S2320MAR10

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending March 10, 2006

S. 2320 A bill to make available funds included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for fiscal year 2006, and for other purposes.

Americans in the North East and elsewhere in the US, rising fuel prices and a cold winter has made it difficult for some to stay warm. This bill would free up funds slotted for the Home Energy Assistance Program in 2007 to be used this winter.

The funds sought, if spent, would violate the Budget Act, therefore this bill would authorize waiving that Act and freeing up as much as $1 billion earmarked for the HEA in 2007. The funds would be used for assistance to low income Americans and others in need of energy help during the winter months.

An amendment to the bill would give the president discretion over distribution of 50% of the money in the fund.

Sponsor: Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)

Vote: A motion to waive the Budget Act was agreed to 66 to 31 (RV 30). A Motion to Invoke Cloture and limit debate on the bill passed 75 to 25 March 6, 2006 (RV 33). The bill passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent March 7, 2006.

Cost to the taxpayers: Funds would be taken from those approved in the Deficit Reduction Act for the purpose of distributing unused Treasury funds for Home Heating Assistance in 2007 and beyond. "CBO expected that the entire $1.0 billion in LIHEAP funding originally appropriated for 2007 would have been obligated in that year and spent over a three-year period, with outlays of $750 million in 2007, $230 million in 2008, and $20 million in 2009. S. 2320 will accelerate the spending of these same amounts to the 2006-
2008 period.

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2. S.AMDT.2899 to S.2320 To make available funds included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 for allotments to States for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for fiscal year 2006.
Sponsor: Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] (introduced 3/2/2006) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2006 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2899 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

12. S.AMDT.2913 to S.2320 To improve the distribution of funds to States under there Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. {The amendment amends the above amendment to allow fifty percent of funds available to be distributed at the discretion of the President.}
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] (introduced 3/7/2006) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 3/7/2006 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2913 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay. 68 - 31. Record Vote Number: 34.