WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland’s two U.S. senators say they are among a group of 40 senators calling on the Obama Administration to increase federal heating aid.

Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin announced Monday that they had signed the letter sent to the president. The senators say they are calling on the administration to restore funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to at least the $4.7 billion authorized in fiscal year 2011. The letter says funding for the program dropped to $3.47 billion last year.

Cardin and Mikulski say the struggling economy and still high energy prices have caused record numbers to seek heating assistance.

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