HARTFORD – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), and a bipartisan group of 42 other senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to quickly release Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds – which help low-income households and seniors with their energy bills - at as high of a level as currently possible. LIHEAP funds the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP).

The senators have successfully resisted deep cuts to LIHEAP proposed by the President in his annual budget proposals to Congress. The President’s 2014 budget proposal would cut nearly half a billion dollars from the program’s pre-sequester funding levels.

“As state agencies prepare programs for the winter, we respectfully request that the Department of Health and Human Services release LIHEAP funds as quickly and at as high of a level as possible under the current continuing resolution. 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. As the Department of Social Services begins to provide assistance for this winter, it is critical that they have the resources to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible.”

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Burwell:

As state agencies prepare their Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) programs for the winter, we respectfully request that the Department of Health and Human Services release LIHEAP funds as quickly and at as high of a level as possible under the current continuing resolution.

LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months. This funding has been 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. On average, low-income families and seniors spend a higher proportion of their income on energy, and for many states, October marks the start of the heating season, creating an additional constraint on these household budgets.

As the relevant state agencies begin to provide assistance for this winter, it is critical that they have the resources to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible. Therefore, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds and at as high of a level as possible in order to allow states and low-income households to prepare for the upcoming season.

We look forward to continuing to work with you on this critical program, and thank you for your attention to our concerns and those of our constituents.

Sincerely,

Reed (D-RI)

Collins (R-ME)

Ayotte (R-NH)

Baldwin (D-WI)

Blumenthal (D-CT)

Booker (D-NJ)

Boxer (D-CA)

Brown (D-OH)

Begich (D-AK)

Cantwell (D-WA)

Cardin (D-MD)

Casey (D-PA)

Coons (D-DE)

Durbin (D-IL)

Franken (D-MN)

Gillibrand (D-NY)

Harkin (D-IA)

Heitkamp (D-ND)

Hirono (D-HI)

Johnson, Tim (D-SD)

Kaine (D-VA)

King (I-ME)

Klobuchar (D-MN)

Landrieu (D-LA)

Leahy (D-VT)

Levin (D-MI)

Manchin (D-WV)

Markey (D-MA)

Merkley (D-OR)

Menendez (D-NJ)

Mikulski (D-MD)

Murkowski (R-AK)

Murphy (D-CT)

Murray (D-WA)

Pryor (D-AR)

Rockefeller (D-WV)

Sanders (I-VT)

Schatz (D-HI)

Schumer (D-NY)

Shaheen (D-NH)

Stabenow (D-MI)

Tester (D-MT)

Walsh (D-MT)

Warren (D-MA)

Whitehouse (D-RI)

Wyden (D-OR)