[House Document 106-196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-196


 
              APPROPRIATIONS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
    HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM




  February 14, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed

                               __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
70-010                     WASHINGTON : 2000

                                           The White House,
                                     Washington, February 11, 2000.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
    Sir: In accordance with provisions of the Departments of 
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, as enacted by section 
1000(a)(4) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000, Public 
Law 106-113, I hereby request and make available appropriations 
of $130,000,000 in budget authority for the Department of 
Health and Human Services' Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program. These funds will enable the Department to address the 
needs of all States, Territories, and Tribes due to continuing, 
substantial increases in home heating fuel costs.
    I hereby designate the $130,000,000 made available today 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 Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget. I concur with his comments and observations.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.
    Enclosure.
                [Estimate No. 3, 106th Cong., 2d Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                 Washington, DC, February 11, 2000.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request to make 
available $130.0 million in 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 all States, Territories, and Tribes due to 
continuing, substantial increases in home heating fuel costs.
    The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, as 
enacted by section 1000(a)(4) of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2000, P.L. 106-113, provided $300.0 million 
for LIHEAP, contingent upon the President submitting a budget 
request to the Congress and designating the entire amount 
requested as an emergency requirement. On January 25, 2000, you 
released $45.0 million to address the needs of Alaska and 10 
New England and Middle Atlantic States due to increases in home 
heating fuel costs. On October 18, 1999, you released $5.0 
million to provide support to New Jersey in the wake of 
Hurricane Floyd.
    I recommend that you designate this request for $130.0 
million as an emergency 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, 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....................    $130,000,000

    The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, 
Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000, as 
enacted by section 1000(a)(4) of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2000, Public Law 106-113, provided 
$300,000,000 million 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.
    On January 25, 2000, $45,000,000 was released to address 
the needs of Alaska and 10 New England and Middle Atlantic 
States due to increases in home heating fuel costs. On October 
18, 1999, $5,000,000 was released to support the needs of New 
Jersey in the wake of Hurricane Floyd. At this time, an 
additional $130,000,000 of the remaining $250,000,000 in 
contingent funding is required to support the needs of all 
States, Territories, and Tribes resulting from the continuing, 
substantial increases in home heating fuel costs.

                                  
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