Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $251 Million for Heating Assistance Programs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI), who helm the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD), announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $251 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which includes Weatherization Assistance Grants and Training and Technical Assistance, in the FY2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Funding Bill.  The bipartisan bill was favorably reported out of the Committee and is now available for consideration before the full Senate.

“Access to affordable home energy during the cold winter months is a matter of health and safety for many low-income households, children, and seniors in Maine and across the country,” said Senator Collins.  “The Weatherization Assistance Program is a cost-effective way to reduce energy usage and cut low-income homeowners’ energy bills for the long-term.  Heating assistance programs remain important lifelines that help prevent vulnerable individuals from having to choose between heating their home, paying their bills, or going without food or medicine.”

“High utility bills present a real challenge for Rhode Islanders living on limited incomes.  This program helps people save money, energy, and the environment all at once.  It is truly a win-win-win.  WAP has had tremendous economic, social, health, and safety benefits.   It literally helps kids, parents, and seniors breathe easier and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions,” said Senator Reed.  “I was pleased to work with Senator Collins on this bipartisan effort.”

Senators Collins and Reed have long led bipartisan efforts to support federal funding for heating assistance programs such as WAP and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  Earlier this week, the Senators led a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry urging him to uphold his commitment to release funding for WAP and the State Energy Program (SEP) by no later than July 1, 2018. 

Last month, Senators Collins and Reed helped to secure $3.6 billion — an increase of $250 million—for LIHEAP and $248 million—a $23 million increase—for WAP in the FY 2018 funding bill that was signed into law in March. 

Since its introduction, WAP has helped to reduce the burden of high home energy prices for more than 7.4 million low-income households.  Maine and Rhode Island households received nearly $3.1 million and nearly $1.2 million in WAP funds respectively for FY 2016 as part of over $223 million allocated to states.  Since 2010, Maine has received $18.6 million and Rhode Island has received $7 million in WAP funding and has been able to successfully weatherize more than 1,900 and 1,300 homes and rental units across the state, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).