BOSTON – Senator John Kerry, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today pushed to include Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding in the economic stimulus package. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced a Sense of the Committee resolution earlier today during the committee’s markup of the bill.

“Unless Washington acts, we’ll have thousands of people go cold this winter and that’s unacceptable. Including funding in the Economic Stimulus package will deliver immediate help to those who need it most,” said Senator Kerry. “I’m pushing the Senate to make sure millions throughout Massachusetts and the rest of the nation aren’t left in the cold.”

Home heating prices in Massachusetts are 44% higher today than they were one year ago, and thousands of families will have difficulties paying their heating bills this winter.  Kerry has consistently pushed for additional funding for the LIHEAP program, including advocating for full funding of the program at $5.1 billion.

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