Sean Patrick Maloney: “I support the DeLauro motion to instruct and in support of the highest possible funding for the Low-Income Home Energy…”

“I support the DeLauro motion to instruct and in support of the highest possible funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program. This vital program helps low-income households pay for home energy costs--including home heating costs in the winter and home cooling costs in the summer. Every year, we see seniors die from the lack of air conditioning during a heat wave, or from the severe cold weather we've seen so much of recently. This could usually be prevented, if only these seniors could have afforded the cool air or heating assistance they needed. Approximately 4.4 million of the most vulnerable households in this country depend on the LIHEAP program each year. And in the year 2000, 1.8 million families are eligible for LIHEAP assistance in New York State alone. And a significant portion of those receiving LIHEAP assistance are the elderly. The LIHEAP program truly saves lives--by helping the frail elderly stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The LIHEAP program will be especially important this winter--which is predicted to be more harsh than last winter.”