Hill Heat

On Saturday, Senate Republicans successfully filibustered the Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act (S. 3186), a bill which would have provided an additional $2.5 billion in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), nearly double its current funding.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a cosponsor of the bill, issued this statement:

“At a time when oil companies are raking in record profits, the stubbornness of those who stood in the way of helping people in desperate need is incomprehensible to me. It is an outrage. The American people do not want to see the most vulnerable among us held hostage by the Senate Republican leaders.”

The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association has projected that nationwide, the average cost of heating a home this winter will total about $1,114 – 14.6 percent more than last year.

Republican senators Coleman (Minn.), Collins (Maine), Smith (Ore.), and Snowe (Maine) voted with the 45 Democrats and Independents in attendance in favor of the bill. Coleman, Collins, and Smith are up for reelection this year (and are from northern states).

Senators not voting: Allard (R-Col.), Bond (R-Mo.), Bunning (R-Ken.), Burr (R-N.C.), Dole (R-N.C.), Graham (R-S.C.), Harkin (D-Iowa), Inhofe (R-Okla.), Inouye (D-Haw.), Isakson (R-Ga.), Kennedy (D-Mass.), McCain (R-Ariz.), Murray (D-Wash.), Obama (D-Ill.), and Warner (R-Va.).

The Northeast/Midwest Senate and House Coalitions in conjunction with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute invite you to a briefing at which three state officials will present a summary of activities in the U.S. states on pressing energy problems and the impact of high energy prices on the American public. They will also discuss innovative energy programs that address the problems of all U.S. citizens and current federal funding for critical activities including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP).

Panel

• Tom Plant, Director, Governor’s Energy Office, State of Colorado, on behalf of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)
• Vaughn Clark, Director, Office of Community Development, State of Oklahoma and President, National Association for State Community Service Programs (NASCSP)
• Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association(NEADA)

This briefing is open to the public, no RSVP required. For more information, contact Chris Hickling, Legislative Director, Northeast Midwest Congressional Coalition (202-224-4642) chris_hickling@reed.senate.gov

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee (Chairman McCarthy, D-N.Y.) of House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on the future of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).