New Hampshire Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen have partnered with a bipartisan group of senators to protect funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
The group is requesting nearly $3.5 billion in the spending bill before Congress. The program could see funding reduced during the upcoming winter without action.
In a letter to Senate leadership, the group notes that funding for LIHEAP has been a lifeline during challenging economic times, helping to ensure that recipients do not have to choose between paying their energy bills and paying for other necessities like food and medicine.
They say the number of households eligible for the program continues to surpass those able to receive assistance. Funding has declined in recent years, leading to a reduction in the average grant award.
