FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 24, 2003
CONTACT: David Fox (202) 331-2962


WASHINGTON — The Bush Administration‚s release of $200 million in emergency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program could not have come at a better time, a coalition of advocates for the program said today.

"The bitter cold temperatures that have hit much of the country have made it difficult for everyone to stay warm, but particularly so for those at greatest risk: the elderly, low-income families and people with disabilities," said David Fox, communications director for the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance.

"The problem is compounded by higher heating costs and the fact that more people are out of work, increasing the demand for help," Fox said. "The Campaign asked the President to release these funds, and we are grateful that he is now making the money available. There is no question that this will help in many states where energy assistance programs were already running short of cash."

More than 4.4 million American households received LIHEAP assistance last winter, and the Campaign expects that number to be even higher this year.

Release of the emergency LIHEAP money was the second victory this week for the program‚s advocates. Earlier, the Senate voted 88-4 to add $300 million in previously unspent emergency funds to the regular LIHEAP appropriation for Fiscal Year 2002. The increase, now awaiting approval of House and Senate conferees, would raise the total spending level for the program this year to $2.0 billion.

"We asked every senator to support the increase, and the overwhelming support the measure received when it came up on the floor was impressive," Fox said. "Our hope now is that the House leadership will lend its support.

"No family should be forced to make the difficult choice between heating their homes and paying for food or medicine. And without this added help, those are exactly the kind of decisions they would have to make."

The Campaign is a broad-based coalition of advocates for the poor, consumer advocates and utilities. Some of its members are the Alliance to Save Energy, American Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, Edison Electric Institute, National Fuel Funds Network and The Salvation Army.

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