Saratoga Springs, NY – Today, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand announced her support for legislation that will provide schools with assistance to offset rising energy costs.  H.R. 6809, the Energy for Schools Act, will provide grants to the states, to assist local school districts with record high energy costs and fuel costs for buses.  The legislation will also allow individual school districts to apply for funds directly from the federal agencies. 

“Our schools are facing greatly increased costs due to the high price of diesel and heating fuels,” said Congresswoman Gillibrand, a Member of House Armed Services Committee.  “This legislation can help alleviate the strains that our school districts are facing, and in doing so, help make sure local taxpayers don’t get the bill through higher property taxes.  It is my hope that this legislation can be part of future energy or economic stimulus legislation.”

Energy costs are a major concern for school districts, which operate on a very tight budget.  The Shenendehowa Central School District in Clifton Park, for example, requires and annual average of 330,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year to transport their students to and from school. 

Gillibrand added, “With diesel prices at more than $4.50 per gallon in the Capital Region, fuel costs will put major strain on school budgets and pressure on communities to raise taxes to heat schools and transport students this school year.”   

Energy costs are also a major concern for local residents as we move closer to the home heating months.  Congresswoman Gillibrand has been a leader on helping Upstate New Yorkers prepared for the increased home heating costs this winter.  She joined with North Country Republican Representative, John McHugh, to sponsor the HEATR Act to give a $500 tax credit to middle class families to help assist with home heating this winter.  The Congresswoman has called on Congressional Leadership to ensure that heating and weatherization assistance programs are fully funded this winter, and has asked that additional funding be considered in any future economic stimulus or Appropriation bills.

In addition, Congresswoman Gillibrand’s office has been actively helping local constituents in need of help, to participate in available heating assistance programs.  Congresswoman Gillibrand recently visited with a local family who has benefited from these programs.  At the event, the Congresswoman highlighted the assistance programs that are available to local families to receive assistance with home heating bills, and ways to make your home or business more energy efficient. 

The Congresswoman has created an Online Home Heating Assistance Clearinghouse on her Congressional Website, www.Gillibrand.House.gov, and her Congressional Staff is available to assist constituents with questions regarding home heating and weatherization assistance programs.