Appropriations

Congress Passes CR, Increases LIHEAP Funding to $5.1 Billion

September 26, 2008

The FY 09 CR was passed by the Senate on Saturday by a vote of 78-12. It now goes to the President for signature and there is every expectation that he will sign it. So, we are even closer to a historic victory for LIHEAP! Thanks so much for your help the last year in providing data, program summaries, etc. It helped a great deal. The numbers were used as part of the Appropriation Committee calculations.

The CR provides $5.1 billion for LIHEAP of which $4.5 billion would be for the basic grant, an increase of $2.53 billion in the basic grant from $1.98 billion in FY 08. The remaining $590.3 million would be provided as emergency contingency funds, the same level as provided in FY 08. Of the funds provided for the basic grant, $3.669 billion will be allocated by holdharmless or Tier 1 part of the formula and $839.9 million by Tier 2 and Tier 3.

In addition, the bill:

1. Increases the eligibility ceiling from the greater of 150% of poverty or 60% of state median income to the greater of 150% of poverty or 75% of state median income,
2. Allows states to carryover any funds remaining from FY 08 to FY 09
3. Requires that all funds provided be obligated within 30 days of enactment. This would seem to suggest that the Administration would be required to obligate the $590.3 million in emergency contingency funds. I will be checking today to see if in fact that is the legal interpretation.

See October 16 News Update for a FY 09 state-by-state appropriations link.