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Klobuchar Co-sponsors Emergency LIHEAP Funding

January 23, 2008

Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation to increase LIHEAP funding by $800 million for Fiscal Year 2008. The amendment, authored by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), was offered late last night on the Senate floor as an amendment to the Indian Health Bill.

“Working families across Minnesota and the nation shouldn’t have to choose between paying their home heating bill and putting food on their table,” said Klobuchar. “With this winter’s frigid temperatures, it is imperative that we provide assistance to our families to help them keep pace with the sharp increase in heating costs.”

Klobuchar has been a strong supporter of the LIHEAP program, which helps families deal with their rapidly rising home heating bills. So far this year, Minnesota has received a total of $77.5 million as part of the program, and Klobuchar pushed at every turn to make sure the funds were released as soon as possible to make sure Minnesota families aren’t left in the cold.

Klobuchar took action earlier this year to increase both regular and contingency LIHEAP funding. Klobuchar has championed the successful program and is an original cosponsor of Senator Sanders’ “Keeping Americans Warm Act,” which would provide an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in Fiscal Year 2008. 

Klobuchar worked with her colleagues to include $590.3 million in contingency funding for Fiscal Year 2008 as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed in December – a $409 million increase over Fiscal Year 2007.  The legislation also included $1.98 billion in regular funding for LIHEAP. 

Note: Regular funding is distributed to states by a formula, whereas emergency contingency funding is available for distribution at the discretion of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on the basis of need.
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