SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING APPROPRIATIONS FOR LIHEAP.

SEC. 313. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING APPROPRIATIONS FOR LIHEAP. (a) Findings.— Congress finds the following: (1) Seventy-seven percent of the over 25 million households that were eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (hereinafter referred to as “LIHEAP”) in fiscal year 1992 did not receive assistance due to a lack of funds. (2) Recent economic distress has caused significant unemployment, which has resulted in a greater need for energy assistance than ever before. (3) More than 66 percent of LIHEAP household recipients have an annual income that is below the poverty level. (4) Forty-three percent of all LIHEAP eligible households include children. (5) LIHEAP eligible households with children spend approximately 16 percent of their annual incomes on home energy costs, which is more than 4 times greater than that paid by the average household in the United States, and far beyond their means. (6) Approximately 40 percent of LIHEAP household recipients are comprised of elderly or disabled persons. (7) Congress appropriated $1,475,000,000 for LIHEAP for fiscal year 1995. (8) The Department of Energy predicts that the costs of residential fuels will increase at a pace greater than inflation. (b) Sense of the Congress.— It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the maintenance of LIHEAP should be a high priority in order to enable low-income households, especially the working poor, the disabled, and the low-income elderly, who all depend on LIHEAP, to meet their energy costs and needs; (2) all appropriations made for LIHEAP for fiscal year 1995 should be expended; and 108 STAT. 666 (3) expenditures for LIHEAP for fiscal year 1996 should ensure the provision of services at the level provided in fiscal year 1995.