On February 9, 2006, the Union of Concerned Scientists and 48 additional organizations endorsed a statement calling for a significant increase in funding for energy efficiency programs for fiscal year 2007.  

Background
Natural gas and oil prices continue to climb to a record high putting a serious strain on American pocketbooks.  Energy experts have found that even a small two to four percent reduction in natural gas demand can reduce wholesale gas prices by 25 percent.  Yet the Bush administration’s FY07 budget actually cuts energy efficiency programs by over 18 percent.  Funding for vital programs such as the Federal Energy Management Program, designed to lessen the federal governments energy consumption and weatherization programs, created to help low-income families save energy and therefore reduce energy bills have been cut significantly.  We call on Congress to reject these cuts and invest in energy efficiency programs that will reduce the burden of high-energy costs on American families.