Markey Pushes for Heating Help During Harsh Winter

Press Release

Wild weather and political unrest have driven the prices for oil and natural gas higher this winter, even as demand for heating assistance has remained elevated during America's economic recovery. Today, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), along with Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Gene Green (D-Texas) called for full funding of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help vulnerable Americans who cannot afford to heat their homes during these frigid winter months.

"This has been an especially harsh winter. Up in Boston, we've been using the Shaq-o-meter to
measure how much snow has fallen. Right now, it's a little bit above his chest--which is to say,
my height.
"But snow isn't the only thing that's been piling up. Families' heating bills have been piling up
as well. And so have the record number of people who are turning to LIHEAP to help them get
through the winter. In my state of Massachusetts alone, LIHEAP is projected to help 250,000
families this winter.
"And energy costs have also skyrocketed. Over the last 5 years, the average cost of heating with
heating oil has jumped nearly $1000, from $1,337 to $2,291.
"But even as the mercury drops, House Republicans are considering dropping this important
safety net for millions of low-income families nationwide.
"It takes a frigid heart for Republicans to continue to defend tax breaks for oil and gas
companies, while putting heating fuel assistance for America's neediest on the chopping block.
"Tomorrow, the Republicans will unveil their funding bill for the rest of this fiscal year. We
must ensure that LIHEAP remains fully funded. Cutting off funds for this program now would
mean that millions of families could have their heating cut off this winter.
"Second, we must continue to fund LIHEAP at $5.1 billion for the next fiscal year, as prices
continue to rise and the effects of the recession are still having a chilling effect on the
pocketbooks of millions of American families. Returning to 2008 funding levels, as some in the
Majority have proposed, would mean forcing 3.1 million families nationwide to return to
deciding between heating and eating.
"And finally, we need to turn up the heat on the Majority in the House to continue fully funding
this vital program and press for continued action to help American families."

Maintaining LIHEAP funding at the $5.1 billion level will help thousands of struggling households to cover their energy bill. This important program, however, currently only serves 1 in 5 eligible people and is at risk for significant cuts in 2011 and 2012.
Today's press conference was held in tandem with Winter LIHEAP Action Day, which is designed to call attention to the millions of Americans throughout the country who rely on LIHEAP to meet their basic heating and cooling needs.

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