WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that $64,818,928 in federal energy assistance funds will be available to Maryland families struggling to pay their heating bills this winter through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In fiscal year 2014, Maryland LIHEAP provided 117,748 households with LIHEAP financial assistance.

“LIHEAP is an indispensable lifeline for the most vulnerable among us. Seniors facing economic hardships and low-income families never should have to make grim choices over which basic necessities they can afford, and LIHEAP helps ensure that they never reach this point,” said Senator Cardin. “I want struggling Marylanders to know that they have strong federal partners to provide the assistance they need, and I appreciate the responsiveness of the Department of Health and Human Services to our requests that this funding be made available.”

“No family should be forced to choose between paying the heating bill and putting food on the table,” Senator Mikulski said. “Too many people are being stretched and stressed by high energy costs. This critical energy assistance for low income families will help those most in need care for themselves and their families as winter approaches.”

In October, Senators Cardin and Mikulski along with 37 bipartisan Senate colleagues sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell requesting the funding be made available. That letter is available here.

Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.