On Thursday, October 1, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 19 Democratic colleagues asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to request $7 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this winter. That includes roughly $4 billion in regular funding, the same level the program received last year, and more critically, at least $3 billion in emergency funding.

According to the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) LIHEAP helped 5.7 million households in fiscal year 2025. Senator Sanders' letter goes on to state that with heating oil prices up sharply this year, due to the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the need is only likely to grow.

However, the administration has called for eliminating the program in each of its last two budget requests. That leaves it to Congress, where emergency funding would need 60 votes in the Senate and a majority in the House, something that has been difficult to come by this session even for bills that historically must pass. With affordability at the top of everyone's mind this year, there is a chance we will be able to secure robust supplemental funding when the current stopgap funding measure expires.

NEFI has also begun advocating for emergency LIHEAP funds and is backing a recent bipartisan House letter, signed by more than 110 members, urging the administration to release this winter's LIHEAP funds to states no later than November 1. We are actively engaged in this issue and will keep members up-to-date as things develop.

Read the letter here.