Sens. Klobuchar, Franken Fight to Lower Minnesotans' Energy Costs
Press Release
With snow and harsh weather still bearing down on Minnesota, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) are asking Senate Appropriators to support programs that help families and seniors in Minnesota and across the country afford their energy bills.
The Senators pressed to bolster programs that help Minnesotans weatherproof their homes to cut the cost of energy bills, and called for strong support for energy assistance programs that help low-income families and seniors heat their homes.
"In the face of frigid temperatures and rising heating costs, families across Minnesota struggled to keep their homes warm this winter," said Sen. Klobuchar. "I'm pushing to ensure that LIHEAP and weatherization programs receive adequate funding so that Minnesotans don't have to choose between keeping their families warm and putting food on the table."
"This winter has been one of the harshest we've seen in a long time, putting a burden on many Minnesotans who already struggle to pay their energy bills," said Sen. Franken. "Helping families and seniors cover their energy costs is just the right thing to do, and I hope we can do everything possible to support these vital programs."
On Thursday, Sens. Klobuchar and Franken urged the Appropriations Committee-which sets the levels of funding for specific programs in this year's budget-to give a boost to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills. You can read that letter here.
The Senators also asked to strengthen the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to help low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities make lasting and cost-effective energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Similarly, the two lawmakers are trying to increase support for the State Energy Program (SEP), which helps schools, hospitals, industrial buildings, and agricultural projects make energy efficiency improvements.
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