U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, along with Senators Jack Reed and Lisa Murkowski, led a bipartisan group of 37 senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Mar. 13 to quickly release about $400 million in remaining Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for Fiscal Year 2026.
The senators said that timely distribution of these funds is critical as many low-income families and seniors face rising energy costs and may struggle to pay their utility bills. LIHEAP is a federal program designed to help low-income households cover utility expenses, address energy emergencies, and improve home energy efficiency through weatherization. Nearly six million households received assistance from the program over the past year.
“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,” the Senators wrote. “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.”
The letter also stated: “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. Any delay in the release of appropriated funds would set back states’ efforts to cover outstanding bills relating to unexpected delivered fuel 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.”
Despite an administration proposal that would have eliminated LIHEAP, Collins, Reed, and Murkowski led efforts resulting in $4.045 billion allocated for FY26—a $20 million increase over last year—with more than $38 million already distributed this winter in Maine alone. Eligibility for LIHEAP depends on income level, family size, and available resources; applications are open now through spring 2026 or until funding runs out.
The letter was signed by a broad coalition of senators from both parties who emphasized the urgency of supporting vulnerable Americans facing high energy costs.
