Letter to Chairman of Subcommittee of Labor, HHS, Education Arlen Specter

May 9, 2003

The Honorable Arlen Specter, Chairman
Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education
Committee on Appropriations
184 Dirksen SOB

Dear Chairman Specter:

I am writing to express my strong support for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program(LIHEAP), and respectfully request you consider appropriating not less than $2 billion in LIHEAP funds for FY2004.

In March, the Energy Information Agency reported that household heating expenditures for this winter season, compared to last winter, were 30 percent higher for natural gas, 60 percent higher for heating oil, 25 percent higher for propane, and 11 percent higher for electricity. And, at the end of March, working natural gas storage was 42 percent below the previous 5-year average. A hot summer season would slow the storage rate and raise the likelihood of gas price spikes next winter.

In Iowa, approximately 79,000 households received a benefit from LIHEAP. Of these, nearly 25,000 are still behind in paying their energy bills, owing close to $8 million. Due to high heating costs, the average out-of-pocket costs for these households on heating expenses equaled 6.3% of their total household income. This percentage is more than double that of a non low-income household.

Congress must take action to help our nation's neediest citizens cope with rising home heating costs. A recent study in Iowa showed that may LIHEAP recipients reported going without medical care or prescription drugs in order to pay their heating bills. Some even went without food. No one should be forced to choose between food and heat.

Adequate funding for LIHEAP is critical to my constituents. Again, I strongly encourage your committee to provide the highest possible level of funding for this vital program.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator