Wrangling

Funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP) is up in the air again with a Senate committeereauthorizing funding through 2004 and a House subcommittee votingto zero out 1999 fiscal year funding for the program. Rallying forLIHEAP’s continuation is the American Gas Association. “Thisunanimous [Senate] committee vote demonstrates the depth of supportthat LIHEAP has in the Senate. In fact, several senators at themarkup expressed their dismay about the House subcommittee actionto eliminate program funding,” said Steve Crout, AGA director ofgovernment relations. “We intend to fight hard to restore the ’99funding for LIHEAP, and today’s action shows that we can count onstrong support from the Senate.”