Shaheen Continues Affordability Action Tour with Roundtable on Rising Prices, Food Insecurity; Highlights Federal Funding She Secured for Historic Gale School

(Belmont, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Appropriations Subcommittee , continued her “Affordability Action Tour” by leading a roundtable discussion in Rochester focused on the rising cost of everyday essentials, particularly an alarming increase in food insecurity in the Granite State. Shaheen also visited the newly reopened Gale School in Belmont where she secured much-needed federal funding for updates to the historic school house, and to help expand access to child care in the Lakes Region. In Rochester, Shaheen held a roundtable where she heard firsthand from representatives from the Strafford County Community Action Partnership, the New Hampshire Food Bank, the Rochester Child Care Center, Granite YMCA, Gather NH, the Share Fund and other food access and service program leaders about the challenges of rising costs and the increase in food insecurity in New Hampshire. New reporting shows how congressional Republicans’ decision to cut billions in SNAP funding is harming Granite State families, especially children across the state. “It is absolutely unacceptable that we’re seeing a rise in food insecurity in our state. With congressional Republicans cutting billions in SNAP funding, a reckless war in Iran and President Trump’s tariff policies, costs are skyrocketing and it’s putting a real strain on Granite State families,” said Senator Shaheen . “I am grateful for all that our food banks, child care centers and community organizations do to connect families across our state with resources. I thank them for joining me for this important discussion as I continue my efforts in Washington to bring down costs and fight against an Administration that believes the affordability concerns of families in our state are nothing more than a ‘hoax.’” With Granite Staters paying $4,400 more on everyday essentials since President Trump took office, Shaheen also discussed her work in Washington to lower prices for Granite State families, including her fight against President Trump’s reckless tariffs, provisions she secured in the 21 st Century ROAD to Housing Act and her leadership on the INSULIN Act to directly lower health care costs. As Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Ag-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds SNAP and WIC, Senator Shaheen remains committed to protecting food assistance from Republican-led attacks. Shaheen was unequivocally opposed to President Trump and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has already caused more than 4 million people nationwide, including an estimated 1.5 million children, to lose food assistance. As part of her efforts to highlight the impacts of this “Big Beautiful Betrayal,” last year, Shaheen visited the New Hampshire Food Bank to hear directly from stakeholders whose work and the people they serve were being impacted by federal funding cuts. At this year’s State of the Union, Shaheen hosted Elsy Cipriani, the Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, as her guest to spotlight the growing affordability crisis Americans are facing, including rising food and grocery prices. Later, in Belmont, Shaheen visited the historic Gale School on the heels of its recent reopening to tour the recently renovated school house . In 2022, Shaheen secured over $390,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to help renovate the historic Gale School building, which will serve in part as a new daycare run by the Boys & Girls Club, expanding access to much-needed affordable, quality child care in the Laconia region. “As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, ensuring our state receives its fair share of federal grant funding is one of my top priorities in Washington. The renovation of the Gale School ensures this historic school house continues to be a point of pride for the Belmont community, all while expanding much-needed child care access and supporting economic development in the region,” said Senator Shaheen . “The restoration effort for the historic school house has been remarkable to follow, and I thank all those who joined me today as I saw the newly renovated Gale School for the first time since it opened its doors earlier this summer.” Senator Shaheen has been a leader in advocating for more accessible and affordable child care. Earlier this year, Shaheen secured key priorities in the bipartisan Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, including $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Shaheen also stands strongly opposed to the Trump Administration’s attacks on Head Start, and has introduced legislation to respond to the nation’s child care shortage, including her signature, bipartisan Expanding Child Care for Military Families Act . Shaheen also led the introduction of the Right Start Child Care and Education Act earlier this summer, which would strengthen the child care workforce by creating a new tax credit for child care professionals with college degrees. ###