María Elvira Salazar: “I rose earlier to discuss my general thoughts regarding the Energy bill conference report. I now want to take an…”

“I rose earlier to discuss my general thoughts regarding the Energy bill conference report. I now want to take an additional moment to provide my thoughts regarding a specific provision in this conference report. I am pleased the conference report includes provisions that will help some of our most vulnerable citizens, low-income energy consumers. While we need to protect against energy price volatility to protect our economy, industries and households, nobody is harder hit by high-energy prices than low-income energy consumers. The conference report increases the authorization for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, from $2.0 billion to $5.1 billion to reflect the increased demand for energy assistance due to high energy prices. At current funding levels, LIHEAP serves less than 15 percent of the eligible population. The increased funding authorization is much needed. I hope we can also increase appropriations to meet this increased demand for energy assistance. The conference report also contains a provision originating in the House bill that authorizes the Secretary of Interior to begin a new program to assist low-income energy consumers. Section 342 of the report authorizes the Secretary to grant a ``preference'' to low-income energy consumers when disposing of royalty in kind gas.…”