Durbin Pushes for Additional LIHEAP Funding

DURBIN PUSHES FOR ADDITIONAL LIHEAP FUNDING

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited the home of Lois Runge in Normal today to call attention to the serious under funding of the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. Ms. Runge, who is a senior on a fixed income, has used LIHEAP for years to help pay her heating bills, but she is struggling more than ever this winter as natural gas prices skyrocket. She now volunteers to help others with LIHEAP paperwork.

Durbin said he intends to push for a bi-partisan bill that would deliver $2 billion in emergency aid to LIHEAP when the Senate reconvenes. During a round of negotiations in the final hours of the Senate session late last month, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) committed to a vote on the measure, following Senate consideration of the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito in January.

"Low-income families and seniors are facing real hardship in heating their homes," said Durbin. "Home heating costs are up 30 percent or more in many parts of the country. In the Midwest, more than 70 percent of the 30 million households heat their homes with natural gas - the highest concentration of any region. The average family here in Illinois will pay $1,500 this winter to stay warm.

"We have tried repeatedly to gain approval for additional funding for LIHEAP and time and again we've been unable to convince the majority to support us," Durbin said. "But, the fight for additional LIHEAP funding is not over. At a time when heating bills are soaring and the number of LIHEAP applicants is rising, Congress needs to help struggling families through the winter."

As part of the energy bill that was signed into law last summer, Congress authorized LIHEAP funding at $5.1 billion annually for FY 2005, 2006 and 2007. However, the final spending bill for fiscal year 2006 -- which began in October -- contained only $2.16 billion, which is on level with fiscal year 2005 funding. That figure pales in comparison to the minimum $4.5 billion energy assistance officials estimate they will need to meet demands this winter.

During fiscal year 2005, LIHEAP funding allowed the states to help only about 5 million people out of an estimated 32 million eligible for assistance. Similarly, while nearly 800,000 Illinois households qualify for assistance, only 300,000 actually receive help from the program.

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