Shaheen Secures National and New Hampshire Priorities in Bipartisan Government Funding Bills, More Than $26.8 million for 18 Granite State Projects

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Subcommittee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, highlighted the numerous priorities she championed and secured in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies and Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations bills recently passed by the U.S. Senate, including $26.8 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for 18 projects in New Hampshire. In these bills, which Shaheen helped craft, she secured critical investments to strengthen and improve infrastructure, increase public safety, bolster economic development in Granite State communities and more. The funding bills now head to the President's desk to be signed into law.
“The bipartisan bills that were passed out of the Senate today send a strong message that Congress is committed to continuing a regular appropriations process and to funding federal programs that Americans rely on every day,”said Senator Shaheen.“I was proud to help craft these bills to advance priorities that I've long championed, including to lower costs for the many Americans who are facing an affordability crisis, ensure people have access to clean drinking water and to protect survivors of sexual assault. Critically, I helped secure Congressionally Directed Spending that will go directly to Granite State communities, lowering energy costs, spurring economic development, making sure law enforcement have the tools they need to keep our communities safe, supporting clean water infrastructure upgrades and so much more.”
Shaheen-Secured Priorities in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Protecting Cost-Saving Energy Programs
The bill protects the EPA’s popular ENERGY STAR program, which helps Americans save on energy costs. Shaheen helped secure $33 million for the program, preventing the Trump Administration from eliminating the program. Shaheenpushed back on the Trump Administration’s plansto scrap the Energy Star Program last year.
Investing in Clean Water
To support drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in communities throughout the Granite State, the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill provides $2.76 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).
Continuing her longstanding work to address toxic per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, Senator Shaheen once again secured language ensuring states can use critical funding she fought for in theBipartisan Infrastructure Lawto assist private well owners in addressing PFAS and other dangerous contaminants, including private well owners.
Bolstering Outdoor Recreation and Forest-Based Economies
The Interior Appropriations bill allocates $900 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). New Hampshire will receive a portion of the nearly $300 million for LWCF stateside assistance programs that provide formula funding to New Hampshire and competitive grant opportunities to New Hampshire cities for parks, forests and other outdoor recreation development.
In order to support New Hampshire’s tourism economy, Shaheen joined her colleagues along the Appalachian Trail states in securing language directing the National Park Service to provide better budgeting to address expanded visitation, law enforcement, land acquisition and other needs. The bill also ensures the trail will receive $15 million from the FY25Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund for deferred maintenance and trail rehabilitation in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Shaheen also helped boost funding for state and private forestry, as well as forest research. Shaheen helped secure $308.5 million, an $8.5 million increase, for the Forest Service’s Forest and Rangeland Research account. Shaheen also secured language directing the U.S. Forest Service to use a portion of that funding to prioritize staffing at longstanding experimental forests like the Bartlett and Hubbard Brook in New Hampshire. These experimental forests benefit forest health, as well as the forest products industry that is the backbone of many rural communities. Shaheen also helped ensure $310.5 million was included in the bill for State, Private and Tribal Forestry, an increase of $27 million, despite the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate the program in its budget request.
Shaheen-Secured Priorities in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Lowering Home Energy Costs
A longtime champion of energy efficiency, Senator Shaheen helped secure $369 million—an increase from FY25—for the Weatherization Assistance Program, related training and technical assistance and the Weatherization Readiness Fund. The Trump Administration’s budget proposed eliminating weatherization funding completely. The bill also provides $3.1 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, rejecting the Trump Administration’s proposed cut of more than $2.5 billion. The bill also maintains funding of $66 million for State Energy Programs, rejecting the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate the funding. The State Energy Program provides funding and technical assistance to states to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy initiatives and increase energy affordability.
Northern Border Regional Commission
Shaheen secured $42 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC)—a $1 million increase from FY25. NBRC is a vital federal-state partnership for economic and community development that provides grant funding to communities within Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton and Sullivan counties. Shaheen has led efforts in Congress that support and invest in the NBRC. As Ranking Member of the Ag-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen recently secured a $500,000 increase in funding for the NBRC through the Ag-FDA FY26 funding legislation that was signed into law in November. New Hampshirerecently received more than $9 million in federal fundingfor Granite State projects through NBRC.
Shaheen-Secured Priorities in the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Securing Vital Funding for Economic Development and Manufacturing
Shaheen helped secure continued funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), including $400 million for Economic Development Assistance Programs (EDAP), $30 million more than was available in fiscal year 2025. The bill also includes $41 million for EDA’s Regional Technology and Innovation Hub (Tech Hubs) Program to support additional Tech Hubs implementation grants like the oneShaheen helped advocate for that went to ReGen Valley Tech Hub.
The CJS Appropriations bill also provides $175 million for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program to encourage manufacturing growth and identify opportunities that accelerate local economies and fuel global competitiveness.
The bill includes Shaheen-secured report language directing $5 million to advance large scale production and use of innovative nanomaterials like the carbon fiber, Miralon, which are produced at Nanocomp Technologies in New Hampshire.
Shaheen also secured funding to ensure that the U.S. Department of Commerce continues its annual report on the economic contribution of outdoor recreation. Shaheen’s bipartisanOutdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Actrequires this economic impact information to help inform policy makers and business leaders about the number of jobs created and consumer spending driven by outdoor recreation industries. According to the most recent report,outdoor recreation contributed $1.2 trillionto the national economy and added $3.8 billion in New Hampshire.
Keeping Americans Safe and Secure, Protecting Survivors of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
Shaheen secured multiple provisions that build on her work protecting survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and online crimes. This includes $10 million for continued implementation of her Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights grant program which encourages states to ensure that survivors have, at minimum, the rights guaranteed to them under federal law, including the right to be provided a medical forensic examination without charge, to have a sexual assault evidence collection kit kept for 20 years or the statute of limitations and to be fully informed about the result of testing a kit. Shaheen also secured report language encouraging the U.S. Department of Justice to use trauma-informed interrogation techniques with sexual assault and rape survivors.
The CJS Appropriations bill also contains report language directing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to utilize fusion centers to share threats against state judges and other judicial personnel.
Shaheen was also able to successfully include language calling attention to the significant staffing shortages across the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), requesting related reports to Congress and indicating support for recruitment and retention incentives. Shaheen recentlyintroduced bipartisan legislationthat would help address staffing shortages at federal prisons across the country.
Bolstering Support for Ocean Research and Conservation Efforts
Senator Shaheen secured many key resources to invest in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other initiatives to support New Hampshire’s fisheries, ocean research and conservation efforts. Specifically, the Senate-passed legislation, includes:
Supporting Cutting Edge Research and Strengthening America’s Leadership in Space Exploration and Innovation
To strengthen America’s continued leadership in space, the bill provides $7.25 billion for NASA Science, rejecting a proposed 47% cut in the Trump Administration’s budget and rejecting termination of five operating and planned missions.
The CJS Appropriations bill also provides $7 billion for research activities at the National Science Foundation, rejecting a proposed 57% cut in the Trump Administration’s budget proposal.
Senator Shaheen also included the following Congressionally Directed Spending projects for New Hampshire, totaling more than $26.8 million:
Recipient
Project
Description
Funding ($)
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
University of New Hampshire
Building Capacity for PFAS Analysis in New Hampshire
Funding will expand UNH’s capacity to analyze and respond to the state’s PFAS contamination in partnership with municipalities, state agencies, agriculture and private industry.
$890,000
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG)/Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR)
Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve: Research Facility
The project will support coastal and estuarine research, monitoring and science translation. The project will consist of modifying existing structures and adding a small new building to add a collaboration space for programs and office space for staff and visiting scientists.
$5,000,000
City of Portsmouth
ICACCOPS & NH ICAC Enhanced Capacity Program
Funds will be used to upgrade hardware, software and other critical assets for the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the ICAC Child Online Protection System (ICACCOPS).
$1,000,000
Newmarket Police Department
Newmarket Police Department Technology Upgrades
The Newmarket Police Department will use this funding to upgrade its Communications Center and Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems.
$400,000
Town of Derry Police Department
Derry, Londonderry, Windham Police Regional RMS/CAD System
The Towns of Derry, Londonderry and Windham will use this funding to replace their outdated records management software/computer aided dispatch with new, more effective technology and equipment that will assist in investigating, responding to and preventing crime.
$1,039,000
Newport Police Department
Newport Police Department Records/Dispatch Software
The Newport Police Department will use this funding to replace its outdated dispatch and records management software.
$132,000
Somersworth Police Department
Somersworth Police Department Police Portable Radios
The Somersworth Police Department will use this funding to purchase 30 replacement portable radio systems.
$130,000
Coos County Administration
Coos County Sheriff Technology Enhancement
The Sherriff’s Department will use this funding to install mobile data terminals and cameras in cruisers and software compatible with the NH state network.
$175,000
Northern Border Dispatch
Northern Border Dispatch Security Communication
Northern Borders Dispatch will use these funds to install a communications repeater on the new cellphone tower that has been installed on Hall Stream Road in Pittsburg, NH to assist first responders.
$225,000
Town of Gilford
Gilford Police Department (CAD/RMS) Replacement and Upgrade Program
The Gilford Police Department will use the funds to replace an outdated records management software system.
$273,000
Town of Milford
Milford Area Regional Record Management Systems and Computer-Aided Dispatch System Upgrade
The Towns of Milford, Amherst, and Hollis will use this funding to replace their existing records management/computer aided dispatch software with new, more effective technology and equipment.
$1,000,000
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service for White Mountain National Foreign, Saco Ranger Station
This funding will be used for the planning, design and first phase of construction of a new net-zero U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station with colocation of related federal and local public-facing agencies.
$10,000,000
City of Manchester
Manchester MS4 Drainage Improvements
A variety of improvements will be implemented throughout the city, including replacement of failing infrastructure, addition of new infrastructure and installation of stormwater control measures to remove pollutants from stormwater discharges to impaired waters.
$1,092,000
Town of Newmarket
Sewer Reliability Improvements Project
Funding will be used to replace the sewer force main and upgrade the Bay Road Pump Station, which are both critical for maintaining reliable wastewater conveyance and protecting the Lamprey River and Great Bay Estuary.
$1,092,000
Town of Newport
Water Distribution System Replacement Project
This project will replace nearly 4,000ft of 100-year-old water lines, that serve over 1,600 homes and businesses.
$640,000
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Town of Bedford
Bedford Photovoltaic Storage and Electric Vehicle Charging
The project will fund the purchase and connection of an off-grid electric vehicle charging station with battery storage for municipally owned vehicles that would be integrated with the new solar facility being constructed at the Town of Bedford's capped landfill.
$250,000
Plymouth State University
Combined Heat and Electricity Cogeneration at Plymouth State University
This funding will support the design and installation of cogeneration equipment to generate electricity at the Plymouth State University campus central heating plant.
$3,000,000
City of Nashua
Microgrid Resilience Hub
Funding will be used to establish a microgrid at the Nashua Department of Public Works site, connecting the entire facility to the landfill gas-to-energy power plant.
$500,000
TOTAL:
$26,838,000
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