Senators Klobuchar and Smith Urge Trump Administration to Release Heating Assistance Funds
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Democrats from Minnesota, are leading a bipartisan effort to pressure the Trump administration to promptly release federal energy assistance funding. They, along with 27 other senators from both parties, sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services requesting the distribution of approximately $4 billion in Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds before the onset of winter. This push comes as energy costs are projected to rise, with the average family expected to spend around $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7% increase from the previous year, and heating oil costs anticipated to soar by 31%. Last winter, over 100,000 Minnesota households relied on LIHEAP, and an estimated 6 million households nationwide received assistance for heating and cooling costs. The senators emphasize that timely release of these funds is crucial to prevent gaps in assistance as states and tribes activate their LIHEAP programs.
