Letter to Senators Ted Stevens and Robert C. Byrd
Dodd, Lieberman Call for Emergency Low Income Energy Assistance
Senators join bipartisan request for supplemental appropriations funds
WASHINGTON - Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman today joined a bipartisan group of 34 senators in a letter urging the Senate to provide emergency funds for home energy assistance. In a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Ranking Member Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) the senators asked that FY 2005 appropriations include $600 million in emergency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
"Americans are facing record high prices for oil, natural gas and propane this winter," the letter said. "These increases come on top of soaring energy prices over the past several years. Rising energy prices disproportionately burden low-income Americans who are also struggling to pay for higher food, housing and health care costs."
The Energy Information Administration forecasts for this winter predict that the average home energy costs will be $1010 for natural gas, $1114 for heating oil, and $1335 for propane - all between 38 and 49 percent higher than they were in 1998-2000.
Others who signed the letter include Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Mark Dayton (D-FL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Russell D. Feingold (D-WI), Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ), John B. Breaux (D-LA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), George Voinovich (R-OH), Lincoln D. Chafee (R-RI), Max Baucus (D-MT), Joseph R. Biden (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD), John F. Kerry (D-MA), James M. Jeffords (I-VT), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), E. Benjamin Nelson (D-NE), and Tim Johnson (D-SD). The full text of the letter is below.
September 22, 2004
The Honorable Ted Stevens
Chairman
The Honorable Robert C. Byrd
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Stevens and Ranking Member Byrd:
Americans are facing record high prices for oil, natural gas and propane this winter. These increases come on top of soaring energy prices over the past several years. Rising energy prices disproportionately burden low-income Americans who are also struggling to pay for higher food, housing and health care costs. As the Committee completes its work on the fiscal 2005 regular appropriation and supplemental appropriations bills, we urge you to include $600 million in emergency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to aid seniors and low-income families affected by the diminishing affordability of home energy. This situation warrants the provision of emergency LIHEAP funding in an appropriations bill that will be signed shortly as it may be our last opportunity to act before the winter cold sets in.
The Energy Information Administration is forecasting that heating a home with natural gas will cost an average of $1010 this winter; heating with oil will cost $1114; and, heating with propane will cost $1335. These predicted increases come on top of soaring energy prices over the past several years. Compared to average heating costs from 1998 to 2000, expenditures this winter are expected to be 49 percent higher for natural gas, 48 percent higher for heating oil, and 38 percent higher for propane. Families are facing an energy emergency that requires an immediate response. Without emergency assistance, these families will face impossible choices this winter between heating their homes or eating, or buying prescription drugs, or paying their rent or mortgage. Unfortunately, these are the real choices that face low-income families, disabled Americans and seniors when energy prices are unaffordable. But, these choices can be prevented if Congress provides the aid needed to address this emergency.
The current rise in energy prices, along with energy debt remaining from last winter, are leading to increased disconnections and arrears among consumers as the winter heating season begins - threatening the well-being of families and seniors. Emergency funding is needed immediately to help low-income families and seniors restore disconnected utility service before the start of the winter heating season and to ensure affordable heat for their homes. Stories across the country illustrate the need for this assistance. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that 25,000 customers in the We Energies service area are currently disconnected and that number is expected to growth to 70,000 by the end of the year. In Pennsylvania, customer utility debt rose 5 percent in the first 6 months of 2004 to a record $564 million. In Iowa, the Energy Office is reporting that as of July 2004, 161,390 accounts are past due with 46,599 accounts issued disconnection notices. In Maine, the State received 45,700 applications for assistance last year, but expects at least 60,000 requests this coming winter, and the statewide average price for heating oil is currently at $1.63 per gallon, a $0.38 increase above early October of last year. In Rhode Island, home heating oil was selling at an average price of $1.71 a gallon this week, which is the most expensive heating oil has been in the 14 years that the state has tracked oil prices.
We recognize the difficult budget constraints that the Committee faces but we believe the winter heating crisis facing low-income Americans warrants the provision of emergency LIHEAP assistance. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,