HOULTON, Maine — Congressman Bruce Poliquin, R-ME, said Friday, April 14 during a visit to the Aroostook County Action Program that he would continue to fight for programs the agency offered in the wake of potential federal budget cuts, but stopped short of saying how much support he would offer some of the threatened initiatives.
Poliquin spent part of the day at ACAP’s Houlton center. Poliquin met briefly with representatives from ACAP’s Early Care and Education, Community Health, Energy and Housing, and Workforce Development programs. Poliquin toured the facility, which provides Early Head Start, Head Start and Child Care services to as many as 85 children ages 0-5 each day. He finished the day reading to a classroom of Head Start students.
President Donald Trump has unveiled a budget that would cut or abolish programs that have offered low-income Americans help from agencies like ACAP, which offers citizens services such as affordable housing, Head Start, home weatherization, job training, and help paying home heating oil bills. Maine receives $13 million in Head Start funds.
“I will look carefully and thoughtfully at the cuts that are facing the Head Start program,” said Poliquin. “But as a single father, I support all programs that benefit Maine children and families.”
Jason Parent, executive director and chief executive officer of ACAP, told the congressman that ACAP has a budget of approximately $10 million a year, and 75 percent is federal money. He said that the agency serves 14,000 people a year and 4,000 people use the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known by its acronym LIHEAP. This program, part of the Health and Human Services budget, helps homeowners cover monthly energy costs, or repair broken or inefficient furnaces and air conditioners.
Poliquin said that he has always championed LIHEAP in the past and intends to in the future.
Poliquin told ACAP officials that this budget was just the first example of what ultimately will come out of Congress, and not to to worry too much about proposed cuts.
