{"id":5964,"date":"2026-05-07T15:51:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weact.org\/?post_type=update&p=5964"},"modified":"2026-05-07T15:51:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T19:51:18","slug":"as-energy-bills-and-extreme-weather-increase-with-greatest-impacts-on-environmental-justice-communities-we-act-demands-life-saving-investments-for-energy-efficiency-and-cost-relief","status":"publish","type":"update","link":"https:\/\/weact.org\/es\/updates\/as-energy-bills-and-extreme-weather-increase-with-greatest-impacts-on-environmental-justice-communities-we-act-demands-life-saving-investments-for-energy-efficiency-and-cost-relief\/","title":{"rendered":"As Energy Bills and Extreme Weather Increase with Greatest Impacts on Environmental Justice Communities, WE ACT Demands Life-Saving Investments for Energy Efficiency and Cost Relief"},"template":"","class_list":["post-5964","update","type-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","update_type-press-release","focus_tax-climate-justice","focus_tax-energy-justice","focus_tax-healthy-homes","person_tax-ashley-sullivan"],"acf":{"details":{"":null,"featured_image":5221,"update_type":[366],"focus_area":[7,6,10],"authors":[207],"abstract":""},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_hero_links","acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_hero_links":{"title":"","abstract":"","links":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span>\r\n<\/span>May 7, 2026<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Contact: Ashley Sullivan, ashley.sullivan@weact.org 1(917) 837-1183<\/span>\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON \u2013 As we continue to feel the real-time impacts of extreme weather and skyrocketing energy costs, WE ACT for Environmental Justice is <\/span>urging Congress to provide increased funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) <\/span><\/a>and <\/span>Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)<\/span><\/a>. The letters urge Congress to reject the <\/span>budget proposal by the Trump administration for fiscal year 2027<\/span><\/a> that, for the second year in a row, zeroes out WAP and LIHEAP. We are calling on policymakers to provide robust funding for these programs, recognizing the essential value and proven effectiveness of these programs for millions of communities that rely on them most. With climate-driven extreme weather intensifying, the Trump administration\u2019s attempt to dismantle these and other critical funds is particularly harmful as their policies deepen a historic energy crisis, raise the cost of living, and worsen the disproportionate burdens on low\u2011income communities and communities of color.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn response, Anastasia Gordon, Director of Federal Policy at WE ACT shared,<\/span>\r\n<\/span>\r\n
\u201cEnvironmental justice communities often live in older, inefficient housing, face the highest energy burdens and outsized exposure to pollution, and are most vulnerable to increasingly dangerous climate change impacts like extreme heat \u2013 the deadliest climate impact of our time! That is why it is more important than ever to strengthen life-saving programs like the WAP and LIHEAP. They help households cut energy bills, reduce indoor air pollution, provide life-saving heating and cooling relief, create good\u2011paying jobs, and build long\u2011term resilience where it\u2019s needed most. This is the second time Trump\u2019s budget proposal entirely eliminates LIHEAP and WAP, disregarding their broad, bi-partisan support, demonstrated success, and the urgent needs of our communities. We need Congress to ensure there is robust and sustained investment for these vital programs so that everyone has access to safe, healthy, affordable, energy\u2011efficient and climate-resilient homes.\u201d <\/span>\r\n<\/span><\/blockquote>\r\nBackground\u00a0<\/b>\r\n\r\nThe Weatherization Assistance Program is one of <\/span>oldest, largest and most effective whole-of-home federal energy efficiency programs<\/span><\/a> and has helped over <\/span>7.2 million low-income households<\/span><\/a>, providing weatherization services that make their homes more energy efficient, lower energy bills, and improve health and safety. WAP saves $372 in energy costs annually, which is crucial at a time when most communities, especially people of color and lower income households, are spending the majority of their income on energy costs. It is also a sound investment, as for <\/span>every $1.00 invested in weatherization, $1.72 is generated in energy benefits as well as $2.78 in non-energy benefits.<\/span><\/a> By protecting communities right now, this efficiency program also reduces carbon emissions driving extreme climate impacts, and grows thousands of jobs. As frontline communities increasingly face the worst of climate disasters and energy costs, along with many health issues related to fossil fuel infrastructure, these funds are a moral and practical imperative.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nLIHEAP is bipartisan, popular, and it works, but is <\/span>severely underfunded<\/span><\/a>. Recent WE ACT <\/span>Healthy Homes First<\/span><\/a> campaign polling showed that <\/span>over 74% of bi-partisan national voters and almost 90% of low-income people of color are in support of LIHEAP.<\/span><\/a> In 2022, <\/span>LIHEAP ensured energy service for 1.7 million homes, and restored service to almost 250,000 more<\/span><\/a>. However, because of limited funding, the program runs out earlier each year due to overwhelming demand. With summer on the horizon and <\/span>temperature predictions showing a high likelihood of 2025 smashing all prior records of extreme heat in many cities,<\/span><\/a> this funding is life or death.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n

\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/span>###<\/span><\/p>\r\nWE ACT for Environmental Justice is a Northern Manhattan membership-based organization whose mission is to build healthy communities by ensuring that people of color and\/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. WE ACT has offices in New York and Washington, D.C. Visit us at <\/span>weact.org<\/span><\/a> and follow us on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Twitter\/X<\/span><\/a>, and<\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/span>","include_drop_cap":false}}]},"yoast_head":"\nAs Energy Bills and Extreme Weather Increase with Greatest Impacts on Environmental Justice Communities, WE ACT Demands Life-Saving Investments for Energy Efficiency and Cost Relief<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We are calling on policymakers to provide robust funding for LIHEAP and WAP recognizing the value and effectiveness for millions that rely on them most.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/weact.org\/es\/updates\/as-energy-bills-and-extreme-weather-increase-with-greatest-impacts-on-environmental-justice-communities-we-act-demands-life-saving-investments-for-energy-efficiency-and-cost-relief\/\" \/>\n<meta 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