SUNUNU CONTINUES LEADERSHIP ON LIHEAP, PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM FUNDING INCREASES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                          CONTACT: BARBARA RILEY

7/18/08                                                 202-224-2841

                                                                LIZ CHAMBERLAIN

                                                                603-430-9560

SUNUNU CONTINUES LEADERSHIP ON LIHEAP,

PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR PROGRAM FUNDING INCREASES

Joins New Hampshire Governor John Lynch at State House

for conference call with Congressional delegation members

CONCORD, NH – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (7/18) underscored his strong support for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help ensure low-income families and seniors have the resources they need to pay high fuel bills in the coming winter months.

Sununu joined New Hampshire Governor John Lynch at the State House in Concord on Friday afternoon for a conference call on LIHEAP with the Congressional delegation where he highlighted his work on recent LIHEAP legislation and pledged support for funding increases.  

        “With home heating oil at over $4 a gallon, low-income families and seniors across New Hampshire need ‘peace of mind’ that fuel assistance will be available as the winter approaches,” said Sununu. “Since coming to Congress in 1997, I have strongly backed this valuable program and this week co-sponsored legislation with Senator Gregg that doubles LIHEAP and would more than double New Hampshire’s allotment.”

        Sununu record in support of LIHEAP includes the following recent actions:

·       On July 17, 2008, he co-sponsored Senator Gregg’s “Home Energy Assistance Today Act” to add an additional $2.5 billion to LIHEAP;

·       On July 11, 2008, he co-signed letter to Senate leadership and the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging the inclusion of at least $2.5 billion for LIHEAP in any future emergency appropriations or economic stimulus legislation;

·       On July 9, 2008, he co-signed letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting increased Weatherization Assistance Program funding in fiscal year 2009;

·       On June 27, 2008, he co-sponsored amendment to add $1 billion in fiscal year 2008 LIHEAP funds to emergency federal appropriations funding bill;

·       On June 27, 2008, he co-signed letter to administration requesting the release of the remaining $120 million in fiscal year 2008 contingency funds;

·       On June 26, 2008, he cosponsored Sanders’ “Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act”  to provide an additional $2.53 billion to LIHEAP; and

·       On June 19, 2008, he co-sponsored Sanders’ amendment to the Housing bill to provide an additional $2.53 billion to LIHEAP.