Bill Text: NJ AR239 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses opposition to proposed discontinuation of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and urges Congress to renew that funding.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7)
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-22 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR239 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR239-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses opposition to proposed discontinuation of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and urges Congress to renew that funding.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution expressing opposition to the proposed elimination of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and urging the United States Congress to maintain program funding in Federal Fiscal Year 2018.
Whereas, The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a system of block grants made to states and U.S. territories by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pursuant to 48 U.S.C. s.8621 et seq. to provide financial assistance to low-income households for heating and cooling costs and weatherization projects; and
Whereas, According to preliminary HHS data for Federal Fiscal Year 2015, LIHEAP supported $1.7 billion in heating assistance, $202 million in cooling assistance, $680 million for crisis assistance, and $336 million for low-cost residential weatherization or other energy-related home repairs to an estimated 6 million households across the United States; and
Whereas, In Federal Fiscal Year 2017 the United States Congress appropriated approximately $3.39 billion for the LIHEAP Program, with a distribution of $106.6 million provided to the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, The Governor's proposed budget for State Fiscal Year 2018 anticipates $140 million in federal LIHEAP funding to serve approximately 300,000 households and 800,000 persons; and
Whereas, On March 14, 2017, the federal Office of Management and Budget released America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again, the President's discretionary funding proposals for Federal Fiscal Year 2018; and
Whereas, The President's budget blueprint recommends the elimination of all discretionary programs in the HHS Office of Community Services, including LIHEAP, and further notes, "Compared to other income support programs that serve similar populations, LIHEAP is a lower-impact program and is unable to demonstrate strong performance outcomes;" and
Whereas, As one of the most indispensable social services programs available to low income households, LIHEAP is designed to help eligible families and individuals meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs, with a particular focus on assisting low-income households that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy; and
Whereas, The elimination of LIHEAP would result in the loss of basic and necessary services vital to the health and safety of low-income households and vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, disabled, and young children;
Whereas, The United States Congress has the authority to continue LIHEAP and ensure that this critical program is adequately funded in Federal Fiscal Year 2018 to meet its objective of providing assistance to low-income persons and households; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly expresses its opposition to the proposed elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and urges the United States Congress to continue funding LIHEAP in Federal Fiscal Year 2018.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Commissioner of Human Services.
STATEMENT
This resolution expresses the General Assembly's opposition to the proposed elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and urges the United States Congress to full fund LIHEAP in Federal Fiscal Year 2018 (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018). The President's discretionary funding proposals for Federal Fiscal Year 2018 recommend the elimination of LIHEAP. Evaluation data in the Governor's Fiscal Year 2018 proposed budget indicates that approximately 300,000 New Jersey households received LIHEAP assistance in State Fiscal Year 2017. The Governor's proposed budget anticipates $140 million in LIHEAP funding for State Fiscal Year 2018. In New Jersey, LIHEAP is administered by the Department of Community Affairs.
Established in 1981, LIHEAP provides federal funds to states, primarily to help low-income households pay home energy expenses. LIHEAP provides two types of funding: regular funds (sometimes referred to as block grant funds) and emergency contingency funds. Regular funds are allocated to states based on a formula while contingency funds may be released to one or more grantees at the discretion of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services based on emergency needs. States may use LIHEAP funds to assist with the payment of heating and cooling costs, weatherization expenses, and crisis assistance. Households with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if greater, 60% of the state median income, are eligible for LIHEAP benefits. States may adopt lower income limits but no household with an income below 110% of the federal poverty guidelines may be considered ineligible.
In New Jersey, applicant households must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or through their rent, and have a gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Persons who live in public housing or receive rental assistance are not eligible for LIHEAP unless they pay heating costs directly to their fuel supplier. The amount of the LIHEAP heating benefits is determined by income, household size, fuel type, and hearting region. Cooling assistance is available to income eligible households for which there is medical evidence that the health of at least one household member will be seriously endangered unless the household's living quarters are cooled. The medically necessary cooling benefit amount is set by the State at $200 and is issued as a direct credit to an active electricity account in the State's LIHEAP system.
