Pappas Leads Bipartisan House Effort Pushing HHS to Distribute LIHEAP Funds
Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led a group of 116 bipartisan members in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are distributed to the states as soon as possible and no later than November 1, 2026.
“With a history of repeated funding delays by HHS to states, we are especially concerned for households facing high energy prices this winter who rely on LIHEAP... It is of the utmost importance that the agency ensures funds are released as soon as possible and without congressional intervention throughout Fiscal Year 2027,” wrote the lawmakers.
“Since February, crude oil prices have significantly increased, topping significantly more than $100 per barrel at its peaks in April 2026 and recently on September 15, 2026. These price spikes impact home heating oil prices especially, as it is refined from crude oil,” they stated. Emphasizing the importance of the speedy delivery of funds for families who rely on home heating oil, they continued, “Home heating oil will not be delivered without payment in full, up front, which can average $2,300 for just the winter season. For the many families that cannot afford these high costs, LIHEAP is a lifeline. If households don’t receive these funds on schedule, families will go without heat or be forced to make remarkably difficult decisions in order to afford it.”
LIHEAP helps low-income individuals and families pay for heating and cooling and mitigates the impacts of rising energy costs and extreme weather events. Across the nation, LIHEAP helps nearly 6 million households afford their energy bills, including nearly 30,000 households in New Hampshire, but Secretary Kennedy’s decision last year to fire all LIHEAP staff last year has put this assistance at risk. In response, Pappas led 89 of his Congressional colleagues in calling for the protection of LIHEAP and the rehiring of all HHS staff who manage the LIHEAP program that were fired in April 2025. Pappas also led a bipartisan letter in November 2025 calling for immediate distribution of funds following delays in LIHEAP allocations to states. In April of this year, Pappas again led his colleagues in a bipartisan letter following additional LIHEAP delays from HHS.
Underscoring the continued concerns about LIHEAP’s capacity to operate without dedicated staff, they wrote, “We urge you to ensure that necessary personnel and resources are in place to support LIHEAP's continued success and request a detailed response on staffing levels supporting the LIHEAP program, including but not limited to how many staff members work on the program full time and part time, as well as projected vacancies that must be filled to ensure continued success.”
“Once again we urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families expeditiously. Families should not have to choose between staying warm and affording other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people,” they concluded.