WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), today announced that Rhode Island will receive an additional $843,229 in emergency heating funds to help families heat their homes this winter. Rhode Island is one of 11 states to receive this second wave of federal funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund. Senator Reed has already secured over $17.9 million in LIHEAP funding for Rhode Island this fiscal year, including $4.47 million in emergency funding released at Senator Reed's request in January.

"When temperatures drop, heating bills rise for many Rhode Island families. This additional funding will help lift the burden on many seniors and parents who need help paying their energy bills," said Reed, who serves as the Chairman of the Northeast-Midwest Coalition, a bipartisan group of senators that advances policies to enhance the region's economy and environment.

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, nearly 30,000 Rhode Island households relied on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating their homes each year and to pay delinquent utilities bills so they can re-establish service.

The other 10 states include: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. All 11 states rely on fuel oil for at least 20% of their heating needs.