New England Governors Request Additional $3 Billion for Winter Heating Aid Amid Rising Energy Costs
A bipartisan group of New England governors, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, has collectively appealed to congressional leaders for an additional $3 billion in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This request aims to help residents cope with projected 50% increases in heating oil prices this winter. The governors, from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, sent a letter to House Committee on Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Senate Committee on Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, stating that the additional funding is "urgently needed" to bring total LIHEAP funding to $7 billion. They highlighted that at current funding levels, rising energy prices will diminish the purchasing power of LIHEAP assistance, forcing states to reduce benefits or serve fewer eligible households. Congresswoman Lori Trahan noted that Massachusetts' current LIHEAP allocation of $142.3 million is nearly $4 million less than last year, and only 20% ...
