News Releases for October 2005
October 19, 2005
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Hoeven Calls For Increased Home Energy Assistance Funding
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven, in a letter last week, called on President Bush and the North Dakota congressional delegation to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) before the upcoming winter.
"In light of unusually high heating oil and natural gas prices, we ask that you appropriate an increase in emergency LIHEAP funds in the next available emergency supplemental appropriation bill," Hoeven wrote. "Concerns about home heating costs only grow as the season advances, so I encourage action as quickly as possible, so that we can prepare to assist our citizens."
Last year, LIHEAP's allocation for North Dakota was about $17 million, and of that, the Department of Human Services received about $14 million, which enabled the agency to serve more than 15,000 low income households. Hoeven stated that with higher heating costs, more families will confront hardship unless additional funding can be secured. That funding is also needed for the Division of Community Services' emergency furnace replacement and repair program, which assists low income families whose furnaces are unsafe and must be addressed.
"We are working with the state Department of Human Services and the Division of Community Services, as well as utility companies and rural electric cooperatives to encourage efficiency and provide additional assistance," Hoeven said. "We also encourage individuals to contact their local community action agency to look into weatherization and energy efficiency programs."
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