03/27/03 0910s

04/24/03 1347eba

2003 SESSION

03-1192

05/01

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3

ANALYSIS

This resolution urges maintenance of federal funding of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

03/27/03 0910s

04/24/03 1347eba

03-1192

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

Whereas, New Hampshire's federal allocation of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is used to operate the statewide fuel assistance program, which provides benefits to qualified New Hampshire residents, such as low-income elderly, disabled, and low-income working households, to assist with paying their energy bills during the winter season. The fuel assistance program also helps New Hampshire residents in a heating emergency by securing an emergency delivery of fuel, delaying a shut-off notice, or referring individuals to another source of assistance; and

Whereas, fuel costs for this winter have proven to be higher than expected and higher than last winter, while the average temperature thus far this winter has been colder than usual; and

Whereas, during the 2001-2002 heating season, New Hampshire received $13.2 million in LIHEAP funds based upon a $1.7 billion federal appropriation. With these funds, New Hampshire assisted 24,876 low-income households, but was not able to provide full benefits to all income-eligible seniors and working poor families that requested assistance; and

Whereas, New Hampshire's fuel assistance program made numerous programmatic changes prior to this winter to further maximize federal LIHEAP dollars this winter season, including reducing income eligibility levels and reducing benefits amounts. In spite of these efforts, sufficient federal funds do not exist to serve all eligible New Hampshire residents who request assistance; and

Whereas, states are developing new and innovative ways to stretch available program resources, including the use of pre-purchase programs during the summer months that are not adequately supported by the current program legislation; and

Whereas, last winter many low-income residents unnecessarily suffered and took extreme and dangerous measures to stay warm. Results of a 2002 winter survey of New Hampshire's low-income residents identified disturbing facts which include that 16.4 percent of the over 900 respondents, many of whom are elderly, disabled, facing severe medical problems, or caring for small children, used dangerous alternatives to heat their homes, such as space heaters or ovens. Another 7.3 percent of the respondents indicated they went without medical care or medicine; and

Whereas, the current authorization level, set at $2 billion, is not sufficient to meet the current need for program assistance as a result of rising unemployment and poverty levels and continuing volatility in energy pricing; and

Whereas, uncertainty in appropriations due to the lack of advance funding has made it more difficult for the states to set program eligibility levels and take advantage of program buying opportunities; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the general court hereby urges the New Hampshire congressional delegation to support:

I. Extending LIHEAP's authorization through fiscal year 2008;

II. Maintaining the current funding formula and hold-harmless provisions in order to maintain adequate funding levels for the region's programs;

III. Increasing the authorization level to $3.4 billion; and

IV. Allowing states to draw-down funds prior to the start of the winter heating season in order to take advantage of pre-purchase and other discount programs; and

That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the senate clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.

Approved: April 17, 2003