WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Delahunt is joining Joseph P. Kennedy II of Citizens Energy as well as the President’s, CEO’s and Chair’s of the pediatric departments of Boston teaching hospitals to urge President Bush to make full funding of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) a national priority.

“No one should have to choose between heating their home and feeding their kids,” Delahunt said. “LIHEAP is an effective program that helps thousands of children, but inadequate funding means more than 75% of the kids who need the help are not getting it.  What’s worse many of these kids end up getting sick and are in need of a doctor.”

In a letter to President Bush, Delahunt joined with Kennedy, Rep. Michael Capuano, and UMASS-Lowell Chancellor Martin Meehan to draw attention to a recently released report called  “Fuel For Our Future: Impacts of Energy Insecurity on Children’s Health, Nutrition, and Learning” from the Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP), based at the Boston Medical Center.

Also signing the letter were leaders of several medical institutions including: Boston Medical Center, Faulkner Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, Caritas Carney Hospital, Lahey Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance,  and Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Center.

The report documents the widespread concern of area physicians that those individuals and families who struggle to pay rising home-heating costs are forced to make difficult decisions which greatly affect the health of their families.  According to the report, only 16.1% of the eligible households actually received LIHEAP aid last year.

Babies and toddlers who live in households that qualify for LIHEAP but do not receive it are more likely to be in poor health, have a history of hospitalization, and be at risk for developmental problems.  These children are also more likely to be underweight, and 32% are more likely to be admitted to the hospital.   The report also examined how the elderly are affected by choices between food and energy. The United States Department of Agriculture has found that senior citizens that do not receive LIHEAP assistance are more likely to eat a nutritionally inadequate diet and experience hunger. 

The Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program recommends that the federal government:

1. Fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
2. Support consumer shut-off protections that protect the most vulnerable people from extreme weather and high energy prices
3. Support the comprehensive safety-net through adequate food and energy assistance programs
4. Help low-income families and seniors improve the energy-efficiency of their homes by providing more funds for home weatherization and rebate programs

“As fuel prices continue to rise and temperatures begin to drop, Massachusetts may be facing the most expensive winter ever,” Delahunt said. “The major oil companies are making record profits while the most vulnerable among us --- our children and the elderly --- suffer.  The least we can do is fully fund this program.”

In September, Delahunt joined with his colleagues in the House in successfully urging President Bush to release LIHEAP contingency funds for FY’07. To read more please click here.    

For a pdf copy of Delahunt’s letter to President Bush, please click here.

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