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“THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND THE LABOR, HHS, AND EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL--H.R. 2127” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S18126 on Dec. 7, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION AND THE LABOR, HHS, AND EDUCATION
APPROPRIATIONS BILL--H.R. 2127
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, I want to update the Senate on the status of the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill, H.R. 2127, as it relates to the continuing resolution and the implications of the Senate's inaction on the bill for programs of the Department of Labor, HHS, and Education. In particular, I want to focus on the need to free up low-income energy assistance funds, which are so crucial at this time of year, when winter descends upon cold water States.
As Senators know, the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill for fiscal year 1996 is still on the Calendar. Efforts to bring it up in the Senate have been met with a filibuster due to the ``striker replacement'' provision and the abortion issue. I opposed the ``striker replacement provision being added to the bill in committee, because of the view that controversial legislative riders do not belong on an appropriation bill, but should be considered through the authorization process. In the case of the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill, the legislative riders included by the House have stalled action on this important bill in the Senate, and indefinitely postponed funding for education, health, job training, and social service programs in this fiscal year.
While the continuing resolution will ensure that some funding will be available for these programs, it is only on a short-term basis and at a minimal level. But, in some cases, the CR level effectively eliminates the viability of the program. The LIHEAP Program is one such example. LIHEAP provides funds to States to help low-income households meet their fuel bills during the winter months when costs soar due to cold weather. A high percentage of the program's beneficiaries are elderly and disabled people who need help in paying their fuel bills.
Mr. President, it is already very cold in many parts of the Nation. Our reliance on continuing resolutions since October 1 has put LIHEAP funds in jeopardy. Under the terms of the continuing resolution, $231 million has been made available to the States. This is far short of the nearly $600 million already requested by the States to get through the first quarter of the fiscal year. In previous years an average of 60 percent of the annual appropriation for LIHEAP has been allocated to the States in the first quarter, and 90 percent by March 30.
Many States have begun receiving requests for assistance, and under normal circumstances would begin distributing funds to participants at this time. However, because of the present stalemate in the Senate on the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill, States have no idea how to plan for this winter's program, and hundreds of thousands of low-income families are left wondering how they will be able to meet their winter heating bills. Low-income households, as well as Governors and local officials across the country are waiting to learn whether, and how much, funding will be appropriated for this winter's LIHEAP Program.
For low-income residents of cold-weather States like Pennsylvania, winter can mean choosing between eating and heating. We must not let our budgetary stalemate in the Nation's Capitol unduly burden the poor and elderly with respect to such a basic need as heated homes and apartments.
I have supported the previous continuing resolutions because they provide critical short-term funding for Federal activities. But I want to make clear, it is time for the Senate to act on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. Let's stop the filibuster, agree to bring up the bill, debate it, and let the Senate work its will.
In the meantime, it is imperative that the harsh restrictions on funding for LIHEAP be lifted. It is unfair to hold hostage essential assistance to the poor and elderly in cold weather States as Congress continues to deliberate on the budget.
Mr. President, winter's cold knows no political affiliation. The LIHEAP Program has had years of bipartisan support. Now is the time for all Senators to work together to ensure that our constituents in need are not denied heating assistance this winter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
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