SUNUNU CONTINUES FIGHT FOR LIHEAP FUNDING INCREASES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                          CONTACT: BARBARA RILEY

7/26/08                                                        202-224-2841

                                                                              LIZ CHAMBERLAIN

                                                                             603-430-9560

SUNUNU CONTINUES FIGHT FOR LIHEAP FUNDING INCREASES

Backs $2.53 billion in additional funds for low-income families, seniors

WASHINGTON, DC – Continuing to fight for funding increases for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (7/26) voted to move to consider legislation that would provide an additional $2.53 billion for the program bringing its total funding to $5.1 billion in fiscal year 2008.

 “New Hampshire’s low-income families and seniors need to know Congress is on their side when it comes to helping them with record high heating bills expected this winter,” said Sununu, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “That is why I have voted to move this bill forward and strongly urge my colleagues to reconsider allowing Senator Gregg’s ‘WARM Act’ as an amendment to the measure.  With home heating oil at over $4 per gallon, there is no time to waste; these bills will double funding levels for a program critical to the Granite State.”

In a procedural vote on Saturday, July 26, the Senate voted against moving to consider the “Warm in Winter, Cool in Summer Act.” The bill, introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), would add $2.53 billion to LIHEAP and more than double funding for New Hampshire.

Sununu, who has strongly backed LIHEAP since coming to Congress in 1997, has taken the following recent actions in support of the program:

·       On July 24, 2008, he co-sponsored Senator Gregg’s “Weatherization, Assistance, and Middle-Income Relief Act” (WARM)  that would provide an additional $2.53 billion for LIHEAP, an additional $523 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program, and a 50 percent credit for home heating oil expenditures;

·       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 Senator 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 Senator Sanders’ amendment to the Housing bill to provide an additional $2.53 billion to LIHEAP.