HARTFORD –Today, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), U.S. Congressman John Larson (D-Conn.), U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) U.S. Congressman Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and U.S. Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released $77,288,422 of block grant funding for Connecticut’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP helps low income households pay their energy bills and is particularly crucial as we move in to the winter.  The announcement comes less than two weeks after Blumenthal, Murphy, and a bipartisan group of 44 other senators urged the HHS to release LIHEAP funds as quickly and at as high a level as possible under the current continuing resolution. DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services, which administers LIHEAP.

“LIHEAP is an indispensable 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 or medicine. Connecticut families deserve the comfort of knowing their homes will remain heated throughout the winter season, and we applaud HHS for making this possible,” said the delegation.