Senator Bernie Sanders is vowing to continue fighting for increased federal home heating assistance despite a setback in the Senate.
Republicans blocked the Senate from considering a bill that would nearly double federal aid to help the poor pay heating and air-conditioning bills. They want to focus instead on allowing more off-shore drilling.
Sanders wanted to increase home energy assistance from $2.6 billion to $5.1 billion. He says the increase is needed to keep pace with rising energy costs.