[House Document 105-289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2nd Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-289


 
   BUDGET AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                               SERVICES

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

HIS REQUEST TO MAKE AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS OF $100,000,000 IN BUDGET 
 AUTHORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' LOW INCOME 
       HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO PUB. L. 105-78





July 24, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered 
                             to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, July 23, 1998.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: In accordance with provisions of Public Law 105-78, 
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998, I hereby make 
available appropriations of $100,000,000 in budget authority 
for the Department of Health and Human Services' Low Income 
Home Energy Assistance Program. These funds will enable the 
Department to support the needs of States in the South and 
Southwest that are suffering from extremely hot weather 
conditions.
    I designate the amount made available as an emergency 
requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.
    The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Acting Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget. I concur with his comments and observations.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
    Enclosure.


             [Estimate No. 10, 105th Congress, 2d Session]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                     Washington, DC, July 23, 1998.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request to make 
available emergency appropriations for the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS). Your approval of this request would 
make available previously appropriated funds to the Low Income 
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address the needs of 
States in the South and Southwest that are suffering from 
extremely hot weather conditions.
    Public Law 105-78, the Departments of Labor, Health and 
Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act of 1998, provided $300 million for LIHEAP contingent upon 
the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and 
designating the entire amount requested as an emergency 
requirement. This request would make $100 million available to 
support needs arising due to severe weather. The Department 
will use these funds to provide targeted support to 11 States 
suffering from particularly hot weather: Texas, Arkansas, 
Louisiana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, 
Tennessee, North Carolina, and Mississippi. HHS analysis of 
weather conditions for the months of June and July to date 
shows that these 11 States have suffered particularly severe 
heat. We will continue to monitor conditions across the 
country.
    I recommend that you designate this request as an emergency 
funding requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A) of 
the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, 
as amended. No further congressional action will be required.
    I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied 
that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services in recommending that you 
make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed 
letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
            Sincerely,
                                     Jacob J. Lew, Acting Director.
    Enclosure.


    Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made 
                       Available by the President

 department of health and human services, administration for children 
                              and families

Low income home energy assistance program...............    $100,000,000

    Public Law 105-78, the Departments of Labor, Health and 
Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Act of 1998 provided $300,000,000 for the Low Income Home 
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), contingent upon the 
President submitting a budget request to the Congress and 
designating the entire amount requested as an emergency 
requirement.
    At this time, $100,000,000 of the $300,000,000 in 
contingent funding is required to support needs in eleven 
States arising from unusually hot weather conditions in the 
South and Southwest.

                                
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