PALM DESERT — In a direct response to the ongoing government shutdown, Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) introduced legislation today to protect a critical lifeline for low-income families: their home energy assistance.
The new bill, dubbed the Home Energy Assistance in Times of Shutdown Act (HEATS Act), would ensure that funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) continues uninterrupted during any future lapse in federal funding. The act authorizes the U.S. Treasury to provide the necessary resources to keep the program running when a shutdown threatens to disrupt it.
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