[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11809-S11810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE STEEP COST OF A MAINE WINTER

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the importance 
of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP in 
helping low-income Maine families cope with the high cost of our long 
Maine winters.
  As Callie Parker from Little Deer Isle, Maine, so eloquently 
testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
Committee earlier this year, heating your home during a Maine winter is 
a matter of life and death. When the cold reaches into the very marrow 
of one's bones, when a glass of water you left on a night stand freezes 
during the night should your furnace go out, you simply cannot get by 
without heat.
  Unfortunately, not everyone has enough money to buy the fuel 
necessary to heat their home. Far too many Maine families have had to 
choose whether to buy groceries or to pay their rent or mortgage or to 
keep warm. These are choices that no one should be forced to make, but 
unless we increase funding for energy assistance now, these choices 
will become increasingly common.
  Winter has not even officially begun, although you would not know 
that in the area of the country from which the Presiding Officer and I 
come. The high price of fuel and cold temperatures have already driven 
a record number of households in Maine to seek home heating assistance. 
Already the Community Action Program agencies in Maine have identified 
28,000 households in need of LIHEAP funds to get through this winter. 
That compares to only 10,000 applicants at this time last year; in 
other words, it has more than doubled the amount of households seeking 
this kind of assistance. Another 19,000 families are waiting to be 
reviewed by the CAP agencies.

[[Page S11810]]

  The problem is, there is simply not sufficient money. As this chart 
shows, a Maine winter exacts a steep toll. Today, in Maine, a gallon of 
home heating oil, on average, costs $1.56. Last year at this time, home 
heating oil in Maine went for $1.03 a gallon--and we thought that was 
very high. That number is high because just two years ago the average 
price of home heating oil in Maine was just 78 cents a gallon. In 
short, home heating oil prices have increased by 100 percent in just 
two years. For the 75 percent of Mainers who rely on home heating oil 
to keep their homes warm, this is a steep price to pay indeed. Those 
heating their homes with natural gas also are facing difficulties. 
Consumer prices for natural gas have shot up over 50 percent compared 
to last year.
  As the second column on this chart shows, last year Maine's CAP 
agencies distributed an average of $488 to each household. That was the 
average LIHEAP benefit. Despite the rising costs of fuel, this year the 
Maine CAP agencies are able to distribute an average benefit of only 
$350.
  So you see the situation we have, Mr. President, and see why it is 
such a problem. We have the price of home heating oil far higher than 
last year, and more than double what it was two years ago. The high 
cost of fuel has put more strain on more families, and as a result many 
more households need assistance. That has caused the average LIHEAP 
benefit to be cut significantly.
  What does this mean? When the price of oil is 50 percent higher than 
last year, and the LIHEAP benefit is $138 less than last year, it means 
that people are not able to buy very many gallons of oil to heat their 
homes. Last year's LIHEAP benefit purchased 474 gallons of home heating 
oil. This year's benefit will purchase less than half that amount--a 
mere 224 gallons of oil.
  So we have the worst of all situations. We have the price of home 
heating oil at record highs; we have the benefit amount having to be 
cut to less than last year's; and the result is that low-income 
families are able to purchase far less home heating oil.
  And this year's winter is already shaping up to be colder than last 
year's. Mainers will need more oil to keep warm this winter, not less. 
When the furnace remains silent no matter how far you turn the 
thermostat dial, we need to be there to put oil in the tank.
  The bottom line is we need to provide more assistance to more 
families.
  The legislation before us today will provide an extra $300 million in 
LIHEAP assistance to be used this winter. And that is very helpful. It 
is almost a 30-percent increase above last year's funding level. I know 
how hard Senator Specter and Senator Stevens have fought for this 
significant increase. I thank them for their efforts on behalf of the 
thousands of Maine residents who will benefit greatly from these much 
needed funding increases. Yet it simply is not enough. With the price 
of fuel 50 percent higher this year than last, and with almost three 
times as many families in need of LIHEAP assistance this year compared 
to just 1 year ago, even a 30-percent increase will only go so far. It 
is certainly needed, and we are grateful for it, but we are still going 
to have a shortfall.
  I am also concerned and disappointed that by placing the year 2002 
funding for LIHEAP on the chopping block, the Clinton administration 
lacked the foresight to realize the obvious: This is not our Nation's 
last winter. There will be another winter next year; I can guarantee 
it. We must lay the groundwork now to allow the planning to occur that 
will ensure that people stay warm next year, too.
  By eliminating the ``advance appropriation'' for LIHEAP for the next 
fiscal year, this appropriations bill has not laid any of the necessary 
groundwork for next year's winter. That will contribute to a supply 
crunch next fall, I fear.
  I call on the President and the congressional leadership to make 
LIHEAP a top priority, not only this year but next year as well. I am 
pleased to see and applaud the language that was included in the 
managers' statement pledging to fund LIHEAP in the next fiscal year at 
this year's level or at a greater level. I would have preferred to see 
a commitment for advance funding, but I know the conferees will keep 
the commitment they have made.
  Finally, I pledge my personal efforts to ensure that low-income 
families in Maine and throughout the Nation stay warm through our long 
winters.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, seeing no one seeking recognition, I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is informed we are in 
a period of morning business with speakers not to exceed 5 minutes.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I do not see others seeking the floor. I 
ask unanimous consent I be allowed to speak for not to exceed 10 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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