Senators: LIHEAP funding on the way

Baucus, Tester Say Funding Is Vital To Keep Families Warm During Winter

(Washington, D.C.) – Help is on the way for Montanans struggling to pay their heating bills this winter. Late last evening, the Department of Health and Human Services released funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help folks across the country pay to heat their homes during the winter months.

Last week, Montana’s U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester joined their colleagues in the Senate in asking President Obama to immediately release funding to help financially strapped households stay warm this winter. 

The funding would come from LIHEAP’s emergency contingency funds, which the Administration can release any time throughout the year and which states will be able to use immediately. 

“As temperatures drop, heating costs rise, and that causes strain in many households across our state,” Baucus said. “Folks shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table. This funding will provide a real boost for many families in Montana at a very critical time.”

“This will keep the Montana winter out of thousands of Montana homes, especially as energy costs go up,” Tester said.  “Like food and clothing, staying warm at this time of year is one of those basic things every Montanan deserves.”

The Senators also requested that the Administration dedicate sufficient funds for this vital program in the next Fiscal Year, as the need for energy assistance is expected to grow.