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Appropriations

House Approves $2.006 billion for LIHEAP for FY 2006

June 24, 2005

The House approved an increase of $22 million for LIHEAP today. This brings the total up to $2.006 billion, $4 million over the trigger for the new formula. HHS provided me with the formula factors necessary to run the new formula. I should have a revised table by Monday or Tuesday.

In summary:

FY 2005 total funding:	$2.18 billion ($1.884 billion in grant funds and $297.6 million in emergency funds)
FY 2006 total funding:	Administration - $2 billion ($1.8 billion in grant funds and $200 million in emergency funds) House Passed - $2.006 billion (no emergency funds)

Note - The new formula only kicks in when the total amount of basic grant assistance exceeds $1.975 billion. Since the program sets-aside $27.5 million for leveraging and REACH, the new formula only kicks in when the total appropriation exceeds $2 billion.

The Senate is expected to take up the Labor/HHS/ED appropriations bill in mid-July and is planning to shift $3 billion from the SSI account into the Labor/HHS bill. If they do that, then there is a reasonable chance that some of those funds will go to LIHEAP.

Remember, its still early and it?s a long way from being over. However, it is very important that during the next few weeks you encourage everyone you know to let their members know that this appropriations level will not sustain LIHEAP during the coming year. The more they hear that back in the field, the more likely it is that we will be able to get extra funding and finally go over the top on the formula.