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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, Jan. 6, 2003

Contact: ACF Press Office
(202) 401-9215

HHS PROVIDES FUNDS TO HELP LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS
WITH ENERGY COSTS

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced grants of $545 million to help low-income citizens with their heating bills. The funds represent grants to states for the second quarter of the fiscal year for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Today's grants bring the total amount given to states under LIHEAP for this fiscal year to $1.38 billion. Grants were provided to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Native American and Alaska tribes.

"Our Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps millions of Americans who need assistance with their heating bills," Secretary Thompson said. "Heating costs are a significant item in many household budgets, and they can be especially hard for those at the bottom of the income scale."

LIHEAP supports more than 4 million low-income households each year deal with energy costs related to extreme cold and heat. States determine which low-income families receive LIHEAP support. Many of the families who benefit from the program include small children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

"These funds are provided to the states for distribution to families and individuals, and we will work with states to provide as much flexibility as possible to draw these funds according to the schedules they feel will serve their own citizens best," said Wade F. Horn, HHS' assistant secretary for children and families. "We want to help states make their heating assistance programs work as effectively as possible for the benefit of millions of Americans who need this help."

The winter quarter funds (and total funding so far this fiscal year) are as follows:

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) - FY 2003

State

2nd. Qtr. Funding

Fiscal Year To Date Funding

Alabama

$ 7,579,765

$ 12,853,548

Alaska

$ 2,923,946

$ 5,505,574

Arizona

$ 1,881,560

$ 3,190,696

Arkansas

$ 4,428,047

$ 9,643,950

California

$ 22,554,603

$ 38,247,448

Colorado

$ 15,725,696

$ 20,129,688

Connecticut

$ 20,847,032

$ 28,036,639

Delaware

$ 1,514,500

$ 4,186,490

Dist. Of Col.

$ 432,172

$ 4,898,403

Florida

$ 3,668,373

$ 20,447,511

Georgia

$ 2,901,155

$ 16,171,038

Hawaii

$ 533,521

$ 904,730

Idaho

$ 4,862,506

$ 8,245,698

Illinois

$ 15,662,118

$ 87,300,646

Indiana

$ 9,906,762

$ 35,130,029

Iowa

$ 7,579,944

$ 28,013,514

Kansas

$ 4,211,791

$ 7,141,332

Kentucky

$ 3,690,323

$ 20,569,863

Louisiana

$ 2,370,798

$ 13,214,827

Maine

$ 3,531,903

$ 19,686,830

Maryland

$ 9,837,735

$ 24,150,712

Massachusetts

$ 40,066,297

$ 63,067,645

Michigan

$ 40,779,256

$ 59,585,144

Minnesota

$ 5,268,344

$ 59,713,457

Mississippi

$ 1,984,840

$ 11,063,500

Missouri

$ 6,256,061

$ 34,871,287

Montana

$ 4,064,672

$ 8,344,163

Nebraska

$ 4,537,762

$ 7,694,732

Nevada

$ 1,538,982

$ 2,609,762

New Hampshire

$ 2,142,482

$ 11,942,195

New Jersey

$ 10,481,789

$ 58,425,490

New Mexico

$ 638,728

$ 7,239,581

New York

$ 60,402,615

$ 191,112,796

North Carolina

$ 15,419,225

$ 21,811,526

North Dakota

$ 3,175,844

$ 5,385,504

Ohio

$ 45,542,977

$ 77,230,470

Oklahoma

$ 6,912,937

$ 10,836,308

Oregon

$ 5,881,464

$ 18,597,096

Pennsylvania

$ 51,212,180

$ 102,727,427

Rhode Island

$ 3,274,268

$ 10,356,022

South Carolina

$ 3,874,817

$ 8,554,883

South Dakota

$ 1,220,122

$ 8,024,423

Tennessee

$ 7,864,797

$ 17,364,026

Texas

$ 7,655,738

$ 34,026,558

Utah

$ 5,007,268

$ 11,020,608

Vermont

$ 1,769,094

$ 8,951,100

Virginia

$ 19,863,047

$ 25,495,831

Washington

$ 9,349,982

$ 29,572,601

West Virginia

$ 7,406,821

$ 13,612,640

Wisconsin

$ 21,728,494

$ 36,431,020

Wyoming

$ 2,323,598

$ 3,940,288

State Totals

$544,288,751

$1,367,277,249

Tribe Totals

$1,018,213

$12,478,346

All Totals

$545,306,964

$1,378,827,325

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: January 7, 2003

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