Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Tenth District Congressman Donald M. Payne today applauded the release of the $5.1 billion in energy assistance to help seniors and working families keep the heat on this winter.

"America urgently needed this energy assistance provided by Congress," stated Payne.   "Families are struggling to make ends meet and heating costs are expected to reach record levels again.  That is why this Congress made it a top priority to provide families with relief from high energy costs – doubling this critical investment in energy relief to help seniors and working families keep the heat on this winter."

"Americans are paying record prices to heat their homes,” Payne continued.  “Since 2001, home heating expenditures, on average, have more than doubled.  In fact, this winter, Americans using heating oil will pay more than $2,300 per family.  With the release of this money, New Jersey families will receive over $185 million in help for their heating bills."

"We need more of this type of bipartisan cooperation in Washington as we work quickly to address the serious and urgent challenges of the slowing economy and high energy prices," stated Payne.

The recently enacted spending law will provide Low-Income Home Energy Assistance to an additional 2 million households and increase the average grant from $355 to $550 ($2.5 billion more than FY 2008 and full funding required by the Energy Law).

This is another key achievement to protect consumers from skyrocketing energy costs as part of the New Direction for Energy Independence.  Congress has also enacted critical tax credits to launch a clean, green renewable energy future for America and to create and save more than 500,000 jobs.  In a bold step, it also has raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years.

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