Shaheen gets NH projects in defense bill compromise

Additional spending for worker protections and improvements to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and speeding up the cleanup of PFAS or forever chemicals were projects Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., secured in the National Defense Authorization Act likely to go to President Joe Biden during his final weeks in office.

As a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen helped convince House and Senate negotiators to approve a five-year exemption for employees of public shipyards from a lodging mandate and another $5 million to expand the PFAS public health study that Shaheen had established five years ago. The former Pease Air Force Base site served as a model for this national study.

This final bill also included a ban on PFAS chemicals in cleaning products bought by the Department of Defense.

“From the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to our innovative defense manufacturing industry, New Hampshire plays an integral role in boosting our national defense," Shaheen said. "That’s why I was proud to secure provisions in this year’s national defense bill to support our state’s contributions while also addressing some of the challenges, including tackling PFAS contamination, ensuring access to benefits for service members and supporting our defense industry and installations.” 

Another Shaheen amendment blocks the National Guard Bureau from carrying out a "re-leveling" initiative and got New Hampshire a one-year exemption from it for fear it could lead to job losses.

But the state’s congressional delegation split over the matter with retiring U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., opposing it due to a rider that House Speaker Mike Johnson attached to strip away gender-affirming health care for the transgender children of service members.

“The brave men and women in uniform who sacrifice so much for our country and our freedoms deserve a defense spending bill that puts their well-being and our national security above all else,” Kuster said in a statement after the House vote.

Last month, voters elected Nashua Democrat and former Justice Department legal administrator Maggie Goodlander to replace Kuster who’s retiring after six terms.

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., joined with the majority in the 281-140 vote to pass a measure Wednesday that gives junior service members a raise.

“This legislation will provide our dedicated service members with the pay raise they deserve and help save lives by taking on the trafficking of deadly drugs like fentanyl,” Pappas said in his statement.

“The hundreds of bipartisan provisions in this bill will strengthen our defense, boost New Hampshire’s economy, and improve our service members quality of life.”

This bill does include the largest pay raise in 25 years for junior service members, 14.5% for the junior enlisted and 4.5% for all other soldiers.

The legislation also includes $33.5 billion in shipbuilding including seven battle force ships and a Virginia-class submarine that are maintained at the Portsmouth shipyard.

The bill approves $377 million for new housing and child development center to make pay for child care staff at defense centers competitive with private industry.

These sections help the child care center at Portsmouth to upgrade infrastructure while recruiting and retaining staff, Pappas said.

Shaheen got a first-time amendment included to require that all women who receive health care through the military have access to Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception without insurance co-pays to bring military in line with civilian health care.

Pappas admitted “frustration" at Johnson's rider, citing some Republicans who had objected to it.

“It’s regrettable that Speaker Johnson forced the inclusion of unnecessary riders in this bill that would put LGBTQ+ youth at risk by taking away their ability to seek health care and make decisions with their families and doctors,” Pappas said.

“I urge the speaker to shift his attention to the issues the American people have asked us to focus on: strengthening our economy, lowering costs, and keeping our nation safe.”

The National Defense Authorization Act heads to the Senate next week.

Republicans believe that their attacks on transgender rights during the 2024 campaign helped propel them to victory and the U.S. House to hold onto its narrow majority.

After the election, Johnson issued a new policy banning transgender women from using women’s bathrooms in the House, aimed directly at Rep.-Elect Sarah McBride, D-Delaware, the first openly transgender person elected to Congress.