New England Governors Request $3 Billion for Heating Aid
Six New England governors are urging Congress to provide $3 billion in emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to combat surging heating oil prices.
Governors from all six New England states have issued a bipartisan appeal to the U.S. Congress requesting $3 billion in additional funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The request, sent to House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole and Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, would increase total program funding to approximately $7 billion to protect low-income households and seniors from rising energy costs.
Janet Mills, the Governor of Maine, led the effort, noting that heating oil prices in Maine have risen approximately 57% since the start of the war with Iran in late February, with average costs now exceeding $6 per gallon. This price surge has contributed to a 7% increase in funding applications through the Maine State Housing Authority. While crude oil prices recently dropped over 7% amid potential peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, officials warn that current funding remains insufficient to cover projected winter costs, which could leave Northeast households with $1.1 billion in additional expenses.
Representative Chellie Pingree and a bipartisan group of House members are now pressing the House Appropriations Committee to include the funds in a spending bill or emergency legislation. Governor Mills and Representative Pingree attributed the price spikes to President Donald Trump's military actions in Iran, with Pingree further criticizing the administration's proposals to eliminate LIHEAP in two consecutive budgets.
