Letter to Chairman David Obey and Ranking Member Todd Tiahrt, Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services

Letter

McHugh Leads LIHEAP Funding Effort in House

Congressman John M. McHugh (R-NY-23) joined with Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN-8) and Congressman Ed Markey (D-MA-7) to spearhead a letter urging House appropriators to fully fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in fiscal year 2010. The request, sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, asks for LIHEAP to be funded at a full $5.1billion, the funding levels set forth in the last authorization approved for the program. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, states expect to serve about 7.3 million households in fiscal year 2010, a 25 percent increase over last year and an additional 1.5 million households. The rapid increase in the number of applicants reflects the rise in unemployment, as well as continuing high home energy prices. The bipartisan letter was signed by 89 other Members of Congress.

"As we clearly saw during this past year, rising energy costs can have a devastating impact on the budgets of low-income families and seniors. It is critical that Congress provide full funding for LIHEAP so that the federal government has the resources in place to help families that need assistance heating their homes in the winter. This is particularly critical in areas like the 23rd Congressional District of New York, where home heating is an absolute necessity," said Congressman McHugh. "I am fully supportive of providing full funding for LIHEAP - individuals and families across New York should not be left on their own during the bitter winter months to face unaffordable home energy costs."

The text of the letter is below:

Dear Chairman David Obey and Ranking Member Todd Tiahrt:

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides a vital safety net for our nation's low-income households. LIHEAP helps low-income families and seniors remain healthy and secure from bitter cold winters in the North and hot summers in the South. We are writing to request that the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill provide $5.1 billion for LIHEAP in fiscal year (FY) 2010, the funding levels set forth in the last authorization approved for this program.

Funding LIHEAP at this level in regular funding and advance appropriations can help working low-income families, senior citizens, and disabled individuals maintain economic stability. Many low-income families, disabled individuals, and senior citizens living on fixed incomes face unaffordable home energy costs—spending up to 17 percent of their income on home energy bills. The number of households is expected to reach record levels this year. According to National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, states expect to serve about 7.3 million households. This represents a 25% increase over last year and an additional 1.5 million households. The rapid increase in the number of applicants reflects the rise in unemployment, as well as, continuing high home energy prices.

Families Struggle to Pay High Home Energy Bills

Energy prices have continued to remain high and unaffordable for many Americans. According to data provided by the US Energy Information Administration, home energy prices have increased by almost 50 percent in the past five years - from $681 during the winter of 2002-03 to $990 last year, and they are expected to remain at about the same level this coming winter.

Low income families struggle to pay their home energy bills and LIHEAP is the one way that many manage to do so. A recent survey by the state LIHEAP directors of more than 1,200 poor families found that 32% went without food for at least a day, 42% went without medical or dental care and 38% did not fill prescription or took less than the full dose of medicine. Meanwhile, the average LIHEAP grant is about $540 and only about 15 percent of eligible households receive this vital assistance.

In addition, the program helps low-income homeowners weatherize their homes to save energy and lower their energy burden. On average, weatherization reduces energy usage while also reducing heating bills by 31 percent and overall energy bills by $200 to $250 per year.

Energy is a basic need, and without LIHEAP assistance, low-income families, the disabled, and senior citizens face the impossible choice between paying their home energy bills or affording other basic necessities such as prescription drugs, housing, and food.

Finally, advance LIHEAP funding enables states to pre-purchase fuel and to start planning for the winter heating season in spring and early summer and improves program management. It also ensures that states provide timely assistance to low-income families who cannot afford to wait.

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