FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2008                                

Contact:  For Dodd – Jamie Radice/202-224-2823

For Lieberman – Erika Masonhall/202-224-4041

For Larson – Emily Barocas /202-225-7295/202-593-1377

For DeLauro – Adriana Surfas/202-225-3661

For Courtney – Brian Farber/202-225-2076

For Murphy – Kristen Bossi/202-225-4476

CONNECTICUT DELEGATION COMMENDS PRESIDENT’S RELEASE OF LIHEAP FUNDS

  WASHINGTON , DC – After an exhaustive effort by Connecticut ’s Congressional delegation to bring energy assistance to low-income Connecticut families, the delegation welcomed President George Bush’s decision today to release $450 million from the Low Income Home and Energy Assistance Program.  This move will ease the burden that high home heating oil prices have placed on American families.  The President will release $450 million in contingency funding, including approximately $13,600,000 for Connecticut .  

Members of the Connecticut delegation wrote to the President earlier this month asking him to release funds from LIHEAP.   

The LIHEAP program provides critical financial assistance to individuals and families to help pay their energy bills in times of high prices and emergencies. 86,000 families in Connecticut rely on the funds and will receive hundreds of dollars each in aid towards their energy bills.  

The current state of the economy is placing an undue burden on the middle and lower-class in this country.  The Democratic Congress is looking forward to working with the President to act in a timely, targeted and temporary manner to provide relief.  Releasing LIHEAP funds is a positive step forward.

 Congressman John B. Larson, CT-01, said, “This is wonderful news and a great gesture towards the spirit of bipartisanship on behalf of the President.  Many of us have been calling for some time for the release of funds from LIHEAP.  The cold arctic blast reminds us all how important it is to help those who are struggling to make ends meet.  I commend the President for putting old debates behind us and working quickly to help Americans.  I know this will bring some much needed relief to the people of Connecticut .”  

“Although, the President should have prioritized funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in last year’s budget instead of gutting it, I am pleased the President heeded our request and is releasing at least some of the emergency contingency funds from LIHEAP,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3).  “These additional funds provided by Congress will offer families in Connecticut and the Northeast who are facing freezing temperatures some relief from the spike in oil and gas costs. I would also urge the President to take this need into account and release the remaining funds as he crafts the upcoming budget.”

 “For many months low-income families in eastern Connecticut have felt the bitterness of the winter and a cold shoulder from the White House.  I am pleased that the President has finally heeded our call to provide this critical assistance as fuel prices continue to set new records and put a financial strain on working families,” stated Congressman Joe Courtney, CT-02.

 Congressman Chris Murphy, CT-05, said, "In the richest country in the world, no one should have to make choices between buying groceries and paying for heat. This emergency funding will come as a relief to thousands of Connecticut families and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet this winter season."