Golden Joins 115 House Members in Push for $1.6 Billion in Additional LIHEAP Funds

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and 115 of his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter yesterday to House and Senate leadership urging them to allocate an additional $1.6 billion for the Low-Income House Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) program for FY 2024.

“We write to support the inclusion of $1.6 billion in funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in any government funding package, to reflect the President’s FY24 emergency supplemental funding request,” said the group.

“For the families who receive LIHEAP, it is a critical lifeline that prevents them from making the impossible choice between staying warm and having enough food or paying for their medications,” they continued. “With the winter months rapidly approaching, this funding is also needed to help address significant price fluctuations that energy markets continue to experience due to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The conflict in the Middle East has also increased market uncertainty, and many energy market experts fear a rise in energy costs. These shifts disproportionately harm those who already struggle to pay their energy bills and underscore the need for robust funding for LIHEAP.”

Golden has successfully led several efforts to increase Mainers’ access to LIHEAP throughout his time in Congress, including last year when he and Senator Collins secured a total of $6.1 billion for the program in FY 2023. In September, he and the rest of Maine’s Congressional Delegation announced an additional $38 million would be accessible to Mainers in FY 2024, while Maine’s tribes were also awarded $1.4 million.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households receive assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP, including over 45,000 Maine households. LIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. You can find more information on LIHEAP in Maine or apply for funding for the upcoming winter heating season here. 

The full letter signed by Golden can be read here.

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