Pallone: New Jersey Will Receive Over $35 Million To Help Families Afford Home Energy Bills
New Jersey has Received Over $490 Million to Date from Assistance Pallone Included in Major Funding Bills
Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded an additional $35,196,880 New Jersey will receive for home energy assistance. The state has received a total of $490,856,347 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps families struggling with the costs of home energy bills. As then-Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Pallone successfully fought for additional LIHEAP funding in the American Rescue Plan as well as a government spending bill and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
"This funding will help families across New Jersey keep up with their energy bills. I fought hard for this funding because I know working families need relief to make ends meet, and few things are as essential as being able to keep your home heated," Pallone said. "I'm glad to see the Biden Administration delivering federal dollars to New Jersey as we continue working together to lower costs for families here and across the country."
LIHEAP helps eligible households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shutoffs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs, and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.
Last week, Pallone wrote to five electric and gas utility associations expressing deep concern over Americans' struggle to afford increasing home energy costs amid fossil fuel price volatility this winter. Pallone and his Democratic committee colleagues requested answers from electric and gas utility associations on how the industry is managing rising prices and LIHEAP.
Last November, Pallone announced that New Jersey received over $153 Million to help families with energy costs. This is in addition to the $302 million New Jersey already received for the program, which included funding from the American Rescue Plan that more than doubled LIHEAP funding nationally. In 2021, the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats delivered a total of $8 billion in LIHEAP funding, including the $4.5 billion Pallone championed in the American Rescue Plan – more than doubling the typical annual appropriations. These resources are allowing states across the country to provide more home energy relief than ever before.