October 17, 2008

Congressman Gregory Meeks Supports Help with Heating Bills this Winter

(WASHINGTON, DC)–Today, Congressman Gregory Meeks applauded the release of $5.1 billion in energy assistance, which will provide help to financially strapped Americans to help keep their homes heated during this upcoming winter.

This release of funds, which was voted on in the House of Representatives earlier this year, will help provide energy assistance to working men, women and senior citizens who have struggled in past winters to keep warm. The funds that have been released will provide low-income home energy assistance to an additional two million households and increase the average grant from $355 to $550.

“With the stressful economic situation that our nation is experiencing, I believe this bill will be a significant help to families who are struggling and are facing projected record increases in home heating costs. It is estimated that the average American family will have to pay more than $2300 this winter. My colleagues and I acted in a bipartisan manner to provide economic relief from soaring energy prices. It was critically important to me to provide assistance to my constituents in the 6th district in a quick and effective way,” said Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Congressman Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  Meeks is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Caucus and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).  He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus and the Middle East Economic

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