Senate Again Rejects Low-income Heating Assistance
WASHINGTON-For the second time in two weeks, the Senate Thursday rejected a bill that would have increased funding for the federal fuel assistance that thousands of New Bedford area residents are expected to receive this winter.
“These actions in the face of one of the toughest heating seasons we’ve ever seen will do nothing but hurt the low-income and elderly population we serve,” said Bruce Morell, executive director of People Acting in Community Endeavor, a local community assistance agency.
Last year, more than 9,000 households in the New Bedford area received federally funded heating assistance, and an additional 400 or 500 are waiting to apply for the coming winter, Morell estimated.
The measure, an amendment that would have increased funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program from $2.183 billion to $5.1 billion, was thrown out when a procedural move prevented the measure from being voted on.
On October 6, the same maneuver was used to avoid a vote on a nearly identical amendment to an earlier appropriations bill.
“It’s time Washington stop playing games, get with the program, and start figuring out how we’re going to keep the heat on for American families this winter,” Sen. John Kerry said in a press release Thursday.
The average price for a gallon of heating oil in Massachusetts is currently $2.51, an increase of 30 percent over last year’s price, according to data from the Energy Information Administration.
“The time to increase [low-income heating assistance] funds is now,” Sen. Edward Kennedy said in a press release Thursday. “We will not give up the fight.”
