|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Ronald G. Waters |
  
|
Waters resolution urging increased home-energy assistance
advances to full House
HARRISBURG, Sept. 17 -- State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Phila./Delaware, announced today that legislation he introduced to urge an increase in federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, was approved by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday.
The legislation, H.R. 848, urges the president and Congress to increase federal LIHEAP funding.
"With winter's cold, harsh arrival merely months away, it is vital that LIHEAP be expanded," Waters said. "Since one-fourth of Pennsylvania households rely on fuel oil as their primary energy source, the need for more financial assistance is quite apparent."
Waters said most of the Pennsylvania households helped by LIHEAP have incomes below the poverty line and pay for home heating oil in the winter months when the nation and state are most vulnerable to fuel shortages, increased demand and increased cost.
"In 2006 alone, 350,000 Pennsylvania households were assisted by LIHEAP, almost half of those who qualify for the program," Waters said. "In 2008, more must be done to help defray the ever-rising cost of home heating oil."
Families in Pennsylvania that receive assistance from LIHEAP have incomes below 150 percent of the federal poverty level and 2.5 times the average cost burden when purchasing fuel oil to heat their homes. Waters said weatherization is also a vital part of the program.
"With only 15 percent of LIHEAP funding being allocated to weatherization, and a waiting list that has almost two times the number of people on it than are receiving weatherization help each year, more funding is desperately needed to decrease the wait and serve more of this Commonwealth's residents in need," Waters said.
"I thank majority Chairman George for allowing my resolution to come before the full committee, along with minority Chairman Hutchinson and all the committee members for their consideration and unanimous vote."
###