Shaheen Continues “Invest in NH Tour” to Highlight Federal Dollars Coming to New Hampshire for Mental Health Care and Clean Energy
(Laconia, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, continued on her “Invest in NH Tour” to highlight the more than $100 million Shaheen secured for 101 Granite State projects and priorities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 government funding legislation that was signed into law in March. For today’s tour, Shaheen visited the Lakes Region Mental Health Center in Laconia and Plymouth State University’s Renewable Energy Open Lab. Photos from both of today’s events can be found here.
While at the Lakes Region Mental Health Center in Laconia, Shaheen met with Lakes Region medical providers and learned about how the facility will use $630,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending, which Shaheen secured, to make upgrades to Lakes Region Mental Health’s electronic health system which will help streamline care and services to meet the growing demand for behavioral health services.
“I’m thrilled to continue my ‘Invest in NH Tour’ to highlight the important funding coming to the Granite State in this year’s government funding legislation to meet the ever-growing need for mental health care in our state,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was proud to secure $630,000 through the Congressionally Directed Spending process for the Lakes Region Mental Health Center to upgrade their electronic records system, increasing the agency’s capacity to serve Granite Staters in need of care.”
As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen secured $17,419,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending in the FY24 government funding legislation to support health care and education needs in the Granite State. Shaheen has also led the response to address increased youth mental health needs in New Hampshire, securing approximately $74 million in additional funding for Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grants and School-Based Mental Health Services grants in the FY24 government funding bills. The bill also includes Shaheen-led language directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to report to Congress on barriers for youth in need of mental health services, in particular those crossing state lines for post-secondary education.
Shaheen then visited Plymouth State University’s (PSU) campus to discuss the $4,675,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending that she secured to help the University’s transition to clean energy and the creation of a Renewable Energy Open Lab. The Lab helps educate students and community members about the importance of energy security and addressing climate change through clean energy.
“I was proud to secure more than $4.6 million for Plymouth State to take on an innovative approach to renewable energy projects that will help the environment and benefit the broader community,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m confident that the students here today will be well equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow, and I hope to see this smart approach to energy replicated on campuses and in communities across the state and beyond.”
A longtime champion of energy efficiency, in the FY24 government funding bills Shaheen helped defend key efficiency programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from cuts, including securing $366 million for weatherization efforts and $66 million for the State Energy Program, which work to bring down energy bills for families and communities. Shaheen also secured continued support for the annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER) that tracks key jobs data in the energy sector.
Shaheen helped negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes major investments in clean energy. A number of those provisions came from Shaheen’s bipartisan energy efficiency bill – the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) – with former Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). She also included the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act, the Promoting American Energy Jobs Act and the Heat Efficiency through Applied Technology (HEAT) Act.
Shaheen was also a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included provisions for clean energy and climate investments in New Hampshire. Granite Staters looking for energy efficiency resources can check out Senator Shaheen’s Federal Energy Resource Guide.
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