WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry today announced that Massachusetts low-income households will receive $163 million in fuel aid as part of the continuing resolution for fiscal year 2009 currently before Congress.

Senator Kennedy said, “These funds are particularly crucial to providing assistance to citizens who need our help the most. With the winter months quickly approaching, we must ensure that our Massachusetts’ families are not facing impossible decisions. No citizen should have to make the choice between providing heat to ones home or taking their sick child to the doctor. This assistance will have a definite, beneficial impact.”

"Increasing LIHEAP funding by $2.5 billion, over the objections of a Bush White House more than willing to shell out $700 billion to bailout multimillionaire CEO's and brokers, is a victory for all the hard-working families and seniors in Massachusetts struggling to pay record-high prices to heat their homes," Senator Kerry said. "LIHEAP is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents and Senator Kennedy and I, and the entire Delegation, made it our mission to bring home additional funding to the Commonwealth this winter."

The Continuing Resolution for fiscal year 2009 includes a nationwide total of $5.1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The $163 million available to Massachusetts is $36 million more than the state received in fiscal year 2008.

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