Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 1.djvu/691

 PUBLIC LAW 103-252—MAY 18, 1994 108 STAT. 665 "(iii) an increase in energy vendor contributions towards reducing energy burdens of eligible households; "(K) a description of the indicators that will be used by the State to measure whether the performance goals have been achieved; "(L) a demonstration that the plan is consistent with section 2603, paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (7), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), and (14) of section 2605(b), subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) of section 2605, and section 2606 of this title; "(M) an assurance that benefits and services will be provided in addition to other benefit payments and services provided under this title and in coordination with such benefit payments and services; and "(N) an assurance that no regulated utility covered by the plan will be required to act in a manner that is inconsistent with applicable regulatory requirements. "(g) COST OR FUNCTION. —None of the costs of providing services or benefits under this section shall be considered to be an administrative cost or function for purposes of any limitation on administrative costs or functions contained in this title.". SEC. 313. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING APPROPRIATIONS FORLIHEAP. (a) FINDINGS. —Congress finds the following: (1) Seventy-seven percent of the over 25 million households that were eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (hereinafter referred to as "LIHEAP") in fiscal year 1992 did not receive assistance due to a lack of funds. (2) Recent economic distress has caused significant unemployment, which has resulted in a greater need for energy assistance than ever before. (3) More than 66 percent of LIHEAP household recipients have an annual income that is below the poverty level. (4) Forty-three percent of all LIHEAP eligible households include children. (5) LIHEAP eligible households with children spend approximately 16 percent of their annual incomes on home energy costs, which is more than 4 times greater than that paid by the average household in the United States, and far beyond their means. (6) Approximately 40 percent of LIHEAP household recipients are comprised of elderly or disabled persons. (7) Congress appropriated $1,475,000,000 for LIHEAP for fiscal year 1995. (8) The Department of Energy predicts that the costs of residential fuels will increase at a pace greater than inflation. (b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS. —I t is the sense of the Congress thatr- (1) the maintenance of LIHEAP should be a high priority in order to enable low-income households, especially the working poor, the disabled, and the low-income elderly, who all depend on LIHEAP, to meet their energy costs and needs; (2) all appropriations made for LIHEAP for fiscal year 1995 should be expended; and

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