In abbreviated mark-up sessions the first week of April, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed two “feel good” amendments to increase spending for a federal energy assistance program by 50% effective 2006 and extend Daylight Saving Time by a month at either end. The mark-up was cut short to allow key lawmakers to attend the Pope’s funeral; it will resume on April 12 at 2 p.m.

By a vote of 36-13, the House panel approved the amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), to bolster funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to $5.1 billion from $3.4 billion. Similarly, Rush’s amendment authorized an additional $175 million for fiscal year 2006, an additional $200 million for fiscal year 2007, and $200 million more for 2008 for the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, which retrofits and weatherizes low-income households to help make them more energy efficient.

The proposal also raised the eligibility for both programs to 150% from 124% of the poverty level. If approved by the full House as part of a broader energy bill, the new funds would be available in 2006.

The House energy panel, however, defeated an amendment that sought to alter a formula for funding the LIHEAP by redirecting funds to help with the cooling costs in hot-weather states. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), “would effectively redistribute LIHEAP funds from cold weather states to warm weather states, neglecting the fact that low-income homeowner costs are approximately five times as much for heating as for cooling,” said Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a vocal critic of the proposal.

In other action, the House committee approved an amendment that would extend Daylight Saving Time by two months. Under the proposal offered by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the expanded daylight hours would begin on the first Sunday in March and would run through the last Sunday in November, Congressional Green Sheets reported Thursday. Currently, Daylight Saving runs from 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in April to 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.

Proponents of the measure said it would result in more early evening activities and less electricity use.

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