Transcript of Congressman Hinchey's Remarks on House Floor - March 16, 2006

Madam Speaker, the motion to recommit is very simple and direct. It says that the appropriations that were directed toward the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for the year 2006 must be spent in that year, not moved over to the year 2007.

We are doing this for obvious reasons. The high cost of energy is making it extremely difficult for low-income people, particularly elderly, low-income people, to meet their home energy assistance payments, and also to meet their other needs.

It is also affecting large numbers of other people in our communities across the Northeast, the upper Midwest, and elsewhere across the country.

That, and the drop in temperatures recently, is causing some serious problems for many people. We want to make sure that the money that was appropriated for the LIHEAP program is used this year, appropriately so that people do not suffer as a result of its not being used.