news

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4076, the Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation (HHEATT) Act, sponsored by Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA). The bipartisan legislation introduced yesterday would provide a guaranteed extension of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) emergency declarations until May 31, ultimately providing relief to Midwest residents, who are experiencing life-threatening shortages of propane and other home heating fuels. 

“This winter’s extreme weather conditions have threatened the lives and livelihoods of those who rely on propane to heat their homes and farming operations,” said Latta. “Access to heat is no longer an option, but a requirement for survival for residents throughout the Midwest and especially in my home state of Ohio. We must do everything we can to transport as much propane to those in need as quickly as possible. Therefore, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of the HEATT Act to provide relief to Americans throughout the country who are experiencing the harmful effects of the severe snow and extreme cold that have plagued our area.”

Propane is used to heat more than 12 million homes throughout the United States. The current shortage is expected to continue through the end of winter due in part to a number of infrastructure challenges in high-demand areas. The HEATT Act would provide the certainty needed to address these critical heating fuel transportation and distribution issues throughout the Midwest.

Congressman Latta has led multiple efforts to bring relief to homeowners throughout the Midwest. In January, he led a letter to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx from the Ohio Congressional delegation, requesting the agency extend the hours of service emergency exemption. On February 5, DOT announced it would extend the exemption, which provides regulatory relief for commercial motor vehicles delivering propane and home heating fuels to affected areas and consumers, until March 1. On February 14, he also led a bipartisan letter with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and 33 other Members of Congress, to President Obama, requesting he declare a state of emergency for parts of the Midwest that are currently experiencing ongoing propane supply shortages. An emergency declaration will ultimately lift weight limitations for vehicles carrying emergency propane supplies to these areas, allowing more propane to be delivered faster to those in need.

###