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With the financial crisis making hard economic times even worse for many families, we must make sure that Americans have the help they need to heat their homes this winter. This emergency relief will help the millions of seniors and low-income families who all too often are forced to choose between paying their heating bills and putting food on the table. In my home state of California alone, these funds will provide nearly $250 million in much-needed help for families and seniors. With the burdensome cost of high energy prices, this aid will give a critical helping hand to millions of families struggling to make ends meet.