Mitch Landrieu: “I want to recognize Senator Kennedy's tireless work on behalf of the people in need that this program strives to serve.…”

“I want to recognize Senator Kennedy's tireless work on behalf of the people in need that this program strives to serve. In particular, I want to laud his efforts to increase LIHEAP authorizations. For too long, this program has not kept pace with Congress' original intent. No one has been more acutely aware of this than Senator Kennedy himself. He has worked diligently to ensure LIHEAP is fully funded, including an effort to commit $3.4 billion to the program. Unfortunately, it takes more than the tireless work of even such a distinguished Chairman as Senator Kennedy to make this change. It takes each of us in Congress, and a willing administration as well. Unfortunately, that will has not yet been there. In fact, LIHEAP's average annual appropriation since 1984 has been $1.4 billion. Mr. President, 22 years ago, LIHEAP was amended, following its original enactment in 1981. With the 1984 amendments, Congress put in place an elegant, simple and straightforward mechanism to ensure these scarce Federal resources got to those low-income Americans in greatest need.”