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Beating the Heat with Summer LIHEAP Action Day
As we continue to experience record high temperatures throughout the country, it couldn’t be a better time than now to help bring attention to the critical need for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding. On July 28, along with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN), we hosted a Summer LIHEAP Action Day to build awareness about this valuable program that saves lives every year.
The purpose of the event was to bring together LIHEAP advocates and recipients from across the county to help convince Congress to fully fund LIHEAP at $5.1 billion for FY11 and encourage an increase to $7.6 billion as outlined in Rep. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) Energy Assistance for American Families Act. President Obama proposed LIHEAP funding for FY11 at a level of $3.3 billion, down from $5.1 billion in FY10 and FY09.
We also called on Congress to release the remaining 2010 LIHEAP contingency resources–$100 million—to help vulnerable Americans who cannot afford to cool their homes during these blazing summer months.
Throughout the day there were various activities, and one of the most exciting events was the press conference we hosted on Capitol Hill where we were fortunate to be joined by Congressman Gene Green and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Both from Texas, they certainly understand how high the mercury can rise, and how dangerous high temperatures can be for those without energy assistance. We were happy to have them with us to echo our calls for LIHEAP funding—for both heating and cooling.
You can see some of the photos of the press conference at the end of this post. You can see more photos from the day’s events on our Flickr stream.
Another highlight of Summer LIHEAP Action Day was when Dave Parker and Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass) were presented with awards from NFFN. Dave Parker was awarded the Sister Pat Kelly Achievement Award, NFFN’s highest energy assistance recognition award. This award is given to individuals who have demonstrated superior achievements in goals set by NFFN: increasing public awareness and understanding of low-income energy issues; influencing energy-related policies beneficial to low-income people; assisting in the creation and development of fuel funds; promoting communication and coordination among parties concerned with low-income energy issues on national, regional, and statewide levels. Rep. Markey (D-Mass) was presented with The Extra Mile Award, which recognizes legislative achievement on behalf of LIHEAP.
Here are photos of Dave and Rep. Markey receiving these prestigious awards.
Rep. Markey (D-Mass) with The Extra Mile Award, which recognizes legislative achievement on behalf of LIHEAP. Dave Parker with the Sister Pat Kelly Achievement Award, NFFN’s highest energy assistance recognition award.
While the cold winter months seem distant as we read the temperatures these days, our next LIHEAP Action Day will be here before we know it. Make sure to mark your calendar for February 9, 2011 so you can join us in the nation’s capital as we continue to make sure LIHEAP funding is available for those who need it most.
And don’t forget to post your thoughts about LIHEAP below in the comments—we always like to hear how this great program is helping folks throughout the nation.
Summer LIHEAP Action Day
Its summer, it’s hot and it’s a perfect time to raise awareness of the need for full funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP was created by Congress to help our nation’s low-income households stay warm during the winter and cool in the summer. In a depressed economy, many low-income citizens cannot afford to heat and cool their homes because of financial woes.
LIHEAP is a block grant program under which the federal government gives states annual grants to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households, and these funds go directly to those who need it most. Every year, Congress must appropriate funds for LIHEAP, and for the past two years, Congress has funded LIHEAP at the fully authorized level of $5.1 billion. Even with funding at $5.1 billion, only 1 in 5 eligible low-income households are served by the program. In February, the Obama administration released the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 budget for government spending, which recommended a total of only $3.3 billion for the FY 2011 LIHEAP. With the need for LIHEAP at a record high, the administration’s proposed reduction in LIHEAP funding is disappointing.
AGA is actively lobbying Congress to appropriate at least $5.1 billion in FY 2011 for LIHEAP. But with a very tight budget, we need to convince Congress to fully fund this important program. That is why AGA, along with our utility members and other organizations are getting together on Wednesday, July 28th for Summer LIHEAP Action Day. During this event, we will travel to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and lobby for full funding of LIHEAP.
I hope you are able to join us as this event is bound to be a great one—you will hear from key Congressional members regarding legislative updates and the latest information about the LIHEAP funding issue. For more details, please visit the Summer LIHEAP Action Day web site. Or click here to register online.
Welcome to the new Washington Area Fuel Fund web site
We just got an email from Lynn Battle over at Washington Gas announcing the launch of the new Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) web site. The WAFF pays for all types of fuel to heat the homes of people in financial need. During the past five years, the fund has given an average of approximately $870,000 annually to area residents.
The main focus of the site is making it easier for people to give online donations. You can now give as little as $5 through the web site. The site also gives other ways for you to make your donations. These donations are going to become increasingly important as it’s been an especially cold winter already.
These types of programs are critical for people. Especially since the FY2011 budget request to Congress asked for $3.3 billion ($2.51 billion in regular funding and $790,000 in contingency funding) for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), down from the $5.1 billion that was provided in the current FY2010 appropriation.
Some more history on the fund. The WAFF was established in 1983 by Washington Gas and The Salvation Army. Since then, the WAFF has disbursed more than $19.5 million to more than 232,0000 people helping keep the homes of area residents warm during the winter. That’s a lot of help. If you have a chance drop by the new site and make a donation if you can.
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