WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Delahunt today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has released the remaining $131 million from the FY ’07 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund.

"The release of these funds is crucial in helping low-income families and seniors in Massachusetts pay for outstanding heating bills as we approach the coming winter season," Delahunt said. “No family should have to decide between heating their home and putting food on the table for their children.”

Of the $131 million that was released, $106 million will go to help individuals heat or cool their homes in all 50 states. Massachusetts will receive $11,941,698 as well as an additional $25 million that will be shared with a group of states identified as having large numbers of eligible households that use oil to heat their homes.

Delahunt joined with his House colleagues on September 13, 2007 urging President Bush to release these funds which would have expired on September 30, 2007.

The purpose of the contingency fund is to supplement LIHEAP funds to states in cases of emergency. These funds may only be released at the discretion of the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Earlier this summer the National Energy Directors Association (NEADA) conducted a national survey of utility arrearages and shutoffs.  The survey found that millions of low-income households this year are facing a severe hardship paying arrearages from last winter’s heating bills, coping with impending and actual shutoff of service, and meeting rising air conditioning costs.  The survey estimated that at least 1.2 million households have been disconnected from electric and natural gas service during the three-month period following the end of state shutoff moratoriums. 

For a pdf copy of Delahunt’s letter, please click here.

-30-