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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The recent federal budget proposed by President
3Trump includes a total elimination of federal funding for the
4Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); such a
5reduction will threaten the continuation of a number of State
6of Illinois initiatives that have relied on the LIHEAP program;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, LIHEAP is a vital lifeline to low income families,
9working poor households, senior citizens, and persons with
10disabilities in meeting their energy needs throughout the State
11of Illinois; it also assists with the stability critical for
12child development; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Low income families, working poor households,
14many senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are often
15unable to afford essential utility services and other
16necessities, such as food, shelter, and medical care; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The health and safety of those who are unable to
18afford essential utility services suffer when monthly payments
19for these services exceed a reasonable percentage of the
20customer's household income; and
 
21    WHEREAS, The LIHEAP program is an important part of a

 

 

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1two-part energy assistance strategy designed by the State of
2Illinois to provide energy assistance payments to low income
3households through LIHEAP while promoting energy efficiency
4through the Department of Energy weatherization program; and
 
5    WHEREAS, LIHEAP is a targeted block grant program, which
6provides built-in flexibility in federal-state partnerships
7that assist low-income customers to meet their bill payment
8obligations, to prevent service terminations in winter and heat
9emergencies, to help households make the transition from public
10assistance, and to weatherize homes and repair defective
11heating equipment; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Many low income Illinoisans do not have sufficient
13income to pay for the basic necessities of life and are
14experiencing a crisis in paying home energy bills, thereby
15contributing to a health and safety crisis which becomes
16disruptive to Illinois families and children; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
18HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
19support adequate and uninterrupted federal funding for the Low
20Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP); and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Congressional
22Delegation to advocate for appropriate and sufficient funding

 

 

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1for LIHEAP for the coming federal fiscal year; and be it
2further
 
3    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
4provided to all members of the Illinois Congressional
5Delegation.