| WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said that the Chicago
area is facing an energy crisis and that families are now paying more than
double to heat their homes. Schakowsky joined Representative Ed Markey
(D-MA) to call on President Clinton to provide additional heating assistance
for low income families.
In
a letter to the President, they wrote, “Your recent decision to release
more than $155 million in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
funds was a necessary and appreciated gesture. However, we believe
that more needs to be done.” In the latest round of LIHEAP funding, Illinois
received $9.5 million.
They
added, “In order to ensure that those families who are most in need will
not have to suffer unnecessary financial difficulties this winter, we urge
you to release an additional $300 million in non-emergency LIHEAP funds
as well as an additional $150 million in emergency LIHEAP funds.”
Below
is the letter to President Clinton.
December 20, 2000
The
Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
President
of the United States
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington,
DC 20500
Dear
President Clinton:
We
are writing today to thank you for your efforts to provide energy assistance
to low income families in America. Your recent decision to release
more than $155 million in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
funds was a necessary and appreciated gesture. However, we believe
that more needs to be done.
Our
constituents in the Northeast and Midwest are facing a particularly difficult
situation this winter due to lower than average supplies of home heating
oil and natural gas and exorbitant prices. In the Chicago area, consumers
will pay more than twice the normal amount to heat their homes this winter
and in Massachusetts, home heating oil costs are estimated to have risen
by approximately 50% over last year.
In
order to ensure that those families who are most in need will not have
to suffer unnecessary financial difficulties this winter, we urge you to
release an additional $300 million in non-emergency LIHEAP funds as well
as an additional $150 million in emergency LIHEAP funds. As you know,
the FY 2001 Omnibus Appropriations bill recently passed by Congress includes
sufficient funding for you to accommodate this request.
Again,
we appreciate all you have done for America’s low-income families and urge
you to seriously consider our request. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Jan
Schakowsky
Ed Markey
Member
of Congress Member of Congress |
