Communities from Chicago to Shreveport — about 130 million people — experienced DANGEROUS levels of heat this August. And that’s on top of a record-breaking July.

In the face of these heatwaves, millions have been forced to choose between spending their money on food and essentials OR paying for escalating energy costs to keep their homes habitable.

It’s a decision that no family should have to make. Maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors in the face of utility shut-offs and heatwaves is nearly impossible, and failure to do so has huge negative impacts on mental and physical health. That’s why Congress already created LIHEAP (the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) to help. The problem? The program is woefully underfunded.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association recommends Congress increase LIHEAP funding by $3 billion — and help six million households pay their cooling bills this summer.

It should be a no brainer: Right now, Congress is about to sign off an astronomical Pentagon budget — $886 BILLION — that will do little to build true security and safety as families across the country struggle under stifling temperatures.

Their failure to prioritize peoples’ needs can’t go unnoticed — or unchallenged. That’s why it’s time for activists everywhere to speak out and demand Congress get its priorities in order.

Tell your members of Congress to help solve this crisis by immediately increasing funding to LIHEAP and help millions of families stay cool in their homes without having to worry about their utilities being shut off.