$250 Million Increase for LIHEAP Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins helped to secure $3.6 billion— an increase of $250 million—for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and $248 million—a $23 million increase—for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in the fiscal year 2018 funding bill that was recently signed into law. 

“Access to affordable home energy during the cold winter months is a matter of health and safety for many low-income families and seniors in Maine and across the country,” said Senator Collins.  “I have long led bipartisan efforts to support federal funding for both LIHEAP, which provides critical heating assistance to low-income households, and the Weatherization Assistance Program, which lowers energy consumption and costs for the long-term.  These programs remain important lifelines that help prevent vulnerable Mainers from having to choose between heating their home, paying their bills, or going without food or medicine.”

Senator Collins has long led bipartisan efforts to support federal funding for LIHEAP and weatherization programs.  Most recently, following a bipartisan letter coauthored by Senator Collins in November 2017 urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for LIHEAP as quickly as possible, HHS released nearly $35 million for Maine LIHEAP programs.