CONCORD – The New Hampshire Troopers Association, representing State Police, endorsed U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, for re-election Friday, highlighting her consistent support for state and local police departments, work to increase opioid response funding, advocacy for mental health services for law enforcement, and efforts to ensure officers on the frontlines of the pandemic have the resources needed to stay safe and healthy while protecting Granite State communities.
“Our New Hampshire Troopers are on the front lines of the pandemic, and they are fighting for New Hampshire every day, helping protect Granite Staters and make a difference for families during an incredibly challenging time,” Shaheeen said.
“In the Senate, I have always fought to ensure New Hampshire’s law enforcement have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, and that has been an especially urgent fight during the pandemic as state and local government budgets are being squeezed. I have also worked across the aisle to push for increased resources for mental health services for law enforcement, because our officers face tremendous stress and challenges on the job and they deserve support. I will always fight for Granite State officers, and I am honored to have them standing with me in this campaign,” she said.
Marc Beaudoin, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Troopers Association, said: “Senator Jeanne Shaheen has always been an ally for us in Washington because she listens to the challenges we are facing and works to address them.
“In the Senate, she has fought for the security of Granite Staters and worked with us to address some of our state’s most urgent crises. As the opioid epidemic continues to plague so many of our communities, Senator Shaheen fought for more funding and secured a tenfold increase to support prevention, response, treatment, and recognized the critical role law enforcement plays in combating this crisis. And when COVID hit, we were on the frontlines from the beginning. Senator Shaheen listened to us and fought in Washington to get us the resources and PPE we needed. We know that we can count on Jeanne Shaheen and look forward to continue working together to protect the safety and wellbeing of Granite Staters.”
In the Senate, Sen. Shaheen has consistently fought for funding for New Hampshire law enforcement, helping secure hundreds of millions of federal dollars annually for COPS Hiring and Byrne-JAG grant programs. She also secured $5 million for mental health and wellness services for officers and helped create the first ever nationwide data set and report on police suicides for Federal, State, and local law enforcement. One of the first members of Congress to declare the opioid crisis an emergency, she took on her own party to increase funding and delivered a tenfold increase to $35 million for treatment and prevention.
During the pandemic, Shaheen has been in constant contact with law enforcement to ensure they have the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to safely continue serving on the frontlines of this crisis. She also secured $4.4 million in CARES funding for New Hampshire law enforcement, and she continues to fight for a relief package that includes state and municipal aid.