Jeff Bingaman: “this amendment, as I have proposed it, would increase funding in the bill for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance…”

“this amendment, as I have proposed it, would increase funding in the bill for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by $1 billion for this next fiscal year. The amendment would bring the total funding for the LIHEAP State grants up to $3 billion rather than the $2 billion that is provided in the bill. These grants are allocated at the beginning of each fiscal year to each of the 50 States and to the territories and Indian tribes on the basis of a statutory formula. Let me begin by saying, Senator Specter, the manager of this bill, and Senator Harkin, the ranking member on the subcommittee, have consistently championed the LIHEAP program in the appropriations process. But it is clear they do not have room in this budget resolution that was presented to adequately fund this program. Obviously, the question is, Why did we adopt a budget resolution that did not provide room? I certainly think that is where the mistake was made and where I disagreed with many of my colleagues. The amount of funding for LIHEAP that has been appropriated in the past has been enough to help 15 percent of the households that are eligible for that assistance. And as to those 15 percent, for the families who are covered and actually have received that help, the average grant they have received has covered about 10 to 25 percent of their home energy costs.”