Shaheen Applauds Nearly $1 Million in NOAA Funding for Granite State Coastal Restoration

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee, celebrated the announcement of nearly $1 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding for Granite State coastal restoration through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). Specifically, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will receive $997,700 from the National Coastal Resilience Fund to develop conservation projects across the Merrimack River watershed. These efforts will expand habitat for native species, including American eel, brook trout and American shad, while mitigating flood risk from future extreme weather events.

“New Hampshire's outdoor economy is one of the state's most important industries, and it’s critical we invest in conservation and resiliency to keep it that way while also protecting and preserving our environment for generations to come,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad to see federal funding I helped secure as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee head to New Hampshire to make communities within the Merrimack River watershed more resilient.”

Shaheen leads the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds NOAA. Shaheen was a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which included historic investments to address coastal resilience. In the fiscal year (FY) 2024 government funding law, Shaheen secured $6.32 billion for NOAA. This includes $32 million for NOAA’s National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund, which supports NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund. This funding will help coastal communities in New Hampshire and across the nation bolster their resilience to changing climate, as well as support ocean health and research. Last year, Shaheen announced $5.6 million in NOAA grant funding for New England to support coastal resiliency projects.

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