He said there was also a supplemental fund of $300 million that could be tapped for energy assistance.

Any cut in the budget of the federal program for energy assistance would have to be approved by Congress.

There is a pressing need for a lot more energy assistance.

One of Jordan's principal economic interests in the new Iraq is securing future energy assistance.

Specific programs include energy assistance, community services, and neighborhood programs.

In the past families that received welfare or food stamps could automatically receive energy assistance.

But the United States said it "understood and supported" plans by others to offer energy assistance before the weapons program was completely ended.

This should be accompanied by an agreement to discuss non-nuclear energy assistance.

Poor families in the three states would lose more than $100 million in energy assistance, a 32 percent decline, according to state and Federal officials.

The federal government does not provide energy assistance directly to the public.