HR0605 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0605 LRB095 12733 DRJ 38080 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The purpose of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income citizens by offsetting the rising cost of home energy (principally heating) through direct financial assistance, energy counseling, outreach, and education; and

WHEREAS, Because of the electric rate increase that took effect on January 1, 2007, after a 10-year rate freeze, many individuals and families in Illinois were overwhelmed with much higher electric utility bills; and

WHEREAS, Because many Illinois individuals and families were unable to cope with those suddenly higher electric utility bills, moneys appropriated for LIHEAP were quickly used up in many communities throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, Based on the availability of limited funds, a LIHEAP Summer Energy Assistance Program will be implemented in the summer of 2007; a total amount of $6 million from state and federal funding sources will be allocated to local agencies for the summer program; due to the limited funding, and the brevity of the program, the provision of fans and air conditioners or air conditioner repair will not be done; and

WHEREAS, Because of the limited funding for the summer program, many households who need assistance will be unable to get it and will therefore incur substantial health risks; and

WHEREAS, An emergency transfer of moneys is necessary to enable LIHEAP to serve households throughout the State who desperately need assistance to keep their homes cool this summer; and

WHEREAS, Sales taxes generated from sales of motor fuel in Illinois are available to enable the LIHEAP Summer Cooling Program to serve more households and fund more services; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor, the State Comptroller, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, and the General Assembly to move with all deliberate speed to transfer $50,000,000 from the sales tax line item from sales taxes received on sales of motor fuel to a LIHEAP account and to arrange for the release of those moneys to certified community-based organizations for use in the LIHEAP Summer Cooling Program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor, the State Comptroller, the Director of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, the Director of Healthcare and Family Services, and the President and the Minority Leader of the Senate.