Subject: RELEASE: Clinton Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling on President to Release LIHEAP Funds
From: "Clinton, Press Office (Clinton)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:41:36 -0500

For Immediate Release

December 21, 2007

Contact: Press Office 

(202) 224-2243

 

CLINTON JOINS BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS IN CALLING ON PRESIDENT TO
RELEASE LIHEAP FUNDS

Over $500 Million in Contingency Funding Available for Low Income
Families

WASHINGTON, DC-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today joined
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and a bipartisan group of Senators in calling
on President Bush to immediately release $586 million of contingency
funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The contingency funding, part of $2.57 billion in LIHEAP funding
included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations bill, can
be released at the President's discretion to aid low income families
struggling to pay energy costs.

"No American child should be forced to live in dangerous and unhealthy
conditions because their homes are not adequately heated, but sadly more
and more children and families face that unthinkable reality.  The
President has over half a billion dollars at his discretion that will
make this winter more bearable for millions of families.  I urge him to
immediately release all contingency funds to help low income families
offset the heavy burden of energy costs," said Senator Clinton.

From 2003 to 2007, the average LIHEAP grant has decreased from $349 to
$305 in the face of energy cost increases of up to 80 percent.  Senator
Clinton has worked hard to make more LIHEAP funding available to low
income families.  Several times this year, Senator Clinton has made
similar requests to the President that he release additional contingency
funding in anticipation of rising energy costs this winter.

The text of the letter to the President follows:

The President

The White House

Washington, D.C.  20500

Dear Mr. President:

The Consolidated Appropriations bill for FY2008 included $2.57 billion
in funding for the Low Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP), including $586 million in contingency funds to be released at
your discretion.  We are writing to urge you to release the LIHEAP funds
immediately.  The high energy prices facing consumers and the severe
weather of the past few weeks warrant this release.  

This winter, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that
households can expect to pay between 10 to 22 percent more for heating
fuels than during the 2006-2007 winter, and many of these families are
carrying energy debt from previous years.  As such, states need
additional funding immediately to reduce the energy burden on families,
individuals with disabilities, and senior citizens to ensure their
health and safety through the cold winter months.

Between FY2003 and FY2007 the number of households receiving LIHEAP
assistance increased by 26 percent from 4.6 million to about 5.8 million
or about 15.6 percent of the eligible population.  During this same
period, the federal appropriation increased by only 10 percent with the
resulting average grant declining from $349 to $305.  Unfortunately,
energy prices are not decreasing proportionally, but instead continue to
rise.  Home heating prices are projected by the EIA to reach almost
$1,000 this year for the typical family, an increase of almost 80
percent higher than the average cost of home heating during the winter
of 2001-02.  As a result, there has been a significant decrease in the
program's purchasing power.   According to the National Energy
Assistance Directors Association, states are planning to reduce the
number of households served by about 15 percent in the absence of
additional federal and supplemental state funding.  The result would be
a decline in the number of households served from about 5.8 million in
FY2007 to 4.9 million.

LIHEAP is vital to protecting the public health and safety of low-income
families. According to the Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment
Program (C-SNAP) out of Boston Medical Center, babies and toddlers who
live in energy insecure households are more likely to suffer poor
health, require hospitalization, manifest developmental problems, and
lack adequate food. C-SNAP found that when families do not have access
to sufficient energy, they may resort to unsafe heating methods and do
not have the proper means to refrigerate or prepare food for their
children.  In addition, without a sufficient LIHEAP benefit, seniors
living on fixed incomes often have to decide between buying life-saving
prescriptions and paying utility bills.  For individuals and households
that may have to face these difficult choices, LIHEAP makes a real
difference in their ability to cope with adverse circumstances.  

We request that your Administration release the $586 million in FY2008
LIHEAP contingency funds that were recently approved by Congress to help
low-income seniors and families with their home energy expenses during a
winter that has already seen a significant share of severe winter
weather and cold conditions and promises only to get colder.  

###