Shaheen & Kuster Applaud Inclusion of Funding for Research Efforts at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Lab in Government Funding Legislation

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today applauded the inclusion of provisions they authored and supported in government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2020 to bolster engineering and cold weather research at the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover. The legislation includes nearly $18 million in infrastructure improvements at the lab, as well as cold weather research projects in partnership with Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire.

“These improvements to infrastructure and cold weather research projects will go a long way toward developing capabilities that will better prepare our military to operate in cold and harsh environments, like the Arctic,” said Senator Shaheen. “I am very proud that both Dartmouth College and UNH will be able to collaborate with CRREL on this important work, continuing our state’s legacy as a leader in innovation and scientific discovery.”

“Every day, the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) is doing important research to help the Armed Forces establish a strategic advantage in the Arctic region,” said Rep. Kuster. “I am proud to help CRREL acquire the equipment it needs to enhance our national security and encouraged that UNH and Dartmouth will have the opportunity to continue to partner with CRREL to support this important work.”

Specifically, the government funding legislation for FY2020 includes the following provisions to support cold weather and other research at CRREL:

• $6 million for a “heavy load simulator” to research military vehicle weight on frozen terrain and permafrost;
• $4 million to modernize an ice engineering facility to improve cold weather research capabilities;
• $4 million for Army research and development for energy technology and research in cold and artic regions in partnership with Dartmouth College;
• $3 million in Army research and development for military operations cold weather research in partnership with the University of New Hampshire; and
• $575,000 to support CRREL’s research in the field of remote sensing and geographic information support.  

Earlier this year, Senator Shaheen helped secure funding for a collaboration between CRREL and Dartmouth College to research ways to improve energy services, delivery, storage and mobility for military bases in the Arctic. Congresswoman Kuster helped secure funding for the Heavy Load Simulator in appropriations legislation passed by the House this spring.