Pappas Meets with NH CAP Leaders on Rising Energy Costs and LIHEAP

Yesterday Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) hosted a roundtable with leaders of New Hampshire Community Action Partnership agencies for a discussion on the impact of rising energy costs on Granite Staters and the importance of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).   

New Hampshire households could pay $2,300 for home heating oil this winter because of President Trump’s war with Iran, a 31% increase. The cost of groceries rose 2.9 percent overall this year, and families paid $310 more for food during President Trump's first year in office compared to 2024. In total, American families have spent over $3,800 more on goods and services since President Trump took office. 

“Electricity prices are up, natural gas and home heating oil prices are up, and diesel fuel is hitting record highs. Granite Staters don’t need federal data to tell them this: they are feeling it with every electric and gas bill. As we enter the colder months, tackling the rising cost of energy could not be more urgent,” said Congressman Pappas. “My new legislation would lower energy costs by increasing federal support for heating assistance, expanding eligibility to more families, and lowering gas and diesel costs. I will continue fighting to lower costs for families and put more money back in their pockets.”

Pappas recently introduced three new bills to lower energy costs.

The LIHEAP Act would expand the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), one of the most successful programs aimed at reducing energy costs for working families. 

The American Homes First Act would increase funding for LIHEAP by redirecting $1 billion from President Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ slush fund.

The Consumer Fuel Prices Relief Act would provide federal fuel tax relief until the end of September 2027 by pausing the gas tax, the diesel tax, and the aviation fuel tax, while ensuring the benefit is immediately passed on to consumers in full. The legislation builds on his bicameral Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026, introduced in March, which would have suspended the federal gas tax through October 1, 2026. The legislation safeguards and maintains funding for roads, bridges, and gas spill remediation, and holds corporations accountable if they fail to pass along savings to individual consumers.

Background: 

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 and President Trump’s repeated efforts to fully defund the program have put this assistance at risk. 

In September 2026, Pappas led 116 of his Congressional colleagues across the aisle in urging for LIHEAP funds to be delivered to states as soon as possible, and no later than November 1st. He previously 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, and has repeatedly led bipartisan calls for the Trump administration to distribute LIHEAP funds in a timely manner.

Pappas is a fierce advocate for efforts that lower energy costs for Granite Staters and programs that help low-income families pay their bills. He has previously introduced, cosponsored, or called for the passage of the following legislation: 

• Pappas leads the bipartisan Energy Burden Tax Credit Act, which would provide a refundable tax credit to families struggling with high energy costs, saving households hundreds of dollars a year on energy.
• Pappas leads the bipartisanInvesting in State Energy Act, which would ensure funds from the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program are distributed without delay to state agencies and local partners that implement these cost-saving energy initiatives.
• Pappas leads the bipartisan Transmission Facilitation Program Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize funding for DOE’s program providing states and municipalities with federal support for projects developing new transmission lines or upgrading existing transmission lines, helping accelerate project timelines and increase grid capacity.
• Pappas leads the Heroes Home Energy Savings Act, which would reauthorize and increase funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement and Innovation Grant to spur innovation in weatherization and provide active-duty and reserve military families with grants to help lower their energy costs. 
• Pappas leads the bipartisan Bolstering Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Act, which would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a long-range strategic review of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR) and report to Congress on opportunities to strengthen it.
• He supports the bipartisan Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act, which would prohibit the sale or export of our nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to foreign adversaries including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, closing a dangerous loophole that threatens U.S. energy and national security
• He supports the Energy Independence and Affordability Act, which would reinstate clean energy tax credits established by the Inflation Reduction Actand repealed by Republicans last year. These credits would help individuals, families, small businesses, and manufacturers save money on clean energy, including purchasing clean vehicles or making upgrades such as installing rooftop solar. 
• He supports the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025, which would reauthorize and improve the Weatherization Assistance Program and guarantee the program can continue to provide weatherization services to tens of thousands of homes every year, saving households hundreds on their energy costs.
• He supports the bipartisan LIHEAP Staffing Support Act, which would set a minimum staffing level within HHS to administer LIHEAP.