LIHEAP’s current funding level is only able to serve 20 percent of eligible households, while those receiving assistance have seen their average support reduced by nearly $100 since 2010

In a letter to the President, Klobuchar and Franken press the Administration to prioritize LHEAP funding in its upcoming budget proposal 

WASHINGTON, DC – With winter temperatures bearing down on Minnesota, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken urged the Administration to restore funding for critical heating assistance for seniors and families. LIHEAP’s current funding level is only able to serve 20 percent of eligible households, while those receiving assistance have seen their average support reduced by nearly $100 since 2010. In a letter to the President, Klobuchar and Franken press the Administration to prioritize LHEAP funding in its upcoming budget proposal.

“During cold Minnesota winters, being able to heat your home isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity,” Klobuchar said. “No family should face the gut-wrenching choice between putting food on the table and keeping their kids warm. With winter temperatures bearing down on Minnesota, I’m pressing the Administration to help ensure our families have the support they need to keep the heat turned on and stay warm and safe.”

“Last winter’s record-low temperatures reminded us just how important home heating assistance is to Minnesota families and seniors,” Franken said. “LIHEAP eases the burden for many Minnesotans who need help to heat their homes, without forcing them to sacrifice things like food or prescription medicine.”

Since taking office, Sens. Klobuchar and Franken have successfully fought to ensure that tens of millions of dollars in emergency LIHEAP funding have been available to Minnesota families and seniors. 

The full text of the senators’ letter is below.

Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to request that you prioritize the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in your Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget proposal by including no less than $4.7 billion for this program that provides critical support to our most vulnerable citizens.

LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing vital assistance during both the cold winter and hot summer months. LIHEAP households are among the most vulnerable in the country. According to the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association, more than 90 percent of LIHEAP recipients have at least one household member who is a child, elderly, or disabled, and 20 percent of households include at least one veteran. For these households, LIHEAP funding has been a lifeline during challenging economic times. Access to affordable home energy is not a luxury.  It is a matter of health and safety.                           

We understand the ongoing discretionary budget challenges. However, we are deeply concerned that the number of households eligible for LIHEAP assistance continues to exceed available funding while the average cost of home heating is expected to remain unaffordable for millions of households nationwide. In fact, the current funding level is able to serve just 20 percent of the eligible population, and those who receive LIHEAP assistance have seen their average grant reduced by nearly $100 since 2010, from $520 in FY 2010 to $424 in FY 2014.

Additionally, the purchasing power of LIHEAP has declined in recent years. Since FY 2010, the average LIHEAP grant has fallen from about 60 percent to 44 percent of the cost of home heating. For households using delivered fuels, this decline is even more dramatic, covering just 18 percent of heating oil and propane costs. With the average LIHEAP grant estimated to cover less than half of the average home heating costs for a household this winter, many low-income families and seniors will struggle to pay for the basic necessity of home energy and will have fewer resources available to meet other essential needs.

As you finalize your FY 2016 budget request, we ask that you take into account the high demand for LIHEAP assistance. We urge you to reprioritize this program within your FY 2016 budget and restore funding to this program to a level no less than $4.7 billion.

Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,

 

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