WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to help millions of low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills this coming winter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of 46 of their colleagues, are calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to quickly release as much federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) heating aid as possible.

“The LIHEAP program is one of our most effective tools to help low-income senior citizens and families in Maine keep warm during the winter,” said Senator Collins and King in a joint statement. “As energy costs have increased, LIHEAP funding has been an important lifeline that helps prevent people from having to choose between heating their home, paying their bills, or going without food or medicine.”

The senators sent a bipartisan letter, led by Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI), to HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, urging her to release LIHEAP funds without delay and at as high a level as possible.  Last year, Senators Reed and Collins successfully led the bipartisan effort to increase funding for LIHEAP by $169 million as part of the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, also supported by Senator King, which the President signed into law in January. In April, Reed and Collins renewed their call to protect LIHEAP funding for those in need of heating assistance, and urged the leaders of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to fund LIHEAP at no less than $4.7 billion in FY 2015.

LIHEAP funding proved especially important last winter, when many areas of the country experienced record cold, above-average snowfall, and an extended winter season that produced snowfall events into late March.  The letter sent to Secretary Burwell yesterday seeks to help communities across the country understand as soon as possible what level of federal assistance they can count on in the coming months as they plan ahead for whatever winter brings this season.

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.

The letter, the text of which is below, was also signed by Senators Ayotte (R-NH), Baldwin (D-WI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Booker (D-NJ), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Begich (D-AK), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Coons (D-DE), Durbin (D-IL), Franken (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), Harkin (D-IA), Heitkamp (D-ND), Hirono (D-HI), Johnson, Tim (D-SD), Kaine (D-VA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Landrieu (D-LA), Leahy (D-VT), Levin (D-MI), Manchin (D-WV), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Menendez (D-NJ), Mikulski (D-MD), Murkowski (R-AK), Murphy (D-CT), Murray (D-WA), Pryor (D-AR), Reed (D-RI), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Schumer (D-NY), Shaheen (D-NH), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Walsh (D-MT), Warren (D-MA), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR).

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October 2, 2014

Dear Secretary Burwell:

As state agencies prepare their Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) programs for the winter, we respectfully request that the Department of Health and Human Services release LIHEAP funds as quickly and at as high of a level as possible under the current continuing resolution.

LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. This funding has been an indispensable lifeline during challenging economic times, helping to ensure that recipients do not have to choose between paying their energy bills and paying for other necessities like food or medicine. On average, low-income families and seniors spend a higher proportion of their income on energy, and for many states, October marks the start of the heating season, creating an additional constraint on these household budgets.

As the relevant state agencies begin to provide assistance for this winter, it is critical that they have the resources to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible. Therefore, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds and at as high of a level as possible in order to allow states and low-income households to prepare for the upcoming season.  

We look forward to continuing to work with you on this critical program, and thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.

Sincerely,

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