Shaheen, Hassan secure New Hampshire priorities in WRDA

July 29, 2022, by Eldin Ganic

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan issued the following statements after the Senate passed by a vote of 92-2 the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, biennial legislation that authorizes water infrastructure projects across the country.

“I’m proud to share the New Hampshire priorities included in this legislation, which build on efforts in previous years that successfully led to the dredging of Rye and Hampton-Seabrook Harbors, as well as current work underway in Portsmouth Harbor and on the Piscataqua River Navigation project. This biennial legislation is a critical tool to deliver on urgently needed Granite State projects and I’m glad WRDA 2022 does precisely that,” said Senator Shaheen.

“Not only does this bill make important investments in issues like coastal resiliency and bolstering our STEM workforce, but I was also excited to specifically add provisions that address local needs, which include helping the Town of Lancaster proceed with removing the Israel River Dam to respond to safety concerns due to deteriorating conditions.”

“This bipartisan legislation will support New Hampshire and our country’s economy and environment, helping to address ongoing supply chain challenges that have contributed to the high costs that Americans are facing,” added Senator Hassan.

“We have seen just how important dredging projects are to strengthening the Portsmouth Harbor, and I am pleased that this bipartisan bill builds on the progress we’ve made by continuing to support our harbor. In addition, it includes key priorities that Senator Shaheen and I pushed for to dredge our rivers, remove the Israel River Dam, and maintain other dams and waterways.”

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