Shaheen Announces $3.8M Heading to UNH to Launch State-of-the-Art Water Quality Lab
**As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science & Related Agencies Subcommittee which funds the awarding federal agency, Shaheen specifically fought to procure this investment for UNH through the congressionally directed spending process**
(Durham, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) – announced today that federal dollars have been allocated to the University of New Hampshire (UNH) to support its Jackson Estuarine Lab Expansion and Renovation project. The $3,813,000 investment is awarded through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which as CJS chair, Shaheen routinely secures robust funding for during the annual appropriations process. This funding was one of New Hampshire-specific projects that Shaheen procured funding for through the congressionally directed spending process (CDS) in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 government funding bill that was signed into law, and which is currently delivering $69,047,000 in federal resources to a wide array of Granite State projects.
“This significant federal investment in the University of New Hampshire’s Jackson Estuarine Lab exemplifies exactly why the congressionally directed spending process is critical for smaller states like New Hampshire – it ensures we get our fair share of resources to make improvements that can change people’s lives,” said Senator Shaheen. “I fought for this project because of what it means for Granite Staters: a groundbreaking opportunity to monitor water quality in our communities to preserve our water supplies and protect the environment and seafood sources. I’m excited to see NIST deliver these funds so this project can get underway. I’m already working on next year’s appropriations bill to explore other projects that I know will make a difference for New Hampshire.”
“The expansion and facilities enhancements at the Jackson Estuarine Lab will ensure UNH is positioned to continue serving the state and the region as a leading scientific research partner and trusted convener,” said Diane Foster, Director of the UNH School of Marine Sciences and Ocean Engineering. “UNH and our collaborators are incredibly grateful for Sen. Shaheen’s leadership in Congress and support for these important programs and facilities that will help address our shared coastal management challenges, and we are excited for the opportunities this funding will create for the Lab and the health of our coastal ecosystems.”
Specifically, this project will launch a state-of-the-art water quality lab that can leverage UNH’s investment in genomic sequencing, better engage federal, state and local partners, and provide real time monitoring of the Great Bay Estuarine System. In addition, these federal investments will advance efforts to provide local support through a new high-bay space for marine operations (both crewed and autonomous), aquaculture systems for sustainable seafood, expanded diving and field operations. Finally, this project will create convening space to support federal, state and community engagement and coordination.
At the beginning of the year, Shaheen launched an event series – ‘Invest in New Hampshire’ – which highlighted several CDS projects she included in the most recent government funding law, in which she secured more than $111 million in federal resources for 105 New Hampshire-specific projects.
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