Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. letter to Bob Livingston, September 25, 1995

ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR. Congress of tfte ©niteb States $ou«e ot -Reprcsmtattote Magfjington, 2ЭС 20515-2002 September 25, 1995 The Honorable Bob Livingston Chairman, House Appropriations Committee Room H-218, U. S. Capitol Washington, D. C. 20515 Dear Chairman Livingston: This letter is to request your assistance in restoring funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the conference on the FY 96 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill. I make this request based on the exemplary operation of the LIHEAP program in my home state of Maryland, as well as my belief that this state-administered block grant programs functions in exactly the way that Republicans envision reforming all federal assistance programs. In Maryland, an extensive network of State and private sector assistance is combined with federal LIHEAP funds to create a safety net for low-income families. The funds cover only about 20 percent of the cost of the average heating bill for eligible recipients, most of whom are the working poor and elderly. The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP), which administers LIHEAP funding, works in conjunction with the Maryland Fuel Fluid, public and private support groups, and utilities to make the most efficient possible use of the limited federal funding. Innovative programs in which utilities give credits for timely payments, waive security deposits, and make matching contributions to the Fuel Fund provide the networking enabling low-income households to be fiscally responsible. Unlike other traditional federal assistance programs, the LIHEAP program in Maryland is a joint federal, State, local, and private sector cooperative effort which actually works. Accordingly, I believe terminating the federal government’s contribution to a block grant program as successful as LIHEAP in Maryland will, for Republicans, be a disingenuous act. Therefore, I respectfully request that you encourage the House conferees to restore funding for LIHEAP at the level provided for in the Senate bill. Sincerely, Member of Congress