WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold announced the federal government released $3,417,152 in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to Wisconsin.  The funding is part of $120 million released nationwide and follows a June 27 letter from Kohl, Feingold and a bipartisan group of Senators calling for the release of the Administration's LIHEAP contingency fund. 

"As the months grow colder in Wisconsin, many families and seniors face high home-heating bills that strain their household budgets to the breaking point," Kohl said.  "I am thankful that the Administration heeded our bipartisan, widespread call for energy assistance so Americans in need of a little help won't be left out in the cold this winter."

"I am pleased the administration responded to our call to release these emergency funds, which are so crucial to the health and safety of many people in Wisconsin," Feingold said.  "High energy prices will continue to take their toll on families across the country this winter, especially in states like Wisconsin that have harsh winters.  We need to do all we can to help Wisconsin families stay safe this winter, so they don't have to choose between paying their utility bills and putting food on the table."

LIHEAP is an important safety net and will save many people from making the tough choice between paying their energy bill or putting food on the table.  In the June letter urging the release of all contingency funds, the Senators cite the concern raised by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) that the cost of home heating oil will increase more than 41 percent this winter from last year's record-high rates. This increase estimate comes on top of the 162 percent increase in heating oil prices between the beginning of 2000 and March this year.  The Senators' letter also underscored the high costs of last winter having a lasting effect on American households this year. 

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