WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley has sent a letter to President Bush asking him to release the remaining $200 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding provided in the fiscal year 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act.. Grassley signed the letter with more than 40 other Senators.
The letter expressed concerns about the high energy burden facing low-income households and the cold weather being experienced throughout the country. The energy burden is estimated to be nearly 10 percent of total household income this winter in Iowa – a 50 percent increase from just 4 years ago.
"The more I travel around the state and talk to Iowans, the more I see the importance of LIHEAP funding. These funds are crucial to make sure Iowans don't have to choose between heating their home and other necessities this winter," Grassley said.
Grassley also encouraged any Iowans that feel they may need assistance through the LIHEAP program to contact the Iowa Department of Human Rights at 515/281-4204, or though their website at www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/caa.
Grassley is a longtime supporter of LIHEAP. He often has encouraged Senate appropriators to fund the program at the highest possible level.
The text of the letter follows here:
January 27, 2005
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
We urge you to immediately release the remaining $200 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding provided in the fiscal year 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Congress appropriated the LIHEAP emergency funds to help consumers meet the cost of rising energy prices and reduce energy debt remaining from last winter. The high energy burden facing low-income households and the cold weather being experienced throughout the country warrants the immediate release of these funds.
Many low-income consumers entered this winter without heat or electricity due to unaffordable energy prices last year, and thousands of these families remain without heat. Emergency funding is needed immediately to help low-income families and seniors restore disconnected utility service. For example, in Pennsylvania, as of December 15, 2004, 4,496 residential households remain without electric service and 10,509 residential households who heat with natural gas are without service
The Energy Information Administration's Short-term Energy Outlook for January forecasts, despite the warmer weather in December, that heating oil expenditures by households are still expected to average 34 percent above last winter's levels, expenditures for propane-heated households are expected to increase about 20 percent this winter, and expenditures for natural gas-heated households are expected to rise by 10 percent. These increases far outpace the rate of inflation and are placing an overwhelming strain on family budgets. These increases come on top of soaring energy prices over the past several years. Oil prices climbed to over $48 a barrel for the week ending January 14th, the highest since the end of November. Natural gas rose to $6.445 for a million British Thermal Units (BTUs). Rising energy prices disproportionately burden low-income Americans who are also struggling to pay for higher food, housing and health care costs.
Based on preliminary applications, requests for energy assistance are expected to exceed five million households this winter, the highest number in the last 10 years. Newspapers throughout the country are reporting on the inability of states to meet rising demands. Without emergency assistance, low-income seniors and families will face impossible choices this winter: whether to heat their homes or to eat; whether to buy prescription drugs or to pay their electricity bill; and, whether to pay their rent or mortgage or to buy home heating oil. Unfortunately, these are the real choices that face low-income families, disabled Americans, and seniors when energy prices are unaffordable.
We believe the heating crisis facing low-income Americans warrants the immediate release of emergency LIHEAP assistance. Thank you for your attention to this important request.
Sincerely,