Page 2791
NOTICES OF HEARINGS
COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET
HEARINGS ON PRESIDENT CARTER'S ECONOMIC STIMULUS
THIRD BUDGET RESOLUTION
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the Senate Budget Committee continues hearings Friday, February 4, on a third budget resolution for fiscal 1977.
The subject of Friday's hearings will be President Carter's economic stimulus program and its potential impact in fiscal 1977. Witnesses will include:
Hon. Thomas B. Lance, Director, Office of Management and Budget.
Hon. Charles Schultze, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers.
Hon. Michael Blumenthal, Secretary of the Treasury.
The hearings will be held in 318 Russell Senate Office Building at 10 a.m.
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
HEARING ON EMERGENCY ENERGY ASSISTANCE
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations will hold hearings to examine proposals for a coordinated Federal-State effort to assist low income families throughout the Nation during the energy emergency brought on by the record cold temperatures this winter.
In particular, the subcommittee will look at ways to channel Federal cash assistance to low income people who cannot afford to pay for the fuel they need to keep warm.
This winter is the coldest in 60 years — 40 percent colder than last winter. And the natural gas shortage is only part of the crisis that has resulted. With the severe cold, prices have begun to sky-rocket. Fuel oil customers in New England have faced a 5- to 7-cent per gallon increase since last summer — a 15-percent increase. And natural gas prices will follow suit shortly.
This one-two punch of higher prices and increased consumption has begun to hurt many of the Nation's poorest consumers. In New England, for example, the typical homeowner must pay almost $1,000 for this winter's heating bill. It goes without saying that there are many who simply cannot afford to keep warm at these prices.
Mr. President, last week the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. KENNEDY) and I asked President Carter to support an emergency supplemental appropriation to help the poor pay fuel bills. The Administration is currently studying that proposal.
At the subcommittee hearings this week, we will focus on two issues.
First, the subcommittee will attempt to get a firm fix on the dimensions of the problem. To do that we will hear testimony from several governors of States suffering severe problems this winter.
Second, we will attempt to determine the most appropriate governmental mechanism for a coordinated Federal-State effort to provide assistance in a timely manner. One such mechanism is already in law authorizing the Community Services Administration to provide poor and near poor families with winterization assistance and direct cash payments to pay fuel bills. We will examine whether that program can be effectively expanded quickly enough to provide the needed relief.
The hearings will begin at 10 a.m. in room 3302 of the Dirksen Office Building.