Kuster Secures Additional $1 Billion in Home Heating Assistance, Helps Avert Government Shutdown

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) helped to pass a government funding package that includes an additional $1 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that she pushed for. LIHEAP is a lifeline for Granite State families that struggle to afford their home heating costs and helps to reduce the burden of high energy costs on New Hampshire households. This bill also averts a government shutdown.

"The bipartisan government funding bill we passed today includes crucial additional funding to help Granite Staters with their heating bills this winter," said Kuster. "The fact is far too many people in New Hampshire are struggling with high prices which is why I pushed for more resources so that families can keep their homes safe and warm this winter despite high home heating costs. This bill ensures the government remains open, extends funding for job training programs, nutrition assistance, and affordable housing, and supports our veterans. The legislation we passed today averts a government shutdown in the short-term, but more work remains to fully fund our government for the next year -- I will continue advocating for increased funding for New Hampshire communities."

The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, reflects bipartisan, bicameral negotiations. It keeps the government open and affords Congress time to complete its work on fiscal year 2023. This bill extends funding for vital federal agencies, including education, health, housing, and public safety programs, through December 16, 2022. This continued funding grows opportunities through early childhood education, invests in our schools and high-quality job training programs, provides critical nutrition assistance and affordable housing opportunities, secures our nation, and supports our veterans.

This bill also includes resources that will help families with rising costs and help communities and small businesses get back on their feet and rebuild from natural disasters while repairing damage to critical infrastructure, including:

$1 billion for LIHEAP Rep. Kuster helped to secure to help address pressure on low-income households' pocketbooks due to inflation.
Language that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obligate up to the full year amount available for the Disaster Relief Fund if needed to respond to declared disasters.
$2 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program to aid the long-term housing, infrastructure, and economic recovery needs of communities impacted by disasters in 2021 and 2022.

Additionally, with Russia continuing its assault and holding fake elections to annex parts of Ukraine, the Ukrainian people urgently need our support to protect their families and defend global democracy. This government funding bill includes $12.35 billion in assistance related to Ukraine, including training, equipment, weapons, logistics support, and direct financial support for the government of Ukraine.

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