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Shaheen, Hassan Secure New Hampshire Priorities in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Senate passed by a vote of 97-1 the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, biennial legislation that authorizes water infrastructure projects across the country. The bill recently passed the House of Representatives and is now headed to the President’s desk.

“Protecting and enhancing New Hampshire’s waterways, infrastructure and ecosystems is key to boosting our state’s economy, which is why I’m pleased that this bipartisan legislation has passed the Senate and will soon be signed into law,” said Senator Shaheen. “I was proud to secure inclusion of my bill to reauthorize the Northern Border Regional Commission—an agency that serves as a key economic driver in New Hampshire’s northern rural communities. Also included are provisions to advance much-needed upgrades to Granite State water and wastewater infrastructure, including a feasibility study at the Surry Mountain Dam.”

“This bipartisan legislation will support New Hampshire’s economy and environment,” said Senator Hassan. “It is particularly important that through this legislation, we reauthorized the Northern Border Regional Commission, which has provided critical support to local projects that have spurred economic development across the Granite State. In addition, this bill includes key measures to protect and preserve the Granite State’s vital water resources. These measures will strengthen New Hampshire’s communities for years to come.”

WRDA contains several New Hampshire priorities that Shaheen and Hassan worked to secure, including: 

  • Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act: WRDA 2024 includes Senator Shaheen’s legislation to reauthorize the Northern Border Regional Commission for another five years. NBRC encourages business retention and expansion, invests in public infrastructure and promotes tourism across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. To address unique challenges facing rural workforces, the legislation also invests in projects that expand rural access to child care, health care and affordable housing needs. The NBRC Reauthorization Act also broadens NBRC’s ability to award grants to projects and activities to address the opioid epidemic and other substance use disorders impacting the region. 
  • Establishes an Environmental Infrastructure and Ecosystem Restoration Program for New Hampshire: WRDA 2024 authorizes $25 million for environmental infrastructure in New Hampshire. This program will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to provide assistance in the form of design and construction assistance for environmental infrastructure, including water and wastewater infrastructure.
  • Directs a Feasibility Study at the Surry Mountain Dam: WRDA 2024 includes language directing USACE to conduct a study on the feasibility of upgrading flood gates and related equipment at Surry Mountain Lake to support stream flow augmentation releases. This capability will allow Surry Mountain Lake to serve an important role in protecting aquatic species in the Ashuelot River during times of severe drought.

Shaheen and Hassan have long worked to secure key provisions in the biennial legislation that led to the successful dredging of Portsmouth Harbor and the prioritization of the Piscataqua River Navigation project. Shaheen first secured authorization for the Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River Navigation Improvement Project as part of the 2016 WRDA. Shaheen and Hassan then worked with the rest of the New Hampshire congressional delegation to prioritize the project, specifically including language in the 2018 WRDA urging the Corps to expedite the project. Dredging for this project was completed in April 2022, having received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Shaheen and Hassan negotiated.

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen helped procure and Hassan supported $8.7 billion for the Corps to complete necessary infrastructure projects in New Hampshire and across the country in FY 2024 government funding legislation that the President signed into law. This funding legislation included language to help ensure the Corps continues to monitor and address shoaling in small harbors across the country, including Rye Harbor and Hampton Harbor in New Hampshire.

The bill text of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 is available here.

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