LIHEAP Funds Released

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded the release of over $9 million in Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters afford home energy costs.

“It is imperative we help older Pennsylvanians and low-income families meet their basic energy needs as we work to alleviate the damage caused by the economic recession,” said Senator Casey. “I applaud the Obama Administration for releasing these funds to help people in Pennsylvania who are struggling to pay their energy bills.”

In February, Senator Casey joined a bipartisan group of senators in an effort to protect funding for LIHEAP in response to proposed cuts to the program in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal.

LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating, cooling and other energy costs and helps weatherize eligible families’ homes while generating $1.13 in economic activity for every dollar in benefits paid.

The money released today by HHS is part of $311 million in block grant funds to supplement the previous LIHEAP funding made available to states under the continuing resolutions since October 1, totaling $4.2 billion for Fiscal Year 2011.