Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Co-Chair of the Northeast-Midwest Coalition, joined with Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) in leading a bipartisan press conference to call for the inclusion of an additional $1 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) funding in the Senate’s proposed economic stimulus package.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AK), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also attended the press conference.
“This is an addition to the economic stimulus package that needs to be made,” noted Senator Collins. “As oil prices rise as the same time the economy slows, those already struggling to heat their homes face even more of a challenge. An increase in LIHEAP funding will be spent quickly and immediately to stimulate the economy and provide a vital safety net to families and seniors.
“Everywhere I go in Maine, I hear the very real stories of those who are struggling with record high energy prices. No one should be forced to sacrifice the necessities of life such as food, rent, and prescription drugs to pay heating costs. And no one should be forced to suffer through a severe winter without heat. That is why I am pushing for the inclusion of this money in the proposed economic stimulus package.”
Recently, the President’s Office of Management and Budget agreed to Senator Collins’ request that it release millions of dollars from its LIHEAP contingency fund. Of that, Maine receive $8.8 million to help low income and elderly families who are struggling with record home heating oil prices. Each year, 4.5 million low-income families, including about 48,000 households in Maine, rely on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating their homes.