Granite State Times

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) -- a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee -- and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) -- a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee – announced today with Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) that $1,175,679 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program funding is headed to fire departments in Keene, Ashland, Sunapee, Campton and the New Hampshire Department of Safety. The AFG program provides direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments to enhance the safety and training of firefighters.

The City of Keene will receive $250,438, Town of Ashland will receive $227,639, Town of Sunapee will receive $221,860, Town of Campton will receive $61,666 and New Hampshire Department of Safety will receive $414,074.

“Firefighters are heroes in our communities and it’s essential that Congress provide them with the equipment and training they need to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m thrilled to see over $1 million in federal grants be awarded to fire departments across New Hampshire to make these important investments. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to secure funding for Granite State firefighters and our first responders who work tirelessly to keep our families safe.”

“New Hampshire fire fighters bravely serve our communities every day and it’s critical that they have access to up-to-date resources,” said Senator Hassan. “This important funding for fire departments across New Hampshire will not only keep fire fighters safe, it will keep the entire state safe. As a senior member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I have helped increase AFG funding for fire departments, and I continue to work to extend the program so that fire fighters across the Granite State can continue to get the equipment that they need.”

“Firefighters across New Hampshire put themselves in harm’s way every single day to keep our communities safe – it is critical that we ensure these brave first responders have the tools, training, and resources they need to protect themselves on the job,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I’m thrilled to see this funding heading to our New Hampshire fire departments to support their operations and safety. I will always fight for our Granite State firefighters.”

“New Hampshire fire fighters risk their lives every day while responding to emergencies and working to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding will support the critical work of our fire departments across New Hampshire and ensure that they have the resources they need to serve our local communities. I’ll always support our fire fighters and first responders as they work to keep Granite Staters safe.”

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has consistently fought to support New Hampshire firefighters. In funding legislation for FY 2023 that was passed by Congress and signed into law, Shaheen secured an additional $370 million for the AFG program. She also included $370 million to the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program. In total, the FY 2023 law provides a $20 million increase in funding for firefighters compared with the enacted FY 2022 funding level. In 2022, SAFER and AFG awarded a combined $5,428,280 to New Hampshire fire departments. Earlier this month, the New Hampshire delegation announced over $300,000 in AFG program funding for the Chichester and Bartlett Fire Departments.

Senator Hassan has led efforts to support New Hampshire fire fighters. She helped advance a bipartisan bill to extend the AFG program through the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and the bill recently passed the Senate. Senator Hassan has helped ensure that New Hampshire fire departments benefit from this program; for instance, Senator Hassan helped secure a grant to the Berlin Fire Department in 2022 to replace its fire engine that had been in service since 1979. Senator Hassan also successfully worked to increase funding for the AFG and SAFER programs in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law.

Original source can be found here.