Reed, Snowe Announce Additional $1.6 Billion in LIHEAP Funding

Statement

U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will soon release $1.6 billion in Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) block grant funds. Senators Reed and Snowe led the effort to ensure that HHS would provide the same amount of funding as last year under the federal budget's continuing resolution. Rhode Island expects to have a total of $29 million available in LIHEAP block grant funds, restoring nearly all of the $12 million that was cut earlier this year. Maine is now expected to receive a total of roughly $51 million in funds, following what could have been a 40 percent cut.

"We need to do everything we can to ensure that families, especially those with children and elderly residents, can stay safe and warm during the winter. With high unemployment and oil prices continually on the rise, the need for home energy assistance has never been higher and I am pleased that this critical funding has been restored for those in Rhode Island who need it most," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee who has been a long-time champion of LIHEAP.

"With heating oil prices as much as 13 percent higher than last year while Maine's unemployment level remains at 7.3 percent, the LIHEAP program is a critical lifeline for thousands of Mainers to stay warm during the upcoming winter months. Heating is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and LIHEAP, a program that I have supported my entire Congressional career, often serves as the only means to guarantee home heating in tough economic times. Today's announcement gets us closer to ensuring the home heating needs of struggling families are met in the cold winter months ahead," said Senator Snowe.

Last week the Providence Journal reported that "the price of home heating oil in Rhode Island is at its highest point in more than two years and is expected to stay high for the foreseeable future."

LIHEAP is a federal block grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for seniors and low-income households. Due to elevated prices of energy and high unemployment levels, for the last two years Senators Reed and Snowe have led the effort to secure $5.1 billion annually for LIHEAP to help more than 8.8 million low-income households nationwide, including nearly 40,000 in Rhode Island and 63,000 in Maine.

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