| Washington, D.C.- Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) praised the federal government’s release of $8.401 million in low-income heating assistance funds for the State of Michigan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $200 million in funds to provide energy assistance to low-income homes across the country.
“I am pleased that the President responded to Michigan’s urgent need for home energy relief,” said Kildee. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Midwest and Northeast Congressional Coalition and the Administration to ensure that all Michiganders are kept warm during this extremely cold winter.”
Congressman Kildee joined many of his colleagues from the Midwest and Northeast Congressional Coalition in sending several letters to the White House asking President Bush to release emergency home energy assistance funds to states in those regions. The Midwest and Northeast Congressional Coalition sent several letters to the President requesting the release of these funds in the fall of 2002.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) awards grants to states and Indian tribes to aid low-income and fixed-income households with high-energy costs. States determine eligibility and benefit levels. Payments are sent directly to the energy providers.
The President is granted the discretion to release funds whenever extreme hot or cold weather, combined with high-energy costs, threatens financial hardship for low-income or fixed-income families. | 
![[News from Congressman Dale Kildee]](letterhead.gif)