AD CHECK: SENATOR SUNUNU'S RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

DSCC AD CHECK: SENATOR SUNUNU’S RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

Senator Sununu Has Proposed New Legislation To Double LIHEAP Funding:

·         Senator John Sununu is an original cosponsor of the Home Energy Assistance Today (HEAT) Act which would provide an additional $2.5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

·         Senator John Sununu is an original cosponsor of the Weatherization, Assistance, and Relief for Middle-Income Households (WARM) Act of 2008, which is paid for through the elimination of unnecessary tax breaks currently in place for oil and gas companies, would not add to the federal deficit and includes an additional $2.5 billion for LIHEAP.

Senator Sununu Has Strongly Backed LIHEAP Since Coming to Congress in 1997:

·         Since 1997, Senator John Sununu has requested billions in LIHEAP funding for New Hampshire families and has authored 30 letters requesting additional LIHEAP money.

• Supported more than $2 billion in LIHEAP funding for fiscal year 2005 within the Consolidated Appropriations Act.

• Supported more than $2 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2006 within the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.

• Supported more than $2 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2007 within the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act.

• Supported an additional $1 billion in LIHEAP funding over and above the fiscal year 2008 request of $2.4 billion for the program.

• Supported a vital fuel assistance and weatherization program in letters to President Bush in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

·         In 2008 alone, Senator Sununu co-sponsored 5 amendments to increase LIHEAP funding, as well as signing on to the WARM Act and the HEAT Act which would double LIHEAP funding for New Hampshire families.

·         On July 24, 2008, he co-sponsored Senator Gregg’s “Weatherization, Assistance, and Middle-Income Relief Act” (WARM)  that would provide an additional $2.53 billion for LIHEAP, an additional $523 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program, and a 50 percent credit for home heating oil expenditures.

• On July 17, 2008, he co-sponsored Senator Gregg’s “Home Energy Assistance Today Act” to add an additional $2.5 billion to LIHEAP.

• On July 11, 2008, he co-signed letter to Senate leadership and the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging the inclusion of at least $2.5 billion for LIHEAP in any future emergency appropriations or economic stimulus legislation.

• On July 9, 2008, he co-signed letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting increased Weatherization Assistance Program funding in fiscal year 2009.

• On June 27, 2008, he co-sponsored amendment to add $1 billion in fiscal year 2008 LIHEAP funds to emergency federal appropriations funding bill.

• On June 27, 2008, he co-signed letter to administration requesting the release of the remaining $120 million in fiscal year 2008 contingency funds.

• On June 26, 2008, he cosponsored Senator Sanders’ “Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act”  to provide an additional $2.53 billion to LIHEAP.

• On June 19, 2008, he co-sponsored Senator Sanders’ amendment to the Housing bill to provide an additional $2.53 billion to LIHEAP.

Senator Sununu Has Always Been A Strong Supporter of Medicare and New Hampshire Seniors:

• Senator Sununu co-sponsored the “Preserving Access to Medicare Act of 2008” (S. 3188) which would provide an additional $20 million next year alone to New Hampshire hospitals, protect Medicare Advantage- which affects nearly 8,000 New Hampshire seniors, and includes full reimbursement for doctors.

• Senator Sununu wrote and passed the “Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003” which led to a 2006 demonstration project in New Hampshire and five other states that provided visually-impaired seniors with rehabilitation services.