September 18, 2008
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON ON RELEASE OF LIHEAP FUNDS
“While it is certainly helpful that President Bush authorized the release of the $120.7 million of remaining contingency funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the current fiscal year, I continue to call on the President and Congress to fully fund the program at the authorized level of $5.1 billion in the next federal fiscal year, which would put New York’s funding level at roughly $500 million.
“The President’s funding proposal for the upcoming winter remains woefully inadequate and will put New Yorkers at risk. The $12.2 million being allocated for New Yorkers through the Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) is a first step in helping us to meet our needs this winter, but even with this allocation New York would receive about $90 million less than last winter based on the President’s proposed budget. At a time when New Yorkers are facing unprecedented hikes in the cost of heating their homes, the President has proposed providing even less funding for HEAP than Congress appropriated last year, when prices were considerably lower. Now more than ever, we need an increase in federal commitment to keep the most vulnerable in our state warm this winter.
“Meanwhile, we will continue to take action on the State level to do whatever we can to help New Yorkers get through this winter. I would like to commend the Public Service Commission for approving $18.8 million for energy efficiency in the Con Edison and National Grid gas service territories; this funding will provide efficiency services that will help to reduce natural gas bills for New York families, particularly low-income households, this winter. This step, coupled with the $49 million for additional assistance I announced last week, better prepares the State to deal with higher heating costs this winter, making energy more affordable for New York families.
“Our work to provide home heating assistance for New Yorker is not done, and I look forward to continuing our work with the Legislature to provide badly needed relief this winter.”
