WASHINGTON, D.C.— In a letter to Rob Portman, Director of the
Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Senators Susan M. Collins (R-ME) and
Jack Reed (D-RI), have requested $5.1 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) be included in the 2008 budget.
“As the temperatures drop, we are reminded how important LIHEAP funding
is for those who would otherwise be forced to sacrifice necessities of life
such as food, rent, and prescription drugs to pay heating costs. Record high
energy prices necessitate increased program resources to ensure that no family
is forced to suffer through a severe winter without heat. The assistance
provided by LIHEAP has and will continue to save lives,” said Senators Collins
and Reed in a joint statement.
In Maine, more than 46 thousand households rely on LIHEAP to assist with
the costs of heating their homes each year. LIHEAP is a federal block grant
program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy
assistance programs for low-income households. In addition to helping to pay
energy bills for low-income families and the elderly, LIHEAP helps to fund
energy crisis intervention programs, low-cost residential weatherization and
other energy-related home repairs.
Below is the text of a letter sent to the Honorable Robert Portman,
Director, Office of Management and Budget:
Dear Director Portman:
As you prepare the President’s fiscal year 2008 budget request, we
urge you to support a funding level of $5.1 billion, the full amount
authorized, for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Many Americans are struggling under the burden of this year's
energy prices, which remain high by historical standards. High energy prices
are especially difficult on low-income households, particularly those that
include elderly residents, the disabled, and children. These groups are
typically most vulnerable to rising energy costs and too often must choose
between paying their energy bills or buying food and medicine.
LIHEAP protects public health and safety by helping low-income
families stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. In addition, the
program helps low-income homeowners weatherize their homes to save energy and
lower their energy burden. Weatherization, on average, reduces heating bills
by 31 percent and overall energy bills by $200 to $250 per year.
In fiscal year 2006, LIHEAP appropriations totaled $3.161 billion,
the largest amount ever appropriated for the program. Even at this level,
however, many low-income households eligible for LIHEAP still did not receive
assistance. Unfortunately, funding levels for the program have not kept pace
with the growing number of households eligible for assistance. In fact, at
current funding levels, LIHEAP now serves only 15 percent of the eligible
population.
With so many American households still in need of the assistance,
and with an expected rise in home energy prices, we believe increased LIHEAP
funding should be a top priority your fiscal year 2008 budget. Your support
for $5.1 billion in LIHEAP funding in the fiscal year 2008 budget process
would help many more low-income households receive much needed LIHEAP
assistance in the coming year.