WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help tens of thousands of Rhode Island families and millions more nationwide who are struggling with record energy prices, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has led the effort to provide $5.1 billion for the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in fiscal year 2009. The continuing resolution (CR), which keeps the federal government funded when annual spending bills are not passed, includes an increase of more than $2.5 billion for LIHEAP over the fiscal year 2008 level. This increase would mean Rhode Island will receive at least $30 million -- an increase of more than $16 million over its regular funding level -- to help struggling families and seniors.

"I am pleased that we were able to secure this increase for LIHEAP in this spending package. This is great news for Rhode Island. It will help thousands of hard working families and seniors who are reeling from high energy prices," said Reed.

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, 5.8 million lower-income households nationwide, including nearly 30,000 in Rhode Island, relied on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating and cooling their homes.

Senator Reed has already secured over $20 million in regular and emergency LIHEAP funding for Rhode Island this fiscal year.

The CR also includes a $250 million supplemental fund for the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Since WAP's inception, more than 5.8 million homes have been weatherized using federal, state, utility and other monies. The program serves all 50 states and weatherizes about 100,000 homes each year. This supplemental funding more than doubles the program's funding, and will help weatherize at least 100,000 additional homes. According to the National Association for State Community Services Programs, the first year energy savings for households weatherized in 2008 will be more than $413. Less burdened by record-high energy bills, these families will have more money to spend on other essentials.

"A robust weatherization program has to be part of our comprehensive national energy strategy," said Reed. "If we can reduce energy consumption, then fewer families will need programs like LIHEAP in the first place. Weatherization provides benefits for the lifetime of a home - and increasing support for this effort will reduce energy usage, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and create green-collar jobs."

The continuing resolution today passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently pending before the Senate.