WEEKLY UPDATE February 3, 2014

In This Issue

HHS Releases Remaining FY2014 LIHEAP Funding; NEMW States Receive 58% of Funds

Bipartisan, NEMW Governors Call for Long-Term Stability for Highway Trust Fund

Funding Opportunity: "Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites"

NEMWI's "Reception for the Northeast-Midwest Region 2014"

COMING SOON

APRIL 11, 2014:

USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAQWA) Capitol Hill Briefing for staff, members and the public on Water Quality Trends in the Nation's Streams.

More details to come.

QUICK LINKS

Northeast-Midwest Institute

Mississippi River Basin Blog

News

Media Links

Jobs

HHS Releases Remaining FY2014 LIHEAP Funding; NEMW States Receive 58% of Funds

Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the release of the remaining $454 million in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to states, territories, tribes, and the District of Columbia. This is positive news for Northeast-Midwest states, many of which were running low on the $2.9 billion in LIHEAP funding released in November, due to harsh winter weather and high energy prices. LIHEAP provides temporary heating and cooling assistance to about 8 million low-income households across the country. The program is a top priority for many NEMW Congressional Coalition Members, 26 of whom recently signed on to a letter urging the President to fund LIHEAP at $4.7 billion in FY2015; 124 Representatives signed overall. Total LIHEAP funding for FY2014 was $3.4 billion.

For more information, please contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Bipartisan, NEMW Governors Call for Long-Term Stability for Highway Trust Fund

Last week, eight Northeast-Midwest Region governors, along with nine other colleagues, sent a letter to Congressional leaders, requesting a long-term solution to the Highway Trust Fund and funding for surface transportation. The Governors cited the benefits of a reliable surface transportation network, including increased U.S. economic competitiveness, job creation, and enhanced quality of life. The NEMW Region's transportation infrastructure system is aging and heavily subscribed, and includes five of the top ten most congested large urban areas (2011 Bureau of Transportation Statistics). The Highway Trust Fund is expected to be insolvent by the end of 2014.

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director, Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Funding Opportunity: "Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites"

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently announced the availability of funding for Community Health Projects Related to Contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to increase responsive public health actions by promoting healthy and safe environments and preventing harmful exposures related to contamination at Brownfield/Land Reuse Sites. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, housing authorities, and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Letters of intent are due February 19, 2014. More information is available here on the Agency's website.

For more information, please contact Colleen Cain, Senior Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute.

NEMWI's "Reception for the Northeast-Midwest Region 2014"

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, the NEMWI will host its annual regional reception in the Capitol Visitor's Center Atrium from 5:30-7:30 pm. The reception culminates a day of the NEMWI Board meeting with Congressional Member offices and State offices, in order to continue serving the region's need for unbiased, objective, and credible regional data and analysis. NEMWI Board Chair and Vice Chairs, Hon. Steve LaTourette and John Baldacci, will speak on the day's meetings and future movement. For 37 years, the NEMWI, working closely with regional stakeholders, has actively, creatively, and effectively risen to this call for regional information and analysis, improving federal, state, and local policy responses to the region's needs, especially in the areas of resource conservation and restoration, energy efficiency, community redevelopment, advanced manufacturing, transportation improvement, public health protection, and workforce development. Please join us to celebrate these years and the region!

For more information, contact Hope Ratner, Administrative Manager, Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The Northeast-Midwest Institute:

Taking the Rust out of the Rust Belt!