WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jon Kyl sent a letter on Monday to the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) urging the release of emergency federal funds in order to help low-income Arizona residents pay for energy costs. A copy of the letter is below.
To date, HHS has released a total of $2.47 billion in FY08 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds, of which Arizona has received only $8.7 million (0.4 percent). HHS must distribute $120 million in remaining emergency LIHEAP funds to the states before the end of the 2008 fiscal year (September 30).
Senator Kyl notes that a release of emergency LIHEAP money would be used to help needy families maintain, and, in some cases, restore cooling systems for their homes.
Kyl has been a longtime champion for a more fair distribution formula for LIHEAP funding, which would benefit lower-income residents in Arizona and other Sun Belt states.
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July 21, 2008
The Honorable Michael Leavitt Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Leavitt:
It is my understanding that the Department of Health and Human Services must distribute $120 million in Fiscal Year 2008 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency funding to the states before the end of the fiscal year. I am writing to urge you to release emergency LIHEAP funds to help Arizonans cope with the extraordinarily high summer temperatures in parts of the state.
Arizona has received only $8.7 million or 0.4 percent of the total FY08 LIHEAP funds disbursed thus far, yet many Arizonans are in great need of assistance. The Phoenix area has experienced 15 days in the past month of temperatures at or above 110 degrees. The average temperature from June 15 through June 24 was 7.2 degrees higher than the average temperature for that same timeframe in previous years. Arizona Public Service recently reported that there was a 36 percent increase in the number of households having difficulty paying their utility bills in the Phoenix area and an increase of 11,000 families that have been disconnected compared to a year ago. Emergency LIHEAP money would be used to help needy families maintain, and, in some cases, restore cooling systems for their homes.
Thank you for your prompt and careful attention to this urgent request.
Sincerely,
JON KYL United States Senator
