In the News
The Department of Defense announced that the records of 800 members of the military who were kicked out under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) have been upgraded to receive honorable discharges.
CONWAY — The first dedicated congressional office in the Mount Washington Valley is now open.
U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-Manchester), who is seeking a third term in the First Congressional District, opened the office in Unit 4 of the Priscilla’s Country Kitchen lot (between Miracle Ear and Timberland Home Care) in North Conway Village on Tuesday afternoon. He was joined by Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Michelle Cruz and MWV Executive Councilor Jac Cuddy for a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.
MANCHESTER, N.H. – On Wednesday, local leaders gathered at Fire Station 5 on Webster Street to celebrate a $3.7 million FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant.
Manchester Fire Department Chief Ryan Cashin said that grant will allow the Manchester Fire Department (MFD) to hire 12 new firefighters for three years, with those firefighters being stationed at Station 5 as well as Station 2 on South Main Street and Station 7 on Somerville Street.
The Manchester Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Responders (SAFER) grant for $3.7 million, which the department will use to increase staffing levels, city and federal officials said Wednesday.
Manchester Fire Chief Ryan Cashin said the grant, awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will fund 12 firefighter positions for three years.
“This grant will increase the department staffing for the first time in 20 years,” Cashin said.
Spear commended lawmakers for advancing the measure, emphasizing its potential to create a pathway for veterans to transition into trucking careers.
“We are appreciative of the leadership by Senators Fischer and Padilla and Representatives Edwards and Pappas on this important bill, which will help veterans secure rewarding careers and alleviate the truck driver shortage,” Spear said.
The measure has also gained the backing of the American Legion, Student Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
American Trucking Associations is praising passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act, which seeks to streamline the process for veterans to obtain a CDL.
The bipartisan bill’s Sept. 25 voice vote passage in the House followed its unanimous approval in the Senate. The bill would ease veterans’ ability to use GI Bill benefits to pursue commercial driving careers.
Legislation aimed at facilitating access to veterans benefits for interstate trucking apprenticeships was recently introduced in the House of Representatives.
Reps. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.) are co-sponsoring a measure designed to improve how veterans connect with commercial transportation apprenticeships across multiple states.
MANCHESTER — U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., introduced bipartisan legislation to require federal officials create a Northern Border Coordination Center to deal with the dramatic increase in arrests of suspected illegal immigrants in the Swanton Sector.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —With the number of illegal crossings rising in the past year, Congressman Chris Pappas is introducing a bill to strengthen border security.
Pappas, along with two other House members, is backing the bill to create a northern border coordination center aimed at improving communication and training for law enforcement.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), senior member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Reps. Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped secure the funding.
"It’s critical that these heroes have the training, equipment and resources they need to do their jobs,” said Shaheen.