New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Celebrates More than $3.6 Million in Federal Funding to Support Granite State Firefighters

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded more than $3.6 million in federal funding to support firefighters in towns across New Hampshire through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.

These grants will allow firefighters, fire departments and other first responders to obtain the equipment, emergency vehicles, protective gear, training and other resources many agencies direly need to protect emergency personnel and Granite State communities from fire and related hazards.

“When duty calls, our firefighters and first responders are first to bravely jump into action, heading toward danger to keep our communities safe. It is incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can to support these heroes and ensure they have the resources they need,” said Senator Shaheen. “While we can never repay their service and sacrifice, I’m proud to do all I can in the Senate to support our firefighters and welcome the release of this critical grant funding that will keep first responders and communities across New Hampshire safe and secure.”

“Fire fighters run toward danger every day to protect our communities. I’m glad to see this federal funding help New Hampshire fire departments get the equipment and staff that they need to do their jobs safely.” said Senator Hassan. “I will continue working to support first responders with the resources they need.”

“Every day New Hampshire firefighters answer the call from our communities and put themselves in harm’s way responding to any number of emergencies. They need the tools, training, and equipment to do their jobs safely,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding will support equipment and gear upgrades and training for New Hampshire fire departments. I’ll keep working to return federal dollars to our state to support the vital work of our firefighters and first responders.”

“New Hampshire’s firefighters and first responders are being asked to do more and more with less and less year after year. But when the alarm sounds, they show up for us. We have a duty to show up for them,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Lifesaving CPR devices in Colebrook. Paramedic training in Salem. Portable radios in Weare. Fresh air packs in Littleton, Goshen, Spofford and Hebron. A new tanker in Hancock. This is what it looks like when federal funding goes straight to the people who keep us safe. I’ll never quit fighting for every penny our firefighters and first responders need to keep saving lives.”

As Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has consistently fought for New Hampshire’s firefighters and secured critical resources to support them. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured language to support ongoing research to identify a firefighter’s relative risk of exposure to PFAS released from their protective gear. Shaheen has also pushed back against Trump Administration policies that make it harder for first responders to keep communities safe, including calling for the resumption of life-saving firefighter trainings and an end to a hiring freeze on seasonal firefighters. In FY 2025, Shaheen pushed to increase funding to $385 million for both the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs following cuts in FY 2024.

The following cities and towns received grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program this year: