Cortez Masto, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Save Taxpayer Dollars on Energy Costs for Government Buildings

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase energy efficiency in government-owned buildings. The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act (FMIA) would require that mechanical insulation be included in the energy audit of federal buildings conducted every four years.

"The federal government owns over 350,000 buildings across the United States and is the largest energy user in the country," said Senator Cortez Masto. "The American taxpayer is on the hook for every single dollar wasted on energy inefficient systems. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that government buildings' mechanical systems are running at peak efficiency to prevent waste."

"The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act is a commonsense bill that cuts energy waste, saves taxpayer dollars, and supports good-paying jobs for Montana's skilled tradesmen," said Senator Daines. "This legislation strengthens the efficiency of federal buildings while creating more opportunities for union workers who help keep our communities running."

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires that federal agencies conduct an energy audit of all federal buildings and facilities every four years. However, mechanical insulation, which is any material used to insulate heating and cooling equipment, is not currently included in those energy audits. Mechanical insulation is engineered to help systems like HVAC and boilers to function at the ideal temperature, improving energy efficiency and saving taxpayer dollars.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Randy Weber (R-Texas-14) and Congresswoman Sánchez (D-Calif.-13). FMIA has support from the North America's Building Trades Unions, the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the National Association of Energy Service Companies, the National Insulation Association, the National Union Insulation Contractors Alliance, the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, and the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers, among others.

"On behalf of the broad coalition of business interests and labor unions supporting the Mechanical Insulation industry, we applaud Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Steve Daines (R-MT) for their bi-partisan leadership on this important legislation," said Pete Ielmini, Executive Director of the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust. "The FMIA will advance energy efficiencies in federally owned buildings, saving American tax dollars and supporting good-paying jobs with benefits across the country. We look forward to working with the Senators and all interested parties to move this commonsense legislation forward and deliver financial and energy savings to the American taxpayer."

The full text of this legislation can be found here.

Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to lower costs by promoting energy efficiency. She has fought to restore energy efficient tax breaks for Americans and has secured millions in funding to help Nevadans make repairs to their homes and bolster energy efficiency. She has also championed bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's energy supply chain and to secure the country's electric grid.

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