Chair of Pivotal Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen Secures Numerous NH Priorities in Final Government Funding Legislation to Address Substance Use Disorder Crisis, Support Domestic Violence Survivors, Invest in U.S. Manufacturing & More

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement on final government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2023. Through her leadership on this subcommittee, Shaheen helps write legislation that invests in important New Hampshire priorities, including funding for key federal programs that respond to the substance use disorder crisis, support domestic and sexual violence survivors, invest in law enforcement programs, implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, bolster U.S. manufacturing and much more.

The FY2023 government funding legislation was negotiated by Senate and House appropriators – it will go before the House and Senate this week before it’s sent to the President to be signed into law by December 23, 2022.

"As we get to the other side of the COVID-19 crisis, addressing the systemic issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic is of critical concern. That is precisely what I sought to do as Chair of the CJS Subcommittee, which oversees federal resources for programs that address issues like the substance use disorder epidemic and domestic and sexual violence,” said Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. “This legislation also prioritizes important policies that invest in domestic manufacturing and trade, as well as conservation, weatherization and space exploration, a broad scope that comprehensively devotes federal investments to support our economy, spur innovation and keep the United States competitive. I look forward to Congress swiftly considering this legislation and sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.”

NH Priorities Secured by Shaheen in FY23 Senate Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations Legislation: 

Highest Funding Level Ever for Violence Against Women Act Programs 

For the sixth year in a row, Senator Shaheen successfully secured the highest funding level ever for the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Act programs, totaling $700 million for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). This is a 22 percent increase from last year’s funding level and will support training officials, rape prevention programs, processing rape kits, domestic violence hotlines, women’s shelters and transitional housing support services. Funding is provided for newly authorized programs covered under the VAWA Act 2022 reauthorization, including $5 million for the Abby Honold Act, which establishes a grant program to provide trauma informed training to law enforcement so officers can improve their response to sexual assault survivors, and $15 million for the restorative justice grant program. In addition, the bill provides $10 million to jumpstart Senator Shaheen’s Survivors’ Bill of Rights incentive program, which encourages states to ensure that sexual assault survivors have the same rights guaranteed to survivors under federal law, including not being charged for a medical forensic exam and being informed of results of a sexual assault evidence collection kit. Last year, Senator Shaheen reintroduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Grassley (R-IA) to build on her legislation that is now law, the Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act, by incentivizing states to pass legislation that guarantees the survivors rights included in the federal legislation. She also introduced a bill to reauthorize legislation to expand pro bono legal resources for victims and survivors.

Critical Funding for Department of Justice Substance Use Disorder Grants  

Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to combat the substance use disorder epidemic through her leadership on this committee, and this year secured $608 million to help communities and first responders respond to substance crises, including opioid addiction and drug trafficking.  This is an increase of $36 million above last year’s funding level. The largest part of this funding is $445 million for Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) grants, an increase of $30 million above last year’s funding level. These grants support programs like drug, mental health and veteran treatment courts and substance use disorder treatment programs administered by state and local correctional facilities. Last year, Senator Shaheen helped introduce the bipartisan CARA 3.0 to help combat the opioid epidemic by increasing the funding authorization levels for these programs. Shaheen also secured funding for the COPS anti-heroin task force and anti-methamphetamine task force programs, as well as $12.5 million in Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funding to assist children and youth impacted by a substance use disorder in their families and communities. 

This funding builds on Shaheen’s extensive efforts to provide flexibility for treatment providers to use State Opioid Response (SOR) grant dollars to help patients suffering from meth and cocaine dependency, in addition to opioid use disorders. Shaheen’s efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire.

Funding to Support Victims of Violent Crimes & Bolstered Legal Services

A staunch advocate for the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), Shaheen successfully secured $1.9 billion for the fund this year. This fund provides direct assistance and programs to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking and other violent crimes. Shaheen is a leader in the Senate fighting in support of survivors. Shaheen previously urged fellow lawmakers to overcome partisan politics and pass the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act. After her speech on the Senate floor, the Senate approved the measure unanimously and President Biden signed the bill into law. The legislation redirects monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the CVF in order to provide continued support for state victim compensation and assistance programs. Through her leadership on the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen has historically bolstered resources for the CVF.

Shaheen also helped secure $560 million for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), which is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the country with counsel on family law, domestic violence, housing and financial fraud. The funding in this bill is $71 million higher than last year’s funding level for LSC.

Support for Law Enforcement and to Enhance Police-Community Relations 

Senator Shaheen successfully secured $771 million for the Byrne-Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) program, which helps law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire and across the country, strengthens the criminal justice system and bolsters services for victims of crime. Of this amount, $412 million is dedicated to state and local law enforcement agencies, an increase of $30.4 million more than the FY 2022 level. In addition, Shaheen helped allocate $324 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring, an increase of $78 million from the FY 2022 level. This program supports state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies’ ability to hire, preserve and/or rehire law enforcement officers and increases community policing efforts, and will place over 1,800 more police officers on the streets of our communities.

Senator Shaheen worked to include $231 million for Office of Justice Programs and COPS Office grant programs to support efforts that improve police-community relations. This is an increase of $30 million, or 15 percent, above the enacted FY 2022 funding level. This will support programs for law enforcement officer training on de-escalation, implicit bias and crisis intervention, as well as hate crime prevention and community violence intervention programs.

Investments in Science and to Advance U.S. Space Exploration 

Shaheen secured $9.87 billion – a historic increase of $1.036 billion or nearly 12 percent above last year’s enacted level – in total for the NSF. To help implement the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, this is largest dollar increase for the agency of all time and the largest percentage increase in more than 20 years. This funding will support U.S. competitiveness in key areas like quantum computing, artificial intelligence and climate science, as well as help build an innovative workforce fueled by a diverse pipeline of scientists and engineers. Shaheen also helped secure $1.64 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to invest in STEM programs that improve competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and strengthen domestic supply chains. Additionally, Shaheen secured $3 million to continue research into the prevalence of PFAS in firefighter personal protective equipment. This research is a key component in Shaheen’s bipartisan bill, which was signed into law, and takes important steps to address concerns regarding firefighters’ occupational exposure to PFAS chemicals.

To support America’s continued leadership in space, Shaheen helped secure $25.4 billion for NASA. This will support climate research and space missions. The bill also includes funding to support the International Space Station and returning humans to the Moon. Additionally, within the $8 billion Shaheen secured for NASA Science, $805 million is for NASA Heliophysics, an increase of $27 million above the FY 2022 level. The University of New Hampshire is a leading heliophysics research institution, with instruments on 16 of 22 operating heliophysics missions.

Increased Funding for the Economic Development Administration and Trade

Senator Shaheen secured $1.12 billion for the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which awards infrastructure and planning grants to communities around the country, including throughout New Hampshire. This level is an increase of $742.5 million above the prior year. This includes $500 million for the newly-authorized Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program to advance regional innovation and technology-based economic development. It also includes $200 million for the newly-authorized Recompete Pilot Program to catalyze economically distressed communities. Both of these programs were created through the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act earlier this year. The Senator previously opposed efforts by the Trump administration to reduce or eliminate funding for the EDA, which has recently awarded grants to Granite State communities for a wide variety of projects. The EDA funding also includes $4.5 million to assist communities recovering from biomass plant closures.

Shaheen also secured $1.5 million for the Bureau of Economic Analysis to continue the annual assessment of the economic value of the outdoor recreation industry – a key sector supporting local economies across New Hampshire. This report, which was created as a result of the enactment of the Senator’s Outdoor REC Act, provides a comprehensive assessment of the role that outdoor recreation plays in supporting jobs and economic growth, allowing policymakers to craft legislation to further support the sector. The bill also provides over $625 million for the International Trade Administration (ITA), which promotes American exports, supports small and medium-sized businesses and ensures fair trade practices on the global stage. This marks a $55 million increase above FY 2022.

Bolstered Manufacturing Programs

Senator Shaheen worked to include $239 million for NIST manufacturing programs, an increase of $64.5 million or 37 percent above the FY 2022 enacted level.  The bill provides a $30 million increase for the popular Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), providing a total of $188 million to improve competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and to strengthen domestic supply chains. And the bill includes $51 million for Manufacturing USA Institutes, including $20 million for the first year of a new institute.

Support for Ocean Research & Conservation Efforts and Weather Satellites

Senator Shaheen secured $6.37 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is an increase of $495 million or 8 percent over last year’s funding level. This includes $761 million for NOAA research, much of which pertains to combating the climate crisis. 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. In addition, the bill invests in successful job-creating programs, sustainable economic development and environmental restoration.  The bill provides full funding to cover the full cost of at-sea monitoring in the New England groundfish fishery and an increase of $38 million for research and conservation efforts to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale, for a total of $66 million, of which up to $26 million will help defray costs paid by the lobster fishing industry to protect right whales. At least $20 million is for innovative gear research to reduce entanglement risk.  The bill also provides $10 million for a new NOAA Hydrographic Mapping Center of Excellence in partnership with the Joint Hydrographic Center/Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire.

In addition, Shaheen helped secure $1.7 billion for NOAA weather and climate satellites, an increase of $88 million or 5.5 percent above the FY 2022 enacted level.  The bill provides sufficient funding to keep the construction of the current generation of polar, geostationary and space weather satellites on track. Polar Weather Satellites help forecast weather to protect property and economic security for families in New Hampshire and across the nation. One-third of U.S. GDP is affected by climate and weather – from farmers in the North Country trying to protect livestock and crops to climate disasters costing billions of dollars of damage.

In addition to the annual programmatic funding priorities detailed above, Shaheen also worked to procure federal support for specific New Hampshire projects through the Congressionally Directed Spending process. These are listed below.  In total, Shaheen included $17,702,000 for 23 New Hampshire projects in this bill.

New Hampshire Projects Secured by Shaheen in the FY23 Senate CJS Subcommittee Appropriations Bill:

Recipient	Project	Location	Amount
Belknap County Sheriff's Office	IT Enhancements for Belknap County Sheriff's Office	Belknap County, NH	$600,000
Exeter Police Department	Exeter Police Mobile Radio Communications Upgrades	Exeter, NH	$112,000
Granite State Children's Alliance	Interview Recording Equipment and Mental/Behavioral Health Supplies for Child Advocacy Centers in NH	Bedford, NH	$223,000
Great Bay Stewards, Inc.	Eelgrass Education Project at the Great Bay Discovery Center	Rockingham and Strafford Counties, NH	$100,000
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office	Hillsborough County Sheriff K-9 Niko Specialized Vehicle Project	Hillsborough County, NH	$76,000
Hollis Department of Emergency Management	Public Safety Radio Infrastructure and Interoperability Upgrade	Hollis, NH	$702,000
Laconia Police Department	Dispatch Technology Integration System	Laconia, NH	$200,000
Manchester Police Department	New Hampshire Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness	Manchester, NH	$110,000
Manchester School District	Manchester School Emergency Notification System	Manchester, NH	$2,401,000
Nashua Police Department	Hazardous Device Unit Equipment	City of Nashua, NH	$110,000
Nashua Police Department	Nashua Police Department Small Platform Response Vehicle	Nashua, NH	$90,000
NERACOOS	Building a Coastal Resilience Monitoring System for New Hampshire	Rockingham County, NH	$1,850,000
New Hampshire Department of Justice	New Hampshire Drug Task Force	Concord, NH	$409,000
New London Police Department	New London CAD/RMS Program Project	New London, NH	$413,000
Newfields, NH, Police	Newfields Police Technology Equipment	Newfields, NH	$28,000
New Hampshire Aerospace & Defense Export Consortium	Next Generation Innovation for a Resilient Supply Chain	Merrimack County, NH	$2,307,000
Sanbornton Police Department	Sanbornton Police Department Radio System	Sanbornton, NH	$22,000
Seacoast Science Center	Seacoast Science Center Renovation and Program Expansion	Rye, NH	$5,000,000
University of New Hampshire	Detecting Harmful Algal Blooms and Microplastics in the Great Bay and Beyond	Strafford County, NH	$722,000
Town of Gorham	Pine Mountain Repeater & 4-site Simulcast System	Town of Gorham, NH	$426,000
Town of Newington	Newington Emergency Communications Infrastructure	Rockingham County, NH	$170,000
University of New Hampshire	Enhancement of the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center	Strafford County, NH	$1,137,000
University of New Hampshire	Marine Waterfront Facility Equipment	Newcastle, NH	$494,000

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