Amo, Pappas, Trahan, Ruiz Lead Bipartisan House Effort Pushing HHS to Distribute LIHEAP Funds

Washington, DC – Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), and Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) led a bipartisan group of 113 members in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are distributed to the states as soon as possible and no later than November 1, 2026.

The lawmakers write:

“With a history of repeated funding delays by HHS to states, we are especially concerned for households facing high energy prices this winter who rely on LIHEAP... It is of the utmost importance that the agency ensures funds are released as soon as possible and without congressional intervention throughout Fiscal Year 2027.”

“Since February, crude oil prices have significantly increased, topping significantly more than $100 per barrel at its peaks in April 2026 and recently on September 15, 2026. These price spikes impact home heating oil prices especially, as it is refined from crude oil.”

“Home heating oil will not be delivered without payment in full, up front, which can average $2,300 for just the winter season. For the many families that cannot afford these high costs, LIHEAP is a lifeline. If households don’t receive these funds on schedule, families will go without heat or be forced to make remarkably difficult decisions in order to afford it.”

“Once again we urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families expeditiously. Families should not have to choose between staying warm and affording other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people.”

The full letter can be found here.

The letter was signed by Representatives Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Dr. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), William Keating (D-MA-09), Bennie Thompson (D-MI-02), Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), John Mannion (D-NY-22), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Lucy McBath (D-GA-06), Sanford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX-34), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), John Larson (D-CT-01), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Henry “Hank” Johnson, Jr (D-GA-04), Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Shontel M. Brown (D-OH-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-04), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Troy Carter, Sr. (D-LA-02), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Frank J. Mrvan (D-IN-01), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-15), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), James McGovern (D-MA-02), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA-44), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Sarah Elfreth (D-PA-03), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Al Green (D-TX-09), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Josh Gottheimer (D-NY-05), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), André Carson (D-IN-04), Steve Cohen (D-TN–09), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Donald Norcross (D-IL-11), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Mark Pocan (D-WI-03), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), Christian Menefee (D-TX-18), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Lois Frankel (D-FL-22), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-08), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Everton Blair Jr. (D-GA-13), Herbert Conaway, Jr. (D-NJ-03), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), and Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03).
 

Background

LIHEAP helps low-income individuals and families pay for heating and cooling and mitigates the impacts of rising energy costs and extreme weather events. Across the nation, LIHEAP helps nearly 6 million households afford their energy bills. As temperatures continue to drop, it is essential that the Department of Health and Human Services release the highest possible amount of funding available to ensure that seniors and working-class families don’t go cold at night.

Rhode Islanders can learn more about LIHEAP assistance at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website, by contacting their local Community Action Program Agency, or the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327. Households can also easily identify possible eligibility for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us. 

In 2025 and 2024, Congressman Amo joined lawmakers in urging the release of the highest possible amount of LIHEAP funding. 

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