Campaign Urges Lawmakers to Provide
$600 Million in Emergency Funding for LIHEAP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2004
CONTACT: David Fox (202) 331-2962


WASHINGTON — Citing forecasts of dramatically higher winter heating costs, the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is urging lawmakers to provide $600 million in emergency funding for the federal program that helps America’s most vulnerable citizens pay their energy bills.
 
"Sharply higher costs for heating oil, propane and natural gas are likely to put pressure on the budgets of most American households this winter," the Campaign said in a letter [HTML | PDF] sent to members of the House and Senate appropriations committees. "For middle-income families, increased energy costs will be a burden. For those with the greatest need — the elderly, disabled and poor families with young children — these higher costs may be disastrous."
 
The Campaign asked lawmakers to provide $600 million in emergency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) when Congress returns to complete work on Fiscal Year 2005 appropriations bills. The money would be in addition to the $1.911 billion in regular LIHEAP funds included in the House-passed FY05 spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
 
LIHEAP was created to help our most vulnerable citizens pay their utility bills during the coldest and hottest months. Unfortunately, the program is able to serve only about 5 million households out of the 30 million that are eligible — less than 17 percent of the total.
 
In its latest short-term energy outlook, the federal Energy Information Administration forecast higher costs for all fuel types this winter. Heating oil costs in the Northeast are expected to average 37 percent higher than last year, while propane costs are
expected to be up 26 percent from a year ago. These projections are substantially higher than estimates the EIA made in its October winter fuels report. Households heated by natural gas, meanwhile, are projected to pay 15 percent more than last winter.
 
"High energy prices and increased demand for LIHEAP clearly warrant additional emergency assistance as we enter the winter heating season," the Campaign said. "To avoid a crisis during the winter heating season, we urge Congress to appropriate at least
$1.911 billion in regular program funding and $600 million in emergency assistance."
 
The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is a broad-based coalition of advocates for the poor, allied organizations, energy industry trade associations and utilities that support LIHEAP.

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