FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2004
CONTACT: David Fox (202) 331-2962


WASHINGTON — A House subcommittee has voted to spend $2.0 billion in Fiscal Year 2005 on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the federal program that provides heating and cooling assistance for the poor, elderly and people with disabilities.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services and Education voted to provide $1.9 billion in LIHEAP state grants for the fiscal year beginning October 1, plus $100 million in contingency funds that can be released at the president's discretion. It also approved $227 million for weatherization assistance previously funded through the appropriation for the Department of the Interior.

"The subcommittee's action not only represents an increase from the current fiscal year but marks the first time in several years that the House panel has voted to boost LIHEAP spending," said David Fox, communications director for the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance. "It is clearly a step forward in the effort to help our most vulnerable citizens."

The LIHEAP provisions are contained in the $142.5 billion Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Bill for FY 2005, which was approved by the panel July 8 and now goes to the full House Appropriations Committee for consideration. Congress approved $1.789 billion in block grant funding for LIHEAP for Fiscal Year 2004 and $99.4 million in contingency funds. The totals reflected an across-the-board rescission of 0.59 percent for all programs and program categories.

"The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance asked lawmakers to increase funding for LIHEAP next year because the current appropriations level is insufficient to deal with existing need," Fox said. "With energy bills rising and expected to trend higher still, low-income utility customers could face a greater burden in the future — making additional funding for energy assistance even more essential."

"We are clearly encouraged by the subcommittee's action," he added. "While it's a small step forward, it's nonetheless a step in the right direction."

The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is a broad-based coalition of advocates for the poor, consumer advocates and utilities that support LIHEAP. Among its members are the American Association of Blacks in Energy, American Gas Association, American Public Human Services Association, American Public Power Association, Catholic Charities, Edison Electric Institute, Lutheran Services in America, National Association for State Community Services Programs, National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, National Fuel Funds Network, Natural Gas Supply Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and The Salvation Army.

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