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Domenici Says 80s Census Data Too Old to Use for LIHEAP Aid Distribution

from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

Friday, September 12, 2008

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today said New Mexico could receive a larger share of funding to help needy families and seniors pay their energy bills if Congress agrees to use updated census figures in distributing the aid.

Domenici today signed a letter to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee asking that they agree to amend the statutory funding formula for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). New LIHEAP funding could be included in a proposed new supplemental appropriations bill that Congress could develop this fall.

Under current law, the first of a three-tier formula relies on 1980 census figures to determine how LIHEAP funds are distributed to states. As such, the formula does not reflect population shifts from northeast states to the South and Southwest states, including New Mexico.

“It amazes me that census data that’s nearly three decades old is still used to determine where the need is for LIHEAP assistance. I believe it is only fair that the formula be updated so that the funding more accurately and more fairly follows the need in growing states like New Mexico,” said Domenici, who also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Domenici and other Senators are advocating the use of the most current census data as the primary determination for distributing LIHEAP funds, in addition to implementing a 50-50 split in the distribution of LIHEAP contingency funds.

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program to help eligible low-income households pay for their home heating and cooling needs. It is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Domenici, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, supported providing $2.57 billion for LIHEAP in FY2008 ($1.98 million base funding and $590 million in contingency funding). Of that funding, New Mexico is scheduled to receive $10.1 million. HHS distributed $780,012 of that funding August.

There are an estimated 330,000 households in New Mexico that could be eligible for LIHEAP assistance. In FY2008, the program in New Mexico has provided more than 63,000 households with assistance.

For more information on LIHEAP visit:

• http://www.liheap.org/liheap%20fact%20sheet/NM/liheap-NM.pdf

• http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/

Individuals wishing to apply for aid through LIHEAP should contact their local or state LIHEAP Agency. New Mexico’s program is managed by the State Human Services Department, which can be reached at http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/isd/liheap.html.

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