Shaheen Visits Hospital in Woodsville to Witness Funding She Secured to Support Rural Health Care; Celebrates Franconia Loop Restoration Project in Franconia

(Franconia, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee , visited Cottage Hospital in Woodsville to tour renovations to the facility and traveled to Franconia to celebrate the restoration of a portion of the Loop trail. Both projects were made possible with Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) that Shaheen helped secure. Photos from today’s events can be found HERE. In Woodsville, Shaheen toured Cottage Hospital and saw how the facility is putting to use $1,725,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) she secured in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 government funding legislation for critical improvements, such as asbestos removal and key renovations. Shaheen’s visit follows congressional Republicans cutting trillions in federal health care funding in their “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is having a particularly severe impact on rural hospitals who are facing an increased risk of closure as more Americans are unable to afford health insurance. At her visit, Shaheen discussed the damage of congressional Republicans’ OBB legislation, the impact federal layoffs are having on care in New Hampshire and ongoing concerns around high health care costs. “Congressional Republicans’ decision to cut billions in health care funding is having a dire impact on health care access across the Granite State, and particularly in rural communities like those in the North Country. Rather than working to expand access to care and lower costs for families across the country, the Trump Administration’s mass firing of federal workers and their decision to slash health care funding have done just the opposite,” said Senator Shaheen . “I appreciated meeting with the folks at Cottage Hospital to hear a firsthand account of how they are being impacted by congressional Republicans’ disastrous OBB legislation and to learn how I can keep fighting in Washington to support our state’s rural health care providers.” Senator Shaheen has a long track record of securing resources to support health facilities across New Hampshire. Shaheen secured millions of dollars to support key health care priorities in New Hampshire in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill, including funding for health care facility improvement and workforce development. Recently, Shaheen visited Southern New Hampshire Health to see how critical radiology equipment funded in part by CDS is helping the hospital to increase health care accessibility. Later, in Franconia, Shaheen met with senior officials from the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and visited a portion of the Franconia Loop trail network to witness firsthand how federal funding Shaheen helped deliver has been used to transform the trail, both by improving hiker safety and protecting the trail from further erosion. Following a short hike on the trail, Shaheen delivered remarks celebrating the completion of the restoration of the trail and commending those who supported the effort at the Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site. In FY 2022 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured $1,125,000 to support trail restoration work. “Offering some of the most stunning views of the White Mountains, the Franconia Loop Trail is one of New Hampshire’s most iconic outdoor destinations. With years and years of heavy foot traffic causing severe erosion, there was a dire need for trail improvements, and I was more than happy to help secure federal resources for restoration efforts,” said Senator Shaheen. “It was great to visit part of the trail today and see the successful work to preserve the Loop. Thank you to the countless volunteers who devoted thousands of hours to restoring this trail—your efforts will serve countless hikers and benefit New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation economy for decades to come.” Senator Shaheen’s efforts in FY 2022 to secure over $1 million for the Franconia Loop Trail is a testament to her continued advocacy for New Hampshire’s outdoor recreation economy during her career in Congress. In the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 , Shaheen helped secure funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for New Hampshire for parks, forests and other outdoor recreation development. In 2020, Shaheen helped lead the Great American Outdoors Act into law to permanently, fully fund the Land Water Conservation Fund and provide mandatory funding for deferred maintenance on public lands. Shaheen also joined colleagues in introducing the bipartisan America the Beautiful Act to continue addressing deferred maintenance in national forests, national parks and other public lands. ###