U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, who have made increasing Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for low-income families in Maine and throughout the nation a top priority, today announced that the omnibus appropriations bill includes $2.6 billion for LIHEAP, a $400 million increase over last year. In addition, the funding level is $150 million higher than what was included in an earlier spending bill that President Bush vetoed. Included in the bill is $585.9 million in emergency LIHEAP funds, a portion of which Maine is likely to qualify for.
Senators Snowe and Collins have been pressing their colleagues for an increase in LIHEAP funding and were recently successful in their efforts to urge the Administration to release $ 7.2 million of emergency funds to benefit Maine’s low income families and seniors.
In a joint statement the Senators said, “We are grateful that our colleagues in the Appropriations committee recognize the dire need for additional LIHEAP funds in Maine and throughout the nation and have included this much-needed increase. Time and time again, we are hearing from Mainers throughout the state that the high cost of home heating oil this winter has put many families in a tighter than ever financial crunch, forcing many to make decisions between putting food on the table or heating their homes. This increase in LIHEAP funding will provide some welcome relief.”
The increase in funding for LIHEAP in the omnibus appropriations bill will mean that Maine would receive a minimum of $25.5 million in base funding for fiscal year 2008 and the next federal quarterly payment to Maine in January will represent full funding. Maine received only 75 percent of full funding for the last quarterly payment in October. The funding in the spending bill will increase by $404 million, for a total of $585.9 million, the amount of contingency funds that are available to states. Maine is likely to be eligible for a portion of this contingency funding, which is released at the discretion of the Administration.
The spending bill must be approved by the House and Senate, which is expected to be sometime this week.