New England Governors Request $3 Billion Increase for Winter Heating Aid Amid Rising Costs
A bipartisan group of New England governors has formally requested an additional $3 billion in federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This appeal, directed to House Committee on Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Senate Committee on Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, aims to bring the total LIHEAP funding to $7 billion. The governors, including Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte, and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, highlighted the urgent need for this funding due to projected 50% increases in heating oil prices this winter. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, low-income households in the Northeast could face an additional $1.1 billion in heating oil costs. Congresswoman Lori Trahan noted in October that Massachusetts' LIHEAP allocation for this year is nearly $4 million less than last year, a reduction attributed to the expiration of a ...
