WASHINGTON, DC - In response to a request led by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the President today directed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release $490 million from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund. Rhode Island will receive $4,083,587 of this federal funding to help families struggling with high energy prices pay their bills and heat their homes. Senator Reed has already secured over $29.6 million in LIHEAP block grant funding for Rhode Island this fiscal year.

On January 7, Senator Reed and 47 of his colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama urging the release of contingency funds for LIHEAP. The Fiscal Year 2010 LIHEAP contingency fund contained a total of $590 million with $100 million now remaining to be released at the President's discretion.

"This is good news that will help thousands of Rhode Island's working families and millions of other Americans keep their heat turned on this winter. People who play by the rules and are trying to provide for their families shouldn't be forced to choose between paying their utility and medical bills or feeding their children. LIHEAP funding is a lifeline, and I plan to keep fighting to make sure the President does his part to help Rhode Islanders weather these difficult economic times," said Reed, Chairman of the Northeast-Midwest Senate Coalition.

LIHEAP is a federal block grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. Last year, an estimated 8.3 million lower-income households nationwide, including nearly 34,000 in Rhode Island, relied on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating and cooling their homes.