Cortez Masto Proposes Bill to Lower Costs for American Families

The American Homes First Act would invest an additional $1 Billion into LIHEAP, which is one of the most successful energy cost-reducing programs available to working families

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced legislation to invest an additional $1 Billion into the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), one of the most successful programs aimed at reducing energy costs for working families. The American Homes First Act would do so by redirecting $1 billion from President Trump's Board of Peace to LIHEAP.

"As Americans rapidly see prices go up at the pump, they're looking for ways to keep the rest of their monthly costs down," said Senator Cortez Masto. "LIHEAP has been one of the most successful cost-saving programs in our nation's history. Instead of giving President Trump a $1 billion blank check to fund a 'Board of Peace' that has offered no transparency about how it is investing its money, let's focus on helping American families afford their monthly power bill."

LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. In FY2024, LIHEAP helped more than 17,000 Nevada households and nearly 6 million American households. Recent projections show that Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will cause working families to face a 9-18% power bill increase on average by 2035.

Established earlier this year, the Trump-controlled Board of Peace is a project that aims to oversee American involvement overseas. To fund it, the State Department made $1 billion available from previously appropriated funding without consulting Congress. So far, the Trump Administration has presented no credible plan for how the money will be spent, has not been reported to have actually transferred funds directly to Gaza despite its pledge, and has effectively created a 'slush fund' for President Trump that experts agree will do little to support humanitarian or peace efforts globally.

Read the bill here.

Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to lower Nevadans' energy costs. Earlier this year, Cortez Masto introduced the Lowering Home Energy Costs Act to help everyday Americans lower their energy costs by putting money back into their pockets if they make their homes more energy efficient. The Senator also introduced a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to overturn an IRS rule that makes it harder for wind and solar energy companies to claim vital tax credits and raises energy costs.

###