Saving Energy and Helping Low-Income Families On Long Island

Becoming more energy-efficient is just as essential as developing alternative energy sources. When we fight climate change on two fronts, the battle looks a little less daunting. Many new homes are being required to have better materials that cut the costs of heating and cooling. However many older homes are still leaking energy when the furnace or A/C is in use. No one feels those energy bills more than people with lower incomes. The House of Representatives helped enact a program to make their homes more efficient, but the Republican 109th Congress cut the funding. The result was that many families were put on the waiting list for assistance.

Now we are in the 110th Congress. The power given to Democrats has helped programs like these, enabling Long Island Representative Steve Israel (D-NY) to add $100 million in the appropriations bill. The fear is that Bush will veto the additional funding along with many other spending initiatives. Whichever way it goes, the impact will be felt by people like Genevieve Michta.

From Newsday:

With the assistance of a federal program that helps low-income Long Islanders make their homes more energy efficient, Genevieve Michta of Ronkonkoma no longer has to use duct tape to seal her windows to keep out the frigid air during the winter months.

"It saved my life," said Michta, 72, a retired waitress whose main income is social security. "It let me stay on Long Island."

(snip)

"She doesn't have to worry anymore about choosing between paying for her medicines and paying her LIPA bills," said Israel, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee.

This is just one example of how government can postively...or negatively affect people in their everyday lives. It is great that the President has an energy efficient ranch down in Crawford. Yet it would be much better for millions more Americans to be able to help cut costs and save energy.