Mass Live - Rep. Richard Neal Joins Call in Congress for President Obama to Restore Low-Income heating Assistance Funding

News Article

By Patrick Johnson

Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield is among the members of Congress to sign a letter asking President Obama to restore funding for home heating assisting in next year's federal budget and reverse cuts made in recent years.

At issue is the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, which has been cut by 30 percent since 2010.

In 2011, the program received $4.7 billion in the federal budget. By fiscal 2013, it had been reduced to $3.5 billion, and in the current 2014 budget, it was allocated $3.02 billion.

In Massachusetts, funding for the program has been reduced for $196.6 million to $105.8 million over that period.

Neal said he supports funding the program by no less than what it was funded for in fiscal 2011 budget, or $.7 billion.

Founded in 1981 under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP provides energy assistance to families in need, primarily in the winter. It also provides money in the form of home-repair grants for weatherization and energy efficiency.

Forty percent of recipients are seniors, and 20 percent are veterans, Neal said. Ninety percent of recipients are in households with at least one child, senior or disabled person.

Neal said he is a strong supporter of the program.

"There is no good reason why anyone in Massachusetts would be living in a cold house during the winter months," he said. "And I don't believe anyone should have to choose between feeding their families and heating their homes."

The federal budget, he said, is a reflection of what the country's values are. "And providing heating assistance to our most vulnerable citizens, particularly our seniors, should be a top priority," he said.

Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey last month joined with 39 other senators in sending a similar letter to the president.

Heriberto Flores, president of the New England Farm Workers Council, the primary distributor of LIHEAP funding in the Springfield area, said last night he applauded the call by Neal and other members of Congress to restore funding.

The cuts to the program are placing a burden on a lot of people in the Springfield area in their efforts to keep their houses warm, he said. Without restoring funding, next winter will only be worse.

"This is important. Something has to be done very soon," Flores said.

Source