CLINTON — It could become a lot more difficult for many low-income residents in the area to pay their heating and cooling bills if the Senate approves the budget recently passed by the U.S. House.
In the budget, cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) include eliminating funding for LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), the program that, for decades, has helped millions of people pay their energy bills.
The HHS budget brief claims the savings come from “eliminating radical diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory programs, which weaponized large swaths of the federal government against the American people …” The brief, essentially, suggests dropping the responsibility for the energy assistance program onto state and local governments.
The LIHEAP program, created in 1981, helps about six million low-income people pay their heating and cooling costs each year. During a House hearing, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said elimination of the program was based on anticipated lower energy prices in the future. But, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, energy prices are expected to increase at least through 2026.
Area climates play a part in how LIHEAP funds are allocated. For places like the U.S. southwest, a higher proportion of LIHEAP funds goes to help residents with cooling costs. Colder climates tend to see more funds allocated for heating during the winter.
The LIHEAP program already has been severely crippled. Thousands of HHS employees were laid off, mirroring events with other federal agencies, including the entire LIHEAP staff.
Locally, the program is administered by Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois.
“At this time, I don’t have much insight,” Community Action Partnership CEO Jenifer Deweese told the Clinton Journal. “The President’s proposal is just a proposal and we are all in the same boat waiting to see what is approved by congress.”
Deweese said grantees were advocating for the programs they offer and were encouraging their customers, staff and communities to “call your representatives and tell them these services are important to them and their communities.”
One bright spot could be the skepticism of experts who believe the budget will not pass the Senate without major changes. Even some Republicans in the Senate have serious reservations about portions of the budget, including the elimination of LIHEAP.
Several members of congress have called on Kennedy to reinstate LIHEAP staff.
