Connecticut delegation calls on president bush to ease area home heating woes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 4, 2008
Contact: ForLarson - Emily Barocas /202-225-7295/202-593-1377
ForLieberman - Rob Sawicki/202-224-4041
For DeLauro- Adriana Surfas/202-225-3661
For Courtney- Brian Farber/202-225-2076
For Murphy -Kristen Bossi/202-225-4476
Connecticutdelegation calls on president bush to ease area home heating woes
WASHINGTON, DC -- This afternoon, members of the Connecticut Delegationsent a letter to President George W. Bush calling on him to ease theburden of record high home heating oil prices on New England. Thecombination of cold weather and rising oil prices means many Connecticutfamilies will have real trouble making ends meet this winter. The letterrequests that the President release oil from the Northeast Home HeatingOil Reserve (NEHHOR) and make contingency funding available from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The delegation believes that the White House has the ability and theduty to reduce this strain on middle and lower income families inConnecticut and across the country.
The Northeast is particularly vulnerable to fuel shortages and pricespikes during the winter. The Energy Information Administration projectsthat residential heating oil prices could average $3.23 per gallon thisseason. With half of Connecticut's households relying on oil to heattheir homes, this would have a huge economic impact on the region. Thereare more than 2,000 barrels of oil sitting in the Northeast Home HeatingOil Reserve. With these sorts of resources on hand, it is more thanpossible for the White House to keep high prices from delivering a majorblow to the area.
Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT-ID) said:
"The strain on the Northeast from the rising cost of home heatingoil is real and needs a real response. Our constituents are hurting andtoo many Connecticut families are faced with painful choices between foodand heat. I hope the President will take a step to ease this pain byreleasing additional reserves and funding."
Congressman John B. Larson CT-01, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus,said:
"Heating your home is not a luxury in this country; it is somethingevery American should be able to do. I urge the President to take thesteps necessary to keep the Northeast warm this winter. He must releaseavailable reserves and make more funding available for our low-incomeresidents. The President may be frozen in indifference to the needs of ourcitizens, but Connecticut families should not suffer because of it."
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro CT-03, said:
With freezing temperatures in Connecticut, along with much of theNortheast and spiking increases in oil costs, families are in a precariousposition. The President, however, can alleviate some of thepressure. I urge the President to heed our request to providefamilies with relief and release oil from the Northeast Home Heating OilReserve (NEHHOR), as well as the available contingency funding from theLow-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)."
Congressman Chris Murphy CT-05, said:
"Families in Connecticut, and across the Northeast, shouldn't haveto choose between heat and other essentials. The President has the abilityto help those in need, and he should do so as soon as possible as thewinter freeze won't be letting up for months in Connecticut."
Congressman Joe Courtney CT-02, said:
"The President must understand the plight of Connecticut's familieswho are struggling with the burdensome costs of home heating fuel. Weshould never play politics with people's lives, so I urge President Bushto show compassion to those who are in need during what has so far been avery cold and snowy winter in Connecticut and all of New England."
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