[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             LIHEAP PROGRAM

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                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I am outraged that the Labor, Health 
and Human Services Appropriations bill has eliminated all funding for 
LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
  This critical program provides energy assistance to over 170,000 
households in my home state of California and over 4 million needy 
families nationwide. Many of these families have young children and 
over half include elderly or handicapped persons.
  By eliminating LIHEAP, Congress is causing unnecessary suffering and 
forcing poor families to choose between heating their homes and buying 
food for their children. When winter temperatures fall below zero, 
children can freeze to death.
  When heat waves soar above 90 degrees, the elderly and handicapped 
are at high risk of heat stroke and other grave health complications. 
The heat wave in Texas this past summer killed over 100 people, many of 
whom were elderly. Clearly, air conditioning is a life and death 
matter.
  This vital program can be fully funded for the modest sum of 1.1 
billion dollars. It is unconscionable that we would even consider 
eliminating this inexpensive and compassionate program.
  I urge my colleagues to restore full funding for the LIHEAP program 
in the omnibus appropriations bill.

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