Q: What has Congress done to ease the burden of high heating costs on low-income families?
A: When it comes to the weather, it just doesn’t seem like Iowans can catch a break this winter. One week it’s freezing rain and heavy snow and the next week it’s sub-zero temperatures and even colder wind chills. This harsh winter also comes at a time when the costs of home heating oil and natural gas are on the rise, hitting the already tight budgets of low-income households and fixed-income seniors. Congress brought welcome news to those trying to stay warm when it approved $2.57 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in legislation passed at the end of 2007. Iowans received another dose of welcome news in January of this year when more than $9 million in emergency LIHEAP funding was released to
Iowa . I’ve been a longtime supporter of this vital program and have worked with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in supporting LIHEAP. I worked with many of these same lawmakers in an effort to add $1 billion in LIHEAP funds to the recently passed Economic Stimulus Package. However, this measure fell just one vote shy of Senate approval and was not included in the final bill. As Iowans continue to ride out the long winter, I will do my part to help make sure this basic need to stay warm is more affordable for low-income families and seniors.
Q: How do Iowans who need help paying for winter heating bills apply for assistance?
A: I hope all eligible Iowans will apply for LIHEAP funding to help ease the financial burden of home heat. Those interested in applying for need-based financial assistance this winter should contact one of the Iowa Department of Human Rights local outreach offices located in each of Iowa’s 99 counties or one the Department’s 19 regional community action agencies. For more information on the application process and eligibility requirements, contact the Iowa Bureau of Energy Assistance at 515/281-0859 or visit www.state.ia.us/government/dhr/caa .