Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) announced today at a press conference in Warwick, RI, that he finalized an agreement with CITGO oil company to provide 3.3 million gallons of discounted home heating oil this winter to Rhode Island low-income families, homeless shelters and community clinics. Reed was joined by the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez-Herrera, CITGO President Felix Rodriguez, Congressman Jim Langevin, Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty, Citizens Energy President Joseph Kennedy, Providence Community Action Program Executive Director Frank Corbishley, and Rhode Island Oil Heat Institute Executive Director Peter Lombardi, Jr.Reed stated, I welcome CITGOs gift to Rhode Island and hope it will mean lower heating bills for the disabled, working families and seniors. This is going to be a very difficult winter for many in Rhode Island and throughout the United States and any contribution is helpful.CITGO, a Houston-based business, is owned by Petroleos de Venezuela, the state oil company of Venezuela. In October, Reed asked the nations major oil companies to donate a portion of their record high profits to help low income families, the disabled, and older citizens pay their heating bills this winter. In a letter to 9 top oil companies on October 27, 2005, Reed stated, Energy companies are earning record profits this quarter, therefore, we urge you to act as good corporate citizens and invest earning profits into programs, such as fuel funds, that will provide energy assistance to low-income Americans. [http://reed.senate.gov/news/energy/ltr-ceos-10-27-05.cfm]Under the agreement negotiated between Reeds office and CITGO, CITGO will work with the Rhode Island Community Action Association Network (RICAAN) and Citizens Energy, both non-profit organizations, to implement the program. Citizens Energy will purchase up to 3.3 million gallons of heating oil at a 40 percent discount from CITGO. RICAAN, which represents the states community action agencies, will be responsible for identifying low-income families and individuals using the same criteria used for the distribution of federal heating assistance benefits. RICAAN will distribute the discounted heating oil with the help of the Rhode Island heating oil dealers.The remaining 60 percent of the delivery cost will be paid by either the recipient or through the federal heating assistance program, LIHEAP.Under the plan announced today, deliveries of heating oil will benefit low-income families, individuals with disabilities and seniors, as well as qualifying institutions serving low-income residents, such as homeless shelters and home health agencies.Frank Corbishley, Executive Director of the Providence Community Action Program said, Our hats go off to Senator Reed who has worked tirelessly to finalize this agreement and make it a reality for so many families in Rhode Island who are facing a heating and health crisis come January.Jeanne Gattegno, Chair of the Rhode Island Community Action Association Network and CEO if Westbay Community Action added, The agreement will directly benefit those families in Rhode Island who can least afford the skyrocketing cost of home heating oil. The bottom line is that this agreement means more low income Rhode Islanders will be able to afford heating oil this winter.Families and institutions interested receiving oil should contact their local community action agency. For a list of agencies visit: http://reed.senate.gov/oil/- end -