Jay Costa, Jr. Democrat Senate District 43 Occupation: Allegheny County - State Senator Education: Community College of Allegheny County, A.S., 1977; Indiana University of PA, B.A., 1979; Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1989; att. Allegheny County Police Training Academy, 1985 Term Expires: 2008 Standing Committee Assignments: • Judiciary, Minority Chair • Public Health & Welfare • Transportation Personal History: Married to Roxanne Contact Information: Senate Box 203043 Harrisburg, PA 17120 Room: 15 East Wing (717) 787-7683 D.O. Address: 1501 Ardmore Blvd. Pittsburgh, PA 15221 Email: costa@pasenate.com Website: senatorcosta.com

Critical Need for More Home Heating Aid Jay Costa, Jr. By: Senator Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) In response to massive heating fuel hikes, increased utility shut-offs and an expected colder-than-usual winter, I am repeating the call to use state funds to expand the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Heating oil skyrocketed by nearly 30 percent in less than a year. Natural gas costs are predicted to go up by 47 percent. The working poor and senior citizens on fixed incomes cannot absorb these kinds of cost hikes. In just the first six months of 2005, Pennsylvania utility companies shut off service to 86,610 homes- double the amount for all of last year. I outlined my concerns in a letter to Governor Ed Rendell and have asked for his support of recently proposed legislation. State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) and I have jointly proposed legislation that would add $80 million in state funding to the LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) program and make administrative changes that would help more Pennsylvania families pay their winter heating bills. Currently, only federal funds are used in Pennsylvania for LIHEAP, a program that helps low-income households pay for a variety of home heating fuel sources and furnace repairs in the winter. Under the Costa-Hughes proposal, this supplemental funding would add 240,000 more families to the federal LIHEAP program or make the grants more substantive. Therefore, I will continue to press Gov. Ed Rendell to make administrative changes to the program, which alone would make an additional 140,000 people eligible for LIHEAP benefits. These changes include: Restoring the LIHEAP eligibility level from 135 percent of the federal poverty level to 150 percent; Not disqualifying families from receiving crisis grants when they are behind on their utility bills, but involved in payment arrangements; and Making crisis grants available for an additional month, until April 30. While I applaud the generous outpouring of support for the Gulf Coast's hurricane victims, we must begin taking steps to avert our own crisis here in Pennsylvania. Unless the legislature acts, Pennsylvania will see more poor people freeze to death in their homes, and an increase in dangerous house fires caused by people whose heating service was shut off. Accuweather from State College has predicted that, beginning in November, temperatures will be 2 to 3 degrees colder this winter. For more information about the LIHEAP program please go to the Department of Public Welfare or the Public Utility Commission. In addition, if my office can be of any service, please call (717) 787-7683 Harrisburg or (412) 241-6690 Pittsburgh. ### CapNews Guest Speaker: Archives Back to CapNews