Shaheen Seeks Extension Of Heating Aid For New Hampshire Families

Press Release

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today joined 41 of her Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to prevent deep cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program, which last winter provided heating assistance to roughly 47,000 New Hampshire homes, is in danger of being funded at approximately $2 billion less than it was last year.

"At a time when the economy is still fragile, heating oil costs have increased and winter is nearly upon us, it's imperative that we not reduce LIHEAP assistance to New Hampshire families," said Shaheen. "Cutting the program would deny crucial heating aid to thousands of households in the Granite State."

The letter requests that the program be funded at last year's levels while Congress works to finish negotiations on 2011 appropriations bills. On November 16, Senator Shaheen sent a similar letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius that also urged against cutting the program.

Over half of New Hampshire families rely on home heating oil, and the price of heating oil is up 30 cents over this time last year. The Energy Information Administration projects that the Northeast will spend almost 15 percent more for home heating oil this winter than last. In addition, a growing number of families are relying on LIHEAP to get them through the economic downturn.

This year, if funding is cut, New Hampshire will be able to provide heating assistance to half as many homes as received assistance last year. The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning predicts that LIHEAP will be fully subscribed by December 1 when the program opens.

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