WASHINGTON – Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, alongside Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, applauded the announcement of $569,036 from the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for the city of Nashua. The funding will be put towards operations and safety improvements for the Nashua Fire Department.

The AFG program provides direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments in order to enhance safety for firefighters and the public. The grants can be used for training, equipment acquisition, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness activities and modifications of fire/EMS stations.

“Granite State firefighters play a critical role serving on the frontlines to protect their communities. It’s crucial they have access to the resources necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively, no matter the emergency,” said Senator Shaheen, who helped secure these grants as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which is responsible for funding the AFG program. “I’m thrilled that this federal award is heading to Nashua, which will go towards necessary upgrades. The AFG program is a vital tool that helps ensure our fire departments have the equipment and resources they need to stay safe on the job. I’ll keep fighting to boost funding for AFG and other programs that support New Hampshire first responders.”

“New Hampshire’s fire fighters bravely put their lives on the line to serve Granite Staters, and we must ensure that they have the tools that they need to protect our communities,” said Senator Hassan. “This AFG funding will be an important step forward in delivering on that promise and making sure Nashua fire fighters have the resources necessary to serve their community.”

“Our Granite State firefighters and first responders put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities safe. We have a responsibility to ensure they have the resources needed to do their jobs safely,” said Representative Kuster. “I’m thrilled to see these federal funds heading to the City of Nashua and I will continue working to protect Granite Staters.”

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen has consistently advocated on behalf of New Hampshire firefighters. In funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that was passed by Congress and signed into law, Shaheen secured $360 million for the AFG program. Shaheen frequently advocates for New Hampshire fire departments to receive awards through the AFG program. In addition to including robust funding for the AFG program in the FY22 government funding legislation, Shaheen also secured $360 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program, which provides grants directly to fire departments and volunteer fire fighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “frontline” firefighters available in their communities.

In a government funding proposal released by Senate Democrats on the Appropriations Committee last week, Shaheen worked to include $740 million for the AFG and SAFER programs for FY 2023.

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