FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, Dec. 18, 1995
Contact: Michael Kharfen (202) 401-9215
HHS RELEASES HOME ENERGY FUNDS
President Clinton and HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala announced today
that HHS is releasing an additional $578 million in Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for states, territories and
Indian tribes for the winter. The amount being released now is in addition
to $232 million in funding previously made available under Continuing
Resolutions, making a total of $810 million available for states to
carry out their winter programs.
"LIHEAP is a vital lifeline for
low income families, senior citizens and persons with disabilities to
stay safely in their own homes," said the President. "Without
this essential support, many would be in danger or homeless."
Secretary Shalala noted that the budget
impasse has made this year difficult for states because no HHS appropriation
bill has yet been enacted. States normally draw the majority of their
LIHEAP funds during the first half of the fiscal year. But this year,
Continuing Resolutions had enabled HHS to release only a portion of
the yearly funds, thus hindering states in their ability to help families.
In addition, the House of Representatives voted to eliminate LIHEAP
while the Senate maintained the program, creating uncertainty as to
total funding.
The new release of additional funding
allows states to fully implement their winter heating programs. The
Clinton Administration determined that HHS could allocate 81% of the
$1 billion provided by advance appropriation under the FY 1995 appropriation.
This amount is consistent with the portion of total yearly LIHEAP spending
which
has been provided to states during the first six months in prior fiscal
years.
"With this action, President Clinton
is ensuring that millions of homes with children and senior citizens
will be warm this winter," said Secretary Shalala. "I commend
the more than a hundred members of Congress who also recognized the
critical need for
LIHEAP."
LIHEAP provides funds to help eligible
families with fuel costs and weatherization to insulate homes. States
determine eligibility and benefit levels. In 1994, within the more than
5.6 million households that received benefits, 1.6 million included
senior
citizens, 1.1 million had a person with disabilities and 2.8 million
were home to children under 18. States report that 70% of the households
had incomes below $8,000 a year.
Following are the additional amounts
being made available:
Alabama $4,675,393
Alaska 2,605,665
Arizona 2,050,285
Arkansas 3,578,620
California 24,988,565
Colorado 8,772,502
Connecticut 11,444,037
Delaware 1,518,977
District of Columbia 2,528,311
Florida 0 (Application not received)
Georgia 5,867,305
Hawaii 0(Application not received)
Idaho 3,363,958
Illinois 31,675,120
Indiana 14,341,605
Iowa 10,164,088
Kansas 4,667,384
Kentucky 7,463,323
Louisiana 4,794,137
Maine 7,128,310
Maryland 8,762,555
Massachusetts 22,886,395
Michigan 29,961,295
Minnesota 21,665,715
Mississippi 4,014,132
Missouri 12,652,279
Montana 3,251,690
Nebraska 5,026,532
Nevada 1,065,257
New Hampshire 4,332,963
New Jersey 21,198,215
New Mexico 2,615,220
New York 98,659,154
North Carolina 10,231,785
North Dakota 5,155,985
Ohio 28,021,377
Oklahoma 3,940,142
Oregon 6,742,484
Pennsylvania 37,272,388
Rhode Island 3,753,820
South Carolina 3,724,742
South Dakota 2,717,800
Tennessee 7,560,186
Texas 12,345,788
Utah 3,996,261
Vermont 3,247,710
Virginia 10,673,772
Washington 10,721,653
West Virginia 4,939,047
Wisconsin 19,502,255
Wyoming 1,632,182
Note: Additional amounts are made available
to Indian tribes and
territories. A separate $32.5 million is set aside as a leverage
program to reward states that identify other funds to support the
basic program.
###
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials
are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
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