Congress expected to pass Continuing Resolution with added support for LIHEAP
The continuing resolution to keep the government from shutting down on Sept. 30 will include a $1 billion supplemental appropriation for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), a bipartisan group of Congressmembers said Thursday.
LIHEAP provides financial support for families struggling with high utility bills. On Thursday, the Senate voted 72-23 to clear the way for the supplemental appropriations to be a part of the continuing resolution.
“No family should ever have to choose between heating their home and paying for groceries,” said U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Ver.). “For Vermonters who are struggling to do both, LIHEAP steps in to fill that need and help families make ends meet. With this injection of new funding, more Vermont families will be able to benefit from this critical program. I look forward to getting this across the finish line this week to bring immediate assistance to Vermonters in need.”
Welch joined U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as U.S. Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) in supporting the increase to LIHEAP. The group called for the increase in funding in August in a letter to Congressional leaders, including U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
“Heating oil and utility costs are going through the roof. One way we can help seniors and families who are struggling to pay these costs is to increase assistance through LIHEAP. I am pleased we were able to convince our colleagues to include an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in this short-term funding bill,” Reed said. “This funding, combined with regular LIHEAP dollars, will make a huge difference for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors this winter.”
The additional assistance will be necessary for families this year, said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), but might not be enough to help all of those in need.
“The additional $1 billion will help lower-income families afford the high cost of home heating this winter as well as the cost of cooling next summer,” Wolfe said. “We are estimating that home heating costs this winter will be the highest on average for at least 10 years. We view these additional funds as a step in the right direction but will not offset the full increase in need. LIHEAP funding is only eligible to help about one out of six eligible families. With these higher prices, we are expecting more families will need help as their budgets become increasingly squeezed by these higher prices.”
