HR0842 LRB094 15503 HSS 50702 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was
3 authorized by Congress in 1981 to assist low-income households,
4 particularly those with the lowest income that pay a high
5 proportion of household income for home energy, in meeting
6 their immediate home energy needs; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
8 (LIHEAP) provides vital heating and cooling assistance to
9 low-income families, including working poor households, senior
10 citizens, and persons with disabilities; and
 
11     WHEREAS, The LIHEAP program in Illinois is funded through
12 State and federal appropriations and cash donations on the
13 local level; and
 
14     WHEREAS, In Illinois, the winter heating program is
15 expected to reach approximately 300,000 households this winter
16 with an estimated $150 million in State and federal funding;
17 and
 
18     WHEREAS, Due to insufficient funding, LIHEAP has reached
19 just 15% of the more than 30 million eligible for assistance
20 nationwide in recent years; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Federal LIHEAP funding levels for 2006 have not
22 yet been established; although Congress has authorized $5.1
23 billion for LIHEAP, no money has been appropriated; and
 
24     WHEREAS, The United States Energy Information
25 Administration announced that Americans nationwide should be
26 prepared to pay up to 48% more on home heating costs this
27 winter; in light of rising energy prices, funding at the same
28 level year after year is not sufficient; and
 

 

 

HR0842 - 2 - LRB094 15503 HSS 50702 r

1     WHEREAS, A national survey of LIHEAP recipients conducted
2 in 2005 by the National Energy Agency Director's Association
3 (NEADA) found that 32% of families in the survey sacrificed
4 medical care, 24% failed to make a rent or mortgage payment,
5 20% went without food for at least a day, and 44% said that
6 they skipped paying or paid less than their home energy bill in
7 the past year; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In Illinois, winter temperatures average 28.2
9 degrees Fahrenheit, and an average of 18 deaths are annually
10 attributed to cold temperatures; therefore, be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
13 we urge President George W. Bush to support the LIHEAP program;
14 and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress to
16 provide an increase in LIHEAP funding to a level sufficient to
17 keep pace with rising energy prices; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to
19 President George W. Bush and to each member of the Illinois
20 Congressional Delegation.