WHEREAS, Virginia has a long-standing commitment to conserve its energy resources and to help low-income households through the Weatherization Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has administered the Weatherization Assistance Program since the program’s inception in 1976, providing a variety of state and federal resources through 17 community action agencies, nonprofits, and local governments that serve people in every town, city, and county in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Weatherization Program’s local service providers consider weatherization a vital part of their overall effort to provide a cost-effective permanent solution for reducing the heavy energy burden on low-income Virginians and provide affordable and safe housing for all; and

WHEREAS, the Weatherization Program not only assists in reducing energy costs and providing efficient housing, but also contributes more broadly to the improvements and progress of communities by eliminating carbon emissions, stimulating local economies, creating jobs, and stabilizing neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, it is important to recognize the significance of these programs that ensure that all residents have the opportunity to live in energy-efficient, healthy, safe, and comfortable homes across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, October is Energy Awareness Month and October 30^th is designated as Weatherization Day; and

WHEREAS, Weatherization Day is an opportunity to focus local, state, and national attention on the benefits of weatherization and the work being performed by the dedicated members of the Weatherization Assistance Program;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize October 2019 as ENERGY AWARENESS MONTH and October 30, 2019, as WEATHERIZATION DAY in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.