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Sanders Pushing for Higher LIHEAP Funding To Meet Winter Heating Needs

Date: Aug. 24, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Oil and Gas Entitlements and the Safety Net


Sanders Pushing for Higher LIHEAP Funding To Meet Winter Heating Needs
8/24/2005

WASHINGTON - Rep. Bernie Sanders today announced that he will be pushing to significantly increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) when Congress returns in September. LIHEAP is a federally-funded program to help eligible low income households meet their home heating and cooling needs. According to an analysis released June 22 by the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association (NEADA), the average family using home heating oil will spend an additional $278 to keep warm this winter compared to last. This represents an increase of 22% over last winter's prices and 62% over the winter of 2003-04.

Sanders said, "With the price of home heating oil soaring, it's absolutely imperative that Congress substantially increase funding for the LIHEAP program, the fuel assistance program that provides help for lower income Americans. We should also be expanding it to include more people who are being hurt by escalating energy prices. If that does not happen senior citizens on fixed incomes, and other lower income people in Vermont and throughout the country, will be going cold this winter. And that's something we cannot allow to happen."

An estimated 5.2 million households are served by the LIHEAP program-most of which have incomes of less than $8000 per year. Since coming to Congress, Sanders has been one of the major advocates for LIHEAP, which serves some 18,000 Vermont households. He recently received the congressional award from the National Fuel Funds Network for his work in this area. Approximately 40% of LIHEAP participants are elderly.

Sanders said, "LIHEAP is a critical program that ensures that millions of senior citizens on fixed incomes, working families with children, and persons with disabilities do not go cold during the winter. If Congress can give the oil companies billions in corporate welfare - as it did in the recently passed energy bill - it should be able to come up with a fraction of that amount to make sure Vermonters and people across the country don't go cold this winter.."

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20050824173250.asp

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