Tierney leads the charge to triple funding for home heating aid
This article originally appeared in the Saugus Advertiser on Thursday, July 17, 2008

Saugus - Congressman John Tierney, D-Mass. along with other members of the New England Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, urging her to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to $9 billion in legislation this summer, perhaps a second economic recovery package.

“The residents of northeastern Massachusetts should not have to choose between food and heat. The amount of money we are asking for, to ensure a safe winter for our residents, is the equivalent to what we spend in just three weeks in Iraq. President Bush and his big oil accomplices don’t balk at spending that money; so, I would hope that they would not balk at this life-saving request either,” said Tierney at a press conference. Although the President has actually proposed significant cuts in emergency fuel programs, Tierney believes the changing circumstances will lead to a change in the White House position.

To ease the burden of rising heating costs, Tierney believes it will be necessary to more than triple current funding. More than 6 million New England households rely on assistance to heat their homes, thus the current volatility in the oil market is highly concerning. In Massachusetts more than 177,212 applications for LIHEAP funding were received by the commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development this past winter alone.

 “Not only do we need to be concerned for those previously eligible for relief, but as the cost of fuel nears up to $4,000 for some households, middle class families will also need relief. For that reason, the eligibility standards must be amended to reflect that need, and more funds must be allocated to help that expanding universe of expected applicants,” said Tierney.

Middle income families, in addition to lower income families, are being devastated by the price squeeze at the gas pump too, which is why, earlier this month, as part of a plan for short term relief, Congressman Tierney and the delegation called for a release of a small portion of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. That injection of supply over coming months could, history shows, dramatically decrease prices of gasoline almost immediately- within days.

“This country’s families are being squeezed by a combination of high fuel prices and a down turned housing market. Many families in New England will be paying upwards of $4,000 to heat their homes this winter - severely stretching the budgets of even middle class families, let alone our neediest residents,” concluded Tierney.

The delegation is also requesting $1 billion for Weatherization Assistance which will lead to savings now and over subsequent years as it also creates jobs in the industry.