C.S.H.C.R. 11 78(4)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.C.R. 11
By: Chisum
Energy Resources
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was
established during the energy crises of the 1980s to help low-income and
elderly people pay winter heating and summer cooling bills. Over 75% of
Texans that receive LIHEAP assistance have incomes below the federal
poverty guideline of $9,500 a year, and all recipients have incomes below
125% of the federal poverty level ($11,638).   

Although LIHEAP is an essential federal program, it has an unfair
allocation methodology that penalizes Texans. Two formulas dictate the
allocation of the federal funds to the states. The problem with LIHEAP is
that the formula that has allocated almost all the historic appropriations
provides more help to residents of northern states where winter cold is
acute.  

The funding allocation formula that treats warmer weather states like
Texas fairly has not been used since 1986. This is unfair to southern
states like Texas where summer heat is life-threatening. According to the
Southern States Energy Board (a federally sanctioned interstate compact
that includes Texas), heat resulted in significantly more deaths than
extreme cold between 1998 and 2000. 


ANALYSIS
C.S.H.C.R. 11 submits the following resolutions:

Respectfully urges Congress of the United States to increase funding and
include advance funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) and pursue a more equitable funding formula for the program. 

Requesting that the Texas Secretary of State forward official copies of
this resolution to the president of the United States, to the speaker of
the house of representatives and the president of the senate of the United
States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to the
congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in
the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United
States of America. 




COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The original HCR 11 urged Congress to increase funding, the substitute
urges Congress to utilize "the most current " state-specific population,
as well as, fully fund the program at "the $3.4 billion authorized."