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WASHINGTON – Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman have joined a bipartisan group of senators calling on President Clinton to sign legislation increasing regular and emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which assists low-income families with their heating fuel bills.
"We fear that our low-income, elderly and disabled constituents living in cold weather states will be punished for Congress' inability to complete its appropriations work," the senators wrote in a letter released today. "This is inexcusable. We ask that you immediately take steps to ensure that our states receive the necessary funding to sustain their LIHEAP programs and ensure the health and safety of thousands of low income families."
Specifically, the Senators asked for a $300 million increase in regular LIHEAP funding to $1.4 billion and an additional $300 million in emergency funds for Fiscal Year 2001. The Senators asked that the increased FY2001 funding be included in any bill signed into law in the next two weeks, whether it be the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill or another continuing resolution. Until Congress completes the appropriations process for FY2001, continuing resolutions keep the government running at FY2000 levels.
"Current continuing resolutions constrain states at last year's limited funding level," the senators wrote . "This situation coupled with high fuel costs, low fuel supplies and severe winter weather have pushed many state LIHEAP programs to their limits. We ask that you ensure that the states immediately receive LIHEAP funding as laid out in the FY2001 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill."
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