CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN JOINS BIPARTISAN PUSH DEMANDING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DISTRIBUTE AND EXPAND ACCESS TO VITAL LIHEAP FUNDS AS TEMPERATURES DROP

Congressman Pat Ryan Joins Bipartisan Push Demanding Trump Administration Distribute and Expand Access to Vital LIHEAP Funds As Temperatures Drop

As temperatures begin to drop and fuel prices remain high due to the Iran War, Congressman Ryan is demanding that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) distribute critical home energy funds without delay

Ryan co-sponsors the “Heating and Cooling Relief Act,” which would expand eligibility for LIHEAP and lower home energy costs for millions more households nationwide

Heating oil prices in New York state are up more than 70% from this time last year, with prices in the Hudson Valley averaging $6.22/ gallon

WASHINGTON, DC  – As home heating oil prices continue to rise, Congressman Pat Ryan joined a bipartisan group of 116 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. Heating oil prices in New York state are up more than 70% from this time last year, with prices in the Hudson Valley averaging $6.22/ gallon.

Ryan is also a co-sponsor of the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, legislation to modernize LIHEAP, increase investments, and dramatically expand eligibility so that households earning up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 80 percent of State Median Income can qualify to apply for assistance.

“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 in NY-18, but Secretary Kennedy’s decision last year to fire all LIHEAP staff last year has put this assistance at risk. Ryan has previously blasted the Trump Administration for threatening to eliminate federal funding for LIHEAP. 

“Throughout the summer, families have struggled to fill up their gas tank because Trump’s war in Iran has sent gas prices skyrocketing. But it’s not just gas – it’s home heating oil too. As we head into fall and temperatures drop, Hudson Valley families are about to face higher heating bills on top of everything else. Thousands of families in our community rely on the LIHEAP program to keep their homes warm. The last thing these folks should be worrying about is whether they’ll get the support they’re counting on,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “We’ve seen this Administration’s attempts to cut LIHEAP before, and I refuse to allow any delays to leave Hudson Valley families out in the cold this winter. We’re making sure these funds get distributed to the New Yorkers who need them.”

Underscoring the continued concerns about LIHEAP’s capacity to operate without dedicated staff, the lawmakers 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.

Read the full letter to Secretary Kennedy here.

Ryan also co-sponsors the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, which would lower home energy costs for millions more households nationwide. 

Specifically, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act would:

• Substantially increase LIHEAP funding to ensure year-round assistance, including an additional $2 billion for emergency energy assistance and $1 billion in Just Transition Grants to help vulnerable households adapt to a changing climate;
• Broaden eligibility so that households earning up to 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line or 80 percent of State Median Income can qualify, while ensuring lower energy burdens for lower-income households and capping household energy burdens at 3 percent of monthly income;
• Protect consumers from utility shutoffs, excessive late fees, and predatory energy practices that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities;
• Expand emergency assistance, ensuring extreme heat and cold are recognized as qualifying emergencies and that states can provide vital cooling relief;
• Increase funding for weatherization and home electrification, to help low-income households reduce energy costs, improve health and safety, and transition to clean, resilient energy systems;
• Streamline enrollment and outreach, improving coordination with other federal programs and increasing access through automatic enrollment and simplified verification; and
• Strengthen reporting requirements to better track affordability, equity, and climate resilience outcomes.

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