HR0858 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0858 LRB094 19268 HSS 54891 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The LIHEAP program is a federal program administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to help low income households pay for home heating and cooling bills and to reduce energy consumption; and

WHEREAS, Approximately $150 million is dedicated to home heating grants, with remaining funds of $50 million used for weatherization, summer cooling programs, and other energy assistance initiatives; and

WHEREAS, In Fiscal Year 2005, more than $155 million was granted to over 342,000 households for winter heating needs; and

WHEREAS, This winter the Department of Healthcare and Family Services hopes to provide assistance to 315,500 households; and

WHEREAS, The service target for this winter season is only 40% of eligible households, and nearly 474,000 households will go without assistance; and

WHEREAS, The spending authority for the FY 2006 program remains at the same level that was in place for FY 2005; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced that Americans nationwide should be prepared to pay up to 48% more on home heating costs this winter; therefore, in light of rising energy prices, funding at the same level year after year is not sufficient; and

WHEREAS, Estimates for the current fiscal year indicate that the State will collect $1 billion in revenue from all public utility taxes, and by diverting 2% of those tax dollars to the LIHEAP program, the State would generate a consistent funding stream of at least $20 million; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor, in cooperation with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, to increase State funding for the LIHEAP program in order to provide assistance to more of the households in need; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Director of Healthcare and Family Services.