Washington, D.C. - Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) released the follow statement on the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019) being voted on today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, informally known as "Cash for Caulkers," stipulates that the only workforce eligible to perform residential insulation work under the program must be certified by union-only third parties or the Homebuilders Institute, and excludes most nonunion training providers.

"While the great majority of our members work in the commercial and industrial construction industry, those contractors looking to put their men and women back to work during these times of double digit unemployment are facing a new obstacle with this legislation, said Geoff Burr, ABC vice president of federal affairs.

"It is difficult to believe that the authors of the "Cash for Caulkers" bill would knowingly seek to limit the participation of all construction workers, especially since a portion of their tax dollars are being used to fund this program," said Burr.

"The construction industry is confronted with the most acute impact of the current economic downturn, with construction unemployment nearly 25 percent. There is no excuse for excluding any sector of the construction industry from participating in a measure designed to create jobs," Burr said.