Amid Surging Energy Costs, Durbin & Duckworth Call On Trump Administration To Release Energy Assistance Funding

Amid Surging Energy Costs, Durbin & Duckworth Call On Trump Administration To Release Energy Assistance Funding

A nationwide cold snap, coupled with soaring home heating costs and spiking gas prices, has squeezed many Americans' finances - with those who can least afford the energy price shocks suffering the hardest financial blow.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a bipartisan group of 38 Senators to call on the Trump Administration to take action and provide energy assistance to those in need as utility costs skyrocket for Illinoisans. In their letter, the Senators urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly release the approximately $400 million in remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that Congress delivered in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. These federal funds are essential to help more Americans keep up with rising energy bills and help state-based organizations effectively budget and distribute LIHEAP aid to those in need.

"We urge you to immediately release the remaining roughly $400 million of FY26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under PL 119-75," the Senators wrote in their letter. "Any delay in the release of appropriated funds would set back states' efforts to cover outstanding bills relating to unexpected delivered fuels emergencies, to weatherize low-income homes, and to plan for summer cooling programs. Our states are ready to deploy these funds to help vulnerable households as soon as they receive them from HHS."

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay utility bills, address energy crises, and lower costs by improving home energy efficiency through weatherization. Over the last year, nearly six million households nationwide received LIHEAP assistance to help them avoid utility shut-offs or having to make impossible tradeoffs such as delaying medical care, skipping meals, or turning to high-cost payday loans that lead to a cycle of unending debt. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.

In addition to Durbin and Duckworth, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Charles E. Grassley (R-IA), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR) Adam Schiff (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

March 12, 2026

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We urge you to immediately release the remaining roughly $400 million of FY26 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under PL 119-75.

As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, households are expected to spend 11% more on winter heating costs this winter compared to last year. With low-income families and seniors feeling additional strains on their household budgets, a timely release of LIHEAP funding is even more critical to ensure families do not need to choose between paying their energy bills and other essentials, like food or medicine.

Any delay in the release of appropriated funds would set back states' efforts to cover outstanding bills relating to unexpected delivered fuels emergencies, to weatherize low-income homes, and to plan for summer cooling programs. Our states are ready to deploy these funds to help vulnerable households as soon as they receive them from HHS.

We look forward to working with you on this critical program. Thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.

Sincerely,

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