SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

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 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.

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