Advocacy for Energy Assistance |
Advocating for Energy Assistance
The gap between the actual home energy bills and affordable home energy bills for millions of Americans with low incomes is huge. Indeed, the Home Energy Assistance Gap for families and individuals with incomes at 185% of the federal poverty level or less is some $23 billion, according to Fisher Sheehan and Colton’ analysis.
The federal government administers the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address that grant, but the amount of federal energy aid has never met the shortfall between actual bills and affordable bills for people with low income. Congress appropriates funds for LIHEAP annually as part of a massive law that sets funding for the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Education. Congress has provided only as much as $3.1 billion annually (in Fiscal Year 2006), and LIHEAP serves only about 15 percent of those eligible. Fuel funds provide $100 to $125 million to meeting the gap, and utility customer service and efficiency programs, rate discounts and other measures provide some relief. Still, there is a pressing need to increase funding for LIHEAP significantly.
Since its founding in 1984, the National Fuel Funds Network has been a vociferous advocate for increased LIHEAP funding. The Network engages members and other organizations in what have become yearly struggles to maintain barely adequate funding for LIHEAP.
View NFFN members’ June 2007 resolution
calling for a $5.1 billion LIHEAP appropriation for FY 2008.
The centerpiece of the Network’s advocacy for increased LIHEAP funding is NFFN’s Washington Action Day for LIHEAP. Early in the year Action Day participants blanket Capitol Hill in teams of NFFN nonprofit and utility members, speaking in one voice for increased LIHEAP funding. On February 1, 2007, 150 Action delegates visited almost 200 Congressional offices, including almost all of the Senators and Representatives newly-elected in 2006.
View the photo gallery of
NFFNs’ Washington Action Day for LIHEAP in 2007 and past years.
Register for NFFN’s Washington Action Day for LIHEAP, January 30, 2007.
The National Fuel Fund Network’s advocacy program also features:
- regular ACTION ALERTs and UPDATES on LIHEAP funding to members and other interested parties. View our latest action alerts and our action alert archives.
- testimony and representation on Capitol Hill on behalf of NFFN members.
- training on effective LIHEAP advocacy at the Network’s Annual Conference.
- provision of “LIHEAP Saves Lives” bookmarks, a short “how-to” on LIHEAP advocacy to members. To request, state the number needed and email info@nationalfuelfunds.org.
- production and distribution of fact sheets on legislative issues as the need arises. For example, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 on August 8, 2005. The legislation addresses the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in several ways.
In its advocacy program, NFFN shares information and works closely with a network of other LIHEAP advocates from the nonprofit, utility, fuel oil and government sectors. For instance:
- The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance has provided NFFN with a guide for using the media to advocate for LIHEAP. The Campaign also publishes other advocacy information at www.liheap.org.
- The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association is a regular source of detailed information on LIHEAP funding and policy implications. Visit NEADA.
To become more involved in advocating for increased federal energy assistance, contact NFFN Executive Director George Coling, 202-824-0660 or coling@nationalfuelfunds.org.