Pray for a warm winter if President Obama’s proposed $2.5 billion cut in funding for low-income home heating assistance prevails. The reduction would roughly cut in half the $5.1 billion authorized in 2009.
For years, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, has been literally a lifesaver for thousands of older persons in the country’s colder climates. The program also subsidizes low-income persons who need air conditioning to deal with heat waves.
Advocates say that even at $5.1 billion, LIHEAP is under-funded. Weather abnormalities, either sweltering heat or freezing cold, coupled with rising energy prices, could have tragic consequences.
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