Sherwood Boehlert: “I am concerned about the recommendation to cut $411.8 million from the weatherization program for next year. Keep in…”

“I am concerned about the recommendation to cut $411.8 million from the weatherization program for next year. Keep in mind, we have cut this program, the weatherization program, almost in half right now and we are asked to strike yet another blow to, I think, a program that is very, very important. We have just had a very harsh winter. This is a program that is used essentially by the elderly and the disadvantaged, and I think we should try to continue at level funding, which is reasonable considering that we have drastically cut the funding in this year's program. I am deeply concerned about the Appropriation Committee's recommendation to cut $11.8 million in weatherization funds for next year. This year, the weatherization program was cut almost in half and now, we are asked to strike another blow to this important program. I would like to remind my colleagues of the particularly harsh winter we just suffered. Furthermore, let's not forget last year's summer which saw hundreds of our frail citizens die in their apartments while trying to escape the heat. The weatherization program is essential for preventing these tragedies by helping to keep our poor and elderly in a safe environment in the extreme heat of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter.”