Courtney’s Effort to Re-Fuel LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program will be Signed Into Law as Part of Stop-Gap Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass H.R. 6833, the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act (CR). The bill provides stop-gap funding that will avoid a government shutdown, and will keep federal programs operating through December 16, 2022 as Congress works to finalize the FY 2023 budget. In addition, the CR includes funding for several other key priorities, like relief funding for Florida, Puerto Rico, and other communities hit by disaster; resources to respond to the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi; and new support to power the fight for freedom in Ukraine.

The final CR also includes funding for an effort that was led by Rep. Courtney: $1 billion to resupply the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as colder months are on the horizon. Federal LIHEAP funding is fueling the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides homeowners with direct assistance to help lower the cost of heating and home energy use. LIHEAP eligibility has been expanded recently so that programs like CEAP can assist even more people, and this stop-gap funding will help ensure that support is there when people need it. The House passed the CR in a vote of 230-201, and now the bill will be signed into law.

“As colder months are on the horizon and with energy costs still too high for some families, passage of this stop-gap budget resolution was particularly important,” said Rep. Courtney. “It was clear from talking with people in eastern Connecticut that Congress needed to refuel the LIHEAP program, which is providing direct support right now to help lower home heating and energy costs. With the fiscal year ending tonight and a final 2023 budget still being finalized, we needed to make sure that support to lower home energy costs will still be there when people need it this winter. After leading this effort in the House, and after pulling together bipartisan support from across the country, it’s great to see our work make it across the finish line. This is going to provide real support to lots of families in eastern Connecticut.”

Highlights of H.R. 6833

In addition to stop-gap funding to continue the operation of vital federal agencies—including education, health, housing, and public safety programs—the CR includes new funding to help Americans lower home heating and energy costs, to help communities recover from recent natural disasters, to support America’s partners in Ukraine, to support our veterans, and more. Highlights include:

• A Courtney-Led Effort: New Resources to Lower Home Energy Costs—At Rep. Courtney and his colleagues’ insistence, the CR now includes $1 billion in additional funding for LIHEAP. This is a higher amount than the $500 proposed by the White House, in keeping with Rep. Courtney’s request.
• Relief for Communities Impacted by Natural Disaster—The CR includes language that allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to obligate up to the full-year amount available under the CR for the Disaster Relief Fund if needed to respond to declared disasters, such as Hurricane Ian in Florida, Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico, and a severe storm, flooding, and landslides in Alaska.
• Relief for the Water Crisis in Jackson, Mississippi—The bill includes $20 million for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements previously authorized for Jackson, Mississippi.
• Increased Support for America’s Veterans—The CR includes several forms of support for America’s veterans. For FY23 and FY24, the bill authorizes $420 million to assist nonprofits that provide housing services to veterans, and $52 million for a program to help provide homeless veterans and veterans in supportive housing services with skills training, counseling, and job placement. It also extends a pilot program to reimburse veterans for transportation costs associated with in-person mental health visits and appointments at Vet Centers, as well as support for other programs that assist veterans who are homeless, or suffering from serious mental illness.
• Resources to Support the Fight for Freedom in Ukraine—The legislation includes $12.3 billion in assistance related to Ukraine, including training, equipment, weapons, logistics support, and direct financial support for the government of Ukraine. It also includes important safeguards for this funding, including $2 million for the Department of Defense Inspector General to monitor these funds and report to Congress.
• Resources to Continue Resettling Afghan Evacuees—The CR authorizes the Department of Defense to utilize up to $3 billion for the State Department to support continued efforts to resettle Afghan evacuees and partners in safe areas, including the United States.

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