COLLINS ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $4.6 MILLION FOR MAINE LOW-INCOME HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Washington, DC -- Senator Susan Collins today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release an additional $598 million for state low-income heating assistance programs. Collins announced that Maine will receive $4,601,159 to provide immediate assistance to residents through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Earlier this week, Senator Collins led a group of bipartisan Senators in writing a letter to the HHS Secretary, who administers LIHEAP, asking that the Administration release the full $1.788 billion authorized by Congress for the program. This $598 million allocation brings the Fiscal Year 2004 total to $1.45 billion.

"I am pleased the Administration reacted quickly to our request. This additional LIHEAP funding will help families in Maine who are struggling to pay increasingly high home heating bills this winter," said Senator Collins. "I urge HHS to continue to monitor closely the needs in states like Maine, where people are experiencing particularly rough weather, to ensure that additional support is available to help them make it safely through the rest of the winter."

Senator Susan Collins has been instrumental in securing a total $19,556,740 for Maine LIHEAP so far in FY 04. The program helps eligible families pay the costs of heating and insulating their homes in the winter.

The Maine State Planning Office reports that average heating oil prices in Maine are currently up four cents since last week at $1.37 per gallon and fifteen cents higher than last year at this time. The kerosene price average for this week is also up four cents since last week at $1.59 per gallon and up thirteen cents compared to last year.