(UNEDITED) Any signs of economic recovery have not made it to the residential construction ndustry. Nationally almost 30 percent of the construction industry remains out of work. I can assure you that these people would rather be working. 

Fortunately, a solution moving through the U.S. Senate exists. The program, known as HOME STAR, would provide people with incentives to make energy efficient upgrades to their homes, reducing their energy bills by 20 - 50 percent. With today's economic uncertainty and tight credit markets, this would help homeowners over the hump to make the improvements they know that they need but are unable to make. And in doing so, it would get the assembly lines moving in our manufacturing plants and put tens of thousands of construction workers back to work.

Running our small business, I know this would help us get workers on the street immediately. Our business survived the recession and even saw potential for growth; however, as HOME STAR gained attention in early May with passage in the U.S. House of Representatives, business has dropped off. Customers are waiting for potential incentives, and business is therefore down 10 percent in the last two months.

The Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle, Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, need to step up and get this passed now. This has strong bipartisan support. It is needed immediately. Senator Reid should bring HOME STAR to the Senate floor this week as part of the Small Business Jobs bill and help small contracting businesses around the country.

Michael Rogers

Senior vice presdient

Green Homes America

Burlington, Vt.