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01-29-2003

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 7 months ago

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Department

State House Boston, MA 02133

(617) 725-4000

 

MITT ROMNEY

GOVERNOR

 

 

KERRY HEALEY

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 29, 2003 CONTACT:

Shawn Feddeman

(617) 727-2759

Phil Hailer (DHCD)

(617) 727-7765

 

ROMNEY ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN FUEL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS

 

 

 

Governor Mitt Romney today announced that his Administration will use the $12.3 million in newly released emergency fuel assistance funds from the Bush Administration to increase the benefit level of low-income families who heat their homes with oil, propane or kerosene.

 

Romney said for many Massachusetts residents who participate in the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program this additional relief means that they may now be eligible for as much as $130 more to help fill their fuel tanks this winter.

 

“While the law protects gas and electric heat customers with financial hardships from service shut-off during the heating season, oil, propane and kerosene users have no such protection,” said Romney. “These badly needed emergency funds will directly assist low-income families, the elderly and disabled to cope with this very cold winter and increased home heating costs.”

 

The Governor noted last week that the emergency funds, along with an expected $70 million in regular LIHEAP funding, will allow Massachusetts to serve the needs of more than 130,000 low-income people statewide this winter. President Bush has reserved another $100 million in contingency funds for future national energy emergencies.

 

Each year, LIHEAP assists more than 4.6 million low-income Americans in paying their heating bills. LIHEAP is administered in Massachusetts by the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and provides assistance to families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $36,200 for a family of four.

 

Although Congress has yet to determine this year's final LIHEAP appropriation, it is expected that a total of nearly $2 billion will be made available to states, including $300 million added by the U.S. Senate just this week. A final conference with the House of Representatives is expected to take place within the next week, with final passage of the bill anticipated by early February.

 

The state has a toll-free HEATLINE at 1-800-632-8175, and information is available online at www.massfuelassist.com.

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