Sequester Budget Cuts Take Bite Out Of Home Heating Oil Assistance

Connecticut Receives Millions Less In LIHEAP Fundsthan Last Year

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) announcedtoday that Connecticut is receiving about $4 million less than last year forthe Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This loss in funding isyet another effect of the indiscriminate, deeply harmful budget cuts known assequestration. The final fiscal year 2013 allocation is just over $76 million,compared to the nearly $80 million Connecticut received for fiscal year 2012.

"Time and again Democrats have warned that the sequesterbudget cuts are going to hurt Connecticut families. Heating costs may be thelast thing on people's minds right now, but winter will come quickly and thesecuts will put people at risk of going cold. These cuts are draconian and harmthe health and well-being of thousands across the state. Continuing to putpeople at risk is unacceptable; we have a moral obligation to care for our mostvulnerable citizens. That means fully funding LIHEAP."

DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommitteeresponsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services, whichadministers LIHEAP. Before the sequester cuts even took effect, LIHEAP had beenreduced by $1.6 billion—almost one third—between 2010 and 2012. Nationally,LIHEAP's budget will decrease from $3.47 billion to $3.252 billion.