[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 41 (Monday, March 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   URGING MEMBERS TO STAND TOGETHER AND PREVENT REDUCTION OF ENERGY 
                         ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR

  (Mr. POMEROY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, the temperature reached 15 below zero in 
North Dakota last night. Unfortunately, the discomfort of the cold was 
made much worse by the anxiety caused by the news that all of the funds 
for home heating assistance to the poor had been eliminated by the 
House Committee on Appropriations late last week.
  Thousands of households in my State need help from time to time with 
high bills brought on by severe winter weather. Most receiving 
assistance have incomes below $8,000 a year, are elderly with 
disabilities, or families with young children under the age of 5 in the 
household.
  How in the world could Members of this body eliminate this critical 
program in order to fund tax cuts for the rich? That is a trade-off 
that does not make any sense. Maybe they just do not understand. After 
all, the temperature in Atlanta, GA, today is going to be 75 degrees 
warmer than in North Dakota.
  I call on every Member of this body, Republican and Democrats, who 
represent citizens coping with tough winters and high heat costs, to 
stand together and not leave the poorest of the poor out in the cold.


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