{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"NH\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140412132123/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defense-bill-includes-provision-to-transfer-doble-center-to-city-of", "Defense Bill Includes Provision To Transfer Doble Center To City of Portsmouth", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "PORTSMOUTH, NH \u2013 U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today announced that the final version of the fiscal year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes the U.S. Army Reserves to successfully complete the transfer of the Paul A. Doble Army Reserve Center to the City of Portsmouth. Shaheen, Ayotte and Shea-Porter have worked to secure a legislative fix to prevent a redundant Government Services Administration (GSA) disposal process and transfer the facility to Portsmouth \u2013 where officials are pursuing a planned redevelopment of the Doble Center as a senior center.\n\u201cWith the Doble Center having been replaced by a new facility, we\u2019re pleased that this land will be transferred to the city of Portsmouth for the use and enjoyment of local residents,\u201d said Shaheen, Ayotte and Shea-Porter.\nThe final version of the NDAA resolves years-long issue by authorizing the U.S. Army Reserve to finalize the transfer of the Doble Center to the City of Portsmouth. This summer, the Army Reserves originally introduced a plan to transfer the Doble Center to GSA, not the City of Portsmouth. Following this news, Shaheen and Shea-Porter worked with Portsmouth and the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to urge the Army Reserves to reconsider its decision and allow the Doble Center to be redeveloped as a senior center, which the Portsmouth City Council had approved years before.\nShaheen and Ayotte, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chair and ranking member, respectively, of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, together introduced language to the Senate defense authorization bill to remove the redundant process and allow the successful transfer of the Doble Center to Portsmouth.\nThe FY 2014 NDAA builds on the FY 2010 NDAA language that Shea-Porter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, secured to allow for an Army Reserve Center to be built in the vicinity of Pease, which paved the way for the Doble Center to be transferred to the City of Portsmouth.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fda-will-re-propose-rules-in-response-to-concerns-from-bipartisan", "FDA Will Re-Propose Rules in Response to Concerns from Bipartisan Coalition of Lawmakers", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 A successful bipartisan effort led by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Annie Kuster (D-NH), has resulted in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) planning to revise regulations and seek additional comments from the public before finalizing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules.\u00a0 The FDA\u2019s announcement comes less than a month after\u00a0the lawmakers led a bipartisan coalition of 75 Republicans, Democrats and Independents expressing concern about the impact of proposed FDA rules on farmers and businesses, which re-proposing the regulations for public comment could help alleviate.\n\u201cThe FDA is making the right call,\u201d Senator Shaheen said. \u201cThere are serious concerns that have been raised by farmers and consumers in my state and across the country that the FDA must consider before finalizing rules.\u00a0 Submitting a second draft of key aspects of these rules for public comment will allow farmers and other stakeholders to further inform the rulemaking process, which I hope will better protect our national food supply while preventing the issuance of overly burdensome or ambiguous regulations.\u201d\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased the FDA has agreed to issue a second draft of proposed rules and give farmers and businesses the opportunity to provide additional input,\u201d Senator Blunt said. \u201cI thank Senator Shaheen and my colleagues in the House and Senate for their work to alleviate the impact of these burdensome regulations on farm families in Missouri and nationwide.\u201d\n\u201cI am pleased to see that FDA is being responsive to the bipartisan feedback from lawmakers about the need to reexamine the proposed FSMA rules,\u201d Congressman Gibson said. \u201cFDA\u2019s goal of guaranteeing produce safety is certainly admirable, but as the Representative of a district that relies on an agriculture-based economy, I am also concerned with ensuring flexibility and practical implementation for our family farmers.\u00a0 It is encouraging to see FDA recognize this as well.\u201d\n\u201cI am pleased to see that the FDA has taken our input into account, revised its proposals, and will seek further comment, so that Connecticut farmers have an additional opportunity to have their voices heard,\u201d Congressman Courtney said. \u201cThe FDA\u2019s willingness to listen provides an avenue to promote food safety rules that will not unduly burden Connecticut farms. I look forward to continuing this work with my congressional colleagues, state agricultural officials, and producers so that we can get these rules right for everyone.\u201d\n\u201cI\u2019m very pleased that the FDA responded to our request and will seek additional input from New Hampshire farmers and stakeholders before issuing final food safety rules,\u201d Congresswoman Annie Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s vital that farmers across the Granite State have a chance to raise concerns about the unintended and harmful consequences of these proposed rules.\u201d\nIn March, the FDA issued two proposed rules implementing FSMA, a 2011 law that overhauled food safety laws to increase the safety of our domestic food supply. These rules addressed preventive controls for human food and standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption.\u00a0 But as proposed, the 1,200-page rules have left food producers and processors across the country concerned about a number of issues including those specifically surrounding facility compliance and environmental standards. The FDA\u2019s announced plan to re-propose key rule language will allow farmers and stakeholders to lend critical input toward the FDA-rulemaking process.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-we-should-help-hunters-feed-the-hungry", "Kuster: We Should Help Hunters Feed the Hungry", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Introduces legislation that would make hunters who donate game to food charities eligible for a tax deduction to cover the costs of processing; bill would also provide a deduction to meat processors in NH and across the country\nIn 2012, NH hunters donated 1,700 lbs. of game that was distributed to food charities all across NH through the \u201cHunt for the Hungry\u201d program\nKuster: This bill is a win-win: rewards hunters who support charity and helps feed hungry families\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With millions of children and families across the country facing hunger, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Congressman Don Young (AK-AL) have introduced bipartisan legislation that would reward hunters who donate wild game to food banks that help feed the hungry. The Wild Game Donation Act would make hunters who donate game to food charities eligible for a tax deduction to cover the costs of processing. The legislation would also provide tax credits for processors who take part in charitable donation programs, and protect against the use of spoiled meat for charitable contributions. Senator Schumer (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the Senate earlier this year.\n\u201cThanks to the generosity of Granite Staters, many New Hampshire hunters already have the option of donating meat for free,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cI want to make sure that hunters all across the country have that same option.\u201d\n\u201cThis common sense bill is a win-win: it rewards hunters who donate to food charities while helping feed hungry families. I was proud to partner with Rep. Don Young to introduce this bill, and I hope it will encourage even more hunters to consider donating game to help feed hungry families across the country,\u201d Kuster added.\nCurrently, New Hampshire hunters who donate wild game to the New Hampshire Food Bank can have their meat processed for free due to the generosity of Lemay & Sons Beef in Goffstown. However, hunters who can\u2019t travel all the way to Goffstown \u2013 like some of those who live in the North Country \u2013 or have their meat processed out of state don\u2019t have that option. \u00a0\nKuster\u2019s bill, which has received support from Feeding America, would ensure that these hunters can receive a tax credit for the cost of processing their meat at all USDA-certified facilities, and encourage more processors to offer their services for free by giving them a tax credit for participating in charitable donation programs.\n\u201cOver the years the hunters of New Hampshire have been very supportive of the Hunt for the Hungry program, which is a great way to get protein rich foods to those in need,\u201d said Bruce Wilson, Director of Operations for the New Hampshire Food Bank. \u201cWe will continue to support efforts to reduce hunger and this is truly one of those.\u201d\nNew Hampshire hunters have a proud history of donating wild game to help feed those in need. Many hunters have donated game meat through the New Hampshire Food Bank\u2019s \u201cHunt for the Hungry\u201d program, which distributes donated game to more than 400 food pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters across the Granite State. Last year, the \u201cHunt for the Hungry\u201d program distributed 1,700 pounds of donated game meat to individuals and families in need.\nA member of the House Agriculture Committee, Kuster has repeatedly spoken out about the need to address hunger and prevent deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Earlier this year, she\u00a0 wrote an op ed about and voted against legislation that would have slashed funding for SNAP by close to $40 billion, which would have resulted in four million Americans losing basic nutrition benefits. Kuster has also insisted that any Farm Bill include funding for nutrition programs that help feed hungry children, veterans, and seniors in New Hampshire and across the country.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-kuster-introduce-continuous-coverage-fix-to-aca", "Shea-Porter, Kuster Introduce Continuous Coverage Fix to ACA", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 New Hampshire Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) have introduced legislation to extend the payment deadline for people who were unable to complete the health insurance sign-up process because of website difficulties and processing delays. The Coverage Protection Act of 2013 would ensure that Granite Staters who encountered difficulties signing up for insurance through Healthcare.gov receive retroactive insurance coverage during the month of January.\n\u201cIt\u2019s inexcusable that Healthcare.gov wasn\u2019t up and running properly on October 1,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cBut this bill will correct some issues by permitting retroactive coverage for individuals who could not complete the application process online.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThere is no question that the problems with Healthcare.gov have been completely unacceptable. But instead of undermining efforts to solve problems, we should focus on moving forward and finding common sense solutions,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThis bill would ensure that Granite Staters who were unable to sign up for coverage because of problems with Healthcare.gov will have access to the health insurance plans they need by the beginning of next year. I\u2019ll keep fighting to make sure that New Hampshire families get the care they deserve.\u201d\nThe announcement of the Coverage Protection Act of 2013 comes following news that most insurers, including Anthem in New Hampshire, will accept payments through January 10th for health coverage that starts January 1. Shea-Porter and Kuster\u2019s legislation would provide retroactive insurance coverage to Jan. 1, 2014, for individuals who attempt to enroll and who pay their premium by Jan. 31, 2014. In doing so, the bill ensures that people who encountered technical difficulties are not discriminated against because they don\u2019t yet have their insurance card.\nThis bill is not a free ride. It offers accountability on all sides by requiring enrollees to have made an effort to enroll in an exchange plan in time to receive coverage on January 1 and pay their premiums and any applicable cost-sharing fees by January 31.\nAdditional original cosponsors include Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-02).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912202124/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-kuster-introduce-continuous-coverage-fix-to-aca", "Shea-Porter, Kuster Introduce Continuous Coverage Fix to ACA", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContacts: Ben Wakana \u2013 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 New Hampshire Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) have introduced legislation to extend the payment deadline for people who were unable to complete the health insurance sign-up process because of website difficulties and processing delays. The Coverage Protection Act of 2013 would ensure that Granite Staters who encountered difficulties signing up for insurance through Healthcare.gov receive retroactive insurance coverage during the month of January.\n\u201cIt\u2019s inexcusable that Healthcare.gov wasn\u2019t up and running properly on October 1,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cBut this bill will correct some issues by permitting retroactive coverage for individuals who could not complete the application process online.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cThere is no question that the problems with Healthcare.gov have been completely unacceptable. But instead of undermining efforts to solve problems, we should focus on moving forward and finding common sense solutions,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThis bill would ensure that Granite Staters who were unable to sign up for coverage because of problems with Healthcare.gov will have access to the health insurance plans they need by the beginning of next year. I\u2019ll keep fighting to make sure that New Hampshire families get the care they deserve.\u201d\nThe announcement of the Coverage Protection Act of 2013 comes following news that most insurers, including Anthem in New Hampshire, will accept payments through January 10th for health coverage that starts January 1. Shea-Porter and Kuster\u2019s legislation would provide retroactive insurance coverage to Jan. 1, 2014, for individuals who attempt to enroll and who pay their premium by Jan. 31, 2014. In doing so, the bill ensures that people who encountered technical difficulties are not discriminated against because they don\u2019t yet have their insurance card.\nThis bill is not a free ride. It offers accountability on all sides by requiring enrollees to have made an effort to enroll in an exchange plan in time to receive coverage on January 1 and pay their premiums and any applicable cost-sharing fees by January 31.\nAdditional original cosponsors include Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), and Rep. Ron Barber (AZ-02).\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912202153/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-reps-agree-do-not-import-unsafe-chinese-chicken", "Bipartisan Group of Reps. Agree: Do Not Import Unsafe Chinese Chicken", "2013-12-19", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014Fourteen bipartisan members of the House of Representatives called on their colleagues to ensure unsafe chicken from China does not make its way to US shelves. Their letter asks that the 2014 Agriculture Department (USDA) funding bill ensure Chinese-processed chicken is kept out of the school lunch and other child nutrition programs. It also asks that the bill prevent poultry slaughtered in China from being exported to the US.\n\u201cConsider the impact of China\u2019s weak enforcement of food safety laws and regulations\u2026\u201d they wrote to the Chairmen and senior Democrats of the subcommittees responsible for funding the USDA. \u201cMore than 300,000 Chinese children fell seriously ill, with some dying, from melamine-tainted milk powder; dangerously high levels of mercury found in Chinese baby formula; the sale of more than $1 million worth of rat and other small mammal meat passed off to consumers as lamb; and more than 16,000 diseased pig carcasses dumped in a river to rot.\n\u201cLast year China Central Television revealed that a Chinese poultry supplier provided Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants with chicken fattened by large quantities of illegal drugs.\u00a0 In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced that, since 2007, pet treats imported from China containing contaminated chicken have killed 600 dogs and cats in the United States, and sickened 3,600 more.\u00a0 According to the World Health Organization, so far 45 of the 136 people who contracted the H7N9 bird flu in China this year have died.\u201d\nThe letter can be read in its entirety here. Numerous advocacy and consumer safety groups support the representatives\u2019 letter, including: Food and Water Watch, Consumer Federation of America, National Farmers Union, Consumers Union and the Center for Foodborne Illness.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-help-launch-effort-to-reverse-military-retiree-cola-changes", "Kuster to Help Launch Effort to Reverse Military Retiree COLA Changes Included In Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced that she will help introduce legislation tomorrow that would protect military retirees from changes to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that were included in the bipartisan budget agreement that passed the House last week. This legislation, the Military Retirement Restoration Act, is completely paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes companies abuse to avoid paying U.S. taxes.\n\u201cAs I\u2019ve said all along, the bipartisan budget agreement will help end the cycle of manufactured crises that has slowed our economy and harmed middle class families, but it\u2019s far from perfect,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cCongress should work to replace the cost of living adjustment changes included in this deal \u2013 and that\u2019s exactly what this common sense legislation will do. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this common sense fix.\u201d\nU.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140330181402/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-to-introduce-military-retirement-restoration-act-in-us-house", "Shea-Porter to Introduce Military Retirement Restoration Act in U.S. House", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 \u00a0Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today announced that she will join with Rep. Dan Maffei (NY-24) to introduce the Military Retirement Restoration Act, legislation that would repeal cuts to military retiree cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) included in the Bipartisan Budget Act. This legislation will be fully paid for by closing tax loopholes for offshore corporations. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA).\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Budget Act would prevent another government shutdown, create jobs, and reduce the deficit, but it is not perfect,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cI\u2019m introducing a bill to cancel the reduction in the cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees under the age of 62, which is scheduled to start in 2015. The bill is fully paid for by eliminating a tax loophole for offshore corporations.\u201d\nThe Bipartisan Budget Act, which was coauthored by House Republican Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, reduces by 1% the annual cost-of-living adjustment increase for military pensions for those military retirees who are under the age of 62. The bill then restores the full COLA at age 62.\nThe Military Retirement Restoration Act, which will be introduced tomorrow, December 19th, would replace the cuts to military retiree benefits included in the budget deal by preventing companies from avoiding U.S. taxes by abusing overseas tax havens.\u00a0 Specifically, the Military Retirement Restoration Act:\n Repeals the provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act (Section 403) that modifies the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus one percent.\u00a0 This provision, which is scheduled to go into effect in 2015, would result in a benefit cut for working-age military retirees who are not disabled. The Bipartisan Budget Act modifies the annual cost-of-living adjustment for working-age military retirees by making the adjustments equal to inflation minus one percent.\u00a0 At age 62, the retired pay would be adjusted as if the COLA had been the full CPI adjustment in all previous years, and the service members would receive the full COLA from then on.\u00a0 The provision would save approximately $6 billion over ten years.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tPrevents companies from avoiding paying their fair share of U.S. taxes.\u00a0 The repeal would be fully offset by stopping companies incorporated offshore but managed and controlled from the United States from claiming foreign status and avoiding U.S. taxes on their foreign income.\u00a0 It would require these companies to be treated as U.S. domestic corporations for tax purposes. \u00a0This provision is expected to raise over $6.6 billion over ten years.\n \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-derides-liheap-cuts-that-leave-low-income-new-hampshire-familie-0", "Kuster Derides LIHEAP Cuts that Leave Low-Income New Hampshire Families Out In the Cold", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LIHEAP provides low-income households \u2013 including those with young children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors \u2013 with heating assistance to help pay energy bills during the winter\nIn New Hampshire, funding for this program has declined every year since 2008, yet sequestration cut more than $1.6 million from LIHEAP in 2013; Kuster reiterates her call for Congress to restore LIHEAP funding for NH families\nKuster: It\u2019s unconscionable to cut LIHEAP for Granite Staters who could go cold without it \nKEENE, N.H. \u2013 As the cold winter months get underway in New Hampshire and across the country, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today derided cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that have resulted from across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. During a visit to Southwestern Community Services (SCS) in Keene, Kuster underscored the harmful impacts of cutting LIHEAP\u00a0 for New Hampshire families and called on Congress to replace the sequester with a more responsible budget that restores vital funding for heating assistance.\nKuster was joined during the visit by Keith Thibault, Development Director of SCS; Beth Daniels, SCS\u2019 Energy Services Director; John Rider, Vice Chairman of the N.H. Oil Heat Council; and Elizabeth Sayre, Human Services Manager for the City of Keene, among others.\n\u201cLIHEAP helps some of New Hampshire\u2019s most vulnerable children, seniors, and families make it through the winter,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable to cut this vital program for Granite Staters who could go cold without it. With a long and cold winter ahead, we to restore vital LIHEAP funding to help low-income families stay warm this winter.\u201d\nDespite the fact that LIHEAP funding in New Hampshire has fallen every year since 2008, sequestration cut more than $1.6 million from the program in FY 2013, eliminating heating assistance for more than 1,200 low-income New Hampshire households \u2013 including those with young children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors.\u00a0Last week, Kuster voted in favor of a bipartisan budget agreement that would reduce the impact of the sequester for the coming years and could lead to the restoration of some LIHEAP funding.\nSince 2008, annual LIHEAP funding in New Hampshire has fallen by more than $25 million:\n Program Year 2008-2009: $50,966,452\n\tProgram Year 2009-2010: $36,624,031\n\tProgram Year 2010-2011: $36,050,212\n\tProgram Year 2011-2012: $26,055,370\n\tProgram Year 2012-2013: $24,321,370\n According to the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association (NEADA), the total number of households nationwide receiving heating assistance fell by 194,000 in FY 2013 due to the sequester, from 6.9 million in FY 2012 to roughly 6.7 million in FY 2013. These cuts come on top of additional cuts that took effect in the previous few years. From FY 2010 to FY 2012 alone, the number of American households that received heating assistance declined by 17%, from 8.1 million to 6.7 million.\nKuster has repeatedly called on Congress to replace the harmful sequester with a more balanced, responsible plan to reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class. In July, Kuster met with seniors at the Windham Senior Center to highlight the negative impact sequestration is having on the Meals on Wheels program that helps feed hungry seniors. Kuster also criticized sequestration cuts to the Head Start program during a visit with students and families at Southwestern Community Services.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912201806/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-leads-push-to-expand-small-business-health-care-tax-credit", "Shea-Porter Leads Push to Expand Small Business Health Care Tax Credit", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) is leading a push to help New Hampshire small businesses provide quality health insurance for their employees. Shea-Porter has sent a letter to President Obama requesting that the Affordable Care Act\u2019s (ACA\u2019s) small business tax credit be expanded to help more small employers purchase insurance policies in 2014.\nAs part of its goal of making health insurance more affordable for small businesses, the ACA created the Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit. Beginning in 2014, the tax credit will increase in value (worth up to 50% of a business\u2019s premium costs), but will only be available to employers who purchase plans through the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP Exchange. The SHOP was planned as an online marketplace where small businesses could shop for health insurance. However, it has faced setbacks and delays, and will not be fully operational for the next year.\u00a0 Therefore, Shea-Porter led a letter to President Obama requesting a regulatory change to ensure that small employers can apply the tax credit to any ACA-compliant group plan, whether or not it is offered on a SHOP Exchange.\n\u201cGiven the unfortunate news that the federally facilitated SHOP Exchange website will not be operational for the duration of 2014 enrollment, I urge you to expand small business owners\u2019 options for next year,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cSmall employers should be able to apply the tax credit to any ACA-compliant group plan, whether or not it was intended to be offered for sale on a SHOP exchange, in states with Federally Facilitated Marketplaces.\u201d\nIn November, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the SHOP Exchange will not offer online enrollment until 2014, a one-year delay from a launch that was initially planned for this past October. Prior to that announcement, HHS released a rule that would postpone employee choice and the premium aggregator in the SHOP Exchange until 2015. The premium aggregator is a tool that consolidates billing for employers who have employees enrolled in multiple qualified health plans.\nGiven the recent administrative delays, requiring employers to buy a SHOP plan in order to qualify for the tax credit is unfair and counterproductive to the Affordable Care Act\u2019s goal of enabling small businesses to finally offer their employees health insurance.\n\u201cDuring the Affordable Care Act\u2019s development, improving options for small businesses was a key consideration; during the Administration\u2019s implementation, small businesses must not be relegated to an afterthought,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cThis law\u2019s success requires that small business owners, and the workers they employ, succeed in gaining access to high-quality, affordable health insurance options.\u201d\nThroughout 2013 Congresswoman Shea-Porter has fought for more health insurance choices and competition for New Hampshire residents and small businesses. She sent multiple letters to the Obama Administration citing her frustration with the Affordable Care Act\u2019s rollout and detailing her desire to expand health insurance competition in the Granite State. She has also expressed her concern to Anthem about the insurer's narrow network of providers and doctors. Last week, Shea-Porter announced that an addition health insurer, Minuteman Health Inc., will enter New Hampshire\u2019s ACA Marketplace for 2015 coverage.\nRepresentatives Ann Kuster (NH-02) and Michael Michaud (ME-02) also signed the letter.\nFull text of the letter is below.  \n\t\u00a0\n+++\nPresident Barack Obama  \n\tThe White House  \n\t1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20500 \u00a0\nDear President Obama:\nWe are writing to request an expansion of tax assistance eligibility for small businesses that choose to offer health insurance to their employees in 2014, in light of multiple delays of Affordable Care Act provisions designed to help small businesses.\nDuring the Affordable Care Act\u2019s development, improving options for small businesses was a key consideration; during the Administration\u2019s implementation, small businesses must not be relegated to an afterthought. This law\u2019s success requires that small business owners, and the workers they employ, succeed in gaining access to high-quality, affordable health insurance options.\nAt the time of the Affordable Care Act\u2019s enactment, many small employers did not offer health insurance because of prohibitive costs and other challenges unique to small businesses. That is why the law included the Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit, which was established to help small employers offer health insurance to their employees.\nCurrent regulations limit eligibility for claiming the 2014 Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit to employers who will offer coverage purchased through a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange.\nGiven the unfortunate news that the federally facilitated SHOP Exchange website will not be operational for the duration of 2014 enrollment, I urge you to expand small business owners\u2019 options for next year. Small employers should be able to apply the tax credit to any ACA-compliant group plan, whether or not it was intended to be offered for sale on a SHOP exchange, in states with Federally Facilitated Marketplaces.\nEven before the news that business owners will be unable to access the federal SHOP exchange website in 2014, their options on the exchanges had already been limited by a March 2013 HHS decision to delay employee choice and premium aggregation options. For many employers, this delay limited the attraction of plans offered on the SHOP exchanges.\nGiven this series of administrative delays, requiring employers to buy a SHOP plan in order to qualify for the tax credit is unfair and counterproductive to the Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit\u2019s goal of enabling small employers to finally offer their employees health insurance.\nThere is ample documentation that this credit needs to be changed in order to fulfill its potential benefit to American small businesses. A May 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that actual small employer credit claims had been much lower than initial estimates. The report showed that the tax credit had been underutilized because of several factors, including a perception among business owners that the financial benefits offered did not outweigh the complexity of documenting credit eligibility. It is my hope and expectation that this calculus will change in 2014, given that the maximum credit amount will increase significantly.\nThe GAO report also suggested that changing eligibility requirements could increase employer take-up rates. By agreeing to remove the requirement that employers select SHOP plans in order to qualify for the tax credit, the Administration can ensure that employers can apply the tax credit to a range of plans, as originally intended. The availability of these options will surely increase employer take-up of the credit, and extend new health insurance options to many small business employees.\nGiven the disappointingly diminished role of the SHOP exchanges in 2014, it is fair and proper to offer small businesses this additional option. We look forward to your determination of when and how such a regulatory change may be implemented.\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\nCarol Shea-Porter\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tMember of Congress\nAnn Kuster  \n\tMember of Congress\nMichael H. Michaud  \n\tMember of Congress\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-stresses-need-to-eliminate-va-claims-backlog-during-veterans", "Kuster Stresses Need to Eliminate VA Claims Backlog During Veterans Roundtable", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With more than 700 disability claims backlogged at the Manchester VA Medical Center, Kuster met with local veteran and advocates to discuss improvements to health care and benefits delivery\nEarlier this year, the House passed Kuster\u2019s legislation that would help encourage greater use of automation in claims processing; legislation was part of comprehensive legislative package to help eliminate the backlog\nKuster: I will keep fighting to end the backlog until we finish the job\nCONCORD, N.H.\u00a0 \u2013 As part of her commitment to improving health care services for Granite State veterans, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today stressed the need to eliminate the growing backlog of disability compensation claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). During a roundtable discussion at New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI) in Concord, Kuster addressed her ongoing efforts in Congress to eliminate the claims backlog with state and federal officials.\n\u201cIt is unacceptable that so many of our heroic veterans do not have timely access to the care and benefits they have earned,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThey have given so much to this country, and I will not stop fighting until we end this backlog and get our veterans access to the benefits they deserve.\u201d\nEarlier this year, Kuster introduced legislation that encourages the VA to make greater use of automation in claims processing to help boost efficiency and free up resources to provide more timely services for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Claims Efficiency Through Automation Act, recently passed the House as part of a comprehensive legislative package designed to help get veterans\u2019 claims settled faster and more efficiently.\n\u201cI am pleased to report dramatic improvement in meeting the needs of New Hampshire\u2019s Veterans this past year as evidenced by a 30 percent decrease in our inventory and an improvement of 38 percent in our average wait time for a decision on a disability compensation claim, which is currently 136 days \u2013 we are well on our way to achieving the goal of 125 days,\u201d said \u00a0Bradley Mayes, Director of the Boston Regional Office of the Veterans Benefits Administration. \u201cThis progress would not have been possible without our Congressional and Veterans Service Organization partners supporting us in our transformation efforts with initiatives like the fully developed claims program and paperless claims processing.\u201d\u00a0\nAcross the country, nearly 649,000 veterans\u2019 claims are currently waiting to be heard by the VA\u2019s Board of Veterans Appeals, more than 375,000 of which are considered backlogged. In New Hampshire alone, 1,508 claims are pending at the Manchester VA Medical Center, 725 of which are considered backlogged. An additional 847 claims are pending at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, 506 of which are considered backlogged.\nA member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Kuster has consistently spoken out about the need to eliminate the VA benefit claims backlog. In May, she announced a legislative package to help the VA meet its goal of eliminating the backlog in full 2015. Kuster also joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in urging President Obama to help end the back and forth between the VA and Department of Defense over incompatible electronic medical record systems.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shaheen-ayotte-kuster-call-on-epa-to-connect-all-homes-showing-water", "Shaheen, Ayotte, Kuster Call on EPA to Connect All Homes Showing Water Contamination to Public Water System", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Hampshire lawmakers are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to connect additional households in Atkinson showing chemical contamination in their water supply to a new water main to help ensure reliable access to safe drinking water. In a letter sent today to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) are requesting\u00a0 homes in the town of Atkinson that are showing any level of 1,4 Dioxane contamination be provided access to a new water main. The town of Atkinson has been struggling for the last several years with the contamination of 1,4 Dioxane \u2013 a chemical solvent\u00a0 with hazardous effects \u2013 in the drinking wells of 44 homes.\u00a0\n\u201cIt has come to our attention that only some households facing contamination will be provided access to a new water main,\u201d Shaheen, Ayotte and Kuster wrote in the letter.\u00a0 \u201cGiven the importance of providing reliable access to safe drinking water, we request that all homes showing 1,4-Dioxane contamination be connected to the water main.\u201d\nThey added, \u201cGiven the small additional cost that is within the current budget, we believe that it would be both proper and prudent that all homes testing for 1,4-Dioxane contamination be connected to the water main.\u201d\nThe letter from Shaheen, Ayotte and Kuster follows a recent EPA meeting in Atkinson, where residents were informed that only households where contamination levels were at or above 3.0 micrograms per liter (ug/L) would be connected to the local public water system, which will be extended under the EPA\u2019s Emergency Response and Removal program.\nMany of the homes where the contaminant has been found to be present at concentrations below the 3.0 ug/L level, however, are located next door to, or very near to, homes that are above the standard.\u00a0 There is concern that when households in Atkinson currently testing over the determined contamination standard are connected to the local public water system, homes testing below the standard for contamination are more likely to see increased levels of contamination in their wells.\nThe full text of the letter is below.\nDecember 16, 2013\nThe Honorable Gina McCarthy  \n\tAdministrator  \n\tUnited States Environmental Protection Agency  \n\tAriel Rios Building  \n\t1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC\nDear Administrator McCarthy:\nAs you may know, the town of Atkinson, New Hampshire has been struggling for the last several years with 1,4 Dioxane contamination which has been discovered in the drinking wells of forty-four homes.\u00a0 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working diligently in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to address this problem and we greatly appreciate your attention to this matter.\u00a0 However, it has come to our attention that only some households facing contamination will be provided access to a new water main.\u00a0 Given the importance of providing reliable access to safe drinking water, we request that all homes showing 1,4-Dioxane contamination be connected to the water main.\nAt a recent meeting in Atkinson in November, hosted by EPA, residents were informed that only homeowners whose contamination levels were at or above 3.0 ug/L would be connected to the local public water system, which is to be extended under the EPA\u2019s Emergency Response and Removal program.\u00a0 Many of the homes where the contaminant has been found to be present at concentrations below the 3.0 ug/L standard are located next door to, or very near to, homes that are above the standard.\u00a0 We are particularly concerned that when pumping stresses on the aquifer are removed by connecting the homes currently testing over 3.0 ug/L to the new water line, the homes below this standard are more likely to see increased levels of contamination in their wells.\nThe situation for the residents on Deer Run Road, where construction of a water main is not currently planned, is also of concern.\u00a0 Six of the nine homes on this street have had detections of the contaminant.\u00a0 In the event that future monitoring shows increased concentrations of the contaminant in any of these homes, these residents will have no viable option to obtain a safe, clean source of drinking water since there would be no water main to which to connect and no reliable in-home water treatment technology is currently available.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nGiven the small additional cost that is within the current budget, we believe that it would be both proper and prudent that all homes testing for 1,4-Dioxane contamination be connected to the water main.\u00a0 We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter as we understand that construction of the water main could be completed as early as the end of the month.\u00a0 If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Sarah Holmes of Senator Shaheen\u2019s staff (sarah_holmes@shaheen.senate.gov), Simon Thomson of Senator Ayotte\u2019s staff (simon_thomson@ayotte.senate.gov) or John Greene of Congresswoman Kuster\u2019s staff (john.greene@mail.house.gov).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-helps-pass-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act-0", "Kuster Helps Pass Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation includes amendment Kuster pushed that would enhance whistleblower protections for service members who report sexual assaults; for weeks, Kuster helped drum up bipartisan support for the amendment in the House\nMeasure also includes important provisions to improve military readiness and support our troops\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in voting to approve the FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation contains important measures to address the growing epidemic of sexual assault in the military \u2013 including an amendment pushed by Kuster \u2013 as well as other important provisions to improve military readiness and support our troops.\n\u201cI am grateful that members of both parties came together to advance this critical legislation, which will help ensure that our servicemen and women have the funding and resources they need to do their jobs and keep our county safe,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cWhile this is not a perfect bill, I am also pleased that this legislation includes key reforms to combat military sexual assault, including an amendment I pushed for that would strengthen whistleblower protections for service members who report sexual assaults.\u201d\nKuster, a member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee and the bipartisan Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus, has been outspoken about the need to address the epidemic of sexual assault in the military. Yesterday, she took to the House floor to speak about the importance of passing reforms to help prevent military sexual assaults. Earlier this year, Kuster hosted a roundtable focused on military sexual assault with key experts and stakeholders from around the Granite State.\nKuster has toured the new women\u2019s center at the White River Junction VA Medical Center and spoken with staff about the need for improved services for survivors of military sexual trauma. In April, she wrote an op-ed focused on the need for bipartisan action to better prevent and respond to sexual assault in the military.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-protecting-liheap-funding-preventing-another-government", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Protecting LIHEAP Funding, Preventing Another Government Shutdown, and More", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, Congresswoman Kuster spoke out against cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that have resulted from across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. During a visit to Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) in Nashua, Kuster underscored the harmful impacts of cutting LIHEAP\u00a0 for low-income New Hampshire families and urged Congress to restore vital LIHEAP funding.\nLater in the week, Kuster helped pass a bipartisan budget agreement that would reverse some of the indiscriminate budget cuts that have hurt families and small businesses, while helping prevent another costly government shutdown. Kuster emphasized that while the deal was far from perfect, it would help restore some normalcy to our budget process and clear the way for Congress to focus on helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class New Hampshire families.\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\nKuster calls for heating funds to be restored  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster says across-the-board budget cuts are slashing funds for heating assistance, and that is hurting New Hampshire families. Funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has declined in New Hampshire every year since 2008. This year, the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration has cut more than $1.6 million in funding from the program. Kuster visited Southern New Hampshire Services in Nashua on Monday. She called on Congress to pass a responsible budget that restores vital funding for heating assistance. Kuster says the cuts eliminate heating assistance for more than 1,200 low-income New Hampshire households. (Associated Press, 12/10/2013)\nHeating fuel assistance funding cuts draw ire of Rep. Kuster  \n\tSince registration began earlier this month, about 30,000 households in New Hampshire have applied for fuel assistance\u2026On Monday, Lovett met with Congresswoman Annie Kuster and representatives from Southern New Hampshire Services in Nashua to discuss funding cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program\u2026Kuster said the LIHEAP cuts are leaving low-income families in New Hampshire out in the cold. The sequestration, which has resulted in across-the-board budget cuts, is not an ideal way to budget, she said. \"Everyone can agree that there are cuts that can be made elsewhere in the budget,\" she said. \"I am just outraged that Congress cannot find a way to have a rational budget process.\" Kuster is hopeful that a budget agreement will be reached this week, as she called the sequestration \"detrimental.\" (Union Leader, 12/10/2013)\nBudget cuts impact NH fuel assistance  \n\tWith snow in the air and temperatures dropping, state and federal officials are expressing concern for New Hampshire residents left out in the cold by congressional budget cuts. Lovett and Hennessey joined Congresswoman Ann Kuster, D-N.H., for a roundtable discussion of the issue Monday in Nashua. They were accompanied by Tracy Desmarais, energy and crisis coordinator at SNHS, and Jeanne Agri, child development director at SNHS. Kuster told them she wants to work with her colleagues in Congress to put an end to sequesters and restore funding to programs in desperate need of money. The failure of Congress to reach agreement on the federal budget earlier this year resulted in millions of dollars in program cuts and job losses. \u201cLIHEAP helps some of our state\u2019s most vulnerable children, seniors and families make it through the winter,\u201d Kuster said in a statement. (Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, 12/11/2013)\nHeating assistance for low-income families facing more cuts  \n\tA federal program that helps more than 1,000 low-income families in New Hampshire pay energy bills is facing a $1.6 million reduction because of the budget-cutting sequester, after five years of reductions that have already cut its funding in half. U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and officials for the state and Southern New Hampshire Services in Nashua lamented these cuts during a public forum Monday. Kuster called on her Congressional colleagues to restore the heating assistance money, known as LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)\u2026 \u201cLIHEAP helps some of our state\u2019s most vulnerable children, seniors, and families make it through the winter,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable to cut this vital program for Granite Staters who could go cold without it.\u201d (Nashua Telegraph, 12/9/2013)\nKuster derides LIHEAP cuts that leave low-income New Hampshire families out in the cold  \n\tAs the cold winter months get underway in New Hampshire and across the country, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today derided cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that have resulted from across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. During a visit to Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) in Nashua, Kuster underscored the harmful impacts of cutting LIHEAP\u00a0 for New Hampshire families and called on Congress to replace the sequester with a more responsible budget that restores vital funding for heating assistance. \u201cLIHEAP helps some of our state\u2019s most vulnerable children, seniors, and families make it through the winter,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable to cut this vital program for Granite Staters who could go cold without it. With a long and cold winter ahead, Congress needs to step up and pass a budget that will restore LIHEAP funding and protect low-income and middle class Granite Staters.\u201d (12/9/2013)\nKuster votes for bipartisan budget agreement  \n\tThe House overwhelmingly passed a two-year bipartisan budget deal Thursday night. In their final action of the year, the House approved the budget 332 to 94, with 169 Republicans and 163 Democrats voting in favor, and 62 Republicans and 32 Democrats voting against. Earlier Thursday, lawmakers agreed unanimously to approve the National Defense Authorization Act, which sets military pay and policy, and to extend current agricultural policy after negotiators failed to complete a new Farm Bill. \u201cAfter months of brinksmanship and bitter partisanship, it\u2019s encouraging to see both parties engaged in good-faith budget negotiations,\u201d U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., said in a statement. \u201cThis proposal is far from perfect, but it\u2019s a modest first step that will help move us beyond the cycle of manufactured crises and short-term decision-making that has put a drag on our economy and hurt middle class families.\u201d (Union Leader, 12/13/2013)\nKuster launches \u2018Holiday Cards for Heroes\u2019  \n\tCongresswoman Annie Kuster yesterday announced that she has launched a \"Holiday Cards for Heroes\" drive at schools in the Second District to help honor New Hampshire's veterans during the holiday season. Elementary students at participating schools in Nashua and Concord \u2014 as well as other interested schools throughout the second district \u2014 will make holiday cards for veterans to thank them for their service. Members of Kuster's staff will pick up cards from participating schools. Kuster, who is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, will personally deliver the cards to veterans at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton later this month. (Union Leader, 12/12/2013)\nKuster launches \u201cHoliday Cards for Heroes\u201d drive to honor NH veterans  \n\tCongresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today announced that she has launched a \u201cHoliday Cards for Heroes\u201d drive at schools in the Second District to help honor New Hampshire\u2019s veterans this holiday season. Elementary students at participating schools in Nashua and Concord \u2013 as well as other interested schools throughout the second district \u2013 will make holiday cards for Granite State veterans to thank them for their service to our country. \u201cOur veterans, service members, and their families have sacrificed so much to protect and serve our state and country,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThe \u2018Holiday Cards for Heroes\u2019 drive is a great opportunity for young students to learn about New Hampshire\u2019s proud tradition of honoring those who serve and to thank those who have worn the uniform. I encourage schools across the second district to participate and help send a message of thanks to New Hampshire\u2019s veterans this holiday season.\u201d (12/11/2013)\nKuster hosts Exporter Forum to help boost small businesses exports in NH  \n\tSometimes Granite State business owners may have to explain where New Hampshire is, but once they do they often find plenty of opportunity in the global marketplace. \u201cNew Hampshire has $3.4 billion a year in exports, and that\u2019s billion with a \u201cB,\u201d said U.S. Rep Annie Kuster, who hosted a forum Friday morning at Nashua Community College for small businesses interested in going global. Business leaders and government agency officials offered information and advice to several dozen local business owners who turned out to learn more about tapping into international markets (Union Leader, 12/7/2013)\nKuster introduces bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster wants to require utility companies to produce at least 25 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass by 2025. Kuster is co-sponsoring legislation to create a national Renewable Electricity Standard. She says doing so would help create nearly 300,000 jobs, cut pollution and save consumers almost $100 billion on their utility bills by 2030. According to Kuster, 29 states, including New Hampshire, already have renewable generation standards. (Associated Press, 12/8/2013)\nKuster, NH delegation welcome home troops from Afghanistan  \n\tNew Hampshire's elected officials will join the state's military leaders to welcome home a medevac unit that recently returned from Afghanistan. The 169th MEDEVAC unit went to Afghanistan in September 2012. Made up of National Guard units from New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Missouri, the group became known as \"Jigsaw\" to reflect the merger of different units. The medics performed 471 lifesaving missions and carried 427 patients to higher levels of care. Soldiers in the unit, which returned in August, earned several medals including Bronze Stars. The ceremony is at 11 a.m. Saturday, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Concord. (Associated Press, 12/7/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912155828/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-national-defense-authorization-act", "House Passes National Defense Authorization Act", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill, which passed with strong bipartisan support, includes multiple provisions written by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to help provide for a strong national defense, save taxpayers money, and strengthen services for America\u2019s troops and military families.\n\u201cCongress\u2019 solemn responsibility is to ensure the safety of our nation and the strength of our Armed Services,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cWhile this bill is not perfect, it contains initiatives to help protect our troops and serve military families, address the problem of sexual assault in our Armed Forces, and provide for a strong military.\u201d\nThe bill also includes a provision barring additional rounds of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), which protects the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The legislation states: \u201cnothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize an additional Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, and none of the funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations contained in this Act may be used to propose, plan for, or execute an additional BRAC round.\u201d\n\u201cI\u2019m also pleased that the bill includes priorities I\u2019ve focused on such as the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard continuing its vital work on behalf of our national defense, addressing PTSD, protecting soldiers\u2019 health, and saving taxpayers money,\u201d Shea-Porter noted.\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Shea-Porter worked to secure multiple key provisions and amendments that are included in the final bill and detailed below.\nPROTECTING TROOPS AND SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES\nProtecting Troops from Toxic Burn Pits: Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment, which was introduced as the Save Our Soldiers\u2019 Lungs Act earlier this year, would expand the list of prohibited waste in open-air burn pits to include toxic material such as munitions, asbestos, tires, mercury, batteries, aerosol cans, and other waste. You can watch Congresswoman Shea-Porter debate the amendment here and read about the amendment in more detail here. \u00a0\nProviding Female Troops with Appropriate Equipment:\u00a0 In January 2013, the Department of Defense announced a new policy making female service members eligible for certain combat positions previously prohibited to them.\u00a0 After the announcement, female service members made Congresswoman Shea-Porter aware that the military services have not fielded individual equipment for women that is properly sized, weighted, and designed for them.\u00a0 Especially if women are to engage more broadly in combat roles, female service members must have equipment and clothing appropriate to their physical requirements so they can operate effectively without being hampered by equipment designed for men that is ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and potentially harmful during operations in the field. \u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s language directs the Department of Defense to detail its programs to develop and field individual equipment that is properly sized, weighted, and designed for use by all military women. The report is to include plans for a wider range of clothing sizes for women service members, and for rucksack frames and other carrying equipment designed specifically for women.\nAddressing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury:\u00a0 Over the past decade, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) have created enormous difficulties for service members and their families. Recovering service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence are reporting improvement in their PTSD and TBI symptoms after participating in service dog training programs that currently operate in those facilities.\u00a0 The Center runs a program in which service members suffering from PTSD and TBI learn how to train service dogs for physically disabled veterans.\u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment encourages the Secretary of Defense to study the effectiveness of this new therapy, and to consider making it more available to military members suffering from PTSD and TBI.\u00a0 DoD is directed to update the congressional defense committees on this research in 2015. \u00a0\nFabric-Based Respiratory Protective Equipment: Often serving in sandy, smoky, and hazardous environments, service members are exposed to varied kinds of harmful or toxic airborne matter which may carry pathogens, carcinogens, lead (from gunfire), and infectious diseases.\u00a0 Constant and repeated exposure can harm their health. Deployed troops lack a flexible and wearable system to protect themselves from these inhaled hazards, and thus often resort to using shirts or other cloth to cover their face in dusty or smoky environments. We can't do much to change the environment in which they operate, but we can develop and provide gear to mitigate these environmental dangers. A fabric could be developed and used to mitigate a significant amount of soldier exposure to the potentially hazardous effects of inhaling sand, dust, smoke, and pollutants such as diesel exhaust and lead. \u00a0Congresswoman Shea-Porter believes that fabric-based solutions could provide a lower-cost, more flexible way for the Army to protect soldiers from some environmental hazards than continued reliance on cumbersome gas mask systems.\u00a0 Under the provision, the Secretary of the Army is directed to provide a report, not later than February 15, 2014, evaluating the potential utility of fabric-based solutions to address soldier exposure to inhalation of sand, dust, smoke, and pollutants.\nContinuing Support for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program:\u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment recommends that the Department of Defense ensure continuing support for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, a program that provides service members and military families with financial planning services, logistical support, mental health counseling, and employment support throughout the deployment cycle, and maintains its ability to support the operational reserves. Shea-Porter\u2019s language signals to the Department of Defense that the Yellow Ribbon program is a priority for Congress and the nation.\nExpanding Military Families' Access to Rehabilitative Therapies:\u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s language would help military families receive access to alternative physical therapies under the TRICARE program.\u00a0 The provision was endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America, American Physical Therapy Association, Autism Speaks, Military Special Needs Network, National Military Family Association, Children\u2019s Hospital Association, and the National Association of Pediatric Physicians.\nPROVIDING FOR A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE\nProtecting US National Security in the Arctic:\u00a0 The Navy currently estimates that between 2020 to 2030, the Arctic could be ice-free for one month during the summer, which may lead to an increase in trans-Arctic passage for vessels seeking to reduce transit distance by utilizing the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage.\u00a0 As a global nation, the United States needs to ensure that the Navy is adequately prepared to preserve U.S. national security interests and collaborate with other Arctic nations if and when the region will be open for passage with increased traffic. Shea-Porter\u2019s language directs the Navy to provide a roadmap for future activities and costs for training and operating in the Arctic.\nIdentifying Troops\u2019 Foreign Language Skills:\u00a0 Foreign-language training is expensive and time-consuming. Service members often acquire these valuable skills naturally while stationed overseas. Congresswoman Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment recommends that the military ask service members returning from deployment or assignment to a non-English-speaking country about any language skills acquired or improved while overseas. Service members will be allowed to rate their own competence in speaking, oral understanding, reading, and/or writing a foreign language, using an easy-to-understand scale. Additionally, the amendment directs the military to create a uniform rule that allows service members who acquire foreign language skills to be tested on oral proficiency alone, if they so request.\u00a0 The information from these self-assessments and tests will help commanders identify candidates for advanced language training and address the needs of the force.\nSAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY\nNever Contracting with the Enemy:\u00a0 In April, Shea-Porter introduced the Never Contract with the Enemy Act in the House. A narrower version of this bill, which was incorporated into the Defense bill, would enable Department of Defense contracting officials to quickly cancel contracts that allow taxpayer dollars to fall into the hands of groups that seek to harm U.S. military or civilian personnel. According to an April 2013 audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR), \u201cmillions of contracting dollars could be diverted to forces seeking to harm U.S. military and civilian personnel\u201d because contractors are not currently required to certify that they do not have contracts with insurgents and other enemy groups.\u00a0 The report notes that existing law gives the Department of Defense power to withhold funds from companies that associate with enemy elements, but that rule only applies to contracts over $100,000, and roughly 80 percent of contracts awarded in Afghanistan fall below this threshold.\u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment would give defense contracting officials additional tools to terminate defense contracts that benefit individuals and entities supporting our enemy by lowering the threshold for covered contracts to $20,000.\u00a0 Senators Kelly Ayotte and Richard Blumenthal have introduced similar legislation in the Senate.\nHolding the Afghan Government Accountable: According to a recent audit, the Government of Afghanistan levied almost a billion dollars in taxes on US assistance to Afghanistan since 2008, even though Department of Defense, State Department, and USAID assistance to Afghanistan is supposed to be exempt from Afghan business taxes.\u00a0 These inappropriate and illegal taxes increase costs to American taxpayers. \u00a0 Shea-Porter\u2019s amendment would address the problem of Afghanistan improperly imposing taxes on Department of Defense aid. First, the amendment requires a report to the congressional defense committees on the amount of taxes assessed the previous year on US defense contractors, subcontractors, and grantees. Secondly, it requires that an amount equivalent to 100% of the total taxes assessed by the Afghan government on that assistance be withheld from funds appropriated for Afghanistan assistance for the succeeding fiscal year to the extent that such taxes have not been reimbursed.\u00a0 This penalty should encourage the Afghan government to cease levying improper taxes, thereby saving taxpayer dollars. Bringing Transparency to Defense Contracting:\u00a0 For too long, the American people have been the victims of theft and fraud by contractors working in Afghanistan. Congress took steps to rein in these contractors by creating a database to track contractors and their subcontractors. Shea-Porter\u2019s provision would require the Department of Defense to submit a report on contractor compliance in Iraq and Afghanistan. At a minimum, the report must include a detailed discussion of any outstanding contractor compliance issues or concerns, including any issues or concerns about the provision of information to contractor databases; a discussion of any lessons learned in Iraq or Afghanistan for improving contractor compliance in a combat environment; and best practice recommendations for ensuring contractor compliance in future contracting operations in war zones. Contractor noncompliance prevents oversight agencies from conducting proper audits and investigations. Therefore, it prevents these agencies from uncovering waste and contract fraud. Taxpayers are spending billions of dollars in Afghanistan. They deserve accountability.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-addition-of-minuteman-health-inc-to-nh-aca", "Kuster Statement on Addition of Minuteman Health Inc. to NH ACA Marketplace", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement today after it was announced that Minuteman Health Inc. of Massachusetts will offer health care plans through the New Hampshire Affordable Care Act Marketplace beginning in 2015.\u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased that beginning in 2015, Granite Staters will have an additional insurer competing for their business. Increasing competition in the health insurance market will help drive down costs and expand options for consumers in New Hampshire. I hope that moving forward, additional insurers will participate in New Hampshire\u2019s marketplace to help spur competition and reduce costs.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-supports-bipartisan-budget-agreement", "Kuster Supports Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement today after voting for a bipartisan budget agreement that would reverse some of the indiscriminate budget cuts that have hurt families and small businesses while helping prevent another costly government shutdown. The agreement passed the House by a vote of 332 to 94.\n\u201cAfter months of brinksmanship and bitter partisanship, it\u2019s encouraging to see both parties engaged in good-faith budget negotiations. This proposal is far from perfect, but it\u2019s a modest first step that will help move us beyond the cycle of manufactured crises and short-term decision-making that has put a drag on our economy and hurt middle class families.\n\u201cThis agreement would reverse some of the indiscriminate budget cuts that have hurt New Hampshire families and small businesses, while helping prevent another government shutdown that costs jobs and damages our economy. With that said, I am gravely disappointed that this agreement does not include an extension of unemployment insurance benefits, and I will keep pushing for a vote on legislation to protect this vital economic lifeline for Granite Staters who are looking for work.\n\u201cNo budget proposal is perfect, and this plan is no exception. But it will prevent another devastating government shutdown, restore some normalcy to our budget process, and clear the way for Congress to focus on helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140110010513/http://shea-porter.house.gov:80/media-center/press-releases/hea-porter-announces-additional-health-insurer-to-enter-new-hampshire", "Shea-Porter Announces Additional Health Insurer to Enter New Hampshire ACA Marketplace for 2015 Coverage", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\nMANCHESTER, NH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) announced that New Hampshire consumers will have health insurance options on the Affordable Care Act\u2019s Marketplace beginning in 2015. Minuteman Health Inc. of Massachusetts has been approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand into New Hampshire and form a new health insurance CO-OP (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan) that will offer affordable health care plans to Granite State families.\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement means that current Anthem individual market consumers will be able to keep their hospitals and doctors until next year\u2019s open enrollment, when they will have at least two insurers competing for their business,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cI am pleased that New Hampshire families and individuals will have more choices for coverage, and I will continue working to increase competition and drive down health care costs.\u201d\nThe announcement comes after the Department of Health and Human Services notified Shea-Porter that the agency has approved a loan application by Minuteman Health Inc. to expand into New Hampshire and form a new CO-OP. The CO-OP program will help non-profit health insurance issuers enter the individual and small group Marketplaces and offer competitive health insurance plans alongside Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Granite Staters will be able to sign up for plans through the CO-OP during 2014 open enrollment, with coverage beginning as early as January 1, 2015.\u00a0\nIn October 2013, Shea-Porter wrote to HHS urging the agency to approve Minuteman\u2019s application as part of her efforts to increase competition and choice for Granite Staters. New Hampshire\u2019s insurance market has historically been dominated by one insurer and higher-than-average prices. The new insurance CO-OP will be the second insurance provider offering plans on New Hampshire\u2019s ACA Marketplace, and the first nonprofit, member-governed health insurance company. The CO-OP has expressed interest in offering a wide network of hospitals and health care providers.\nFollowing news that only Anthem would offer plans through the Marketplace in 2014, Shea-Porter spoke directly to Anthem about policies that would be discontinued and the decision to offer a narrow network. After these conversations, Anthem announced that Granite Staters who already have individual market insurance policies from Anthem can renew their coverage before December 16th and keep their current hospital network and doctors, or enroll in a new plan on the Marketplace.\nThe vast majority of New Hampshire consumers \u2013 those who currently have employer-sponsored insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or VA care \u2013 can look forward to going to the same doctors and hospitals next year, but with the added benefits that come with the Affordable Care Act.\nThe full text of Shea-Porter\u2019s letter to Secretary Sebelius is below.\n\u00a0\n++++\nOctober 15, 2013\nThe Hon. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary  \n\tDepartment of Health and Human Services  \n\t200 Independence Ave., Southwest  \n\tWashington, DC 20201\n\u00a0\nDear Secretary Sebelius:\nI write to reiterate my earlier support for Minuteman Health, Inc.\u2019s expansion into New Hampshire to form a New Hampshire CO-OP. I understand that their loan application is still under consideration and that a decision will be made shortly.\nI urge you to approve this application. As we have discussed, New Hampshire currently has only one insurer offering products on the health insurance exchanges, and that insurer offers only a narrow network of hospital providers. It is the intention of the New Hampshire CO-OP to offer a wide network of hospital providers.\nI believe that having robust competition between insurers and multiple network options is critical to the long-term affordability and quality of health coverage in New Hampshire. I urge you to approve this application, which will enhance competition and choice in the Marketplace next year and will be an important advance in making healthcare reform work for my constituents.\nSincerely,\nCarol Shea-Porter  \n\tMember of Congress\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413010812/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-and-video-shea-porter-on-hjres-59-the-bipartisan-budget-act-of", "STATEMENT and VIDEO: Shea-Porter on H.J.Res 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement after voting for H.J.Res 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. After the vote, Shea-Porter spoke on the House floor, highlighting the story of one Granite Stater set to lose unemployment benefits as a result of Congressional inaction.\u00a0\n\u201cThis was not a vote I took lightly. The notion that the only compromise our country can strike is one that leaves 1.3 million Americans without emergency unemployment insurance is deeply flawed, and it is outrageous that Republicans would not consider extending emergency unemployment insurance.\n\u201cTraditionally, extending unemployment benefits has enjoyed bipartisan support. Republicans never failed to extend unemployment benefits under President George W Bush. President Reagan so firmly believed in the importance of unemployment insurance that he announced his support in his 1983 State of the Union Address.\n\u201cIn today\u2019s sluggish economy, there are three job applicants for every job opening. Americans who benefit from emergency unemployment insurance are not moochers, nor are they lazy. They are workers who ran into hard luck and lost their job through no fault of their own. Many of them rely on emergency unemployment compensation to keep their families out of poverty and a roof over their heads.\u00a0\n\u201cBut ultimately, the people of New Hampshire sent me here to make hard compromises, and this was one of them. This budget deal wasn\u2019t what I wanted, but as the Wall Street Journal said, it is \u2018the least bad budget deal\u2019. It will reduce the irresponsible cuts to programs that help seniors, children, and families in New Hampshire, and it will alleviate some of the pain sequestration is causing at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, at the New Hampshire National Guard, and other places across New Hampshire. But it still hurts some groups, and it fails to ask for a dime from profitable corporations who pay zero in federal income taxes.\n\u201cIn 2014, the challenge facing Washington will not be how to pass a budget. It will be how to reclaim the American Dream: to build an economy where hard work merits fair pay. We know that as our economy grows, our nation prospers.\u00a0 I hope that Washington will build on today\u2019s compromise and address the priorities that Granite Staters sent me here to focus on: creating good jobs, giving every child a shot at a good education, preserving Social Security and Medicare, and helping families access quality, affordable health care.\n\u201cIt won\u2019t be easy, but as today\u2019s vote proved, it\u2019s not impossible.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND\nThe Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 would set overall discretionary spending for the current fiscal year at $1.012 trillion\u2014about halfway between the Senate budget level of $1.058 trillion and the House budget level of $967 billion. The agreement would provide $63 billion in sequester relief over two years, split evenly between defense and non-defense programs. In fiscal year 2014, defense discretionary spending would be set at $520.5 billion, and non-defense discretionary spending would be set at $491.8 billion.\nThe sequester relief is fully offset by savings elsewhere in the budget. The agreement includes dozens of specific deficit-reduction provisions, with mandatory savings and non-tax revenue totaling approximately $85 billion. The agreement would reduce the deficit by between $20 and $23 billion.\nThe House of Representatives passed the bill 332-94. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation next week. If this bill is signed into law by President Obama, the appropriations committees will then be able to work on spending bills at an agreed-upon level in advance of the January 15th deadline.\nFor a summary of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, click here.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-announces-holiday-cards-for-heroes-drive-to-honor-new-hampshire", "Kuster Announces "Holiday Cards for Heroes" Drive to Honor New Hampshire Veterans", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Elementary students in Nashua and Concord will make holiday cards for NH veterans; later this month, Kuster will personally deliver cards to veterans at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton \nKuster: This is a great chance to teach students about NH\u2019s proud tradition of honoring those who serve\nCONCORD, N.H. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today announced that she has launched a \u201cHoliday Cards for Heroes\u201d drive at schools in the Second District to help honor New Hampshire\u2019s veterans this holiday season. Elementary students at participating schools in Nashua and Concord \u2013 as well as other interested schools throughout the second district \u2013 will make holiday cards for Granite State veterans to thank them for their service to our country.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cOur veterans, service members, and their families have sacrificed so much to protect and serve our state and country,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThe \u2018Holiday Cards for Heroes\u2019 drive is a great opportunity for young students to learn about New Hampshire\u2019s proud tradition of honoring those who serve and to thank those who have worn the uniform. I encourage schools across the second district to participate and help send a message of thanks to New Hampshire\u2019s veterans this holiday season.\u201d\nMembers of Kuster\u2019s staff will pick up cards from participating schools. Kuster, who is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, will personally deliver the cards to veterans at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton later this month.\nSchool districts interested in participating in the \u201cHoliday Cards for Heroes\u201d drive should call Mike Ollen at (603) 226-1002 for more information.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413005625/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-calls-for-increased-liheap-funding", "Shea-Porter Calls for Increased LIHEAP Funding", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As Granite Staters face another cold winter, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) is calling on Congress to increase funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).\nIn a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, Shea-Porter wrote, \u201cAs people across the country are trying to get through another cold winter while facing a sluggish economy and high home heating costs, I urge you to release additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These funds are critical to the security and safety of citizens across the country, especially in my home state of New Hampshire.\u201d\nLIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households, veterans, and seniors with their energy bills, providing them with vital and temporary assistance during cold winter months.\nIn October of this year, the Energy Information Administration projected that the cost of heating a home with gas this winter will be 13% higher than it was last year, while the cost to heat a home with propane will increase by 9%. These increased costs add strain to LIHEAP and the almost 9 million Americans who received support from the program in 2012.\n\u201cIn New Hampshire, LIHEAP funding is not a partisan issue,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cHowever, I have been in Congress five years, and each year it\u2019s been a struggle to obtain enough funding to keep people warm. This just should not be so difficult.\u201d\nShea-Porter has been a strong advocate for LIHEAP funding.\u00a0 In April of this year, she sent a bipartisan letter requesting that funding for LIHEAP be authorized at a level of $5.1 billion in FY2014. In previous years, she has testified before the House Budget Committee and introduced legislation that would increase funding for LIHEAP.\nFull text of Shea-Porter\u2019s letter is below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nThe Honorable Barbara Mikulski and The Honorable Richard Shelby\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tChair and Ranking Member\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tCommittee on Appropriations\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tUnited States Senate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThe Honorable Hal Rogers and The Honorable Nita Lowey  \n\tChair and Ranking Member\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tCommittee on Appropriations\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \n\tUnited States House of Representatives\n\u00a0\nDear Chairwoman Mikulski, Ranking Member Shelby, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Lowey,\nAs people across the country are trying to get through another cold winter while facing a sluggish economy and high home heating costs, I urge you to release additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). These funds are critical to the security and safety of citizens across the country, especially in my home state of New Hampshire.\nAs you know, on November 5, 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services released $2.93 billion in funding for LIHEAP based on the amount approved in the current continuing resolution funding the government through January 15, 2014. This is far below the $3.6 billion included in the Senate Appropriations Committee FY 2014 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. I hope that when negotiating funding levels for the rest of FY 2014, you will work to provide additional funds to LIHEAP to support annualized funding at $3.6 billion. Even this level is still far below the $5.1 billion that was made available in FY 2010, while the cost to heat a home is likely to increase.\nIn New Hampshire, LIHEAP funding is not a partisan issue. Funding for this critical program is supported by both Democrats and Republicans because we all know how important it is to help Americans stay warm this winter.\nIn October of this year, the Energy Information Administration projected that the cost of heating a home with gas this winter will be 13% higher than it was last year, while the cost to heat a home with propane will increase by 9%. This puts added strain on LIHEAP and the almost 9 million Americans who received support from the program in 2012.\nGiven these rising costs and the ongoing troubles in the economy and job market, I hope that you will strongly consider increasing funding in LIHEAP. Our fellow citizens who are working to get by should not have to fear going home on a cold winter night to a house that they cannot keep warm for their family.\nI thank you for your consideration in this matter and look forward to continue to work with you on passing appropriations that supports LIHEAP and all of the other critical functions of government for FY 2014.\n\u00a0\nRespectfully submitted,\n\u00a0\nCarol Shea-Porter  \n\tMember of Congress\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912160033/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-to-speaker-boehner-congress-must-not-adjourn-for-year", "Shea-Porter to Speaker Boehner: Congress Must Not Adjourn for Year without Extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Insurance", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) joined 166 lawmakers today in urging Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) not to adjourn the House of Representatives for the year without allowing a vote to extend emergency unemployment compensation, which is scheduled to expire on December 28.\n\u201cWe write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year,\u201d the letter reads.\u00a0\u201cWithout swift Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless workers will have their benefits cut off on December 28th, and nearly another 1.9 million will lose their unemployment benefits over the first half of next year. This would not only be a devastating blow for millions of Americans who are already struggling, but it would also hurt our economy.\u201d\nFailure to extend unemployment insurance would mean 1,300 Granite Staters will lose vital benefits on December 28. An additional 3,900 New Hampshire workers would lose their benefits in the first six months of 2014 if Congress doesn\u2019t act.\nFull text of the letter is below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nDecember 11, 2013\nThe Honorable John Boehner  \n\tSpeaker, U.S. House of Representatives  \n\tH232, U.S. Capitol  \n\tWashington, DC 20515\n\u00a0\nDear Speaker Boehner:\nWe write to urge you to address the looming expiration of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans before adjourning Congress for the remainder of the year.\u00a0 Without swift Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless workers will have their benefits cut off on December 28th, and nearly another 1.9 million will lose their unemployment benefits over the first half of next year.\u00a0\u00a0 This would not only be a devastating blow for millions of Americans who are already struggling, but it would also hurt our economy.\nThe Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program is scheduled to immediately and completely stop at the end of 2013, during the holiday season, with the last payable week ending on December 28th.\u00a0 All current EUC beneficiaries will lose their benefits, and individuals exhausting their limited state unemployment benefits will no longer be eligible for EUC benefits in 2014.\u00a0 This cutoff will affect over 3 million Americans over the next six months, and thereby also negatively impact our economic growth. In fact, recent estimates indicate that the expiration of the EUC program would cost our economy 310,000 jobs and drain roughly four-tenths of a percentage point from first-quarter economic growth.\nWhile unemployment benefits remain a critical lifeline for dislocated workers and their families, these benefits have recently been significantly scaled back.\u00a0 According to the Congressional Research Service, the total amount of weeks of unemployment benefits has dropped by more than a third across the states, and by more than 50 percent in some states, compared to two years ago.\u00a0\u00a0 Furthermore, the recipients have seen their weekly benefit payment provided by the EUC program cut under sequestration.\nEven with the progress our economy has seen since the depths of the recession, there are still 1.3 million fewer jobs today than when the recession started six years ago. Additionally, approximately 4 million Americans are considered long-term unemployed, and have been looking for work for more than six months. Now is certainly not the time to further decimate vital federal assistance to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and who must actively seek work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.\u00a0\u00a0 We therefore strongly urge you to immediately bring up a one-year extension of the current EUC program.\nThank you for your attention to this critical issue.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140110010520/http://shea-porter.house.gov:80/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-spokesperson-statement-on-misleading-radio-ads", "Shea-Porter Spokesperson Statement on Misleading Radio Ads", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nMANCHESTER, NH \u2013 Ben Wakana, spokesperson for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, issued the following statement regarding a misleading radio advertisement about the Affordable Care Act:\n\u201cThis ad is false. Washington Republicans should take down their misleading attack ads and stop frightening Granite Staters who hold individual policies from Anthem, because they can indeed renew their policies and keep their current doctors and hospitals.\n\u201cCongresswoman Shea-Porter worked this out with Anthem weeks ago: New Hampshire residents who hold individual policies from Anthem have until December 16 to renew their current policies and keep their hospitals and doctors in 2014.\n\u201cIn fact, under the Affordable Care Act, families in a situation like the one depicted in this ad no longer face lifetime limits on coverage, they won\u2019t suffer from bankruptcy due to overwhelming medical bills, and they can\u2019t be kicked off their insurance or kept from getting insurance because of illness. Washington Republicans should stop trying to take people\u2019s insurance away and start working to improve the Affordable Care Act.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-derides-liheap-cuts-that-leave-low-income-new-hampshire-families", "Kuster Derides LIHEAP Cuts that Leave Low-Income New Hampshire Families Out In the Cold", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LIHEAP provides low-income households \u2013 including those with young children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors \u2013 with heating assistance to help pay energy bills during the winter\nIn New Hampshire, funding for this program has declined every year since 2008, yet sequestration cut more than $1.6 million from LIHEAP in 2013; Kuster reiterates her call for Congress to replace the sequester and restore LIHEAP funding for NH families\nKuster: It\u2019s unconscionable to cut LIHEAP for Granite Staters who could go cold without it \nNASHUA, N.H. \u2013 As the cold winter months get underway in New Hampshire and across the country, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today derided cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that have resulted from across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration. During a visit to Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) in Nashua, Kuster underscored the harmful impacts of cutting LIHEAP\u00a0 for New Hampshire families and called on Congress to replace the sequester with a more responsible budget that restores vital funding for heating assistance.\nKuster was joined at the event by Gale Hennessey, Executive Director of SNHS; Tracy Desmarais, Energy and Crisis Coordinator at SNHS; Jeanne Agri, Child Development Director at SNHS; and Celeste Lovett, Fuel Assistance Program Manager at the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning.\n\u201cLIHEAP helps some of our state\u2019s most vulnerable children, seniors, and families make it through the winter,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable to cut this vital program for Granite Staters who could go cold without it. With a long and cold winter ahead, Congress needs to step up and pass a budget that will restore LIHEAP funding and protect low-income and middle class Granite Staters.\u201d\nDespite the fact that LIHEAP funding in New Hampshire has fallen every year since 2008, sequestration cut more than $1.6 million from the program in FY 2013, eliminating heating assistance for more than 1,200 low-income New Hampshire households \u2013 including those with young children, individuals with disabilities, and seniors.\u00a0\n\u201cOur Fuel Assistance Program provides critical benefits to those who need them most,\u201d said Celeste Lovett, Fuel Assistance Program Manager at the N.H. Office of Energy Planning. \u201cSequester cuts in program year 2013 cut benefits for New Hampshire families by $1.7 million, and that reduction is on top of reduced assistance in recent years. Decreased funding combined with rising prices for deliverable fuels like heating oil reduce the program\u2019s ability to provide a meaningful heating benefit to New Hampshire\u2019s most vulnerable citizens.\u201d\nSince 2008, annual LIHEAP funding in New Hampshire has fallen by more than $25 million:\n Program Year 2008-2009: $50,966,452\n\tProgram Year 2009-2010: $36,624,031\n\tProgram Year 2010-2011: $36,050,212\n\tProgram Year 2011-2012: $26,055,370\n\tProgram Year 2012-2013: $24,321,370\n According to the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association (NEADA), the total number of households nationwide receiving heating assistance fell by 194,000 in FY 2013 due to the sequester, from 6.9 million in FY 2012 to roughly 6.7 million in FY 2013. These cuts come on top of additional cuts that took effect in the previous few years. From FY 2010 to FY 2012 alone, the number of American households that received heating assistance declined by 17%, from 8.1 million to 6.7 million.\nKuster has repeatedly called on Congress to replace the harmful sequester with a more balanced, responsible plan to reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class. In July, Kuster met with seniors at the Windham Senior Center to highlight the negative impact sequestration is having on the Meals on Wheels program that helps feed hungry seniors. Kuster also criticized sequestration cuts to the Head Start program during a visit with students and families at Southwestern Community Services.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-hosts-exporter-forum-to-help-local-businesses-boost-international", "Kuster Hosts Exporter Forum to Help Local Businesses Boost International Sales", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Forum brought together local business leaders, state officials, and representatives from the Export-Import Bank for a discussion about strategies for expanding exports, accessing capital, and creating jobs\nLast year, Granite State exports totaled more than $3.4 billion, helping fuel economic growth and job creation across the state\n(Friday, December 6, 2013 | Rep. Kuster delivers remarks during an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College)\nNASHUA, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for the middle class, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today convened a group of local business leaders, state officials, and representatives from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to discuss strategies for boosting international sales during an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College. The session helped local business owners learn about ways to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe.\n\u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for the middle class, and supporting exports is a key part of that goal,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what this Forum was all about \u2013 ensuring that New Hampshire businesses have access to the tools and resources they need to boost their exports and create good, middle class jobs right here in the Granite State.\u201d\nKuster delivered remarks at the forum, as did Patricia M. Loui, a member of the Export-Import Bank\u2019s Board of Directors. State and federal officials then joined local business owners for panel discussions on export resources and strategies.\n\u201cWith 95% of the world\u2019s customers outside the United States, the value of exporting has become increasingly clear,\u201d Director Loui said. \u201cIncreasing American exports is vital to our economic recovery and we will not reach our export potential without the participation of small business. That is why Ex-Im Bank is committed to growing the number of these companies that use our financing and, in doing so, create, save, and sustain American jobs.\u201d\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to boost exports and create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire. Earlier this year, she introduced the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, legislation that would extend and expand the successful State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP). To date, STEP has helped dozens of Granite State companies expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy. Last year, New Hampshire exports totaled more than $3.4 billion, helping fuel economic growth and job creation across the state.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-boosting-nh-exports-streamlining-services-for-businesses", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Boosting NH Exports, Streamlining Services for Businesses, and More", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, Congresswoman Kuster hosted an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College that brought together local business leaders and federal officials for a discussion about strategies for boosting international sales. The event, which was held in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, helped provide local business owners with the tools and resources they need to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe. More than 50 Granite Staters representing businesses from all across the state participated in the forum. Since taking office, Kuster has prioritized efforts to boost exports and create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire.\nTo help make it easier for Granite State companies to create good, middle class jobs, Kuster also introduced common sense legislation to streamline federal services for businesses. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Executive Agency Simplification and Efficiencies (EASE) Act, would help consolidate duplicative agencies and redundant programs to improve services for businesses and simplify the maze of departments many companies confront when seeking federal assistance. Kuster\u2019s bill follows previous calls from President Obama to restructure business-related agencies to boost efficiency and eliminate duplication.\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\nSource: https://www.whitehouse.gov/businessusa\nKuster introduces bill to streamline services for Granite State businesses  \n\tTo help make it easier for Granite State companies to create good, middle class jobs, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today introduced common sense legislation to streamline federal services for businesses that are looking to grow, boost exports, and access capital. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Executive Agency Simplification and Efficiencies (EASE) Act, would help consolidate duplicative agencies and redundant programs to improve services for businesses and simplify the maze of departments many companies confront when seeking federal assistance. \u201cGranite State businesses that are looking to boost their exports, secure a loan, or access new markets shouldn\u2019t have to navigate a confusing maze of agencies just to access the services they need,\u201d Kuster said. (12/3/2013)\nForum on boosting exports held Friday at Nashua Community College  \n\tBusiness owners who want to learn more about boosting exports, getting access to capital and using government resources are invited to a forum Friday morning at Nashua Community College. The session begins at 8:30 a.m., and U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster Kuster will deliver remarks at the forum, as will Patricia M. Loui, a member of the Export-Import Bank\u2019s board of directors. State and federal officials will then join local business owners for panel discussions on export resources and strategies. Earlier this year, Kuster introduced the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, legislation that would extend and expand the successful State Trade and Export Promotion program. To date, the STEP program has helped dozens of Granite State companies expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy. (Nashua Telegraph, 12/5/2013)\nKuster hosts exporter forum to help local businesses boost international sales  \n\tOn Friday, December 6 at 8:30am, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will convene a group of local and national business leaders to discuss strategies for boosting international sales during an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College. The session, held in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will help business owners learn about ways to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe. \u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping to grow the economy and create jobs and opportunity for the middle class. That\u2019s what this Exporter Forum is all about,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThis event will help ensure that our businesses have the tools and resources they need to boost their exports and create good, middle class jobs right here in the Granite State.\u201d (12/3/2013)\nKuster works across the aisle to combat sexual assault in the military  \n\tBefore being sworn into Congress in January, I sparked up an unlikely friendship with a fellow new representative named Jackie Walorski. At first glance, Walorski and I aren\u2019t natural political allies. She\u2019s a Republican from Indiana. I\u2019m a Democrat from New Hampshire. We disagree on a whole host of issues. But during an orientation session for incoming members of Congress, she and I discovered a shared passion for addressing the epidemic of sexual assault in the military \u2013 and we decided to do something about it. After consulting with experts and convening briefings on the issue, we worked on a bill that would strengthen whistle-blower protections for service members who report sexual assaults. (Concord Monitor, 12/6/2013)\nKuster leads push for a national renewable electricity standard  \n\tThis week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) partnered with Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02) and Congressman Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (NM-03) to introduce legislation to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would help create good jobs, cut pollution, and save consumers money. Their bill, the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2013, would require utility companies to produce at least 25 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass by 2025, helping spur growth in our country\u2019s renewable energy sector. \u201cInvestments in clean energy are investments in a healthier environment and a stronger economy. This common sense bill will help create good middle class jobs, cut pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil \u2013 all while saving consumers money on their utilities,\u201d Kuster said. (12/5/2013)\nWith deadline looming, Kuster pushes for vote on bill to extend unemployment insurance benefits  \n\tWith critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for another year. In a letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster said that an extension of unemployment insurance benefits will provide a vital lifeline to Granite Staters and other Americans who are still struggling to find work as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Kuster, who also reiterated her call for Congress to focus like a laser on job creation, underscored that with only ten legislative days remaining before benefits are set to expire, the time for action is now. (12/3/2013)\nKuster reiterates opposition to imposing sales tax collection requirements on NH small businesses  \n\tIn a mild surprise, the nation\u2019s high court passed on taking up a challenge to a New York law that forces online retailers to pay sales taxes to that state even if the company has no physical presence in New York. Kuster has repeatedly spoke against the bill and visited a Hudson firm to highlight what she called its harmful effects. \u201cNew Hampshire small businesses are using the Internet to reach new markets, create middle class jobs, and grow our economy,\u201d Kuster said in a statement. \u201cCongress should be working to create an environment that helps these companies succeed \u2013 not adding new bureaucratic barriers that will impede growth. I\u2019ll continue to oppose any effort in Congress to impose new sales tax collection requirements on New Hampshire small businesses.\u201d (Nashua Telegraph, 12/3/2013)\nNH congressional delegation opposes bid to have online businesses be tax collectors  \n\tNow that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided it won't rule on a New York state law requiring online retailers to collect sales taxes, the battle returns to Congress, where the New Hampshire delegation is united in efforts to block or at least amend legislation that would impose a similar tax mandate on all 50 states. (Union Leader, 12/3/2013)\nKuster continues to stand up New Hampshire farmers  \n\tAgriculture in New Hampshire has changed in recent years, with the local food movement fueling an explosion of vegetable stands, farmers markets, CSAs and farm stands, but some are worried that it may be imperiled by proposed changes in federal food-safety rules for produce they feel are oriented toward large-scale farms in warmer climates. The comment period for the proposed rules ended Friday, Nov. 22 \u2013 a week after the original deadline, due in large part to a request for an extension from U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-N.H., who has heard concerns about the rules from state farmers for months. Officials hope to convince the FDA to hold another comment period after the final rules are released. Kuster and N.H. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen led a bipartisan group of 75 legislators last Monday, in writing a letter requesting the FDA to \u201cengage further with the public\u201d before implementing the rules. (Nashua Telegraph, 12/2/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-leads-push-for-national-renewable-electricity-standard", "Kuster Leads Push for National Renewable Electricity Standard", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Introduces legislation that would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass by 2025\nNew Hampshire already leads the nation with its own renewable energy standard; Kuster\u2019s legislation would help the rest of the country follow the Granite State\u2019s lead and raise the bar for energy efficiency\nKuster: This bill is a win-win-win \u2013 will create jobs, cut pollution, and save consumers money\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) partnered with Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02) and Congressman Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (NM-03) to introduce legislation to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would help create good jobs, cut pollution, and save consumers money. Their bill, the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2013, would require utility companies to produce at least 25 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass by 2025, helping spur growth in our country\u2019s renewable energy sector.\n\u201cInvestments in clean energy are investments in a healthier environment and a stronger economy. This common sense bill will help create good middle class jobs, cut pollution, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil \u2013 all while saving consumers money on their utilities,\u201d Kuster said.\u00a0\u201cNew Hampshire is already a leader on this issue with our own state renewable energy standard of 25 percent by 2025. This important legislation will help the rest of our nation catch up to the Granite State while supporting a growing American industry.\u201d\nTwenty nine states, including New Hampshire, Colorado, and New Mexico, already have renewable generation standards. By advancing the production of clean renewable energy sources in all states, the Renewable Electricity Standard Act would spur innovation, capital investments, and job growth across the country while enhancing energy security and reducing pollution.\nStudies indicate that a national renewable energy standard would:\n Create approximately 274,000-297,000 jobs;\n\tSave consumers almost $100 billion on their utility bills by 2030;\n\tProvide $13.5 billion to farmers, ranchers and other landowners in the form of lease payments; and\n\tAdd $11.5 billion in new local tax revenues\n Kuster, a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), has long been a champion for conservation and environmental stewardship in New Hampshire. She has pushed to prevent tar sands from being transported through New Hampshire by pipeline, advocated for tax incentives for renewable energy development, and consistently supported energy efficiency initiatives and legislation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-the-passing-of-nelson-mandela", "Kuster Statement on the Passing of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CONCORD, N.H. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today released the following statement on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela.\n\u201cToday, the world has lost one of its most inspiring champions for freedom, equality, and peace. Nelson Mandela\u2019s life is a story of courage in the face of adversity; forgiveness in the face of injustice; and reconciliation in the face of oppression. His commitment to the causes of freedom and non-violence helped free a nation and inspire the world. And while he is no longer with us, Nelson Mandela\u2019s legacy will forever inspire us to work toward a better and brighter future.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413010906/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-no-budget-no-vacation", "Shea-Porter: No Budget, No Vacation", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 With only six legislative days remaining before the House of Representatives goes home for the holidays, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter added her name to the newly introduced H. Res. 424, legislation that would prevent Congress from adjourning for the remainder of the year unless it passes a budget conference report by December 13th.\n\u201cThe least productive Congress ever should stay in Washington until a budget is agreed to,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cWithout fulfilling this basic function, there is no question that Congress should not go on vacation.\u201d\nThe 113th Congress is on track to have the least productive year in Congressional history. But next Friday, the House of Representatives is scheduled to go home for the holidays until January 7th. Earlier this week, Speaker of the House John Boehner had this outrageous response for reporters asking about progress in the Republican-led Congress:\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ve done our work.\u201d\nWithout agreeing to a budget, Congress risks another government shutdown and credit default as early as January 15, 2014. Without authorizing the nation\u2019s Farm Bill, the price of milk could skyrocket to $8.00 per gallon in January.\u00a0 Additionally, unemployment insurance, common sense gun legislation, and jobs bills all remain on the table but unpassed.\nEarlier today, Shea-Porter supported a motion that would have forced Congress to pass a budget conference report before adjourning for the year. In early August, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives asking Congress to extend its session in order to end sequestration and pass job-creating legislation. You can watch the video here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204245/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-shea-porter-on-the-passing-of-nelson-mandela", "Shea-Porter on the Passing of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) released the following statement on the passing of former South African President Nelson Mandela:\n \n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cToday, the world grieves with South Africa over the loss of Nelson Mandela.\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cNelson Mandela was a great leader who chose peace over violence, and love and forgiveness over hate and revenge. His power sprang from this, and from his humility.\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe world will be a little emptier now, but we must strive to keep his legacy alive for the living.\u201d\n \n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/friday-in-nashua-kuster-to-host-exporter-forum-to-help-local-businesses", "FRIDAY IN NASHUA: Kuster to Host Exporter Forum to Help Local Businesses Boost International Sales", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Forum will bring together local businesses and federal officials for a discussion about strategies for expanding exports, accessing capital, and creating jobs\nLast year, Granite State exports totaled more than $3.4 billion, helping fuel economic growth and job creation across the state\nNASHUA, N.H. \u2013 On Friday, December 6 at 8:30am, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will convene a group of local and national business leaders to discuss strategies for boosting international sales during an Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College. The session, held in conjunction with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will help business owners learn about ways to boost their exports, access working capital, leverage government resources, and find new markets and customers around the globe.\n\u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping to grow the economy and create jobs and opportunity for the middle class. That\u2019s what this Exporter Forum is all about,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThis event will help ensure that our businesses have the tools and resources they need to boost their exports and create good, middle class jobs right here in the Granite State.\u201d\nKuster will deliver remarks at the forum, as will Patricia M. Loui, a member of the Export-Import Bank\u2019s board of directors. State and federal officials will then join local business owners for panel discussions on export resources and strategies.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to boost exports and create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire. Earlier this year, she introduced the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, legislation that would extend and expand the successful State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP). To date, the STEP program has helped dozens of Granite State companies expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy.\nGranite Staters who are interested in attending the event are asked to register here. Members of the media who plan to attend should email Jake Berry at Jake.Berry@mail.house.gov to RSVP.\nWHO:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Congresswoman Annie Kuster\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Patricia Loui, Export-Import Bank of the United States Board of Directors\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Robert Barry, New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John P. Joyce, Small Business Administration\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justin Oslowski, U.S. Department of Commerce\nWHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Kuster to host Exporter Forum at Nashua Community College\nWHEN: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Friday, December 6, 8:30 am\nWHERE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Nashua Community College, 505 Amherst St., Nashua, NH\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-introduces-bill-to-streamline-services-for-granite-state", "Kuster Introduces Bill to Streamline Services for Granite State Businesses", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Common sense EASE Act would help simplify maze of agencies and offices that businesses face when seeking federal assistance to help boost exports, access capital, and grow jobs \nLast year, President Obama asked Congress for consolidation authority that would allow him to restructure executive branch agencies to boost efficiency, but Congress failed to act on the President\u2019s request \nKuster: NH businesses should be able to access federal services with ease\nSource: https://www.whitehouse.gov/businessusa\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 To help make it easier for Granite State companies to create good, middle class jobs, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today introduced common sense legislation to streamline federal services for businesses that are looking to grow, boost exports, and access capital. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Executive Agency Simplification and Efficiencies (EASE) Act, would help consolidate duplicative agencies and redundant programs to improve services for businesses and simplify the maze of departments many companies confront when seeking federal assistance.\n\u201cGranite State businesses that are looking to boost their exports, secure a loan, or access new markets shouldn\u2019t have to navigate a confusing maze of agencies just to access the services they need,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cWe need to make it easier \u2013 not harder \u2013 for our businesses to grow and succeed. By streamlining duplicative agencies and programs, we can save money while strengthening services that help Granite State businesses expand, create middle class jobs, and grow our economy.\u201d\nIn January 2012, President Obama called on Congress to reinstate the \u201cconsolidation authority\u201d past presidents have enjoyed that would allow him to reorganize and restructure executive branch agencies. Congress failed to act on the President\u2019s request and has also failed to address the redundancy and duplication in federal agencies that help boost American competitiveness.\nIn making his request for consolidation authority, the President identified six major departments and agencies primarily focused on supporting American businesses and trade:\u00a0 the Department of Commerce, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Export-Import Bank, the Small Business Administration, and the Trade and Development Agency.\u00a0In an infographic illustrating the problem, the Administration outlined the web of federal points of contact available to American businesses seeking federal assistance.\nThe EASE Act would help address this duplication by streamlining and consolidating agencies that provide important services to businesses in New Hampshire and across the country. Under this legislation, the Comptroller General of the United States would be required to submit to Congress and the President a legislative proposal that would: 1) decrease the total number of agencies that promote American competitiveness, exports, and businesses in order to improve and simplify services for businesses, and 2) produce cost savings for the federal government.\u00a0 Congress would be then be required to give this proposal expedited consideration.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0Last month, she hosted a Career and Opportunities Fair in Nashua,\u00a0 toured a West Lebanon brewery to discuss legislation that would cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers, visited a Salem company to highlight the importance of boosting small business exports, and hosted a 21st Century workforce roundtable in Hudson with students, business owners, and education leaders.\nShe has also introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports, supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/with-time-running-out-kuster-pressese-for-a-vote-on-bill-to-extend", "With Time Running Out, Kuster Pressese For a Vote on Bill to Extend Unemployment Insurance For Granite Staters", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster urges action on legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, which would give Granite Staters struggling to find work a vital lifeline\nWithout Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will be cut off from vital unemployment insurance benefits just days after Christmas\nKuster to Boehner: With less than 10 legislative days remaining before benefits expire, the time to act is now\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for another year. In a letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster said that an extension of unemployment insurance benefits will provide a vital lifeline to Granite Staters and other Americans who are still struggling to find work as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Kuster, who also reiterated her call for Congress to focus like a laser on job creation, underscored that with only ten legislative days remaining before benefits are set to expire, the time for action is now.\n\u201cWhile our economy has made important progress since the Great Recession, too many people in New Hampshire and across the country are still struggling to find work. Now is not the time to cut off unemployment insurance benefits that are helping these families survive as they search for jobs,\u201d Kuster wrote. \u201cI therefore respectfully request that you allow a simple vote on legislation that will protect these benefits and the hardworking families who count on them.\u201d\nLast month, Kuster cosponsored legislation that would extend unemployment insurance benefits for another year and highlighted a report which estimated that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 would be cut off from their benefits on December 28.\nLast year, unemployment compensation helped keep 2.5 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children. Not only would losing these benefits hurt New Hampshire families, it would also have a negative impact on economic growth. Recent estimates have found that allowing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to expire would cost our economy 310,000 jobs and reduce first-quarter economic growth by roughly four-tenths of a percentage point in 2014.\nThe Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was first authorized in 2008 and has been reauthorized on several occasions since then, most recently as part of the Jan. 1, 2013 fiscal cliff agreement, with the number of weeks of federal benefits substantially reduced over the last two years.\nKey findings from the report Kuster highlighted last month include:\n 1,300 Granite Staters will lose unemployment insurance on December 28, 2013\n\tFailure to extend unemployment insurance would cost economy 310,000 jobs, according to the Economic Policy Institute\n\t37% of unemployed have been without a job for longer than six months\n\tEconomy still has 2 million fewer jobs than before Great Recession began\n A member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0Last month, she hosted a Career and Opportunities Fair,\u00a0 toured a West Lebanon brewery to discuss legislation that would cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers, visited a Salem company to highlight the importance of boosting small business exports, and hosted a 21st century workforce roundtable in Hudson with students, business owners, and education leaders.\nShe has also introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports, supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nDecember 3, 2013\nDear Speaker Boehner:\nWith fewer than ten legislative days remaining before unemployment insurance benefits are set to expire, I write to urge you to immediately allow a vote on legislation that will extend these vital benefits for individuals who are still struggling to find work.\u00a0 As you know, without Congressional action, 1.3 million jobless Americans \u2013 including more than 1,300 individuals in my home state of New Hampshire \u2013 will lose their unemployment insurance benefits just days after Christmas.\u00a0\nNot only would losing these benefits be a painful blow to my constituents who are still struggling to find work, but it would also hurt our economy. Some recent projections have found that allowing the Emergency Unemployment Insurance program to expire would cost our economy more than 300,000 jobs while shaving four-tenths of a percentage point from first quarter economic growth in 2014.\u00a0 That would hurt the long-term unemployed in my district and negatively impact our entire economy.\nWhile our economy has made important progress since the Great Recession, too many people in New Hampshire and across the country are still struggling to find work.\u00a0 Now is not the time to cut off unemployment insurance benefits that are helping these families survive as they search for jobs.\u00a0 I therefore respectfully request that you allow a simple vote on legislation that will protect these benefits and the hardworking families who count on them.\u00a0 With fewer than ten days to act, Congress needs to immediately extend these vital benefits and focus like a laser on creating jobs and opportunity for the middle class.\nThank you for your attention to this critical issue.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204336/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-expose-ceo-pay-disparity", "Shea-Porter: Expose CEO Pay Disparity", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608 \u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) sent a letter to the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) supporting a proposed rule to require publicly traded companies to disclose the ratio between CEO pay and median employee compensation.\n\u201cOver the course of my lifetime, I\u2019ve watched American workers become more productive than ever, only to see wages remain largely stagnant. Over those same decades, CEO pay has gone through the roof, rising from 42 times the average pay of workers in 1980 to 354 times that of the average worker today,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cIn 2012, the CEO of J.C. Penney (JCP) made 1,795 times that of the average JCP employee. It\u2019s time for publicly traded companies to report on this disparity.\u201d\nThe letter notes that it is important for investors to know the salaries of chief executives at publicly-traded\u00a0 corporations. At the same time, it is essential that these salaries be contextualized through comparison with the median employee salary at the firm. The proposed rule also reflects public concern over disparate levels of executive compensation and the need to have this information available in an understandable format.\nPeter Drucker, one of the 20th century\u2019s best-known business theorists, wrote that the ratio of CEO-to-worker pay was best kept between 20-1 and 25-1.\nThe 32 Members of Congress to sign the letter noted that they found no credibility in the idea that the burdens of documenting the ratio between CEO pay and median employee compensation will be too high. \u201cCompanies already track how much they spend on personnel including salary and benefits,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cFirms that set up advanced computers for high frequency trading or that master the concept of just-in-time inventory should be able to figure out the median salary using basic software.\u201d\nLast week, Shea-Porter cosponsored legislation that would prevent Wall Street banks from collecting tax breaks on fines paid to the U.S. government as a result of irresponsible behavior that helped caused the financial crisis.\nFull text of the letter is below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nDecember 2, 2013\nThe Honorable Mary Jo White  \n\tChairman  \n\tSecurities and Exchange Commission  \n\t100 F Street, NE  \n\tWashington, DC 20549\nRe: Pay Ratio Disclosure - File No. S7-07-13\n\u00a0\nDear Chairman White,\nWe strongly support the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s proposed rule to require publicly-traded companies to disclose the ratio between CEO pay and median employee compensation as directed by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.\nIt is important for investors and the public to know the salaries of chief executives at publicly- traded corporations. At the same time, it is essential that these salaries be contextualized through comparison with the median employee salary at the firm. The proposed rule reflects public concern over disparate levels of executive compensation and the need to have this information available in an understandable format. According to the Center for Audit Quality\u2019s annual investor survey, 46 percent of investors say they consider CEO compensation in their decision making.\nThe average American CEO makes $354 for every $1 earned by the median worker.[i] In some companies, this ratio can reach as high as $1,000 to $1.[ii] Investors should be able to consider if a CEO provides hundreds of times the value of their employees prior to investing in a firm. While executives make critical decisions about the direction of their companies, quality employees ensure those decisions are properly implemented. This information is also necessary for corporate boards which must ascertain whether staff is fairly compensated.\nInvestors have good reason to want a firm\u2019s executive pay ratio disclosed. Research shows that highly paid CEOs are more likely to pursue the kind of risky investments that brought on the global financial crisis. The Institute for Policy Studies found that nearly 40 percent of the highest-paid CEOs were fired, sought a bailout, or forced to pay fraud-related fines.[iii]\u00a0 Furthermore, a lower ratio of CEO to median worker pay implies more investment in human capital and a longer-term outlook.\nSome assert that finding a firm\u2019s median worker pay is too complicated. Firms that set up advanced computers for high frequency trading or that master the concept of just-in-time inventory should be able to figure out the median salary using basic software. Companies already track how much they spend on personnel including salary and benefits. Companies with unusually complex benefit plans are provided other options to find their ratio, including statistical sampling. We find no credibility to the assertion that the costs and burdens of documenting this will be too high. In addition, the SEC may not use cost-benefit analysis to either block implementation of Section 953(b) or to support a rule that is inconsistent with the language of the provision.\nAnother point of contention over the new rule comes from a concern that a simple CEO-employee pay ratio may not include pertinent information that could contextualize the ratio. If companies feel that the information is incomplete, they should voluntarily disclose more information to contextualize it for stakeholders.\nThe current culture of paying CEOs much more than average employees hurts working families, is detrimental to employee morale, and goes against what research shows is best for business. Peter Drucker, one of the most prominent management theorists of the 20th century, wrote that the ratio of CEO-to-worker pay was best kept between 20-1 and 25-1. Drucker has argued that firms with very high ratios between CEO and employee pay have weaker corporate cultures. Today\u2019s numbers dwarf that ratio, contributing to stunning inequality and high levels of unemployment \u2013 95% in income gains since the global financial crisis have gone to the top 1%.[iv]\nFinally, the CEO-median employee pay ratio is critical to our national dialogue on income inequality and economic mobility. Income inequality in the U.S. is stunning: the richest 1% earn 24% of national income and own 40% of nation\u2019s wealth.[v] In contrast, the bottom 50% of Americans own a mere 1.1% of the nation\u2019s wealth.[vi] In 1980, a typical CEO made 42 times the average pay of workers.[vii] Now, the average CEO of large companies makes 354 times that of the average worker.[viii] The ratio reached as high as 1,795 times the average department store worker\u2019s pay at J.C. Penney in 2012.[ix] What did this massive CEO compensation package produce for J.C. Penney shareholders? The CEO was fired in only 17 months because sales dropped 28.4% in one quarter alone.[x]\nIt has already been more than three years since the Dodd-Frank law was enacted.\u00a0 We hope the SEC will act quickly to finalize the rules fully implementing 953(b), giving boards of directors, investors, customers and other stakeholders the information they need to better understand and assess CEO compensation.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n    \n\t\t[i] AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch, http://www.aflcio.org/Corporate-Watch/CEO-Pay-and-You/.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[ii] Bloomberg List of CEO pay ratios http://go.bloomberg.com/multimedia/ceo-pay-ratio/\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[iii] Executive Excess 2013: A 20-Year Performance Review, Institute for Policy Studies, August 28, 2013.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[iv] Saez, Emmanuel. Striking it Richer: The Evolution of Top Incomes in the United States (Update with 2012 estimates).\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[v] Joseph Stiglitz, Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1% - http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/05/top-one-percent-201105\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[vi] Congressional Research Service. An Analysis of the Distribution of Wealth Across Households, 1989-2010 http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33433.pdf\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[vii] \u201cExecutive Pay: The Party Ain\u2019t Over Yet,\u201d Businessweek, April 26, 1993.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[viii] AFL-CIO Executive Paywatch, http://www.aflcio.org/Corporate-Watch/CEO-Pay-and-You/.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[ix] CEO Pay 1,795-to-1 Multiple of Wages Skirts U.S. Law, Bloomberg News, April 30, 2013.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[x] Penney CEO Out, Old Boss Back In. Wall Street Journal. Joann S. Lublin and Dana Mattioli. April 8, 2013", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140412132150/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-cosponsors-nsa-reform-legislation", "Shea-Porter Cosponsors NSA Reform Legislation", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Continuing her efforts to protect the privacy of Granite Staters, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) has cosponsored the USA FREEDOM Act. The bipartisan legislation would rein in the dragnet collection of data by government agencies and increase transparency, oversight, and accountability for domestic surveillance.\n\u201cThe recent string of stories about the National Security Agency collecting massive amounts of information on law-abiding Americans has been shocking, and this bulk collection of data needs to stop,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cThe USA FREEDOM Act would help restore the balance between liberty and security.\u201d\nShea-Porter has a long history of protecting Granite Staters\u2019 right to privacy. In 2010 she voted against reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act because she believed the scope of the government\u2019s surveillance power was too broad then, and it remains so today. This year, she broke with President Obama and Democratic leaders in supporting the Amash Amendment, which would have required specific, tangible evidence to be presented to the FISA Courts to justify a warrant. She has also cosponsored legislation that would: prohibit the federal government from establishing a firearms registry; prevent law enforcement agencies from storing pictures of people\u2019s license plates; and protect workers from disclosing private information like passwords to employers.\nThe USA FREEDOM Act is endorsed by organizations across the political spectrum including the American Civil Liberties Union, FreedomWorks, Project on Government Oversight, and technology companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo!, Facebook, AOL, Google, LinkedIn, and Mozilla.\nThe comprehensive legislation would end the dragnet surveillance by:\nEnding bulk collection of Americans\u2019 communications records\n The USA FREEDOM Act ends bulk collection under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act.\u00a0 The bill would require that tangible things sought are relevant to an authorized investigation into international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities and pertain to (1) a foreign power or agent of a foreign power, (2) the activities of a suspected agent of a foreign power who is the subject of an investigation, or (3) an individual in contact with, or known to, a suspected agent of a foreign power.\n\tThe bill would also strengthen the prohibition on \"reverse targeting\" of Americans\u2014that is, targeting a foreigner with the goal of obtaining communications involving an American.\n\tThe bill requires the government to more aggressively filter and discard information about Americans accidentally collected through PRISM and related programs.\n Reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court\n The USA FREEDOM Act creates an Office of the Special Advocate (OSA) tasked with promoting privacy interests before the FISA Court\u2019s closed proceedings. The OSA will have the authority to appeal decisions of the FISA Court. It will be staffed by attorneys who are properly cleared to view the classified information considered by the FISA court.\n\tThe bill creates new and more robust reporting requirements to ensure that Congress is aware of actions by the FISA Court and intelligence community as a whole.\n\tThe bill would grant the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight\u00a0Board subpoena authority to investigate issues related to privacy and national security.\n Increasing Transparency\n The USA FREEDOM Act requires the Attorney General to publicly disclose all FISA Court decisions issued after July 10, 2003 that contain a significant construction or interpretation of law.\u00a0 Disclosures must include public documents sufficient to:\u00a0 (1) identify each legal question addressed; (2) generally describe the issues; (3) describe the construction and interpretation of a statute, constitutional provision, or other legal authority; and (4) indicate whether the decision departs from a prior decision.\u00a0\n\tPrivate companies are currently barred from disclosing basic information about their participation in NSA surveillance programs.\u00a0 Under the bill, Internet and telecom companies would be allowed to publicly report an estimate of (1) the number of FISA orders and national security letters received, (2) the number of such orders and letters complied with, and (3) the number of users or accounts on whom information was demanded under the orders and letters.\n\tThe bill would also require the government to make new public reports on FISA orders. Specifically, the government would be required to make annual or semiannual public reports estimating the total number of individuals and U.S. persons that were subject to FISA orders authorizing electronic surveillance, pen/trap devices, and access to business records.\n National Security Letters (NSL)\n The USA FREEDOM Act adopts a single standard for Section 215 and NSL protection to ensure the Administration doesn\u2019t use different authorities to support bulk collection.\n\tThe bill adds a sunset date to NSLs requiring that Congress reauthorize the government\u2019s authority, thereby ensuring proper congressional review.\n \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204359/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-don-t-give-jpmorgan-a-tax-deduction-for-breaking-the-law", "Shea-Porter: Don\u2019t Give JPMorgan a Tax Deduction for Breaking the Law", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter has cosponsored legislation that would prevent Wall Street banks from collecting tax breaks on fines paid to the U.S. government as a result of irresponsible behavior that helped caused the financial crisis. \u201cNew Hampshire taxpayers already bailed out Wall Street once,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cBanks should not be allowed to collect a tax break on fines levied against them for reckless and irresponsible behavior. It\u2019s time Congress stopped letting Wall Street write the rules and started standing up for Main Street.\u201d\nRecently, JPMorgan agreed to pay $13 billion in penalties for faulty mortgage assets it sold in the years leading up to the financial crisis. The $13 billion settlement is a record amount paid by one corporation to the federal government, but according to JPMorgan\u2019s Chief Financial Officer Marianne Lake, billions will be tax-deductible.\nH.R.3445, the Stop Deducting Damages Act of 2013 would stop big banks from writing off, as a business expense, settlement payments to the government. This would ensure that taxpayers are not partially on the hook when large financial institutions agree to settlements with the government.\nIn 2008, Shea-Porter voted against legislation to create the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP), also known as the bank bailout.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shaheen-blunt-courtney-gibson-kuster-lead-bipartisan-coalition-calling", "Shaheen, Blunt, Courtney, Gibson, Kuster Lead Bipartisan Coalition Calling for Changes to FDA Proposed Rules", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representatives Joe Courtney (D-CT), Chris Gibson (R-NY) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in requesting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issue a second draft of regulations for public comment before issuing final Food Safety Modernization rules. In a letter co-signed by 75 members of Congress, including 42 Republicans and 33 Democrats or Independents, the bipartisan coalition expressed concerns about the impact of proposed rules on farmers and businesses that an additional comment period could help alleviate.\n\u201cDespite your agency\u2019s efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules,\u201d the letter said.\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cWe believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional and local agriculture.\u00a0 By seeking additional input through second proposed rules for public comment before final rules, we believe that producers\u2019 concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated.\u201d\nThe FDA recently issued two proposed rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a 2011 law that overhauled food safety laws to increase the safety of our food supply. The rules address preventative controls for human food and standards for the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption.\u00a0 As proposed, the 1,200-page rules have left food producers and processors across the country concerned about a number of issues surrounding facility compliance, environmental standards, among others.\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 22, 2013\nDear Commissioner Hamburg:\nWe appreciate the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) efforts to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the agency\u2019s willingness to seek input and guidance from producers and processors, which is of great value to our constituents.\u00a0 We are confident that the rulemaking process for the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls Rule (Docket Nos. FDA-2011-N-0920 and FDA-2011-N-0921) will bolster the overall process of the law\u2019s implementation.\nDespite your agency\u2019s efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules.\u00a0 In order to improve the law\u2019s implementation, we are writing to request that the FDA propose and submit second proposed rules for public comment before issuing the final rules.\nAfter hearing many reservations from our farmers and businesses, we are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.\u00a0 Food producers and processors in our states are concerned with a number of issues, including:\n The testing frequency required for certain agricultural waters;\n\tRestrictions placed on the usage of biological soil amendments;\n\tCompliance issues at mixed-use facilities;\n\tNew requirements that conflict with existing conservation and environmental standards and practices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture;\n\tThe limiting definitions used in the rule for \u201cfarm,\u201d \u201csmall business\u201d and \u201cvery small business\u201d; and\n\tThe lack of consideration of the complexity of various farm ownership entities.\u00a0\n We believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional and local agriculture.\u00a0 By seeking additional input through second proposed rules for public comment before final rules, we believe that producers\u2019 concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated.\nWe appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your response.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413005904/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-report-affordable-care-act-saved-new-hampshire-seniors-96-million-at", "NEW REPORT: Affordable Care Act Saved New Hampshire Seniors $9.6 Million at the Pharmacy in 2013", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nMANCHESTER, NH \u2013 New Hampshire seniors with Medicare prescription drug coverage saved $9,658,317, or an average of $807 per beneficiary, during the first 10 months of 2013, according to new data released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).\u00a0\n\u201cIn New Hampshire, 11,962 Medicare beneficiaries saved an average of $807 each this year thanks to the Affordable Care Act,\u201d Shea-Porter announced. \u201cThis proves that we can strengthen Medicare and save people money at the same time. That\u2019s good news for the health and economic well-being of Granite Staters.\u201d\nOverall, Medicare beneficiaries in New Hampshire have saved $31,218,777 since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Nationwide, more than 7.3 million seniors and people with disabilities who reached the donut hole in their Medicare Part D (Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage) plans have saved $8.9 billion on their prescription drugs, an average of $1,209 per person since the Affordable Care Act was enacted.\u00a0 During the first 10 months of 2013, the nearly 3.4 million people nationwide who reached the donut hole have saved an average of $866 each. These figures are higher than at this same point last year, when 2.8 million beneficiaries had saved $1.8 billion for an average of $677 per beneficiary.\nFor many people enrolled in Medicare Part D, the Medicare \u201cdonut hole\u201d is the gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefits before catastrophic coverage for prescriptions takes effect. Under the discount program in the Affordable Care Act, in 2010, anyone with a Medicare prescription drug plan who reached the prescription drug donut hole got a $250 rebate. In 2011, beneficiaries who landed in the donut hole began receiving discounts on covered brand-name drugs and savings on generic drugs. Next year, Medicare Part D participants who fall into the donut hole will receive savings of about 53 percent on the cost of brand name drugs and 28 percent on the cost of generic drugs. These savings and Medicare coverage will gradually increase until 2020, when the donut hole will be closed.\nToday\u2019s report comes on the heels of a letter Congresswoman Shea-Porter sent the Conference Committee on the 2014 Budget stating that seniors\u2019 earned benefits should be defended during budget negotiations. Shea-Porter has strongly defended the role that Medicare and Social Security play in providing a secure retirement for millions of Americans. In February, she wrote to President Obama urging him to reject proposals to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as he works with Congress to address our nation\u2019s fiscal challenges.\nThe news of continued savings on prescription drugs follows new information showing historically low levels of growth in Medicare spending. For example:\u00a0\n CMS recently announced that the Medicare\u2019s Part B premium will not increase in 2014, and that the last five years have been among the slowest periods of average Part B premium growth in the program\u2019s history.\n\tThe Part B deductible will also not increase, having decreased in 2014.\u00a0 The Part B premium and deductible for 2014 are 15 percent below what was projected in 2010, the year the Affordable Care Act was enacted.\n\tSince enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the life of the Medicare trust fund has been extended by nearly ten years, until 2026.\n \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-hosts-career-and-opportunities-fair-in-nashua", "Kuster Hosts Career and Opportunities Fair In Nashua", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Friday, November 22, 2013 | Rep. Kuster speaks with Pam Potter of Rapid Machining during the Career and Opportunities Fair in Nashua)\nNASHUA, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today hosted a Career and Opportunities Fair to help connect local residents with jobs and employment opportunities throughout the Granite State. The fair featured more than two dozen employers and professional groups representing the manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and recreation industries, among others. Nearly 300 Granite Staters attended today\u2019s fair.\n\u201cMy top priority is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in the Granite State,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what today\u2019s jobs fair was all about \u2013 connecting local job seekers with a wide variety of New Hampshire employers who are looking to grow their businesses and hire new workers.\u201d\nParticipating employers and professional groups included:\n \nDyn, Inc\n\tCorfin Industries\n\tCrotched Mountain\n\tCrotched Mountain Ski and Ride Area\n\tThe Rapid Group\n\tW.H. Bagshaw\n\tTriangle Credit Union\n\tUSPS\n\tWhaddy.com\n\tPrimerica\n\tRight at Home of Southern NH\n\tIn-Home Care of Lutheran Social Services\n\tAxenics Corporation\n\tNew England Veterans Business Resource Center\n\tSmall Business Administration\n\tWorkReadyNH\n\tDepartment of Veterans Affairs\n\tSCORE\n\tNH Small Business Development Center\n\t\t\u00a0\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-connecting-nh-employers-and-workers-protecting-medicare", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Connecting NH Employers and Workers, Protecting Medicare and Social Security, and More", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class New Hampshire families, Congresswoman Kuster today hosted a Career and Opportunities Fair in Nashua to bring together Granite Staters looking for work and employers looking to hire. The fair featured more than two dozen New Hampshire employers and professional groups and drew nearly 300 job-seekers. In advance of the jobs fair, Kuster reiterated her call for Congress to focus like a laser on job creation, and she also signed onto legislation that would extend vital unemployment insurance benefits that are set to expire just days after Christmas. If Congress fails to act soon, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will be cut off from their benefits at the end of the year.\nKuster also called on the lead negotiators on the Budget Conference Committee to protect Medicare and Social Security as they work toward a long-term budget agreement. Kuster and a group of more than 60 Democratic lawmakers underscored that while reaching a responsible budget agreement will require difficult choices, it does not require Americans to surrender their hard-earned benefits. Kuster is a cosponsor of a House resolution opposing the use of Chained CPI and has repeatedly highlighted the harmful impacts that sequestration is having on programs like Meals on Wheels that serve New Hampshire seniors.\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\nKuster hosts jobs fair in Nashua to connect employers looking to hire and workers looking for jobs  \n\tMore than two dozen companies, including Manchester tech firm Dyn Inc., Crotched Mountain ski area, and the U.S. Postal Service, will be part of a job fair in Nashua on Friday. The fair will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway\u2026The fair is being hosted by U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H. Other employers and professional groups that will be represented at the fair include Corfin Industries, Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, The Rapid Group, Two C Pack, W.H. Bagshaw and Whaddy.com. (Nashua Telegraph, 11/20/2013)\nKuster to host career fair in Nashua  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., will host a Career and Opportunities Fair on Friday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua that will feature employers from the manufacturing, finance, health care and recreation industries, among others. More than two dozen employers and professional groups will be represented at the fair, including Corfin Industries, Crotched Mountain, Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride Area, Dyn, The Rapid Group, Two C Pack, U.S. Postal Service, W.H. Bagshaw and Whaddy.com. (Union Leader, 11/20/2013)\nNH\u2019s Kuster urges unemployment insurance extension  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster wants Congress to extend benefits for long-term unemployed workers into 2014. The emergency jobless benefits were extended at the beginning of the year as part of a deal designed to avert a so-called fiscal cliff of tax increases and across-the-board spending cuts. Kuster, a Democrat and member of the House Small Business Committee, says unless Congress reauthorizes the program, 1,300 New Hampshire residents will be cut off from unemployment insurance at the end of December. (Associated Press, 11/16/2013)\nKuster signs onto bill to extend critical unemployment insurance for NH families  \n\tWith critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today signed onto legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for another year. The legislation would extend the program through 2014, providing a vital lifeline to Granite Staters and other Americans who are still struggling to find work as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Kuster called for an extension of unemployment insurance benefits earlier this month and highlighted a report which estimated that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 would be cut off from their benefits on December 28. (11/21/2013)\nKuster: Any budget deal must protect Medicare and Social Security  \n\tToday, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) called on the leaders of the Budget Conference Committee to protect Medicare and Social Security as they work toward a long-term budget agreement. In a letter to the leaders of the committee, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Kuster and a coalition of Democratic lawmakers underscored that while reaching a responsible budget agreement will require difficult choices, it does not require Americans to surrender their hard-earned benefits. \u201cWhile we understand that you and your fellow conferees will have to make difficult decisions to find common ground, we believe that any compromise the conference produces must protect Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations,\u201d Kuster and her colleagues wrote. (11/21/2013)\nKuster to Boehner: Stop Standing In the Way of Ending Workplace Discrimination  \n\tToday, on National Transgender Day of Remembrance, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) called on Speaker of the House John Boehner to allow a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation that would end workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. During her remarks on the House floor, Kuster shared a story from a transgender teenage constituent who supports ENDA, and who is fearful about his job prospects if the legislation doesn\u2019t become law. ENDA recently passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, but Speaker Boehner has refused to allow a simple vote on the legislation in the House. (11/20/2013)\nKuster encourages NH stakeholders to apply for new workforce development grant program  \n\tTo help train a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today encouraged New Hampshire stakeholders to apply for a newly-announced, $100 million federal grant program designed to help equip high school students with industry-relevant education and skills they need to compete for good jobs. The Youth CareerConnect Grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, encourages school districts, institutions of higher education, and workforce development leaders to scale-up evidence-based models to strengthen the talent pipeline in states like New Hampshire. (11/20/2013)\nAfter push from Kuster, FDA extends comment period for food safety rules  \n\tThe Food and Drug Administration has extended the comment for food safety rules for farmers by an additional week after people said they had technical problems submitting their views online. New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster led a New England delegation in asking for the extension. The original deadline was Friday; the new deadline is Friday, Nov. 22. Earlier this year, farmers attended FDA sessions on the rules, which would require them to take new precautions against contamination, including ensuring workers' hands are washed, irrigation water is clean and that animals stay out of fields. New England farmers say many aspects of the rules were derived from large-scale farming practices that don't apply to the region's smaller farms. (Associated Press, 11/15/2013)\nKuster visits West Lebanon brewery to highlight plan to cut taxes on NH\u2019s small brewers  \n\t\u201cWhat I\u2019m hoping to do is help the small brewers get off the ground and grow,\u201d Kuster said. Kuster has made job growth a priority. And in New Hampshire, craft beer is one fast growing area of the state\u2019s economy. She is co-sponsoring a bill, called the Small BREW Act, that would cut the federal excise tax in half for small breweries across the nation. The proposal would save more than $1,000 a year for a place like Seven Barrel. It doesn\u2019t sound like a lot, but consider that small businesses generally don\u2019t have a lot of discretionary money for things like marketing or advertising. The money could help Seven Barrel cover some of the expense of recent upgrades, Lubold said, or go toward a pay bump for staff. \u201cThe money will certainly come back into the business,\u201d he said. (Valley News, 11/20/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140228023014/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-fights-to-protect-medicare-and-social-security", "Shea-Porter Fights to Protect Medicare and Social Security", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tContact:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0  \n\tBen Wakana, 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) continued her fight against reckless schemes to balance the budget on the backs of New Hampshire seniors by joining 60 lawmakers in sending a letter to leaders of the Conference Committee on the 2014 Budget. The letter demands that seniors\u2019 earned benefits be defended during budget negotiations. \u201cThe conference must reject policy reforms that place Medicare and Social Security benefits on the chopping block,\u201d Shea-Porter and lawmakers wrote. \u201cToo often, we hear of proposals to drastically slash benefits provided through these critical programs. These proposals are presented under the guise of fiscal responsibility, but would jeopardize the livelihood and health of the millions of seniors who depend on Social Security and Medicare.\u201d As part of last month\u2019s agreement to end the 16-day government shutdown, a Conference Committee on the 2014 Budget was created. The committee was tasked with shaping an agreement on a federal budget for fiscal year 2014. Shea-Porter has strongly defended the role that Medicare and Social Security play in providing a secure retirement for millions of Americans. In February, she wrote to President Obama urging him to reject proposals to cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as he works with Congress to address our nation\u2019s fiscal challenges. She has cosponsored the Strengthening Social Security Act of 2013, legislation that would improve benefits for current and future Social Security beneficiaries, and has spoken out against chained CPI and other cuts to benefits that seniors have earned through a lifetime of hard work. Social Security is also a vital safety net for people with disabilities and family members of workers who have died. As of December 2012, the average monthly benefit for those receiving Social Security was $1,215. Over the course of a year, this averages out to $14,580. The idea that we should balance the budget on the backs of seniors relying on less than $15,000 is simply wrong. Full text of the letter is below. +++ The Honorable Patty Murray  \n\tCo-Chair  \n\tConference Committee on the FY 2014 Budget  \n\t154 Russell Senate Office Building  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Paul Ryan  \n\tCo-Chair  \n\tConference Committee on the FY 2014 Budget  \n\t1233 Longworth House Office Building  \n\tWashington D.C. 20515 Dear Senator Murray and Representative Ryan, As you work with your colleagues on the conference committee for the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, we urge you to support policies that prioritize America\u2019s seniors and the benefits that they have earned over a lifetime of hard work. While we understand that you and your fellow conferees will have to make difficult decisions to find common ground, we believe that any compromise the conference produces must protect Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations. In the aftermath of the disgraceful and avoidable government shutdown, you have an opportunity to develop a bipartisan budget that reduces our debt and deficit in a responsible manner. To make good on this opportunity, the conference must reject policy reforms that place Medicare and Social Security benefits on the chopping block. Too often, we hear of proposals to drastically slash benefits provided through these critical programs. These proposals are presented under the guise of fiscal responsibility, but would jeopardize the livelihood and health of the millions of seniors who depend on Social Security and Medicare. What the conference committee does in the coming weeks will shape the outcome of the FY 2014 budget process. Now is the time to send a clear message to the American people: While arriving at a solution to a budget impasse does require difficult choices, it does not require Americans to surrender their hard-earned benefits. Medicare and Social Security are central to the health and retirement security of our nation\u2019s seniors. Millions of Americans who have paid into these systems are counting on these investments to be there for them. That is why we urge you and your fellow conferees to support a responsible conference agreement that protects these bedrock promises we have made to our seniors. We thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope and expect that your deliberations will be successful. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-signs-onto-bill-to-extend-critical-unemployment-insurance-for", "Kuster Signs Onto Bill to Extend Critical Unemployment Insurance for Granite State Families", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation would renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for an additional year, giving Granite Staters struggling to find work a vital lifeline\nWithout Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will be cut off from unemployment insurance benefits just days after Christmas\nKuster: We must provide assistance to long-term unemployed and focus like a laser on job creation\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today signed onto legislation to renew the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program for another year. The legislation would extend the program through 2014, providing a vital lifeline to Granite Staters and other Americans who are still struggling to find work as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. Kuster, who also reiterated her call for Congress to focus like a laser on job creation, is hosting a Career and Opportunities Fair tomorrow in Nashua to help bring together New Hampshire employers looking to hire and workers looking for jobs.\nKuster called for an extension of unemployment insurance benefits earlier this month and highlighted a report which estimated that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 would be cut off from their benefits on December 28.\n\u201cWithout Congressional action, more than one thousand Granite Staters will lose their unemployment benefits just days after Christmas,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cWe can\u2019t let that happen. Losing these vital benefits will be a painful blow to New Hampshire families who are already struggling to find jobs. Congress needs to step up, extend these benefits, and focus like a laser on job creation.\u201d\nLast year, unemployment compensation helped keep 2.5 million Americans out of poverty, including 600,000 children. Not only would losing these benefits hurt New Hampshire families, it would also have a negative impact on economic growth. Recent estimates have found that allowing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to expire would cost our economy 310,000 jobs and reduce first-quarter economic growth by roughly four-tenths of a percentage point.\nThe Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was first authorized in 2008 and has been reauthorized on several occasions since then, most recently as part of the Jan. 1, 2013 fiscal cliff agreement, with the number of weeks of federal benefits substantially reduced over the last two years.\nKey findings from the report Kuster highlighted earlier this month include:\n 1,300 Granite Staters will lose unemployment insurance on December 28, 2013\n\tFailure to extend unemployment insurance would cost economy 310,000 jobs, according to the Economic Policy Institute\n\t37% of unemployed have been without a job for longer than six months\n\tEconomy still has 2 million fewer jobs than before Great Recession began\n A member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0Earlier this month, she toured a West Lebanon brewery to discuss legislation that would cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers, visited a Salem company to highlight the importance of boosting small business exports, and hosted a 21st century workforce roundtable in Hudson with students, business owners, and education leaders.\nShe has also introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports, supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-urges-budget-negotiators-to-protect-medicare-and-social-security", "Kuster Urges Budget Negotiators to Protect Medicare and Social Security", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As Budget Conference Committee works toward an agreement, Kuster calls on negotiators to protect programs Granite State seniors have paid into their entire lives\nKuster to Negotiators: Don\u2019t balance the budget on the backs of NH seniors\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) called on the leaders of the Budget Conference Committee to protect Medicare and Social Security as they work toward a long-term budget agreement. In a letter to the leaders of the committee, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Kuster and a coalition of more than 60 Democratic lawmakers underscored that while reaching a responsible budget agreement will require difficult choices, it does not require Americans to surrender their hard-earned benefits.\n\u201cAs you work with your colleagues on the conference committee for the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, we urge you to support policies that prioritize America\u2019s seniors and the benefits that they have earned over a lifetime of hard work,\u201d Kuster and other lawmakers wrote. \u201cWhile we understand that you and your fellow conferees will have to make difficult decisions to find common ground, we believe that any compromise the conference produces must protect Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations.\u201d\nThe Budget Conference Committee, which is made up of a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, was created as part of the deal to end the government shutdown and prevent a default in October. The committee is tasked with shaping a budget agreement that will be presented to both the House and Senate by December 13.\nKuster is deeply committed to protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security for Granite State seniors who have worked hard their entire lives and paid into these safety net programs. During her first months in office, Kuster sent a letter to President Obama urging him to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security as he works with Congress to address our nation\u2019s fiscal challenges.\nKuster is a cosponsor of a House resolution opposing the use of Chained CPI for calculating the cost of living adjustment for Social Security benefits. She has also highlighted the harmful impacts that mindless, across-the-board budget cuts \u2013 known as sequestration \u2013 are having on programs like Meals on Wheels that serve hungry New Hampshire seniors. Earlier this year, Kuster held a telephone town hall with thousands of Granite State seniors to discuss her commitment to protecting the programs they count on.\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 20, 2013\nDear Senator Murray and Representative Ryan,\nAs you work with your colleagues on the conference committee for the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget, we urge you to support policies that prioritize America\u2019s seniors and the benefits that they have earned over a lifetime of hard work. While we understand that you and your fellow conferees will have to make difficult decisions to find common ground, we believe that any compromise the conference produces must protect Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations.\nIn the aftermath of the disgraceful and avoidable government shutdown you have an opportunity to develop a bipartisan budget that reduces our debt and deficit in a responsible manner. To make good on this opportunity, the conference must reject policy reforms that place Medicare and Social Security benefits on the chopping block. Too often, we hear of proposals to drastically slash benefits provided through these critical programs. These proposals are presented under the guise of fiscal responsibility, but would jeopardize the livelihood and health of the millions of seniors who depend on Social Security and Medicare.\nWhat the conference committee does in the coming weeks will shape the outcome of the FY 2014 budget process. Now is the time to send a clear message to the American people: While arriving at a solution to a budget impasse does require difficult choices, it does not require Americans to surrender their hard-earned benefits.\nMedicare and Social Security are central to the health and retirement\u00a0security\u00a0of our nation\u2019s seniors. Millions of Americans who have paid into these systems are counting on these investments to be there for them.\u00a0That is why we urge you and your fellow conferees to support a responsible conference agreement that protects these bedrock promises we have made to our seniors.\nWe thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope and expect that your deliberations will be successful.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-encourages-nh-stakeholders-to-apply-for-newly-announced-youth", "Kuster Encourages NH Stakeholders to Apply For Newly-Announced Youth CareerConnect Grants", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "$100 million federal grant program will help equip high school students with industry-relevant education and skills they need to fill 21st century jobs\nProgram encourages school districts, institutions of higher education, and workforce development leaders to scale-up evidence-based models to strengthen talent pipeline\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 To help train a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today encouraged New Hampshire stakeholders to apply for a newly-announced, $100 million federal grant program designed to help equip high school students with industry-relevant education and skills they need to compete for good jobs. The Youth CareerConnect Grant program, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, encourages school districts, institutions of higher education, and workforce development leaders to scale-up evidence-based models to strengthen the talent pipeline in states like New Hampshire.\n\u201cTraining a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State is critical for growing our economy, creating jobs, and strengthening the middle class,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cWhen we invest in our workforce, more young people will stay here in New Hampshire, our students will be more competitive in the job market, and our businesses will be more successful in the economy. The Youth CareerConnect grant program represents a great opportunity to help strengthen New Hampshire\u2019s workforce, and I encourage interested parties to apply.\u201d\nAccording to DOL, the Youth CareerConnect Grant program will help strengthen our country\u2019s talent pipeline through:\n Integrated Academic and Career-Focused Learning: Grants will provide students with education and training that combines rigorous academic and career-focused curriculum to increase students\u2019 employability in in-demand industries and prepare them for employment, post-secondary education, long-term occupational skills training, or registered apprenticeships.\n\tWork-Based Learning and Exposure to the World of Work: Strong partnerships will provide work-based learning opportunities.\u00a0 In addition to actual work experience, youth participants will also participate in field trips, job-shadowing, or other types of opportunities that provide students with exposure to different career paths and prepare them for the world of work.\n\tRobust Employer Engagement: Employer partners will provide work-based learning and mentoring, creating a path for students to in-demand industries and occupations including those in information technologies, advanced manufacturing and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields . Employers will also work closely with schools on professional development and training for staff to drive the sustainability of the program over the long term.\n\tIndividualized Career and Academic Counseling: As an integral part of the program design, students will be provided with individualized career and academic counseling experiences to strengthen their career and post-secondary awareness and explore opportunities beyond high school.\u00a0\n\tIntegration of Post-secondary Education and Training: Students will participate in education and training, while they are still in high school, that leads to credit toward a post-secondary degree or certificate and an industry recognized credential, where appropriate.\n DOL will use up to $100 million in revenues from the H-1B visa program to fund approximately 25 to 40 grants for individual or multi-site projects. Grants will be awarded to local education agencies, public or non-profit local workforce entities, or non-profits with education reform experience. All grantees will have to demonstrate a strong public/private partnership, and must include, at a minimum, a local education agency, a local workforce investment system entity, an employer, and an institution of higher education.\nApplicants are encouraged to reach out to employers, foundations, and others in building their applications and leveraging the federal investment. At a minimum, applicants will also be required to provide a match of 25 percent of the grant award.\u00a0 Awards are expected to be made in early 2014 for program implementation to align with the 2014-15 school year. To apply for funding, organizations should visit www.doleta.gov/ycc.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families and students.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0Earlier this month, she hosted a 21st Century Workforce roundtable with students, business owners, and education leaders to discuss local efforts to train a highly-skilled workforce in the Granite State.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-improper-payments-continue-to-waste-hundreds-of-millions-of-tax", "Kuster: Improper Payments Continue to Waste Hundreds of Millions of Tax Dollars", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Helps introduce common sense legislation \u2013 the Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement Act \u2013 to crack down on erroneous payments to deceased individuals\nLegislation would help give agencies tools they need to curb this wasteful practice and cut down on fraud and abuse across government\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) helped introduce common sense legislation that would crack down on improper federal payments to deceased individuals that have wasted hundreds of millions of tax dollars in recent years. The legislation, the Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement Act, would equip federal agencies with tools to help ensure tax dollars are not wasted on unnecessary payments and to cut down on fraud across government. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-19) are the lead sponsors of the bill.\n\u201cInstead of going after programs that seniors, middle class families, and struggling Americans count on, Congress should aggressively root out waste and fraud across government,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what this common sense bill does. By cracking down on wasteful improper payments, we can save hundreds of millions of tax dollars while protecting critical priorities that we need to create jobs and strengthen the middle class.\u201d\nEvery year, federal payments are erroneously made to deceased individuals all across the country. Recent examples of improper payments to deceased individuals include:\n A total of $601 million in improper payments were made from 2006 to 2010 to federal retirees later found to have already died;\n\tMore than $1 billion in farm program payments to farmers who were dead for more than three years; and\n\tMedicare prescription drug plans were paid approximately $3.6 million for drugs provided to 1,500 dead beneficiaries.\n Improving the collection of information on deceased beneficiaries has the potential to save the government hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars. The Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement Act would take several steps to improve the information that is available to federal agencies, including:\n Improving the Death Master File, which the Social Security Administration and other agencies use to verify death records;\n\tRequiring use of death data to curb improper payments;\n\tAllowing federal agencies access to the complete Death Master File database; and\n\tEnsuring that federal agencies managing retirement programs share best practices.\n Kuster is committed to cutting waste while protecting critical programs and services seniors and middle class families count on. Earlier this month, Kuster called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take action to crack down on wasteful improper Medicare payments. She also introduced legislation that would force federal agencies to eliminate empty bank accounts that cost millions of dollars to maintain despite serving no purpose.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-boehner-don-t-stand-in-the-way-of-ending-workplace", "Kuster to Boehner: Don\u2019t Stand In the Way of Ending Workplace Discrimination", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "During a speech urging House action on ENDA, Kuster shares story of a teenage transgender constituent who is fearful about his job prospects\nSenate already passed ENDA with bipartisan support earlier this month, but Speaker Boehner has called this vital legislation unnecessary and refuses to allow a vote\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, on National Transgender Day of Remembrance, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) called on Speaker of the House John Boehner to allow a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation that would end workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. During her remarks on the House floor, Kuster shared a story from a transgender teenage constituent who supports ENDA, and who is fearful about his job prospects if the legislation doesn\u2019t become law. ENDA recently passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, but Speaker Boehner has refused to allow a simple vote on the legislation in the House.\n\u201cEarlier this month, the Senate made history by passing employment protections for transgender workers for the first time ever. This bipartisan legislation is about one thing: ensuring that all Americans \u2013 regardless of who they are or who they love \u2013 are treated with the dignity and equality they deserve,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cLast week, I heard from a teenage constituent in New Hampshire who would be deeply impacted by this bill. This young man is just beginning to search for his first job, and he is worried that he will be at a significant disadvantage right off the bat just because he is transgender.\u201d\nFollowing Senate passage of ENDA earlier this month, Kuster said that \u201cno one should ever fear being fired from their job or harassed in the workplace because of who they are or who they love \u2013 period.\u201d Kuster is an original co-sponsor of ENDA.\nKuster\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:\nToday, as we mark National Transgender Remembrance Day, I rise in support of H.R. 1755, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.\nEarlier this month, the Senate made history by passing employment protections for transgender workers for the first time ever.\nThis bipartisan legislation is about one thing: ensuring that all Americans \u2013 regardless of who they are or who they love \u2013 are treated with the dignity and equality they deserve. \nLast week, I heard from a teenage constituent in New Hampshire who would be deeply impacted by this bill.\nThis young man is just beginning to search for his first job, and he is worried that he will be at a significant disadvantage right off the bat just because he is transgender.\nFinding a job in tough economic times is hard enough without the obstacle of discrimination.\nWe must work toward becoming a country that rewards the hard work of every person \u2013 regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.\nMy constituent, and every American, deserves a vote on ENDA.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/friday-in-nashua-kuster-to-host-career-and-opportunities-fair", "FRIDAY IN NASHUA: Kuster to Host Career and Opportunities Fair", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NASHUA, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will host a Career and Opportunities Fair later this week to help connect local residents with jobs and employment opportunities throughout the Granite State. The fair, which will be held on Friday, November 22, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua, will feature employers from the manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and recreation industries, among others.\n\u201cMy top priority is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in the Granite State,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what this jobs fair is all about \u2013 connecting local job seekers with a wide variety of New Hampshire employers who are looking to grow their businesses and hire new workers.\u201d\nMore than two dozen employers and professional groups will be represented at the fair, including:\n Corfin Industries\n\tCrotched Mountain\n\tCrotched Mountain Ski and Ride Area\n\tDyn\n\tThe Rapid Group\n\tTwo C Pack\n\tU.S. Postal Service\n\tW.H. Bagshaw\n\tWhaddy.com\n Job seekers wishing to attend the Career and Opportunities Fair can register here. Members of the media wishing to attend should email Jake Berry at Jake.Berry@mail.house.gov to RSVP.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0Last month, Kuster introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports.\u00a0She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\nWHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Kuster to host Career and Opportunities Fair\nWHEN: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Friday, November 22, 10:00am to 1:00pm\nWHERE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua, NH\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140713163426/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-meets-with-paul-o-connor-to-discuss-continuing-effects-of", "Shea-Porter Meets with Paul O\u2019Connor to Discuss Continuing Effects of Sequestration", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This afternoon, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) met with Paul O\u2019Connor, President of the Shipyard Metal Trades Council, to discuss the destructive effects of sequestration and the need for Congress to replace these reckless cuts with a responsible budget.\n\u201cOur shipyard will not survive another 9 \u00bd years of sequestration,\u201d O\u2019Connor told Shea-Porter during their meeting in her Washington D.C. office. \u201cSequestration was never intended to be a sensible budget cutting device. It was a scheme of cuts so damaging that Congress would be forced to work together to avoid them. This is a bad law and it must end.\u201d\nWorkers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard are among the roughly 650,000 U.S. Department of Defense employees who experienced up to 11 days of unpaid furloughs between July and September, suddenly reducing their income by 20 percent for the duration of the furloughs.\n\u201cI cannot stress this enough, Congress must pass a responsible budget that creates jobs and eliminates sequestration,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cThe men and women at the Shipyard are essential to our national defense and contribute $660 million to the region\u2019s economy. Continuing the cuts of sequestration is unfair to these men and women, and it is a deeply misguided approach.\u201d\u00a0\nAccording to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, sequestration will cost our economy up to 1.6 million jobs through 2014. According to a George Mason University study, the economic impact in New Hampshire is estimated to be $468 million in 2013. \u00a0\nCongresswoman Shea-Porter did not vote for sequestration and she spoke out against these indiscriminate cuts even before she was sworn into the 113th Congress. Since then, she has consistently spoken out in opposition to sequestration\u2019s reckless cuts. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/fda-acts-on-kuster-s-request-to-extend-comment-period-for-food-safety", "FDA Acts on Kuster\u2019s Request to Extend Comment Period for Food Safety Rules", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Announcement comes after lawmakers raised concerns over technical problems with Regulations.gov that prevented constituents from submitting feedback\nKuster: It\u2019s vital that the voices of New Hampshire farmers are heard\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In response to a request from Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and other lawmakers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that it will extend the public comment period for two proposed food safety regulations by an additional week. The announcement came in response to a direct request from Kuster and other lawmakers, who urged the FDA to extend the comment period in light of technical problems with Regulations.gov that prevented constituents from submitting feedback. The new submission deadline is now Friday, November 22.\n\u201cI am very pleased that the FDA has agreed to my request to extend the comment period for these proposed rules,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt\u2019s vital that New Hampshire farmers have a chance to express their concerns about how these rules would impact them, and extending the comment period will ensure that their voices are heard. I hope that the FDA will fully consider the concerns raised by my constituents as they work to revise these rules.\u201d\nFor months, Kuster has led efforts to ensure that Granite Staters have sufficient time and information to provide comments on the proposed food safety rules. Earlier this year, Kuster and Senator Shaheen led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to successfully call on the FDA to come to New England after hearing concerns about these new rules potentially burdening small farmers across the region. In August, Kuster also pushed FDA to answer specific questions raised by New Hampshire farmers about how the proposed rules will impact their operations.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 13, 2013\nDear Commissioner Hamburg:\nThank you for your agency\u2019s continued efforts to ensure that farmers and consumers have an opportunity to provide input on FDA\u2019s proposed Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules.\u00a0 While we appreciate that the comment period for the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules was extended until this Friday, November 15, 2013, we write today with concerns regarding the ability of the public to submit their comments electronically.\nIt came to our attention last week that Regulations.gov, the federal government\u2019s website that provides information on proposed federal regulations and allows for the electronic submission of public comments, was experiencing technical problems that prevented the website from functioning.\u00a0 These problems persisted last week and throughout this past weekend, and the website was still nonfunctional on Monday morning.\nWe are gravely concerned that these problems are preventing our constituents from submitting comments on the proposed FSMA rules in advance of this Friday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0 As a result, we request that the comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules be extended for a minimum of one additional week from the day that Regulations.gov is properly running.\u00a0 It is inexcusable to close a public comment period if the public has not been able to submit their comments.\nWe appreciate your continued willingness to ensure that the voices of the American people are heard, and we urge you to extend the public comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules.\nThank you for your consideration of our request.\u00a0 We look forward to your timely response.\nSincerely,\nRep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02)  \n\tRep. Joe Courtney (CT-02)  \n\tRep. Chellie Pingree (ME- 01)  \n\tRep. Peter Welch (VT-AL)  \n\tRep. Michael H. Michaud (ME-02)  \n\tRep. Tim Ryan (OH-13)  \n\tRep. Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)  \n\tRep. William R. Keating (MA-09)  \n\tRep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)  \n\tRep. James P. McGovern (MA-02)  \n\tRep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-leads-new-england-lawmakers-in-supporting-national-blueways", "Kuster Leads New England Lawmakers In Supporting National Blueways Program, Urging Interior Secretary to Visit Connecticut River", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "National Blueways System (NBS) helps coordinate federal, state, and local partners to encourage stewardship of rivers; earlier this year, Interior Secretary put a hold on the program\nAs Secretary Jewell makes a decision about the NBS\u2019s future, Kuster and lawmakers urge her to visit the Connecticut River \u2013 the country\u2019s only designated Blueway \u2013 to see the program\u2019s benefits first-hand\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) are leading a coalition of New England lawmakers in support of a federal program designed to encourage collaborative stewardship of our nation\u2019s rivers and watersheds. The National Blueways System (NBS) recognizes large river systems that are being protected and restored through stakeholder partnerships and aims to increase conservation of the watershed system through locally-driven voluntary collaboration. The Connecticut River is the first and currently only designated National Blueway in the country.\nThe lawmakers, representing New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, recently sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, who earlier this year placed a hold on any new Blueway designations as she reviews the program.\u00a0 In the letter, which was signed by all seventeen of the river\u2019s Representatives and Senators, the lawmakers highlighted the NBS\u2019s benefits and urged the Secretary to visit the Connecticut River as she makes a decision about the program\u2019s future. \u00a0\n\u201cWe believe that the success of the Connecticut River program \u2013 the first and currently only designated National Blueway \u2013 can provide valuable information and insights that will be critical to your decision-making process,\u201d Kuster, Murphy and the other lawmakers wrote. \u201cWe would encourage you to seek input from these important stakeholders prior to making any decisions on the future of the Blueways program. We believe that the Blueways designation for the Connecticut River can continue to function as an important asset for the people, the economy, and the environment of the watershed we represent.\u201d\nLaunched in 2012, the Blueways system aims to increase coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local stakeholders working to preserve rivers and watersheds around the country. Along the Connecticut River, the designation has helped to recruit new partners aiming to expand educational and recreational opportunities around the river, and it has helped draw new funding for preservation and improvement of the waterway, according to Patrick Comins, chairman of the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, an organization representing more than 50 national, regional, and local groups working on behalf of the Connecticut River watershed.\n\u201cThe Blueway has brought about additional interest in the watershed,\u201d Comins said. \u201cIt has brought additional partners and further investment. This designation has been a direct catalyst for those efforts.\u201d\nThe full text of the lawmakers\u2019 letter is below and attached:\nOctober 29, 2013\nDear Secretary Jewell:\nWe write today to thank you for your strong commitment to the preservation of America\u2019s natural treasures, and to express our support for the National Blueways Program.\u00a0\nWe understand that you are currently reviewing the future of the program, and that you have received an invitation from the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge to meet and learn firsthand about their experiences working together to implement the Blueways Program in the Connecticut River basin.\u00a0 We believe that the success of the Connecticut River program \u2013 the first and currently only designated National Blueway \u2013 can provide valuable information and insights that will be critical to your decision-making process.\u00a0 We would encourage you to seek input from these important stakeholders prior to making any decisions on the future of the Blueways program.\nWe believe that the Blueways designation for the Connecticut River can continue to function as an important asset for the people, the economy, and the environment of the watershed we represent.\u00a0 Reconnecting people with their watershed through expanded access to recreation, water quality protection, and economic development are all enhanced by a watershed-focused approach to conservation.\nThank you again for your attention to this important matter.\u00a0 We stand ready to assist your effort however we are able.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-the-keep-your-health-plan-act", "Kuster Statement on the Keep Your Health Plan Act", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement today after voting for the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013.\n\u201cAs I have said before, I support good-faith efforts to ensure that people who like their current plans are able to stay on them for another year. I will continue to work with the President and members of Congress to get this right. My priority is to ensure that Granite Staters have access to the quality, affordable coverage they deserve.\n\u201cThe Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law and I am committed to improving it, but make no mistake: we cannot go back to the days when insurance companies were free to deny coverage to those with preexisting conditions or drop people from their plans just because they get sick.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-fighting-for-the-long-term-unemployed-standing-up-for-nh", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Fighting for the Long-Term Unemployed, Standing Up for NH Farmers, and More", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kuster this week joined all Granite Staters in mourning the loss of Executive Councilor Ray Burton, a staple of governance in the North Country and one of New Hampshire\u2019s most respected and compassionate public servants. Kuster said that while there is no replacing Ray Burton, his memory will live on in the enormous good he did, in the countless lives he touched, and in the spirit of service he embodied.\nKuster also called on Congress to extend vital unemployment insurance benefits for the long-term unemployed and focus like a laser on job creation. She unveiled a new report which found that if Congress fails to act soon, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will be cut off from unemployment insurance just days after Christmas. Kuster said that losing these vital benefits will be a painful blow to Granite Staters who are already struggling to find work and make ends meet.\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\nKuster calls for extension of unemployment insurance benefits for Granite State families  \n\tWith critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Congress to immediately extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program and take aggressive steps to help boost job creation in New Hampshire and across the country. Kuster highlighted a new House Ways and Means Committee report which estimates that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will immediately be cut off from unemployment insurance on December 28 if Congress does not reauthorize the program. \u201cLosing these vital benefits will be a body-blow to New Hampshire families who are already struggling to find work and make ends meet.\u201d (11/12/2013)\nNH\u2019s Kuster asks for more time on food safety  \n\tNew Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster wants the Food and Drug Administration to extend the comment period for sweeping food safety rules that farmers say could drive them out of business. Earlier this year, farmers attended FDA sessions on the rules, which would require them to take new precautions against contamination, including ensuring workers' hands are washed, irrigation water is clean and that animals stay out of fields. New England farmers say many aspects of the rules were derived from large-scale farming practices that don't apply to the region's smaller farms. Kuster says technical problems with Regulations.gov, the website where public comments are submitted, have prevented people from submitting comments in advance of Friday's deadline. She and other New England delegation members want at least a one-week extension. (Associated Press, 11/14/2013)\nFDA acts on Kuster\u2019s Request to Extend Comment Period for Food Safety Rules  \n\tIn response to a request from Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and other New England lawmakers, the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) today announced that it will extend the public comment period for two proposed food safety regulations by an additional week. The announcement came in response to a direct request from Kuster and other lawmakers, who urged the FDA to extend the comment period in light of technical problems with Regulations.gov that prevented constituents from submitting feedback. The new submissions deadline is now Friday, November 22. (11/15/2013)\nKuster leads NE lawmakers in supporting National Blueways Program  \n\tCongresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) are leading a coalition of New England lawmakers in support of a federal program designed to encourage collaborative stewardship of our nation\u2019s rivers and watersheds. The National Blueways System (NBS) recognizes large river systems that are being protected and restored through stakeholder partnerships and aims to increase conservation of the watershed system through locally-driven voluntary collaboration. The Connecticut River is the first and currently only designated National Blueway in the country. (11/15/2013)\nKuster hosts 21st century workforce roundtable with students, business owners, and education leaders  \n\tThe Nashua student was one of the dozeon or so attendees at Thursday\u2019s 21st Century Workforce Roundtable event at Omni Components in Hudson. U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, who led the informal forum, said her goal is to keep abreast of local efforts to train and secure the next generation of New Hampshire workers. Earlier this year, Kuster introduced legislation to provide tax credits to companies partnering with local educational institutions. (Union Leader, 11/10/2013)\nPartnerships between students and employers discussed at roundtable with Kuster  \n\tMatching the need for skilled workers by the state\u2019s manufacturers with job seekers was the topic of conversation for a panel discussion with Congresswoman Annie Kuster on Thursday at Omni Components in Hudson. The event, billed as a 21st Century Workforce Roundtable, featured representatives from New Hampshire companies who spoke about techniques that were working for their firms and shared how those techniques could be improved. Representatives included officials from Nashua Community College and UltraSource, of Hollis, among others. (Nashua Telegraph, 11/9/2013)\nLegislation would boost local brewers  \n\tNearly half the cost of brewing at the fledgling Henniker Brewing Co. goes toward state and federal taxes, founder Dave Currier said. But Rep. Annie Kuster has recently been touring local breweries like Currier\u2019s and touting legislation that could cut federal excise taxes in half for small breweries in their first years of business. \u201cWhat I hope to do is create jobs and economic development by giving these small brewers the opportunity to compete,\u201d Kuster said in a phone interview. The Small BREW Act would drop the federal excise tax from $7 to $3.50 per barrel on the first 60,000 barrels for small breweries that produce less than 6 million barrels per year. (Concord Monitor, 11/11/2013)\nKuster cosponsors bill to lower beer taxes  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at boosting business for New Hampshire\u2019s 26 craft beer brewers. The bill would drop the federal excise tax from $7 to $3.50 per barrel on the first 60,000 barrels of beer for breweries that produce fewer than 6 million barrels per year. Dave Currier of Henniker Brewing Co. told the Concord Monitor (https://bit.ly/1bk959e) that the bill would be a big help, given that nearly half his costs go to state and federal taxes. He says the savings would help start canning his beer in addition to bottling it. Kuster says her goal is to create jobs and economic development by helping small breweries compete. (Associated Press, 11/11/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204906/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-hr-3350-the-keep-your-health-plan-act-of-2013", "Shea-Porter Statement on H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement after voting for H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013:\n\u201cMy goal of helping Granite Staters receive quality, affordable health care continues, and I do not see that as a Republican or Democratic issue. While I wish that Republicans had allowed a Democratic motion to improve the bill with greater consumer protections, at this moment, the most important thing is to make sure that people are insured in January.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204932/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/anthem-to-extend-renewal-date-for-nh-individual-market-policy-holders", "Anthem to Extend Renewal Date for NH Individual Market Policy Holders", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 MANCHESTER, NH \u2013 Anthem has extended the renewal date for Granite Staters who buy individual market policies to November 30. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to announce that Anthem has informed me that it has extended its renewal period for current individual plans, and I thank them for their flexibility. Current customers can now contact Anthem until November 30th to extend their coverage for a year,\u201d Shea-Porter said. Under Anthem\u2019s decision, consumers have an extra 15 days to carefully compare their old insurance policies to new options on the Marketplace. This is important because the old policies might not offer the same benefits and protections that will be in effect on January 1, 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. These old plans will also not be eligible for tax subsidies. Shea-Porter has consistently said that the Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law, and it still needs fixes, but she remains committed to ensuring that all Granite Staters have access to quality, affordable health care. \u00a0 This summer, following news that only Anthem would offer plans through the Marketplace in 2014, the Congresswoman spoke directly to President Obama about New Hampshire\u2019s single health insurer and NH\u2019s historically high costs. She has continued to advocate for the state in follow-up conversations with various Administration officials and Anthem. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-the-affordable-care-act", "Kuster Statement on the Affordable Care Act", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement following President Obama\u2019s remarks on the Affordable Care Act.\n\u201cDespite my significant frustration with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, I remain committed to increasing access to affordable health care for hardworking Granite State families. To that end, I support efforts to ensure that people who like their current plans are able to stay on them for another year.\n\u201cIn New Hampshire, Granite Staters already have the option of renewing their current plans. Families across the country should be able to do the same, and I encourage good-faith efforts to make that possible. I support the Keep Your Health Plan Act in its current form, and am pleased that the President has proposed his own fix. It\u2019s encouraging that both Congress and the President are working to get this right.\n\u201cThe Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law and I am committed to improving it, but make no mistake: we cannot go back to the days when insurance companies were free to deny coverage to those with preexisting conditions or drop people from their plans just because they get sick. I will continue to work with anybody who is serious about making this law work and ensuring that Granite Staters have access to the quality, affordable care they deserve.\u201d\nKuster also announced her support for Senator Shaheen\u2019s legislation that would extend the enrollment period and ensure that no Granite Staters are penalized because of problems with Healthcare.gov.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-fda-ensure-nh-input-on-food-safety-regulations-is-heard", "Kuster to FDA: Ensure NH Input on Food Safety Regulations Is Heard", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In light of recent technical problems with Regulations.gov, Kuster calls for an extension of the comment period to ensure New Hampshire farmers have a chance to share feedback\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) is leading a coalition of New England lawmakers in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the comment period for two proposed Food Safety Modernization Act rules.\u00a0In recent days, technical problems with Regulations.gov, the website where public comments are submitted, have prevented Granite Staters from submitting comments in advance of Friday\u2019s deadline. The letter to FDA Commissioner Hamburg comes after Rep. Kuster heard from numerous constituents who experienced problems submitting comments through the website.\n\u201cIt came to our attention last week that Regulations.gov, the federal government\u2019s website that provides information on proposed federal regulations and allows for the electronic submission of public comments, was experiencing technical problems that prevented the website from functioning,\u201d the group wrote to Commissioner Hamburg. \u201cWe are gravely concerned that these problems are preventing our constituents from submitting comments on the proposed FSMA rules in advance of this Friday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0As a result, we request that the comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules be extended for a minimum of one additional week from the day that Regulations.gov is properly running.\u201d\n\u201cThe New England Farmers Union has worked diligently and in good faith to get help educate farmers on the importance of commenting on the proposed FSMA rules,\u201d said Roger Noonan, President of the New England Farmers Union. \u201cThe issues with the website have discouraged some of our farmers from engaging in this vitally important process. We know FDA wants to hear from farmers and we urge them to consider this request.\u201d\nFor months, Kuster has led efforts to ensure that Granite Staters have sufficient time and information to provide comments on the proposed food safety rules. Earlier this year, Kuster and Senator Shaheen led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to successfully call on the FDA to come to New England after hearing concerns about these new rules potentially burdening small farmers across the region. In August, Kuster also pushed FDA to answer specific questions raised by New Hampshire farmers about how the proposed rules will impact their operations.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 13, 2013\nDear Commissioner Hamburg:\nThank you for your agency\u2019s continued efforts to ensure that farmers and consumers have an opportunity to provide input on FDA\u2019s proposed Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules.\u00a0 While we appreciate that the comment period for the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules was extended until this Friday, November 15, 2013, we write today with concerns regarding the ability of the public to submit their comments electronically.\nIt came to our attention last week that Regulations.gov, the federal government\u2019s website that provides information on proposed federal regulations and allows for the electronic submission of public comments, was experiencing technical problems that prevented the website from functioning.\u00a0 These problems persisted last week and throughout this past weekend, and the website was still nonfunctional on Monday morning.\nWe are gravely concerned that these problems are preventing our constituents from submitting comments on the proposed FSMA rules in advance of this Friday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0 As a result, we request that the comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules be extended for a minimum of one additional week from the day that Regulations.gov is properly running.\u00a0 It is inexcusable to close a public comment period if the public has not been able to submit their comments.\nWe appreciate your continued willingness to ensure that the voices of the American people are heard, and we urge you to extend the public comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules.\nThank you for your consideration of our request.\u00a0 We look forward to your timely response.\nSincerely,\nRep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02)  \n\tRep. Joe Courtney (CT-02)  \n\tRep. Chellie Pingree (ME- 01)  \n\tRep. Peter Welch (VT-AL)  \n\tRep. Michael H. Michaud (ME-02)  \n\tRep. Tim Ryan (OH-13)  \n\tRep. Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)  \n\tRep. William R. Keating (MA-09)  \n\tRep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)  \n\tRep. James P. McGovern (MA-02)  \n\tRep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204955/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-president-obama-s-signing-of-the-school-access", "Shea-Porter Statement on President Obama\u2019s Signing of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, Founder and Co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergies Caucus, issued the following statement regarding President Obama\u2019s signing of the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act yesterday: \u201cI join millions of American families in celebrating the signing of this lifesaving legislation. The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act will protect children with life threatening allergies and bring peace of mind to parents across the country who no longer have to worry when they send an allergic child to school. According to the Centers for Disease Control, almost 90 percent of schools have at least one student who suffers from food allergies.\u00a0 As co-chair of the Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus, I applaud the passage of this common-sense legislation. However, our nation must continue working to find a cure for asthma and allergies.\u201d BACKGROUND:  \n\tCo-chaired by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the bipartisan Congressional Asthma and Allergy Caucus consists of Members of Congress dedicated to increasing public awareness and advancing research for those living with asthma and severe allergies. Currently, 20 million Americans suffer from asthma and 50 million suffer from all types of allergies. Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children, affecting 1 in every 20 children, and approximately 2.2 million school-aged children have food allergies. Each year, the costs of asthma total $20 billion and the costs of allergies approach $7 billion. Every day in the United States, because of asthma, 40,000 people miss school or work, 30,000 people have an attack, 5,000 people visit the emergency room, and 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital.\u00a0 In addition, 4,000 people die each year from asthma-related causes, and asthma is a contributing factor in another 7,000 deaths every year.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205019/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-fixes-to-the-affordable-care-act", "Shea-Porter Statement on Fixes to the Affordable Care Act", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement regarding proposals to address cancelled health care policies: \u201cI am encouraged that Congress and the President are both working on fixes to make the Affordable Care Act work better. \u201cIn New Hampshire, people who buy individual market policies from Anthem already have the option of renewing their current coverage by November 15th, and keeping their hospital network and doctors for another year. Consumers should carefully compare their old insurance policies to new options, because the old policies might not offer the same benefits and protections that will be in effect on January 1, 2014 under the Affordable Care Act. These old plans will also not be eligible for tax subsidies. \u201cCongress must continue to fix the problems that arise with the Affordable Care Act. But we cannot go back to the days when health insurance companies could deny men and women coverage due to a preexisting condition, or cancel a person\u2019s policy when they need it most. \u201cI\u2019ll continue working to increase insurance options so everyone in New Hampshire has access to quality, affordable healthcare.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-the-passing-of-executive-councilor-ray-burton", "Kuster Statement on the Passing of Executive Councilor Ray Burton", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CONCORD, N.H. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement today on the passing of Executive Councilor Ray Burton.\n\u201cWith the passing of Ray Burton, New Hampshire has lost one of its finest public servants, kindest souls, and most steadfast leaders. For nearly four decades, Ray served his community and state with unmatched dedication, always putting the needs of those he served above all else. His compassion and commitment to the North Country and New Hampshire set a standard for service that will inspire generations to come.\n\u201cThere is no replacing Ray Burton, but Ray's memory will live on in the enormous good he did, in the countless lives he touched, and in the spirit of service he embodied. My thoughts and prayers, and those of so many across New Hampshire, are with Ray\u2019s family, and with all those who were lucky enough to know him.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-with-clock-ticking-congress-must-extend-unemployment-insurance", "Kuster: With Clock Ticking, Congress Must Extend Unemployment Insurance for Granite State Families, Focus on Job Creation", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Unveils new report showing that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will be cut off from vital unemployment insurance just days after Christmas \nKuster: We must provide critical assistance to long-term unemployed and focus like a laser on helping create jobs\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With critical unemployment insurance for the long-term unemployed set to expire just days after Christmas, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on Congress to immediately extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program and take aggressive steps to help boost job creation in New Hampshire and across the country. Kuster highlighted a new House Ways and Means Committee report which estimates that without Congressional action, 1.3 million Americans \u2013 including 1,300 Granite Staters \u2013 will immediately be cut off from unemployment insurance on December 28 if Congress does not reauthorize the program.\n\u201cIf Congress fails to act soon, more than one thousand Granite Staters will lose their unemployment benefits at the end of the year,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cLosing these vital benefits will be a body-blow to New Hampshire families who are already struggling to find work and make ends meet. After wasting weeks on a pointless government shutdown that hurt our economy, Congress needs to come together to extend these benefits and focus on helping create jobs and opportunity for Granite Staters.\u201d\nThe Emergency Unemployment Compensation program was first authorized in 2008 and has been reauthorized on several occasions since then, most recently as part of the Jan. 1, 2013 fiscal cliff agreement, with the number of weeks of federal benefits substantially reduced over the last two years.\nKey points from the report include:\n 1,300 Granite Staters will lose unemployment insurance on December 28, 2013\n\tFailure to extend unemployment insurance would cost economy 310,000 jobs, according to the Economic Policy Institute\n\t37% of unemployed have been without a job for longer than six months\n\tEconomy still has 2 million fewer jobs than before Great Recession began\n A member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0Last week, she toured a West Lebanon brewery to discuss legislation that would cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers, visited a Salem company to highlight the importance of boosting small business exports, and hosted a 21st century workforce roundtable in Hudson with students, business owners, and education leaders.\nShe has also introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports, supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements. In November, Kuster is hosting a Career and Opportunities Fair in Nashua that will bring together local employers and job seekers.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912204841/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-announces-support-for-the-keep-your-health-plan-act-of-2013", "Shea-Porter Announces Support for the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement in support of\u00a0H.R. 3350, the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013. The House of Representatives will vote on H.R 3350 this week.\n\u201cWhile I\u2019m pleased with the provisions in the Affordable Care Act that protect consumers both healthy and sick, some aspects of the ACA need to be fixed. Later this week, the House of Representatives will vote on legislation titled Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013. The legislation would allow plans available on the individual market today to be offered for the next year and be exempt from certain ACA requirements.\n\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that in New Hampshire, people who buy individual market policies from Anthem already have the option of renewing their current coverage by November 15th, and keeping their hospital network and doctors for another year. I\u2019m glad this option is being offered in the Granite State, and it should be available to all Americans with individual-market plans for the next year, even if those plans offer fewer protections, benefits, and subsidies than policies on the Marketplace (exchange). \u00a0\n\u201cBarring last minute amendments, I will support H.R. 3350. If this legislation comes up for a vote in its current form, I will vote yes. In the coming week, I urge Democrats and Republicans not to tinker with this common sense legislation. Now is not the time to score political points by adding partisan amendments in the dark of night.\n\u201cThe Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law, and it still needs fixes, but we can\u2019t go back to the days when getting sick meant health insurance companies could deny coverage, or cancel a person\u2019s policy and plunge them into bankruptcy due to unpaid medical bills. Going forward, I\u2019ll continue working to drive down deductibles and premiums and to increase insurance competition so everyone in our state has access to quality, affordable healthcare.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205047/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-the-passing-of-executive-councilor-ray-burton", "Shea-Porter Statement on the Passing of Executive Councilor Ray Burton", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 MANCHESTER, NH \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement on the passing of Executive Councilor Raymond S. Burton: \"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Councilor Ray Burton. He was a dedicated public servant and an effective voice for the North Country. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends, and the people he loved and served so well for so long.\" ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140412132220/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-veterans-day", "Shea-Porter Statement on Veterans Day", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tNovember 11, 2013  \n\tContact:\u2028  \n\tBen Wakana, 202-255-5456  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tMANCHESTER, NH \u2013\u00a0 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day. She will deliver remarks today during an event at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cVeterans Day is when Americans pause to reflect on freedom and thank the men and women who protected that freedom for us.\u00a0 We follow the age-old traditions of marching in parades, attending ceremonies, and sharing the stories of duty, of sacrifice, of patriotism.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt is a special day, but we know that honoring veterans and military families requires much more than one day each year. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cPatriotic Americans in every generation have stepped up when asked to serve. They went to places near and far from home, and they experienced things that the rest of us cannot imagine. Some served in war. Some served in peacetime. All of them left families and friends and interrupted their lives to serve this country.\u00a0 Veterans were there for us, and on Veterans Day and every day, they need to know that our nation and our people will be there for them.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cToday, let us honor the bravery and sacrifice of veterans. And let us remember that \u2018thank you\u2019 must be more than a phrase. It must be an enduring commitment to America\u2019s veterans.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-veterans-day", "Kuster Statement on Veterans Day", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CONCORD, N.H. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day, which falls on Monday.\n\u201cToday, we pay special tribute to the heroic veterans in New Hampshire and across America who have sacrificed so much to protect our country and our way of life. As the proud daughter and daughter-in-law of World War II veterans, I know the tremendous courage and patriotism of those who have worn the uniform of the United States of America. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with those we\u2019ve lost, those still serving, and all of their families.\n\u201cAs a nation, we have a sacred responsibility to honor those who serve in our Armed Forces, not just with our words, but with our deeds. When our brave men and women come home, we owe them high-quality health care, jobs worthy of their immense talents, and the support they need to adjust back to civilian life. As a member of the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I will continue to work every single day to ensure that we serve our returning heroes as honorably as they have served each and every one of us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cOur veterans represent the very best of America. Today, and every day, we express our gratitude for the sacrifices they\u2019ve made, for the extraordinary example they\u2019ve set, and for everything they\u2019ve done to keep our country safe, prosperous, and free.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-creating-jobs-and-opportunity-for-the-middle-class", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Creating Jobs and Opportunity for the Middle Class, Reining in the NSA, and More", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, Congresswoman Kuster continued to focus on helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class New Hampshire families. Throughout the week, she toured a West Lebanon brewery to discuss legislation that would cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers, visited a Salem company to highlight the importance of boosting small business exports, and hosted a 21st century workforce roundtable in Hudson with students, business owners, and education leaders.\nKuster also signed onto new bipartisan legislation that would make meaningful, comprehensive reforms to the NSA to help rein in the agency\u2019s worst excesses. During a visit to the Upper Valley, Kuster said that the USA FREEDOM Act, introduced by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and endorsed by the ACLU, would help restore a more responsible balance between protecting our national security and preserving our constitutionally-protected right to privacy. Last week, Kuster called on President Obama to lead a top-to-bottom review of the entire NSA and all of its activities.\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\nKuster promotes export bill at Salem firm  \n\tFor two decades, a local company has made its mark around the world by capturing goofy, memorable images of people on film. Couples, teenagers and families in 30 countries have hammed it up and posed for photographs in Innovative FOTO\u2019s specially designed booths. So when Congresswoman Ann Kuster, D-N.H., visited the small company on Industrial Way yesterday, she couldn\u2019t resist posing as well\u2026 Kuster stopped off at the 55-employee, research, design and manufacturing facility to tout legislation she has sponsored that would extend and expand the State Trade and Export Promotion program, known as STEP. (Eagle-Tribune, 11/4/2013)\nSalem-based company flash-forwards with photo booths  \n\tOn Monday morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster visited the Innovative FOTO headquarters to tout the success of and push for the renewal of the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program that helps small businesses expand internationally. The Salem company used the grant to help pay for a trip to Chile, where company leaders are looking to expand their photo booths. Innovative FOTO is the largest designer, manufacturer and operator of photo booths and digital kiosks in the United States and operates more than 3,000 booths in 50 states and in 30 countries, according to company president and CEO Dale Valvo. \"The STEP grant has been extremely beneficial,\" Valvo said. \"We are a small company, and travel is expensive.\" (Union Leader, 11/4/2013)\nKuster touts bill to boost small business exports during stop at Innovative FOTO in Salem  \n\tAs part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today continued her \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d series with a visit to Innovative FOTO in Salem, where she highlighted legislation she recently introduced that would help boost small business exports in the Granite State. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, would extend and expand the State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP), a successful grant program that has helped dozens of Granite State companies like Innovative FOTO expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy. (11/4/2013)\nKuster highlights bill to cut taxes on NH small brewers  \n\tAt an event in West Lebanon, N.H. Wednesday, Congresswoman Annie Kuster suggested the federal government could do more to help craft breweries grow. The first-term Democrat toured the Seven Barrel Brewery, talking about legislation she signed onto that would cut in half the current $7 per barrel federal excise tax small brewers pay. A craft producer's first 60,000 barrels a year, which is more than many brands turn out, would qualify for the savings. \"This is money that they can reinvest back into the brewery; they can invest in hiring,\" said Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H. \"For the brewers I've talked to, this will make a difference for them.\" (NECN, 11/7/2013)\nKuster hosts 21st century workforce roundtable discussion  \n\tAs part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today convened a diverse group of students, business owners, and education leaders for a roundtable discussion focused on local efforts to train and secure a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State. During the roundtable at Omni Components in Hudson, Kuster highlighted her efforts in Congress to strengthen workforce development, and heard directly from local stakeholders who are on the frontlines of ensuring that Granite State students and workers have the skills they need to compete for well-paying, middle class jobs. (11/7/2013)\nKuster calls for curbs on NSA  \n\tKuster has called on President Obama to lead \u201crigorous, top-to-bottom review\u201d of the NSA, and this week, she swung her support behind a bill to overhaul the intelligence agency and curb its \u201cworst excesses.\u201d The so-called USA Freedom Act, which has bipartisan support and is being co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., would end the bulk collection of Americans\u2019 communications records, require the government to more aggressively filter and discard information accidentally collected by the NSA, and create a special office to promote privacy interests before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, among other changes. (Valley News, 11/7/2013)\nKuster signs onto comprehensive, bipartisan NSA reform bill  \n\tAfter calling on the Obama Administration to launch a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire National Security Agency (NSA) and all of its programs, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) this week signed onto bipartisan legislation that would reign in some of the NSA\u2019s worst excesses and deliver meaningful reform to the Agency\u2019s surveillance activities. The bipartisan United and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act would put an end to the NSA\u2019s bulk collection of phone records and institute rigorous, meaningful oversight over the government\u2019s surveillance programs. (11/5/2013)\nKuster celebrates Senate passage of ENDA, calls on House to follow suit  \n\tWith the bill headed to the Republican-controlled House, New Hampshire\u2019s two Democratic House members called for passage there\u2026Rep. Annie Kuster said, \u201cNow that the Senate has passed ENDA with bipartisan support, the House should immediately follow suit and do the same. No one should ever fear being fired from their job or harassed in the workplace because of who they are or who they love \u2014 period.\u201d (Union Leader, 11/7/2013)\nKuster calls for action to crack down on improper Medicare payments  \n\tIn the wake of a troubling new Inspector General (IG) report detailing thousands of improper Medicare payments that have wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take immediate and aggressive actions to crack down on fraud and wasteful improper payments. A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) IG found that in 2011 alone, CMS made over 17,000 improper payments on behalf of deceased individuals to providers, suppliers, Medicare Advantage organizations, and prescription drug plan sponsors at a cost of $23 million to taxpayers. According to the Government Accountability Office, Medicare made a total of more than $44 billion in improper payments in 2012. (11/7/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205113/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-october-jobs-report", "Shea-Porter Statement on October Jobs Report", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement today after the Department of Labor released its October jobs report: \u201cToday\u2019s jobs report beat expectations by indicating that 212,000 private sector jobs were created in October, but more work remains to improve the economy and strengthen the middle class. Last month\u2019s government shutdown was an embarrassing, self-inflicted wound that cost our economy $24 billion and hurt Americans\u2019 confidence in their government. Going forward, there is no question that Congress should pass a responsible budget that invests in job creation, strengthens the middle class, and takes a balanced approach to deficit reduction.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-hosts-21st-century-workforce-roundtable-at-omni-components-in", "Kuster Hosts 21st Century Workforce Roundtable at Omni Components in Hudson", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Roundtable brought together diverse group of students, business owners, and education leaders for a discussion about local efforts to train a highly-skilled workforce in the Granite State\nEarlier this year, Kuster introduced legislation to provide tax credits to companies that partner with local educational institutions to strengthen workforce development for NH students\nHUDSON, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today convened a diverse group of students, business owners, and education leaders for a roundtable discussion focused on local efforts to train and secure a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State. During the roundtable at Omni Components in Hudson, Kuster highlighted her efforts in Congress to strengthen workforce development, and heard directly from local stakeholders who are on the frontlines of ensuring that Granite State students and workers have the skills they need to compete for well-paying, middle class jobs.\n\u201cTraining a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce in the Granite State is critical for growing our economy, creating jobs, and strengthening the middle class,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cWhen we invest in our workforce, more young people will stay here in New Hampshire, our students will be more competitive in the job market, and our businesses will be more successful in the economy. I was thrilled to host this roundtable to hear about all of the great work being done in Nashua and across the state to equip our students with the skills they need to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow.\u201d\nRoundtable participants included students from Nashua Community College and representatives from Omni Components, UltraSource Inc., the Community College System of New Hampshire, Stay Work Play New Hampshire, Nashua Community College, and other local organizations focused on workforce development.\nEarlier this year, Kuster introduced legislation that would provide up to $10,000 in annual tax credits to employers that partner with community colleges or other institutions of higher education to improve workforce development for students. Kuster\u2019s legislation, the Workforce Development Investment Act, has been adopted as part of the official Make It In America jobs plan.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0Last month, Kuster introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports.\u00a0\nShe has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, voted to keep student loan interest rates low for students and families, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-senate-passage-of-enda", "Kuster Statement on Senate Passage of ENDA", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation that would help eliminate workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Kuster is an original cosponsor of ENDA.\n\u201cNow that the Senate has passed ENDA with bipartisan support, the House should immediately follow suit and do the same. No one should ever fear being fired from their job or harassed in the workplace because of who they are or who they love \u2013 period. As a proud original cosponsor of this vital legislation, I am hopeful that the House will finally pass ENDA and reaffirm one of our nation\u2019s bedrock principles: that every American deserves equal treatment under the law.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-cms-action-needed-to-crack-down-on-improper-medicare-payments", "Kuster to CMS: Action Needed to Crack Down on Improper Medicare Payments", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In letter to CMS Administrator, Kuster raises concerns over new report detailing $23 million in improper payments made on behalf of over 17,000 deceased people in 2011\nKuster calls for immediate action to implement aggressive controls to prevent improper payments and ensure Medicare dollars are spent caring for our nation\u2019s seniors; urges Granite Staters to report suspected Medicare errors, fraud, or abuse\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In the wake of a troubling new Inspector General (IG) report detailing thousands of improper Medicare payments that have wasted millions of taxpayer dollars, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take immediate and aggressive actions to crack down on fraud and wasteful improper payments. A recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) IG found that in 2011 alone, CMS made over 17,000 improper payments on behalf of deceased individuals to providers, suppliers, Medicare Advantage organizations, and prescription drug plan sponsors at a cost of $23 million to taxpayers. According to the Government Accountability Office, Medicare made a total of more than $44 billion in improper payments in 2012.\n\u201cI know we share a commitment to protecting Medicare by ensuring that limited taxpayer dollars are invested to the greatest benefit of our seniors. In that spirit, I was deeply frustrated by the October 30, 2013, Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (IG) report\u00a0which found that CMS made $23 million in improper payments on behalf of deceased individuals in 2011,\u201d Kuster wrote. \u201cTo prevent the diversion of precious resources away from our nation\u2019s seniors, I respectfully urge you to immediately and aggressively prioritize the implementation of the IG\u2019s recommendations to prevent future improper payments, recover past improper payments, and ensure the legitimacy of providers and suppliers.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cGranite State seniors have worked hard their entire lives as they raised their families, strengthened our country, and contributed to Medicare and other programs,\u201d Kuster continued.\u00a0\u201cAs public servants, we owe it to seniors in New Hampshire and across the country to\u00a0ensure Medicare is administered with the highest level of efficiency so that valuable taxpayer funds are put toward caring for our seniors -- not enriching those who would defraud or abuse our health care system.\u201d  \n\tAccording to the IG report, improper payments often result from fraudulent claims submitted by providers or suppliers for deceased beneficiaries. The IG specifically highlighted a high profile case from 2008 involving an individual who was indicted for health fraud after his company was found to have submitted more than $2 million worth of fraudulent claims, 10 of which were for deceased individuals. The report also found that roughly 11 percent of the 17,000 improper payments made in 2011 stemmed from missing or incomplete dates of death.\nIn addition to calling on the CMS Administrator to act on the IG report\u2019s recommendations, Kuster is also urging Granite Staters to be vigilant and report any suspected Medicare waste, fraud, or abuse to the Office of the HHS Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at https://www.StopMedicareFraud.gov. New Hampshire is home to more than 230,000 Medicare beneficiaries.\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 7, 2013\nDear Administrator Tavenner:\nThank you for your service, and for your work to provide quality, affordable health care coverage to New Hampshire\u2019s seniors. I know we share a commitment to protecting Medicare by ensuring that limited taxpayer dollars are invested to the greatest benefit of our seniors.\nIn that spirit, I was deeply frustrated by the October 30, 2013, Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General (IG) report\u00a0which found that CMS made $23 million in improper payments on behalf of deceased individuals in 2011. While this figure represents less than one-tenth of one percent of total Medicare expenditures, we must not accept any degree of waste in this critical program \u2013 no matter how big or small.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nTo prevent the diversion of precious resources away from our nation\u2019s seniors, I respectfully urge you to immediately and aggressively prioritize the implementation of the IG\u2019s recommendations to prevent future improper payments, recover past improper payments, and ensure the legitimacy of providers and suppliers. Furthermore, I request that you provide updates on CMS\u2019s progress in implementing these reforms.\nI appreciate that CMS has installed important safeguards to help prevent these types of improper payments, and it\u2019s clear that those efforts have made a positive impact in recent years. But, we cannot be satisfied until the Administration has taken all steps necessary to completely eliminate this problem and ensure that every Medicare dollar is allocated appropriately.\u00a0\nGranite State seniors have worked hard their entire lives as they raised their families, strengthened our country, and contributed to Medicare and other programs.\u00a0As public servants, we owe it to seniors in New Hampshire and across the country to\u00a0ensure Medicare is administered with the highest level of efficiency so that valuable taxpayer funds are put toward caring for our seniors \u2013 not enriching those who would defraud or abuse our health care system.\nI greatly appreciate your commitment to protecting and strengthening Medicare, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to that end.\u00a0Thank you for your consideration of this request.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413005240/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-calls-on-veterans-affairs-to-investigate-reports-of-opiate", "Shea-Porter Calls On Veterans Affairs to Investigate Reports of Opiate Overprescription", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  Contact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) has sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki regarding her concerns over recent reports that veterans in VA hospitals are being prescribed a potentially dangerous cocktail of prescription painkillers, leading to addiction and overdoses.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) wrote that \u201cSince the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the agency charged with helping veterans recover from war instead masks their pain with potent drugs, feeding addictions and contributing to a fatal overdose rate among VA patients that is nearly double the national average.\u201d According to CIR\u2019s analysis, VA prescriptions of four opiates \u2013 hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone and morphine \u2013 have surged by 270 percent in the past 12 years.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn her letter, Shea-Porter asks the VA to fully investigate whether, as CIR alleges, some veterans are being overmedicated as a substitute for the full treatment that they have earned and need. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt would indeed be a failure to honor our commitments to our men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country if veterans were being prescribed powerful, highly addictive medications as a substitute for safer, more comprehensive and effective, and less expensive, non-pharmaceutical treatments,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe CIR article tells the story of a discharged Marine who received nearly 4,000 oxycodone pills from the VA since 2008. In September 2013, CBS News also reported on the issue of overmedication.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Center for Investigative Reporting is a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization founded in 1977. In 2013, the organization was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in public service.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFull text of the letter is below.  \n\t\u00a0\n  \n\t+++  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Honorable Eric K. Shinseki  \n\tSecretary  \n\tDepartment of Veterans Affairs  \n\t810 Vermont Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20420  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDear Secretary Shinseki,  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI am writing to you to express my concern over recent reporting on the treatment of veterans with PTSD by the Center for Investigative Reporting.\u00a0 According to this report (enclosed), prescriptions of hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and morphine\u2014all powerful opioids\u2014have surged by 270 percent in the past 12 years.\u00a0 Additionally, this article claims that opioid prescriptions were higher for veterans with pain and mental health diagnoses, particularly PTSD.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI find these allegations deeply disturbing.\u00a0 Our veterans deserve the best care we can provide for their injuries, both mental and physical.\u00a0 It would indeed be a failure to honor our commitments to our men and women who have sacrificed so much in service to our country if veterans were being prescribed powerful, highly addictive medications as a substitute for safer, more comprehensive and effective, and less expensive, non-pharmaceutical treatments. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWith respect to providing non-pharmaceutical treatments, I am concerned that the VA\u2019s research into complementary and alternative treatment options seems so limited.\u00a0 In contrast, within the Department of Defense, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center offers service members many of these therapies, such as acupuncture, art therapy, and canine therapy (the Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program). \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI would like to draw your attention to the new and innovative service- dog training program at Walter Reed NICoE that is designed to be a safe, effective, non-pharmaceutical intervention to treat the symptoms of PTSD and TBI.\u00a0 Service men and women involved in this program report a number of positive results, including lower levels of depression, improved self-control, improved sleep patterns, a greater sense of purpose, better reintegration into their communities, pain reduction, and improved parenting skills. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThere is now considerable anecdotal evidence that training service dogs reduces the PTSD and TBI symptoms of their Warrior-trainers.\u00a0\u00a0 In the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act\u2019s House Report, I added language directing the Secretary of Defense to conduct whatever studies are necessary to evaluate this promising program, and my amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act funded a $4.5 million three-year research study to validate the effectiveness of this program. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe most eloquent testimonials for this program are from service member trainers themselves.\u00a0 One said, \u201cIt is hard for me to put into words how very important working with these dogs has been to me. \u2026 Working with the dogs gave me a purpose again and a way to continue to give back to Soldiers, ... Training these dogs helps me rebuild my confidence level ...\u201d\u00a0 Another:\u00a0 \u201cThe dog I am training bonded quickly with my daughter and me. \u2026 The dog allowed us to connect in a very positive way.\u00a0 Working with the dog has taught me patience, which also carries over to being a parent.\u201d\u00a0 Or this testimonial:\u00a0 \u201cGoing out into crowded public places has been very hard for me. However, to train a service dog, you have to lead them confidently through places like grocery stores and on underground trains.\u00a0 I find that while teaching the young dogs how to navigate these places, I am much more comfortable as well.\u00a0 I am even learning how to enjoy interaction with strangers who approach me to talk about the dog.\u201d\u00a0 (An article in the journal, US Army Medical Department Journal, describing this program is enclosed.\u00a0 The testimonials are in the article.)  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThis and other complementary and alternative treatment options have shown great promise, and I strongly encourage you to expand and diversify the non-pharmaceutical treatment options available to veterans being treated for PTSD or TBI. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI am sure that you will fully investigate whether, as the Center for Investigative Reporting alleges, some of our veterans are being overmedicated as a substitute for the full treatment that they have earned and need.\u00a0\u00a0 I know how dedicated you are to improving the quality of the VA\u2019s care for all of our veterans, and I thank you for your lifetime of service to our military, our veterans, and this great nation. I look forward to your response.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSincerely,  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCarol Shea-Porter  \n\tMember of Congress ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912205200/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-senate-passage-of-enda", "Shea-Porter Statement on Senate Passage of ENDA", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement regarding the Senate\u2019s passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), legislation that would prevent Americans from being denied a job or fired because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender:\n\u201cThe Senate has, in a bipartisan manner, voted for equality and fairness for all citizens by passing ENDA. Speaker Boehner needs to bring ENDA to a vote in the House.\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND:\nShea-Porter voted in support of ENDA in 2007. She is an original cosponsor of H.R.1755, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-touts-plan-to-cut-taxes-on-new-hampshire-s-small-brewers-at-seven", "Kuster Touts Plan to Cut Taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s Small Brewers at Seven Barrel Brewery In West Lebanon", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Small BREW Act would cut the federal excise tax on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers in half from $7.00 to $3.50 per barrel on first 60,000 barrels, helping promote growth and job creation\nKuster: Small BREW Act would mean more jobs on tap in the Granite State\nWEST LEBANON, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today continued her \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d series with a visit to the Seven Barrel Brewery, where she highlighted legislation she is cosponsoring that would cut taxes for small brewers across the Granite State to help promote growth and job creation. The Small BREW Act would cut the federal excise tax in half, from $7.00 to $3.50 per barrel, on the first 60,000 barrels for small breweries that produce less than 6 million barrels per year.\n\u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what the Small BREW Act is all about. This bill would cut the federal excise tax on our small brewers in half, helping them grow their businesses and ensuring that there are more, middle class jobs on tap in the Granite State.\u201d\nThe Seven Barrel Brewery, which is approaching its 20th year in business, produces about 500 barrels per year. At that rate, the Small BREW Act could mean savings of $1,750 each year for the company, which could go toward expanding operations and creating jobs. The brewery and restaurant first opened in 1994 under the direction of renowned brewer Gregory Noonan. A new ownership group purchased the restaurant and brewery in 2010 and have renovated and updated parts of the facility.\n\"As a small brewery we don't have the \u2018discretionary\u2019 cash flow to spend on advertising and other things that the larger breweries seem to have,\u201d said Tony Lubold, head brewer at the Seven Barrel Brewery. \u201cThe Small BREW Act would make it easier for us to remain a strong part of the New Hampshire marketplace.\u201d\nAccording to a recent Harvard University study, the Small BREW Act could increase economic activity by $183 million in 2013 and $1.04 billion over five years. The same study found that the bill would help create more than 5,000 new jobs during the first year to eighteen months, with an average of roughly 400 additional jobs added every subsequent year.\nA member of the Small Brewers Caucus and the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0\nLast month, Kuster introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports.\u00a0She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-signs-onto-comprehensive-bipartisan-nsa-reform-bill", "Kuster Signs Onto Comprehensive, Bipartisan NSA Reform Bill", "2013-11-05", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan USA FREEDOM Act would end the bulk, dragnet collection of Americans\u2019 phone data and institute meaningful oversight of the government\u2019s surveillance programs\nLast week, Kuster called on the Obama Administration to launch a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire NSA and all of its programs\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After calling on the Obama Administration to launch a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire National Security Agency (NSA) and all of its programs, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) this week signed onto bipartisan legislation that would reign in some of the NSA\u2019s worst excesses and deliver meaningful reform to the Agency\u2019s surveillance activities. The bipartisan United and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ending Eavesdropping, Dragnet Collection, and Online Monitoring (USA FREEDOM) Act would put an end to the NSA\u2019s bulk collection of phone records and institute rigorous, meaningful oversight over the government\u2019s surveillance programs.\n\u201cThe NSA is clearly in need of significant reform that will better safeguard our constitutionally-protected right to privacy,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cUnlike previous efforts that would have only temporarily defunded specific NSA activities, the USA FREEDOM Act would make comprehensive reforms that will bring greater transparency and accountability to intelligence programs. That\u2019s the right way to begin restoring a more responsible balance between preserving our national security and protecting our privacy.\u201d\nIn addition to ending the bulk collection of Americans\u2019 communications records, the USA FREEDOM Act would:\n Strengthen the prohibition on targeting foreign individuals with the goal of obtaining communications involving Americans;\n\tRequire the government to more aggressively filter and discard information about Americans accidentally collected through NSA programs;\n\tCreate an Office of the Special Advocate (OSA) tasked with promoting privacy interests before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC)\u2019s closed proceedings;\n\tInstitute new and more robust FISC reporting requirements to Congress;\n\tGrant the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight\u00a0 Board subpoena authority to investigate issues related to privacy and national security; and\n\tEnd \u201csecret laws\u201d by requiring the Attorney General to publicly disclose all FISC decisions issued after July 10, 2003 that contain significant constructions or interpretations of law.\n The legislation, which was introduced on October 29 by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), has already earned broad support from across the political spectrum.\u00a0 It has also won the endorsement of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Information Technology Industry Council, and other organizations committed to reforming government surveillance programs and protecting privacy.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-touts-bill-to-boost-small-business-exports-during-congress-at", "Kuster Touts Bill to Boost Small Business Exports During \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d Stop at Innovative FOTO in Salem", "2013-11-04", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Innovative FOTO was recently awarded a State Trade and Export Program (STEP) grant to help expand its reach into the South American market\nKuster\u2019s legislation would extend the successful STEP program and double the annual funding available from $30 million to $60 million, helping even more NH businesses grow their exports and create jobs\nKuster: Expanding this program is an important step forward for NH small businesses\nSALEM, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today continued her \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d series with a visit to Innovative FOTO in Salem, where she highlighted legislation she recently introduced that would help boost small business exports in the Granite State. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, would extend and expand the State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP), a successful grant program that has helped dozens of Granite State companies like Innovative FOTO expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy.\n\u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for the middle class, and boosting small business exports is a key part of that goal,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cCompanies like Innovative FOTO have used STEP grants to expand their reach and send more of their products around the world. My legislation to extend and expand this important program will help even more Granite State businesses export their goods, create middle class jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy.\u201d\nLaunched in 2010, the STEP program was created to help grow the number of businesses exporting their goods and to increase the value of U.S. exports on the global market. The program, which will receive no additional funding without Congressional action, helps businesses attend international trade shows, supports export training programs, and assists with the development of international marketing materials, among other efforts to boost exports. Kuster\u2019s Small Business Growth Through Exports Act would extend the program for another three years, and double the federal funding available each year from $30 million to $60 million.\n\u201cAs a global business, we have worked hard to bring our products to every part of the world,\u201d said Dale Valvo, President and CEO of Innovative FOTO. \u201cOur photo booths and other products can now be found everywhere from the United States to the United Kingdom to Australia and beyond, and thanks in part to STEP funding, we\u2019re expanding further into the South American market, as well. This program has helped us grow our business and reach more customers around the world.\u201d\nTo date, STEP has awarded nearly $60 million to states and territories around the country. Combined, small businesses participating in STEP are estimated to have exported $636 million through fiscal year 2013, representing a return on federal investment of 10-to-1. To date, New Hampshire has received nearly $600,000 in federal funds to assist to local companies\u00a0through this program. That funding has helped more than 60 Granite State companies better market their products and find new business partners around the world.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster\u2019s top priority is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0 She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-obama-administration-must-lead-rigorous-top-to-bottom-review", "Kuster to Obama: Administration Must Lead Rigorous, Top-to-Bottom Review of Entire NSA", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kuster letter to President Obama follows troubling pattern of privacy violations at the NSA; letter calls on President to personally ensure that review is rigorous so that Administration can begin to restore public trust \nKuster: Review must be comprehensive, unsparing, and followed by meaningful reform\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As troubling privacy violations at the National Security Agency (NSA) continue to come to light, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today called on President Obama to lead a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire NSA and all of its programs. In her letter, Kuster underscored that a comprehensive, unsparing review of the NSA is the only way for the Administration to begin restoring some of the public trust that has been lost in recent months.\n\u201cI respectfully request that your Administration conduct a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire NSA and all of its activities, and that you personally ensure that this review is comprehensive, unsparing, and followed by meaningful reform,\u201d Kuster wrote. \u201cFurthermore, I request that upon completion of this review, your Administration immediately take steps to share the results with the American people so that they can continue to play a leading role in the important national dialogue over the future of these surveillance programs. By conducting a top-to-bottom review of the NSA and advancing substantive reforms to its programs, your Administration can begin to repair some of the public trust that has been eroded by the recent cascade of troubling disclosures.\u201d\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 1, 2013\nDear President Obama:\nEarlier this year, in the wake of widespread reports of privacy violations by the National Security Agency (NSA), I joined 187 of my colleagues in urging you to consider implementing reforms that would strengthen the balance between our national security and Americans\u2019 civil liberties.\u00a0 Since then, a steady stream of deeply troubling revelations about the nature and scope of NSA activities has emerged, further eroding the public\u2019s confidence in national security surveillance programs.\nI continue to hear from constituents in my home state of New Hampshire who are gravely concerned by the growing number of reported privacy violations by the NSA, both in the United States and around the world.\u00a0 I am writing to you today because I share those concerns and believe significant action is required to address them.\nI know all Americans share an abiding commitment to keeping our country safe from terrorism and other threats.\u00a0 But, the American people also rightly cherish our privacy and constitutionally-protected freedoms.\nTo help ensure that these rights are never violated and to bolster trust in our public institutions, I respectfully request that your Administration conduct a rigorous, top-to-bottom review of the entire NSA and its activities, and that you personally ensure that this review is comprehensive, unsparing, and followed by meaningful reform. Furthermore, I request that upon completion of this review, your Administration immediately take steps to share the full results with the American people so that they may continue to play a leading role in the important national dialogue over the future of these surveillance programs.\nMy constituents and all Americans deserve an unshakable confidence that their government is respecting their privacy rights. By conducting a top-to-bottom review of the NSA and advancing substantive reforms to its programs, your Administration can begin to repair some of the public trust that has been eroded by the recent cascade of troubling disclosures.\u00a0\nThank you for your consideration of this request.\u00a0 I look forward to continuing to work with you to strengthen transparency, accountability, and faith in our government.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/weekly-roundup-eliminating-the-va-backlog-preventing-another-shutdown", "WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Eliminating the VA Backlog, Preventing Another Shutdown, and More", "2013-11-01", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After joining Granite Staters in celebrating the World Series Champion Red Sox, Congresswoman Kuster this week continued her efforts to eliminate the VA claims backlog, prevent future shutdowns of the federal government, and support job creation across New Hampshire.\nEarlier this week, the House of Representatives passed with overwhelming bipartisan support legislation introduced by Kuster to help eliminate the backlog of disability compensation claims at the VA. Kuster\u2019s bill, the Veterans Claims Efficiency Through Automation Act, pushes the VA to make greater use of automation in the processing of veterans claims to help boost efficiency and free up resources to provide more timely services for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill passed the House as part of a comprehensive legislative package designed to help get veterans\u2019 claims settled faster and more efficiently. Currently, there are more than 700,000 disability claims pending nationally, with nearly 410,000 in the backlog.\nKuster also led a coalition of 178 Democrats in calling on Speaker Boehner and Republican leadership to publicly declare that they will not use the threat of another government shutdown or default on our debt as leverage in budget negotiations. Underscoring the economic damage caused by the recent shutdown, Kuster and her colleagues said that Congress must work together to pass a responsible budget agreement and take the crippling twin threats of a shutdown and default off the table for good.\u00a0\nFor more on these updates and others, please continue reading below.\n\u201cKuster co-leader of Democratic coalition seeking \u2018no shutdown\u2019 promise from GOP House speaker\u201d  \n\tU.S. Rep. Annie Kuster is a co-leader of a coalition of 178 Democratic lawmakers calling on Republican House Speaker John Boehner and his leadership to \u201cpublicly declare\u201d they will not sue the threat of another government shutdown or default as leverage in the budget talks, her office said Thursday. Those talks, prompted by the agreement that ended the recent government shutdown, began on Wednesday. Kuster has joined with Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., in organizing the coalition. There are a total of 200 Democratic House members and all but 22 have so far signed on. (Union Leader, 10/31/2013)\n\u201cDemocrats seek promise from John Boehner\u201d  \n\tAlready seeing the possibility of another fiscal fight, Democrats sent a letter signed by 178 of their House members to Speaker John Boehner on Thursday, asking him to promise not to shut down the government again or run up against the debt ceiling deadline\u2026The deal that ended the government shutdown earlier this month and avoided a debt default established another round of fiscal deadlines. Government funding will again run out in January and the debt ceiling will need to be addressed by February. In conjunction with the extensions earlier this month, Congress also created a budget negotiating panel to try to avoid another round of crisis, but there\u2019s widespread pessimism that the group will be successful. Reps. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.) were the two lead signers of the letter. They were joined by 176 additional Democratic members. (Politico, 10/31/2013)\n\u201cConn, NH Reps. want Boehner to denounce shutdown\u201d  \n\tConnecticut Rep. Elizabeth Esty and New Hampshire Rep. Annie Kuster are leading an effort to urge House Speaker John Boehner (BAY'-nur) and House Republican leaders to declare they will not threaten a federal government shutdown or default as a long-term budget agreement is negotiated. The two Democrats announced Thursday that 178 members of Congress had so far signed on to a letter to Boehner. In the letter, lawmakers said the cost of another government shutdown would be too high. They said the absence of paychecks to hundreds of thousands of federal employees in October caused \u2018\u2018real economic hardship to those employees and their families.\u2019\u2019 (Associated Press, 10/31/2013)\nKuster bill to address VA Claims backlog passes House with strong, bipartisan support  \n\tThe House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) to help eliminate the backlog of disability compensation claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Kuster\u2019s bill, the Veterans Claims Efficiency Through Automation Act, encourages the VA to make greater use of automation in the processing of veterans claims to help boost efficiency and free up resources to provide more timely services for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill passed as part of a comprehensive legislative package designed to help get veterans\u2019 claims settled faster and more efficiently. \u201cI am grateful that my legislation to help eliminate the VA claims backlog passed the House with strong, bipartisan support,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt is simply unacceptable that so many of our heroic veterans are unable to get timely access to the care and services that they\u2019ve earned. I will keep fighting to end the backlog until we finish the job.\u201d (Press Release, 10/28/2013)\n\u201cU.S Rep. Kuster backs bill to cut federal tax on beer by half\u201d  \n\tWith the state and federal tax burden weighing in at more than $16 per barrel, small breweries are struggling to find a foothold in New Hampshire, but Rep. Annie Kuster, D-NH, said a new bill in the U.S. House could help give local beer producers a fighting chance. On Thursday, the District 2 congresswoman toured the Henniker Brewing Co. with owner David Currier to promote the bill that would cut the federal excise tax in half, from $7 to $3.50 per barrel. The Small BREW Act would reduce the federal tax burden on the first 60,000 barrels produced by breweries that make less than 6 million barrels per year\u2026\"I'm excited about any bill that helps small business in New Hampshire grow,\" said Kuster. (Union Leader, 11/1/2013)\n\u201cSmall brewers seek tax cuts to spur growth\u201d  \n\tHenniker Brewing Company is a little more than a year old, and this month, could break-even for the first time. That\u2019s good news for investors, but the 5-man operation is still facing some growing pains. Manager Dave Currier says the beer is good, but the facility needs some improvements. \u201cWell, as an example, we have two new bathrooms for the tap room that we want to finish,\u201d says Currier, a former Republican state lawmaker.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we\u2019ve kind of run out of money in terms of our overall investment, to complete that.\u201d Currier says $25,000 in new tax cuts could help him do that. 2nd District Congresswomen Annie Kuster is co-sponsoring the Small BREW Act that would cut the per-barrel tax on beer brewed in small facilities from $7.00 to $3.50 on the first 60,000 barrels. She says it will directly benefit the state\u2019s two dozen or so craft brewers. (NHPR, 10/31/2013)\nKuster touts plan to cut taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers at Henniker Brewing Company  \n\tAs part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today continued her \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d series with a visit to the Henniker Brewing Company, where she highlighted legislation she is cosponsoring that would cut taxes for small brewers across the Granite State to help promote growth and job creation. The Small BREW Act would cut the federal excise tax in half, from $7.00 to $3.50 per barrel, on the first 60,000 barrels for small breweries that produce less than 6 million barrels per year. \u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what the Small BREW Act is all about. This bill would cut the federal excise tax on our small brewers in half, helping them grow their businesses and ensuring that there are more, middle class jobs on tap in the Granite State.\u201d (Press Release, 10/31/2013)\n\u201cKuster bringing \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d to Salem Biz\u201d  \n\tKuster\u2019s bill, the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, would extend and expand the State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP), which has helped dozens of Granite State companies like Innovative FOTO expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire\u2019s economy. Innovative FOTO, which is the largest designer, manufacturer, and operator of photo booths and digital photo kiosks in the United States, was recently awarded $1,100 through the STEP program. Company officials, who operate more than 3,000 photo booths in North America and around the world, used the funds to cover costs related to expansion in the South American market. (Salem Patch, 10/31/2013)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-leads-178-democrats-in-calling-on-speaker-boehner-to-end-threat", "Kuster Leads 178 Democrats In Calling on Speaker Boehner to End Threat of Government Shutdown and Default", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In letter to Speaker Boehner, Kuster and colleagues urge House Republican leadership to publicly declare they will not use threat of a government shutdown or default as leverage in budget negotiations\nEstimates show recent shutdown cost U.S. economy $24 billion, reduced 4th quarter GDP growth by 0.6 percent, and triggered higher interest rates that added $100 million to deficit in final week of shutdown alone\nKuster to Boehner: No More Shutdowns\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As lawmakers from both parties begin to negotiate a long-term budget agreement, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) are leading a coalition of 178 Democratic lawmakers in calling on Speaker Boehner and Republican leadership to publicly declare that they will not use the threat of another government shutdown or default as leverage in budget talks. Underscoring the economic damage caused by the recent shutdown, the group of lawmakers said that Congress must work together to pass a responsible budget agreement and take the crippling twin threats of a shutdown and default off the table for good.\u00a0\n\u201cWe are sending a clear message to the Republican leadership on behalf of the American people \u2013 No More Shutdowns,\u201d said Kuster and Esty.\n\u201cThe 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America\u2019s debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred.\u00a0 Now, we are deeply concerned that the American people are in danger of another shutdown or threat of default early next year,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government shutdown and default on our debts. That is why we are writing to you to urge you and your leadership to publicly declare that you will not again use the threat of a government shutdown or default as leverage in the important discussions regarding long-term deficit reduction and economic growth.\u201d\nEarlier this month, Kuster was part of a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers that voted for a compromise measure that ended the shutdown, prevented a default, and gave Congress more time to work together on a balanced, long-term budget agreement. During the shutdown, Kuster wrote an op-ed calling on Speaker Boehner to let Congress vote on a simple, bipartisan bill to fully end the shutdown so that Congress could return its focus to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families.\nThe full text of the group\u2019s letter is below:\nOctober 31, 2013\nHonorable John Boehner  \n\tSpeaker of the House  \n\tWashington, D.C.\u00a0 20515\nDear Mr. Speaker,\nThe 16-day-long federal government shutdown is over and default on America\u2019s debt has been averted, although no one is relieved that this latest crisis ever occurred.\u00a0 Now, we are deeply concerned that the American people are in danger of another shutdown or threat of default early next year.\nThe most powerful source of uncertainty to American families and businesses is the threat of a government shutdown and default on our debts. That is why we are writing to you to urge you and your leadership to publicly declare that you will not again use the threat of a government shutdown or default as leverage in the important discussions regarding long-term deficit reduction and economic growth.\nThe American people depend on their elected representatives to be problem solvers and get our work done. When we fail to do our job, however, it is not the American people who should pay the price for our inability to reach critical agreements.\nThe cost to our nation is too high. The absence of paychecks to hundreds of thousands of federal employees during the course of the shutdown caused real economic hardship to those employees and their families and to private businesses whose livelihoods were affected by the shutdown.\nRatings agencies and economists from across the political spectrum agree that the shutdown and threat of default took a real toll on our economy and that the possibility of repeating these crises is causing ongoing uncertainty and economic weakness.\n Standard & Poor\u2019s estimated that the recent shutdown cost our economy $24 billion and reduced 4th quarter GDP growth by 0.6 percent. The shutdown triggered higher short-term interest rates, adding $100 million to the federal budget deficit in the last week of the shutdown alone.\u00a0 And Standard & Poor\u2019s said that the threat of another shutdown and possible default weighs heavily on the economy.\u00a0 \u201cThe short turnaround for politicians to negotiate some sort of lasting deal will weigh on consumer confidence, especially among government workers that were furloughed,\u201d the agency said in its October 16 report.\n\tMark Zandi, chief economist for Moody\u2019s Analytics, \u201csaid he has downgraded his projected growth for the gross domestic product for the last quarter of this year from 2.6 percent to 2.1 percent because of the shutdown and simply the threat that Congress would not raise the debt ceiling on time,\u201d according the Times-Tribune of Scranton, PA.\n\tJoel Naroff, founder of Naroff Economic Advisors, said the \u201cshutdown trimmed fourth-quarter growth by 20% - an outcome any business would \u2018consider a disaster\u2019,'' according to USA Today.\n\tGennadiy Goldberg, economist at TD Securities, said, \u201c\u2019The recovery is on hold for another four months,\u2019 citing the unresolved differences in Washington over the government budget,\u201d according to Thompson/Reuters.\n\tAnd Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute for International Economics said, \u201cThis will accelerate the rate at which the Chinese renminbi becomes accepted \u2014 at least throughout Asia \u2014 as an alternative to the dollar, or Chinese government bonds become accepted as an alternative [to U.S. Treasurys],\u201d according to National Public Radio.\n This sobering economic hardship should have never been visited upon the American people. The shutdown and threat of default were unnecessary and costly.\nCongress has voted itself 90 days to reach a long-term budget agreement. We respectfully request that Congress work hard to reach an agreement sooner than that and that you and your colleagues in leadership remove the threat of another shutdown or default on America\u2019s debt as a weapon in these talks.\nWe are working in good faith to meet our responsibilities and achieve the goals set out in last week\u2019s agreement to open the government and avoid default.\u00a0 All House Democrats and some Republicans voted for that agreement.\u00a0 By acting now to take the threat of another shutdown or default off the table you can provide certainty and economic relief that American families and privates businesses desperately need.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-touts-plan-to-cut-taxes-on-new-hampshire-s-small-brewers-at", "Kuster Touts Plan to Cut Taxes on New Hampshire\u2019s Small Brewers at Henniker Brewing Company", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Small BREW Act would cut the federal excise tax on New Hampshire\u2019s small brewers in half from $7.00 to $3.50 per barrel on first 60,000 barrels, helping promote growth and job creation\nKuster: Small BREW Act would mean more jobs on tap in the Granite State\nHENNIKER, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today continued her \u201cCongress at Your Company\u201d series with a visit to the Henniker Brewing Company, where she highlighted legislation she is cosponsoring that would cut taxes for small brewers across the Granite State to help promote growth and job creation. The Small BREW Act would cut the federal excise tax in half, from $7.00 to $3.50 per barrel, on the first 60,000 barrels for small breweries that produce less than 6 million barrels per year.\n\u201cMy top priority in Congress is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what the Small BREW Act is all about. This bill would cut the federal excise tax on our small brewers in half, helping them grow their businesses and ensuring that there are more, middle class jobs on tap in the Granite State.\u201d\nThe Henniker Brewing Company, which brewed its first barrels in December 2012, plans to produce about 7,500 barrels per year. At that rate, the Small BREW Act could mean savings of $26,250 each year for the company, which could go toward expanding operations and creating jobs. Henniker Brewing formally launched in 2011 and moved into its new Centervale Road facility in July 2012. Its four brands \u2013 Working Man\u2019s Porter, Amber Apparition, Whipple\u2019s Wheat, and Hop Slinger \u2013 are now available in more than 200 stores and restaurants around New Hampshire.\n\u201cThe Small BREW Act would make a big difference to us,\u201d said David Currier, founder and managing member of the Henniker Brewing Company. \u201cThe less we have to pay in taxes, the more money we have to put back into developing our business.\u201d\nA member of the Small Brewers Caucus and the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0\nLast month, Kuster introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports.\u00a0She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413005314/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-votes-to-reduce-veterans-disability-backlog", "Shea-Porter Votes to Reduce Veterans Disability Backlog", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of bipartisan reforms to help reduce the Veterans Administration\u2019s (VA) disability claims backlog:\n\u201cThe VA backlog is simply unacceptable, and I am 100% committed to ensuring veterans have access to the health benefits they\u2019ve earned. We owe it to veterans and their families to reduce the backlog, which is at 400,000 disability claims, quickly and as accurately as possible.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND\nYesterday, the House of Representatives passed a number of bills that included key provisions cosponsored by Shea-Porter to address the VA claims backlog by:\n Speeding up claims by allowing veterans\u2019 medical examinations to be done by physicians outside the VA system and encouraging veterans to file fully developed claims.\n\tStrengthening accountability by requiring the VA to regularly track and provide information to the public on claims processing and the performance of VA regional offices.\n\tExpediting claims processing by educating veterans on the quickest route to receive their decision. \u00a0\n\tEncouraging the VA to look at better ways to process claims in an electronic system.\n\tTaking steps to help ensure the VA has the needed information from other agencies to accurately process claims in a timely way.\n\tPaying veterans more quickly by paying as their individual conditions are adjudicated.\n Over the last six months, the Administration has significantly reduced the backlog claims by over 30%, or 190,000 claims.\u00a0However, the government shutdown created a self-inflicted wound that reduced the progress made on the veterans backlog.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-bill-to-address-va-claims-backlog-passes-house-with-strong", "Kuster Bill to Address VA Claims Backlog Passes House with Strong, Bipartisan Support", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Common sense measure would encourage greater use of automation in claims processing to boost efficiency and settle claims faster; current backlog is holding up claims by nearly 410,000 veterans nationwide, including many in NH\nBill is part of comprehensive legislative package designed to help eliminate the VA claims backlog\nKuster: I will keep fighting to end the backlog until we finish the job\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) to help eliminate the backlog of disability compensation claims at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Kuster\u2019s bill, the Veterans Claims Efficiency Through Automation Act, encourages the VA to make greater use of automation in the processing of veterans claims to help boost efficiency and free up resources to provide more timely services for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill passed as part of a comprehensive legislative package designed to help get veterans\u2019 claims settled faster and more efficiently.\n\u201cI am grateful that my legislation to help eliminate the VA claims backlog passed the House with strong, bipartisan support,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cIt is simply unacceptable that so many of our heroic veterans are unable to get timely access to the care and services that they\u2019ve earned. I will keep fighting to end the backlog until we finish the job.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nOver the past six months, the Administration has significantly reduced backlog claims by over 30%, or 190,000 claims. However, the unnecessary government shutdown reduced the progress made on the veterans backlog and halted appeals. Currently, there are more than 700,000 disability claims pending nationally, with nearly 410,000 in the backlog. There are 1,628 claims pending at the Manchester VA Medical Center, 886 of which are considered backlogged. There are an additional 821 claims pending at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, 488 of which are considered backlogged.\nA member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Kuster has consistently spoken out about the need to eliminate the VA benefit claims backlog. In May, she announced a coordinated legislative package to help the VA meet its goal of eliminating the backlog in full by 2015. Kuster also joined a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in urging President Obama to help end the back and forth between the VA and Department of Defense (DoD) over incompatible electronic medical record systems. In August, Kuster launched a three-day \u201cNorth Country Listening Tour\u201d to meet with Granite State veterans and discuss ways to eliminate the backlog and improve services to our veterans.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221055305/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/carolscolumns/seniors-and-the-budget-battle", "Seniors and the Budget Battle", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Last week, reasonable Republicans and Democrats in Congress came together to finally end the government shutdown and eliminate the threat of default. It was not a perfect solution, but I voted for it because it was a necessary compromise in the face of an unnecessary government shutdown. As part of the compromise to open the government and avert default, Congress agreed to try to focus on the budget. This means that Republicans and Democrats will come to the table and try to negotiate a plan to boost job creation, make key investments in infrastructure, education, and housing, reduce the deficit, and protect programs vital to middle class security. This will be extremely tough since there are four budgets floating around: President Obama's budget, the Senate's budget (known as the Murray budget), House Republicans\u2019 Budget (known as the Ryan Budget), and the House Democrats\u2019 budget (known as the Van Hollen budget). Before these talks even begin, there is chatter about ways to balance the budget on the backs of seniors by making dramatic changes to Social Security and Medicare. In past years, House Republicans have passed Paul Ryan's budget, which would eliminate the Medicare guarantee and put Social Security at risk.\u00a0 The Senate has refused to go along, so Ryan's budget has been dead on arrival in the upper chamber. I strongly oppose the Ryan budgets. America faces real problems. Too many people remain unemployed. Wages have been stagnant for too long. And our deficit, though falling, is still too high. But targeting our seniors and other vulnerable populations is not the answer to the financial challenges we face. New Hampshire seniors have worked for, paid into, and earned Medicare and Social Security benefits through a lifetime of hard work and responsibility. We must keep our commitment to them, and to future generations. Together with Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security embodies the moral fabric of our country. These programs are the foundation of economic security for America's seniors and for the most vulnerable. While I am open to proposals that make Social Security stronger and extend its solvency, I will not accept a budget that takes from Social Security beneficiaries without first asking America's millionaires and multi-billion-dollar corporations to pay their fair share.\u00a0 Keep in mind that in 2008, nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies and 68% of foreign corporations did not pay federal income taxes, and Wall Street profits have been soaring while workers\u2019 incomes have been flat. For six in 10 New Hampshire residents who are 65 and older, Social Security makes up 50 percent or more of their income.\u00a0 As of December 2012, the average monthly benefit for those receiving Social Security was $1,215. Over the course of a year, this averages out to $14,581. It is immoral to balance the budget on the backs of seniors with incomes under $15,000, when those in the top one percent have seen their incomes skyrocket over the past ten years. More than one-third of Granite Staters over 65 would be living in poverty if they did not receive Social Security. And it's not just seniors who benefit from this program.\u00a0 Over one-third of beneficiaries in New Hampshire are spouses and families of workers who become disabled or die prematurely, including over 20,000 children.\u00a0 These crucial benefits should not be used as a bargaining chip in budget negotiations. They are an integral part of the safety net for our people. We do need to find ways to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. I am proud to support legislation to ensure the long-term viability of Social Security. The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which I cosponsored, would create long-range solvency while improving benefits, and it would ensure greater economic security for America's seniors. There are also a number of efforts to keep Medicare strong and to root out fraud, waste, and inefficiencies. Going forward, I am ready to support a balanced plan to grow the economy and protect America's children, seniors, families, and veterans. We know that Congress must work out a long-term budget to reduce the deficit, invest in job creation, upgrade our infrastructure, and strengthen the middle class. But I will not ask America's seniors or the most vulnerable to carry the burden when we can take other measures. For example, we could end outrageous farm and oil subsidies, close corporate tax loopholes, and do tax reform so our system is fair. There's a saying that if you don't sit at the table, you will be on the menu. There are always too many seats at the table for the most powerful and influential. There must be a seat there for the rest of our citizens.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-host-career-and-opportunities-fair-next-month-in-nashua", "Kuster to Host Career and Opportunities Fair Next Month in Nashua", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NASHUA, N.H. \u2013 As part of her commitment to helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) today announced that she will host a Career and Opportunities Fair next month to help connect local residents with jobs and employment opportunities throughout the Granite State. The fair, which will be held on Friday, November 22, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nashua, will feature employers from the manufacturing, retail, recreation, and postal industries, among others.\n\u201cMy top priority is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in the Granite State,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what this jobs fair is all about \u2013 connecting local job seekers with a wide variety of New Hampshire employers who are looking to grow their businesses and hire new workers.\u201d\nJob seekers wishing to attend the Career and Opportunities Fair can register here. Employers looking to take part in the fair should contact Collin Lever at 603-595-2006 or Collin.Lever@mail.house.gov, and members of the media wishing to attend should email Jake Berry at Jake.Berry@mail.house.gov to RSVP.\nA member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster has prioritized efforts to foster job creation, grow the economy, and expand opportunity for middle class families.\u00a0The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.\u00a0Last month, Kuster introduced legislation to extend and expand a federal pilot program to help boost small businesses exports.\u00a0She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.\nWHO:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congresswoman Annie Kuster\nWHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Kuster to host Career and Opportunities Fair\nWHEN: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Friday, November 22, 10:00am to 1:00pm\nWHERE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua, NH\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413010116/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-introduces-repay-supplies-act-of-2013", "Shea-Porter Introduces REPAY Supplies Act of 2013", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tOctober 23, 2013  \n\tContact:  \n\tBen Wakana, 202-225-5456\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) introduced the Reimburse Educators Who Pay for Academic Year Supplies Act of 2013, or REPAY Supplies Act. The bill would help teachers who pay for educational supplies out of their own pockets. \u201cTeachers come to school early, stay late, and give up their own time and money,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cDue to budget cuts, teachers are now forced to dig deeper into their own pockets for necessary supplies. This legislation mitigates the financial sacrifices they make on behalf of their students and their communities.\u201d The REPAY Supplies Act would permanently extend the Classroom Expense Deduction, a $250 deduction offered to teachers who pay out of their own pockets for educational supplies. The popular above-the-line deduction is available to all teachers, regardless of whether they itemize their taxes.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe legislation comes in response to a letter Shea-Porter received from Dr. Margaret Morse-Barry, a Derry educator who, over the summer, urged Shea-Porter to look into extending the expiring tax credit. \u201cEducators often reach into our own pockets to purchase classroom supplies because we want to make sure students have what they need to succeed,\u201d said Dr. Morse-Barry. \u201cThe introduction of this legislation makes us feel appreciated; like someone in Washington is listening.\u201d Local, state, and federal budget cuts have hit many teachers and school districts hard. Without passage of the REPAY Supplies Act of 2013, the deduction will expire at the end of December.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWhen I heard from Dr. Morse-Barry, I knew this had to be fixed, so I\u2019m pleased to introduce this legislation,\u201d Shea-Porter added. Shea-Porter\u2019s legislation has been endorsed by the National Education Association (NEA), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT),\u00a0 NEA--New Hampshire Chapter, AFT--New Hampshire Chapter, and New Hampshire School Administrators Association. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-bipartisan-deal-to-end-shutdown-prevent-default", "Kuster Statement On Bipartisan Deal to End Shutdown, Prevent Default", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on the Senate\u2019s bipartisan agreement to end the government shutdown and prevent a default on our nation\u2019s debt:\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased that after weeks of political brinksmanship, Congress is now poised to pass bipartisan legislation that will put an end to this senseless shutdown and lift the threat of default. This isn\u2019t a perfect bill, but it reflects good-faith, bipartisan negotiations and provides a way forward at this late stage. I applaud the bipartisan group of Senators who helped reach this agreement, and urge both chambers of Congress to quickly send this bill to President Obama\u2019s desk. Once it becomes law, Congress needs to immediately return its focus to working together on a long-term, bipartisan plan to reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class.\n\u201cWhile today\u2019s breakthrough is a critical step forward, Congress shouldn\u2019t pat itself on the back for ending a manufactured crisis it created in the first place. The partisan brinksmanship we\u2019ve seen in recent weeks has hurt families and businesses all across New Hampshire. It was entirely avoidable and we cannot let it happen again. Moving forward, both parties need to come together, put an end to these partisan games, and focus on doing the right thing for our country.\u201d\nFor weeks, Kuster has been meeting with members of both parties to seek common ground and reach a solution that would end the government shutdown, prevent a default on our nation\u2019s debt, and give both parties time to work on a longer-term deal to reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413010944/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-voices-support-for-bipartisan-plan-to-end-government", "Shea-Porter Voices Support for Bipartisan Plan to End Government Shutdown and Avoid U.S. Default", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter issued the following statement after the Senate announced a bipartisan plan to fund the government through January 15 and raise the debt ceiling until February 7, which would avoid the economic uncertainty of a default and end the government shutdown:\n\u201cI will support this legislation. I am hopeful that obstructionists in the House of Representatives yield to reason and support the bipartisan Senate plan to end the government shutdown, avoid default, and refocus on economic growth.\n\u201cFor two weeks, the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party has held the American government and economy hostage in a futile attempt to obstruct the Affordable Care Act. This is an unacceptable way to govern.\n\u201cIt\u2019s time for Washington to stop dragging America from one crisis to the next and work together on a bipartisan budget that grows the economy and creates jobs.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND\nShea-Porter has worked consistently to end the shutdown and avoid an economic shutdown that would come with default. Last Thursday, she offered a motion to allow a vote on compromise legislation that would end the shutdown and reopen the government. Yesterday, she called on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) to stop threatening default and work across the aisle on a bipartisan budget. During the shutdown, she also cosponsored legislation which would force House Speaker John Boehner to remove the Members-only gym and spa from his list of \u201cessential\u201d House services.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212221/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-votes-for-bipartisan-plan-to-end-the-government-shutdown-and", "Shea-Porter Votes for Bipartisan Plan to End the Government Shutdown and Avoid U.S. Default", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) issued the following statement after voting to end the two-week-old government shutdown and avert default:\n\u201cI am relieved to support this bipartisan bill that ends the government shutdown, eliminates the threat of default, and gets our economy moving again. This is not a perfect bill. Nor is it a bill that I, or most Americans, are celebrating. It is a necessary compromise in the face of an unnecessary government shutdown.\n\u201cThe shutdown cost our economy $24 billion, and it costs thousands of Americans access to vital government services. We cannot continue to govern by crisis. It hurts small businesses, working families, and America\u2019s economic standing in the world.\n\u201cGoing forward, Congress must work out a long-term budget to reduce the deficit, invest in job creation, and strengthen the middle class. I am hopeful that cooler heads will prevail in that debate and that our country will benefit from more common sense.\u201d\n\u00a0\nBACKGROUND\nEarlier today, Congresswoman Shea-Porter spoke about the effects of the government shutdown on New Hampshire\u2019s economy and federal workers at a joint Congressional hearing. Watch the video here. Last Thursday, Shea-Porter offered a motion to allow a vote on compromise legislation that would end the shutdown and reopen the government. Yesterday, she called on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) to stop threatening default and work across the aisle on a bipartisan budget.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212309/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-urges-speaker-boehner-to-stop-playing-games-with-us-default", "Shea-Porter Urges Speaker Boehner to Stop Playing Games with U.S. Default", "2013-10-15", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Building on her efforts to end the government shutdown and put Americans back to work, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today called on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) to stop threatening default, end the government shutdown, and work across the aisle on a bipartisan budget that grows the economy and creates jobs.\nIn two days, the United States is slated to exhaust its borrowing authority, resulting in self-inflicted wounds that could cripple economic growth, create uncertainty for families and businesses, and drive the country back into recession. Increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending nor does it increase the deficit. It simply allows the Treasury Department to pay the bills Congress has already incurred.\n\u201cInstead of taking our country to the brink of default, Washington Republicans should reopen the government and ensure America pays its bills on time so we can negotiate a bipartisan budget and focus on growing the economy,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cFor Speaker Boehner to allow the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party to put its ideology ahead of the health of the U.S. economy and financial security of New Hampshire families is irresponsible and unacceptable.\u201d\nIn recent days, Senate Democratic and Republican lawmakers have held multiple meetings over a bipartisan approach to ending the government shutdown and raising the debt ceiling. To date, House Republican leaders have refused to bring a bipartisan funding bill up for a vote. Today, Speaker Boehner discussed introducing legislation that would only raise the debt ceiling if parts of the Affordable Care Act were repealed or delayed, such as removing requirements that employer-offered health insurance cover birth control and other forms of contraception.\n\u201cThese partisan politics are exactly what Granite Staters hate about Washington,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cThis shutdown has now dragged on for two weeks, and that\u2019s two weeks too many. It\u2019s time to re-open our government, pay our nation\u2019s bills, and work together to create jobs.\u201d\n\u00a0\nEconomists and politicians have widely agreed that failure to raise the debt ceiling will have significant negative consequences on the U.S. economy:\nPresident Ronald Reagan: \u201cThe full consequences of a default \u2014 or even the serious prospect of default \u2014 by the United States are impossible to predict and awesome to contemplate.\u201d\nJudd Gregg, Former Republican Senator from New Hampshire: \u201cDefaulting on the nation\u2019s obligations, which is the alternative to not increasing the debt ceiling, is not an option either substantively or politically. A default would lead to some level of chaos in the debt markets, which would lead to a significant contraction in economic activity, which would lead to job losses, which would lead to higher spending by the federal government and lower tax revenues, which would lead to more debt. \u00a0\u00a0It understates things to say merely this is not a smart position to put forward. It is a terrible policy that would produce immense economic disruption and very difficult times for people on Main Street.\u201d\nU.S. Chamber of Commerce:\u00a0 \u201cThe U.S. Chamber respectfully urges the House of Representatives to raise the debt ceiling in a timely manner and thus eliminate any question of threat to the full faith and credit of the United States government.\u201d [letter to Congress, 9/18/13]\nBen Bernanke, Chairman Federal Reserve Bank: \"A government shutdown, and perhaps even more so a failure to raise the debt limit, could have very serious consequences for the financial markets and for the economy.\"\nMark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody\u2019s Analytics: \"It will be devastating to the economy\u2026 Consumer confidence will sharply decline, investor confidence, business confidence. Businesses will stop hiring, consumers will stop spending, the stock market will fall significantly in value, borrowing costs for businesses and households will rise.\"\u00a0\nBloomberg Editorial Board: \u201cA default could trigger a global crash.\u201d \u00a0\nSteve Bell, Senior Director for Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center: \"I don't know any serious person who doesn't think this will be cataclysmic.\u201d\nWashington Post: \u201c[A] debt-ceiling breach would push the economy into a free fall\u2026The Obama administration will have to decide whether to delay \u2014 or possibly suspend \u2014 tens of billions of dollars in Social Security checks, food stamps and unemployment benefits if negotiations to raise the federal debt ceiling are not resolved this week, experts say, one of the many difficult choices officials will have to make at a time when the government will essentially be running on fumes.\u201d\nNew York Times Editorial Board: \u201cThe Republican-induced government shutdown and the party\u2019s threats to create another crisis next week over the debt ceiling are causing harm internationally as well as at home. They are undermining American leadership in Asia, impeding the functioning of the national security machinery, upsetting global markets and raising questions about the political dysfunction of a country that has long been the world\u2019s democratic standard-bearer.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212334/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-no-congressional-spa-until-shutdown-end", "Shea-Porter: No Congressional Spa Until Shutdown Ends", "2013-10-11", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact:Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 The government has been shut down for eleven days, but Members of Congress continue to have access to an exclusive gym and spa while workers face furloughs and taxpayers foot the bill. Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) cosponsored the Shutdown Prioritization Act (SPA) which would force House Speaker John Boehner to remove the Members-only gym and spa from his list of \u201cessential\u201d House services.\n\u201cIt is absolutely outrageous that John Boehner refuses to end the government shutdown but continues to give Members of Congress access to an exclusive spa,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cIt\u2019s ridiculous for Paul Ryan and John Boehner to keep this taxpayer-funded luxury open while New Hampshire families and business are denied access to their government.\u201d\nCongresswoman Shea-Porter has strongly denounced the shutdown and has repeatedly called on House Leadership to allow a vote on a clean funding bill to reopen the government, put people back to work, and get our economy moving again.\nTo date, Speaker Boehner and Tea Party Republicans have refused to allow an up or down vote on noncontroversial legislation to reopen the government. But Boehner has deemed cushy perks like the House gym, sauna, and steam room \u2013 which are used exclusively by Members of the House of Representatives who pay a nominal membership fee \u2013 \u201cessential\u201d during the shutdown.\u00a0\nMembers of Congress should not be able to access the taxpayer-supported gym, sauna, and steam room while tens of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed.\n\u201cHow can Speaker Boehner decide that a steam room is essential but a paycheck for workers is not?\u201d Shea-Porter added.\nAdditional details about the Shutdown Prioritization Act are available here.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/today-kuster-to-host-telephone-town-hall-on-government-shutdown", "TODAY: Kuster to Host Telephone Town Hall on Government Shutdown", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today at 6:30 pm, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will host a telephone town hall with constituents from the Second District to answer questions about the government shutdown and to discuss the need for both parties to work together to address our nation\u2019s fiscal challenges.\n\u201cAs Congress works toward a solution to reopen the government, I want to hear directly from Granite Staters who have questions about what the shutdown means for them or who have ideas about how we can address our nation\u2019s fiscal challenges,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cCongress needs to put these manufactured crises behind us so that we can actually work together to reduce the deficit, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class.\u201d\nToday at 6:30 pm, Second District constituents will receive an automated phone call inviting them to stay on the line to join the telephone town hall.\nWHO:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congresswoman Annie Kuster\u00a0\u00a0\nWHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kuster to Host Telephone Town Hall on Government Shutdown\nWHEN:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TODAY, 6:30 pm\nHOW:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Constituents will receive automated phone call inviting them to stay on the line to join the telephone town hall.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212358/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-offers-motion-to-end-the-government-shutdown-let-s-stop-the", "Shea-Porter Offers Motion to End the Government Shutdown \u201cLet\u2019s stop the gamesmanship and turn the lights back on.\u201d", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608  \n\t\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) offered a motion to allow a vote on compromise legislation that would end the shutdown and reopen the government. Under Shea-Porter\u2019s motion, the House of Representatives would immediately take up the Senate-passed clean funding bill that enjoys bipartisan support and would end the government shutdown.\nCongresswoman Shea-Porter has strongly denounced the shutdown and has repeatedly called on House Leadership to allow a vote on a clean funding bill to reopen the government, put people back to work, and get our economy moving again.\nNew Hampshire businesses, workers, and families are facing significant hardship because of the government shutdown. Privately run campgrounds in the White Mountain National Forest are closed, costing local businesses and the federal government money [Union Leader, 9/6].\u00a0 Furloughs are impacting local businesses [WMUR, 9/9]. The Small Business Administration \u2013 which, in the past 11 months has loaned $90 million to help Granite State businesses expand, hire and grow \u2013 has stopped lending money [WMUR, 9/2].\nYesterday, Gallup released polling on what Americans believe is the most important problem facing the country. For the first time in Gallup\u2019s trend dating back to 1939, more Americans picked Congressional dysfunctional as the nation\u2019s top issue. Dysfunctional government (39%) now eclipses the economy (19%), unemployment (12%), the deficit (12%), and healthcare (12%) as the nation's top problem.\nUSA Today noted, \u201cAs the world knows well, congressional Republicans are refusing to reopen the government and are threatening a default on the U.S. debt unless they get what they want. But what, exactly, do they want? That's hard to say, given their constantly shifting demands.\u201d\nShea-Porter\u2019s motion is simple: allow the House of Representatives to vote on a clean funding bill to end this reckless government shutdown.\nBelow are Shea-Porter\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery. +++ Remarks by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter  \n\tU.S. House of Representatives  \n\tOctober 10, 2013 As Prepared for Delivery I rise today to offer a motion to recommit to end this harmful and unnecessary government shutdown. I do this by offering a motion that would bring to the floor the Continuing Resolution that has already passed in the Senate and awaits consideration in the House. I know that not everyone is thrilled with this level of funding. Many of us in the Democratic Caucus think it cuts too deep into important investments, while some of our Republican colleagues feel it doesn\u2019t cut enough. The Senate bill is a compromise. But it is a compromise that\u2019s acceptable to a majority of us in order to continue the vital functioning of the government that all Americans pay for and that all Americans deserve. Unfortunately, a small faction of the majority party continues to hold the entire government hostage while it tries to obstruct the Affordable Care Act. I understand that they disagree with the Senate and the President on certain issues and respect their positions, but shutting the government down to try and achieve an ideological goal that could not be achieved through the legislative process, through the Supreme Court, or through the ballot box, is beneath the dignity of this body.\u00a0 That is why I urge my colleagues to support my motion and allow us to get the government up and running. Then, and only then, can we resume debate and discussion on other critical issues, like creating jobs, supporting our veterans, and yes, improving the Affordable Care Act. As of today, it has been ten days since the government shut down. That\u2019s ten days where we haven\u2019t had studies going forward at the National Institute of Health, ten days where the Small Business Administration hasn\u2019t been lending money to entrepreneurs and small businesses, and ten days where families haven\u2019t had access to critical services to protect those who need it most. In my own district, the SBA normally gives out an average of $237,000 in loans each and every day, that\u2019s a total of $2.37 million in loans that haven\u2019t been made to the small businesses of New Hampshire\u2019s First District. This is an abject failure of governance on the part of the Majority. What makes it even worse is that we aren\u2019t shut down because we disagree on appropriations legislation or an omnibus, but that we can\u2019t even pass a continuing resolution. I remember when it used to be considered a problem that we were passing a continuing resolution instead of actually passing appropriations.\u00a0 Now, all the American people are asking is for us to open the government. They\u2019d be happy with a clean bill! We could put people back to work with a clean bill. We could continue lending money to small businesses with a clean bill. We could fund vital cancer research with a clean bill. But instead of putting an end to the government shutdown by passing the funding bill that the Senate has already agreed to, Republican leaders in the House are offering bills to open individual agencies and programs instead of the entire government. Make no mistake \u2014 this is not an honest attempt to reopen the government. These cherry-picked funding bills serve only to give political cover to the very people who caused the government shutdown. As former Republican Presidential candidate and Senator Bob Dole said, along with my colleague Representative John Dingell, \"Piecemeal or partial spending plans do not adequately ensure that our veterans \u2014 and indeed, all Americans \u2014 have access to the system of self-government established to serve and protect them.\" Former Republican Senator Judd Gregg from my home state of New Hampshire recently wrote: \u201cA small group of Republican legislators led by the junior senator from Texas, decided to take as hostages government operations and the raising of the debt ceiling. The price of release was to be the death of Obamacare. This approach never had a snowball\u2019s chance in Texas of succeeding\u2026\u201d However, here we are still shut down ten days after the start of the new fiscal year and instead of voting on legislation that, if brought to the floor, would pass and open the government, what are we voting on? The same little, tiny piecemeal appropriations designed for messaging and attack ads that we\u2019ve been voting on all week. It\u2019s Washington politics at its worst. It\u2019s been ten days of this sort of chicanery and it is time to give it up. Let\u2019s stop the gamesmanship. T urn the lights back on. Reopen the government and address the actual, critical problems facing the country. We need more jobs, we need to find ways to grow the economy, make education more affordable, and invest in our decaying infrastructure. All of these are problems our constituents sent us here to deal with and they are what they expect us to work on. That\u2019s probably why yesterday, when Gallup released polling on what Americans believe is the most important problem facing the country, it should come as no surprise to find that, for the first time in history, they picked dysfunctional government. It has always been either the economy or unemployment and jobs that were the most pressing problems. In yesterday\u2019s poll though, it was us.\u00a0 I can\u2019t say I\u2019m surprised because I agree with them. We need to fix this, and that starts by doing the basics like funding the government and raising the debt ceiling. I\u2019ll end with one final quote from my former Republican colleague Senator Gregg. He said, \u201cPeople who have no interest in governing cannot be allowed to be the dominant voices in a major party.\u201d I agree him. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this motion. Let\u2019s stop holding up the basic functions of government, let\u2019s pass the Senate bill and its compromise funding and then let\u2019s roll up our sleeves and get to work putting the economy back on track. I thank you for support and hope that you will support this critical motion. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-questions-va-secretary-on-impacts-of-shutdown-on-veterans", "Kuster Questions VA Secretary on Impacts of Shutdown on Veterans", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, questioned Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki about how the government shutdown is impacting services and benefits that our veterans and service members count on. Specifically, Kuster asked Secretary Shinseki how the lapse in government funding will directly impact New Hampshire veterans\u2019 earned benefits, and how many would see a delay in their compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation benefits if the funding is not fully restored before November 1.\n\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely unacceptable that veterans who courageously served our country are now paying the price for gridlock in Washington,\u201d Kuster said. \u201cCongress needs to stop playing political games, end the shutdown immediately, and restore the services that veterans and other Americans count on.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131028024019/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/carolscolumns/the-mess-in-washington", "The Mess in Washington", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Gridlock in Washington has hit New Hampshire as the federal government is shut down for the first time in 17 years.\nIn order to keep all of the government operating, Congress needed to pass a budget by October 1st. But Republicans and Democrats could not agree on a budget, so instead, they agreed to pass what\u2019s called a Continuing Resolution or CR. A CR would fund the government at existing levels for six weeks while the House and Senate worked on a long-term budget agreement. Republicans and Democrats agreed on the funding level for a Continuing Resolution, but a number of Tea Party Republicans in the House of Representatives also insisted on defunding or delaying the Affordable Care Act. As a result of this refusal to allow consideration of a \u201cclean\u201d Continuing Resolution to fund the government, the government shut down on October 1st.\nHere\u2019s how the Washington Post put it: \u201cIt's true that House Republicans are holding up a spending bill, but they're not holding it up over demands for spending cuts or tax increases or some other package of deficit reduction. In fact, they're happy with the level of spending in the bill. It's a number they proposed, after all\u2026 [But] Republicans weren't willing to keep the government open unless Democrats let them dismantle Obamacare.\u201d\nI am willing to work with anyone who has a serious proposal to improve the Affordable Care Act; responsibly reduce our deficits; and invest in long-term economic growth. But those debates should take place through the regular, open legislative process, not through a hostage-taking stunt like shutting down the federal government. We are a nation of laws. If someone dislikes a particular law, they work to change it through elections and the legislative process laid out in America\u2019s founding documents.\nThe government shutdown does not come without significant pain to families in New Hampshire. Overall, it\u2019s costing taxpayers $300 million per day, not to mention added stress on small businesses and hardworking federal employees. This also doesn\u2019t include agencies being closed and historic monuments shuttered from lack of staffing, claims backing up at the VA, and all of the other problems caused by the government being shut down.\nI understand how difficult a government shutdown is for everyone, especially federal employees. During the last shutdown in 1995, my husband was a federal employee, and I remember how hard it was. That is one of the reasons why I am a cosponsor of the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, which unanimously passed the House last week. This legislation will guarantee that federal workers will not be punished for Congress\u2019 inability to fund the government by making sure that, at the end of this shutdown, all federal employees receive pay for the duration of the shutdown, regardless of their furlough status.\nNow, instead of putting an end to the government shutdown by passing the clean CR that the Senate has already agreed to, Republican Leaders in the House are offering bills to open individual agencies and programs instead of the entire government. Make no mistake \u2013 this is not an honest attempt to reopen the government. These cherry-picked funding bills serve only to give political cover to the very people who caused the government shutdown. As former Senator Bob Dole (R-KS) said, \u201cPiecemeal or partial spending plans do not adequately ensure that our veterans \u2013 and indeed all Americans \u2013 have access to the system of self-government established to serve and protect them.\u201d\nAs USA Today said, \u201cStarting to feel public pressure, the House Republicans who forced the government closure as part of their quixotic quest to kill Obamacare offered to reopen some of the most popular programs, such as parks and the Department of Veterans Affairs, on a piecemeal basis. That might spare them some political heat. But it's like seizing a school bus full of kids then offering to release the cutest ones\u2026The sooner the Republicans free all their hostages, the better.\u201d\nA piecemeal approach is grossly unfair and dishonest to the American people.\u00a0It serves only to draw out the shutdown, instead of resolving it.\u00a0 We need a clean CR that funds the entire government, not a political gimmick that continues to damage our economy and middle class, and threatens our national security.\nI am talking to my Republican and Democratic colleagues, trying to find common ground and get things moving here in Washington. We must work together, for the sake of our country and our people.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212422/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-sends-letter-to-forest-service-urging-them-to-open-private", "Shea-Porter Sends Letter to Forest Service Urging Them to Open Private Campgrounds in New Hampshire", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Following multiple reports that 22 privately run campgrounds in the White Mountain National Forest are closed as part of the ongoing government shutdown, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) sent a letter to the United States Forest Service urging the agency to allow these campgrounds to reopen and continue operation during the shutdown.\n\u201cThere is really no reason to close these campgrounds down,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cNo federal money is spent to run these locations, as the private operators pay for maintenance, upkeep, and insurance.\u201d\nAccording to a report by the New Hampshire Union Leader, campground operators were told that all facilities operating on federal lands are closing \u201cbecause of consistency.\u201d Shea-Porter noted that this is hardly an acceptable reason to close private facilities during one of their busiest periods.\n\u201cThe economic damage to these private campgrounds could be considerable,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cThe Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourists visiting New Hampshire to view our wonderful fall foliage, and closing these campgrounds would have a significant economic impact on these private businesses. Beyond that, you will see losses from nearby businesses that provide supplies, gas, and meals to visitors.\u201d\nAllowing the private campgrounds to remain open would not only be good for local businesses, it would decrease the deficit because a percentage of the campground revenue is paid to the government. Not only are visitors denied the ability to stay at these campgrounds and enjoy New Hampshire\u2019s great outdoors, but each day these facilities are closed, the government loses money.\nShea-Porter has repeatedly called on House Leadership to allow a vote on a clean Continuing Resolution that would fund the government at existing levels, put people back to work, and get our economy moving again.\nFull text of Shea-Porter\u2019s letter to Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service is below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nOctober 9, 2013\nChief Tom Tidwell  \n\tUnited States Forest Service  \n\tU.S. Department of Agriculture  \n\tYates Building, 5th Floor NW Wing  \n\t201 Fourteenth Street, SW  \n\tWashington, DC 20250\n\u00a0\nDear Chief Tidwell,\nI am writing to you to express my concern with the recent decision to close 22 privately run campgrounds in New Hampshire\u2019s White Mountain National Forest. This closing, which the agency has justified as part of the government shutdown, does not make sense from a financial perspective for the government and will inflict undue economic hardship on local campground operators. That is why I believe the United States Forest Service should allow these private campgrounds to reopen and continue to operate for the duration of the shutdown.\nThere is really no reason to close these campgrounds down. No federal money is spent to run these locations, as the private operators pay for maintenance, upkeep, and insurance. This has led to some confusion among the operators of these campgrounds, who wonder why they are being required to shut down. According to a report in the New Hampshire Union Leader, these operators have been told that all facilities operating on federal lands are closing \u201cbecause of consistency.\u201d This is hardly an acceptable reason to close private facilities during one of their busiest periods.\nThe economic damage to these private campgrounds could be considerable. The Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for tourists visiting New Hampshire to view our wonderful fall foliage and closing these campgrounds would have a significant economic impact on these private businesses. Beyond that, you will see losses from nearby businesses that provide supplies, gas, and meals to visitors.\nIn fact, not only would closing the campgrounds not save money and hurt the local economy, the closure of these facilities is actually costing the government money. While no federal funds are used to run these campgrounds, a percentage of their revenue goes directly to the government. Each day that these facilities are closed costs the government money. Not only are visitors denied the ability to stay at these campgrounds and enjoy New Hampshire\u2019s great outdoors, but the government loses revenue it desperately needs.\nI realize that the government shutdown has put particular strain on the Forest Service and that, given your reduced staff, maintaining operations is difficult. However, given that these campgrounds do not require federal funds and actually pay a percentage of their revenue to the government, I strongly urge you to consider allowing them to continue operations in spite of the government shutdown.\nSincerely,\nCarol Shea-Porter  \n\tMember of Congress\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212446/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-letter-to-pentagon-grant-fallen-service-members-death", "Shea-Porter Letter to Pentagon: Grant Fallen Service Members Death Benefits", "2013-10-08", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-295-7608\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Due to the federal government shutdown, the Pentagon is currently withholding the death gratuity benefit, a $100,000 payment normally sent to relatives of fallen soldiers to help family members cover funeral costs and travel to meet the coffins of their loved ones. After learning of this news, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel requesting that the families of service members who died in combat or otherwise be granted the death gratuity during the shutdown.\n\u201cMilitary members who die while serving our country are certainly entitled to all the benefits, including the death gratuity and other death benefits that they were promised when they enlisted,\u201d Shea-Porter wrote. \u201cPayment of these benefits is crucial to maintaining the morale, well-being, and the current and future readiness of our Armed Forces and our military families.\u201d\u00a0\nShea-Porter noted that under the Pay Our Military Act, which passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law on September 30, 2013, the Department of Defense is given considerable discretion to make determinations with regard to personnel pay and allowances. She urged the Department of Defense to take the broadest possible interpretation when executing this law.\nShea-Porter has always been committed to helping veterans and their families receive their promised benefits and be given the utmost respect for their service. In the 111th Congress, Shea-Porter introduced the Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act (H. R. 5155), which prohibits the government from collecting debts from the families of soldiers who, since 9/11, have been killed in combat or died from their injuries. Her bill was included in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 and was signed into law on June 30, 2008.\nShea-Porter is also a cosponsor of the Fallen Heroes and Families Assistance Act, legislation that would explicitly authorize the Pentagon to pay survivor benefits despite the government shutdown.\nFull text of Shea-Porter\u2019s letter to Secretary Hagel can be found below.\n\u00a0\n+++\nOctober 8, 2013\nThe Honorable Chuck Hagel  \n\tSecretary of Defense  \n\t1400 Pentagon  \n\tWashington DC 20301-1400\n\u00a0\nDear Secretary Hagel,\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s Subcommittees on Readiness and Military Personnel, I am deeply concerned about the serious harm that the government shutdown is inflicting on our nation\u2019s military personnel and readiness.\u00a0 I am writing to request that the families of service members who died in combat or otherwise, be granted the death gratuity during the shutdown.\nH.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, which passed the House and Senate unanimously, and was signed into law on September 30, 2013, gives you considerable discretion to make determinations with regard to personnel pay and allowances.\u00a0 In the \u201cGuidance for Implementation of Pay Our Military Act,\u201d issued on October 5, 2013, you note that \u201cthe Act appropriated such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces, \u2018including reserve components thereof, who perform active service\u2019\u201d during the shutdown.\u00a0 Military members who die while serving our country are certainly entitled to all the benefits, including the death gratuity and other death benefits that they were promised when they enlisted.\u00a0 Payment of these benefits is crucial to maintaining the morale, well-being, and the current and future readiness of our Armed Forces and our military families.\u00a0 Therefore, I urge you to take the broadest possible interpretation when executing this law.\nMilitary families provide essential support to service members, and they are essential to accomplishing the defense mission.\u00a0 If military families across the Department see that promised death gratuities are not paid when a loved one has died\u2014exactly when a family needs support the most\u2014and they feel discarded by the Department of Defense, this is a recipe for recruitment and retention problems that will damage future force readiness.\u00a0 The need for force readiness to be maintained is critical, both now and in the future.\u00a0\nI know we both agree that it\u2019s vital to take care of the families of our service members.\u00a0 Thank you for your consideration of this request, and I look forward to your response.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212519/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-passage-of-the-federal-employee-retroactive-pay", "Shea-Porter Statement on Passage of the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act", "2013-10-07", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3223, the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act. Congresswoman Shea-Porter was a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation to ensure that federal employees, furloughed as a result of the government shutdown, receive back pay for the duration the shutdown:\n\u201cI was proud to cosponsor this legislation to ensure workers are not unfairly punished due to Washington gridlock, and I\u2019m glad the House passed it,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cBut this bill does not address the urgent need for Congress to do its job and reopen the full federal government. It\u2019s time to put aside partisan politics and allow a vote on a clean funding bill that has bipartisan support and would put people back to work.\u201d\nAdditional information on the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act is available here.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140912212547/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/government-still-shut-down-house-of-representatives-takes-day-off", "Government Still Shut Down. House of Representatives Takes Day Off.", "2013-10-05", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact: Ben Wakana, 202-225-5456\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 As Washington gridlock continues to damage the economy and disrupt the lives of working men and women across New Hampshire, Republican Leadership announced that the House of Representatives will recess until Monday.\nThe news comes as a government shutdown costs taxpayers $300 million per day; as 4,000 workers in New Hampshire are off the job; and as the Tea Party in Washington continues to hold vital government functions hostage in order to demonstrate their opposition to the Affordable Care Act.\nUpon hearing that Members of Congress would go home for two days, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives.\n\u00a0\nA transcript of the Congresswoman\u2019s remarks is below:\n\u201cIt\u2019s very clear to the Wall Street Journal. It\u2019s clear to the Chamber of Commerce. It\u2019s clear to USA Today. And it\u2019s clear to the America public that the Republican Right Wing, the Tea Party, has shut down the government.\n\u201cNow I find out that we [the House of Representatives] are going home. Speaker Boehner has decided that Congress will go home tomorrow. How can we possibly go home!?\n\u201cThere are people [in New Hampshire] who are not being paid. People here who are not being paid; police were not paid who work here every day. Across this country people are not receiving what they paid for, and we\u2019re going home?\n\u201cI\u2019m embarrassed about this. We should stay here. And if they can\u2019t agree to accept the fact that they lost the vote on the health care law, again and again, if they can\u2019t agree to that, can they at least agree to work on jobs? There\u2019s plenty of work to do in this country. And we have no right to go home until we get this job done.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140413011023/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-cosponsors-federal-employee-retroactive-pay-fairness-act", "Shea-Porter Cosponsors Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act", "2013-10-03", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nContact:  \n\t202-225-5456\n  WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 For the first time in 17 years, thousands of New Hampshire workers face furloughs due to a federal government shutdown. To ensure these workers are not unfairly punished due to Washington gridlock, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) has cosponsored the Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation that would ensure all federal employees receive back pay for the duration the shutdown.\n\u201cMore than 800,000 hardworking public servants will lose their pay because Tea Party Members of Congress refuse to fund the government,\u201d Shea-Porter said. \u201cCongress should pass a funding bill now along with this common sense legislation.\u201d\nIn New Hampshire, 1,520 men and women at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard have been furloughed, hundreds of New Hampshire National Guardsmen and women have faced furloughs, and New Hampshire's top federal prosecutor has furloughed almost half of his staff.\nGovernment employees have already shouldered a number of past deficit reduction measures and continue to endure the pain of sequestration. These hardworking public servants have mortgages to pay, kids to put through college, and retirement savings to build. Retroactive pay has always been provided after past shutdowns, and providing that assurance again would be a step toward regaining the trust of the nation\u2019s scientists, engineers, veterans, medical researcher, National Guard, and park rangers.\nThe federal government shutdown costs America $300 million per day. The Senate passed a continuing resolution that would fund the government at existing levels for six weeks, giving Congress time to work out a long term fiscal plan. To date, House Republicans have refused to allow a vote on the Senate legislation in order to demonstrate their opposition to the Affordable Care Act.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/government-shutdown-information", "Government Shutdown Information", "2013-10-01", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As of October 1, 2013, the federal government was forced to shut down after Congress failed to reach a budget agreement to keep the government running. Congresswoman Kuster continues to work with members of both parties to reach a solution. During this time, she remains committed to serving Granite State families and businesses. Our office has reduced staffing levels and will return to normal operations once the federal government shutdown ends. Constituents in need of assistance should call our Concord office at 603-226-1002 or our Washington office at 202-225-5206.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-statement-on-republican-government-shutdown", "Kuster Statement on Republican Government Shutdown", "2013-10-01", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement in response to House Republicans forcing a shutdown of the federal government.\n\u201cHouse Republicans\u2019 insistence on putting partisan ideology ahead of basic common sense has forced a government shutdown that will hurt real people in real ways. Some of my colleagues across the aisle have concluded that they would rather score political points at the expense of Granite State families and businesses than find actual solutions to the challenges we face. This is the height of irresponsibility.\n\u201cInstead of doubling-down on their all-or-nothing demands, House Republicans need to help pass a responsible bill to fund the government and provide certainty for New Hampshire families and businesses. I am hopeful that common sense will prevail so that the government can resume serving the American people and Congress can focus on solving problems instead of creating them. We can\u2019t afford to keep lurching from crisis to crisis.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131009223359/http://shea-porter.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/shea-porter-statement-on-the-federal-government-shutdown", "Shea-Porter Statement on the Federal Government Shutdown", "2013-10-01", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Carol Shea-Porter", "S001170", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tOctober 1, 2013  \n\tContact:  \n\tBen Wakana: 202-225-5456 WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) issued the following statement after House Republicans chose to shut the federal government down rather than allow a vote on a clean bill to fund the government at current levels for six weeks: \u201cIn a reckless attempt to obstruct the new health care law and extract an ideological laundry list of demands, House Republicans have shut down the federal government. These Tea Party tactics are harmful to the economy and they are an unacceptable way to govern. \u201cThe House of Representatives has voted 45 times to obstruct, delay, defund, or repeal the Affordable Care Act. I am happy to debate the merits of the health care law through an open legislative process, but to hold vital government functions hostage unless we defund or delay the health care law is staggeringly irresponsible. \u201cThis government shutdown will hurt New Hampshire families. Workers across the Granite State will be furloughed.\u00a0 Seniors\u2019 applications to begin receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits could be delayed. Businesses applying for loans through the Small Business Administration will have to wait. \u201cI have been very clear that I am willing to work with anyone to improve the Affordable Care Act, but I will not dismantle the health care law in exchange for funding the government. Funding the government is not a negotiating point. It\u2019s Congress\u2019 responsibility. \u201cI am deeply disappointed but not surprised that Tea Party Republicans have thrown our country into yet another unnecessary crisis. It\u2019s time for Speaker John Boehner to drop this poisonous brand of politics and allow a vote on a clean bill to fund the government.\u201d ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 398, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "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"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "NH", "p1": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 398, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 398, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "NH", "label": "NH", "count": 398, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "2013", "label": "2013", "count": 398, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NH", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2013-10-01,https~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20131009223359~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fshea-porter~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fshea-porter-statement-on-the-federal-government-shutdown", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NH&year=2013&_next=2013-10-01%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20131009223359~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Fshea-porter~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fshea-porter-statement-on-the-federal-government-shutdown&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 117.1811269596219, "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"}