HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont signed into law legislation that provides $17 million to cover a gap in federal assistance to the state this winter from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The legislation was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 0 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 147 to 0. The bill took effect immediately upon being signed by the governor Wednesday afternoon.
Federal LIHEAP money is used by the state to fund the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program. The program helps low-income residents afford to heat their homes during the winter.
The legislation designates $13.5 million in supplemental aid for CEAP this winter season, and $3.5 million for Operation Fuel, a nonprofit that provides energy assistance support to Connecticut residents.
“The federal LIHEAP program is an important safeguard to assist our most vulnerable residents, seniors, and families with children,” said Lamont in a statement "Working with the state legislature, we have identified one-time funds that can be used to supplement the decline in assistance that our state received this winter. The Connecticut Department of Social Services and Operation Fuel will work to ensure this funding gets to those in need. I continue to urge bipartisan leaders in Congress to follow the example of what Connecticut’s Congressional delegation have repeatedly demanded – more federal funding for LIHEAP next winter.”
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