CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt urging the federal government to immediately release $3.8 million of New Hampshire’s allocation for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“With skyrocketing energy costs, and winter well underway here in New Hampshire, our families are struggling to stay warm and safe. In New Hampshire, the price of heating oil alone has risen more than 30 percent in the past year. And with rising energy prices has come a rising need for help from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,” Gov. Lynch wrote.

About 30,000 New Hampshire families received LIHEAP benefits last year. It is expected even more families will apply for assistance this winter.

So far, the state has received just 75 percent of its LIHEAP allocation. Typically, the state has received 90 percent of its anticipated allocation by this time of the year. For New Hampshire, the amount being held back is $3.8 million, which equates to 5,800 families who cannot receive help. The final, overall appropriation is currently being debated in Congress.

“I ask that you immediately release the $3.8 million held back from the state. Desperately needy families should not be left in the cold while the appropriations process works it way to final resolution,” Gov. Lynch wrote.

A copy of Gov. Lynch’s letter is below.

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December 6, 2007

The Honorable Michael Leavitt
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Re: Release of Held Back LIHEAP Funds

Dear Secretary Leavitt:

With skyrocketing energy costs, and winter well underway here in New Hampshire, our families are struggling to stay warm and safe. In New Hampshire, the price of heating oil alone has risen more than 30 percent in the past yea-r. And with rising energy prices has come a rising need for help from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Roughly 30,000 families received LIHEAP benefits in New Hampshire last winter, and the need this winter is projected to be even greater.

I recognize that negotiations are continuing on a final, overall appropriation for LIHEAP, and I urge you to work with Congress to resolve this issue as soon as possible. However, while that debate continues, there is a step the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can and should take immediately to allow New Hampshire to help more people.

In past years, the Department of Health and Human Services had distributed 90 percent of the states’ anticipated allocations by this time. This year, we have received only 75 percent. For New Hampshire, that difference is $3.8 million. More importantly, that difference is 5,800 families who we cannot currently help. We cannot meet the level of need from prior years without immediate release of the held back funds, let alone meet the needs of additional families who are reeling from the sharp increase in heating fuel costs.

I ask that you immediately release the $3.8 million held back from the state. Desperately needy families should not be left in the cold while the appropriations process works it way to final resolution.

Sincerely,

John Lynch
Governor