Press Releases
March 31, 2009
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch's energy efficiency bill has been incorporated into major climate change legislation released Tuesday.Welch's Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) bill, H.R. 1778, was included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which was authored by House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Chairman Edward Markey.
Issues:
March 26, 2009
Press Release
Program seeks 20 percent increase in efficiency - creating jobs, saving homeowners and businesses money, and combating climate changeRep. Peter Welch introduced an energy efficiency bill Thursday designed to retrofit millions of homes and commercial buildings and increase efficiency by 20 percent or more nationally.Welch outlined the bill at a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday with many of the bill's 30 cosponsors and representatives from national efficiency, contracting and environmental groups.The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program would provide financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy use and save them money. The program would fund state and municipal investments of up to half the cost of retrofitting the nation's existing homes and buildings, which account for 10 percent of global carbon emissions. REEP would create tens of thousands of middle class jobs and provide a significant boost to the economy.Click here to watch Congressman Welch announce the bill.
Issues:
March 24, 2009
Press Release
On March 25, Congressman Welch held a small business telephone town hall meeting. The following panelists joined him on the call:
Darcy Carter
Small Business Administration
802-828-4422
Chris D'Elia
Vermont Bankers Association
802-229-0341
Steve Greenfield
Vermont Economic Development Authority
802-828-5627
March 23, 2009
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch announced Monday a $380,000 grant for a comprehensive economic revitalization project in downtown St. Albans.The federal grant, which Welch secured for the city, will help St. Albans improve sidewalks, streetlights and signage and make other aesthetic upgrades to Main Street and Taylor Park. The project is intended to make downtown St. Albans safer for families and more attractive to businesses.
March 18, 2009
Press Release
Vermont stories highlight real impact of the federal budgetRep. Peter Welch brought three Vermont voices to the debate over President Obama's proposed budget Wednesday in testimony submitted to the House Budget Committee.Welch highlighted the stories of Vermont National Guardsman Joseph Provost of Newport, Dan and Cynthia Hampton of Hartland, and Lucinda Flint of Brandon to illustrate the real world impact of the federal budgeting process.
March 16, 2009
Press Release
Program seeks 20 percent increase in efficiency - creating jobs, saving homeowners money and combating climate changeRep. Peter Welch announced a national energy efficiency initiative Monday that would retrofit millions of homes and commercial buildings and seek a 20 percent increase in efficiency.The national program builds on Vermont's international leadership in energy efficiency.At a recently retrofitted Burlington home, Welch outlined a bill he will introduce later this week that would provide financial incentives to homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy use and save them money. The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program would fund state and municipal investments of up to half the cost of retrofitting the nation's existing homes and buildings, which account for 10 percent of global carbon emissions.
March 12, 2009
Press Release
More than $38 million in weatherization and energy efficiency funding was released to Vermont today as part of the economic recovery bill, Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch announced.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included nearly $8 billion in state and local efficiency funding, designed to create 87,000 jobs nationwide and save families hundreds of dollars per year on their energy bills. Vermont is slated to receive $16.8 million through the Weatherization Assistance Program and $22 million through the State Energy Program.
March 11, 2009
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch called for increased transparency in the American International Group's use of taxpayer funds Wednesday at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing.In light of last week's announcement that the Treasury and the Federal Reserve intend to offer an additional $30 billion in Troubled Asset Relief Program funds to AIG, Welch told the committee that American taxpayers deserve to know how AIG has spent money it has already received.
Issues:
March 10, 2009
Press Release
Guide will connect taxpayers, businesses, non-profits and municipalities to funding opportunities and tax credits
Rep. Peter Welch released a guide to opportunities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Vermont taxpayers, businesses, non-profits and municipalities Tuesday.
March 6, 2009
Press Release
Rep. Peter Welch called on the Commerce Department Friday to direct funding from the recently-passed stimulus bill to the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), a federal-state entity that would promote job creation and economic development in the northernmost counties of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and New York.In a letter to the Commerce Department, Welch and four other House members from the region urged the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to fund the NBRC, as provided for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The NBRC, which was authorized last May by the 2008 Farm Bill, would support job-creating efforts in agriculture, alternative energy, broadband, forestry and transportation in Vermont's Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle Lamoille and Orleans counties.