WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCAX) – A bill back in Washington is taking aim at two big issues – housing and climate change.
Vermont senators Welch and Sanders helped re-introduce the Green New Deal for public housing.
The bill would invest almost $250 billion over 10 years to make the public housing stock in the US more energy-efficient.
Supporters of the bill say it would create up to 280,000 union jobs a year and reduce carbon. That would be equivalent to taking more than 1.25 million cars off the road.
“We need to mobilize millions of people to ensure every American has decent and affordable housing, and at the same time we address the existential crisis of climate change and that is what the legislation does,” said Senator Bernie Sanders.
“We want community, and we know in order to get that, we need public policy that is going to address climate, that is going to address housing, that is going to build in a way that is sustainable and efficient. This is in our power to do,” said Senator Peter Welch.
Sponsors of the bill say that improving the energy efficiency of the country’s public housing stock will improve the quality of life for low-income residents, who they say are often forced to choose between paying for utilities or food.