Shaheen Receives Award at New Hampshire Hospital Association Annual Meeting, Visits Bartlett Experimental Forest to Hear Updates from USDA

(Bartlett, NH) – Yesterday, 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) Appropriations Subcommittee , attended and delivered remarks at the New Hampshire Hospital Association’s Annual Meeting before heading to Bartlett Experimental Forest to visit the research facilities and hear updates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Photos from today’s events can be found HERE. In Bretton Woods, Shaheen received the James A. Hamilton Founder's Award, the highest recognition given by the New Hampshire Hospital Association, in honor of her decades of service to New Hampshire's health care providers and unwavering commitment to expanding access to health care across the Granite State. At the Association’s Annual Meeting, Shaheen delivered remarks focused on the challenges that New Hampshire's health care system is facing – especially following congressional Republicans’ decision to cut billions in health care spending – and in recognition of the health care providers who work tirelessly on behalf of Granite Staters. “It was an honor to receive the New Hampshire Hospital Association’s highest award and to attend their annual gathering to recognize the strides we’ve made together to improve New Hampshire’s health care system and expand access to quality care for Granite State families,” said Senator Shaheen. “Congressional Republicans’ slashes to federal health care funding in combination with persistent workforce shortages and the expiration of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, are creating great headwinds for the most rural parts of our state. As we confront these challenges, I know the Association and our health care professionals will work hand in hand with communities to find solutions that deliver quality, affordable care for Granite Staters everywhere.” Shaheen has a long track record of securing resources to support health care facilities and hospitals across New Hampshire and has been a steadfast supporter of programs that help bolster the health care workforce. 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 improvements and workforce development. Recently, Shaheen toured Cottage Hospital in Woodsville to see renovations to the facility and visited Southern New Hampshire Health to see how critical radiology equipment funded in part by Congressionally Directed Spending she secured is helping the hospital to increase health care accessibility. Later, in Bartlett, Shaheen toured the research lab and other buildings at Bartlett Experimental Forest, a nationally recognized facility that plays a critical role in advancing forest management and environmental research, alongside USDA officials. Shaheen met with stakeholders to discuss the impacts of the Trump Administration’s planned closure of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) buildings at Bartlett, which threatens the critical research and ongoing efforts to save Bartlett. The visit follows Shaheen’s efforts to protect the facility from closure and ensure the Forest Service continues more than 90 years of research at the site. “Since the Trump Administration announced their plans to reorganize the Forest Service, threatening both Bartlett and Hubbard Brook experimental forests, I’ve fought to protect these critical research facilities from closure,” said Senator Shaheen . “Earlier this year, I was proud to secure a commitment from Agriculture Secretary Rollins that Hubbard Brook would remain open, but Bartlett’s future remains in doubt. For decades, Bartlett has produced critical research for our state and the entire region, and I don’t intend to let that cease. While today’s discussions with officials from the USDA was productive, there’s more work to be done to protect Bartlett and restore Forest Service staffing.” As Ranking Member of Ag-FDA Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen has been outspoken against the Trump Administration’s plans to reorganize U.S. Forest Service earlier this year. Following the announcement of this effort, Shaheen has led efforts to protect New Hampshire’s experimental forests. Through conversations with Secretary Rollins and New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, Shaheen secured confirmation that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) would not close New Hampshire’s Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and a commitment from Secretary Rollins to review plans at Bartlett Experimental Forest. In June, Shaheen continued her work to hold the Administration accountable by pressing Secretary Rollins to commit to both restoring staffing levels at Bartlett Experimental Forest and to making sure the facilities at Bartlett remain open. ###