FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    Contact:  Hogan Gidley
Wednesday, June 18, 2008                                                                                                             (704) 651-7096

SEN. ELIZABETH DOLE’S RECEIVES AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP IN PROVIDING

ENERGY ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES

Dole Named a Winner of the “2008 Extra Mile Award”

Salisbury, NC – The National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN) has recognized Sen. Elizabeth Dole for her leadership in support of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  The program provides low-income families with energy assistance.  NFFN named Dole a winner of the “2008 Extra Mile Award” during their conference in Denver, Colorado yesterday evening.

“Rising energy costs are taking a serious toll on family budgets,” said Dole.  “I support LIHEAP because it helps protect the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable citizens, and I thank the National Fuel Funds Network for working to enhance that mission.”

Dole has supported LIHEAP by calling on the president to release funds with greater urgency.  She has urged her colleagues to provide sufficient funds for the program in the budget and appropriations and advancing policies for a more equitable distribution of funds for warm-weather states like North Carolina.  Early this year, Dole supported the economic stimulus package that included $1 billion for LIHEAP that will help millions of Americans pay for the increasing costs of energy. 

“Your interest in enabling LIHEAP to better-serve families of very modest means, especially those with young children and with disabled and/or elderly loved ones, has been, and will remain, essential,” NFFN Executive Director George Coling wrote to Dole.

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