Cuts in Home Energy Assistance Funds Places

Press Release

CUTS IN HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE FUNDS PLACES

LOW-INCOME & ELDERLY IOWANS AT RISK

LATHAM VOTES AGAINST MISGUIDED MEASURE WHICH PROTECTS FRIVOLOUS EARMARKS WHILE CUTTING 37% FROM LIHEAP FUNDS

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressional Democrats advanced legislation this past week which slashed $250 million, or 37%, of funding, in emergency contingency funds for an important low-income & elderly home energy assistance program. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, more popularly known as LIHEAP, helps pay the winter heating bills of those low-income and elderly Americans who face having their utilities cut-off due to financial need.

"As we head into this winter we can see that energy prices are on a drastic climb," said Iowa Congressman Tom Latham, who voted against the legislation which contained the cut to LIHEAP funds. "At a time when economic uncertainty weighs heavy on the minds of every Iowan, it is outrageous to cut the very funds needed to help Iowa residents in their time of need. As a matter of principle, I cannot, did not and will not support such a misguided attempt."

The funding cut appeared in the final conference version of the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) funding measure for the 2008 fiscal year which began on October 1st. The original House bill supported by Latham provided hundreds of millions more for the contingency fund program. Both the House and Senate passed the measure late last week in Washington.

Latham noted his strong belief that Congressional leaders should have placed a higher priority on both the LIHEAP funding cuts, and the $23 million cut in special education funding from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) over the almost 1,000 additional earmarks added to the final version of the bill. One such earmark secures funding in the bill for the establishment of the much maligned Hippie Museum near Woodstock, NY.

"The fact that Congressional Democrats chose to protect funds for a HippieMuseum while cutting funding to assist special education students, low-income and elderly Iowans is beyond comprehension. Where are their priorities?"

The president has signaled that he will veto the measure sending it back to Congress to be re-written.

"The good news is that Congress will have another chance to correct this mistake. It is of vital importance to millions of people that benefit from these programs, and the many other important programs funded in the bill, that Republicans and Democrats begin to work together to pass legislation that puts the American people ahead of member's earmarks."

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