On April 21, a group of 38 senators sent a bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chair Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) and Ranking Member Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in support of the highest level of funding possible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is the only Republican signatory.
This letter is in addition to the attached bipartisan Dear Colleague letter sent by members of the House of Representatives on March 13 to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). This bipartisan letter was signed by 163 members of the House of Representatives.
The administration has once again proposed eliminating funding for LIHEAP entirely in its FY 2027 budget request.
APPA noted the president also proposed eliminating LIHEAP in the budget request for FY 2026, but Congress ultimately slightly increased funding for it in FY26. Furthermore, House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) has said he opposes eliminating LIHEAP.
