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Washington, D.C.- Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) praised the federal government’s release of over $62 million in low-income heating assistance funds for the State of Michigan. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $844 million in funds to provide energy assistance to low-income homes across the country for the months of October, November and December of this year.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released this funding now before the beginning of winter. This funding will provide home energy relief to millions of Americans who otherwise might not be able to afford the cost of heating this winter,” 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 winter.”
Congressman Kildee has 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. In addition, Kildee has also sent several letters to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee to increase overall funding for LIHEAP.
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. LIHEAP helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter, and cooling their homes in the summer. More than 4 million low-income households receive assistance each year. 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. |
