[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]

 
           H.R. 4250--AUTHORIZATION OF HEAD START AND LIHEAP

                                 ______


                               speech of

                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 1994

  Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4250, to 
authorize appropriations for Head Start, the Low Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program, and the Community Services Block Grant.
  I would like to comment just briefly on two programs that have 
enormous impact in my State. Head Start is one of the most successful 
Federal programs to date and one I have consistently supported. Last 
year's appropriation served more than 730,000 children across this 
country. And while that may seem like a large number, it represents 
only 40 percent of those children eligible for Head Start.
  H.R. 4250 would reauthorize Head Start through fiscal year 1998 and 
would strengthen and improve the quality of existing programs. In 
addition, child development services would be expanded. A particular 
highlight of Head Start is the new Initiative on Families with Infants 
and Toddlers which would provide family services to low-income families 
with very young children. Pregnant women and families with children 
under age 3, who meet the low-income standards under the regular Head 
Start program, would be eligible to participate in this initiative. 
Early, continuous, and comprehensive child development services would 
be provided to participants to ensure linkage to Head Start programs 
and continuity of future service.
  Another important piece of H.R. 4250 is the reauthorization of the 
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP has been a highly 
successful program in serving the needs of low-income elderly, 
disabled, and working poor in Connecticut and is particularly important 
in light of the harsh winter the Northeast just experienced. I am 
pleased that the bill authorizes $2 billion for fiscal year 1995. This 
is $1.27 billion more than the administration's request.
  The core purpose of providing heating assistance to low-income 
households based on total household income has been maintained in this 
bill. States, within existing eligibility standards, may give priority 
to households with the highest energy costs or needs in relation to 
their income. A household may not be excluded from LIHEAP eligibility 
if its income is less than 110 percent of poverty.
  The bill would also make permanent the authorization to appropriate 
$600 million each year in emergency funds to meet the needs of 
residents in States that have suffered natural disasters. Under current 
law, the process of seeking release of these funds created difficulty 
in terms of timing for States trying to meet immediate crisis 
situations. Permanent authorization of emergency funds is a significant 
step to facilitating better and more timely action.
  I am also pleased that the language of House Concurrent Resolution 
202 was included in this bill expressing that LIHEAP should be a 
priority to enable the working poor, the disabled, and the low-income 
elderly to meet their energy costs and needs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4250 to preserve 
services like Head Start and LIHEAP that are vital to thousands of 
Americans.

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