3/20/2012
137 House Members sign bipartisan letter requesting $5.1 billion for LIHEAP in FY2013
FY13LIHEAP Approps Letter
2/14/2012
Campaign Rejects the President’s FY2013 LIHEAP Budget – Supports $5.1 billion in funding
On Monday, the President proposed investing $3.02 billion in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We recognize and appreciate that this is a significant increase in the amount of money the Administration proposed for FY 2012. At the same time, if enacted by Congress, this proposal would result in devastating and unacceptable cuts to LIHEAP services across the country.
We all know that economic times are hard and energy prices remain high. Millions of struggling American households rely on targeted, short-term assistance from the LIHEAP program to help cover their heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. This program is not an entitlement or a luxury – it is a critical bridge for those Americans who are hurting the most.
Over the past decade, LIHEAP has transitioned from a regional program to a national program serving all 50 states. At peak funding in 2009, the program was national in scale but still only had enough resources to support roughly 1/4 of eligible households. With decreased funding over the past several years, states are forced to provide smaller grants to fewer households. Additional cuts to the program will place additional stress on the program.
If the goal is a robust, efficient and effective national LIHEAP program we need to reverse the trend of cutting funding and build back to the authorized spending level of $5.1 billion. The Campaign will continue to work with our vast network of partners and champions on Capitol Hill to continue to make the case. FY2013 LIHEAP Facts
Brandon Avila
Campaign For Home Energy Assistance
www.liheap.org
@liheapcampaign
202-331-2962
1/30/2012
103 LIHEAP supporter in the House of Representatives sent aFY2013 LIHEAP SUPPORT LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMAto the President requesting at least $4.7 billion for the program in the upcoming FY2013 submission to Congress. The White House has indicated this will be submitted on February 13.
1/19/2012
HHS Released Final FY2012 Funding Levels:
HHS released the remaining FY12 funding for LIHEAP. The total released today is $863M, bringing the total released FY12 funding to $3.4B.
The chart to see what your state is receiving liheap allocations.
1/18/2012
Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge President to Fully Fund LIHEAP in FY2013. See letter1.18.12 President FY13 LIHEAP signonl
12/16/2011
House Releases Conference Report and Moves Closer to Vote – LIHEAP Funded at $3.478 B
Today, the House is expected to take up the Omnibus FY2012 appropriations package, which contains funding for LIHEAP in the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee. The House recently released their Conference Report. With the current CR expiring today, both chambers will have to move quickly to approve this package.
As reported yesterday, the bill provides $3.478 B for LIHEAP. In what appears to be a compromise between the House and Senate on the formula distribution, roughly $3 billion would be distributed under the old formula (tier 1). There is no reserve for contingency funding. Additionally, $3 million would be provided for Training and Technical Assistance.
This overall funding is less than current year’s level ($4.7 billion), but higher than the President’s request of $2.57 billion.
Now that this joint statement has been released, we have additional information on other programs of interest:
Weatherization Assistance Program: $65M is provided, with another $3M for training and technical assistance. This is a rather large cut from the $174M in FY11.
State Energy Program: It is the higher Senate level at $50M. This was the same level as FY11.
12/8/2011
The # of Military Families Receiving LIHEAP Increases by 156% Since 2008
The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) representing the state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) released the results of their latest survey of LIHEAP recipients. The survey was based on phone calls to more than 1,000 current program recipients. A copy of the survey is on the NEADA website – www.neada.org.
Key Findings: The number of veterans has increased from 12 percent of total recipients to 20% since 2008, increasing from 695,760 in FY 2008 to 1.78 million in FY 2011. During this period the overall program grew by 54% while the number of veterans households increased by more than 150%. Veteran households in fact accounted for almost 35% of total growth in the program between FY 2008 and 2011. Of specific interest, 12% of all veterans receiving LIHEAP have served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Seven percent of military families are currently serving in the military.
According to Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of NEADA, the increase in veterans’ families mirrors the overall increase in LIHEAP across the country. It also clearly demonstrates that LIHEAP is reaching some of the nation’s poorest families – including those who have served their nation in times of peace as well as war.
12/5/2011
Sens. Reed (RI), Snowe (ME), and Sanders (VT) will soon introduce the “LIHEAP Protection Act”. This legislation would maintain level-funding for LIHEAP at last year’s level of $4.7 billion to help low-income households cope during this tough economic climate. See bill draft language. LIHEAP protection act bill
11/11/2011
Senate LIHEAP FY2012 Support Letter:
Senator Snowe (R-ME) and Reed (D-RI) spearheaded a letter with a bipartisan group of 34 Senator to Congressional leadership urging them to fund the LIHEAP program at $4.7 B for FY2012. Additionally, the letter asks that Congress provide additional funding in the next Continuing Resolution. 11.11 LIHEAP
11/4/2011
Supporters in the House sent a letter to leadership asking that Congress provide $4.7 billion for LIHEAP in the FY2012 funding negotiations. LIHEAP Letter to Leadership 11-04-11
Attached is the final Governor letter Gov – LIHEAP that was sent to Congressional leadership urging them to fund the LIHEAP program at $4.7 B for FY2012.
8/22/2011
Recession Increases Number of Children Living in Low-Income Families
The 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book: New Data & State Rankings on Child Well-being
According to data released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in its annual KIDS COUNT ® Data Book, over the last decade there has been a significant decline in economic well-being for low-income children and families. Data also reveals the impact of the job and foreclosure crisis on children. This year’s message explores how children and families are faring in the wake of the recession and why it matters to help kids reach their full potential to become part of a robust economy and society. Read the full 2011KCDB_FINAL_S_f
7/29/2011
NEADA/NASCSP Respond to Heritage Poverty Report
Today the The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association (NEADA) and the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) today released a letter to the Heritage Foundation expressing their concern that the core conclusions of their recently released report, “What is Poverty Today” is based on a misleading interpretation of the Residential Energy Conservation Survey (RECS) data. letter to Heritage .
Congress wraps up FY2011 Budget: LIHEAP funded at $4.71 billion
4/21/2011
The Congress finished their FY2011 Continuing Resolution for the remainder of the year. The bill provided $4.71 billion ($4.51 in formula and $200.3 million in contingency) for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The bill language also sets the state income eligibility level back to 60% of the state median income (In both the FY2009 and FY2010 appropriations acts, Congress gave states the authority to raise their LIHEAP eligibility standards to 75% of state median income).
As previously reported, with the help of our LIHEAP champions on the Hill, much of the LIHEAP funding for this year was attached to the CR back in December so that additional funds would be made available to states during a time of the year when many states were trying to cope with a cold weather season that typically causes a spike in demand.
With roughly $4.46 b ($4.26 b in formula and $200 m in contingency) already released, HHS allocated the remaining roughly $240 million so that states received the same amount in formula that they got in FY2011.
See total amounts allocated to states this year (FY2011).
http://liheap.org/?page_id=107
President’s FY2012 Budget Request
2/14/2011
The President released his budget for FY2012, which included recommendations to slash the LIHEAP program from $5.1 billion to $2.57 billion, a 50% reduction. This request would roll the program’s funding back to its 2008 levels.
During tough economic times and with home heating and cooling prices on a steady incline, the decision to drastically cut the vital LIHEAP program is irresponsible. If allowed to stand, this reduction will have dramatic and devastating effect on the millions of working people and elderly nationwide who benefit from this effective program.
Already a bi-partisan chorus of lawmakers and commentators have decried cuts to LIHEAP in a letter to the Administration. Regardless, a tough fight lies ahead to maintain LIHEAP funding at an appropriate level, and your continued support and assistance will be crucial in that process.
1-page Save LIHEAP fact sheet with talking points
White House Justification of FY2012 LIHEAP Cut:
During this period of tough budget choices, the President’s 2012 Budget provides $2.57 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income families offset a portion of their home heating and cooling costs. This includes $1.98 billion in base grants and $590 million in contingency funds to allow the Administration to respond to energy-related emergencies. The 2012 Budget does not re-propose the mandatory funding trigger that was included in prior Budgets. Reflecting current forecasts for more moderate energy prices in winter 2011-2012, this returns LIHEAP funding to historic levels received for 2008 prior to the energy price spikes. Current energy price forecasts predict relatively moderate price increases for winter 2011-2012 compared to this winter, with prices remaining well below the peaks experienced in 2008. For example, the West Texas Intermediate spot price for crude oil is expected to be $95 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to a peak of nearly $124 per barrel in the second quarter of 2008. Likewise, the Henry Hub spot price for natural gas is expected to be $4.52 per thousand cubic meters in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to a peak price of $11.72 per thousand cubic meters in the second quarter of 2008.1 The Administration will continue to monitor energy prices going forward and will be willing to revisit program needs if there are significant price increases.
Additionally, the Administration proposes to reauthorize and modify the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) with reforms aimed at strengthening program integrity and fraud prevention
To read the full justification provided by ACF. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/2012/cj2012.html
