News Release

HHS Provides $79.9 Million in Energy Assistance

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $79.9 million in energy assistance for 14 states. These contingency funds, from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program, will provide states with heating assistance for the fall and winter months ahead. The funds are targeted to States in which low-income households make greatest use of fuel oil to heat their homes.

"This assistance will help states prepare for heating costs this fall and winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "With this funding, the Bush Administration is helping those in need by ensuring their homes are kept warm during the winter months."

LIHEAP funding addresses energy emergencies such as cold temperatures in the winter, spikes in energy costs and extreme heat in the summer.

HHS previously released $600 million in assistance to states this past winter to address record high heating fuel costs. The additional funds released today result in a total of approximately $3.1 billion made available under LIHEAP this year.

"This funding will help states provide for our most vulnerable citizens," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. "The Bush Administration is ensuring those most in need -- including children, the elderly and the disabled -- will be safe and warm through fall and winter." Almost five million low-income households across the country receive LIHEAP assistance each year. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating and insulation in the winter months and cooling their homes in the warmer months.

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/ or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.

For a complete list of today's emergency energy assistance to states go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/contingencyfunds.htm.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: September 13, 2006