WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Senate has given final approval to legislation that authorizes an additional $1 billion dollars in badly needed Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help struggling families and senior citizens who have run out of funds to heat their homes. This legislation raises the total amount of LIHEAP dollars available for this year to $3.1 billion. Maine stands to receive an additional 8 to 10 million dollars in emergency funding for the 2006 winter heating season. The bill now requires final approval from both the U.S. House of Representatives and the President.
Following final passage of the bill in the Senate, Senator Collins—who has been committed to seeing LIHEAP assistance funded at an adequate level—said, “I am pleased that the Senate has agreed to provide an additional $1 billion in LIHEAP funding this year. No one should be forced to forgo their basic needs in order to heat their homes. This money is critical to help low-income and elderly citizens keep warm for the remainder of this winter.”
Senator Collins has worked closely with Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Norm Coleman of Minnesota to push legislation for increased LIHEAP dollars.
Each year, 4.5 million low-income families rely on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating their homes. In Maine, 78 percent of households use home heating oil to heat their homes. The record-high prices greatly increase the need for assistance, and at least 3,000 additional Mainers are expected to apply for LIHEAP funding this 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.