Federal heating assistance arrives after month-long delay as families face rising energy bills

Organ Mountain News report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - New Mexico’s congressional delegation says the federal government has released overdue funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program after lawmakers pressed for immediate action during a month-long delay.

U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez, Teresa Leger Fernández and Melanie Stansbury, along with U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich, said the funds will help New Mexico families cover heating bills as temperatures drop and energy costs rise.

Vasquez led the delegation’s call last week, noting that utility costs in New Mexico have climbed an average of 8.1 percent this year. On Dec. 2, the New Mexico Human Services Department received its award letter and notified the delegation that the LIHEAP funding is now on the way.

“Too many New Mexicans are already feeling the squeeze of rising utility costs, and they should never have to choose between staying warm and putting food on the table,” Vasquez said. “We demanded action, and I’m proud that this critical funding is now on the way to cover rising costs so that seniors, veterans, working parents and families in rural and Tribal communities stay safe and warm this winter.”

“New Mexico families deserve the support to weather the winter with dignity,” Leger Fernández said. “It shouldn’t have been this hard to unlock the funding that Congress had already appropriated to keep our kids, our elders and families warm in our snowy winter months. While the Trump administration keeps pushing prices up, we will continue fighting to lower energy costs for everyone.”

Stansbury said families should not face the “impossible reality” of choosing between heat and other basic needs.

“This should never be a reality in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, but unfortunately is all too common for so many families,” Stansbury said. “I am grateful the Administration has finally released critical LIHEAP funds after the NM delegation demanded they do so. But it never should have come to this — which is why we will continue fighting for our communities.”

Luján said the funding is essential as prices climb.

“As temperatures drop and energy costs continue to rise, New Mexicans need reliable support to keep their homes warm and their families safe,” he said. “With prices up across the board, no one should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table. I’m glad that after we demanded the Trump administration immediately release funding for this critical program that keeps New Mexican families safe, the funds are now on their way.”

Heinrich said families have been hit hard by higher utility costs.

“New Mexico families are being subjected to increasing utility costs due to Trump’s energy affordability crisis,” Heinrich said. “Working families deserve affordable heat and reliable power — especially as temperatures drop far below freezing at night. That’s why I fought alongside the New Mexico Delegation to release the funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program that help New Mexico families access affordable heat and power.”

HSD will administer the LIHEAP funds to help eligible households cover heating costs, prevent utility shutoffs and avoid unsafe winter conditions.

Vasquez’s office said lowering utility costs remains a core component of his Affordability Agenda, which focuses on financial relief for working New Mexicans. He has also criticized recent administration decisions he says will further raise energy costs, including cuts to next-generation energy projects in the state and changes to federal tax incentives.