05.09.02

Administration Denies Low-income Families Energy Aid

Cantwell vows to fight in Congress for 15,000 affected WA families

WASHINGTON, DC - The Bush Administration today formally refused a request from U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to release energy assistance funds for low-income families. The request, which totaled $5.7 million for Washington state, would have come from the $600 million Congress appropriated last year for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund.

"Families across the state are faced with double-digit rate increases and are struggling to pay their energy bills," Cantwell said. "Especially after the disclosures that Enron manipulated energy prices, it is absurd for the Administration to continue holding these funds hostage. OMB is essentially telling 15,000 families on waiting lists 'sorry, you're on your own.' Someone needs to fight for these people, and that's why I am urging Congress to act on their behalf."

Cantwell announced that she would seek LIHEAP funding for Washington state, which has 15,000 eligible low-income families on waiting lists for LIHEAP assistance, directly from congressional appropriators. In a letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV), Cantwell proposed removing the LIHEAP contingency fund appropriation from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control and redirecting $5.7 million of it to Washington state.

Key Facts:

Washington state agencies have 15,000 eligible people on waiting lists who have requested emergency LIHEAP assistance. LIHEAP is a federally funded program which provides block grants to state programs that help eligible households pay for the costs of home energy. Last year, Congress appropriated $600 million for the LIHEAP contingency fund. None of the funds have been released by the Administration, which has cited falling energy prices and a generally mild winter across much of the nation. The LIHEAP contingency fund is to be used to meet home energy needs resulting from a significant increase in the cost of home energy or a significant increase in unemployment, layoffs, or the number of households applying for unemployment benefits. Washington state has double-digit unemployment rates in 14 of its 39 counties. Electricity heats 73 percent of Washington state's low-income homes.