US HHS releases $1.2-bil of LIHEAP funds to states

Washington (Platts)--8Oct2004

The US Dept of Health and Human Resources late Thursday announced it was
releasing $1.2-bil of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds to the
states. The allocation was made under a continuing resolution passed in lieu
of final Congressional action on the HHS budget for fiscal-year 2005, an HHS
spokesman explained. The continuing resolution also allows the states to
request additional funds from a $100-mil emergency fund, but any amount over
that sum will have to be approved through a Congressional vote on HHR's budget
for FY 2005. Congress went on recess Thursday without acting on any of the
budget requests, but it is expected to return after the November election to
wrap up uncompleted business. US Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both
Republicans representing Maine, said they appreciated the funds release and
said they are "committed to having this legislation considered before the
Senate adjourns for the year."

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