[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 48 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               LOW-INCOME HEAT ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

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                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 1994

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my strong support for H.R. 
4250, Head Start, Community Services Block Grants, and Low-Income Heat 
Energy Assistance Program Reauthorizations.
  The Low-Income Heat Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP], which is 
reauthorized in H.R. 4250, is of particular significance to my district 
in western New York.
  LIHEAP provides fuel assistance to disabled, working poor, and low-
income senior citizens--an issue of life or death for many.
  Mr. Speaker, in the moth of January the average temperature in 
Buffalo was 17.2 degrees--no day saw a temperature above freezing. In 
addition to the cold, my constituents had to deal with 35.4 inches of 
snow in that month alone.
  The reliance of millions of people on LIHEAP was highlighted this 
particularly harsh winter with these unprecedented number of record low 
temperatures and snowfalls.
  In February, I received many phone calls from panicked constituents, 
many of them elderly, who were told that the LIHEAP Program was going 
to be shut down because it had run out of money.
  I worked with officials at the White House and with Governor Cuomo to 
keep the application process for LIHEAP open when the program was in 
danger of being closed because funds had run out. I helped pass the 
emergency earthquake funding bill which included $300 million emergency 
funding for LIHEAP.
  Without these actions, the people of western New York would have 
literally been left out in the cold.
  Mr. Speaker, the threat to the LIHEAP program continues. In its 
fiscal year 1995 budget request, the administration has recommended 
cutting the program by 50 percent. That 50 percent would prohibit 
families and seniors from my district from properly heating their home. 
I will certainly work during the appropriations process to ensure that 
deep cuts are not made in LIHEAP.
  I would ask my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 4250 which 
authorizes $2 billion for LIHEAP in fiscal year 1995 and such sums in 
fiscal year 1997-99. I think most importantly is the sense of Congress 
language that all fiscal year 1995 appropriations made for LIHEAP be 
expended, and that expenditures in fiscal year 1996 should ensure the 
same or better level of services.
  Thank you Mr. Speaker, for allowing me this opportunity to speak in 
favor of continuation of this vital program.

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