Congressman McGovern Approves of $133 Million in Energy Assistance

Thursday, October 29, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Congressman Jim McGovern

Congressman Jim McGovern approved of the announcement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide over $3 billion in funding for energy assistance, including $133.3 million for Massachusetts.

“Every year, close to 200,000 Massachusetts families count on LIHEAP funding to help pay for their home heating costs, including many seniors who are already on a fixed income. Thanks to the swift release of this funding, this critical lifeline will be available to our families in need in communities across Massachusetts. I am grateful to HHS Secretary Burwell for heeding our call and to my fellow lawmakers for joining me in our bipartisan push to ensure our most vulnerable families and seniors can count on this aid as we face another cold winter," Congressman McGovern said.

This funding comes days after McGovern joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers that called for swift release of LIHEAP funding to give families in need access to critical assistance to heat their homes during winter months.

The HHS Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a federal program which helps low income individuals including, seniors, veterans and disabled pay energy bills.

The program is available during both the winter and summer months.

In 2014, 183,009 households in Massachusetts received LIHEAP funding.