CEO Meets Lawmakers on LIHEAP Action Day
Utility assistance helps Miami Valley families stay safe, avoid crisis and maintain stability and CEO Erin Jeffries wants to make sure lawmakers know how critical it is.
Jeffries visited Capitol Hill last week as part of LIHEAP Action Day. The educational efforts surrounding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP or HEAP) was organized by the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC).
“Our conversations were centered on education and awareness,” Jeffries said. “We helped policymakers understand how LIHEAP works on the ground and why it matters to the people we collectively serve.”
Jeffries attended both as President and CEO of MVCAP and as a member of NEUAC’s Board of Directors. The two-day event included training and preparation for meeting with lawmakers. Along with the rest of the Ohio delegation, Jeffries met with Sen. Jon Husted, Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville), and Rep. David Taylor (R-Amelia).
“I was able to share MVCAP’s perspective and talk about how energy assistance supports seniors, working families, and individuals facing hardship, especially during extreme weather,” she said. “Advocacy like this is important for MVCAP because it gives a voice to our constituents at the national level and helps ensure decision-makers understand the human impact behind the program.”
Jeffries and her colleagues also met with staff members for Sen. Bernie Moreno, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus), Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Cincinnati), Rep. Robert Latta (R-Bowling Green), and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton).
“LIHEAP isn’t just funding,” Jeffries added. “It’s stability for families, safety for seniors and, peace of mind for households working hard to stay afloat. Sharing those stories helps ensure our communities are seen, heard and represented.”
Are you a LIHEAP, HEAP or Crisis Program client? Tell your story to lawmakers! Click here for contact information.
Photo: MVCAP President and CEO Erin Jeffries joined advocates from across the country on Capitol Hill for LIHEAP Action Day. Pictured left to right: Zachary Frymier, AEP Ohio; Megan Meadows, Weatherization Senior Program Manager at the National Association for State and Community Services Programs; Ohio Senator Jon Husted; Jeffries; and Bobby Hamill, AEP.