Shaheen Visits Great Bay to Discuss Impact of Historic Climate Bill on NH Coastal Resiliency Efforts
**Earlier in the day, Shaheen visited Galvion Active Systems, a Portsmouth-based small business that manufactures protective armor and head systems that keep U.S. military members safe on the battlefield**
Senator Shaheen at Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves earlier today, and later with municipal leaders from Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Newmarket and Rochester for the Building Community Support for Sustainable Stormwater Funding Workshop Series.
(Greenland, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), visited the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNRR) to highlight funds from NOAA provided by the Inflation Reduction Act that support coastal communities and habitats. Senator Shaheen toured the boardwalk to Great Bay and received an update on GBNRR’s research on protecting local salt marshes. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NOAA, Shaheen routinely secures robust funding for programs that address numerous issues impacting New Hampshire, from offsetting at-sea monitoring fees to combating the climate crisis.
Afterwards, Senator Shaheen joined municipal leaders from Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Newmarket and Rochester for the Building Community Support for Sustainable Stormwater Funding Workshop Series. Senator Shaheen participated in the workshop to hear from local leaders about their work to build community support to fund stormwater management and other resiliency efforts in their cities and towns.
"The Inflation Reduction Act is a landmark law that will have a historic impact on our response to climate change, and we’re starting to see that progress in New Hampshire, including here at Great Bay,” said Senator Shaheen. “Any time the U.S. Senate considers legislation, and especially legislation of this magnitude, my top concern is how it will affect New Hampshire. That’s why I supported and advocated for measures that will help make important resiliency improvements. I appreciated the update on the critical work underway to protect our salt marshes, and to hear from local leaders on how they’re making plans to invest in stormwater management and other necessary resiliency priorities.”
Earlier in the day, Senator Shaheen – also a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Senate Committee on Armed Services, visited the Portsmouth facility of Galvion, a manufacturer of protective armor and head systems that keep U.S. military members safe on the battlefield. Shaheen was joined by New England Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA), Mike Vlacich, where they met with Galvion leadership to discuss their ongoing projects that support service members.
Senator Shaheen joins SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich, Galvion Active Systems President Kristen Lomastro and members of Galvion’s leadership at their Portsmouth facility earlier today.
Senator Shaheen tours Galvion’s Portsmouth facility this morning.
"New Hampshire plays an important role in support of our national defense and I always appreciate the opportunity to see that critical work up close. Galvion is a great example of a Granite State small business that is leading the charge in the defense manufacturing sphere. Their success demonstrates that with the assistance of federal programs like the State Trade Expansion Program, New Hampshire-based businesses can reach impressive heights, and in this case, both providing technology that keeps U.S. men and women safe on the battlefield and engaging with the global marketplace,” said Senator Shaheen, who helped create the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) as a pilot program in 2010 to assist small businesses enter new markets, access export financing and attend trade missions. The program was fully authorized by Senator Shaheen’s small business trade amendment, which was signed into law in 2016.
“We thank Senator Shaheen for her visit and her support to small businesses,” said Kristen Lomastro, President of Active Systems at Galvion. “The products researched and produced here support our troops and our allies around the globe. Galvion appreciates the opportunity to protect those who protect us.”
“With nearly 96 percent of consumers living outside the U.S. and two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power in foreign countries, it's critical we level the playing field for small businesses to access these potential customers and clients,” said SBA New England Regional Administrator Mike Vlacich. “Thanks to Senator Shaheen and the Biden Administration, this additional federal grant funding will support new and existing small business exporters increase sales and expand markets through SBA’s State Trade Expansion Program.”
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