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Calling on the Trump Administration to reverse the mass termination of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff that manages the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which distributes $4.1 billion annually to state governments to assist low-income households in paying their utility bills, threatening the health and safety of vulnerable populations in extreme temperatures.
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WHEREAS, On April 1st, the Trump Administration fired the entire managing staff of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). LIHEAP provides cash and crisis grants to families with limited incomes to help pay their heating bills in the winter and cooling bills in the summer; and
WHEREAS, LIHEAP was created by Congress in 1980 as part of the Crude Oil Windfall Profits Tax Act in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s. Congress decided HHS would distribute annual block grants to states, who would then distribute energy assistance to those who qualify; and
WHEREAS, For fiscal year 2025, most of the congressionally-allocated $4.1 billion has been distributed, but $378 million remains unreleased and therefore in jeopardy. The terminated staff who ran the program oversaw allocating the remaining funding to state governments - without them, local operations are in jeopardy; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, LIHEAP assistance is vital for over 300,000 families, especially high vulnerability populations like older adults and low-income families. LIHEAP allows these vulnerable populations to stay safely in their homes during the increasingly extreme weather in winter and summer. Climate change is intensifying the seasons in the Philadelphia region, resulting in the 2024-2025 winter bringing one of the coldest Januarys on record. LIHEAP keeps families in homes and inside temperatures at livable levels, diminishing deaths from cold weather; and
WHEREAS, Residents can receive financial assistance ranging from $200 to $1,000, alleviating financial stress about fundamental needs. Due to local rising inflation rates and prominent food deserts, many Philadelphians found themselves forced to choose between providing food and medications for their households or keeping their homes warm. LIHEAP helps more than 35,000 Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) customers and over 38,000 PECO customers annually, paying credits to Philadelphia energy providers directly; and
WHEREAS, Without continued federal funding and financial support from HHS for LIHEAP, it will be difficult for state DHS departments to provide uninterrupted assistance during the upcoming summer season and next winter season; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby call on the Trump Administration to reverse the mass termination of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff that manages the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which distributes $4.1 billion annually to state governments to assist low-income households in paying their utility bills, threatening the health and safety of vulnerable populations in extreme temperatures.
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