HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt this week announced the release of $1 billion in supplemental funds to states and direct grant tribes that will help families in need pay their home energy bills. These funds are administered by the Administration for Children and Families through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

On Monday, March 20, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law S.2320/Public Law 109-204, which provides an additional $1 billion in LIHEAP funding for FY 2006. The bill reallocates mandatory funds appropriated for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and makes the funds available in FY 2006 instead of FY 2007. Half the funds ($500 million) will be spent under the block grant formula and the other half ($500 million) for emergency contingency funding.

DPA Winter Update - February, 2006

Here is the Division Overview newsletter that was released in February. It is also available on the public DPA website under the "Headlines" section and you can view it by clicking on the link above. These reports tell the terrific story of your hard work and DPA's results as well! We intend to update this newsletter every six months or so with news of our efforts and outcomes.

(U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Press Release)

This week, President George W. Bush signed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which reauthorizes the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program administered by HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

"The reauthorization of the TANF program takes the next step in welfare reform by strengthening work requirements and providing the assistance families need to climb the career ladder," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "Welfare reform is helping millions of people climb out of poverty. Now, we want to go the next step and help them climb the job ladder by creating more opportunities for education and job training."

This DPA Star has been with Public Assistance for nearly a decade. When she's not creating digital works of art, she can usually be found creating dazzling publications, snapping pictures and helping get the word out about Division events. While she loves Alaska, don't be surprised to find this star on a trip to sunny California. And yes, this star is a child at heart so a visit to Disneyland may play a prominent role in her next vacation. This star always comes through in a pinch and has been known to burn the midnight oil to get a project done on time.

According to the Associated Press, Alaska will receive more than a half million dollars as part of the congressional Low Income Energy Assistance Program. The program helps states aid low-income residents in paying for heating bills this winter. Nationally, 100 million dollars in emergency funding was approved by Congress.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski says this should help more Alaskans pay for their heating bills this winter. She says Alaskans have seen nearly 30 percent increases in the cost of diesel heating fuel and up to 40 percent hikes in natural gas costs as a result of increased worldwide competition for energy.