Congressman Cohen: Help With Heating Bills is on the Way

Families in the 9th District urgently needed this energy assistance. Americans are struggling to make ends meet and heating costs are expected to reach record levels again this winter. That is why we in Congress have made it a top priority to provide families with relief from high energy costs – doubling this critical investment in energy relief to help seniors and working families keep the heat on this winter.

This $80,511,543 in help with heating bills for families here in Tennessee is critical with Americans paying record prices to heat their home. This winter, Americans using heating oil will pay more than $2,300 per family – and since 2001, home heating expenditures, on average, have more than doubled.

We need more of this type of bipartisan cooperation in Washington as we work quickly to address the serious and urgent challenges of the slowing economy and high energy prices.

The recently enacted spending law will provide Low-Income Home Energy Assistance to an additional 2 million households and increase the average grant from $355 to $550 ($2.5 billion more than FY 2008 and full funding required by the Energy Law).

This is another key achievement to protect consumers from skyrocketing energy costs. Congress has also enacted critical tax credits to launch a clean, green renewable energy future for America and create and save more than 500,000 jobs and raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265