Baucus, Tester secure another $700,000 for Montana LIHEAP

Senators bring total assistance for home heating to nearly $19 million

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Montana’s U.S.Senators today announced they have secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional funding for Montana’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LIHEAP.

In June, Max Baucus and Jon Tester teamed up with several Republican and Democratic Senators to send a letter to President Bush asking for additional emergency funds for LIHEAP.

In response, the White House released an additional $703,260 for Montanafor the year. That brings the total 2008 funding for LIHEAP in Montana to $18,907,476.00.

Baucus and Tester requested the money in anticipation of this coming winter, when Montanans are likely to see higher home heating costs.

“Recognizing that prices will continue to rise, many families are trying to be prudent by locking down lower fuel prices,” Baucus and Tester wrote to President Bush. “An influx of LIHEAP money now will help those families plan ahead and be a more efficient use of federal funds.”

LIHEAP is run by the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services. More information about LIHEAP is available online HERE.