Tag Archives: liheap

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding at $5.1 billion

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Dan Gibson | Comments Off

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Good news on the LIHEAP front. Chairman Obey and the U.S. House of Representatives provided $5.1 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funds, included within the fiscal year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act will provide critical dollars to low-income Americans struggling to heat and cool their homes.

A great video on LIHEAP.

Vivian Lausevic, our LIHEAP guru, sent an email with more good news yesterday saying the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee completed mark-up of the FY 2010 bill also providing full funding – $5.1 billion – for LIHEAP next year. The full committee is set to vote on the bill Thursday (tomorrow).

When we did LIHEAP Action Day back in February, there was real concern that this funding would drop. I’m glad to see it hasn’t. With the way the economy is, these funds will be critical in helping to keep many American families warm this winter.

Dave sums it up nicely when he says, “When the weather turns cold, families who are already struggling to make ends meet must struggle even harder or risk the ravages of living with little or no heat. With adequate funding, Congress can ease this situation and ensure these families stay on their feet financially, rather than fall into a dangerous downward spiral along with winter temperatures.”

LIHEAP is something that’s easy to get behind and the natural gas utilities do. Natural gas utilities provide more than $1.7 billion annually in program assistance to needy families.

Visit aga.org to read the full press release commending Chairman Obey and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Posted in energy, Natural Gas, people, winter heating | Tagged legislation, liheap | Comments Off

LIHEAP Action Day on Capitol Hill press event

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Lauren Blosse | Comments Off

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AGA Chairman Tom Skains spoke on Capitol Hill today alongside Members of Congress and activists to urge Congress to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) so that low-income Americans are not faced with the decision to “heat or eat.” LIHEAP, a program that has been woefully underfunded, assists disadvantaged Americans in paying their heating and cooling bills. Especially during this downturned economy, securing funds for this program is critical.

Along with Mr. Skains, speakers at the press conference included LIHEAP recipient Victoria Seals of Jackson, MS; National Fuel Funds Network Chairperson Sue Montgomery; Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN-8); Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-4); Rep. Gene Green (D-TX-29); Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH-2); Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH-1); and Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL-1).

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AGA Chairman Skains explains to Congress why funding LIHEAP at a minimum of $5.1 billion is imperative.

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Rep. Gene Green speaks as Reps. Bobby Rush, Carol Shea-Porter, and Paul Hodes look on.

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LIHEAP Action Day; at least $5.1 billion in funding for 2010

Posted on February 11, 2009 by Dan Gibson | Comments Off

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Last week AGA’s chairman Tom Skains spoke about the National Fuel Funds Network’s LIHEAP Action Day. There’s a lot of excitement at the AGA offices this morning because that day has arrived. Everyone dressed just a little more nicely than usual and you can sense a different smell in the air as we welcome these volunteers into our offices. The volunteers began flowing in early for a quick breakfast and briefing of the day’s events.

For those that don’t know, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides critical dollars to low-income Americans struggling to heat and cool their homes, a particularly daunting task in the face of an economic downturn. Approximately 200 nonprofits and utility representatives are gathering today on Capitol Hill to advocate for LIHEAP’s inclusion in the stimulus bill, as well as $5.1 billion for FY 2010. The timing couldn’t be more crucial as the Senate removed $1 billion in funding in their version of the Economic Recovery bill.

One of the things that really struck me is as I was grazing after the morning talk, I ran into David Fox, executive director of the National Low Income Energy Consortium, and he was saying something to the effect of, I don’t think many people stop to think how close they are to being in the position to need this type of assistance, especially in these economic times. That’s probably more accurate than most of us want to acknowledge.

You can learn more about LIHEAP at liheap.org. There’s a great video there that I’m adding to the AGA YouTube channel. I’ll embed it below as well.

You can also read the release by AGA asking Congress to help families through LIHEAP funding.

We’ve posted some pictures below but you can check out the full set on Flickr at the AGA photostream.

A packed house getting ready for the day.

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George Coling, executive director of the National Fuel Funds Network pointing the way to Congress. At least $5.1 billion in LIHEAP funding in 2010.

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AGA’s own Charlie Fritts greeting volunteers…

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as they line up to grab cabs.

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AGA chairman Tom Skains and AGA President and CEO Dave Parker listen attentively to the morning briefing.

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Action Day for LIHEAP

Posted on February 6, 2009 by Tom "The Big Blogger" Skains | Comments Off

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Do you know what LIHEAP is? LIHEAP stands for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Simply put, LIHEAP provides financial assistance to low income households having trouble paying their home energy bills. Never has this type of program been more important than in these trying economic times.

That is why, as this year’s chairman of AGA, I’m so honored to be involved in the National Fuel Fund Network’s “Action Day” for LIHEAP, which is held annually in February and this year observes its 25^th anniversary. The mission of the National Fuel Fund Network (NFFN) is as simple as it is important – to bring together utilities and non profits to explain to our nation’s leaders why they MUST maintain the highest possible levels of funding for LIHEAP.

On February 11, NFFN volunteers from around the country – volunteers who have come to the nation’s capital to speak on behalf of millions of Americans who can’t speak for themselves – will once again take this message to those leaders. LIHEAP funding must be maintained at the highest level possible so that hard-working but vulnerable families DO NOT have to choose between heating and eating, or between heating or buying medicine, or between keeping their homes WARM and simply keeping their homes.

The 110th Congress appropriated, and President Bush signed into law, a record $5.1 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2009, which will help an additional 7 million households pay their monthly energy bills. President Obama has said that he will increase that funding (section under protect and honor seniors). Those are great victories and a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. But we can’t stop because in recent years, due to funding shortages, only about 15 percent of those eligible for LIHEAP received assistance. Given our current economic challenges that percentage is very likely to get worse.

LIHEAP is an especially important issue to me and I will continue to make support for it among my highest priorities. I urge you to learn more about LIHEAP and more about what you can do on Action Day to help. Local activities include press conferences, Congressional call-ins, petition drives and local or state government proclamations. Visit this link to find out what you can do in your area. You’ll be glad you did.