The U.S. Senate has rejected bipartisan legislation that was cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins and would have provided an additional $2.53 billion in emergency spending for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Maine would have received $36.5 million. On average, LIHEAP serves about 48,000 low-income Maine families and seniors.
Senator Collins said, “With the costs of heating our homes at unprecedented levels, we must provide adequate funding for this essential program that serves as a lifeline to so many low-income families in Maine and throughout the nation.
“We are in an energy crisis and must do everything we can do address this challenge in both the short and long-term. In the long term, our nation must embrace a comprehensive strategy to expand and diversify American energy resources, use less, and develop alternative sources of energy. But in the short-term increasing funding for LIHEAP would help many low-income families who are deeply concerned about how they will heat their homes this winter.
“It is very disappointing that this bill did not pass, but as co chair of the Northeast-Midwest Coalition, I will continue to press for increased LIHEAP funding to assist families this winter.”