119-hr2486

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2486 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2486

To amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to increase 
 the availability of heating and cooling assistance, and for other 
 purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 March 31, 2025

Ms. Ansari (for herself, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Bell, Mr. Carson, Mr. Carter 
 of Louisiana, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. 
 Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. DeGette, 
 Mr. Doggett, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fields, Mr. Huffman, Mr. 
 Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mrs. McIver, 
 Ms. Meng, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-
 Cortez, Ms. Omar, Ms. Pettersen, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. 
 Schakowsky, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Thompson of 
Mississippi, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
 the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 to increase 
 the availability of heating and cooling assistance, and for other 
 purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Heating and Cooling Relief Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds that:

    (1) Energy remains unaffordable for low-income households. 
 Nationally, low-income households spend a larger portion of 
 their income on home energy costs than other households. While 
 the average energy burden for non-low-income households is 
 approximately 3 percent, low-income households experience 
 energy burdens that are 3 times higher, with 1 in 4 low-income 
 households spending more than 15 percent of their income on 
 energy bills. The report for the Household Pulse Survey of the 
 Bureau of the Census, issued on October 3, 2024, noted that, 
 for families with incomes of less than $35,000 a year, about 54 
 percent said that they reduced or went without basic household 
 necessities, such as medicine or food, in order to pay an 
 energy bill, for at least one month in the last year.

    (2) The Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program was 
 authorized by Congress to reduce home energy burdens with 
 heating and cooling assistance. In 2023, only 18 percent of 
 income-eligible households received a subsidy under the 
 program.

    (3) Climate change is fueling increasingly intense winter 
 storms, frequent hurricanes and wildfires, and extreme 
 temperatures. Over the past 2 decades, the United States has 
 seen a 135 percent increase in billion-dollar winter disasters, 
 fueled by climate change, rising from 31 of those disasters 
 from 1985 through 2004, to 73 of those disasters from 2005 
 through 2024.

    (4) Heat waves are increasingly common as climate change 
 accelerates, and now occur more often in major cities across 
 the United States. According to reports from the National 
 Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2024 was the hottest year 
 on record in Earth's history. The average heat wave season 
 across 50 cities is approximately 46 days longer now than it 
 was in the 1960s, and the American Medical Association found 
 that heat-related deaths have increased by over 16 percent per 
 year since 2016. However, in fiscal year 2023, less than 3 
 percent of income-eligible households received cooling 
 assistance under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, 
 with only 7 percent of funding from the Low-Income Home Energy 
 Assistance Program going toward cooling needs. As a result, the 
 Federal Government should provide further cooling assistance 
 for communities in need.

    (5) As a result of rising home energy bills and 
 insufficient Federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy 
 Assistance Program, residential utility arrears, or the amount 
 of funds owed by households to their utilities, has climbed to 
 an all-time high of over $21,000,000,000 as of September 2024, 
 with over 21,000,000 households in debt to electric utilities 
 and over 15,000,000 households in debt to natural gas 
 companies. Nearly 1 out of every 7 households is behind on 
 their electric or gas bill.

    (6) While most States have shutoff protections that prevent 
 utility companies from disconnecting a customer's energy 
 service during the coldest winter months, 10 States have no 
 winter shutoff protections, and 29 States have no summer 
 shutoff protections. Even in certain States with winter or 
 summer shutoff protections, shutoffs continue to increase as 
 the period around the hottest and coldest months lengthens.

    (7) The loss of home energy service due to high energy 
 burdens is one of the primary reasons for homelessness, 
 especially for families with children. In some housing 
 contexts, loss of home energy service is a grounds for 
 eviction.

    (8) The Federal Government should expand and update the 
 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, as part of a robust 
 Federal social safety net, to--
        (A) protect families against unaffordable home 
 energy bills and home energy shutoffs, by providing 
 sufficient funding and imposing regulations where 
 necessary;
        (B) ensure all low- and moderate-income families 
 have access to affordable home cooling powered by 
 renewable energy, which will enable households to adapt 
 to rising temperatures due to climate change and 
 promote climate and energy resiliency;
            (C) enhance timely and meaningful public 
 participation and outreach--
            (i) by including nontraditional partners, 
 including home energy suppliers, local 
 educational agencies, and entities carrying out 
 other programs for low-income people, to assist 
 with signups; and
            (ii) by adding stronger provisions for 
 presumed eligibility and waiving documentation 
 requirements for eligibility; and
            (D) further Federal efforts to weatherize housing 
 for low- and moderate-income households, to help 
 families struggling to pay their home energy bills and 
 to meet national clean energy goals.

SEC. 3. FUNDING.

 

Section 2602 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8621) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) by striking ``

section 2607A)'' and inserting 
 ``

section 2604

    (e) , 2605

    (u) , 2607A, 2607B, or 2607C)''; 
 and
        (B) by striking ``$2,000,000,000'' and all that 
 follows and inserting ``such sums as may be necessary, 
 including such sums as may be necessary to enable the 
 States to assist all households that meet the 
 eligibility requirements established under this title 
 and to enable States to implement home energy 
 affordability measures described in 

section 2605

    (b)

    (3) .'';

    (2) in subsection

    (e) , in the first sentence--
        (A) by striking ``in each fiscal year'';
        (B) by striking ``$600,000,000'' and inserting 
 ``$2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, and 
 $2,000,000,000 plus such additional sums as may be 
 necessary for each fiscal year thereafter,''; and
            (C) by inserting ``, or arising from a major 
 disaster, as defined in 

section 2604

    (e)

    (1) '' before the 
 period at the end; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (f) There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 

section 2607C, including making grants under that section, $1,000,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2026, and $1,000,000,000 plus such additional sums as may 
be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.''.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

 

Section 2603 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8622) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraphs

    (4) through

    (6) ,

    (7) through

    (10) , and

    (11) , as paragraphs

    (6) through

    (8) ,

    (10) through

    (13) , and

    (15) , respectively;

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (3) the following:
 ``

    (4) The terms `extreme heat' and `extreme cold', used 
 with respect to a period, means a period in which there is an 
 increased risk of--
 ``
        (A) heat-related or cold-related, respectively, 
 illness, hospitalization, or death; or
 ``
        (B) failures or energy shutoffs of home cooling 
 or heating, respectively.
 ``

    (5) The term `HEAP coordinator' means an employee--
 ``
        (A) who administers a program funded under 
 

section 2602

    (b) ; and
 ``
        (B) whose salary is paid, partly or wholly, with 
 funds made available under that section.'';

    (3) by inserting after paragraph

    (8) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (9) The term `local coordinating agency' means any local 
 organization or local office that receives funds under 

section 2602

    (b) to perform customer intake, or approval of benefits, on 
 behalf of the State agency.''; and

    (4) by inserting after paragraph

    (13) , as so redesignated, 
 the following:
 ``

    (14) The term `State agency' means any State agency that 
 administers the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) .''.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCIES AND MAJOR DISASTERS, INCLUDING 
 EXTREME HEAT AND COLD.

 

Section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8623) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (B) , by striking ``

section 2605

    (b)

    (9)
        (B) '' and inserting ``

section 2605

    (b)

    (10)
        (B) ''; and

    (2) in subsection

    (e) --
        (A) by striking ``

    (e) '' and inserting the 
 following:
 ``

    (e)

    (1) In this subsection:
 ``

    (2) '';
        (B) in paragraph

    (1) , by adding at the end the 
 following:
 ``
        (A) The term `covered household' means an 
 eligible household in an area where the President, or 
 the Secretary, as the case may be, has declared or 
 determined the occurrence of a natural disaster, 
 emergency, or major disaster.
 ``
        (B) The term `major disaster' means--
 ``
            (i) a major disaster or emergency 
 declared under 

section 401 or 501, 
 respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford 
 Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
 (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191);
 ``
            (ii) a public health emergency determined 
 under 

section 319 of the Public Health Service 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
 ``
            (iii) a period of extreme heat or extreme 
 cold, as determined by the Secretary.'';
            (C) in paragraph

    (2) , as so designated, by striking 
 ``natural disaster or other emergency involved'' and 
 inserting ``natural disaster, emergency, or major 
 disaster involved''; and
            (D) by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) Upon a declaration or a determination of a natural 
 disaster, emergency, or major disaster, for an area, the 
 Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
 Management Agency shall, to the extent practicable, provide 
 heating or cooling assistance through such an allotment to a 
 State for covered households in that area.
 ``

    (4) To receive assistance under this subsection, the 
 State that has jurisdiction over the covered households shall 
 provide assurances to the Secretary that the State--
 ``
        (A) will not preclude a household that receives 
 heating assistance or cooling assistance under this 
 title during a calendar year, on the basis of obtaining 
 that assistance, from receiving cooling assistance or 
 heating assistance, respectively, under this title 
 during that year;
 ``
        (B) will not require a household to indicate that 
 a household member has a medical need for assistance 
 under this title, to be eligible for that assistance; 
 and
 ``
            (C) will allow use of such assistance for 
 purposes for which heating or cooling assistance is 
 available under the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , including for providing energy-efficient air 
 conditioners, and other equipment needed for home 
 cooling, to eligible households.''.

SEC. 6. ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS.

 

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8624) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , by striking ``paragraph

    (5) '' and inserting ``paragraph

    (6) '';
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) --
            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
        (A) , by inserting ``, subject to subsection
            (c) (1)
        (A) ,'' after ``only'';
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (B) , by striking 
 ``
        (B) '' and all that follows through clause
            (ii) and inserting the following:
 ``
        (B) households with incomes which do not exceed 
 the greater of--
 ``
            (i) an amount equal to 250 percent of the 
 poverty level; or
 ``
            (ii) an amount equal to 80 percent of the 
 State median income,''; and
            (iii) in the matter following subparagraph
        (B) --
            (I) by striking ``may give'' and 
 inserting ``shall give''; and
            (II) by inserting before the 
 semicolon the following: ``, and the 
 State may not exclude a household from 
 eligibility on the basis of citizenship 
 of 1 or more of the household 
 members'';
            (C) by redesignating paragraphs

    (3) through

    (16) as 
 paragraphs

    (4) through

    (17) , respectively;
            (D) by inserting after paragraph

    (2) the following:
 ``

    (3) Energy burden limits.--To the extent practicable, the 
 Secretary shall work with States using funding under 

section 2602

    (b) (supplemented by funding available through State-level 
 energy programs, utility affordability initiatives, or other 
 mechanisms as determined by the State in consultation with the 
 Secretary) to implement home energy affordability measures--
 ``
        (A) to ensure that no household eligible under 
 paragraph

    (2) experiences an energy burden for which 
 the expenditures of the household for home energy 
 exceed 3 percent of household income; and
 ``
        (B) to prioritize the further reduction of energy 
 burdens for such eligible households with the lowest 
 incomes.''; and
        (E) in subparagraph
        (B) of paragraph

    (10) , as so 
 redesignated, by striking ``paragraph

    (16) '' and 
 inserting ``paragraph

    (17) '';

    (2) in subsection
            (c) (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , by striking ``assistance 
 to be provided under this title, including criteria'' 
 and inserting ``assistance to be provided under this 
 title, including--
 ``
            (i) certifying that the State and local 
 coordinating agencies in the State--
 ``
            (I) shall, to the greatest extent 
 possible, use data sharing agreements 
 with Federal and State low-income 
 assistance programs, including the 
 supplemental nutrition assistance 
 program established under the Food and 
 Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et 
 seq.), the Medicaid program established 
 under title XIX of the Social Security 
 Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and the 
 supplemental security income program 
 established under title XVI of the 
 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et 
 seq.), to verify eligibility;
 ``
            (II) shall implement simplified 
 re-enrollment procedures for households 
 with fixed incomes or households 
 already determined to be eligible under 
 other Federal and State low-income 
 assistance programs, to reduce 
 administrative burdens on applicants 
 and agencies;
 ``
            (III) shall not require 
 applicants to submit proof of 
 citizenship to establish status as an 
 eligible household; and
 ``
            (IV) if neither the verification 
 process described in subclause
            (I) nor 
 the re-enrollment process described in 
 subclause
            (II) apply to a household, 
 shall allow applicants to self-attest 
 that the applicants meet the criteria 
 established under this title for an 
 eligible household, to the extent 
 necessary to facilitate access to 
 assistance and prevent undue hardship 
 for applicants; and
 ``
            (ii) describing criteria.'';
        (B) in subparagraph
        (E) , by striking ``paragraph

    (5) '' and inserting ``paragraph

    (6) ''; and
            (C) in subparagraph
        (F) , by striking ``clauses

    (3) ,

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (7) ,

    (8) ,

    (10) ,

    (12) ,

    (13) , and

    (15) of 
 subsection

    (b) '' and inserting ``paragraphs

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (7) ,

    (8) ,

    (9) ,

    (11) ,

    (13) ,

    (14) , and

    (16) of 
 subsection

    (b) '';

    (3) in subsection

    (e) , by striking ``subsection

    (b)

    (10) '' 
 and inserting ``subsection

    (b)

    (11) '';

    (4) in subsection

    (f) , by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (3) For purposes of 

section 401
            (c) , and the remainder of 
 title IV, of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
 Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611

    (a) , 1601 et seq.), 
 assistance under this title shall not be considered to be a 
 Federal public benefit.''; and

    (5) in subsection

    (j) , by striking ``the State may apply'' 
 and inserting ``the State may, subject to subsection
            (c) (1)
        (A)
            (i) , apply''.

SEC. 7. CONDITIONS FOR FUNDING.

 

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8624) is amended--

    (1) in subsection

    (b) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
            (C) , by inserting before the 
 semicolon the following: ``, using toxics-free 
 materials that do not contain asthmagens or respiratory 
 sensitizers, giving priority in the use of those funds 
 under this subparagraph, to the greatest extent 
 practicable, to supporting emergency home repairs that 
 foster energy efficiency, decarbonization, and climate 
 resilience, including through beneficial 
 electrification of heating and cooling'';
        (B) in paragraph

    (8) , as so redesignated--
            (i) in subparagraph
            (C) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end; and
            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
        (E) ensure that--
 ``
            (i) the home energy supplier will not 
 charge late fees for any payment, by a 
 household receiving assistance through the 
 program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , during 
 the period beginning 6 months before and ending 
 6 months after a date on which the supplier 
 receives funds through the program for the 
 household; and
 ``
            (ii) if the supplier receives funds 
 through the program for such a household and 
 charged such late fees during that period, the 
 supplier shall refund the fees to the household 
 not later than 7 days after the date the 
 supplier receives the funds;
 ``
        (F) ensure that the home energy supplier will not 
 shut off home energy from a household that received 
 assistance through the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , within the 2-year period beginning on the date 
 the household received the assistance;
 ``
        (G) ensure that the home energy supplier, in 
 return for receiving funds through the program funded 
 under 

section 2602

    (b) --
 ``
            (i) will provide to the State data on 
 households that have not paid their home energy 
 bills, to enable the State and the supplier to 
 carry out coordinated outreach concerning 
 assistance available through the program funded 
 under 

section 2602

    (b) ; and
 ``
            (ii) will, when sending a notice of late 
 payments to such households, include 
 information on such assistance, on how to 
 access such assistance through the program, and 
 on eligibility criteria for the program; and
 ``
        (H) ensure that the home energy supplier will, 
 not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
 the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, in return for 
 receiving assistance under the program funded under 
 

section 2602

    (b) and through a partnership with the 
 State, offer a low-income energy affordability payment 
 program;''; and
            (C) in paragraph

    (10) , as so redesignated--
            (i) in subparagraph
        (A) --
            (I) by striking ``10 percent'' and 
 inserting ``15 percent''; and
            (II) by striking ``and'' at the 
 end; and
            (ii) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (C) in planning and administering that program, 
 the State shall use the portion of the amount described 
 in subparagraph
        (A) , that exceeds 10 percent of the 
 funds described in subparagraph
        (A) , to expand the 
 State program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) so that the 
 State operates the program on a year-round basis; and
 ``
            (D) in planning and administering that program, 
 the State--
 ``
            (i) shall make technological changes to 
 allow, not later than 5 years after the date of 
 enactment of the Heating and Cooling Relief 
 Act, for online submission of applications for 
 assistance through that program; and
 ``
            (ii) shall, to the extent practicable--
 ``
            (I) conduct outreach activities, 
 including activities to increase 
 enrollment as described in subsection

    (p) ;
 ``
            (II) ensure that all HEAP 
 coordinators in the State receive 
 wages, for administration funded under 
 

section 2602

    (b) , at not less than the 
 greater of $15 per hour or the 
 applicable Federal, State, or local 
 minimum wage rate;
 ``
            (III) conduct training for HEAP 
 coordinators, State agency staff, and 
 community partners on best practices 
 for outreach, application processing, 
 and assisting eligible households;
 ``
            (IV) as needed, conduct outreach 
 relating to the program funded under 
 

section 2602

    (b) to rural electric 
 cooperatives, home energy suppliers 
 owned by a political subdivision of a 
 State, such as a municipally owned 
 electric utility, and home energy 
 suppliers owned by any agency, 
 authority, corporation, or 
 instrumentality of a political 
 subdivision of a State; and
 ``
            (V) ensure autoenrollment of 
 eligible households into the program 
 funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , and in 
 the process document any potential 
 barriers to autoenrollment that need to 
 be clarified or otherwise addressed at 
 the Federal level;'';

    (2) in subsection
            (c) (1) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (G) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end;
        (B) by redesignating subparagraph
        (H) as 
 subparagraph
            (I) ; and
            (C) by inserting after subparagraph
        (G) the 
 following:
 ``
        (H) describes how the State will expand the State program 
 funded under 

section 2602

    (b) so that the State operates the 
 program on a year-round basis in accordance with subsection

    (b)

    (10)
            (C) and the measures the State has taken so far to carry 
 out that expansion; and''; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (m) The Secretary shall allow, to the greatest extent possible, 
eligible households to obtain assistance with minimal administrative 
burden, by carrying out subsection
            (c) (1)
        (A)
            (i) .
 ``

    (n) The Secretary shall, by grant or contract, provide for a 
study that examines the rates of home energy shutoffs and assessments 
of late fees among eligible households, relative to those rates for 
households that are not eligible households, over a period of several 
years.
 ``

    (o) The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States to 
support partnerships described in subsection

    (b)

    (8)
        (H) .
 ``

    (p)

    (1) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall issue guidance for use of funds for administrative 
activities described in subsection

    (b)

    (10) to increase, through 
partnerships with elementary schools, secondary schools, and local 
educational agencies, enrollment in the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) among eligible households that include children and that have 
high energy burdens.
 ``

    (2) The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on 
outreach relating to assistance through the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) to high-risk individuals, with relevant medical 
conditions, that benefit from the use of medical equipment that 
requires electricity, including a ventilator, an oxygen concentrator, 
or another medical device that requires electricity.
 ``

    (3) The Secretary shall issue guidance for use by States on how 
to ensure that eligible households are aware of additional grants, tax 
credits, and rebates, made available under Public Law 117-169, or an 
amendment made by such law.
 ``

    (q) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Heating and Cooling Relief Act, the Secretary shall require each State 
receiving funds under this title, including allotments under subsection

    (a) or

    (e) of 

section 2604, to develop and update as necessary, an 
action plan for a period of extreme heat, which shall describe how the 
State will use its allotments under this title to assist eligible 
households in covering cooling costs and mitigating heat-related health 
risks.
 ``

    (r) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Heating and Cooling Relief Act, the Secretary shall conduct a review of 
eligibility criteria for assistance under this title and identify 
additional vulnerable populations to include under such criteria, such 
as pregnant women and individuals with medical conditions exacerbated 
by a period of extreme heat.
 ``

    (s) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, 
shall require State energy offices receiving Federal funds under this 
title to develop plans--
 ``

    (1) to retrofit low-income housing stock to adapt to 
 rising temperatures and address environmental hazards, 
 including--
 ``
        (A) deploying highly efficient cooling systems, 
 including heat pumps;
 ``
        (B) expanding weatherization and passive cooling 
 strategies;
 ``
            (C) addressing structural and health hazards, 
 including mold, lead, asbestos, and pest infections; 
 and
 ``
            (D) ensuring that necessary electrical panel and 
 wiring upgrades are completed to support the 
 installation of cooling systems and energy efficiency 
 improvements; and
 ``

    (2) to assess and adapt existing (as of the date of 
 development of the plan) shutoff policies to protect all 
 households while considering the impact on energy affordability 
 and energy grid reliability.
 ``

    (t)

    (1) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Heating and Cooling Relief Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall submit a report to 
Congress that--
 ``
        (A) identifies safe residential temperature standards for 
 federally assisted dwelling units, considering risks of periods 
 of extreme heat and extreme cold and regional climate 
 variations; and
 ``
        (B) proposes strategies to ensure compliance with the 
 standards, including permitting covered utility allowances to 
 be used for cooling assistance where feasible, taking into 
 account regional climate variations and housing stock 
 differences.
 ``

    (2) In this subsection, the term `covered utility allowance' 
means a utility allowance--
 ``
        (A) applicable to public housing dwelling units under 
 

section 3 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
 1437a); or
 ``
        (B) under the housing choice voucher program under 
 

section 8

    (o)

    (2)
            (D) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
 U.S.C. 1437f

    (o)

    (2)
            (D) ).''.

SEC. 8. WEATHERIZATION.

 

Section 2605

    (k) of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8624

    (k) ) is amended--

    (1) in paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``15 percent'' and 
 inserting ``25 percent''; and

    (2) in paragraph

    (2) --
        (A) in subparagraph
        (A) , in the matter preceding 
 clause
            (i) --
            (i) by striking ``subparagraph
        (B) '' and 
 inserting ``subparagraph
            (C) ''; and
            (ii) by striking ``the greater of 25 
 percent'' and inserting ``a portion equal to 
 the greater of 35 percent'';
        (B) by redesignating subparagraph
        (B) as 
 subparagraph
            (C) ; and
            (C) by inserting after subparagraph
        (A) the 
 following:
 ``
        (B) The State--
 ``
            (i) shall, to the extent practicable--
 ``
            (I) use the portion described in subparagraph
        (A) for energy-related home repair that reduces dependence 
 on fossil fuel energy sources; and
 ``
            (II) use the portion to facilitate the use of 
 funds made available under 

section 2602

    (b) to increase 
 the participation of eligible households in community 
 solar programs, or to otherwise increase access to and 
 ownership of distributed renewable energy 
 infrastructure among eligible households; and
 ``
            (ii) shall if possible give the highest priority to using 
 the portion for home repair that replaces appliances that rely 
 on fossil fuels with appliances that use electric heating or 
 cooling technology, powered by renewable energy.''.

SEC. 9. HOME ENERGY PAYMENT ARREARS DATA COLLECTION.

 

Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 
(42 U.S.C. 8624), as amended by 

section 7, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following:
 ``

    (u)

    (1)
        (A) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Energy, shall develop a standardized template for States and home 
energy suppliers to use to track and report data on eligible households 
in arrears in home energy payments, including data on the related fees 
and disconnections for such households.
 ``
        (B) The template developed under subparagraph
        (A) shall--
 ``
            (i) include a definition of an eligible household in 
 arrears, with respect to home energy payments, as an eligible 
 household that has not made payment on a home energy bill for 
 more than 60 to 90 days, as determined by the State agency or 
 local coordinating agency, unless otherwise specified by State 
 law;
 ``
            (ii) include metrics on related disconnections, late 
 fees, reconnections, and arrearage balances for eligible 
 households; and
 ``
            (iii) align with existing (as of the date of the 
 development) Federal and State reporting mechanisms where 
 applicable.
 ``

    (2) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
Heating and Cooling Relief Act, the Secretary shall, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Energy, issue guidance on best practices for 
States (including through partnerships with home energy suppliers) to 
pay for home energy payment arrearages with assistance provided through 
the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , including by paying for such 
arrearages at the time of dissemination of assistance through that 
program. Such guidance shall prohibit any home energy supplier 
receiving funds through the program from recovering arrearage 
assistance costs through rate increases or other charges to customers, 
including cost recovery mechanisms that disproportionately impact low-
income households.
 ``

    (3) To the extent practicable, the Secretary and the Secretary of 
Energy shall jointly--
 ``
        (A) implement a data tracking system, aligned with the 
 standardized reporting template developed under paragraph

    (1) , 
 to collect aggregate data regarding the number of eligible 
 households in arrears and their respective energy burdens and 
 develop recommendations to HEAP coordinators on how to minimize 
 energy burdens for the households; and
 ``
        (B) issue guidance to home energy suppliers with 
 recommendations for working with State agencies to address home 
 energy payment arrearages of eligible households.
 ``

    (4) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, 
may make grants to States to assist the States in implementing data 
tracking and reporting requirements under this subsection.
 ``

    (5) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
subsection such sums as may be necessary.''.

SEC. 10. PROGRAM NAME CHANGE.

    (a) LIHEAP.--The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 is 
amended--

    (1) in 

section 2607A

    (b) (42 U.S.C. 8626a

    (b) ), in the matter 
 preceding paragraph

    (1) , by striking ``low-income'' the first 
 place it appears; and

    (2) in 

section 2607B

    (e)

    (2)
        (B)
            (ii) (42 U.S.C. 
 8626b

    (e)

    (2)
        (B)
            (ii) ), by striking ``Low-Income''.

    (b) Other Law.--A reference in any other Federal law (other than 
that Act), Executive order, rule, regulation, or delegation of 
authority, or any document, of or relating to the Low-Income Home 
Energy Assistance Program, shall be deemed to refer to the Home Energy 
Assistance Program.

SEC. 11. JUST TRANSITION GRANTS.

 The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 is amended by 
inserting after 

section 2607B (42 U.S.C. 8626b) the following:

``

SEC. 2607C. HEAP JUST TRANSITION GRANTS.

 ``

    (a) Grant Program.--The Secretary and the Secretary of Energy 
shall jointly carry out a grant program under this section. In carrying 
out the program, the Secretaries shall make grants for a period of 3 
years to States and local governments to support the development and 
implementation of interagency plans to reduce energy burdens for 
eligible households with high home energy use. The plans shall promote 
the reduction of those burdens in a manner that supports a just 
transition away from fossil fuel energy and protects eligible 
households from the threats of climate change. The Secretaries shall 
make the grants for a period of 3 years.
 ``

    (b) Preferences.--In making the grants, the Secretary shall give 
a preference to States, and local governments, who set up coordination 
systems--
 ``

    (1) to identify eligible households, that are recipients 
 of assistance through the program funded under 

section 2602

    (b) , 
 with high home energy use;
 ``

    (2) to prioritize eligible households with the highest 
 energy burdens and lowest incomes, in alignment with the 
 priority provisions in paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) of 

section 2605

    (b) , to receive emergency repair, weatherization, and 
 retrofit assistance that results in decarbonization and 
 reductions in energy use; and
 ``

    (3) to partner with entities carrying out workforce 
 development initiatives, unions, or minority or women-owned 
 business enterprises to provide emergency repairs, 
 weatherization, and retrofit assistance.
 ``
            (c) Report to Congress.--At the conclusion of the 3-year grant 
period, the Secretaries shall--
 ``

    (1) conduct an evaluation of the program's outcomes; and
 ``

    (2) prepare and submit to Congress a report containing 
 the results of the evaluation and policy recommendations.''.

SEC. 12. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

 The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 
et seq.) is amended--

    (1) in 

section 2607B

    (e)

    (2)
        (K) (42 U.S.C. 8626b

    (e)

    (2)
        (K) ) by 
 striking ``paragraphs

    (2) ,

    (3) ,

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (7) ,

    (9) ,

    (10) ,

    (11) ,

    (12) ,

    (13) , and

    (14) of 

section 2605

    (b) '' and inserting 
 ``paragraphs

    (2) ,

    (4) ,

    (5) ,

    (6) ,

    (8) ,

    (10) ,

    (11) ,

    (12) ,

    (13) ,

    (14) , and

    (15) of 

section 2605

    (b) ''; and

    (2) in 

section 2610

    (b)

    (1) (42 U.S.C. 8629) by striking 
 ``clauses

    (2) ,

    (5) ,

    (8) , and

    (15) of 

section 2605

    (b) '' and 
 inserting ``paragraphs

    (2) ,

    (6) ,

    (9) , and

    (16) of 

section 2605

    (b) ''.
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