The ROLL CALL on the Tonko-Bass Amendment to Increase 2012 WAP, SEP and Buildings Efficiency Research 
As expected,the amendment offered by Congressmen Paul Tonko and Charlie Bass failed to win the majority needed to add back funding and bring FY 2012 W.A.P. up to this year's level in the  Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The final vote during the evening of July 12 was 149 in favor and 273 against .

Also predictably, many Democrats on the Appropriations Committee opposed changes in the package the Committee reported. The program cuts proposed to pay for the increases in our programs came from construction funding for facilities around military reactors; these were also of concern to some Democratic members of the Armed Services Committee.

Our thanks to all of you who worked to educate your Members! This is the first step in a long-term journey that we have planned with our champion, Rep. Tonko, to re-build support for regular Weatherization. He will lead by taking every opportunity Congressional procedure offers to call for a vote in favor of Weatherization expansion. A similar strategy worked in the past as we rebuilt WAP in the late 1990's with the help of champions like now-Senator Bernie Sanders. Fortunately, the program still has committed supporters on both sides of the aisle. Yet we all have work to do to build its reputation.

Watch the  short, frustrating debate over the amendment HERE: Video Link. Learn how your Member voted by checking the list below. All Democrats who are not listed voted for the Tonko Amendment. All Republicans who are not listed voted against.

SOURCE: National Community Action Foundation | 1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW | Suite 310 | Washington | DC | 20001