U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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79–012 2000

106th Congress, 2d Session – – – – – – – – – – – – House Document 106–295

THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF BUDGET

APPROPRIATIONS

COMMUNICATION

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SEPTEMBER 25, 2000.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and

ordered to be printed

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THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington, September 23, 2000.

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SIR: In accordance with provisions of the FY 2000 Emergency

Supplemental Act, as included in Public Law 106–246, I hereby request and make available appropriations of $400,000,000 in budget

authority for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program of

the Department of Health and Human Services. These funds will

enable the Department to address the needs of low-income households in all States that are facing significant increases in heating

fuel prices.

I designate the $400,000,000 made available today as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced

Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended.

The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from

the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur

with his comments and observations.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

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[Estimate No. 23, 106th Congress, 2d Session]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET,

Washington, DC, September 23, 2000.

The PRESIDENT, The White House.

Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available $400.0 million in emergency appropriations for the Department of

Health and Human Services. Your approval of this request would

make available previously appropriated funds to the Low Income

Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help all States address the needs of low-income households that are facing significant increases in heating fuel prices, with a majority of funds distributed to the colder weather States of the Northeast and Midwest.

The FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Act, as included in Public

Law 106–246, provided $600.0 million for LIHEAP, contingent

upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress

and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. These funds replenished the LIHEAP contingent emergency fund, which was exhausted this past winter in response to

oil price increases. To date, you have released a total of $44.4 million of this emergency funding to address the needs of low-income

households in eight southern States arising from extremely hot

weather conditions; low-income households in Alaska needing assistance with fuel costs in light of the fisheries disaster; and, lowincome households in California that were facing extremely high

electricity prices this summer.

I recommend that you designate this request for $400.0 million

as an emergency funding requirement in accordance with section

251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control

Act of 1985, as amended. No further congressional action will be

required.

I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it

is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Health

and Human Services in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Sincerely,

JACOB J. LEW, Director.

Enclosure.

EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS: AMOUNTS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED

MADE AVAILABLE BY THE PRESIDENT

Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families: Low income home energy assistance program .................................................................................................... $400,000,000
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The FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Act, as included in Public Law 106–246, provided $600,000,000 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire

amount requested as an emergency requirement. Of the $600,000,000 in contingent emergency appropriations pro- vided by Public Law 106–246, $44,350,000 has been designated as

an emergency requirement and made available. At this time, an

additional $400,000,000 in contingent funding is required to support the needs of low-income households throughout the United

States arising from significant increases in heating fuel prices.

These funds will enable all States to assist low-income households

affected by price increases that have occurred throughout the country and will provide additional assistance to the States in proportion to their usage of heating oil, natural gas, and propane.

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