Funding News

Washington, DC- Ruben Gallego along with 115 house members is requesting increased funding that is $1.6 Billion for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The LIHEAP Program helps families who are not able to afford heat in their homes during winter or cool their homes in summer. More than six million households across the country relied on assistance from the LIHEAP Program last year. LIHEAP prevents families from making the impossible choice between staying warm and having enough food.

In Fiscal Year 2023, the LIHEAP program disbursed over $4.5 billion in home energy assistance to American families, including funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and government funding package. Despite substantial federal investment, LIHEAP remains underfunded, with only 20 percent of eligible households receiving assistance through the program.

A total of $30,937,243 in LIHEAP funding was awarded to Arizona. Besides this, nine Arizona tribes were also awarded $2,458,891 in LIHEAP funds. Gallego joined his colleagues while requesting emergency LIHEAP funds during the heatwave this summer in Arizona.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a tool in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese for households to determine their eligibility.