President Obama singled out Rep. Peter Welch’s work advocating for an energy efficiency jobs program at an event today in Alexandria, Va.

Speaking to an audience of workers, manufacturers and business owners at a local Home Depot, Obama praised Welch for “working to jumpstart our retrofit efforts around the nation.”

The event follows Obama’s announcement last week that Welch’s home retrofit jobs program – referred to by some as “Cash for Caulkers” or “Home Star” – was among the President’s three priorities in forthcoming job creation legislation. Welch was on hand at the Home Depot to take part in the event.

Welch first introduced his energy efficiency initiative last March in the driveway of a Burlington family hoping to retrofit their home to save money on energy bills. Welch’s Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) legislation, which provides incentives for homeowners and business owners to cut their energy use through efficiency improvements, was subsequently incorporated into the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454).

Following House passage of H.R. 2454 this summer, Welch fought to include a version of the REEP program in forthcoming job creation legislation. Welch has been working with White House officials and House leadership to provide incentives for meeting basic efficiency measures, such as improving insulation and caulking, as well as a more comprehensive incentive program tied to the performance of whole-house energy improvements.

“President Obama today reaffirmed his commitment to creating jobs, saving homeowners money and combating climate change by investing in home retrofits. This job-creation program has come a long way since March, when Vermont’s energy efficiency successes first became a model for the nation,” Welch said. “I’m hopeful that, with the President’s support, this investment in efficiency will soon be creating jobs throughout the country.”

Click here and here for video of Obama’s remarks today. Click here for Welch’s October memo to the White House, and click here for a letter Welch and 44 other House members sent President Obama.

Click here for part two of the video.