News Release from Barney Frank
Congressman, 4th District, Massachusetts
2252 Rayburn Building · Washington, D.C. 20515 · (202) 225-5931
October 22, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Peter Kovar 202-225-9400
Garth Patterson 508-822-4796
FRANK PRAISES HOME HEATING AID INCREASE
Congressman Barney Frank today praised the announcement that $5.1
billion in additional Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) funding, which he and other Members of Congress helped pass
recently in Congress, has been released by the Bush
Administration. Frank and 94 of his colleagues had signed a
letter on September 22nd to House leaders urging the inclusion of the
additional funds in the recently approved Continuing Resolution, an
appropriations bill that funds most federal agencies from October 2008
through March 2009.
"I am pleased that
we were able to increase this vital assistance for the people who are
most vulnerable to increased fuel costs," Frank said. "As a
result of this action, thousands of less well off people in our area,
including the elderly, disabled and children, will be given an
important helping hand. This money should provide some level of
comfort to those families who are facing economic difficulties as
winter approaches. I am also grateful to the many agencies who
work tirelessly to disburse these funds year after year. Without
their outreach and advocacy, many people would be without heat during
the winter months.”
LIHEAP provides fuel
assistance to seniors, working families and others who are in need
throughout the country. In addition, LIHEAP makes funding
available for the Heating Energy Assistance Retrofit Task
Weatherization Assistance Program (HEARTWAP). This program allows
for boiler replacement and repairs for inefficient or inoperable
heating systems. Under the terms of the recently enacted
spending law the number of households eligible for this important aid
may increase by up to 2 million nationwide.
Click here to view the LIHEAP letter signed by Frank and his colleagues.###
