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Organize a local
press conference to support LIHEAP funding
Southern California Gas Company press
conference, Los Angeles, May 20, 2010
National Fuel Funds Network
1010 Vermont Ave., NW, #718,
Washington, DC 20005
202 824-0638 (fax), 202 824-0660 (phone)
info@nationalfuelfunds.org www.nationalfuelfunds.org
February 9, 2011
For Immediate Release
Statement by Tom Stovall,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Fuel Funds Network
As we
stand here this morning, more than 100 NFFN members and LIHEAP supporters are fanning
out over Capitol Hill meeting with their Congressional delegations to encourage
them to support full funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
For the
last eight years, the NFFN and its partners have organized a day of grassroots
lobbying on behalf of LIHEAP. Our
members travel to Washington from all over the country to carry to Congress the
message that LIHEAP is a vital segment of our social safety net that must be
adequately funded.
We all
know how difficult life is right now for millions of Americans. For many, LIHEAP provides the aid that
enables them to keep their homes safe and livable and their families healthy.
Any cuts in funding for LIHEAP would be devastating and would cripple an
effective and efficient program.
With
this in mind, in my role as NFFN Board
Chair I have written to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees and the subcommittees with jurisdiction over
LIHEAP urging them to support $5.1 billion in funding for LIHEAP for the
current fiscal year and for FY 2012.
I don’t
think I can put it in any stronger words. LIHEAP saves lives. It keeps
families in their homes during times of cold and hot weather. It makes coping with the burden of home
energy bills easier for the working poor, the elderly, the disabled and those
facing the financial hardships caused by our current economic conditions.
Again I urge Congress to support this important program and provide the funding necessary to keep the program effective.
For more information contact: Ivan
Brandon 240 338-6862
The
following letter was sent to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Daniel
Inouye; Ranking member Sen. Thad Cochran; Subcommittee Chair Sen. Tom Harkin;
Ranking member Sen. Richard Shelby; House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep.
Harold Rogers; Ranking member Rep. Norman Dicks; Subcommittee Chair Rep. Denny
Rehberg; and Ranking member Rep. Rose DeLauro.
I
am writing on behalf of the more than 300 non-profit and corporate members of
the National Fuel Funds Network to urge you to support providing no less than
$5.1 billion in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for
the current fiscal year and FY 2012.
This
heating season, Americans are seeking help with their home energy bills in
record numbers. Last year, the number of households receiving heating
assistance reached a record 8.8 million and an additional 600,000 received
cooling aid. This year, LIHEAP agencies are reporting as much as 20
percent increases in applications.
For
the last two fiscal years, LIHEAP has been funded at the $5.1 billion level.
Any reduction in funding for this vital program would be devastating. Cuts to
LIHEAP funding would leave millions of people in need of aid and charitable
energy assistance programs, which many NFFN members administer, cannot fill
that void.
We
are aware of the need to reduce government spending in order to lessen the
federal deficit but it is also important for government to, in the words of our
founding fathers, “promote the general welfare.”
During
these difficult economic times, millions of Americans have had to turn to
social safety net programs, like LIHEAP, to keep their homes safe and livable.
The brutal weather this winter has only exacerbated the problem.
Now
is not the time to abandon those in need. The NFFN believes it is crucial that
LIHEAP be maintained at least its current level of funding $5.1 billion for the
remainder of FY 2011 and for FY 2012 and we appreciate your support.
Sincerely,
Tom Stovall
National Fuel Funds
Network
National Fuel Funds Network
on
Voice of America News recently ran a report by radio journalist Shelley Schlender about how safety net programs help families cope with utility crises. The feature describes how programs including LIHEAP and fuel funds help individuals and families cut utility costs and pay utility bills. The report has comments by George Coling, NFFN executive director.
Listen to or download the clip by using the links below.
Schlender report (Real) - Download 1.3MB 
Listen to Schlender report (Real)
Schlender report (Real) - Download 896k
Listen to Schlender report (Real)