Local Delegation Makes Impact in Washington, DC
Group lobbies for more federal funding for heating assistance for St. Louis area families.
St. Louis - Hoping to persuade Congress to increase funding for the federal energy assistance program known as LIHEAP, several representatives from social service agencies and utilities in Missouri attended the annual Washington Action Day for LIHEAP on February 1, 2007 in Washington D.C. The results of the annual action day were positive - a Senate Budget Committee resolution that rejected President Bush's proposal to cut the program by $420 million. Instead, the resolution specifies $2.45 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); this represents an increase of $250 million over the current budget.
During their visit, the local group visited the 11 Missouri delegates' offices, all of whom stressed their interest in continuing to support legislation for increased LIHEAP funding. Two representatives from each utility, Laclede Gas, AmerenUE and Kansas City Light & Power, along with the Human Development Corporation, attended.
For current information on the status of LIHEAP funding, and how Missouri's low income residents will be impacted, visit www.nationalfuelfunds.org.