Van Wert independent\/submitted information<\/i><\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Bob Latta (R-Ohio) 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\u2019s (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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis winter\u2019s extreme weather conditions have threatened the lives and livelihoods of those who rely on propane to heat their homes and farming operations,\u201d said Latta. \u201cAccess 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Propane is used to heat more than 12 million homes throughout the United States.\u00a0The current shortage is expected to continue\u00a0through the end of winter\u00a0due in part to a number of infrastructure challenges in\u00a0high-demand areas. The HEATT Act would provide the certainty needed to address these critical heating fuel transportation and distribution issues throughout\u00a0the Midwest.<\/p>\n
Latta has led multiple efforts to bring relief to homeowners throughout the Midwest. In January, he led a\u00a0letter<\/b><\/a>\u00a0to DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx from the Ohio Congressional delegation, requesting the agency extend the hours of service emergency exemption.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n