The White House on Tuesday is highlighting new efforts to lower Americans’ everyday costs, just before the latest Consumer Price Index report – a key marker of inflation – is set to be released.
The new steps aimed at lowering out-of-pocket costs come as broad concerns about the economy and the possibility of a recession loom. A White House official detailing the new measures to CNN said they are aimed at lowering the price of health care, home heating, and broadband access, adding that they will impact “tens of millions of seniors, students, and families month-over-month.” The new steps are the result of key legislative efforts signed into law by President Joe Biden since taking office.
The Federal Communications Commission will release additional funds this week to support the Affordable Connectivity Program, according to the official. The program, a provision of the bipartisan infrastructure law, provides eligible households a $30 monthly credit toward the cost of their internet service plan, or a $75 monthly credit for households living on Tribal land. The program helps deliver affordable broadband to over 16 million households.
The Department of Health and Human Services is also releasing over half a billion dollars in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds to states to cover American families’ home heating costs. The Biden administration last November announced the distribution of $4.5 billion in federal assistance to help lower many Americans’ heating bills through the program, which received an additional half a billion in funding through the infrastructure law. According to the official, the program “has helped over 5.3 million households on heating and cooling bills, and on weatherization services” over the past year.
The department is also announcing new details on which Medicare Part B drugs – expensive medications administered by…
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