Warren Joins Colleagues in Bicameral Letter Urging HHS to Help Protect Families This Winter During Energy Crisis
108 Members of Congress Request Information Regarding Implementation and Sustainability of LIHEAP
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and 105 other Members of Congress in a bicameral letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on families served by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 30 percent this winter, which is a level that has not been seen since 2014 and would impact 61 million households that use natural gas for heat. As a consequence of these volatile prices, the purchasing power of appropriated LIHEAP funding could drop by as much as 30 percent. Specifically, the program’s value in available funding could decrease by $1.14 billion from $3.8 billion for regular appropriations and by $1.35 billion from $4.5 billion for stimulus funds. The letter requests information and timeline updates regarding implementation and eligibility for low-income families and funding needs for the Department to fulfill its obligations.
“As the world economy recovers from the pandemic, global energy markets are struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and prolonged supply shortages,” the lawmakers wrote. “For low-income families, these price increases are unsustainable and will force them to choose between heating their homes and other essentials like rent, food, or medicine. As state agencies and grantees prepare their winter programs, it is crucial that they have strong support from your department to assist low-income households.”
The letter is signed by 19 U.S. Senators and 89 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
To protect consumers and the economy as energy prices have soared this winter, Senator Warren has led the call to hold natural gas companies accountable for jacking up prices for Americans while exporting record amounts of natural gas to boost profits .
###
Next Article Previous Article
