On June 25, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced S.3186, The Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act. This legislation would provide $2.53 billion in fiscal year 2008 emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program. Fifty percent of the funding would be allocated to states under the existing statutory formula funding; fifty percent would go to contingency funding. Given the increased cost of energy, and anticipated increases in home heating costs this winter, Members of Congress are looking for everything they can to do to help reduce the burden on the average American consumer.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) committed to Sen. Sanders and others to "fast-track" the bill's consideration on the Senate floor. Reid said, "That is an important piece of legislation. We are going to work very hard to figure out a way to do that within the next 30 days."
NEPPA, along with the Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Kennebunk Power and Light District (KPLD) sent letters of support for S. 3186.