U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate cleared a continuing resolution that will extend the government funding deadline from September 30 to December 16, 2022, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. In addition to continued funding of the federal government, the bill includes $12.35 billion in military and economic assistance for Ukraine in defense against Russia’s unprovoked war. The bill will also provide critical resources to help communities recovering from natural disasters as well as $1 billion in emergency supplemental funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address the expected surge in home energy prices. A long-time supporter of LIHEAP, Shaheen recently joined a bipartisan, bicameral push for additional funds for the program, which helps over 5.3 million households nationwide afford their energy bills.

The funding bill will next be sent to the House of Representatives for passage before it is delivered to the President’s desk to be signed into law. As an appropriator, Shaheen helped write legislation released by the Appropriations Committee earlier this year that would fund the federal government for fiscal year (FY) 2023 and has maintained that Congress should finalize this legislation and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law by December 16.

“On behalf of Granite Staters and all Americans, I’m very relieved an agreement was reached to extend government funding through December, and that urgently needed federal assistance will soon make its way to Granite State families who are facing surging energy costs, especially as we head into the cold winter months. This legislation will also provide critical military and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s violent and unprovoked assault on the nation and its people,” said Shaheen, who also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees. “But let’s be clear – this is a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Stop-gap funding bills create inefficiencies within government agencies to the detriment of American taxpayers and our economy. The American people deserve a Congress that legislates responsibly and puts people before politics. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I remain committed to ensuring Congress responsibly funds the government in the long term so our municipalities and people have the economic certainty they need and deserve.”

The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, provides for continued funding of the federal government from October 1 through December 16, 2022, at Fiscal Year 2022 levels, with limited adjustments. The bill also funds emergency needs across the nation, including:

· $12.35 billion to support our allies in Ukraine, including for training, equipment and logistical support for Ukraine’s military and national security forces to repel Russia’s invasion;

· $1 billion for LIHEAP to assist individuals and families in mitigating the impacts of rising energy costs and extreme weather events; and

· $2 billion for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to help states that have been devastated by natural disasters over the past two years rebuild their communities.

The bill also includes funds to help individuals and families impacted by the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico and the water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, as well as necessary program extensions.

A member of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Senator Shaheen has led action in the Senate in support of Ukraine in response to Putin’s belligerence. Along with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Shaheen introduced the Securing American Acquisitions, Readiness, and Military Stockpiles Act which would give the Department of Defense enhanced authorities to quickly refill American defense stockpiles after the President provides aid to an ally or partner attacked by a foreign adversary. Also with Cornyn, Shaheen led the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, to create a lend-lease program to facilitate and expedite military assistance to Ukraine, which was signed into law on May 9, 2022. She has also recently introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a critical munitions fund at the Department of Defense in response to rapid consumption of precision weapons by the U.S. and our allies in support of Ukraine.

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