In The News
Shaheen, Hassan urge EPA to act on PFAS contaminants
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH - U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to "take immediate action to protect citizens from" further PFAS contamination. Shaheen and Hassan released a letter on Friday they wrote to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in the wake of this week's first-ever PFAS contamination community engagement event, which the EPA held in Exeter. "We are hopeful that the EPA will take the concerns and recommendations that were raised by community leade… Continue Reading
June 12, 2018
Hampton Harbor dredging effort takes a step forward
by Max Sullivan
HAMPTON -- Plans for the dredging of Hampton Harbor will be funded this year by the Army Corps of Engineers, giving advocates for the project hope the actual dredging could take place in 2019. The corps' 2018 fiscal year work plan includes $275,000 to produce the plans for the project, which harbor business owners say is needed to keep the harbor from becoming unusable. U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both New Hampshire Democrats, praised the corps Monday for including the funding… Continue Reading
May 26, 2018
Thousands turn out for USS Manchester commissioning
by Kimberley Haas
PORTSMOUTH - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says one of the best parts of sponsoring the USS Manchester was getting the chance to meet the crew."It has been an honor and truly the thrill of a lifetime to be the USS Manchester's sponsor," Shaheen, D-NH, said during a commissioning ceremony Saturday that drew a crowd of close to 6,000 people.Shaheen acknowledged the accomplishments of the littoral combat ship's Cmdr. Emily Bassett"She is a role model for all of us, especially women and girls throughout New H… Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Pease to lead off first nationwide PFAS health study
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH - The Agency For Toxic Substances and Disease Registry will announce Thursday night that it will be doing a health study on adults and children exposed to dangerous PFAS chemicals at the former Pease Air Force Base here. The study will be part of the first-ever larger multi-site study on PFAS exposure that was established by legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. The announcement will come from ATSDR officials at Thursday night's meeting of the Pease Community Assi… Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
With Seasonal Hiring Pressure In N.H., Shaheen Pushes For Answers On Temporary Worker Visas
by Robert Garrova
Many seasonal businesses in New Hampshire take advantage of temporary worker visas to fill open jobs. But as the summer tourism season approaches, employers say they're still understaffed. Russ Hart owns Hart's Turkey Farm restaurant in Meredith. He's requested 18 temporary H-2B visas for the busy season but so far only has eight. The lack of workers isn't a big problem yet, but Hart expects it will be after Memorial Day. "We will have an issue once we get into June, though," Hart says. "There… Continue Reading
April 24, 2018
Shaheen questions Air Force secretary on PFAS health study
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH -- U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., questioned the secretary of the Air Force on the first national health study planned for people exposed to PFAS chemicals. Shaheen on Tuesday morning also asked Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, who grew up in Keene, whether she thought there should be a separate branch of the military for space defense during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Shaheen reminded Wilson more than 1,500 people have high levels of PFAS chemicals in their bl… Continue Reading
April 09, 2018
New England fishermen win reprieve from at-sea monitoring fees
by Rob Hotakainen
At 64, David Goethel thought it might be time to quit fishing and get rid of his boat, a 44-foot trawler named Ellen Diane. "I was planning on selling it this summer," said Goethel, a commercial fisherman from Hampton, N.H. "There's just simply no money left. The tax accountant confirmed that to me the other day." But Goethel figures he'll keep working now that Congress has thrown him a temporary lifeline, beginning May 1. That's when New England's groundfishing season opens and the federal go… Continue Reading
April 07, 2018
Shaheen: PFAS health study can deliver answers
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., believes the first national health study on PFAS exposure will help give parents in the Seacoast some answers they've been asking for. Shaheen announced in March she had procured $7 million for the study on people exposed to PFAS chemicals in drinking water that came as a result of legislation she introduced. During an exclusive interview Thursday, Shaheen said because PFAS or PFCs are contaminants of emerging concern "we don't have the kind of health… Continue Reading
April 05, 2018
Shaheen lobbies for state in fight against opioids
by Liora Engel-Smith
Speaking about the opioid epidemic during a visit with The Sentinel's editorial board Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said New Hampshire should receive at least $10 million of the new funds Congress set aside for states with high rates of overdose deaths. Shaheen, a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 2009, said the $142-million outlay should be divided among the states with the five highest rates of opioid deaths, with a minimum of $10 million for each state. New Hampshire… Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
NOAA to foot monitoring costs
by Sean Hordan
Timing may not be everything, but it sure counts for a lot. Just ask New Hampshire groundfisherman David Goethel. Goethel, who had persevered through cascading years of escalating regulation, slashed fishing quotas, a failed lawsuit and, more recently, the prospect of paying the full cost of at-sea monitoring, was ready to get out of commercial groundfishing. "I had planned to sell my boat this summer," Goethel said Wednesday, referring to his 44-foot, Hampton, New Hampshire-ported Ellen Diane… Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Fisherman who sued feds thrilled about funding for monitoring
by Kimberley Haas
HAMPTON - A commercial fisherman who sued the federal government over at-sea monitoring costs was thrilled Thursday when it was announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would fully fund the program under the omnibus government spending bill.David Goethel, of Hampton, said he learned about the funding Wednesday."I've been sitting on this for 18 hours. I was like a cat that swallowed a canary. I didn't want to spit out any feathers," Goethel said Thursday afternoon.NOAA used t… Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
New Hampshire Hoping Boost in Opioid Funds in Federal Spending Deal Hits Home
by Britta Greene
New Hampshire's congressional delegation is cheering a significant increase in federal funds for fighting the opioid epidemic included in the federal spending deal released Wednesday. The draft bill contains an additional $3 billion over 2017 funding levels to fight opioid and mental health crises nationally. "These federal dollars will deliver the material assistance that is desperately needed for prevention, treatment, recovery, law enforcement and first responders," said Senator Jeanne Shahe… Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
What's In The Omnibus Spending Bill? This Part Will Actually Help Women
by Shelby Black
Here's something to brighten your day: some good might actually be coming out of Donald Trump's presidency. The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is getting its highest level of funding ever, thanks to being included in the federal budget deal currently working its way through Congress. So if you've been wondering what's in the omnibus spending bill, you know there's at least one good thing. According to a press release, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen secured record breaking federal funds of $49… Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Shaheen secures funding for national PFAS health study
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., announced late Wednesday that she has procured $7 million for the first-ever national health study on PFAS exposure in drinking water. The monies are included in the bipartisan legislation unveiled Wednesday to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2018, which also directs the Defense Department to report on the extent of the PFC contamination in drinking water, plans for community notification and procedures for timely remediation. Shaheen … Continue Reading
February 01, 2018
Jeanne Moser attends State of the Union with Sen. Shaheen
by Hadley Barndollar
It was two Jeannes united at Tuesday's State of the Union address. One, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who wore a purple ribbon to highlight the opioid epidemic and substance use disorders. The other, East Kingston's Jeanne Moser, a mother who has dedicated her life to prescription drug consciousness since the passing of her 27-year-old son Adam. Moser was Shaheen's guest for President Donald Trump's address. Each senator is able to bring one guest from their state and Shaheen extended her invitati… Continue Reading
January 26, 2018
Shaheen Announces Jeanne Moser, Whose Son Was Lost to the Opioid Epidemic, As SOTU Guest
**Jeanne Moser is a New Hampshire activist working to raise awareness about opioid and substance use disorders after her son Adam passed away as the result of a fentanyl overdose in 2015** **Shaheen and others will wear purple ribbons at the President's address to raise awareness for opioid and substance use disorders and to underscore the critical need for federal support to fight the epidemic** (Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced that she will bring Jeanne … Continue Reading
January 10, 2018
President signs bill into law co-sponsored by NH senators
by Jean Mackin
WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Donald Trump signed a new piece of legislation into law Wednesday night to combat the flow of illegal opioids. While it was co-sponsored by New Hampshire's senators, it is designed to have a life-saving impact across the entire country. "It's going to help," Trump told sponsors of the legislation. "Hopefully, it will help a lot." The International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act was introduc… Continue Reading
January 09, 2018
Senate Dems seek $25B in opioid funding
by Nathaniel Weixel
Senate Democrats are pushing for an extra $25 billion to be included in any final budget agreement to combat the opioid epidemic. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, a pair of New Hampshire Democrats who are leading the effort, said during a press conference Tuesday that the federal response to the crisis has been insufficient and negotiations over a long-term spending deal are an opportunity to change that. "Make no mistake: This is a national public health emergency, and we still don't… Continue Reading
January 09, 2018
Shaheen, Hassan propose $25B more for opioid crisis
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan have announced a Democratic proposal for an additional $25 billion in the federal budget to combat the opioid crisis. The senators on Tuesday called for the investment over two years to go toward programs that support opioid treatment in such agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Medicare, and Medicaid. The senators say a federal response is needed that matche… Continue Reading
January 06, 2018
Repeal of net neutrality rules rankles business community
by Liora Engel-Smith
From slow-to-load websites to so-called Internet "fast lanes" that could exclude small businesses entirely, the Federal Communications Commission's recent vote to repeal net neutrality regulations will hurt small IT businesses in the Monadnock Region, local tech entrepreneurs said Friday. In a roundtable discussion with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., at the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship in Keene, a handful of small business owners talked about the challenges they might face. … Continue Reading
