On April 25, 2013, a total of 40 U.S. Senators signed on in support of two key state energy efficiency and clean energy programs within the U.S. Department of Energy for fiscal year 2014: the U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). In the letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Dianne Feinstein and Ranking Member Lamar Alexander, the Senators requested $57 million for SEP and $230 million for WAP. "These programs provide the foundation for clean energy investments that create jobs, increase American competitiveness, save families and businesses money through improved efficiency, and reduce pollution," the letter stated. NASEO is pleased to see an increasing level of support for these critical state programs.