Granite State Times

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) a nearly $1.2 million federal award through NOAA to the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) to support improved and enhanced coastal and ocean observing systems. The funding is provided by the bipartisan infrastructure law, legislation for which Shaheen and Hassan were lead negotiators.

“Granite Staters in New Hampshire’s coastal communities know as well as anyone that we need investment to enhance how we monitor rising and changing water levels, water quality and radar abilities. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, we can continue investing in our coastal communities,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “I’m excited about the benefits communities in New Hampshire have already begun to see, but there’s still work to be done, and this grant will go towards the critical research and resiliency efforts coastal New Hampshire needs to thrive.”

“It’s wonderful to see these federal funds coming directly to New England to improve our offshore infrastructure and foster innovation,” said Congresswoman Annie Kuster. “The research of the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems is essential to protecting our communities and keeping our oceans safe and clean for generations to come. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this project.”

“It’s vital our coastal communities have modern technology to monitor rising sea levels and environmental changes,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “This funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law will upgrade our observing infrastructure, improving data collection and increasing our coastal communities’ climate resiliency. I’ll keep working to deliver resources that update old infrastructure and ensure New Hampshire’s coastal communities can thrive.”

“Ocean observing infrastructure provides critical data and forecasts that promote public safety, environmental protection, and the success of maritime industries, especially in a changing ocean,” said Dr. Jake Kritzer, Executive Director of NERACOOS, “Thanks to the support of Senator Shaheen and her colleagues across the Northeast, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enable us to make important strides toward modernizing and building resilience into essential these systems.”

This award is designed to upgrade and update observing infrastructure in the Northeast region, including in New Hampshire. These include improvements to the offshore buoy system, water quality sensors, water level monitoring stations, and high-frequency radar, as well as improvements to the data management and cyberinfrastructure system. This investment provides support for gathering and disseminating coastal and ocean data critical to many stakeholders and communities in the region.

Additional information on the award is available here. 

Shaheen leads the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds NOAA. Both Shaheen and Hassan were negotiators of the bipartisan infrastructure law and were steadfast supporters of the Inflation Reduction Act, which included historic investments to address coastal resilience. In the fiscal year (FY) 2023 government funding law, Shaheen secured $6.35 billion for NOAA, which is an increase of $475 million or 8 percent over last year’s funding level. This includes $761 million for NOAA research, much of which pertains to combating the climate crisis. This funding will help coastal communities in New Hampshire and across the nation bolster their resilience to changing climate, as well as support ocean health and research. Last month, Shaheen announced $5.6 Million in NOAA grant funding for New England to support coastal resiliency projects. Specifically, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will receive $2,988,122. 

Senator Hassan directly negotiated nearly $1 billion in critical funding for coastal resiliency in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: $492 million for the NOAA National Coastal Resiliency Fund and $491 million for the NOAA Community-Based Restoration Recently, Senator Hassan visited Wagon Hill Farm in Durham, which is currently applying for funding through the National Coastal Resilience Fund, to speak about the importance of coastal resiliency. 

Original source can be found here.