Letter to Jim Nussle, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Re: LIHEAP Funding

Letter

Senators Send Letter Requesting Meeting on LIHEAP Funding

December 11th, 2007 - Washington, D.C. - Citing the high cost of home heating oil, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, Judd Gregg, Gordon Smith, John Sununu and Ted Stevens today requested the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget regarding the funding for LIHEAP in Fiscal Year 2008. In light of the significant rise in energy prices, the letter urges the Administration to reevaluate its spending priorities with regard to LIHEAP.

"With thousands of Mainers struggling to provide basic heating for their families, we must work together to ensure that indispensable assistance is provided as we head into the heart of winter," Senator Snowe said. "I remain committed to providing additional resources for the Maine LIHEAP program and I am working with my colleagues, the Administration, and Congressional Leadership to ensure its inclusion in any final federal budget."

"As winter takes hold of Minnesota, many low-income families rely on the LIHEAP program to keep the heat on," said Senator Coleman. "With heating oil and natural gas prices going through the roof this winter, I urge the Administration to consider additional LIHEAP assistance so that no family should ever have to make the impossible decision between basic necessities and heat."

"So many families in my home state of Maine are already struggling to heat their homes, and the official start of winter is still weeks away," said Senator Collins. "It is estimated that heating oil costs will rise by an onerous $495 per household this winter. We must work together to help low-income families and the elderly meet their energy needs and ensure that they stay safe and warm this winter."

Senator Judd Gregg stated, "With home heating costs at a record high, LIHEAP is an important program which provides federal heating assistance to those in need. Congress must act responsibly and take action so that low-income families and seniors can afford to heat their homes this winter. I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to review our spending priorities and find fiscally responsibly ways to increase LIHEAP funding. Congress must not only help those in need stay warm this winter, but also pay for such assistance without saddling future generations with the bill and leaving them out in the cold."

"With winter upon us, we must help Oregonians keep their families warm," Senator Smith said. "Rising heating costs are a burden on any family budget, especially for those who are already struggling to make ends meet. Financial assistance helps keep the heat on when costs spike during the colder months."

Senator Sununu, who has supported LIHEAP since he was first elected to Congress in 1996, said "Higher energy prices and freezing temperatures have gripped New Hampshire and other states across the nation, serving as a reminder that those in need deserve access to adequate funding to help them to stay warm this winter. An increase in funding for LIHEAP is a step in that direction and will help ensure all households are prepared to handle the colder weather."

"As energy costs continue to rise, we must ensure that Alaskans have assistance to pay their heating bills," said Senator Stevens. "Families with high energy expenses are forced to make difficult financial choices far too often. Many Alaskans go without necessities - such as medical care and prescriptions - in order to pay their energy bills. By adequately funding LIHEAP, the federal government and the State of Alaska can work together to curb this alarming trend."

A copy of the letter follows:

December 10th, 2007

The Honorable Jim Nussle
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Director Nussle,

We want to again, sincerely thank you for your release of $131 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency funds on September 26th of this year. The release of funds allowed Americans to purchase heating oil prior to the recent acute rise in prices, and thus stretching the effectiveness of federal dollars.

On December 5th, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced that the supply of crude oil will remain at current levels through January, 2008, effectively ensuring that prices will remain near historic levels during the peak winter demand season. For the low income families and the elderly on fixed incomes, these prices are simply untenable.

With the Continuing Resolution (P.L. 110-116) set to expire on December 14th, Congress and the Administration are discussing financial priorities for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 budget. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the Administration support an increase in funding for the LIHEAP program. We recognize that on February 5th, 2007, the President proposed $1.782 billion for the LIHEAP program within budget for FY08. Since that time, crude oil prices have risen from $58 per barrel to $88 per barrel. As a result, we believe that it is prudent to reevaluate budget priorities with regard to the LIHEAP program. To that end, we hereby request a meeting to discuss this timely matter. Your staff may contact Patrick Woodcock in Senator Snowe's office at (202) 224-4227 or Tony Eberhard in Senator Coleman's office at (202) 224-5641 regarding the logistics of the meeting.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE
United States Senator

NORM COLEMAN
United States Senator

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