[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10878-S10879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MEASURE READ THE FIRST TIME--S. 2949

  Mr. FRIST. I understand S. 2949 is at the desk, and I ask for its 
first reading.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2949) to amend the Low-Income Home Energy 
     Assistance Act of 1981 to reauthorize the Act, and for other 
     purposes.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, this legislation reauthorizes the Low 
Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. I am pleased to be 
joined in this effort by 13 other Senators: the Junior Senator from 
Maine, Mrs. Collins, the Senior from Vermont, Mr. Leahy, the Senator 
from Connecticut, Mr. Dodd, the Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Reed, 
the Senator from Delaware, Mr. Biden, the Senator from Massachusetts, 
Mr. Kennedy, the Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Bingaman, the Senator 
from New Jersey, Mr. Lautenberg, the Senator from Maryland, Mr. 
Sarbanes, the Senior Senator from Maine, Ms. Snowe, the Senator from 
New York, Mr. Schumer, the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Kohl, and the 
Senator from Rhode Island, Mr. Chafee.

[[Page S10879]]

  Funding authorization for this critically important program 
technically expires at the end of fiscal year 2004. In a regular year, 
the fiscal year ends on September 30, a date that has already passed. 
Right now, our Government is operating under a temporary extension of 
the fiscal year 2004 budget that expires on November 20, 2004. Today, 
the Federal Government released money for the first quarter of 2005 at 
the old fiscal year 2004 funding levels. I know that the states are 
grateful to have this additional money in hand. We must do something 
now to ensure that this vital program is reauthorized at a higher 
funding level right away, so that we can provide America's low income 
families the extra help they need this winter to pay their home heating 
bills. Who knows now, when we will finish appropriations for fiscal 
year 2005? We may finish our appropriations legislation in December or 
January, and we seem headed down that path.
  The bill my colleagues and I introduce today sends the right message 
to concerned constituents already worried about about how they will 
afford to heat their homes in the face of reported higher home heating 
costs in the next few months. With this bill we say even if Congress 
continues to extend last fiscal year's appropriations level or pass a 
new one, the Senate will increase the amount of money that can be put 
toward the LIHEAP program.
  Fortunately, we know we have support in the Senate for the 
legislation my colleagues and I introduce today. On February 12, 2004, 
the Senate passed S. 1786 unanimously. S. 1786 is a bill to extend the 
Community Services Block Grant Act. Included in Title II, Section 202 
of that bill is a provision that would provide an annual LIHEAP funding 
authorization of $3.4 billion in each of FY2004-FY2006 and at such sums 
as necessary through FY2010. This bill is identical to Section 202 of 
S. 1786. Given that it has moved unanimously in the past, it is my hope 
that the bill I introduce today can pass quickly and become law.
  Why is this bill important, Mr. President? First, authorizing LIHEAP 
at a higher funding level would mean that a subsequent appropriations 
bill could add more funds to LIHEAP for this winter's heating season. 
All of the fiscal year 2004 appropriation for LIHEAP has been released, 
a total of $1.7 billion in regular funds and $99 million in contingency 
funds, and we've funded the first quarter of 2005 at that same funding 
level. Even if we wanted to add more money for LIHEAP this winter, Mr. 
President, Congress is running close to the total authorized limit for 
the program. Under current law, Congress can only give can only give 
LIHEAP up to $600 million in contingency funds, and $2 billion in 
annual regular funding. We are about to head into what is likely to be 
a cold winter with high fuel cost having nearly hit our credit limit in 
the amount we can spend on the LIHEAP program. That is wrong. It is 
poor financial planning and it does a grave injustice to the families 
that are counting on us, especially when we know fuel costs are going 
to be high this winter. We should make certain that we can give the 
LIHEAP program the money it needs, and do so now.
  Second, this bill is important our constituents face an uncertain and 
frightening future with respect to energy costs. We should not continue 
to fund LIHEAP at last year's level when we know that costs are 
increasing. In Vermont, my state's fuel assistance programs are now 
receiving calls from constituents on fixed incomes that have fallen 
behind on their fuel payments and are concerned about making ends meet. 
Vermont's first deadline for applications for fuel assistance was 
August 31, 2004, and payments are not expected to reach eligible 
applicants until November. In response to this first deadline, my state 
received 1,800 more applications than last year. Vermont's increase in 
assistance applications reflects the increased heating costs throughout 
the Northeast and Midwest. Almost daily, newspapers are reporting on 
the effect of higher energy costs for consumers in these regions this 
winter. The Energy Information Administration released its winter 
forecast this week. They forecast that heating costs will increase, and 
heating a home with oil in particular will go up by more than 28% 
compared to a year ago and will cost an average of more than $1,300. 
Compared to average heating costs from 1998 to 2000, expenditures this 
winter are expected to be 45 percent higher for heating oil.
  Vermont is not alone. The costs for all heating fuels will be greater 
than last year throughout New England and the Midwest. Natural gas will 
cost 11% more than it did last year, and propane will cost 17% more. 
This may be our last opportunity to act before the onset of cold 
weather in New England and the Midwest. Families and businesses who 
face a heating crisis this winter deserve our help. Again, I think my 
colleagues, and I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask for its second reading, and in order to place the 
bill on the calendar under rule XIV I object to further proceeding on 
this matter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  The bill will be read the second time on the next legislative day.

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