Hillary on top of HEAP
Hamilton County News (subscription required) talks this week about Hillary’s influence in the restoration of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). With rising cost of fuel oil, President Bush was trying to cut funding for this program:
“Many families are struggling to keep their homes warm,†said Clinton. “Working families shouldn’t be forced to choose between buying food, buying medicine and heating their homes. Yet, in spite of continuing increases in energy costs, President Bush’s budget would have eliminated one million families from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
One million families. Many of these families live in Upstate New York. We see more and more people losing their jobs, working at McDonald’s and Sugar Creek just to have a minimal paycheck coming in. Heating oil, kerosene and propane are used primarily in the rural areas of New England. Average heating cost per month can range anywhere from $500.00-$750.00. These paychecks are not going to cut it.
The options for cutting down on fuel consumption may include limiting your driving, buying a more fuel efficient car, or car pooling, but you can only turn your thermostat down so far. The elderly and the unemployed don’t have the luxury of re-insulating their homes, investing in solar panels, or new water heaters.
It’s nice to know that there’s someone out there going to bat for us. Thanks Senator Clinton.
Update: Apparently you have to log in to access the link in this post-sorry, my bad. Here is most of the article-it’s short anyway:
HEAP funds are restored
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The federal Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will include $2.6 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton says LIHEAP funds are available now to help working families in New York and other cold weather states struggling with home heating costs.
“Many families are struggling to keep their homes warm,†said Clinton. “Working families shouldn’t be forced to choose between buying food, buying medicine and heating their homes. Yet, in spite of continuing increases in energy costs, President Bush’s budget would have eliminated one million families from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
“I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to restore these cuts, and I will continue to fight for increased heating assistance. LIHEAP assistance is available now and I urge those struggling with home heating costs to contact their local offices to see if they qualify.â€
Related posts:
[...] As I mentioned before, the HEAP program is vital in our area. To fill up an average oil or propane tank you now have to spend $800.00-$900.00. A regular benefit gives the recipient approximately $300.00, plus the emergency benefit which provides about $400.00. Customers are usually limited to one regular and one emergency benefit per heating season. $700.00 won’t even fill the tank once. [...]
[...] we rolled back the tax breaks for “Big Oil” we would find some federal funds to assist this program. ( But, oh, I forgot, the money will be going to fund these oil companies’ record [...]