WASHINGTON, DC -- Today the U.S. Senate approved Senator Jack Reed's (D-RI) amendment to the 2010 budget resolution increasing the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $1.9 billion. Reed's bipartisan amendment, cosponsored by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), was unanimously agreed to by a voice vote and is the first step in securing this funding during the upcoming appropriations process.

"LIHEAP is the only federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills. This vital funding helps families whose budgets have been stretched to the limit. With a little help on their energy bills, these families will have money for other essentials such as food and medicine. This ripple effect makes LIHEAP a good economic stimulator," said Reed.

Both the Congressional budget and President Obama's budget included $3.2 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2010. Reed's amendment raises the total to $5.1 billion for LIHEAP.

Reed successfully led the effort to provide this level of funding in fiscal year 2009, which allowed more than 7 million households nationwide to receive LIHEAP assistance. It also provided Rhode Island with $38.8 million to help thousands of low-income families across the state pay their utility bills.