Following Call for Swift Release of Funds, NH Delegation Announces More than $25 Million in Heating Assistance Help

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that New Hampshire is set to receive $25,117,942 in assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The announcement follows calls from Shaheen and Hassan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly as possible under the current continuing resolution. 

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that provides eligible low-income households with help paying a portion of their heating and utility bills.  Eligibility is based on a household’s combined income as well as the number of residents.  As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, ensuring Granite State families and seniors have access to heating and energy assistance has been a top priority for Senator Shaheen. Shaheen has historically saved and boosted funding for LIHEAP, which President Trump’s budget proposals have repeatedly sought to eliminate. LIHEAP provides assistance to more than 28,000 Granite Staters, many of them families, seniors and people with disabilities.

“With the coming of colder weather, we need to ensure low-income families and seniors throughout New Hampshire, many of whom have been hit hard by the economic impact of COVID-19, have access to the help they need to stay warm,” said Senator Shaheen. “This crucial heating assistance will help ensure vulnerable Granite Staters don’t have to choose between paying their heating bills and paying for essentials like food or medicine. Though I’m pleased HHS has released this funding, more is needed to protect those most at risk. I’ll continue to work across the aisle to secure additional heating assistance funds and relief Granite Staters need to get through this health and economic crisis.”

"I am glad that the Department of Health and Human Services heeded our bipartisan call to get critical funding out the door to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens can heat their homes as temperatures continue to drop," said Senator Hassan. "Amid the public health and economic challenges of the COVID-19, it is more important than ever that Granite Staters who are struggling to put food on the table and and pay their bills can receive the support that they need to stay safe in their homes."

“As the weather gets colder and people across the state continue to experience economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s especially important that vulnerable Granite Staters have the assistance they need to stay warm,” said Representative Kuster. “I’m glad that the Department of Health and Human Services responded to our bipartisan call to quickly release this important funding to help ensure heating and utility bills don’t prevent families from paying for essentials like prescription medications and food. I will continue working to secure the resources and funding Granite Staters need to get through the winter months and the COVID-19 crisis.”

“As the weather grows colder and families across our state continue to grapple with the far-reaching economic impacts of COVID-19, it is critical we continue to fund social safety nets such as energy the assistance programs,” said Representative Pappas. “I am glad that HHS has made funds available to assist some of the most vulnerable Granite Staters stay safe in their homes as we continue to work with all of our federal agencies supporting Granite Staters through these difficult economic times.” 

 

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