pound foolish," considering that the government spends nearly $2 billion a year helping poor people pay their fuel bills. The average poor family spends 30% of its income on fuel in the winter. But the poor cannot take advantage of federal tax credits given for home energy conservation because they cannot afford the large initial investment, and because they pay little or no federal taxes anyway. Weatherizing the 13 million remaining eligible households under this bill would cut their energy consumption by 30%, conserve 65 million barrels of oil or other fuel, and reduce fuel costs by $3.3 billion. But under current low spending levels it could take up to 50 years to achieve this goal.

Carper amendment accepted 233-142; January 24, 1984. NO is the pro-environmental vote. (Carper amendment to the Weatherization and Employment Act, H.R. 2615.) The Reagan Administration supported the Carper amendment. The final authorization for weatherization was $191 million.