HR0858

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The LIHEAP program is a federal program 
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administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and 
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Family Services to help low income households pay for home 
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heating and cooling bills and to reduce energy consumption; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Approximately $150 million is dedicated to home 
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heating grants, with remaining funds of $50 million used for 
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weatherization, summer cooling programs, and other energy 
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assistance initiatives; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In Fiscal Year 2005, more than $155 million was 
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granted to over 342,000 households for winter heating needs; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, This winter the Department of Healthcare and 
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Family Services hopes to provide assistance to 315,500 
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households; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The service target for this winter season is only 
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40% of eligible households, and nearly 474,000 households will 
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go without assistance; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The spending authority for the FY 2006 program 
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remains at the same level that was in place for FY 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The U.S. Energy Information Administration 
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announced that Americans nationwide should be prepared to pay 
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up to 48% more on home heating costs this winter; therefore, in 
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light of rising energy prices, funding at the same level year 
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after year is not sufficient; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Estimates for the current fiscal year indicate 
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that the State will collect $1 billion in revenue from all 
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public utility taxes, and by diverting 2% of those tax dollars 
 


 






HR0858
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LRB094 19268 HSS 54891 r




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to the LIHEAP program, the State would generate a consistent 
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funding stream of at least $20 million; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we urge the Governor, in cooperation with the Department of 
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Healthcare and Family Services, to increase State funding for 
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the LIHEAP program in order to provide assistance to more of 
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the households in need; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Director of 
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Healthcare and Family Services.