Funding For The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Expired Last Year, Ending Critical Assistance For Millions Of Americans
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined Senate colleagues in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to restore funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) for Fiscal Year 2024. This program was created in 2021 to help pay for water and wastewater bills. After helping more than 1.1 million households across the country maintain or restore water service, funding for the program expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2023, ending a critical lifeline for families in need.
“Water and sewer bills are rising more than twice as quickly as inflation and increasing faster than energy bills, medical expenses, and household incomes,” wrote the Senators. “…The need for low-income household water assistance is just as important to public health and economic development as other basic needs such as home energy and nutrition, which have benefitted from Federal support for decades.”
“As Congress works towards authorizing a permanent water assistance program to safeguard water affordability, we urge the Committee to provide continued funding for LIHWAP so that we may continue to provide critical water assistance to our most vulnerable children and families and ensure that those who need the help in paying their water bills are able to do so,” they concluded.
Full text of the letter is available HERE.
Senator Rosen has been a leader in fighting to lower costs for hardworking Nevadans. Last month, she called on the FTC to review and consider blocking the merger of Kroger and Albertsons grocery stores over concerns that it could increase already-high food prices for families. Senator Rosen also recently announced that she successfully pushed the FTC to open an investigation of Exxon Mobil’s proposed acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources that could greatly reduce competition and drive up gas prices at the pump for Nevadans. Senator Rosen also recently announced funding to help families lower their energy costs and fund energy-efficient home repairs through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
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