Political Quotes

“today I rise to address the rising costs faced by Americans as they try to heat their homes this winter. Obtaining affordable heating assistance each winter, and cooling assistance during the summer months, is critical to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians and millions of Americans. Unfortunately, projections from the Energy Information Administration this January show that on average, consumers will spend nearly 35 percent more for natural gas this winter than they did last winter. The primary Federal heating assistance program is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. I represent a Commonwealth that depends heavily on this program. My State also has a high percentage of elderly citizens; they are especially vulnerable to cold winter temperatures. Overall, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare reports that it distributed LIHEAP funds to approximately 462,000 households during the 2004-2005 winter, with 128,000 of these recipients being elderly. While I am pleased that my Commonwealth ranks second in the Nation in the total Federal LIHEAP assistance distributed, more has to be done to help Pennsylvanians in need. At current funding levels, only 15-percent of LIHEAP-eligible households are served in my home State. As a member of the Special Committee on Aging, I am pleased that Chairman Smith has recognized the importance of this program for many low-income senior citizens.…”