Bell Introduces Legislation to Fight for Lower Energy Costs for St. Louis Families

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Wesley Bell (D-Mo.) introduced the Home Energy Relief Act, legislation aimed at lowering home energy costs for St. Louis families. The bill makes targeted, common-sense improvements to existing federal home energy rebate programs so working families, renters, and owners of older homes can actually use them.

“While Republicans squabble over legislation that defines what is and isn't a showerhead, families in St. Louis are watching their bills go up,” said Rep. Bell. “Right now, federal programs are too complicated and too restrictive to meet people where they are. This bill fixes that. It makes sure working families, renters, and folks living in older homes can actually access assistance they need—and see real savings on their energy bills.”

While federal home energy rebates were designed to help families save money, many households have been locked out due to rigid rules that prevent programs from working together. Specifically, the legislation allows families to combine HOMES rebates and High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates with other federal grants, ensuring federal dollars work together instead of at cross-purposes. The bill also creates a bonus rebate for homes built before 1970, helping offset the higher costs of electrification and efficiency upgrades in older housing, while maintaining safeguards to ensure rebates never exceed total project costs.

Lowering costs for St. Louis families has been a central focus of Rep. Bell’s work in Congress. In addition to tackling rising energy bills, he has pushed to reduce health care costs, lower everyday expenses for working families, and make federal programs simpler and more responsive to the people they are meant to serve.

The bill is supported by the National Association of Realtors.

Read the full bill text here.