Letter to President Donald J. Trump - Colleagues Urge Trump to Boost Funding for Heating Assistance & Weatherization Programs

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of two successful federal programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), that are currently helping to meet the energy needs of eligible low-income households across the country. Access to affordable home energy is a matter of health and safety for many low-income households, children, veterans, and seniors. LIHEAP and WAP have enjoyed bipartisan support, and we hope that you will prioritize funding for both programs in your fiscal year 2018 budget proposal.

LIHEAP helps low-income households, veterans, and seniors with their energy bills, providing an indispensable lifeline during both the cold winters and hot summer months. More than 90 percent of LIHEAP recipients have at least one household member who is a child, elderly, or disabled, and the percentage of households with at least one veteran has grown to 20 percent. The program helps to ensure that eligible recipients do not have to choose between paying their energy bills and affording other necessities like food and medicine. This is especially important during the peak winter heating and summer cooling seasons, when energy bills can comprise roughly 30 percent of a low-income household's monthly income. Sadly, though, the number of households eligible for LIHEAP assistance continues to exceed the program's capacity.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is another key initiative, which for 40 years has helped to reduce more permanently the burden of high home energy prices for over 7.4 million low-income households. By supporting lasting and cost-effective home energy efficiency improvements for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, WAP is increasing the energy efficiency of dwellings, reducing residential energy bills, improving the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens, and helping to lower the need for short-term assistance. WAP has been repeatedly demonstrated as cost-effective and has supported thousands of high quality, skilled jobs. A study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that weatherization saves eligible single-family homes on average $283 in annual energy cost savings, which benefits not only the household but the local economy.

Thank you for your attention to and consideration of this important request. We recognize the ongoing challenges facing the discretionary budget and look forward to working with you to support these vital programs and ensure access to affordable home energy for the most vulnerable households in every state.