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HHS Releases
$200 Million in Emergency Energy Assistance
US Newswire
January 24, 2003
President Bush today directed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary
Tommy G. Thompson to release an additional $200 million in Low Income
Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) emergency funds for states, territories
and tribes due to increases in home heating fuel prices this winter.
"Higher fuel prices pose a real hardship for many Americans,"
Secretary Thompson said. "This emergency aid will give states
the opportunity to help more of their citizens stay warm this winter."
The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration predicts
that home heating oil prices this winter will be more than 20 percent
higher than the average of the last five years. The funds released
today come from the fiscal year 2001 LIHEAP contingency fund, which
allows HHS and states to respond to energy emergencies such as extreme
weather conditions, supply disruptions or price spikes. The remaining
$100 million in the contingency fund will be reserved for future
energy emergencies.
LIHEAP assists more than 4.6 million low-income households each
year with energy costs related to extreme heat and cold. States
determine which low-income families receive LIHEAP support. Among
those who benefit from the program are small children, senior citizens
and persons with disabilities.
The emergency funds are allocated as follows: Alabama, $1,091,488;
Alaska, $1,514,935; Arizona, $503,246; Arkansas, $793,720; California,
$5,588,894; Colorado, $1,953,881; Connecticut, $6,908,830; Delaware,
$867,954; District of Columbia, $537,929; Florida, $1,942,839; Georgia,
$1,396,842; Hawaii, $130,604; Idaho, $1,001,467; Illinois, $7,487,253;
Indiana, $3,961,449; Iowa, $2,742,905; Kansas, $1,038,859; Kentucky,
$2,011,539; Louisiana, $1,071,167; Maine, $5,778,729; Maryland,
$3,808,774; Massachusetts, $12,277,133; Michigan, $8,401,042; Minnesota,
$7,626,531; Mississippi, $902,716; Missouri, $2,957,449; Montana,
$1,025,622; Nebraska, $1,231,193; Nevada, $263,451; New Hampshire,
$2,951,570; New Jersey, $10,356,084; New Mexico, $630,990; New York,
$36,767,194; North Carolina, $4,727,244; North Dakota, $1,574,315;
Ohio, $7,797,095; Oklahoma, $951,772; Oregon, $2,037,124; Pennsylvania,
$16,469,576; Rhode Island, $2,052,509; South Carolina, $1,367,982;
South Dakota, $1,203,869; Tennessee, $2,007,525; Texas, $2,735,094;
Utah, $960,157; Vermont, $2,128,885; Virginia, $4,653,087; Washington,
$3,189,613; West Virginia, $1,429,584; Wisconsin, $6,661,621; Wyoming,
$366,155; and the Territories, $162,514.
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