CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch said that the U.S. Senate's rejection yesterday of two proposals to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program puts New Hampshire's families and seniors at risk.

"New Hampshire families and seniors are facing a 65 percent increase in heating costs and a harsh winter, the U.S. Congress should not leave them out in the cold," Gov. Lynch said. "The need will be much greater than the LIHEAP base grant that New Hampshire will receive. I hope that Congress will move, and move quickly, to reconsider adding funding to the LIHEAP program."

Prices for heating oil are now 65 percent higher than this time last year, with a statewide average price of $2.58 per gallon. Last year the average LIHEAP benefit level was $570 per New Hampshire household. At current prices, LIHEAP recipients who heat with oil would need a benefit of $940 to receive the same level of assistance.

"Fuel prices have jumped too quickly for New Hampshire's most vulnerable citizens to keep up. They are going to need help or they may be forced to choose between heating their home and other essentials," Gov. Lynch said.

The Governor's Office of Energy & Planning estimates that in order for household benefits to keep pace with rising fuel costs and to address the significant number of low-income households requesting assistance, New Hampshire will require a minimum of $33 million, more than twice the LIHEAP base grant allocation in Fiscal Year '05.