Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement regarding H.R. 5019, a $6.6 billion bill, better known as “Cash for Caulkers,” to subsidize home energy efficiency projects. This bill would add to the more than $10 billion already allocated to weatherization and energy efficiency projects with the vague goal of promoting “green jobs.”

“While Americans want Washington to stop the reckless spending and focus on jobs, Democrats would rather spend another $6.6 billion to convince us all to install new windows,” said Chairman Price. “If this were about jobs, the $4.7 billion for weatherization programs in the Democrats’ failed stimulus package would have been a big success. You would think the majority would learn that handing out vast sums of money like this is simply not an effective or efficient way to promote private sector job creation. Cash for Caulkers is just another example of Washington deciding who wins and who loses in our economy.

“The Obama administration already spent $3.7 million to ‘weatherize’ just 47 homes in Texas. That track record would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. There is no reason to believe they’ll do better handing out another $6.6 billion in taxpayer money this time around. Moreover, with bureaucrats trying to rush this money out the door, the opportunity will be ripe for fraud and abuse.

“Americans have had enough of Washington interfering in their economic decisions. Letting people decide for themselves how to spend their hard-earned money is a far better way to promote private sector job creation. The secret to getting Americans back to work is to stop getting in their way with more spending, debt, mandates, and tax hikes.”