GREGG COSPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE LIHEAP FUNDING BY $2.5 BILLION FOR UPCOMING WINTER MONTHS

Thursday, July 10, 2008                                              Contact: Andrea Wuebker/Laena Fallon

GREGG COSPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE LIHEAP FUNDING BY $2.5 BILLION FOR UPCOMING WINTER MONTHS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) today cosponsored bipartisan legislation to help families and low income individuals, including those in New Hampshire, with the rising costs of heating oil for the upcoming winter months.  S.3186, the Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act, provides an additional $2.5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), nearly doubling the current level of funding for the program.  Under this legislation, New Hampshire would receive nearly $8.5 million in additional formula funding, as well as an estimated $18.6 million in contingency funding (which is allocated at the Administration’s discretion).

Senator Gregg stated, “Though we are now enjoying the warm summer months, many families in New Hampshire are rightfully concerned about how they are going to be able to afford to heat their homes this winter as heating oil prices continue to climb to record levels.  Since last year, the price of heating oil in New Hampshire has nearly doubled with the threat of additional increases.  There is no reason that folks in the Granite State should have to choose between keeping their homes warm this winter and other basic necessities such as food and medicine.  For this reason, I have cosponsored this bipartisan bill to nearly double the federal government’s commitment to funding LIHEAP for the coming winter months. 

“LIHEAP is an important program which provides seniors and low income folks a much needed boost to help pay their heating bills.  Doubling the funding for the upcoming winter months will allow more people to benefit from this important program and ensure that no one is left out in the cold.  That said, we should also try to secure this critical funding in a fiscally responsible manner.  Future generations of Americans should not be forced to pay for this year’s heating bills when we can find ways to offset the costs today and not increase the federal deficit.  I look forward to working with my colleagues on both side of the aisle who have cosponsored this legislation to find a way to possibly do this and pass the legislation in a timely manner.

“Beyond the issue of increasing funding for LIHEAP, the rising price of heating oil is also becoming a major worry for middle class households who do not qualify for assistance under this program.  This is why Congress should also look at other ways to help beyond LIHEAP, including both short-term and long-term policies to address the record high fuel prices we’re facing.  With family budgets increasingly strained, I plan on working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to provide some assistance to middle class families coping with high heating oil prices this winter, as well as advance pro-production energy policies and initiatives that encourage energy efficiency and conservation.  This two-fold approach to energy policy will, over time, make heating oil more affordable while also reducing families’ dependence on heating oil.”