{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/staying-warm-this-winter", "Staying Warm this Winter", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, November 21, 2013\n\t\t\t\t Staying Warm this Winter \n\t\t\t\t\n                        by Senator Angus King \n                        \n                 \n\t\n\t            \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t  \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe days are shorter, temperatures are dropping, and families across the state are preparing for the cold months ahead.\u00a0 As winter arrives, a large portion of Mainers\u2019 incomes will be devoted to keeping warm.\u00a0 With each passing year, the cost of heating rises and for many families a higher heating bill means making difficult decisions.\u00a0 Families may be forced to choose between staying warm and other necessities like food or medicine.\r\nIn Congress, I\u2019ve been tackling this issue on two fronts: by working to reduce heating costs and to maintain adequate funding for programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Mainers who rely on heating oil are often those who must shoulder the greatest financial burden. Home heating oil is expensive, the price is volatile, and its emissions are harmful to our natural environment. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve been encouraging the transition away from oil, towards renewable and domestic energy sources like biomass, wind, solar, and natural gas.\u00a0\r\nThis year, Senator Susan Collins and I introduced legislation to promote the economic and environmental benefits of biomass thermal energy. The Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013 amends the tax code so that thermal biomass systems receive the same tax incentives as other renewable energy technologies. Biomass systems, such as wood pellet boilers, offer a local and efficient way to generate heat, save money, and invest in our state.\r\nI know this is just a first step in helping keep people warm during the winter.\u00a0 As cost-saving opportunities offered by gas and alternative energy sources continue to evolve, cold winters remain a serious challenge for our state\u2019s most vulnerable families.\u00a0 In the face of persistently high energy prices, it is essential that we have in place adequate home heating safety nets for who need them most.\r\nRecognizing the significance of LIHEAP funds to millions of Americans, a group of senators, including myself, wrote to the Obama Administration urging the immediate release of federal heating aid to the state agencies that administer the LIHEAP program. In early November, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the LIHEAP program would receive $33 million for home energy assistance in low-income households in Maine. While I\u2019m glad that these funds are being released, the amount has been cut under sequestration \u2013 this is unacceptable. That\u2019s why, as part of my role on the budget conference committee, I\u2019ve been working to undo the sequester.\r\nFinally, we need to keep in mind that our first line of defense against the bitter cold is proper home weatherization.\u00a0 Effective insulation plays an invaluable role keeping us warm by keeping the cold air out.\u00a0 For those qualifying for financial assistance, the Maine Housing Authority and Efficiency Maine, as well as the federal weatherization assistance program (WAP), offer weatherization grants that can help reduce heating costs by improving home energy efficiency.\r\nThese are all important first steps and as we move into winter I will continue to keep a close eye on heating fuel prices, LIHEAP funding, and the difficult choices that some Mainers face in their efforts to keep warm. Please contact my state offices toll free at 1-800-432-1599 for assistance or more information.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/blog/staying-warm-this-winter"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7654759101569653, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}