Kerry, other sen. call on Bush to release emergency funds for energy costs

[Mass]

http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/record.cfm?id=241664

Senators on Both Sides of the Aisle Call on President Bush to Release Home Energy Funds for Relief from Extreme Heat and Record Energy Costs

A Bipartisan group of Senators from across the nation is calling on President Bush to release the remaining $47.6 million in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help low-income Americans facing record energy costs

Washington, D.C. -- Senator John Kerry, along with Democratic and Republican colleagues from around the country, have sent a letter to President Bush requesting the release of the remaining $47.6 million in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The funds would help low income seniors and families dealing with extreme temperatures this summer and into the coming winter.

The bipartisan group of Senators said, “Many low-income consumers entered this summer facing high energy debt due to the winter’s unaffordable energy prices and cold weather. The heat wave that affected the Northeast and Midwest states in June, and the current heat wave affecting the nation, is adding to these households’ energy burdens, especially low-income seniors, as they must run air-conditioning to remain cool and safe.”

The letter goes on to say “In Michigan, Wisconsin and Vermont, the National Weather Service said June was the second hottest on record in the state. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “New York State had its warmest June on record, with 12 other states from Minnesota to Maine ranking much above normal for the month. In Boston, temperatures at the end of June reached a high of 95 degrees -- the hottest the city has been since August 18, 2002. For the month of July, cooling degree days for the region remained significantly higher than normal.”

“This year millions of American families, particularly those in the northeast, are being hit hard by a major heat wave,” said Senator Kerry. “I know that my own state of Massachusetts is experiencing record high temperatures and is facing record levels of energy consumption. Massachusetts residents shouldn’t have to dig out of a mountain of debt as a result of extremely high home cooling prices.”

Below is the text of the bipartisan letter sent to President Bush:

July 25, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear President Bush:

We urge you to immediately release the remaining $47.6 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding provided in the fiscal year 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The high energy costs facing low-income households and the heat wave experienced throughout the Northeast and Midwest warrants the release of these funds.

The first official week of summer brought a heat wave with temperatures climbing into the 90s across states in the Northeast and Midwest. In Michigan, Wisconsin and Vermont, the National Weather Service said June was the second hottest on record in the state. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “New York State had its warmest June on record, with 12 other states from Minnesota to Maine ranking much above normal for the month.” Temperatures reaching above 90 degrees in Cleveland prompted city officials to test a new system to warn seniors to keep cool. An automated telephone system dialed the homes of more than 57,000 residents 65 and older, who are especially susceptible to the heat. In Boston, temperatures at the end of June reached a high of 95 degrees -- the hottest the city has been since August 18, 2002. For the July, cooling degree days for the region remained significantly higher than normal.

Many low-income consumers entered this summer facing high energy debt due to the winter’s unaffordable energy prices and cold weather. The heat wave that affected the Northeast and Midwest states in June, and the current heat wave affecting the nation, is adding to these households’ energy burdens, especially low-income seniors, as they must run air-conditioning to remain cool and safe. For example, on Tuesday, July 19th, ISO New England recorded the highest electricity usage in New England history.

We believe the cooling crisis facing low-income Americans warrants the immediate release of emergency LIHEAP assistance. Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow Olympia J. Snowe Jack Reed Arlen Specter Tom Harkin Edward M. Kennedy Patrick J. Leahy Carl Levin Joseph R. Biden John F. Kerry Barack Obama James M. Jeffords Lincoln Chafee Evan Bayh Jon S. Corzine Frank R. Lautenberg Hillary Rodham Clinton Charles E. Schumer Richard Durbin Mike DeWine Thomas R. Carper Paul S. Sarbanes Joseph I. Lieberman