WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help tens of thousands of Rhode Island families and seniors who are struggling to stay warm, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that Rhode Island will receive over $29 million for Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in 2010. That funding is likely to be supplemented by several million more dollars, with emergency LIHEAP funding still to come.

"LIHEAP helps needy families and senior citizens pay their heating bills. It is a lifeline for more than 34,000 Rhode Island families, enabling them to stay safe and warm through difficult times," said Reed, who led the effort to secure $5.1 billion to help over 8 million households nationwide pay their energy bills.

At a press conference with Joanne McGunagle, Executive Director of the Comprehensive Community Action Program in Cranston, Reed also released a letter calling on President Barack Obama to release $590 million in emergency heating aid to help low-income families pay winter heating bills.

"For many years, LIHEAP has been a vital safety net for low-income families and seniors. In these tough economic times, the program is more important than ever. As such, we respectfully request that you release LIHEAP funding to meet the immediate, emergency needs, and urge you to maintain the federal commitment to low-income energy assistance," wrote Reed, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and 36 of their Senate colleagues.

The release of this emergency aid could mean millions more dollars in assistance to Rhode Island families. Last year - when the LIHEAP contingency fund was also set at $590 million - Rhode Island received more than $8 million in emergency funds.

Reed, who strongly support including $5 billion for weatherization programs in the Recovery Act also noted: "Weatherization programs save low-income families money on their energy bills, create good-paying green jobs, and increase energy efficiency. They also cut back our oil consumption and decrease our reliance on foreign oil."