Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 1.djvu/338

 94 STAT. 288

PUBLIC LAW 96-223—APR. 2, 1980

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TITLE III-LOW-INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE SHORT TITLE

42 USC 8601 °°*«

SEC. 301. This title may be cited as the "Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980". STATEMENT OP FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

42 USC 8601.

Grants.

SEC. 302. (a) The Congress finds that— (1) recent dramatic increases in the cost of primary energy sources have caused corresponding sharp increases in the cost of home energy; (2) reliable data projections show that the cost of home energy will continue to climb at excessive rates; (3) the cost of essential home energy imposes a disproportionately larger burden on fixed-income, lower income, and lower middle income households and the rising cost of such energy is beyond the control of such households; (4) fixed-income, lower-income, and lower-middle-income households should be protected from disproportionately adverse effects on their incomes resulting from national energy policy; (5) adequate home heating is a necessary aspect of shelter and the lack of home heating poses a threat to life, health, or safety; (6) adequate home cooling is necessary for certain individuals to avoid a threat to life, health, or safety; (7) low-income households often lack access to energy supplies because of the structure of home energy distribution systems and prevailing credit practices; and (8) assistance to households in meeting the burden of rising energy costs is insufficient from existing State and Federal sources. (b) It is the purpose of this title to make grants to States to provide assistance to eligible households to offset the rising costs of home energy that are excessive in relation to household income. DEFINITIONS

42 USC 8602.

SEC. 303. As used in this title— (1) "household" means any individual or group of individuals who are living together as one economic unit for whom residential energy is customarily purchased in common or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent; (2) "home energy" means a source of heating or cooling in residential dwellings; (3) "lower living standard income level" means the income level (adjusted for regional, metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan differences and family size) determined annually by the Secretary of Labor based upon the most recent "lower living standard family budget" issued by the Secretary of Labor; (4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; and (5) "State" means each of the several States and the District of Columbia.

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