AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA

Advocated for the restoration of energy efficiency tax incentives, including the 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, 45L Tax Credit for Builders of Energy Efficient Homes, and 179D commercial energy efficiency deduction. In addition, we advocated for the introduction of a bill that would provide a tax incentive for workforce training in the skilled trades. This bill has not yet been introduced.

Advocated for H.R. 3699 and S. 1945, the Fuel Choice Act, which would prohibit states and localities from banning an energy service's connection, reconnection, modification, installation, or expansion based on the type or source of energy to be delivered. Advocated for H.R.4626 Home Appliance Protection and Affordability Act, which amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. This bill would require greater economic justification and consumer impact analysis before the Department of Energy can finalize new or amended appliance efficiency standards, to prevent regulations that increase upfront costs, reduce product availability, or limit consumer choice without delivering proportional energy savings. The bill also provides a mechanism for amending or repealing previously implemented efficiency standards that are overly costly or technically infeasible. Finally, the bill changes the standard of compliance for efficiency standards for HVAC applications from date of compliance to date of manufacture.

Advocated generally for continued and increased funding for Perkins Career and Technical Education Grants. Advocated for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, including expanded access and funding for On the Job Training Contracts. Advocated specifically for H.R.4049 and S.3846, the Employer-Directed Skills Act. This bill would establish employer-directed skills accounts under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The new program would allow employers to select their trainees and type of training they receive, with training subject to local workforce board approval. Upon completion, employers would commit to hiring trainees. Employers also receive reimbursement for training costs, up to 50 percent of total costs.

Advocated for the introduction of a bill to provide for federal preemption under 42 USC 7675: American innovation and manufacturing so that individual states cannot enact their own phasedown schedules of HFC refrigerants that are more aggressive or faster than the AIM Act.