[House Document 106-286] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-286 REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting HIS REQUEST TO MAKE AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS TOTALING $2,600,000 IN BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND DESIGNATE THE AMOUNT MADE AVAILABLE AS AN EMERGENCY REQUIREMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(b)(2)(A) OF THE BALANCED BUDGET AND EMERGENCY DEFICIT CONTROL ACT OF 1985, AS AMENDED, PURSUANT TO 31 U.S.C. 1107September 6, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, August 23, 2000. The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sir: In accordance with provisions of the FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Act, as included in Public Law 106-246, I hereby request and make available appropriations of $2,600,000 in budget authority for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program of the Department of Health and Human Services. These funds will enable the Department to address the needs of low- income households in California that are facing extremely high electricity prices this summer. I designate the $2,600,000 made available today as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur with her comments and observations. Sincerely, William J. Clinton. Enclosure. [Estimate No. 21, 106th Cong., 1st Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, August 23, 2000. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available $2.6 million in emergency appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services. Your approval of this request would make available previously appropriated funds to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address the needs of low-income households in California that are facing extremely high electricity prices this summer. The FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Act, as included in Public Law 106-246, provided $600 million for LIHEAP, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. These funds are to replenish the LIHEAP contingent emergency fund, which was exhausted this past winter in response to oil price increases. On July 25, 2000, you released $41.8 million of this emergency funding to address the needs of low-income households in eight southern States arising from extremely hot weather conditions and low-income households in Alaska needing assistance with fuel costs in light of the recent fisheries disaster. I recommend that you designate this request for $2.6 million as an emergency funding requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. No further congressional action will be required. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Health and Human Services in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely, Sylvia M. Mathews, Deputy Director. Enclosure. Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made Available by the President Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children and Families: Low income home energy assistance program.................... $2,600,000 The FY 2000 Emergency Supplemental Act, as included in Public Law 106-246, provided $600,000,000 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. Of the $600,000,000 in contingent emergency appropriations provided by Public Law 106-246, $41,750,000 has been designated as an emergency requirement and made available. At this time, an additional $2,600,000 in contingent funding is required to support the needs of low-income households in California that are facing extremely high electricity prices.