Harkin Announces Nearly $48.5 Million in Low-Income Heating Assistance for Iowans

Press Release

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), announced today that Iowa will receive an initial allocation of nearly $48.5 million to help low-income Iowans meet home energy costs. This funding was made available by language Harkin helped to secure in the fiscal year 2015 Continuing Resolution that passed Congress in September. This funding is part of a total of $3 billion announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) recipients throughout the country. Additional funding will be made available later in the year once a final fiscal year 2015 appropriations bill is enacted. Harkin is the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS subcommittee) that oversees these initiatives.

"No family should have to choose between paying their heating bill and putting food on the table," said Harkin. "Access to LIHEAP provides a safety net for low-income households, especially those with children, people with disabilities, and senior citizens. As temperatures begin to drop across the state, many Iowans will start to feel the effects of higher heating bills and this funding is welcome relief for the thousands of Iowans families that depend upon the program."

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