In The News
Shaheen visits Berlin, reports on American Rescue Plan benefits
by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN -U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) met with Tri-County Community Action Program officials and Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier Thursday to describe how the newly passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan can help address some of the hardships caused by the year-long pandemic. "The Tri-County CAP has played a crucial role in delivering relief to those who need it most during this crisis. Since the beginning of the pandemic, staff at the agency have worked around the clock to help North Count… Continue Reading
March 31, 2021
NH Getting Nearly $30.7M in Additional Federal Vaccine Aid
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire is getting nearly $30.7 million in additional federal money to support COVID-19 vaccines to correct a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formula that previously shortchanged small states, U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan said Tuesday. The money is coming from the December federal aid package, as well as the latest one, known as the American Rescue Plan. The amount includes an installment Tuesday of more than $12.7 million through th… Continue Reading
March 31, 2021
Paycheck Protection Program deadline moved to May 31
by Bob Sanders
There was a rush of applications by New Hampshire small businesses for Paycheck Protection Program loans in the week before the planned March 31 deadline. But it turns out that deadline was extended yesterday for two months. President Biden on Tuesday signed a bill, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, to extend the PPP deadline to May 31, after it passed the Senate on a 97-2 vote last week. The House had already passed the bill the week before by a 415-3 margin. But New Hampshire b… Continue Reading
March 29, 2021
Shaheen touts COVID relief funds for Dover, Portsmouth, Rochester, Somersworth
by Megan Fernandes
DOVER - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, appeared Monday with four Seacoast mayors at City Hall to discuss how the American Rescue Plan will provide New Hampshire with more than $3 billion in combined financial relief for residents and local governments. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which was recently passed into law, supplies New Hampshire more than $1.5 billion in funding through state and local aid and just under $1.5 billion in stimulus payments that nearly 600,000 Granite Staters h… Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Shaheen Supports Funding Increase to Fight Opioid Epidemic
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire has helped introduce a bill that would increase funding to fight the opioid epidemic, which has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic. The bill increases funding authorization levels and sets out new policy reforms in the Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act, which was enacted in 2016. Policy changes include new research into non-opioid pain management alternatives and into long-term treatment outcomes to sustain r… Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Senate extends pandemic assistance for small businesses for 2 months
by Carmen Reinicke
The Senate on Thursday voted to extend the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program just a week before it was slated to expire. Senators voted 92 to 7 to pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which extends the program to May 31 instead of the current March 31 deadline and gives the SBA another 30 days to process loans. Next, the bill will be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The White House has indicated its support for extending the program to support small… Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Local health centers to receive COVID relief money
by Michael Mortensen
LACONIA - Two community health centers that serve central New Hampshire have been awarded a total of nearly $3.5 million from the latest COVID relief package. HealthFirst Family Health Care, which has facilities in Laconia, Franklin, and Tilton, will receive $1,306,625 from the American Rescue Plan. Mid-State Health Center, based in Plymouth, will get $2,173,250, according to an announcement Thursday from the state congressional delegation. The money will help the centers provide great… Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Congressional delegation announces nearly $4 million coming to Amoskeag Health, City of Manchester
by Andrew Sylvia
WASHINGTON - On Thursday, New Hampshire's Congressional delegation announced that Manchester will be receiving nearly $4 million from the American Rescue Plan for community health efforts. Amoskeag Health is receiving $3,218,500 and the City of Manchester is receiving $778,750 in the federal funding coming to New Hampshire, which totals $20,217,250 in all. The funding is slated to help expand COVID-19 vaccination in the state and support operations. "Vaccines are the key to ending this pandem… Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Shaheen, Hassan tout American Rescue Plan
by Julie Huss
In a regular world these days when Zoom calls are the norm, the state's senators in Washington, D.C. once again offered virtual updates on how things are going at the federal level and what that means for the Granite State. In a virtual call Monday morning with members of The New Hampshire Commerce Corridor Chamber Coalition, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan offered legislative updates on the recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and other efforts that will … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Shaheen visits Manchester mobile food pantry
by Andrew Sylvia
MANCHESTER, N.H. - On Friday, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) toured the New Hampshire Food Bank's mobile pantry to see one example of the impact the American Rescue Plan's (ARP) passage last week is having in the Granite State. Within the ARP's 222 different sections, there are various provisions for ensuring food security during the COVID-19 pandemic ranging from additional funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2021
Hospitality businesses sound optimistic about summer season
by MIchael Mortensen
LACONIA - Just over a year ago Tom Boucher, owner of T-Bones and Cactus Jack's, called a member of his senior management team, after noticing that sales at the restaurants had dropped 20 percent. "I think people are taking this COVID thing seriously," he told his colleague. "We've got to get a meeting of our top management to discuss this and plan. What if we have to close?" "They wouldn't shut us down," his colleague responded incredulously. "We were shut down at midnight one yea… Continue Reading
March 13, 2021
More than $9.4M for mental health, substance abuse issues
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire will receive more than $9.4 million in federal grants to help fight substance use disorder and bolster access to mental health services under the coronavirus relief package signed into law in December, the state's congressional delegation said Friday. "The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a tremendous toll on Granite Staters' mental health, with many people experiencing acute stress, anxiety, depression and trauma as they grapple with the devastating impacts of t… Continue Reading
March 13, 2021
Shaheen to venues: Look for positive times ahead
by Julie Huss
PORTSMOUTH - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., paid a Friday afternoon visit to the Portsmouth Music Hall for a roundtable discussion on new COVID-19 relief for Granite State entertainment venues, part of the recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. The meeting was also held virtually with many entertainment venue owners calling in to hear Shaheen's updates. The list of those participating included many representing theaters, musical venues, cinemas and acting troupes affected over the p… Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Shaheen touts relief funds for vaccine, arts, hungry in Seacoast stops
by Alexander LaCasse
EXETER - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen toured the New Hampshire National Guard's COVID-19 vaccination site at Exeter High School Friday to thank them for their hard work, and to let them know more federal resources are on the way. Shaheen, D-NH, said this week's approval of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan relief package will help the state further ramp up its vaccine distribution efforts. She said the new legislation doubles the amount of grant monies New Hampshire receives to administer the vacci… Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Shaheen reports on money for municipalities in COVID relief bill
by Barbara Tetreault
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told the state's rural town managers that the American Rescue Plan contains $130.2 billion for local and county governments plus another $10 billion to assist with local and state infrastructure projects. In a virtual meeting with town officials Monday, Shaheen provided an update on the $1.9 trillion bill, which was expected to pass Congress and be signed into law by President Joe Biden before the end of the week. "The new COVID-19 relief … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Senate Dems’ Bill Would Enhance, Fund ACA’s Cost-Sharing Reductions
by Amy Lovten
Senate Democrats led by New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen are pushing legislation that would enhance the value of and eligibly for the Affordable Care Act's cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and permanently fund the program, thus eliminating the need for the "silver-loading" workaround that insurers crafted after the Trump administration ended direct payments to reimburse their costs for the subsidies in 2017. The Improving Health Care Affordability Act, introduced March 1, also would also make pe… Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
N.H. delegation announces over $8.75 Million in Fish and Wildlife Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced with U.S. Sen.Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) that New Hampshire will receive over $8.75 million to support wildlife and sport fish restoration, as well as vulnerable species conservation, through the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The funding will help state wildlife agencies pursue conservation projects and programs, including support f… Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Shaheen introducing bill to improve access to health care
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire is introducing a bill to improve access to health care by lowering premiums and deductibles for low- and middle-income families. She said in a statement Friday the Improving Health Insurance Affordability Act would expand coverage to more than 4 million people who are currently uninsured and reduce health care costs for millions more who already have coverage. The bill would expand eligibility for the Affordable Care Act's premium … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Sen. Shaheen takes flight with Pease 157th Air Refueling Wing
by Ian Lenahan
A longtime advocate for the KC-46A Pegasus tanker, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, switched out her usual tasks Tuesday for an up-close view of the aircraft's capabilities. Joining members of Pease's 157th Air Refueling Wing, Shaheen joined a live air refueling mission aboard a Pegasus tanker after a meeting with Air Force leadership at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. "I was thrilled to witness some of the extraordinary men and women from the 157th Air Refueling Wing in action yesterday afternoon, … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Keene airport getting $1.6 million for taxiway
by Damien Fisher
KEENE - The Dillant-Hopkins Airport is getting more than $1.6 million in new federal funding to pay for a taxiway expansion. The airport currently does not have a taxiway that extends to the ends of the runway, so planes must taxi to the end of the runway itself and turn around before being able to take off. "It's not the most efficient system," Airport Director David Hickling said. In 2019, the airport secured close to $350,000 toward the project, and Hickling said the total $1… Continue Reading
