Mary Beth Polley | Fall 2000 Headlines

House Members call for fuel aid

By Mary Beth Polley

WASHINGTON - With winter approaching and oil prices skyrocketing Merrimack Valley representatives have joined with more than 70 members of Congress to push for additional fuel aid to avert an "expected energy crisis" this winter.

In a letter to House and Senate Committee Chairmen, Massachusetts Reps. John F. Tierney, (D-Sixth), Martin P. Meehan (D-Lowell) and New Hampshire Rep. Charles Bass (R-Peterborough), called for $1.5 billion in additional funding to help the elderly, working families, small businesses, the disabled and the poor through a tough winter with extremely high oil prices expected.

The members of Congress released a letter Tuesday that called for increases in funding for a number of fuel assistance programs including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Weatherization Assistance Program and the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.

"Being reactive was part of last year's order," said Rep. Martin Meehan yesterday. "This year we're trying to be proactive."

In addition to their request for additional spending in next year's budget, the members of Congress are also asking President Clinton to release $400 million in emergency LIHEAP funding immediately so that low-income families can begin applying for aid.

Currently two-thirds of U.S. households receiving LIHEAP aid have incomes of less than $8,000 and spend 18 percent of their income on home energy costs, according to the congressional letter. Last year, New Hampshire received $17.6 million in LIHEAP funding that covered 23,000 households. Massachusetts received $71.6 million.

"Americans shouldn't have to make the choice between heating and eating," said Rep. Bass.

The congressional group also wrote a letter to President Clinton calling for a release of oil from the nation's Strategic Oil Reserve, a fuel reserve set aside for times of national emergency and asking for a meeting "to discuss this vitally important situation. Clearly, if we are going to prevent severe economic hardship for millions of Americans, we must act expeditiously."

"A small release of oil could go a long way," Meehan said. "If we could free up six million barrels that could have a significant effect on price."

But in addition to providing aid and releasing some of this country's oil reserve, the Representatives would like to see President Clinton put pressure on OPEC to increase oil production throughout the world.

"We need a stronger national energy policy," said Rep.Bass, "OPEC has been imposing a supply shortage and the President has failed to have any response."

"We can't let OPEC off the hook," Meehan agreed. "The president needs to use whatever leverage he can to get the OPEC nations to produce more oil. That should be the major mission of the energy secretary and the president."