Posted on August 30, 2022
Delnicki Testifies on Low-Income Heating Assistance
Fighting for Heating Relief for South Windsor Families
HARTFORD- On behalf of South Windsor working families and seniors on fixed incomes, State Rep. Tom Delnicki (R-14) testified in support of the latest Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allocation plan which anticipates $79 million in federal funds in the Appropriations Committee.
During his testimony Rep. Delnicki implored the committee to use the over-collection of state sales tax due to inflation which represents a 40% cut versus the prior year in this critical program a total of $60 million. In fact, funding of this year’s program is even lower than its pre-pandemic LIHEAP levels.
The Republicans on the Appropriations, Energy & Technology and Human Services Committees, proposed an amendment to the LIHEAP plan which would restore funding to continue current LIHEAP benefit amounts at Fiscal Year 2022 levels and expand assistance to more residents by providing a $330 benefit to households making between 61%-120% of state median income. This reaches a family of four earning approximately $150,000 or less. And finally, address deliverability concerns and ensure an adequate number of vendors are able to participate in LIHEAP to meet the needs of CT families. That amendment was ruled out of order and opposed by a mostly party-line vote.
“I have spoken to many South Windsor residents about the prices of home heating oil and right now there is fuel sticker shock with the average cash price for a gallon of Home heating oil $4.49 according to a local home heating oil dealer, and much higher for those on payment-type programs,” said Rep. Delnicki. “An extremely cold winter could leave many families in South Windsor struggling to find the money for heat.”