WASHINGTON, DC The U.S. Senate today passed a motion allowing it to consider legislation offered by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) to provide an additional $1 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The motion waived a budget technicality that would have prevented consideration of the bill. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated, I commend Senator Snowe for offering legislation to provide an additional $1 billion in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). While I support her efforts, I continue to call on my colleagues to support the fully authorized funding level of $5.1 billion to address the needs of families and seniors as they struggle to pay their heating bills this winter.Families are facing many tough choices this winter as record high heating prices continue. Instead of providing tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans as the Senate voted to do last month, we should be working to ensure that these families and seniors receive the assistance that they need.No family should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table, and no senior citizen should be forced to decide whether to buy lifesaving medication or pay their heating bill.