Shaheen Announces Key NH Priorities Secured in Historic Infrastructure Package

August 02, 2021

**$10 Billion to Address PFAS contamination**

**Includes Shaheen Legislation to End Tax Threatening NH Water Infrastructure Investments**

**Robust Investments in Broadband**

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced key New Hampshire priorities that she secured in the historic infrastructure package, unveiled by Shaheen and fellow negotiators last night. Shaheen is part of the bipartisan group that’s been negotiating the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, legislation that would provide a $550 billion investment in our nation’s core infrastructure priorities– including roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, the electric grid and broadband. In June, Shaheen joined President Biden and a bipartisan group of senators to announce the framework of the package. Shaheen is a key negotiator and led provisions on broadband and water infrastructure.

“This historic legislation is a robust investment in our nation’s infrastructure and our country’s future, and it advances key New Hampshire priorities that I’ve long fought for. I’m so glad to share with Granite State families, municipalities and workers, that the conversations we’ve had over the months and years about these issues have resulted in meaningful legislation that will create lasting change in New Hampshire,” said Shaheen. “During negotiations on water infrastructure, I thought back to the countless discussions I’ve had with parents worried about the safety of their children’s water due to PFAS contamination. I also thought about our cities and towns that have struggled to make investments in critical water infrastructure because of the unfair tax imposed in the 2017 tax bill. And I thought about the urgent need to bridge the digital divide that has let too many communities, including those in New Hampshire, slip through cracks and struggle to keep up with medical appointments, businesses or remote learning, an issue exacerbated by the pandemic. This bill is not perfect, but it includes crucial provisions that will have a real impact in New Hampshire. I look forward to building on the bipartisan work we’ve achieved so far to get this legislation through the Senate as swiftly as possible.”

Among the numerous priorities secured in the bipartisan infrastructure package, Shaheen fought to include and supported adding the following measures:

• $110 Billion to Repair Roads, Bridges and Other Major Projects: Shaheen successfully helped secure additional funding for small and rural states like New Hampshire to replace and repair bridges through new, dedicated grant programs.
• $65 Billion to Bolster Broadband in New Hampshire and Across the Nation: Shaheen led negotiations on broadband provisions with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), which will provide $65 billion in grants for states to support broadband deployment and other efforts to bridge the digital divide, which is especially critical in rural parts of New Hampshire. The infrastructure package also builds on the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program by investing $14.2 billion to continue assisting qualified households in accessing affordable high-speed internet.
• $54 Billion to Upgrade Water Infrastructure, Including $10 Billion for PFAS Remediation and $15 Billion for Lead Service Line Replacement: Shaheen led negotiations on water infrastructure provisions with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), which provide robust funding — $10 billion – to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Shaheen has long led action in the Senate on PFAS response, remediation and research.
• $65 Billion to Invest in U.S. Power & Grid: Shaheen supported adding $65 billion to fund grid reliability and resilience measures in the legislation. The infrastructure legislation also includes the bipartisan Energy Infrastructure Act, which funds these priorities and supports a Grid Development Authority. The legislation bolsters efforts to address energy efficiency through weatherization assistance and improvements to federal and other public buildings. It also supports clean energy technology and other sustainable energy solutions.
• Shaheen’s Legislation to Stop Tax Threatening Investments in Crucial Water Infrastructure: Senator Shaheen spearheaded efforts to include key provisions from her bipartisan bill with Senator Murkowski (R-AK) that would fix a measure in the 2017 tax bill that led to taxes on critical water infrastructure investments in New Hampshire and across the nation. The tax has resulted in at least $1.15 million in new federal taxes for water infrastructure projects in Southern New Hampshire. Shaheen’s bill fixes this issue going forward to help encourage water and wastewater utilities, local governments and private developers to invest in water infrastructure projects and community development.
• Shaheen’s Legislation to Help NH Finance Transportation Infrastructure Projects: Senator Shaheen successfully included her legislation with Senator Booker (D-NJ) that would establish a program to help states increase resources for highway and transit projects. The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a marketplace for the sale and purchase of toll credits, which are accrued when states use toll revenues to invest in transportation projects that benefit the interstate system. This bill would allow states like New Hampshire to sell their excess toll credits to other states on this marketplace to bring in new revenue. These funds could be used for other transportation needs in these states. Shaheen secured this in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, which cleared the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) in May. 
• Support for a Clean Electric Grid: The bipartisan infrastructure bill also contains key components of Shaheen’s energy efficiency legislation with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) – the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness (ESIC) Act – that will help improve energy efficiency and climate resilience of buildings and industrial facilities, as well as invest in clean jobs. Policy experts at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that when fully enacted, the ESIC Act through 2050 would save consumers more than $51 billion on their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by 1.3 billion tons, which is the equivalent of taking nearly 280 million cars off the road for one year.  A previous study from ACEEE also estimated that their legislation would add more than 100,000 jobs to the economy.  The legislation also includes several other legislative priorities of Shaheen, including the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act, the Heat Efficiency through Applied Technology (HEAT) Act and the Promoting American Energy Jobs Act. Together, these bills will promote innovation, energy efficiency and economic competitiveness of American manufacturers and support the energy workforce. Shaheen added these provisions when the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to advance the Energy Infrastructure Act earlier this month.