"While high energy prices have been challenging for almost all Americans, they impose an especially difficult burden on low-income families and on the elderly living on limited incomes. High energy prices can cause families to choose between keeping the heat on, putting food on the table, or paying for much-needed prescription medicine. These are choices that no American family should ever have to make," Senator Collins said. "Although this amendment will not be included, I will continue efforts to see LIHEAP assistance funded at the level needed to help families throughout the nation," Senator Collins said.
Senators Collins and Reed, co-chairs of the Northeast-Midwest coalition, are also spearheading a bipartisan effort urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to approve additional LIHEAP funding. This funding would allow the LIHEAP program to maintain the same level of purchasing power as last year.
Each year, 4.5 million low-income families rely on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating their homes. LIHEAP is a federal block grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. In addition to helping to pay energy bills for low-income families and the elderly, LIHEAP helps to fund energy crisis intervention programs, low-cost residential weatherization and other energy-related home repairs.
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