Congressman Cleaver Highlights $77 Million to Lower Costs and Increase Energy Efficiency for Missouri Households

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded the Department of Energy's announcement that Missouri will receive a $77 million investment from the Weatherization Assistance Program to weatherize households, increase energy efficiency, and lower utility costs for Missouri families. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, that Congressman Cleaver helped pass expanded funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program so more working families can have their homes retrofitted, which will increase energy efficiency and lower monthly energy bills. The Program's home retrofitting includes installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems, upgrading electrical appliances, and making other commonsense changes to keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with less energy usage and lower costs for Missourians.

"At a time when Missourians are struggling with higher energy prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent economic sanctions, I'm happy to see the Department of Energy announce historic investments in the Weatherization Assistance Program, which will help to retrofit the homes of hardworking Missouri families and lower utility bills thanks to greater energy efficiency," said Congressman Cleaver. "When I voted for President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, one of the components I was most excited about—other than repairing roads, replacing lead pipes, and rebuilding crumbling bridges—were the investments in making our critical infrastructure more resilient and energy efficient. That starts with weatherizing households in communities across the country, and I'm thrilled to have helped deliver another $77 million to make that possible for more hardworking Missourians."

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, roughly 1 in 4 households have a high energy burden, with this figure substantially higher for underserved and low-income populations. With Rep. Cleaver's support, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide $3.5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program to alleviate that burden on American families.

More information on the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.