Senator Collins, who co-chairs the Northeast-Midwest Coalition, a group of Senators that has long championed the needs of the nation's low income families faced with the cost of heating their homes, introduced the bi-partisan amendment with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), with whom she serves as Coalition co-chair.
The Senator's amendment would provide for the immediate release of an additional $300 million in LIHEAP funds by designating emergency funds that were provided in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2001 as FY 2003 regular year funds.
"Anyone who does not think we are in an emergency situation should visit a low income family in Houlton, Maine," Senator Collins told her colleagues. "With wind chills, the temperature in Houlton is expected tonight to reach down into the range of between 20 and 50 degrees below zero. Low income families should not be faced with the unacceptable choice of buying prescription drugs, buying food, or heating their homes.
"Soaring energy prices, rising unemployment, and temperatures far below zero are making this winter extremely difficult for many families across America. We have an opportunity to provide immediate assistance to many of the neediest families across the country."
In addition to the cold winter and high energy prices, Senator Collins cited other economic factors as contributing to the emergency situation. "Unemployment has reached eight year highs. In Maine, as in many other states, the economy is having great difficulty. Just last week, Great Northern Paper, the largest employer in Northern Maine, filed for bankruptcy and laid off its workforce."
The Senate passed the LIHEAP amendment by a vote of 88 to 4.
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