LIHEAP Boost for New York Included in House Appropriations Package

Press Release

Rep. Tom Reed announced today the House-passed fiscal year 2014 consolidated appropriations bill includes $3.4 billion in heating assistance and a significant boost to low-income families in cold weather states like New York. Reed advocated for a return to the original intent of the energy assistance program with his Low Income Heating Improvement Act designed to give financial assistance to states that need it most.

"This boost in heating assistance is good news for New York families in most need of help heating their homes during the winter months," Rep. Reed said. "With the appropriations bill passed today in the House, we've increased the amount of assistance given to cold weather states like New York by almost $50 million above what would have been allocated under the new formula, a significant improvement for families in need. It's important that priorities of our area, programs like LIHEAP, are supported while reining in Washington's spending. Today's bill achieves both goals."

The measure passed today in the House includes a $170 million increase from fiscal year 2013 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), with a majority of the funds (86 percent) distributed under the original formula -- the approach Reed's Low Income Heating Improvement Act takes.

Earlier this week, Reed was joined by fellow New York Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY), Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) as original co-sponsors on his Low Income Heating Improvement Act. Reed's bipartisan bill provides additional home heating funding for low-income families in the coldest states in the nation by restoring the original formula for distributing assistance, reflecting the original intent of the program. The bill, which received strong bipartisan support from the New York delegation last Congress, is expected to garner similar support from New York Members.

The House-passed consolidated appropriations bill saves taxpayers $21 billion compared to last year's spending level, contributing to the $165 billion in savings in discretionary spending since fiscal year 2010.

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