Our Opinion: The poor need help with high home energy bills

The Towanda Review (Towanda, PA)
August 14, 2002

With temperatures outside reaching uncomfortably hot, if not record-breaking highs, this is not the time of year one worries about how cold the winter may be. But it could be a vital consideration for Pennsylvania’s poor.

So, U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood, whose district includes the Towanda area, is ready to go to bat for money to help low income people pay high heating bills in the cold winter months, as well as high cooling bills in the summer.

You should let him know that he has your support. He may need it.

That’s because President Bush’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year would reduce funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from $1.7 billion to $1.4 billion. That would be a cut of $20.4 million for Pennsylvania, according to the Scranton Times.

Mr. Sherwood, who says he is committed to the program, correctly labels such a cut draconian. He’s against the cut that the president proposed on the assumption that fuel costs would be down.

LIHEAP annually supports more than 4 million low-income households each year with energy costs related to extreme heat and cold. States determine which low-income families receive LIHEAP support.

During extreme weather conditions, people living in poverty and low-income elderly should not have to choose between buying fuel to heat or cool their homes and buying food for themselves and their families. Since two-thirds of the families receiving LIHEAP assistance have incomes of less than $8,000 a year, the propgram clearly helps those who need help the most. In fact, many of the families who benefit include small children, senior citizens and those with disabilities.

There is good news. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on July 18 restored the cut proposed by the president. The House is not expected to act on the appropriation until after Labor Day when it returns from its summer recess. Mr. Sherwood, who will sit on a conference committee that will resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of the appropriations bill, said he will fight for the restored money.

Let him know you agree. It always helps when officials in Washington have the support of the folks back home. In this case, supporting restoration of the money is the right thing to do.

In the meantime, given the extreme summer heat – it was another 90-plus degree day in Towanda on Tuesday – President Bush has directed the release of $100 million in emergency funds to defray high cooling bills. That will mean about $7.25 million for Pennsylvania’s poor.

Good for Mr. Bush. Now he needs to get behind restoring the cuts in winter relief.