WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program served a record number of more than 7 million families last year, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association reported.

Given the demand, Mark Wolfe, the group’s executive director, said Congress should provide funding that sets heating and cooling assistance to last year’s levels to avoid forcing states to cut 1.5 million families from the program.

More than one out of six households are behind on their energy bills, Wolfe said. That percentage is consistent with U.S. Census Bureau data indicating 17.3% of households were unable to pay energy bills at least once during the last 12 months, he added.

Last year, Congress approved an additional $2 billion to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, bringing total spending to $6.1 billion. But lawmakers have yet to add extra funding in the fiscal year that began in October, Wolfe said.

In the meantime, the appropriations process is tied up as lawmakers only have a temporary agreement to keep the government funded through March.

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