On September 27, the Administration released $131.17 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency contingency funds. To address the anticipated high costs for heating fuel this winter, $106.17 million will be distributed to all states under the regular block grant formula. An additional $25 million has been allotted to seven states largely dependent on heating oil. Those seven states are: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Alaska.
Morgan Meguire, on behalf of NEPPA, contacted New England congressional offices to encourage their support on House and Senate "Dear Colleague" letters to the Administration urging the release of the funds. In the Senate, the letter was circulated by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and signed by 52 other senators including Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Kennedy (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chris Dodd (D-CT) from New England.
In the House, 112 members signed the Dear Colleague letter from Reps. Oberstar (D-MN) and LaTourette (R-OH), co-chairs of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition. From New England, the following members signed on: Reps. John Olver (D-MA), Richard Neal (D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA), Barney Frank (D-MA), William Delahunt (D-MA), John Larson (D-CT), Joseph Courtney (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chris Shays (R-CT), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), James Langevin (D-RI), Tom Allen (D-ME) and Mike Michaud (D-ME).