U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen toured Cirtronics in Milford on Wednesday.

MILFORD – U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) visited Cirtronics in Milford Wednesday to highlight New Hampshire priorities included in the recently enacted CHIPS & Science Act. During the visit, Shaheen highlighted the impact the legislation will have on Cirtronics and other manufacturers across the state.

“Granite State manufacturers play an important role in supporting economic development and innovation across New Hampshire,” said Shaheen. “My visit comes on the heels of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act being signed into law. This landmark legislation invests in the U.S. workforce and ensures that companies like Cirtronics stay on the cutting edge of domestic production and innovation, making New Hampshire a leader both across the nation and globally. As Chair of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, I’ll work to ensure the successful implementation of this law to meet the needs of manufacturers and workers across New Hampshire.”

As Chair of the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Shaheen has been a strong advocate for STEM education and scientific research funding priorities. In the new law, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022, Shaheen secured inclusion of language based on her bipartisan Supporting STEM Learning Opportunities Act to allow funds to support research and development of innovative STEM educational programming, including afterschool and other outside of the classroom activities. This language seeks to improve federal investment in experiential learning opportunities to strengthen the pipeline of students entering the STEM workforce, especially from traditionally underrepresented groups like women and communities of color.

Later in the afternoon, Shaheen visited Jaffrey to highlight a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the Cold Stone Spring Water Treatment Plant project. Shaheen was a strong advocate for the Cold Stone Spring Water Treatment Plant project and worked closely with Jaffrey town officials to secure this grant. Shaheen sent a letter of support alongside other members of the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation urging the EDA to award this funding. During her visit, Shaheen met with representatives from the communities of Jaffrey and Peterborough, both benefitting from the grant, to receive a briefing on their ongoing infrastructure projects including their need for funding to address PFAS concerns.

“PFAS contamination in our water supplies continues to be a pressing issue across New Hampshire, and I am glad that funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law will support towns like Jaffrey to address these concerns. Additionally, I am excited to see Jaffrey received this EDA award to support the Cold Stone Springs project. These funds will make a meaningful difference for residents and their access to clean drinking water. I’ve repeatedly met with officials in both Jaffrey and Petersborough to discuss their water treatment needs, and I’m glad that the Economic Development Administration followed my push and chose this facility for an award,” said Shaheen. “Investing in water infrastructure projects like the Cold Stone Spring Water Treatment Plant is critical to address water contamination, while also promoting economic development and job creation in our Monadnock communities. I’ll continue to push for these investments to swiftly be delivered to affected towns and neighborhoods across the Granite State.”

As chair of the CJS subcommittee, Shaheen oversees funding for the EDA and helps secure investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for New Hampshire. During negotiations for government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022, Senator Shaheen secured $373.5 million for the EDA. Senator Shaheen led negotiations on water infrastructure provisions on the bipartisan infrastructure law, which includes $4 billion to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Last year, Shaheen announced more than $72 million in federal funds for New Hampshire from the EPA to improve the state’s drinking water and wastewater systems.

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