{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.shaheen.senate.gov//news/press/shaheens-new-hampshire-and-national-security-priorities-signed-into-law", "Shaheen\u2019s New Hampshire and National Security Priorities Signed Into Law", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Jeanne Shaheen", "S001181", "www.shaheen.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Shaheen\u2019s New Hampshire and National Security Priorities Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tDecember 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t**Annual defense authorization bill includes key provisions secured by Shaheen, including the first-ever nationwide PFC water contamination study, critical investments in the Pease Air National Guard Base, assured job security at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, prohibition of a Moscow-based software company with Kremlin ties, and an increase in visas for Afghan interpreters.**\r\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law. The NDAA is annual legislation that authorizes federal defense priorities for the fiscal year. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, secured a number of significant New Hampshire and national security objectives in the bill, which passed both the Senate and House of Representatives in November. These include:\r\n \r\nShaheen\u2019s bipartisan amendment that directs the Department of Defense to fund a nationwide health study on implications of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), such as PFOA, in drinking water. In May, the Air Force announced it would not fund a health study of water contamination around Haven Well at the Pease International Tradeport \u2013 Shaheen\u2019s amendment establishes the first-ever nationwide study on the human health effects of those exposed to PFCs in their drinking water;\r\nShaheen advocated for the authorization of necessary funding in the bill to allow the Air Force to continue development of the KC-46A Aerial Refueling Tanker program. This is significant for the Granite State because Pease was selected as the Air Force\u2019s first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base, an economic benefit to Pease and the surrounding community;\u00a0\r\nShaheen helped prevent the Department of Defense from conducting another round of Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) to ensure Portsmouth Naval Shipyard continues to support New Hampshire jobs and our national security;\r\nShaheen added an amendment to ban Kaspersky Lab software from being used by the federal government. The Moscow-based software company has ties to the Kremlin. In September, the Trump administration heeded Senator Shaheen\u2019s call to ban the software company from all federal agencies;\r\nShaheen negotiated an additional 3,500 visas for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The SIV program allows Afghan interpreters and support staff who have assisted in the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and face threats as a result of their service to apply for refuge in the United States. Shaheen\u2019s efforts have been instrumental in keeping this program operating for the brave men and women who have worked beside Americans in the field, putting themselves and their families at risk to support American troops and operations.\r\n \r\n  \u201cFrom the first-ever nationwide study on the health effects of those exposed to PFCs in their drinking water, to investments in the Pease Air National Guard Base, to ensuring job security at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard \u2013 this bill is welcome news for Granite Staters,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cIt also includes critical national security objectives, including a ban on Kaspersky Lab software from the federal government and a boost in visas for Afghan interpreters who fight beside our soldiers on the battlefield. Now that the bill has been signed into law, we can push forward and focus on implementing these necessary measures, which are crucial for both New Hampshire and national defense priorities.\u201d\r\n\r\nSHAHEEN PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN THE FY2018 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT:\r\nEstablish Health Study on PFOA, Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water\r\nThe bill includes Senator Shaheen\u2019s bipartisan amendment that grants the Department of Defense authorization to fund the first-ever nationwide health study on implications of perfluorinated chemicals, such as PFOA, in drinking water. This amendment is particularly important for Seacoast families, following the Air Force\u2019s announcement in May that it would not fund a health study of water contamination around Haven Well at Pease. The national study will be conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Shaheen has also introduced the\u00a0Safe Drinking Water Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation that will help expedite the analysis of contaminants, such as PFOA, and provide resources to states dealing with the health challenges posed by these potentially harmful materials.\r\nBan Kaspersky Lab Software from the Entire Federal Government\r\nSenator Shaheen\u2019s amendment to ban Kaspersky Lab software from the entire federal government expands her previous amendment to ban the Moscow-based software company from being used by the Department of Defense. The\u00a0Trump administration heeded her warnings about the Kremlin-linked company, and in September, ordered federal agencies to remove the software from government computers within 90 days.\u00a0Shaheen has been a leading voice in calling for a ban on the software. Shaheen has also called on the Trump administration to declassify information on Kaspersky Lab to raise public awareness regarding the serious threat that company poses to the United States\u2019 national security.\r\nSecure Additional Visas for Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program\r\nIn this legislation, Senator Shaheen secured the authorization of 3,500 visas for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Afghan interpreters and support staff. Senator Shaheen has championed the Afghan SIV program, which allows Afghans who have supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and face threats as a result of their service to apply for refuge in the United States. Earlier this year, Shaheen played a critical role in\u00a0securing additional Afghan visas\u00a0to avert a lapse in the program.\r\nExpand Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program\r\nThe bill includes Shaheen\u2019s legislation, the Invest in Rural Small Business Act, which expands a key small business program in rural New Hampshire and across the country.\u00a0 The U.S. government is the world\u2019s largest buyer of goods and services, but small businesses often have difficulty accessing the federal marketplace.\u00a0 The amendment increases the ability of rural small businesses to qualify for the Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program.\u00a0The current one-size-fits-all formula for determining a HUBZone leaves many otherwise eligible communities outside the program.\u00a0 The law requires 3 percent of contracts be awarded annually to HUBZone firms, but in 2016, only 1.67 percent of federal contracting dollars were awarded to these businesses.\u00a0 Shaheen\u2019s amendment expands the pool of HUBZone eligible communities and enhances the program\u2019s ability to be a targeted economic development tool.\u00a0 Shaheen introduced this legislation in April after being contacted by Costa Precision Manufacturing in Claremont, New Hampshire about qualifying for the HUBZone program.\u00a0\r\nInvest in Pease Air National Guard Base\r\nWith Senator Shaheen\u2019s strong support, the bill authorizes the funding necessary for the Air Force to continue development of the KC-46A Aerial Refueling Tanker program. \u00a0Thanks to strong advocacy by Senator Shaheen and the New Hampshire National Guard, Pease was selected as the Air Force\u2019s first Air National Guard KC-46A main operating base, an economic benefit to Pease and the surrounding community. \u00a0The KC-46A will replace the Air Force\u2019s 1950\u2019s-era aerial refueling fleet of KC-135s and will serve as the backbone of American air operations for decades to come.\r\nAcquire Virginia-class Submarines\r\nThe bill authorizes procurement of two new\u00a0Virginia-class submarines in Fiscal Year 2018 and funds advanced procurement to mitigate an attack submarine shortfall projected for some time after 2020. Senator Shaheen has long been a steadfast supporter of the\u00a0Virginia-class.\r\nBased in part on Senator Shaheen\u2019s successful opposition, the bill does not include a new round of Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC), which could endanger national security and potentially damage New Hampshire\u2019s economy by threatening jobs at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.\u00a0According to nonpartisan experts, the 2005 BRAC round exceeded initial cost estimates by $14 billion.\r\nIncrease Allotment of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters\r\nSenator Shaheen successfully advocated for the bill to include 24 additional F-35s above the President\u2019s budget request for procurement of fighter jets to address future threats and mitigate a shortfall across all three military services. \u00a0Ramping up production of F-35s in particular will drive down unit cost and more quickly fulfill the requirements of our military and our allies.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.shaheen.senate.gov//news/press/shaheens-new-hampshire-and-national-security-priorities-signed-into-law"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4064968563616276, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}