Senator Bernie Sanders is part of a bipartisan group of senators from cold-weather states criticizing plans to cut a federal program that helps low-income families make their homes more energy efficient.
While winter heating costs have soared, support for the federal assistance program has declined. Last February, President Bush proposed eliminating the program altogether.
An Energy Department spending bill before the Senate would provide $201 million for the fiscal year beginning in October. That’s $26 million less than this year and $40 million less than 2007.
The senators say with record high heating costs expected this winter it’s not the time to reduce a program that helps poor people save on their heating bills.