Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm Appeals to Michigan Delegation on LIHEAP Funding

DETROIT, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing their efforts to educate the public about the proposed cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm (CTKMW) publicly released a letter today that was delivered to all members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation. The letter builds on the recent efforts by the CTKMW to raise awareness on the impact the proposed cuts to LIHEAP would have on the state of Michigan.

"The deep cuts LIHEAP is facing - a 50 percent decrease from the authorized full funding level of $5.1 billion which was appropriated as recently as 2010 - will return funding to its 2008 levels of $2.57 billion, affecting 3 million Americans," wrote the Coalition to Keep to Michigan Warm. "Michigan has used its past LIHEAP funding to help low-income families keep up with their bills, weatherize their homes, and educate them about ways to consume less energy. Cuts to Michigan will increase the home energy burden for the more than 600,000 households who annually benefit from LIHEAP energy-assistance to make ends meet during the state's hot summer days and long, cold winters. Note that even with the current level of LIHEAP funding, only about half of the 1.2 million low-income households in Michigan that were eligible actually received energy-assistance."

Governor Rick Snyder recently weighed in with the leadership in Congress, expressing his support for sustained funding of the program.

In early August, the CTKMW participated in LIHEAP Action Day in Washington, DC, meeting with the delegation and their staff. To coincide with LIHEAP Action Day, the CTKMW launched an advocacy effort to educate federal and state officials about the challenges many of Michigan's low-income residents will face if federal energy is reduced as proposed by the President and being considered by Congress.

To access a copy of the letter, click here.

SOURCE Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm