Advocating for increased LIHEAP funding to help families afford the high cost of heating fuels
– With the high cost of winter heating fuels projected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) has advocated in various press outlets for increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
See the articles and interviews below from NEADA’s Executive Director, Mark Wolfe, to learn more about the importance of increased LIHEAP funding as vulnerable households face the coming winter with skyrocketing prices for heating fuels:
- Mark Wolfe’s Op-Ed on CNN: “This bill could help to end energy poverty in the US” (Jan. 20, 2022)
- Mark Wolfe’s Op-Ed on CNN: “Build Back Better is our best chance to help low-income Americans deal with rising inflation” (Dec. 10, 2021)
- NPR: “Inflation is surging and people are hopping mad” (Nov. 13, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe’s Op-Ed on CNN: “Higher gas prices and heating costs will hurt low-income families the most this winter” (Nov. 10, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe Live Interview on CNN: “Americans Expected to Pay Higher Heating Costs this Winter” (Nov. 10, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe in the New York Times: “Winter Heating Bills Loom as the Next Inflation Threat” (Nov. 8, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe’s Op-Eds on the Hill: “Struggling families about to take another hit: Home heating costs projected to soar” (Oct. 25, 2021) and with Cass Lovejoy, Policy Director at NEADA: “Weatherization program helping low-income households on the reconciliation chopping block” (Oct. 28, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe interviewed by AP: “Winter heating bills set to jump as inflation hits home” (Oct. 13, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe on Good Morning America: “Gas, heat prices expected to increase 30% this winter” (Oct. 7, 2021)
- Mark Wolfe’s Op-Ed on CNN: “Sky high natural gas prices will hurt low-income Americans the most this winter” (Oct. 6, 2021)
This is in addition to the letter NEADA sent to Congressional Leadership calling on Congress to provide an additional $5 billion through budget reconciliation for LIHEAP. The $5 billion would include $2.5 billion to address the expected increase in home heating prices, $1.5 billion to address ongoing arrearages, and $1 billion to cover the cost of additional cooling measures this summer.
NEADA will continue to provide updates on LIHEAP funding, as well as winter heating fuel prices and the purchasing power of LIHEAP.