U.S. senators call for highest possible level of funding for federal low-income energy assistance

The main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), should receive as much funding as possible, as soon as possible, say a bipartisan contingent of congressional lawmakers.

“As Congress works to finalize the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of LIHEAP funding available under the Continuing Resolution,” wrote U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in an Oct. 3 letter sent to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

LIHEAP provides federal assistance to needy Americans during the winter and summer months.

“October marks the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets,” the senators wrote. “As state agencies activate their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources on hand to help low-income households and seniors as soon as possible.”

They requested that Becerra “quickly release” LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible so that low-income households don’t have to “choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine,” according to their letter.

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