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A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING CONGRESS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO'S

LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, the cost of energy for residential use has been

increasing dramatically in the United States and in New

Mexico; and

WHEREAS, low-income customers are particularly

vulnerable to increases in their energy bills for

electricity, natural gas and propane both to heat and cool

their homes during extreme weather conditions; and

WHEREAS, the primary federal program assisting

low-income families with their energy costs is the low-income

home energy assistance program, which provides support both

for family utility bill payments and for increased energy

efficiency through home weatherization programs; and

WHEREAS, expenditure for the

low-income home energy

assistance program is authorized for five billion one hundred

million dollars ($5,100,000,000) in the federal budget, of

which two billion two hundred million dollars

($2,200,000,000) has been appropriated by congress for fiscal

year 2007; and

WHEREAS, the two billion two hundred million dollars

($2,200,000,000) appropriated by congress is not adequate to

support the winter heating needs of low-income families for

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the winter of 2006-2007; and

WHEREAS, the authorized amount is not sufficient to

begin to meet the urgent public health needs in warm-weather

states such as New Mexico, which has experienced lethal

periods of extreme heat that has killed hundreds of

vulnerable members of New Mexico's population in the past

year; and

WHEREAS, there exists an extensive network of low-income

home energy assistance program providers that are public and

nonprofit agencies that can efficiently disburse the

increased funds resulting from an increased appropriation for

the public welfare;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO to call on congress to increase the

budget authorization for the low-income home energy

assistance program to seven billion dollars ($7,000,000,000)

for fiscal year 2007 and appropriate the entire authorized

amount to the states; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional

delegation.