Funding legislation signed into law with significant NH priorities secured by Shaheen

US Senate Photo Studio/Frank A F
WASHINGTON — The final version of the fiscal year (FY) 2019 funding legislation for the Energy and Water Development, Legislative Branch and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittees was signed into law. Sen Jeanne Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, successfully added a number of significant provisions for New Hampshire in this funding legislation.

“Expanding federal resources to respond to the opioid crisis,” said Shaheen, “investing in veteran assistance programs, boosting federal aid for the Northern Border Regional Commission and providing the Army Corps of Engineers with the funding it needs to complete infrastructure projects, including emergency dredging for Hampton Harbor, are all significant New Hampshire priorities secured in this bill,” said Shaheen. “I’m very pleased to see that this legislation is now the law of the land, and that federal funds are coming back to the Granite State. I appreciate the bipartisan negotiations that enabled this legislation to move forward, and I’ll continue to push leaders in Congress to pass the outstanding appropriations bills to fully fund the federal government.”

Summary of New Hampshire Priorities Included in FY19 Minibus Appropriations Bill:

Senator Shaheen added $400 million for opioid prevention and treatment, which is $6 million more than last year’s funding level. The bill also includes specific language to ensure additional funding is used to continue the implementation of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Opioid Safety Initiative and to develop programs to ensure non-VA providers treating veterans through community care programs are informed and in compliance with all VA standards for opioid safety and prescription guidelines. A member of the Common Sense Caucus, Senator Shaheen helped secure an additional $6 billion to combat the opioid crisis in the budget deal signed into law in February, and helped ensure that a dedicated portion of that funding would be set aside specifically for states hardest hit by the opioid crisis. 

Senator Shaheen worked to include $17 million to fund the VA Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program, which has lapsed in the past due to lack of funding. This funding for FY 2019 expands screening, prevention and intervention services to veterans. It also strengthens collaboration with community partners, the Caregivers Support Program and VA programs to address homelessness.

Because of Senator Shaheen’s efforts, this bill includes $380 million for supportive services for low-income veterans and families, which is $40 million above the FY 2018 funding level. The supportive services for the homeless veterans program is designed to improve residential stability and increase skills and income potential among veterans. 

This legislation includes Senator Shaheen’s request of $54.3 million for the Veterans Justice Outreach and Prevention program, which is $5 million above the FY 2018 funding level. This program supports Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists who train local courts and law enforcement personnel to identify common challenges among reintegrating veterans, and help divert veterans suffering from mental illness or substance use disorders into VA treatment programs rather than incarceration.

Shaheen helped secure $20 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which is $5 million above the FY 2018 funding level. The bill also includes Shaheen’s provision that directs additional funding to the NBRC to be used to address the needs of rural communities impacted by forest product plant closures. President Trump’s FY 2019 budget request recommended eliminating the NBRC. 

Senator Shaheen worked to add nearly $2.4 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), including $254 million for the EERE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), a program long-championed by Shaheen that helps to lower energy costs for low-income families by making energy efficiency modifications to their homes. The bill also includes $55 million for the State Energy Program (SEP), which assists states with the development of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. President Trump’s budget request for FY 2019 ended funding for both of these programs.