Governor Mills and New England Governors Call on Congress to Increase Funding for Home Heating Assistance as Prices Surge

The joint letter follows Governor Mills' previous calls on Congress to provide additional home heating funding.

Augusta, MAINE - Today, Governor Mills joined the governors of the New England states to call on Congress to provide an additional $3 billion in federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as temperatures drop and energy costs surge under President Trump's war in Iran.

"No one should be cold in their homes because Trump decided to wage an unnecessary, unwanted war with Iran," said Governor Mills. "That's why I'm joining my fellow New England governors to call on Congress to release billions in federal funding for LIHEAP to provide immediate relief for vulnerable families as winter approaches."

Maine is the most heating oil-dependent state in the nation, with approximately half of all homes relying on oil as their primary heating source. Last month, heating oil in Maine reached a record $6.04 per gallon, equating to approximately $750 more to fill a standard 275-gallon tank than one year ago. In the letter to congressional appropriations leadership, the New England governors stress the need to take action as soon as possible as winter approaches and many households are expected to struggle to afford to heat their homes.

Last month, Governor Mills called on Maine's congressional delegation to provide increased funds for LIHEAP to meet the increased need caused by sharply higher home heating costs. Shortly after, the U.S. Department of Energy authorized the release of up to 315,000 barrels of fuel oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help address increasing costs.

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear Chairman Cole, Ranking Member DeLauro, Chair Collins, and Vice Chair Murray:

As winter approaches, we write to thank Congress for its longstanding bipartisan support of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and to urge you to provide an additional $3 billion in funding, bringing total program funding to $7 billion, to help vulnerable households manage sharply rising energy costs.

Whether through an increase in the annual appropriation or a one-time emergency supplemental funding, these additional resources are urgently needed.

Across the country, low-income households are struggling with the cumulative impact of rising costs for groceries, housing, insurance, transportation, and other necessities. For families already living on tight budgets, higher energy bills add to an increasingly difficult financial burden. Seniors on fixed incomes, families with young children, and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable, often facing the difficult choice between maintaining safe temperatures in their homes and meeting other basic needs.

LIHEAP provides essential assistance to these households in every region of the country, helping families manage both winter heating and summer cooling costs. While energy needs vary by geography and season, the challenge is the same: ensuring that vulnerable Americans can afford the energy necessary to remain safe in their homes.

These pressures are particularly acute in New England, where cold winters, older housing, and a heavy reliance on delivered heating fuel leave families especially exposed to the dramatic price increases America is currently experiencing. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), heating oil prices are projected to increase by approximately 50 percent this winter. NEADA estimates that low-income households across the Northeast could face nearly $1.1 billion in additional heating oil costs alone.

At current funding levels, rising energy prices will erode the purchasing power of LIHEAP assistance, forcing states to reduce benefits or serve fewer eligible households when the need is greatest. While our states are working to mitigate the immediate impact of rising energy costs on vulnerable households and continue to invest heavily in energy efficiency, weatherization, and other long-term solutions, these efforts cannot fully offset the immediate financial pressures facing families this winter.

We recognize the difficult budget decisions confronting Congress and deeply appreciate its longstanding bipartisan commitment to LIHEAP. Given the extraordinary pressures facing America's poorest households, we urge Congress to provide an additional $3 billion as soon as possible, through increased annual funding or an emergency supplemental appropriation. Timely action will help states sustain assistance and protect vulnerable households from the consequences of unaffordable home energy costs that are far beyond their control. Thank you for your consideration and continued commitment to helping American families meet their essential energy needs.