Markey Leads 100 Members in Calling Appropriators to Fully Fund Energy Assistance Program
Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 99 of his colleagues in the House today sent a letter to Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) requesting full funding for America’s low-income energy assistance program. With continued concerns about the economy, energy prices back on the rise, and record numbers of people applying for assistance, Rep. Markey and other members today requested at least $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program – or LIHEAP -- for fiscal year 2011 plus $600 million in emergency funds.
"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," Rep. Markey and others write in the letter. "The number of households is expected to again reach record levels this year. The rapid increase in the number of households served reflects the rise in unemployment, as well as, continuing high home energy prices."
The letter can be found on the Select Committee website: http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases_2008_id=0210
According to National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, states expect to serve about 9.5 million households with heating assistance in 2010, a 25 percent increase over last year representing an additional 1.9 million households.
Meanwhile, energy prices have continued to remain high. According to the U.S. 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.
The Select Committee was active during the 110th and 111th Congresses. This is an archived version of the website, to ensure that the public has ongoing access to the Select Committee record. This website, including external links, will not be updated after Jan. 3rd, 2010.
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