Cord Byrd: “this amendment would add another $150 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, in addition to the $300…”

“this amendment would add another $150 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, in addition to the $300 million already included in the bill. The additional LIHEAP funds are offset by an administrative cut in the Department of Defense to which Mr. Inouye has very ably addressed his remarks in opposition thereto. I am a strong supporter of LIHEAP; it helps many low-income households facing rising fuel costs, pay to heat their homes. However, both the House-passed and the Senate committee-reported version of this supplemental already recommend an additional $300 million for LIHEAP, which is double the amount recommended in the President's budget request. The committee-reported bill brings the fiscal year 2001 LIHEAP appropriation to $2 billion, and with the carryover funds from the prior year, funds available for LIHEAP would total $2.155 billion in fiscal year 2001. This compares to $1.844 billion in fiscal year 2000-- an increase of $311 billion. I commend the distinguished Senator from Minnesota. He makes a very compelling argument. Ordinarily I would want to support him in the position he has taken. However, the committee-reported supplemental, as I have already indicated, is a balanced bill; it is a fair bill.”