Washington DC – Help is on the way for people who will need assistance with their heating bills this winter.  Today, President Bush released $5.1 billion in energy assistance that was set aside by Congress to help seniors and working families keep the heat on this winter.  

“The only thing more bitter than a below zero cold snap is the heating bill that follows it,” said Congressman Jim Oberstar.  “We made certain that we increased funding this year to help out those who are in need. This winter, Americans using heating oil will pay more than $2,300 per family – and since 2001, home heating expenditures, on average, have more than doubled.”

Oberstar chairs the Northeast Midwest Coalition, a caucus of House members that represent northern tier states.  That group worked hard to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to cover an additional 2 million households and increase the average grant from $355 to $550.   The increase to the LIHEAP program this winter will be $2.5 billion over last winter’s spending; Minnesota will receive $46,621,613.

“In Minnesota home heating is a life and death matter.  Our economy is slowing down at the same time the weather is turning cold.  We have to make sure that low income families and seniors who are trying to make it on fixed incomes have the resources they need to make it through the winter,” said Oberstar.