Gov. Blagojevich requests federal emergency heat relief funding

Makes cooling grants available Aug. 1           

[JULY 26, 2005]  CHICAGO -- As extreme heat continues to hit Illinois, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich sent a letter to President George W. Bush on Monday requesting the release of $1.7 million in emergency federal funds to help protect the vulnerable populations of Illinois -- including seniors, the disabled, homeless and families with small children -- from the dangerous weather conditions. In the meantime, the governor has authorized an Aug. 1 start date for an existing state program that provides one-time grants to help the state's most vulnerable households meet their summer cooling needs.

"It's time for President Bush to take the appropriate steps to release relief funding during this dangerous heat, so we can protect our most vulnerable citizens," Blagojevich said. "Without emergency assistance, low-income seniors and families will be faced with difficult choices they shouldn't have to make -- like paying for their prescription drugs or paying their electricity bills."

Blagojevich, in his letter to President Bush, urged him to release the remaining $47.6 million in federal emergency funding provided in the fiscal Consolidated Appropriations Act. Illinois would receive approximately $1.7 million in additional funding that would go toward a summer assistance grant program through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The summer grant program operates when the weather reaches severe levels, and LIHEAP funding is available. The additional federal funding, if released by Bush, will allow this summer's program to run longer and help more people.

"These important federal dollars will assist Governor Blagojevich in providing further assistance to these communities that need to arm themselves against the heat," said Barry Maram, director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. "As we move forward, I'd again like to commend ComEd and other utility companies for providing Illinoisans the relief they need by suspending disconnections through Monday and urge them to continue their suspensions through this extreme weather."

Through LIHEAP, electricity bills payments will be made on behalf of seniors, the disabled, families with very young children and people with medical conditions that would be aggravated by extreme heat. LIHEAP is a state- and federally funded energy assistance program that assists households with incomes of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. A single-person household can qualify with a monthly income of up to $1,196, a two-person household up to $1,604, and a family of four can earn up to $2,420. Benefits will be paid directly to the household's electric utility.

The energy grant applications will be processed through a network of 35 local administering agencies around the state. These agencies will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis from eligible households Aug. 1-12 or until funding for the summer program is exhausted.

For a complete listing of LIHEAP's local administrating agencies and additional information about the grant program, go to www.liheapillinois.com, or call the toll-free LIHEAP information line at 1 [phone] during business hours Monday through Friday.

Following is the text of the letter Gov. Blagojevich sent to President Bush:

Office of the Governor
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor

July 25, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

On behalf of the state of Illinois, I urge you to release immediately the remaining $47.6 million in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding provided in the FY 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act. These funds are needed to help low-income households meet their high energy burden and survive an extended period of excessive heat occurring in Illinois and throughout the nation.

The state of Illinois provided more energy assistance to its low-income residents this year than ever before in response to rising energy prices and severe weather conditions, and still there remained unmet need for assistance. Now, the northern and southern areas of Illinois are facing excessive heat warnings. This continues a trend of unusually hot weather conditions this summer. Without emergency assistance, low-income seniors and families will again be faced with difficult choices -- paying for prescription drugs or paying their electricity bills, buying food or cooling their homes. With an immediate release of the remaining emergency LIHEAP funds, the state of Illinois will be better prepared to respond to this latest energy-related crisis.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor

[News release from the governor's office]