url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-harry-armstrong-of-canaan-and-john-bayliss-of-hanover-as-decembers-granite-staters-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes Harry Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December’s Granite Staters of the Month,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Harold (Harry) Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December’s Granite Staters of the Month. For decades, Harry has led a successful effort to collect used medical equipment and deliver it to those in need in the Upper Valley area and beyond. Harry helped start the Health Closet, with members of the Canaan Lions Club, more than forty years ago. The group collected used medical equipment, such as manual and electric wheelchairs, walkers, lift chairs, crutches, canes, and bath stools from the area’s visiting nurses, nonprofits, hospitals, and individuals. They would then keep the equipment in storage until they found someone who needed it. When Harry was hospitalized two years ago and had to have his foot amputated, he worried that Health Closet’s mission would cease to be fulfilled. That’s when Harry’s friend and Lebanon Upper Valley Lions Club member John Bayliss stepped up to help run the initiative. Together, the two men have teamed up to do everything from DIY fix-ups of medical equipment in Harry’s and John’s garages, to lugging large medical machinery in their pickup trucks. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below. I am honored to recognize Harold (Harry) Armstrong of Canaan and John Bayliss of Hanover as December’s Granite Staters of the Month. For decades, Harry has led a successful effort to collect used medical equipment and deliver it to those in need in the Upper Valley area and beyond. Harry helped start the Health Closet, with members of the Canaan Lions Club, more than forty years ago. The group collected used medical equipment, such as manual and electric wheelchairs, walkers, lift chairs, crutches, canes, and bath stools from the area’s visiting nurses, nonprofits, hospitals, and individuals. They would then keep the equipment in storage until they found someone who needed it. When Harry was hospitalized two years ago and had to have his foot amputated, he worried that Health Closet’s mission would cease to be fulfilled. That’s when Harry’s friend and Lebanon Upper Valley Lions Club member John Bayliss stepped up to help run the initiative. Through their work, the duo profoundly touches people’s lives by giving them the medical equipment that they desperately need to go about their lives and continue to be a part of their community. From doing DIY fix-ups of medical equipment in Harry’s and John’s garages, to lugging large medical machinery in their pickup trucks, their dedication to helping others, willingness to take the initiative, and generosity is a shining example of the Granite State spirit. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-government-funding-bill-with-key-nh-priorities-secured-by-senator-hassan,SIGNED INTO LAW: Government Funding Bill with Key NH Priorities Secured by Senator Hassan,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after the President signed into law the bipartisan government funding legislation, which includes key New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan worked to secure: “This year’s government funding bill includes major Granite State priorities that will lower costs for families, strengthen our response to the opioid epidemic, and help more Americans save for retirement. I’m pleased that we came together across the aisle to pass this critical legislation, and I look forward to seeing how it will support families, our economy, and our national security in the year ahead.” Critical New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan helped secure in the government funding bill include: Combating the Opioid Epidemic Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the ‘x-waiver,’ that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. A measure backed by Senator Hassan to give law enforcement more flexibility to interdict fentanyl-related substances by extending the designation of fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs until December 31, 2024. Provisions from Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to help address the severe shortage of doctors trained in addiction medicine. The government funding bill creates 200 new medical residency positions, including for addiction medicine, at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country. Supporting Veterans Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to designate one week per year as “Buddy Check Week.” The bill is modeled after the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need. Bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan championed to help provide surplus government computers to veterans and others who need them. Senator Hassan worked on the legislation with Digitunity, a nonprofit based in North Conway. A bipartisan measure that the Senator introduced with Thom Tillis (R-NC) to improve oversight of the VA and reduce the backlog of requests from veterans for medical and other VA military records. Lowering Health Care and Home Energy Costs Bipartisan measures that Senator Hassan worked on to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications, which are often less expensive than generic drugs. $4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, a $200 million increase over last year, which will help Granite Staters with their energy costs. Helping Americans Save for Retirement Bipartisan measures Senator Hassan and colleagues introduced to make it easier for businesses to offer retirement benefits, including enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) and expanding tax cuts to small businesses who provide retirement benefits to their employees. Increases retirement plan flexibility for public safety officers and improves access for military families, including provisions from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Hassan and Susan Collins (R-ME) to help military families save for retirement. Addressing the Housing Shortage Funding that Senator Hassan worked to secure that will help with the construction of thousands of new rental units and houses. Strengthening Maternal Health and Child Care Support The bipartisan TRIUMPH Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Tillis, that creates a federal taskforce and national strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes and expand mental health resources for new mothers. A critical measure that Senator Hassan pushed for to ensure that for the first time, every child in America who qualifies for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will now be guaranteed at least one year of continuous health coverage. Extension of a measure, which Senator Hassan supported, that ensures that states can provide a full year of postpartum coverage for mothers on Medicaid and CHIP. Increased funding for Child Care and Development Block grants, a measure that Senator Hassan pushed for, which will expand affordable child care to more families in New Hampshire and across the country. Extending Access to Affordable Telehealth Services A measure Senator Hassan pushed for that extends coverage of Medicare telehealth services through 2024, ensuring that more patients, especially in rural communities, get the care that they need. Strengthening Support for Rural Students Doubling funding for a program that supports rural students, including college prep and career pathway programs in rural communities. Funding Key Bipartisan Legislation Critical funding to implement key bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped pass into law, including the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and PACT Act that addresses veterans’ toxic exposure. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-releases-end-of-year-round-up-for-2022,Senator Hassan Releases End of Year Round Up for 2022,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As 2022 comes to a close, the office of Senator Maggie Hassan released key highlights from the second year of the 117th Congress. “2022 was a boon for bipartisanship, and a powerful reminder of what we as a country can achieve when we come together to find common ground. I have always sought to follow the example of Granite Staters who every day set aside differences to solve problems – and by doing so, we have passed critical legislation to address some of the most pressing challenges that we face as a nation,” said Senator Hassan. “As I begin my second term in Congress next year, I look forward to continuing to build bipartisan cooperation to support the needs of families and our economy. And as we look to 2023, I wish my fellow Granite Staters happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.” Watch Senator Hassan’s 2022 recap video here. By the Numbers 74,000+ responses to constituent emails, letters, and calls 9 million: The number of surprise medical bills prevented to date by Senator Hassan’s bipartisan No Surprises Act that went into effect this year 1 POW/MIA flag returned to its rightful place at Arlington National Cemetery’s administration building 6 birthday cards sent to Granite Staters on their 100th - and 109th birthday! - by Senator Hassan #1 most bipartisan Senator according to the Lugar Center-Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy Nearly 75 percent of bills and resolutions introduced by Senator Hassan had a Republican cosponsor 12 seconds: Fastest mini-crossword completed by Senator Hassan 10 Key Accomplishments Investing in American Manufacturing & Research: Senator Hassan and colleagues passed into law the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act, which strengthens our economic and national security by providing critical investments in semiconductor manufacturing and research and development in the U.S. The law will help ensure that the U.S can outcompete China while lowering costs for families and strengthening our supply chains. Combating the Opioid Epidemic: This year’s government funding bill includes Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the ‘x-waiver,’ that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Delivering Comprehensive Care for Veterans Exposed to Toxic Substances: A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Hassan and her colleagues worked to develop and pass into law the PACT Act, which fundamentally reforms and improves how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive health care and benefits from the VA. Improving Mental Health Support for Young People: The President signed into law a bipartisan bill from Senator Hassan and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to strengthen mental health resources for young people and help prevent youth suicide. Senator Hassan introduced the bipartisan STANDUP Act after students across New Hampshire reached out to Senator Hassan about the urgent need to address mental health challenges and expand access to resources for young people. Reforming the Postal Service: Senator Hassan and colleagues' bipartisan Postal Service Reform Act is now law. It eliminates requirements that have decimated the Postal Services’ finances, increases transparency and accountability at the agency, guarantees mail delivery six days a week, and strengthens support for postal workers. In her remarks to the press, Senator Hassan said, “Granite Staters – especially in rural areas – know that a dependable Postal Service is essential for local communities to thrive, and today’s bill is a testament to the progress that we can make when we come together.” Lowering Prescription Drug Costs: The Inflation Reduction Act included a number of key provisions that Senator Hassan pushed for to take on Big Pharma and address the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, including allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices – which will bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down prices across the board – and capping out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare prescription drugs. Protecting Fundamental Freedoms: Senator Hassan celebrated and helped pass the Respect for Marriage Act to enshrine marriage equality into law. In her statement, Senator Hassan noted New Hampshire’s proud legacy: “As the first state in our country to legalize same-sex marriage without the force of a court order, New Hampshire has long led the fight for marriage equality. Today’s signing is the culmination of efforts by advocates working to secure these freedoms for decades, and I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in celebration.” Standing Up to Those Who Enabled the Opioid Epidemic: Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan legislation to address conflicts of interests in federal contracting - such as McKinsey’s past work with the FDA and opioid manufacturers – will soon become law. In her advocacy for the legislation, Senator Hassan noted the bill’s importance: “This bipartisan bill will ensure that companies that work for the federal government are acting in the best interest of the American people – not Big Pharma.” Helping Veterans Make the Transition to Civilian Life: President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to strengthen the Solid Start program, which contacts every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. In addition, the year-end funding bill includes a bill Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to designate one week per year as “Buddy Check Week.” The bill is modeled after the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need. Addressing Gun Violence: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes a number of measures to address gun violence that Senator Hassan has long pushed for, including: Incentives for states to pass and administer extreme risk protection laws, protecting survivors of domestic violence by closing the “boyfriend loophole,” and enhancing background checks as well as investing in mental health supports and services in schools and communities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-peters-grassley-hassan-and-ernst-bipartisan-legislation-to-prevent-conflicts-of-interest-in-federal-contracting-signed-into-law,"SIGNED INTO LAW: Peters, Grassley, Hassan & Ernst Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting Signed Into Law",2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) to help identify and mitigate potential conflicts of interest between taxpayer-funded projects and government contractors’ other business opportunities has been signed into law. The federal government contracts with private companies to support important government functions, such as the delivery of services and the approval of prescription drugs. However, many contractors also conduct business with the private sector or other outside entities, and this can raise questions about the reliability of consultations, advice, or projects under federal contracts if not handled appropriately. The law requires updates to existing rules to protect the integrity of services while allowing contractors to continue pursuing business opportunities to the greatest extent possible. The law was led through the House by U.S. Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. “Government agencies should know about whether federal contractors’ outside business interests might conflict with their work for Michiganders and Americans,” said Senator Peters. “This new law will ensure federal contractors are providing transparency about potential conflicts before they are awarded taxpayer dollars.” “Federal contractors are entrusted to provide critical goods and services to the federal government as it serves the American people. If we don’t know whether they are serving other, potentially conflicting interests, we can’t be confident that Americans are getting exactly what they pay for,” said Senator Grassley. “This good government bill, which is now law, takes steps to eliminate these potential conflicts of interest to rebuild public trust in our contracting process.” “It is unacceptable that federal contractors have potential conflicts of interest, including when McKinsey was working for opioid manufacturers at the same time it was working for the FDA on opioid-related projects,” said Senator Hassan. “I was glad to work with members of both parties to develop this law, which will help ensure that companies that work for the federal government put the interests of the American people first, not Big Pharma or other special interests. I’ll keep working with my colleagues to address conflicts of interest and stop waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.” “Before Washington doles out billions of dollars to government contractors, we need to make sure these organizations don’t have outside business interests that conflict with their work for our taxpayers,” said Senator Ernst. “This new law improves accountability and increases transparency by working to eliminate any potential conflict of interest, better ensuring these contractors are working in the best interest of Americans.” “My Committee’s investigation into McKinsey & Company’s conflicts of interest made it clear that our federal government contracting laws are in desperate need of reform,” said Chairwoman Maloney. “The American people deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are working in their best interests – not the financial interests of powerful corporations. Today’s legislation is an important step to creating more transparency and accountability, and I thank Senator Peters for his partnership on this critical issue.” Reports have highlighted the need to prevent conflicts of interest within companies that are awarded federal contracts. For example, McKinsey & Company, a management consulting corporation often hired by the federal government, was paid more than $140 million dollars since 2008 by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to help support their oversight work of pharmaceutical companies, including determining the safety and efficacy of prescription pain medications. At the same time, McKinsey had not disclosed to the FDA that they were also consulting for several opioid manufacturers on how these companies could effectively market their products. This has called into question whether consultants from McKinsey were providing biased advice to the FDA, and whether that advice was influenced by their relationship with the drug makers whose business practices are a root cause of the opioid epidemic. The senators’ law will give federal agencies a process to evaluate similar potential conflicts of interest to ensure that federal consultants and other contractors are using taxpayer dollars to work in Americans’ best interests. The Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act requires agencies to identify potential conflicts for specific contracts early in the process. Federal contractors will be required to disclose other business relationships with entities that conflict with the specific work that an agency has hired them to do. Private companies under contract with the U.S. government would also have to disclose new potential business that opposes ongoing services they are providing to the American people. The law ensures federal contractors are aware of disclosure requirements and how working with agencies could impact other parts of their business. Finally, the law requires federal agencies to assess and update their procedures for determining whether contractors could have a conflict of interest. Below are statements in support of the senators’ bipartisan law: “The U.S. government increasingly relies on government contractors for their expertise on matters that threaten our nation's safety and security. Yet, based on current federal contract regulations, agencies cannot always discern whether government contractors have business relationships with foreign governments and private entities that could create a conflict of interest,” said Noah Bookbinder, President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “To protect the integrity of services provided to the United States, CREW endorses the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act, which would require greater transparency in contractor business relationships in order to prevent conflicts of interest.” “Companies perform mission-critical government functions. Organizational conflicts present one type of ethics risk to the government, and they must be identified and avoided through careful government oversight,” said Scott Amey, General Counsel for the Project on Government Oversight. “Without more guidance, organizational conflicts of interest can result in unfair competitive advantages and biased contract awards—both of which compromise the impartiality of the federal government and the integrity of the contracting process.” “When government policymaking is tainted by conflicts of interest, it weakens the legitimacy and credibility of the entire process. That erodes public confidence in government and harms democracy,” said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy for Transparency International U.S. “This law promotes greater transparency and accountability to ensure the public can trust that government is making decisions with their best interests at heart.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-president-signs-into-law-bipartisan-bill-backed-by-senator-hassan-and-congressman-pappas-to-provide-funding-for-law-enforcement-de-escalation-training,SIGNED INTO LAW: President Signs into Law Bipartisan Bill Backed by Senator Hassan & Congressman Pappas to Provide Funding for Law Enforcement De-Escalation Training,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President today signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan, and supported by Congressman Chris Pappas, to help law enforcement officers respond effectively to people experiencing mental or behavioral health crises. The bill authorizes millions of dollars in annual grant funding to improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental or behavioral health issues, including using alternatives to force and de-escalation tactics and working with mental health professionals on crisis intervention teams. It would also empower police and the mental health professionals working with them to link individuals to mental and behavioral health services in their community. “When there is an emergency, law enforcement officers are often the first ones on the scene, making it essential that they have the training to handle a variety of crises,” Senator Hassan said. “This new law can help law enforcement officers more effectively respond to someone experiencing a mental or behavioral health emergency and de-escalate the situation swiftly.” “Every day members of law enforcement respond to a wide variety of calls, and it’s important they have the training and resources to respond to every call safely and effectively,” said Congressman Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation will close critical gaps in mental health crisis training, helping protect law enforcement officers and improving outcomes for the people they serve. I’m pleased that this bipartisan bill has been signed into law today, and I will continue fighting to deliver the resources law enforcement needs to keep our communities safe.” Senator Hassan is committed to providing law enforcement officers with the support that they need. Senator Hassan and Representative Pappas recently joined the rest of the delegation in announcing $500,000 to help local New Hampshire police departments hire more law enforcement officers, which follows Senator Hassan’s push to increase funding for state and local law enforcement. The President also signed into law bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan cosponsored to support law enforcement officers suffering from PTSD and their families. Senator Hassan also joined her colleagues in introducing legislation to gather greater information on attacks targeting law enforcement. In 2019, bipartisan legislation became law that Senator Hassan cosponsored to help prevent law enforcement officer suicide. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senators-hassan-risch-rosen-and-rubios-bipartisan-bill-to-help-prevent-human-trafficking,"SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan, Risch, Rosen, and Rubio’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Human Trafficking",2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President today signed into law the bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Act that Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced to help prevent human trafficking by requiring the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of all U.S. planes, buses, and trains, as well as airports, bus stations, and rail stations. “Restrooms are often the only time that a victim will have the opportunity to get away from traffickers, making it one of the first lines of defense in getting someone the help that they need,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m pleased that our bipartisan bill to help prevent human trafficking was signed into law, and I will continue to work across the aisle to crack down on these heinous crimes.” The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free service connecting victims and survivors of trafficking to critical support and resources. The Hotline provides both a toll-free phone line and SMS text lines which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-annual-defense-bill-with-key-hassan-backed-provisions,SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President today signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes key national security provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) secured and supported. “This year’s annual defense bill includes critical priorities that I fought for that will help protect Granite Staters and Americans, support our service members, and crack down on criminals both at home and abroad,” Senator Hassan said. “I worked to ensure that this new law included bipartisan measures to disrupt drug trafficking, hold Putin accountable, and strengthen cybersecurity, while also providing important resources to New Hampshire to support our military operations and clean up harmful PFAS chemicals. The number one job of government is to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and this law will be vital to those efforts.” Key measures that Senator Hassan championed that are included in the NDAA: Cracking Down on Drug Traffickers: A bipartisan bill that Senator Hassan introduced that authorizes existing Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, which help identify gang members and drug dealers and collect and share intelligence on transnational criminal organizations, and enhances vetting and provides stipends for participants Improving Cybersecurity: The bipartisan FedRAMP Authorization Act which Senator Hassan helped lead to codify the successful government-wide program that approves cloud computing companies and products to ensure that they are secure and safe for agency use Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: A bipartisan bill, which Senator Shaheen introduced and Senator Hassan worked to advance, to bolster the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and increase the government’s capacity to supply these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs Sanctioning Russia: A bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to sanction the purchase of Russian gold as part of ongoing efforts to stand up to Putin Bolstering Coastal Resiliency: Senator Hassan’s legislation that allows New Hampshire and other coastal states to participate in Regional Ocean Partnerships, which are new organizations that coordinate collaboration and grant funding among participating states on coastal resilience and environmental protection Modernizing Reports from the Inspectors General: Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Inspector General Reporting Modernization Act that will make key federal spending oversight reports simpler to read, easier to compile, and require less taxpayer dollars to produce Addressing the Substance Misuse Crisis: Provisions to build relationships with international partners to track and detect synthetic-controlled substances, including fentanyl Supporting Israel: Provisions to support U.S.-Israel Missile Defense research and development through additional funding for the Iron Dome system Increasing Access for People with Disabilities: The 21st Century Assistive Technology (AT) Act, which Senator Hassan helped introduce, that will increase access to assistive technology devices like wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, hearing aids, screen readers, closed captioning systems, and more for people who experience disabilities. Establishing the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative: A bipartisan proposal Senator Hassan helped push for which aims to improve cognitive performance and brain health of service members Support for NH priorities that are included in the NDAA: Authorizing funding to procure additional Virginia-class submarines that will be maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing $503 million in funding to support the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing a record-level $20 million in funding to address PFAS contamination in military communities Inclusion of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which will support localities across New Hampshire by authorizing essential infrastructure projects, including the Town of Lancaster, through the long-sought removal of the obsolete Israel River Dam Authorizing more than $900 million for Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, whose development is based in Nashua and Hudson Authorizing $100 million to continue the purchase of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular, produced by New Hampshire manufacturers, which increase the effectiveness of U.S. service members Banning the purchase of PFAS-laden firefighting gear after October 1, 2026 to protect the health and safety of fire fighters serving in the military Authorizing a $20 million increase which Senator Hassan pushed for in the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) to boost research at New Hampshire Universities Provisions to strengthen our military and national security that are included in the NDAA: Providing critical security assistance and support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unconscionable invasion Providing a 4.6 percent pay raise for U.S. service members Authorizing funding for eight additional F-35 joint strike fighters, a measure Senator Hassan helped advocate for ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-government-funding-bill-with-key-nh-priorities-secured-by-senator-hassan,Senate Passes Government Funding Bill with Key NH Priorities Secured by Senator Hassan,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan government funding legislation, which includes key New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan worked to secure: “This year’s government funding bill includes major Granite State priorities that will lower costs for families, strengthen our response to the opioid epidemic, and help more Americans save for retirement. I’m pleased that Senators on both sides of the aisle came together to pass this package, and I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly follow suit.” Critical New Hampshire priorities that Senator Hassan helped secure in the government funding bill include: Combating the Opioid Epidemic Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, which eliminates an outdated requirement, the ‘x-waiver,’ that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. A measure backed by Senator Hassan to give law enforcement more flexibility to interdict fentanyl-related substances by extending the designation of fentanyl analogues as Schedule I drugs until December 31, 2024. Provisions from Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to help address the severe shortage of doctors trained in addiction medicine. The government funding bill creates 200 new medical residency positions, including for addiction medicine, at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country. Supporting Veterans Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to designate one week per year as “Buddy Check Week.” The bill is modeled after the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” that connects veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support that they need. Bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan championed to help provide surplus government computers to veterans and others who need them. Senator Hassan worked on the legislation with Digitunity, a nonprofit based in North Conway. A bipartisan measure that the Senator introduced with Thom Tillis (R-NC) to improve oversight of the VA and reduce the backlog of requests from veterans for medical and other VA military records. Lowering Health Care and Home Energy Costs Bipartisan measures that Senator Hassan worked on to increase access to generic and biosimilar medications, which are often less expensive than generic drugs. $4 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program, a $200 million increase over last year, which will help Granite Staters with their energy costs. Helping Americans Save for Retirement Bipartisan measures Senator Hassan and colleagues introduced to make it easier for businesses to offer retirement benefits, including enabling more businesses to join multiple employer plans (MEPs) and expanding tax cuts to small businesses who provide retirement benefits to their employees. Increases retirement plan flexibility for public safety officers and improves access for military families, including provisions from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Hassan and Collins (R-ME) to help military families save for retirement. Addressing the Housing Shortage Funding that Senator Hassan worked to secure that will help with the construction of thousands of new rental units and houses. Strengthening Maternal Health and Child Care Support The bipartisan TRIUMPH Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Tillis, that creates a federal taskforce and national strategy to improve maternal mental health outcomes and expand mental health resources for new mothers. A critical measure that Senator Hassan pushed for to ensure that for the first time, every child in America who qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP will now be guaranteed at least one year of continuous health coverage. Extension of a measure, which Senator Hassan supported, that ensures that states can provide a full year of postpartum coverage for mothers on Medicaid and CHIP. Increased funding for Child Care and Development Block grants, a measure that Senator Hassan pushed for, which will expand affordable child care to more families in New Hampshire and across the country. Extending Access to Affordable Telehealth Services A measure Senator Hassan pushed for that extends coverage of Medicare telehealth services through 2024, ensuring that more patients, especially in rural communities, get the care that they need. Strengthening Support for Rural Students Doubling funding for a program that supports rural students, including college prep and career pathway programs in rural communities. Funding Key Bipartisan Legislation Critical funding to implement key bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan helped pass into law, including the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and PACT Act that addresses veterans’ toxic exposure. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-portmans-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-national-security-by-preparing-for-quantum-cybersecurity-risks,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Portman’s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen National Security by Preparing for Quantum Cybersecurity Risks,2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President has signed into law Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Rob Portman’s (R-OH) bipartisan Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act. The law will strengthen national security by preparing the federal government’s defenses against quantum-computing-enabled data breaches. As quantum computers, including those being developed by our adversaries, continue to get more powerful and more widely available, federal agencies must proactively work to ensure that federal cybersecurity protections remain up to date. “To strengthen our national security, it is essential that we address potential vulnerabilities in our cybersecurity systems, including new threats presented by quantum computing,” said Senator Hassan. “This law will help ensure that our federal government is ready to defend our country against data breaches that could be exploited by quantum computing. I was glad to work with members of both parties to get this law across the finish line, and I will continue working to strengthen our county’s cyber defenses.” “Quantum computing will provide for huge advances in computing power, but it will also create new cybersecurity challenges,” said Ranking Member Portman. “I’m proud our bipartisan legislation to require the government to inventory its cryptographic systems, determine which are most at risk from quantum computing, and upgrade those systems accordingly is now law of the land.” The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act would: Require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritize the acquisition and migration of federal agencies’ information technology to post-quantum cryptography; Instruct OMB to create guidance for federal agencies to assess critical systems one year after the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issues planned post-quantum cryptography standards; Direct OMB to send an annual report to Congress that includes a strategy on how to address post-quantum cryptography risks, the funding that might be necessary, and an analysis on whole-of-government coordination and migration to post-quantum cryptography standards and information technology. Senator Hassan is leading efforts in Congress to invest in quantum research, which is critical to national security and the economy. Senators Hassan and John Thune’s (R-SD) measure to encourage quantum research efforts was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Senators Hassan and Thune also previously introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen national security by advancing U.S. capabilities in quantum networking and establishing a more comprehensive approach to workforce development in this field. In addition, Senator Hassan previously joined the New Hampshire congressional delegation in announcing $2.76 million in federal funding for Dartmouth College to support its quantum genome mapping project. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blackburn-colleagues-bill-to-end-child-exploitation-unanimously-passes-senate,"Blackburn, Colleagues’ Bill To End Child Exploitation Unanimously Passes Senate",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), as well as Representatives Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio-16), Annie Kuster (N.H.-02), Guy Reschenthaler (Pa.-14), and Lucy McBath (Ga.-06) celebrated the Senate’s passage of the END Child Exploitation Act. This legislation doubles the mandatory time period for preserving information about child sexual abuse images that technology companies report to the CyberTipline of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Additionally, technology companies may retain the contents of the online sexual exploitation of children for longer than 180 days if necessary to prevent further exploitation. “Children are increasingly living their lives behind screens, and the jarring reality is this leaves more innocent kids at risk of online exploitation,” said Senator Blackburn. “The bill is a significant step forward in our efforts to protect our children online because it allows law enforcement to collect evidence needed to hunt down online predators. I am pleased this legislation has unanimously passed the Senate, and I encourage the House to promptly take up this critical legislation so that it can get to the President’s desk.” “I’ve stood up for trafficking victims since I was Nevada’s Attorney General, and I know how difficult investigations into online child abuse can be,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bill is going to make it easier for our law enforcement agencies to hold perpetrators of child exploitation accountable, and I urge the House to pass it swiftly. I’ll keep doing everything I can to protect children from trafficking and abuse.” “Protecting our children from abusers must be a top priority, and part of that work includes ensuring that law enforcement has access to the evidence that they need to crack down on perpetrators,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward strengthening our efforts to end child exploitation, and I will keep pushing to get it signed into law.” BACKGROUND",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-speech-on-the-senate-floor-senator-hassan-discusses-importance-of-protecting-democracy,"In Speech on the Senate Floor, Senator Hassan Discusses Importance of Protecting Democracy",2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined her colleagues on the Senate floor to speak about the importance of protecting democracy. This week, Congress is set to pass bipartisan legislation, which Senator Hassan cosponsored, to reform and modernize the Electoral Count Act. To watch Senator Hassan’s speech, click here. Here are some highlights from Senator Hassan’s floor speech: “The acceptance of the outcome of these elections, so that our country could continue to function, grow, become more inclusive, and thrive, has been essential. Not just for the sake of stability, but for the sake of a democracy in which the government is truly responsive. Truly ‘of, by, and for the people.’” “As we all know, in November, in state after state, including New Hampshire, democracy was on the ballot. There were in fact candidates who questioned the sacred right to free and fair elections. Individuals who expressed their willingness to overturn the 2020 election and their willingness to try to reject or overturn election outcomes in the future if their preferred candidate didn’t win. I want people to think for a moment about what this means. These candidates were open in their willingness to reject the votes of their fellow citizens – leading to a system in which those in power are unaccountable – and therefore unresponsive – to the people they claim to represent.” “Voters recognized the real threat posed by those who would undermine our democracy. They saw the need to reject those who would disenfranchise them. They used their votes and their voices to stop those who would have otherwise jeopardized our democracy. In November, democracy prevailed. But that does not mean the work is over.” “In Congress, this means that we must continue to fight for access to the ballot box and reinforce and share a commitment to accepting the results of elections. We can do that by supporting legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. And this week we will take an important step forward by passing the bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act. And across the country, we must continue to do what the American people did this year -- reject those who would end democracy as we know it.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-shaheens-bipartisan-bill-protecting-fire-fighters-from-pfas-exposure-,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Shaheen’s Bipartisan Bill Protecting Fire Fighters from PFAS Exposure,2022-12-21,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and cosponsored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to help protect the health and safety of fire fighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure was signed into law. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit, and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not naturally break down. “Our fire fighters work day in and day out to keep our towns and cities safe, and their service should not come with worries about PFAS exposure,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill will help reduce fire fighters’ exposure to PFAS and help protect the health and safety of these brave public servants. I look forward to seeing the results of this bill across our state and country, and I’ll keep working to support our first responders.” “I’ve long prioritized policies to remediate PFAS contamination in our communities and to phase out the use of these dangerous chemicals in our daily lives, which is of critical importance for workers who are often occupationally more likely to be exposed. This is the case for firefighters, whose exposure to firefighting foam and some personal protective gear containing PFAS, makes them particularly vulnerable. Our legislation is an important step forward to empower firefighters with the best practices, training and education they need from the Department of Homeland Security to stay safe on the job. I’m thrilled to see the President sign it into law,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’ll keep working to address the full scope of this issue to stop exposure, remediate contaminated sites and deliver the information and tools our community members need to stay healthy.” This new law is part of Senator Hassan and Shaheen’s ongoing efforts to support first responders and address PFAS exposure. Senator Hassan has strongly supported federal grant programs to support New Hampshire fire departments, and successfully worked to increase funding for these programs in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law. Senator Shaheen steered negotiations on the water provisions included in the bipartisan infrastructure law, during which she secured record-level funding to address PFAS contamination. In September, Shaheen led the delegation in announcing $72 million in capitalization grants from the law for the State of New Hampshire to use toward water infrastructure updates and improvements. The bipartisan infrastructure law includes a measure authored by Senator Hassan to better ensure that more New Hampshire towns are eligible for an advanced technology grant program that can be used remove contaminants, including PFAS, from drinking water. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/government-funding-bill-set-to-include-senator-hassans-medication-assisted-treatment-bill-and-provisions-to-increase-access-to-generic-drugs,Government Funding Bill Set to Include Senator Hassan’s Medication-Assisted Treatment Bill & Provisions to Increase Access to Generic Drugs,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) successfully secured major provisions in the text of the end-of-year government funding bill to help address the opioid epidemic and increase access to lower-cost generic medications. Addressing the Opioid Epidemic The text includes key pieces that Senator Hassan has pushed for to address the opioid epidemic: The bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act eliminates an outdated requirement, the ‘x-waiver,’ that limits the number of medical practitioners who can prescribe life-saving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. The bill was introduced by Senators Hassan and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the Senate and Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Michael Turner (R-OH) in the House. Provisions from Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to help address the severe shortage of doctors trained in addiction medicine. The government funding bill creates 200 new medical residency positions, including for addiction medicine, at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire and across the country. “The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across New Hampshire, which is why I fought to ensure that the end-of-year funding bill includes measures I have long championed to increase access to treatment and expand the opioid workforce,” Senator Hassan said. “Importantly, this package includes my bill to expand access to medication-assisted treatment that has helped save countless lives. I look forward to joining with my colleagues to pass this legislation as soon as possible.” Increasing Access to Generic Medications The text of the government funding bill also includes bipartisan measures championed by Senator Hassan to streamline the FDA’s approval process for generic and biologic drugs and get them to market faster, which will help lower prescription drug costs across the board and increase the availability of key medications: The Senator’s bipartisan Interchangeable Biologics Clarity Act, which she introduced with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), would more efficiently usher drugs to the market by making key improvements to the FDA’s review process for interchangeable biosimilars. Interchangeable biosimilars are drugs that can be substituted for an existing biologic and are prescribed to treat a wide variety of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. The Biologics Market Transparency Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senators Kaine, Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), would increase transparency in the drug market by requiring manufacturers to share information with the FDA regarding when their biologic drugs are coming off the market—giving physicians and patients critical information that they need to make treatment decisions that are best for them, including helping plan for potential drug shortages. The bipartisan Enhanced Access to Affordable Medicines Act, which Senator Hassan introduced with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), would prevent brand-name drug manufacturers from using last-minute labeling changes to block the entry of generic drugs onto the market. “For too long, Big Pharma has worked to make it harder for Americans to access generic drugs that are often cheaper than their brand-name counterparts,” Senator Hassan said. “The bipartisan measures I fought to include in the government funding bill will help us stand up to Big Pharma and lower health care costs for Americans by speeding up the FDA’s approval process for critical medications.” The Senate is expected to vote on the funding bill later this week. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassans-bipartisan-bill-to-support-veterans-mental-health-set-to-be-included-in-government-funding-bill,Senators Hassan’s Bipartisan Bill to Support Veterans’ Mental Health Set to be Included in Government Funding Bill,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan’s bipartisan bill to support veterans’ mental health is set to be included in the end-of-year government funding bill. The bill would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to designate one week per year as “Buddy Check Week” to organize outreach events and educate veterans on how to conduct peer wellness checks. “Veterans all across New Hampshire have shared with me their personal struggles with mental health, and their stories have made it exceedingly clear that we must do more to address this issue,” said Senator Hassan. “Instituting a Buddy Check Week is an evidence-based approach that will make a real difference in combatting veteran suicide, and I am pleased that we will soon pass this into law.” The bill is modeled after the American Legion’s “Buddy Check National Week of Calling” to connect veterans to other veterans in order to better ensure that they receive the support they need. Under the bill, the VA would work directly with nonprofits that serve veterans, mental health experts, and members of the Armed Forces to provide educational opportunities for veterans to learn how to conduct peer wellness checks. Additionally, the bill would ensure that the Veterans Crisis Line has a plan in place for the potential increase in calls that may occur during a “Buddy Check Week.” Senators Hassan is working to support veterans. In October, President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to strengthen the Solid Start program, which contacts every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senator-hassan-and-colleagues-bipartisan-early-hearing-detection-and-intervention-legislation,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senator Hassan and Colleagues’ Bipartisan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Legislation,2022-12-20,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The President signed into law the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022, bipartisan legislation from Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). The law will reauthorize current research and improve public health programs for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in newborns, infants, and young children for five additional years. “All children deserve the same opportunities to grow and thrive, but children can face long-term challenges if they experience hearing problems that go undetected early on in life,” said Senator Hassan. “Through early detection and intervention for hearing loss, children and their families can better get the care that they need. I am glad the President signed this bipartisan bill into law, and I will continue working to ensure that all children have the support that they need to thrive.” The bipartisan Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act reauthorizes current research and public health activities related to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in newborns and infants. Specifically, this legislation: Authorizes development of programs for hearing screening of newborns, infants, and young children; Authorizes prompt evaluation and diagnosis of children referred from screening programs; Provides for educational, audiological, and medical interventions for children confirmed to be deaf or hard-of-hearing; Allows education and medical models to ensure that newborns, infants, and young children who are identified through hearing screening receive follow up by qualified early intervention providers, qualified health care providers, or pediatric medical homes; and Continues research and development for early hearing detection and intervention, including development of technologies and clinical studies of screening methods. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-bipartisan-legislation-from-senators-hassan-braun-to-reduce-wasteful-spending-in-the-federal-government,"Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation from Senators Hassan, Braun to Reduce Wasteful Spending in the Federal Government",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chair of the HSGAC Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) to create a system for identifying and eliminating wasteful federal programs. “Duplicative or wasteful programs in the federal government often go on for too long without being eliminated,” said Senator Hassan. “I introduced this bipartisan bill with Senator Braun because we need to ensure that the federal government is identifying and stopping these wasteful programs. I am pleased the Senate passed this commonsense legislation to save taxpayer dollars and make our government more efficient, and I urge the House to pass it.” The bipartisan Identifying and Eliminating Wasteful Programs Act would create a system to facilitate agency identification of wasteful programs and assist Congress with developing legislation to eliminate those programs. This system would require the following steps: First, agencies identify wasteful or duplicative programs to potentially eliminate, and present that list to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Next, OMB works with Congress to determine whether the program should continue or not, and Congress, with the assistance of OMB and agencies, draft legislation to eliminate or consolidate the programs identified. Senator Hassan has focused on fiscal responsibility and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars in the federal government – working across the aisle to cut hundreds of billions in wasteful spending. As Chair of the Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, she introduced bipartisan legislation to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste by eliminating duplicative government programs based on Government Accountability Office recommendations. She was named a “Fiscal Hero” by Fix the Debt, a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, as well as the “Most Bipartisan Senator” by the nonpartisan Lugar Center. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-calls-on-influential-gaming-company-to-address-online-extremism,Senator Hassan Calls on Influential Gaming Company to Address Online Extremism,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) called on Valve Corporation, one of the largest video game developers and online distributors, to address rampant extremism, particularly antisemitism, on its Steam platform. Senator Hassan’s letter comes on the heels of the Anti-Defamation League’s report showing antisemitic incidents in the United States at an all-time high in 2021 since the organization began tracking in 1979. In her letter, Senator Hassan highlighted the numerous examples of terms and images associated with neo-Nazi, extremist, and racial supremacist ideologies. Her letter to the Valve Corporation CEO also notes how this extremist, hateful content can manifest offline in violent attacks. In her letter she writes, “The exposure to explicit, unambiguous, and pervasive symbols, visuals, and words and phrases associated with racial supremacy, neo-Nazism, antisemitism, gender-based violence or harassment, homophobia, and other hateful and harmful ideologies restricts and inhibits many Steam users from participating in communities free of harassing, abusive, and threatening behavior. Furthermore, allowing racist, extremist, antisemitic, and other hateful ideologies an unimpeded space in which they can flourish online allows for the very real threat of violence in offline, physical spaces.” The effort builds on Senator Hassan’s leadership on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to address foreign and domestic terrorist threats. Senator Hassan helped pass into law bipartisan legislation to ensure that grant funding to strengthen security at houses of worship and nonprofit organizations is available for small states like New Hampshire, not just major metropolitan areas, and Senator Hassan has successfully worked to increase funding for the program. Her bipartisan legislation, the Pray Safe Act, would establish a federal clearinghouse through which faith-based organizations and houses of worship could access information on safety and security best practices, available federal grant programs, and training opportunities. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan emphasized the threat online radicalization poses to our safety and democracy during a Homeland Security Committee hearing. As part of her questioning, she spoke with experts on counterterrorism and antisemitism about how federal agencies can combat online radicalization that can lead to domestic terrorism. To read Senator Hassan’s letter, click here or see below: Dear Mr. Newell: I write today regarding extremist content on the Steam video game digital distribution service. As the most popular and largest digital distribution platform for computer video games, including online community and communication features, Steam has tremendous domestic and global reach and is used by computer video game players of all ages. Disturbingly, Steam has a significant presence of users displaying and espousing neo-Nazi, extremist, racial supremacist, misogynistic, and other hateful sentiments. Valve should be taking steps to prevent harmful content, especially given the relationship between online comments and violence in the offline world. Extremist content on Steam, found after cursory keyword searches using terms and images commonly associated with neo-Nazi, extremist, and racial supremacist ideologies, is pervasive. A non-exhaustive list of content found in user account names and online community groups includes: Plain and unambiguous references to the neo-Nazi term “88,” referring to the letters HH, short for “Heil Hitler”; The use of symbols associated with the Third Reich, such as: Photographs of, and references to, members of the Wehrmacht or Waffen-SS organization; Emblems of Waffen-SS divisions involved in war crimes, including the infamous 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler; Images of Nazi-era Reichadlers, Sig runes associated with the Nazi Party Schutzstaffel, Nazi Party or Nazi-inspired or -derived flags, emblems, and devices; and The use of terms like “Blut and Ehre,” a popular Nazi and neo-Nazi slogan, “Waffen-SS,” “White Power,” a white supremacist slogan, “Zyklon,” an apparent reference to the pesticide gas used in Nazi extermination camps to carry out mass murder, and the use in combination of the numbers “14” and “88,” a reference to the white supremacist slogan “1488.” The prevalence and ease of finding this content is extremely concerning, especially given the popularity that Valve currently enjoys over its competitors in the video game digital distribution ecosystem. Valve’s Steam Subscriber Agreement includes the Steam Online Conduct Rules, which include two rules under which users are required to agree to not “[d]efame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others,” and to not “[r]estrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying Steam services, software or other content.” The exposure to explicit, unambiguous, and pervasive symbols, visuals, and words and phrases associated with racial supremacy, neo-Nazism, antisemitism, gender-based violence or harassment, homophobia, and other hateful and harmful ideologies restricts and inhibits many Steam users from participating in communities free of harassing, abusive, and threatening behavior. Furthermore, allowing racist, extremist, antisemitic, and other hateful ideologies an unimpeded space in which they can flourish online allows for the very real threat of violence in offline, physical spaces. A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League found that “nearly one in ten gamers between ages 13 and 17 had been exposed to white-supremacist ideology and themes in online multiplayer games.”5 With extremist ideologies and antisemitic violence on the rise around the world, it is incumbent upon companies to monitor the content that users introduce into their products. The rise in violence against faith-based institutions and houses of worship is why I introduced the bipartisan Pray Safe Act to ensure that faith-based organizations and houses of worship have the resources and support that they need to ensure that all can gather safely and in peace. Given that Valve derives a financial benefit from every user who purchases a product through its Steam storefront, it is important that Valve act proactively and decisively to make the platform safe for all users. To help me understand what Valve is doing to achieve that goal, please respond to the following questions by January 15, 2023: 1. Do the types and categories of content referenced in this letter and provided as examples in attachment 1 violate the Steam Subscriber Agreement, the Steam Online Conduct Rules, or any other platform or company policy that applies to its customers or users? a. If yes, what action, if any, has been taken against accounts and groups displaying content similar to the non-exhaustive examples provided in this letter? 2. Please describe the process, if any, that Valve employs to identify and assess extremist, racist, antisemitic, gender-based harassment, homophobic or threatening content used in and by Steam communities, usernames, or the Steam Workshop? a. If standards to identify and assess extremist, racist, antisemitic, gender-based harassment, homophobic or threatening content are used or developed by Valve, did any individuals who developed, determined, or approved said standards have expertise, qualifications, or a professional background in identifying, assessing, or understanding extremist content? b. Does Valve collect and maintain any data or statistics on content removed for those reasons, or any other reasons? c. Does Valve proactively seek out such content for removal? 3. Please describe the process that Valve employs to respond to user-generated complaints of extremist, racist, antisemitic, gender-based, or homophobic threats or harassment? How does Valve assess user-generated complaints made on those grounds in order to determine if they violate company policy? a. How many of those assessed complaints did Valve find to violate any of its policies? How many were found to not be in violation, or were determined not to be conclusive? 4. Does Valve have a moderation or safety team or activity that proactively identifies and assesses user-generated accounts, groups, communities, and any other content to determine if violations of any company policy occur related to abuse, harassment, threats, or any other activity that could harm Steam users? a. If no, will Valve commit to implementing a moderation or safety team or activity to actively identify and assess user-generated accounts, groups, communities, and any other content to determine if violations of any company policy related to abuse, harassment, threats, or any other activity occur that could harm Steam users? Thank you for your prompt attention to my concerns. Opposing the spread of extremist and racist activities online should be something that all can agree is important and ensuring that online recreational spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone should be a top priority of video game makers and distributors. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-the-passing-of-judy-reardon,Senator Hassan Statement on the Passing of Judy Reardon,2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement on the passing of Judy Reardon: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Judy Reardon. Judy was a determined and treasured friend and advisor who insisted that those of us in public life act with integrity and purpose. She was funny, brutally honest, and pushed those with political power to deliver real results to people who most need government to work for them. “Judy was a renowned political strategist, a gifted writer, and a passionate advocate. She left an indelible mark not just on New Hampshire politics, but on the State of New Hampshire – helping steer through New Hampshire legislative policies that expanded kindergarten to communities across the state, increased state funding to education, protected access to abortion, and expanded the rights of LGBTQ individuals, just to name a few. I am immensely grateful for her personal advice and counsel and for the work that she did for the people of our state. Tom and I send our deepest condolences to her sister Patty, her brother-in-law Rik, and to the many friends that she leaves behind.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-hassan-secure-nh-priorities-in-bipartisan-water-infrastructure-bill,"Shaheen, Hassan Secure NH Priorities in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Senate passed by a vote of 92-2 the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, biennial legislation that authorizes water infrastructure projects across the country. The House of Representatives previously passed its WRDA legislation in June. Both chambers will next conference on the legislation to reach a final agreement before it is considered by Congress and sent to the President’s desk. “I’m proud to share the New Hampshire priorities included in this legislation, which build on efforts in previous years that successfully led to the dredging of Rye and Hampton-Seabrook Harbors, as well as current work underway in Portsmouth Harbor and on the Piscataqua River Navigation project. This biennial legislation is a critical tool to deliver on urgently needed Granite State projects and I’m glad WRDA 2022 does precisely that,” said Senator Shaheen. “Not only does this bill make important investments in issues like coastal resiliency and bolstering our STEM workforce, but I was also excited to specifically add provisions that address local needs, which include helping the Town of Lancaster proceed with removing the Israel River Dam to respond to safety concerns due to deteriorating conditions. I look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to see these provisions included in final legislation.” “This bipartisan legislation will support New Hampshire and our country’s economy and environment, helping to address ongoing supply chain challenges that have contributed to the high costs that Americans are facing,” said Senator Hassan. “We have seen just how important dredging projects are to strengthening the Portsmouth Harbor, and I am pleased that this bipartisan bill builds on the progress we’ve made by continuing to support our harbor. In addition, it includes key priorities that Senator Shaheen and I pushed for to dredge our rivers, remove the Israel River Dam, and maintain other dams and waterways.” WRDA contains several New Hampshire priorities that Shaheen and Hassan worked to secure, including: Prioritization of Maintenance Dredging for Small Harbors: The WRDA 2022 bill includes a provision requiring the Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to develop criteria for the annual evaluation and ranking of maintenance dredging needs for small, remote and subsistence harbors, like those in New Hampshire, and include such criteria in the annual Civil Works Direct Program Development Policy Guidance of the Corps. The provision also requires a biennial report to Congress that identifies the ranking of projects based on the criteria developed. This would provide much improved structure and transparency related to the Corps’ use of funding specifically appropriated for small, remote and subsistence harbors, which will benefit Rye and Hampton Harbor. Investments in the STEM Workforce: The bill strengthens the infrastructure workforce by fostering careers in STEM fields. The bill authorizes the Corps to carry out activities to strengthen STEM education awareness and recruit men and women in these fields for careers with the Corps. It allows the Corps to partner with nonprofits, colleges and universities, and technical schools to carry out these activities, and prioritizes recruitment of individuals from underserved communities. Strengthened Coastal Protections from the Impacts of Climate Change: The bill streamlines the implementation of shoreline protection and restoration projects to aid communities most vulnerable to coastal storms. The bill also authorizes the Corps to modify shore protection projects during the performance of emergency restoration activities to increase resiliency. In addition, the bill includes language enabling communities to partner with the Corps to develop water resources projects that directly address risks of extreme weather. De-authorize the ice dam on the Israel River so the town of Lancaster can proceed with removal. Senator Shaheen specifically worked to include several other Granite State priorities, including: Expedite the maintenance dredging of the Simplex/Tyco shoal in the Piscataqua River. The Army Corps of Engineers has already announced $1.685 million in funding toward this project as part of funding secured by Shaheen and Hassan in the bipartisan infrastructure law. Expedite the maintenance dredging of portions of Sagamore Creek that were not previously dredged in 2017. Shaheen has long worked to secure key provisions in the biennial legislation that led to the successful dredging of Portsmouth Harbor and the prioritization of the Piscataqua River Navigation project. Shaheen first secured authorization for the Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River Navigation Improvement Project as part of the 2016 WRDA. Since then, Shaheen and Hassan have worked with the rest of the New Hampshire congressional delegation to prioritize the project, specifically including language in the 2018 WRDA urging the Corps to expedite the project. During a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Shaheen received assurance from R.D. James, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, that the project would be a priority for the Corps. Last January, Shaheen announced that the Portsmouth Harbor and Piscataqua River navigation improvement project was included in the Corp’s fiscal year (FY) 2021 work plan, following her urging and repeated efforts to secure critical funding for the Corps. Dredging has since gotten underway, which has also been supported by the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Shaheen and Hassan negotiated. In April, the New Hampshire delegation announced an additional $2.4 million from the bipartisan infrastructure bill for Corps projects in the Granite State. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen helped procure and Hassan supported $8.4 billion for the Corps to complete necessary infrastructure projects in New Hampshire and across the country in FY 2022 government funding legislation that the President signed into law. This is $548 million above last year’s funding level and included funding for small harbors that require off-cycle, emergency dredging, like those in New Hampshire. This language is to help ensure the Corps continues to monitor and address shoaling within Portsmouth Harbor and problem areas further up along the Piscataqua River. Shaheen’s success in urging the Corps to prioritize the Portsmouth-Piscataqua River Project followed her successful efforts to push the Corps to complete dredging of Rye and Hampton-Seabrook Harbors. The bill text of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/to-presidents-desk-senate-passes-senator-hassan-risch-rosen-and-rubios-bipartisan-bill-to-help-prevent-human-trafficking,"TO PRESIDENT’S DESK: Senate Passes Senator Hassan, Risch, Rosen, and Rubio’s Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Human Trafficking",2022-12-16,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention Act that Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced to help prevent human trafficking by requiring the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the restrooms of all U.S. planes, busses, and trains, as well as airports, bus stations, and rail stations. The companion bill, which the House passed on a bipartisan basis in July, was introduced by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Darrell Issa (R-CA). The legislation now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “The Human Trafficking Hotline is a lifeline that can help save victims – and by displaying it on every bus, train, and plane, we can get more people the help that they desperately need,” said Senator Hassan. “Our commonsense bill is one critical way to prevent human trafficking, and I look forward to our legislation being signed into law.” “I applaud Congress for passing the Human Trafficking Prevention Act and taking this step in preventing this abhorrent crime,” said Senator Risch. “That said, there is still more to be done and I will continue to support anti-trafficking efforts, provide victims with the necessary resources, and ensure traffickers are punished to the fullest extent.” “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that threatens the well-being of women, men, and children across this country and around the world,” said Senator Rosen. “The national human trafficking hotline has been a highly effective tool in helping victims, and I’m glad to see that our bipartisan bill will now become law.” “Human trafficking continues to cause suffering for millions of people, especially young women and girls. We must do everything we can to help the victims. This is a commonsense bill to expose this evil,” said Senator Rubio. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free service connecting victims and survivors of trafficking to critical support and resources. The Hotline provides both a toll-free phone line and SMS text lines which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/15/2022/senator-hassan-nominates-new-hampshire-students-for-united-states-service-academies,Senator Hassan Nominates New Hampshire Students for United States Service Academies,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan announced today that she has nominated 43 New Hampshire students to attend United States Service Academies - the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. “It is an incredible honor to nominate young Granite Staters every year to attend our U.S. Service Academies,” said Senator Hassan. “I thank them for their willingness to serve our nation in uniform. I admire their dedication to our country and to upholding our fundamental values of freedom and democracy, and I look forward to seeing all that these students will do in the years to come.” For more information on the nomination process for interested applicants, click here. See below for the full list of Senator Hassan’s nominees. 2022 U.S. Air Force Academy Nominations Eva Bonde – Merrimack Evan Cibotti – Bedford Savannah Collinsworth – Barrington Katherine Daley – Nashua Elena Fedrizzi – Keene Amani Martin – Manchester Thomas Peaslee – Hudson Kenneth Reel – Nashua 2022 U.S. Military Academy Nominations Rhea Ganchi – Laconia Jonathan Heimberg – Merrimack Joseph Hradecky – Peterborough Jenavee Johnson – Barrington Limenwa Kennedy – Bedford James Klink – Franklin Matthew Pemberton – Bedford Brandon Rogers – Bedford Owen Scott – Hanover Michaela Staniec – Exeter 2022 U.S. Naval Academy Nominations Marcus Anderson – Madbury Logan Carter – Windham Declan Casey – Hooksett George Crawford-Eng – Bedford Matthew Forsyth – Exeter Patrick Gandini – Gilford Liam Gleason – Concord Kyle Graser – Merrimack Jacob Gurtner – Concord Sadie Higgins – Hanover Karsten Lemire – Nashua Robert Masson – Hanover Diana Pivirotto – East Kingston Makenzie Poplawski – Hampton Thomas Raymond – Moultonborough Aidan Roy – Londonderry Ryan Stailey – Rochester Kyle Stearns – Center Conway Lily Strohecker – Exeter Addison Whitehead – Hollis 2022 U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Nominations Laurel Arce – Dunbarton Carlos Dow – Chichester Rhea Ganchi – Laconia Noah Keefe – Conway Ryan Stailey – Rochester ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-welcomes-over-16m-from-usda-to-expand-energy-efficiency-projects-across-rural-communities,NH Delegation Welcomes Over $1.6M from USDA to Expand Energy Efficiency Projects Across Rural Communities,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed $1,696,780 to support renewable energy projects in communities across rural New Hampshire. The funding comes from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – a program tailored to help farmers, agricultural producers and entrepreneurs make energy efficiency improvements and lower costs. This funding announcement was largely made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which the delegation supported. “I’m thrilled to welcome over $1.6 million for rural businesses and entrepreneurs across New Hampshire to invest in critical energy projects. From installing solar arrays to supporting renewable energy systems, these investments will save Granite Staters money while moving us towards a clean energy future. It’s rewarding to see clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act making a real difference in Granite State communities,” said Shaheen. ""It is critical that we do not leave rural communities behind as we work to lower energy costs. Today's REAP grant will make a tangible difference for nine small businesses in our state– helping them invest in renewable energy systems and energy efficiency upgrades. In turn, this funding will help lower costs, reduce our dependency on Big Oil, and protect our environment. It’s another important step toward building a resilient, clean energy economy here in New Hampshire,” said Hassan. “Clean, renewable energy systems are a win-win for our environment and our economy – it is essential that small businesses in rural communities can access this technology to lower costs and make their operations more efficient,” said Rep. Kuster. “I was proud to push for expanded REAP funding earlier this year through the Inflation Reduction Act and am thrilled to see small businesses across our state benefit from this program.” “Providing our communities with the tools to transition to clean energy is vital to protecting our environment, creating jobs, and generating economic growth,” said Rep. Pappas. “This funding from the Rural Energy for America Program ensures New Hampshire’s small businesses, agricultural producers, and rural communities have the support and resources for a transition to clean energy. I’m pleased to see New Hampshire businesses investing in renewable energy and I’ll keep fighting for resources to ease this transition.” A full list of the awardees is below: $106,827.00 to Circle Self-Storage LLC to install two solar arrays, which will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 28 homes. $94,979.00 to Berger's Springledge Nursery And Produce to install a solar array as well as a woodchip boiler system, producing clean electricity and saving costs. $12,694.00 to Packy's Investment Properties LLC to install four bifacial, dual-axis solar trackers that will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 15 homes. $233,500.00 to Robert H Irwin Corporation Inc. to install two solar arrays, producing clean energy and saving costs. $200,000.00 to 310 Marlboro St. LLC to install two renewable energy systems at a commercial building in Keene, generating enough energy to power the equivalent of 93 homes. $250,000.00 to Gorham Acquisition LLC to install modern boilers at the White Mountain Paper Company. $470,000.00 to Central Rivers Power NH LLC to install an inflatable flashboard system and related equipment to improve river flow. $279,780.00 to 202 Truck & Equipment in Rindge to install a roof-mounted solar array. $49,000.00 to Ian Joseph Campbell LLC to install five bifacial, dual-axis solar trackers. USDA also announced today that it will make $300 million available under the Rural Energy for America Program to expand renewable energy and support energy-efficiency projects for people living in rural America. Interested applicants can contact their local USDA Rural Development State Energy Coordinator. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-annual-defense-bill-with-key-hassan-backed-provisions,Senate Passes Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which includes key national security provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) secured and supported. The bill now goes to the President’s desk to become law. “My top priority is always to keep our country safe, secure, and free – and our annual defense bill helps advance that critical goal,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m pleased that the bill includes provisions that I pushed for, including cracking down on drug traffickers, further sanctioning Putin, and improving cybersecurity. I know that this bill will make a real difference in New Hampshire by supporting our military institutions, boosting local economies, and helping address PFAS contamination, and I am looking forward to seeing the President sign it into law.” Key measures that Senator Hassan championed that are included in the NDAA: Cracking Down on Drug Traffickers: A bipartisan bill that Senator Hassan introduced which authorizes existing Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, which help identify gang members and drug dealers and collect and share intelligence on transnational criminal organizations, and enhances vetting and provides stipends for participants Improving Cybersecurity: The bipartisan FedRAMP Authorization Act which Senator Hassan helped lead to codify the successful government-wide program that approves cloud computing companies and products to ensure that they are secure and safe for agency use Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: A bipartisan bill which Senator Shaheen introduced and Senator Hassan worked to advance, to bolster the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and increase the government’s capacity to supply these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs Sanctioning Russia: A bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to sanction the purchase of Russian gold as part of ongoing efforts to stand up to Putin Bolstering Coastal Resiliency: Senator Hassan’s legislation that allows New Hampshire and other coastal states to participate in Regional Ocean Partnerships, which are new organizations that coordinate collaboration and grant funding among participating states on coastal resilience and environmental protection Modernizing Reports from the Inspectors General: Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Inspector General Reporting Modernization Act will make key federal spending oversight reports simpler to read, easier to compile, and require less taxpayer dollars to produce Addressing the Substance Misuse Crisis: Provisions to build relationships with international partners to track and detect synthetic-controlled substances, including fentanyl Supporting Israel: Provisions to support U.S.-Israel Missile Defense research and development through additional funding for the Iron Dome system Establishing the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative: A bipartisan proposal Senator Hassan helped push which aims to improve cognitive performance and brain health of service members Support for NH priorities that are included in the NDAA: Authorizing funding to procure additional Virginia-class submarines that will be maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing $503 million in funding to support the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing a record-level $20 million in funding to address PFAS contamination in military communities Inclusion of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which will support localities across New Hampshire by authorizing essential infrastructure projects, including the Town of Lancaster through the long-sought removal of the obsolete Israel River Dam Authorizing over $900 million for Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, whose development is based in Nashua and Hudson Authorizing $100 million to continue the purchase of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular, produced by New Hampshire manufacturers, which increase the effectiveness of U.S. service members Banning the purchase of PFAS-laden firefighting gear after October 1, 2026 to protect the health and safety of firefighters serving in the military Authorizing a $20 million increase which Senator Hassan pushed for in the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) to boost research at New Hampshire Universities Provisions to strengthen our military and national security that are included in the NDAA: Providing critical security assistance and support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unconscionable invasion Providing a 4.6 percent pay raise for U.S. service members Authorizing funding for eight additional F-35 joint strike fighters, a measure Senator Hassan helped advocate for ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-senator-hassans-bipartisan-end-fentanyl-act-to-help-prevent-drug-smuggling,Senate Passes Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan END FENTANYL Act to Help Prevent Drug Smuggling,2022-12-15,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed Senator Maggie Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of Life (END FENTANYL) Act. This legislation would require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to update agency policies at least once every three years to ensure drug interdiction guidance is up to date. This legislation builds off the 2019 nonpartisan Government Accountability Office report, “Land Ports of Entry: CBP Should Update Policies and Enhance Analysis of Inspections,” that found that drug interdiction guidance has not been updated in 20 years. “Illegal fentanyl is continuing to make its way to New Hampshire with heartbreaking impacts for Granite Staters,” said Senator Hassan. “We need to be doing all that we can to address this crisis, and this bipartisan legislation would ensure that Customs and Border Protection takes additional steps to prevent fentanyl from entering our country and reaching our communities. Senate passage of this bill is an important step forward, and I urge the House of Representatives to pass it as soon as possible.” The bipartisan END FENTANYL Act would require the Commissioner of CBP to review and update the Office of Field Operations’ policies and handbooks as necessary and at least once every three years in order to respond to illegal activity, such as the trafficking of drugs and humans, along the border. It would also require the Commissioner of CBP to submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives that summarizes the policy and manual changes every three years. This legislation builds on Senator Hassan’s bipartisan work to strengthen border security and combat substance misuse. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Senator Hassan has led the bipartisan push in Congress to make it easier for those seeking recovery to access buprenorphine, which she also pressed the Health and Human Services Secretary about in a hearing this year. In March, the Senator chaired a field hearing in Manchester to discuss ways to crack down on international drug trafficking and provide more resources to law enforcement to help stop the flow of illegal drugs into communities. Last October, Senator Hassan pressed the Drug Enforcement Agency to further combat the rise of dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine disguised as prescription drugs. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-hassan-join-bipartisan-push-to-lower-costs-of-home-heating-options,"Shaheen, Hassan Join Bipartisan Push to Lower Costs of Home Heating Options",2022-12-14,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped introduce bipartisan legislation to help families afford cost-reducing, sustainable residential home heating technologies. The BTU Tax Credit Expansion Act incentivizes the purchase of these innovative heating sources by increasing the maximum rebate for biomass stoves and boilers from $2,000 to $8,000. Once purchased, the stoves’ yearly fuel and maintenance costs are significantly lower than other heating options. “With energy costs straining family budgets this winter, I’m glad to support this bipartisan legislation to help make residential home heating technologies like highly efficient wood boilers, stoves and heaters more affordable,” said Shaheen. “Investing in these cost-effective heating options not only lowers energy bills for Granite State families but also benefits the environment by reducing fossil fuel emissions. I’ll continue working in the Senate to support better utilization of natural resources to meet our energy needs, cut costs for Granite Staters and combat the climate crisis.” “High home-heating costs are hurting Granite Staters this winter, and we must keep working together to lower energy costs in New Hampshire,” said Hassan. “That’s why I’m helping introduce this bill that leverages new, innovative home heating technologies to help Granite Staters save money, and I will continue working to help lower costs across the board.” The bill was introduced by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and cosponsored by Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). Senator Shaheen is a leading policymaker on energy efficiency priorities. From her landmark bipartisan legislation to address energy efficiency building codes with Senator Portman (R-OH) to her leadership as a negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law and her consistent advocacy to include robust funding for important federal programs in annual government funding legislation, Senator Shaheen has secured significant investments in the energy efficiency sector over the years. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has consistently secured federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. Earlier this year, Shaheen joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in a push urging for the swift release of LIHEAP funds. Shaheen also champions the Weatherization Assistance Program and other energy efficiency measures to help Granite Staters keep their energy usage down and lower their monthly bills. She authored an op-ed for the Union Leader, reminding Granite Staters of the resources and opportunities available to help reduce energy costs at home by making important energy efficiency modifications. The op-ed can be read in full here. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to bring down energy costs for Granite Staters. During negotiations on the government funding legislation from September, Senator Hassan worked closely with her Democratic and Republican colleagues to successfully secure additional direct heating assistance for families. Senator Hassan also led the New England delegation in calling on President Biden to lower energy costs by releasing oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. Senator Hassan successfully included in the Inflation Reduction Act her measure with Susan Collins (R-ME) to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by expanding and extending a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-push-from-senator-hassan-administration-to-make-permanent-expanded-opioid-treatment-options,"Following Push from Senator Hassan, Administration to Make Permanent Expanded Opioid Treatment Options",2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following advocacy from Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and colleagues, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will permanently allow the use of telehealth to prescribe buprenorphine, a critical medication to help treat opioid use disorder. “Telehealth meets Granite Staters where they are. Today’s announcement allows those who have made the courageous decision to enter or remain in recovery to do so with a phone or video call with their doctor,” said Senator Hassan. “We need to continue taking every possible step to make it easier to access treatment for opioid use disorder. I will keep working across the aisle to address the opioid epidemic and expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services.” Senator Hassan is working to address the opioid epidemic. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Senator Hassan has led the bipartisan push in Congress to make it easier for those seeking recovery to access buprenorphine, which she also pressed the HHS Secretary about in a hearing this year. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-celebrating-marriage-equality-bill-signed-into-law,Senator Hassan Statement Celebrating Marriage Equality Bill Signed into Law,2022-12-13,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement ahead of the President signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law this afternoon: “Enshrining marriage equality as the law of the land shows millions of couples - and the youngest generation of Americans - that their love is cherished in our democracy. The decision to marry is one of the most fundamental choices that a person can make, and today’s law protects this foundational freedom from attacks seen across the country. “As the first state in our country to legalize same-sex marriage without the force of a court order, New Hampshire has long led the fight for marriage equality. Today’s signing is the culmination of efforts by advocates working to secure these freedoms for decades, and I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community in celebration today.” The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in the House by Congressman Chris Pappas and colleagues. Senator Hassan has led efforts to enshrine marriage equality into law. During her time as Senate Majority Leader in the New Hampshire State Senate, Senator Hassan led the push to make New Hampshire the first state in the country where the legislature passed, and the governor signed, marriage equality into law without a court order. Her continued efforts to fight for marriage equality earned her a 100% perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign this Congress, a comprehensive indicator of her support for marriage equality and LGBTQ+ rights. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-senators-hassan-and-portmans-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-national-security-by-preparing-for-quantum-cybersecurity-risks,Senate Passes Senators Hassan and Portman’s Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen National Security by Preparing for Quantum Cybersecurity Risks,2022-12-09,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Senate passed Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Rob Portman’s (R-OH) bipartisan bill to strengthen national security by preparing the federal government’s defenses against quantum-computing-enabled data breaches. As quantum computers, including those being developed by our adversaries, continue to get more powerful and more widely available, federal agencies must proactively work to ensure that federal cybersecurity protections remain up to date. The bipartisan companion bill in the House was introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) and Nancy Mace (R-SC-01). “Data breaches exploited by quantum computing are a serious national security concern. America’s adversaries look for any vulnerabilities in our cybersecurity systems in order to threaten our infrastructure, data, and security,” said Senator Hassan. “It is crucial that we are ready to defend against any adversaries using this incredibly sophisticated and emerging technology against our country. Protecting our homeland security is a bipartisan issue – I am pleased that the Senate passed our bill and I’ll keep working to get this across the finish line.” “Quantum computing will provide for huge advances in computing power, but it will also create new cybersecurity challenges,” said Ranking Member Portman. “I’m pleased the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to require the government to inventory its cryptographic systems, determine which are most at risk from quantum computing, and upgrade those systems accordingly.” “As quantum computing advances, we need to take steps to protect the personal data of Americans as well as U.S. national security and government agencies data,” said Rep. Khanna. “I’m thrilled that the Senate has passed this bill to proactively keep our systems and valuable data safe and establish Congress’ oversight role in the process."" “Not only should our country lead the world in the research and development of quantum tech, but we should also lead the way in post-quantum cybersecurity standards across the government,” said Rep. Mace. “The passage of this bill is a crucial step forward in securing our nation from the threats of the future and readying ourselves for this leap in technology.” The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act would: Require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritize the acquisition and migration of federal agencies’ information technology to post-quantum cryptography; Instruct OMB to create guidance for federal agencies to assess critical systems one year after the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issues planned post-quantum cryptography standards; Direct OMB to send an annual report to Congress that includes a strategy on how to address post-quantum cryptography risks, the funding that might be necessary, and an analysis on whole-of-government coordination and migration to post-quantum cryptography standards and information technology. Senator Hassan is leading efforts in Congress to invest in quantum research, which is critical to national security and the economy. Senators Hassan and John Thune’s (R-SD) measure to encourage quantum research efforts was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. Senators Hassan and Thune also previously introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen national security by advancing U.S. capabilities in quantum networking and establishing a more comprehensive approach to workforce development in this field. In addition, Senator Hassan previously joined the New Hampshire congressional delegation in announcing $2.76 million in federal funding for Dartmouth College to support its quantum genome mapping project. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-secures-key-nh-priorities-in-annual-defense-bill,Senator Hassan Secures Key NH Priorities in Annual Defense Bill,2022-12-09,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) outlined today the key national security provisions that she secured and supported in the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. “As we continue to face a wide range of threats to the security of the American people, it is important that Congress pass this bipartisan bill to bolster our nation’s defenses,” said Senator Hassan. “As Republicans and Democrats negotiated this legislation, I worked to help secure key priorities for our country and for New Hampshire, including cracking down on illicit drug traffickers to help combat the opioid epidemic, closing loopholes that allow Putin to fund his unconscionable war, strengthening our supply chains, and supporting military institutions in the Granite State. This bill is a necessary step in keeping our country safe, secure, and free.” Key measures that Senator Hassan championed that are included in the NDAA: Cracking Down on Drug Traffickers: A bipartisan bill that Senator Hassan introduced which authorizes existing Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, which help identify gang members and drug dealers and collect and share intelligence on transnational criminal organizations, and enhances vetting and provides stipends for participants Improving Cybersecurity: The bipartisan FedRAMP Authorization Act which Senator Hassan helped lead to codify the successful government-wide program that approves cloud computing companies and products to ensure that they are secure and safe for agency use Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: A bipartisan bill which Senator Shaheen introduced and Senator Hassan worked to advance, to bolster the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and increase the government’s capacity to supply these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs Sanctioning Russia: A bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to sanction the purchase of Russian gold as part of ongoing efforts to stand up to Putin Bolstering Coastal Resiliency: Senator Hassan’s legislation that allows New Hampshire and other coastal states to participate in Regional Ocean Partnerships, which are new organizations that coordinate collaboration and grant funding among participating states on coastal resilience and environmental protection Modernizing Reports from the Inspectors General: Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Inspector General Reporting Modernization Act will make key federal spending oversight reports simpler to read, easier to compile, and require less taxpayer dollars to produce Addressing the Substance Misuse Crisis: Provisions to build relationships with international partners to track and detect synthetic-controlled substances, including fentanyl Supporting Israel: Provisions to support U.S.-Israel Missile Defense research and development through additional funding for the Iron Dome system Establishing the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative: A bipartisan proposal Senator Hassan helped push which aims to improve cognitive performance and brain health of service members Support for NH priorities that are included in the NDAA: Authorizing funding to procure additional Virginia-class submarines that will be maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing $503 million in funding to support the Multi-Mission Dry Dock project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Authorizing a record-level $20 million in funding to address PFAS contamination in military communities Inclusion of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which will support localities across New Hampshire by authorizing essential infrastructure projects, including the Town of Lancaster through the long-sought removal of the obsolete Israel River Dam Authorizing over $900 million for Compass Call electronic attack aircraft, whose development is based in Nashua and Hudson Authorizing $100 million to continue the purchase of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular, produced by New Hampshire manufacturers, which increase the effectiveness of U.S. service members Banning the purchase of PFAS-laden firefighting gear after October 1, 2026 to protect the health and safety of firefighters serving the military Authorizing a $20 million increase which Senator Hassan pushed for in the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) to boost research at New Hampshire Universities Provisions to strengthen our military and national security that are included in the NDAA: Providing critical security assistance and support to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unconscionable invasion Providing a 4.6 percent pay raise for U.S. service members Authorizing funding for eight additional F-35 joint strike fighters, a measure Senator Hassan helped advocate for ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-ongoing-efforts-from-senator-hassan-naloxone-could-soon-be-available-over-the-counter-nationwide,"Following Ongoing Efforts from Senator Hassan, Naloxone Could Soon Be Available Over the Counter Nationwide",2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following ongoing efforts from Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), naloxone manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced that it is working to make the life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication available over the counter more easily nationwide, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is fast-tracking the application, which could be approved by Spring 2023. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan and a bipartisan group of colleagues urged seven major manufacturers of naloxone to apply for over-the-counter status for their products to help increase access and save lives. Senator Hassan also successfully led a bipartisan push calling on the FDA to increase community organizations’ access to naloxone. In New Hampshire, a state law has made naloxone available over the counter in many pharmacies. “As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities in New Hampshire and throughout the country, we need to be doing all that we can help save lives,” said Senator Hassan. “When an overdose occurs, naloxone can be the difference between life and death, and it is essential to keep expanding access to this critical medication. This announcement is an important step forward, and it is part of the comprehensive approach that we must take to tackle this crisis – including prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts.” Senator Hassan is working to address the opioid epidemic. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Last year following Senator Hassan’s advocacy, the Biden administration removed some requirements that limited health care providers’ ability to prescribe medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. Senator Hassan is continuing to press for passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, a bipartisan bill that she reintroduced last year with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), that would fully eliminate bureaucratic barriers to treatment. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/portman-hassan-applaud-house-passage-of-their-early-hearing-detection-and-intervention-legislation,"Portman, Hassan Applaud House Passage of their Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Legislation",2022-12-06,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded the House passage of their Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2022, legislation that will reauthorize current research and improve public health programs for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in newborns, infants, and young children for five additional years. Senator Portman led the effort to get this program reauthorized for 5 years in 2017. The program is currently set to expire at the end of 2022. Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Senator Portman’s bill was amended by the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in June and passed the Senate by unanimous consent last Thursday. Today, it passed the House by a vote of 408-17. The bill will now be sent to the president’s desk for signature. “I am pleased this important bill has now passed the Senate and the House. Early hearing detection is critical because children with hearing loss often fall behind their peers in speech development, cognitive skills, and social skills,” said Portman. “This bill takes important steps to continue critical programs for early hearing detection and intervention for newborns, infants, and young children. I look forward to it being signed into law soon.” “Every child deserves to have the same opportunities to thrive, but if a child’s hearing problems go undetected early in life, they can face long-term challenges,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad that this bill to strengthen early detection of hearing loss in newborns and young children is heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law. I will continue working so that every child, regardless of their abilities, can receive the support that they need.” NOTE: The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act reauthorizes current research and public health activities related to early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing loss in newborns and infants. Specifically, this legislation: Authorizes development of programs for hearing screening of newborns, infants, and young children; Authorizes prompt evaluation and diagnosis of children referred from screening programs; Provides for educational, audiological, and medical interventions for children confirmed to be deaf or hard-of-hearing; Allows education and medical models to ensure that newborns, infants, and young children who are identified through hearing screening receive follow up by qualified early intervention providers, qualified health care providers, or pediatric medical homes; and Continues research and development for early hearing detection and intervention, including development of technologies and clinical studies of screening methods. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-hosts-5th-annual-innovate-new-hampshire-entrepreneurship-forum,Senator Hassan Hosts 5th Annual Innovate New Hampshire Entrepreneurship Forum,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) hosted her 5th annual Innovate New Hampshire Entrepreneurship Forum this morning as part of her efforts to support New Hampshire’s innovators and entrepreneurs and ensure that they have the tools that they need to launch innovative businesses and thrive. “Innovate New Hampshire is a prime example of Granite Staters coming together to discuss opportunities and challenges facing our businesses - and the work they do to help build a stronger economic future,” said Senator Hassan. “I thank the panelists and Granite Staters that were able to join today as we celebrate our state’s success in innovation and technology, and I will continue to make sure that our businesses have the resources that they need to discover the next great idea - and make it a reality.” WATCH the event here. The panelists included: Mayor Joyce Craig, City of Manchester Mike Vlacich, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration Dan Weeks, Vice President of Business Development, Revision Energy Marian McCord, Vice Provost, University of New Hampshire Dr. Patrick Magari, President, Creare Dr. Jay Rozzi, Vice President, Creare Maureen Toohey, Deputy Executive Director, Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) At the top of the conversation, Mike Vlacich shared the importance of innovation to small businesses and the state’s economy. “It’s important that we start the conversation about innovation by talking about small businesses. They’re 99 percent of the businesses in New Hampshire, and they account for 50 percent of the employees in the state of New Hampshire,” said Vlacich. As the forum progressed, topics covered included: R&D Funding When asked by Senator Hassan about the impact of R&D funding on UNH’s ability to do research, Marian McCord explained, “New Hampshire, and UNH specifically, are clearly ahead of the competition. University research activity in New Hampshire outpaces the nation by more than 46 percent, adjusted for the size of the state economy.” McCord outlined the impact that federal funding has on UNH’s research capabilities: “In 2022, we were awarded a record-breaking $260 million in research dollars, and most of that funding comes from federal grants that UNH competes for and wins, often over larger and more well-resourced institutions.” As Governor of New Hampshire, Senator Hassan doubled the supply of state R&D tax credits and made the credit permanent, and she recently helped pass into law her bipartisan measure that doubled the R&D tax credit for small businesses and startups. Senator Hassan helped develop and pass into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to support our supply chains, lower costs, and help America outcompete countries like China by investing in research and manufacturing here at home. Clean Energy Economy Federal investments in the clean energy economy have helped spur economic activity and grow our workforce, further explained by Dan Weeks: “The Inflation Reduction Act that you [Senator Hassan] and your colleagues in the Senate and the House passed over the summer is a game changer. It’s the largest measure ever taken by the federal government - in fact, I think by any government anywhere in the world - to accelerate investment in the clean energy economy and to take bold climate action.” He continued: “The Inflation Reduction Act is enabling more and more nonprofits, businesses, and municipalities. It’s allowing these entities that are supported by taxpayers to reduce tax expenditure on energy, as well as privates, nonprofits, and homes, and to invest in clean energy.” Leading the Future of Biofabrication This fall, Senator Hassan helped secure a $44 million grant to the BioFabrication Cluster, led by the City of Manchester, to establish a biofabrication cluster in Southern New Hampshire. “ARMI and BioFab, a DoD-funded institute within ARMI, are working on the advanced biomanufacturing of cells, tissues, and organs, really building on some of the very creative biomedical engineering and biomedical manufacturing that has taken place in New Hampshire with companies like DEKA for 40 years,” said Maureen Toohey. Of the project and its impact, Mayor Craig said that “because of the work that's happening right here in Manchester's Millyard, we are revolutionizing the way that we deliver health care."" Federal Investments in Small Business Innovation Senator Hassan highlighted New Hampshire’s leadership in establishing federal support for innovation in small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research program, and Patrick Magari and Jay Rozzi of Creare discussed how it has impacted their company. “Creare collaborated with New Hampshire’s Senator [Warren] Rudman back in 1982 to create the legislation, and we’ve been involved in every reauthorization since,” said Dr. Magari. “The program has been a very important tool used by many government agencies to meet a variety of mission objectives. It has also been a vital means for Creare and many other small companies to develop high-risk technologies and deliver them to government clients, industrial clients, consumers, etc. Dr. Magari summarized: “From our perspective, this has been a very successful program and every time it has been reauthorized, it is strengthened more.” Recruiting a 21st-Century Workforce In response to a viewer question, the panelists discussed how to recruit and retain a 21st century workforce in STEM fields, in addition to ensuring that women and girls have the opportunity to succeed in STEM. “Girls and young women are underrepresented in the STEM fields. We know that girls and young women get interested in doing STEM when they understand the qualitative difference they can make by engaging in these fields,” said Senator Hassan. “It’s about presenting girls with the opportunity to solve a problem that will help people.” “If you are a STEM technology company or have an innovative way to connect students to learning, please reach out,” said Maureen Toohey, a sentiment echoed by McCord and Mayor Craig. “It’s by adding all of these resources together that a small state like New Hampshire can be a national leader.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-shaheens-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-fire-fighters-from-pfas-chemicals-goes-to-presidents-desk,Senators Hassan & Shaheen’s Bipartisan Bill to Protect Fire Fighters from PFAS Chemicals Goes to President’s Desk,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and cosponsored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to help protect the health and safety of fire fighters and emergency responders from PFAS exposure passed the House and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and educational programs to reduce, limit, and prevent exposure to PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’ because they do not naturally break down. The bill would also require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop educational resources for fire fighters on alternative foams and personal protective equipment that do not contain PFAS. “Fire fighters routinely put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and they face additional risk from exposure to toxic substances in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment,” said Senator Hassan. “I introduced this commonsense, bipartisan bill to reduce fire fighters’ exposure to PFAS substances that are linked to numerous health problems including certain cancers. I am glad that this bill has passed the House and Senate, and look forward to seeing the President sign this into law.” “Exposure to PFAS chemicals poses risks to both human health and the environment. That’s why Congress and the Department of Homeland Security must take action to protect our firefighters from exposure to these dangerous substances while in the line of duty. And because of our legislation, that is precisely what the federal government will be required to do,” said Shaheen. “I’m glad to see this legislation head to President Biden’s desk to become law, marking an important step in keeping firefighters in New Hampshire and across the nation safe while on the job, as well as preventing these harmful chemicals from contaminating the environment. I’ve long prioritized actions to protect firefighters from PFAS exposure, and I’m proud to build on that work when this bill is signed into law.” This bill is part of Senator Hassan and Shaheen’s ongoing efforts to support first responders and address PFAS exposure. Senator Hassan has strongly supported federal grant programs to support New Hampshire fire departments, and successfully worked to increase funding for these programs in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law. The bipartisan infrastructure law includes a measure authored by Senator Hassan to better ensure that more New Hampshire towns are eligible for an advanced technology grant program that can be used remove contaminants, including PFAS, from drinking water. Senator Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination, respond to the chemical exposure and remediate polluted sites. Shaheen has fought to secure consistent federal support for the PFAS health impact study that she established four years ago. Because of her efforts, Pease is serving as a model site for the nationwide study. As a lead negotiator of water provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law, Shaheen secured record-level funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and address PFAS contamination, including $72 million in grants to New Hampshire announced by the Environmental Protection Agency last month. The FY2020 NDAA included Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Department of Defense to include blood testing for PFAS as part of routine physicals for military firefighters, as well as a provision authored by Shaheen that would phase out the use of PFAS in DOD firefighting foams by 2024. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-risch-rosen-and-rubio-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-prevent-human-trafficking,"Senators Hassan, Risch, Rosen, and Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Prevent Human Trafficking",2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), James Risch (R-ID), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, bipartisan legislation to help prevent human trafficking by requiring the posting of the national human trafficking hotline in the restrooms of all U.S. planes, busses, and trains, as well as airports, bus stations, and rail stations. The companion bill, which the House passed on a bipartisan basis in July, was introduced by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Darrell Issa (R-CA). “It is crucial that we take every step possible to stop human trafficking, and one commonsense place to intercede is at transportation hubs by letting victims, or those who notice a potential victim, know who to call for help,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bill is an important effort to address one of the greatest evils in our society, and I will continue working with my colleagues across the aisle to stamp out human trafficking, hold perpetrators accountable, and save victims.” “Congress must do everything in its power to combat human trafficking. Providing both victims and potential witnesses of human trafficking with the information they need to call for help at transportation hubs will go a long way in preventing this abhorrent crime,” said Senator Risch. “That said, there is still more to be done and I will continue to support anti-trafficking efforts, provide victims with the necessary resources, and ensure traffickers are punished to the fullest extent.” “Human trafficking is a heinous crime that threatens the well-being of women, men, and children across this country and around the world,” said Senator Rosen. “The national human trafficking hotline has been a highly effective tool in helping victims, and I’m helping introduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure that it is even more visible in Nevada and nationwide.” “Human trafficking continues to cause suffering for millions of people, especially young women and girls. We must do everything we can to help the victims. This is a commonsense bill to expose this evil,” said Senator Rubio. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a toll-free service connecting victims and survivors of trafficking to critical support and resources. The Hotline provides both a toll-free phone line and SMS text lines which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter. The full text of the bill can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-in-letter-to-hhs-urging-direct-federal-funding-to-support-sexual-education-providers,Shaheen Leads NH Delegation in Letter to HHS Urging Direct Federal Funding to Support Sexual Education Providers,2022-12-05,2022,2022-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) in a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, urging the Department to support sexual education providers in the wake of the Executive Council’s decision to block their funding. For nearly a decade, New Hampshire has received PREP funding for TLC Family Resource Center and Amoskeag Health, which have dramatically reduced teen pregnancy rates and provided information on reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception and more. Given the Republican-controlled Executive Council’s dangerous and misguided decision to deny these programs critical federal funding since September, classes have and will continue to be canceled -- stripping Granite State parents of the opportunity to enroll their children in these health education programs. “This year the New Hampshire Executive Council, which approves the receipt and expenditure of all federal funds in New Hampshire totaling $10,000 or more, has repeatedly denied PREP funding for TLC Family Resource Center and Amoskeag Health to continue their sex education classes. This shortsighted decision will deprive the State of $682,074 over the next three years, stymieing the progress New Hampshire has made in decreasing teen birth rates and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases,” the delegation wrote. They continued: “Absent direct funding from HHS, Amoskeag Health and TLC Family Resource Center will be forced to end classes until an accessible federal funding source becomes available or in perpetuity, leaving hundreds of New Hampshire youth without access to critical sex education and pregnancy prevention programs. We urge you to work with our State and PREP providers to find any means available to directly fund these vital programs as soon as possible.” Full text of the letter is available here. In response to the letter, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, TLC Family Resource Center and Amoskeag Health released the following statements: ”For the past two months, I have been working with patients, providers, and local leaders to continue this evidence-based program in the two communities needing these services the most. Manchester and Claremont experience some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the state, and this program has proven to dramatically decrease these rates and the rates of sexually transmitted disease. The Executive Council has, once again, rejected critical public health funds and their actions will negatively impact already at-risk adolescents. The congressional delegation and I are working together to secure funding before any more harm is done to New Hampshire teens. Thank you to our congressional delegation for their leadership in calling for a federal solution that gets these much-needed funds to our communities,” said Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington. “Unexpectedly losing this funding for PREP has been challenging for TLC Family Resource Center. We had developed new partnerships with several schools and had invested in additional outreach in our community to boost participation in PREP. When we had to contact the schools and students to postpone or cancel classes, it was very disappointing for everyone involved. TLC Family Resource Center has been providing family support services in Greater Sullivan County for 30 years. Teen parents are definitely one of the most vulnerable populations we serve in our home visiting programs, and children born to teen parents often face many barriers and challenges to early childhood development. Providing primary prevention for teen pregnancy in our region is an impactful way to improve outcomes for teens, but also for young children. Receiving a three-year contract to continue PREP would ensure that TLC Family Resource Center is able to provide the program to over 250 youth. Without dedicated, multi-year funding, TLC will be forced to limit the number of youth who are able to participate, greatly reducing the impact of the program,” said Stephanie Slayton, Executive Director of the TLC Family Resource Center. “Amoskeag Health is disappointed that NH’s Executive Council rejected federal funding to continue the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), a comprehensive and preventative sexual health education program that the State of New Hampshire has contracted with us to provide for 10 years. In the time we have offered this program to high school-aged students, PREP helped reduce Manchester’s teen pregnancy rate by 50%, as well as taught youth about anatomy, healthy relationships, and understanding consequences of behavior. We are extremely concerned that without continued funding Manchester will backtrack on that progress and experience more teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and domestic violence, resulting in an increased financial burden on health and social resources to support teen moms, increased demand for abortions, and increased involvement of teens and their children in the child welfare system,” said Kris McCracken, President/CEO of Amoskeag Health. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-welcomes-over-13m-to-bolster-public-health-infrastructure-to-safeguard-against-future-outbreaks-and-diseases,NH Delegation Welcomes Over $13M to Bolster Public Health Infrastructure to Safeguard Against Future Outbreaks & Diseases,2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced today that $13,191,844 is heading to New Hampshire to support public health infrastructure. Specifically, the funding will provide flexibility for the State to support recruiting and training a robust public health workforce, as well as helping protect people from preventable diseases, stopping outbreaks, and monitoring public health data. The award comes from the American Rescue Plan, which the delegation supported, and was funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant program. “The COVID crisis illustrated just how critical investments in our public health infrastructure are – both so we can continue to combat the evolving pandemic and so we can protect Granite Staters from other health emergencies. Investing in a strong public health workforce and ensuring we have the systems in place to keep our communities healthy are essential steps, which is why I’m glad to welcome over $13 million to New Hampshire from the CDC,” said Senator Shaheen. “This funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, which I supported, and I will continue to ensure our state has the tools needed to safeguard public health and protect communities from preventable diseases.” “Public health workers play a vital role in supporting Granite Staters’ well-being, from visiting new moms and their babies to addressing the opioid epidemic to helping people manage diabetes and other long-term health concerns. New Hampshire needs more public health workers, and this federal funding will be a big help in recruiting and training more public health workers for both the state and local communities,” said Senator Hassan. “These federal funds will play an essential role in improving New Hampshire’s critical public health infrastructure by supporting and expanding our health care workforce and systems,” said Rep. Kuster, a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. “I am proud to advocate for our Granite State hospitals, first responders, and health care providers and I look forward to seeing the positive impact of this funding on the health of our state and our communities.” “The health and well-being of Granite Staters depend on our state having the resources necessary to recruit and retain a well-trained health care and public health workforce as well as modern health care infrastructure,” said Rep. Pappas. “When I speak with health care providers across the First District, workforce issues are always among their most pressing challenges. These federal funds will assist New Hampshire’s public health systems in meeting those staffing and workforce needs and invest in critical infrastructure and data support to help ensure New Hampshire families and communities can get the care they need.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-celebrating-senate-passage-of-marriage-equality-protections,Senator Hassan Statement Celebrating Senate Passage of Marriage Equality Protections,2022-11-29,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement celebrating the bipartisan passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would enshrine marriage equality and provide additional legal protections for same-sex and interracial couples. “Freedom is the foundation of the American Dream, and that includes a couple’s freedom to marry. Today’s vote reaffirms that founding principle, and reassures millions of Americans that they can commit their love, joy, and partnership to whomever they love. I hope that today’s vote sends a resounding message to our youngest Americans: that who they love should never carry stigma nor shame, and that love is celebrated at the highest levels of our American democracy. I urge the House of Representatives to act quickly so we can send this important legislation to the President’s desk.” Senator Hassan has led efforts to enshrine marriage equality into law. During her time as Senate Majority Leader in the New Hampshire State Senate, Senator Hassan led the push to make New Hampshire one of the first states in the country to pass marriage equality into law. Her continued efforts to fight for marriage equality earned her a 100% perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign this Congress, a comprehensive indicator of her support for marriage equality and LGBTQ rights. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sinema-kelly-tester-hassan-highlight-concerns-with-administrations-preparation-for-the-end-of-title-42-call-on-dhs-to-detail-plans,"Sinema, Kelly, Tester, Hassan Highlight Concerns with Administration’s Preparation for the End of Title 42, Call on DHS to Detail Plans",2022-11-28,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detailing their concerns with the Administration’s current preparations for the end of Title 42 and asking for answers on how the Administration plans to ensure operational control of the border and fair and humane treatment for migrants once Title 42 ends. The Senators’ letter comes following the November 15th ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ending the use of Title 42. “Since the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the Public Health Determination and terminated the Title 42 Order on April 1, 2022, we have expressed concern with DHS’ preparations for the end of Title 42, especially as the situation has deteriorated at times,” wrote the Senators. “Record annual encounters have led to untenable situations. In Arizona, shelters have been forced well beyond capacity. This month, El Paso has seen over 700 migrants released directly onto city streets due to overcrowding. This is not safe, and creates a dangerous situation for migrants and communities.” Read the Senators’ full letter HERE. Earlier this year, the Senators partnered with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to introduce the bipartisan Public Health and Border Security Act to require all COVID-19 related emergencies be lifted before Title 42 is officially terminated. The bill specifically would have prevented the Administration from ending the Title 42 emergency authority until at least 60 days after ending the COVID-19 National Emergency and the Public Health Emergency. After the end of the emergencies, the Department of Homeland Security would have thirty days to submit to Congress a plan to address the impacts of the post-Title 42 migrant influx. That plan must be made in coordination with local governments, federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations on the frontlines of the migrant crisis. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/report-shows-senator-hassans-bill-has-stopped-nine-million-surprise-medical-bills-this-year,Report Shows Senator Hassan’s Bill Has Stopped Nine Million Surprise Medical Bills This Year,2022-11-23,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, a new report came out showing that Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Bill Cassidy’s (R-LA) No Surprises Act to help ban surprise medical billing prevented nine million surprise medical bills this year. “For too long, Americans have had to fight hospitals and insurance companies when they received an unexpected medical bill even though they thought they had done everything right by using in-network services. That’s why Senator Cassidy and I teamed up to protect patients and ban this abusive practice. I’m glad that our legislation has prevented more than nine million surprise bills just this year, and I’ll keep working to bring down health care costs,” said Senator Hassan. Senators Hassan and Cassidy led the effort to address surprise medical billing, and at the end of 2020, passed into law the No Surprises Act. Their legislation went into effect at the beginning of this year. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-lauren-caulfield-and-ronda-chrystal-of-brookline-as-novembers-granite-staters-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes Lauren Caulfield and Ronda Chrystal of Brookline as November’s Granite Staters of the Month,2022-11-22,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Lauren Caulfield and Ronda Chrystal of Brookline as November’s Granite Staters of the Month. The pair founded Pink Revolution in order to support cancer patients with chemo care packages and financial support. When Lauren was being treated for breast cancer, she noticed that not every patient had the same level of support that she did during this difficult time. After her recovery, alongside her longtime friend Ronda, she founded Pink Revolution Breast Cancer Alliance of NH to support patients with all types of cancer. Lauren and Ronda built a network of volunteers to put together 1,500 chemo care packages a year to deliver to 25 oncology centers in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The care packages contain essential items such as blankets, tissues, and lip balm. In addition, the nonprofit fundraises to provide chemo patients – some of whom struggle with costs during their treatment – with gas and grocery cards. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below. I am honored to recognize Lauren Caulfield and Ronda Chrystal of Brookline as November’s Granite Staters of the Month. The pair founded Pink Revolution in order to support cancer patients with chemo care packages and financial support. When Lauren was being treated for breast cancer, she noticed that not every patient had the same level of support that she did during this difficult time. Some were arriving to chemotherapy sessions alone or had to skip sessions because they couldn’t afford it. After her recovery, Lauren decided she wanted to take action, and alongside her longtime friend Ronda, she founded Pink Revolution Breast Cancer Alliance of NH to support patients with all types of cancer. Lauren and Ronda started by reaching out to friends and family touched by cancer, and ultimately built a network of volunteers to put together 1,500 chemo care packages a year to deliver to 25 oncology centers in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The care packages contain essential items such as blankets, tissues, and lip balm, as well as some items with personal touches, such as hats knitted by residents at nursing homes. In addition, the nonprofit fundraises to provide chemo patients – some of whom struggle with costs during their treatment – with gas and grocery cards. After undergoing chemotherapy, Lauren decided to find the silver lining in her experience by helping others. With their hard work over the past four years, Lauren and Ronda have made a true difference in many Granite Staters’ lives as they face serious medical hardship. Lauren and Ronda’s work leading Pink Revolution exemplifies the Granite State spirit of generosity, and I commend them and their large network of volunteers. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-marshall-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-seniors-with-medicare-coverage-options,Senators Hassan and Marshall Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Seniors with Medicare Coverage Options,2022-11-22,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced the bipartisan Medicare & You Handbook Improvement Act, which will help ensure that when seniors assess their Medicare coverage options, they understand the challenges that Medicare Advantage can have. The bill will improve education materials for America’s seniors during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period, and is in response to concerns that seniors shared about inadvertently selecting Medicare plans that do not best meet their health care needs. “When deciding whether to enroll in traditional Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, seniors rely on the official Medicare & You handbook. Unfortunately, the handbook does not fully address the challenges Medicare Advantage can create for seniors,” said Senator Hassan. “My bipartisan bill would address this by improving the handbook and adding key information that is currently missing. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill, and I will continue working to strengthen Medicare.” “The Medicare & You handbook has improved over the years, but still lacks on sharing some vital information on health plan choices and supplemental health insurance,” said Senator Marshall. “I’ve grown increasingly concerned about mass marketing ad campaigns during open enrollment, and want to be sure that seniors are selecting plans that best meets their health and financial needs. That’s why Senator Hassan and I introduced bipartisan legislation to close that knowledge gap so seniors know about potential pitfalls. Like my grandma always said, ‘If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t.’” The Medicare & You handbook is the official handbook that guides new and current Medicare beneficiaries on the Medicare program. Published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the handbook is mailed to every Medicare household each fall and includes a summary of Medicare benefits, patient protections, a list of available health and drug plans, and some helpful FAQs on Medicare. Notably, it provides a comparison of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA). While the handbook has evolved over the years to be more reader-friendly, it does not maintain information on techniques that help MA plans control costs and aim to ensure seniors receive appropriate care. The Medicare & You Handbook Improvement Act of 2022 would improve beneficiary education by requiring CMS to include information on the following: A description of what utilization management techniques are including prior authorization and step therapy, and how a beneficiary can find which techniques apply under a specific MA plan or prescription drug plan. A description of the network sizes of MA plans relative to the number of health care providers who accept Original Medicare. A description explaining that when seniors switch to a MA plan and later switch back to Original Medicare, they may be prohibited from purchasing supplemental coverage or else have to pay significantly higher premiums. The legislation complements the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, legislation that would modernize Medicare Advantage and make health care delivery more patient and doctor friendly. The bill – sponsored by Senator Marshall and cosponsored by Senator Hassan – has support from 50 Senators and support from over 500 national and state organizations. Senator Hassan also joined colleagues in calling for the Biden administration to implement additional consumer protections in Medicare Advantage, following an increase in reports of deceptive marketing practices aimed at seniors in the program, and joined the NH Congressional Delegation in urging CMS to take action to protect eligible New Hampshire Medicare beneficiaries subject to aggressive and potentially predatory marketing tactics related to the sale of Medicare Advantage plans or other insurance products. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-and-laura-landerman-garber-of-hollis-participate-in-annual-holiday-cards-4-our-military-challenge-invite-granite-staters-to-join,"Senator Hassan and Laura Landerman-Garber of Hollis Participate in Annual Holiday Cards 4 Our Military Challenge, Invite Granite Staters to Join",2022-11-21,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Hassan and Staff Participate in Holiday Cards for Our Military Challenge NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined Laura Landerman-Garber of Hollis, founder of the Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge, along with members of Senator Hassan’s staff, to make cards that will be sent to members of the military this holiday season. “The Holiday Card Challenge is one of my favorite traditions, and a chance for all of us to take a step back and express gratitude for the men and women who serve so bravely in defense of our freedoms,” said Senator Hassan. “For the few minutes that it takes to write a card, you can help connect with a service member who may very well be far from home this holiday season. I encourage all Granite Staters to send a card and wish everyone a very happy holiday season.” “Partnering with U.S. Senator Hassan is a true honor as it reflects her core belief that our U.S. Military defends our freedoms with honor and integrity and deserve our gratitude. It has become a tradition over the years to gather together with her and her DC and New Hampshire staff, reflecting upon the upcoming holidays as well as the importance of supporting our Troops and their Families. Cards signed will be mailed to all six Branches all over the globe, including those stationed stateside. We will also be sending cards to the NH National Guard, those Granite Staters who serve with pride. I also remain grateful to Senator Hassan for co-creating with me the #card2connect Challenges which provide cards of care and connection to our US Military, Veterans, and their families year long, offering a “bridge to home!,” said Laura Landerman-Garber, founder of Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge. To date, over 600,000 cards by Americans in all 50 states have been delivered to service members. For more information on where to drop off holiday cards for the Holiday Cards for our Military Challenge, click here. Cards can also be sent to: Laura Landerman-Garber Holiday Card Challenge PO Box #103 Hollis, New Hampshire 03049 For her efforts to spread cheer to military members during the holidays, Senator Hassan previously recognized Landerman-Garber as September 2018’s Granite Stater of the Month. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/as-pact-act-goes-into-effect-senator-hassan-pushes-va-to-continue-robust-outreach-to-veterans,"As PACT Act Goes Into Effect, Senator Hassan Pushes VA to Continue Robust Outreach to Veterans",2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – During a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing yesterday, Senator Maggie Hassan questioned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials about the implementation of the bipartisan PACT Act, historic toxic exposure legislation that Senator Hassan helped write and pass into law. For more than a year, Senator Hassan and fellow members of the Senate and House veterans committees worked together with the VA and Veterans Service Organizations to pass this bill into law. The legislation includes key provisions from the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM) Act that Senators Hassan and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced and continued to push for throughout negotiations. To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here. Senator Hassan began by asking how the VA is connecting with veterans who are not already in the VA system to ensure that they receive information on potential eligibility for VA health care and benefits through the PACT Act. “I want to make sure that the VA is targeting outreach to service members who will be separating or retiring from the military in the future, but likely aren’t actively connected with VA services today,” said Senator Hassan. When asked how the VA will coordinate with the Department of Defense on outreach to active duty members, Shereef M. Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, shared that the VA will attend the Defense Department’s military outreach events and will invite Defense Department stakeholders to next month’s PACT Act awareness week events. In addition, Joshua Jacobs, VA Senior Advisor for Policy Performing the Delegable Duties of the Under Secretary for Benefits, added that the VA coordinates with the Department of Defense through their Joint Executive Committee and that he will raise the issue at a meeting with them this week. Senator Hassan then spoke about the need for the VA to increase their staff in rural areas, an issue important to New Hampshire, to provide veterans with their new benefits and health care. “This need is particularly acute in rural communities in New Hampshire and across the country, where attracting health care providers is a challenge,” said Senator Hassan. “Section 901 of the PACT Act requires the VA to develop and implement a National Rural Recruitment and Hiring Plan for health care professionals to better reach these underserved communities.” When asked how the VA plans to address this, Under Secretary Elnalhal said that “We are actually approaching this in an I think innovative way. We’re taking our experts in workforce management and human resources and combining them with our implementation science researchers to collate the data that is available to understand what a targeted outreach plan could look like and make that an actual evidence-based effort.” Tracey Therit, Chief Human Capital Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, also committed to keeping Senator Hassan updated on efforts to increase the workforce in rural areas to provide PACT Act benefits. Senator Hassan has worked to make sure that Granite State service members and veterans have the support that they need. Last month, President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Hassan to strengthen the Solid Start program, which contacts every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan led a Senate field hearing in Manchester on supporting New Hampshire service members during their transition to civilian life. Senator Hassan also worked with a bipartisan group of her colleagues to end the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission process that threatened New Hampshire veterans’ care. After pressure from Senator Hassan, acting on concerns raised by NH DAV, the Department of Veterans Affairs has cleared the New Hampshire application backlog for volunteers who drive veterans to medical appointments. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-discusses-threats-to-the-homeland-with-top-administration-officials,Senator Hassan Discusses Threats to the Homeland with Top Administration Officials,2022-11-17,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today asked top national security officials about the threat posed by Al-Qaeda, strengthening efforts to counter the flow of drugs across the border, and the state and local cybersecurity grant program that she established, during the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s annual Threats to the Homeland hearing. To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here. International Terrorist Threats Senator Hassan began by asking about Al-Qaeda’s capacity to threaten the U.S. a year after the Afghanistan withdrawal: “To the extent that you can discuss it in an unclassified setting, what is the National Counterterrorism Center’s assessment of Al-Qaeda’s capability to threaten the U.S. homeland?” and asked the FBI Director about this as well. FBI Director Christopher Wray discussed his concerns about having adequate information about Al-Qaeda’s activities in Afghanistan, as well as Al-Qaeda’s and ISIS’s ability to inspire attacks. Drugs Smuggled Across the Border Senator Hassan then spoke about the ongoing flow of illegal drugs across the southwest border, which ultimately helps fuel the substance misuse crisis in New Hampshire. “Every week a new drug seizure along the border makes headlines, but the flow of drugs across the southwest border is unrelenting,” said Senator Hassan. “The drugs that DHS seizes accounts for just a fraction of the total that criminal organizations attempt to smuggle into our country.” Senator Hassan went on to ask Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alexander Mayorkas about what the Department is doing to stem the flow of these illicit drugs. “So it is a fact that the smugglers seek to transport controlled substances, illegal drugs into the United States, primarily through the ports of entry through trucks, vehicles, and the like,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “And what we have done is we have surged technological resources that can most effectively detect the effort to smuggle those dangerous substances into our country. Specifically, for example, non-intrusive inspection technology, which has remarkable x-ray capabilities that can be implemented very, very swiftly. We have deployed forward operating labs so personnel scientists can detect the controlled substances and we can affect the seizure immediately and refer to law enforcement the persons who have sought to smuggle them. What we need is more resources like that.” Senator Hassan previously worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. Senator Hassan also led a field hearing in Manchester through her role as chair of the Emerging Threats subcommittee to examine ways that Congress can help support law enforcement’s efforts to stem the flow of drugs into communities, including at the southern border, and she continues to push for additional resources to help intercept illegal drug trafficking. State and Local Cybersecurity To finish, Senator Hassan spoke about the state and local cybersecurity program that she created as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law to strengthen state and local government’s cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure such as public schools and water utilities. When asked about what the Department’s goals are for this first year of grants, Secretary Mayorkas shared that “we are so grateful for that grant program… This first year of its implementation, we are dedicating $185 million in resources to state and local governments. This is all about building their capacity to enhance the security of the cyber ecosystem.” Senator Hassan is leading bipartisan efforts to strengthen cybersecurity at every level of government. Senator Hassan successfully secured her bipartisan amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 defense bill that is now law to ensure that the National Guard can help state and local governments and businesses improve their cybersecurity. In addition, Senator Hassan worked to pass into law her measure to create a Cybersecurity Coordinator in every state to help federal, state, and local governments, as well as schools, hospitals, and other entities, coordinate and better protect their systems against cyberattacks. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/amid-concerns-over-new-england-energy-supplies-this-winter-shaheen-leads-delegation-call-to-energy-secretary-to-expedite-distribution-of-federal-resources-for-nh-residents,"Amid Concerns over New England Energy Supplies this Winter, Shaheen Leads Delegation Call to Energy Secretary to Expedite Distribution of Federal Resources for NH Residents",2022-11-16,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) to the Department of Energy, urging Secretary Granholm to accelerate the distribution of federal funds and programs under the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act that can help residents cut energy bills and reduce demand for fossil fuels. “As we enter into the winter months, we write to highlight specific challenges New Hampshire faces as global events continue to stoke volatility in oil and natural gas markets that in turn, impact home heating costs and electricity prices for our constituents,” the delegation wrote. “We appreciate your ongoing attention to these concerns and encourage the Administration to speed up deployment of resources Congress has provided through the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act that can help lower energy costs.” Additionally, the lawmakers called for the Department to work with federal agencies, industry, fuel suppliers, utilities, grid operators, the State and other stakeholders to ensure the New England region’s energy infrastructure can meet the challenges of any potential severe weather events this winter. The letter requests additional coordination and preparation to use emergency authorities, such as releases from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, should conditions warrant. “We also urge you to convene stakeholders in our region to plan for potential supply shortages or risks to grid reliability in the event of severe storms or prolonged cold snaps this winter,” continued the delegation. The delegation’s push comes amid concerns over energy supplies to sustain the New England region throughout the winter. As a senior appropriator, Senator Shaheen consistently advocates for reducing energy costs for New Hampshire residents. Earlier this month, the delegation announced that New Hampshire would receive $33.9 million in funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP). Shaheen is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds LIHEAP. Last month, Shaheen joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in a push urging for the swift release of LIHEAP funds. Shaheen also champions the Weatherization Assistance Program and other energy efficiency measures to help Granite Staters keep their energy usage down and lower their monthly bills. In late October, Shaheen hosted a roundtable discussion at Southern NH Services’ Sundance Village to highlight federal funds available to assist Granite Staters with home heating costs this winter. She also released a federal resource guide to help New Hampshire families navigate the programs and tax incentives available to them to help keep costs down this winter. A copy of the delegation’s letter is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-joins-in-introducing-bipartisan-bill-to-safeguard-veterans-filing-benefit-claims,Senator Hassan Joins in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Safeguard Veterans Filing Benefit Claims,2022-11-16,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON –– U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined in introducing bipartisan legislation to hold unaccredited entities that target men and women who served in uniform accountable for their predatory practices. The Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while helping file a disability claim. The bill was led by Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “Our veterans have bravely served our country, and when they try to access their VA benefits, the last thing they need to deal with is wrongdoers trying to profit off of veterans,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that unaccredited entities who scam veterans get criminal penalties, and I am grateful for the advocacy of NH Veterans of Foreign Wars in bringing awareness to this issue. As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will continue to work across the aisle to support our veterans in New Hampshire and across the country.” Current law prohibits unaccredited individuals and businesses from charging a fee for assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim. However, the VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce the law because criminal penalties were eliminated from the statute nearly 20 years ago. The bipartisan Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act reinstates those penalties. This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen support for veterans. For example, this summer, the President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ historic, bipartisan military toxic exposure bill. The President also signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-push-from-senator-hassan-administration-announces-new-initiative-to-invest-in-early-college-access,"Following Push from Senator Hassan, Administration Announces New Initiative to Invest in Early College Access",2022-11-15,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The Department of Education announced an initiative to strengthen early college access so that students are prepared for today’s 21st century economy. Specifically, the Administration is investing in career pathways for students and opening up new options for states to use funding that they already have to expand these programs. Senator Hassan has led efforts in Congress to expand access to career pathway programs. “To set up our students for success in today’s modern economy, we must expand access to early college education,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad that the Administration is taking additional action to help train people for the jobs that our businesses need -- from dual enrollment opportunities to work-based learning -- so that students and workers can get good-paying jobs. I will continue to work on ways to strengthen our workforce.” Senator Hassan is working to prepare students for the 21st century economy and has introduced the bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act, which would create a grant program aimed at helping more students earn college credits while still in high school. In May, Senator Hassan led a group of her colleagues in a push to invest in early college opportunities. Click here to read Senator Hassan’s letter. Senator Hassan also previously joined in introducing the bipartisan Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, which would expand the Pell Grant to cover workforce training programs. The Senator also led her colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan Gateway to Careers Act, which would support career pathways strategies that combine work, education, and support services to help individuals earn recognized postsecondary credentials. Former President Trump also signed into law the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act, which included critical priorities for New Hampshire that Senator Hassan fought for, including authorizing additional funding for states to implement high-quality career and technical education programs. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-calls-for-increased-federal-oversight-to-protect-eligible-medicare-and-medicaid-beneficiaries-from-predatory-marketing,NH Delegation Calls for Increased Federal Oversight to Protect Eligible Medicare & Medicaid Beneficiaries from Predatory Marketing,2022-11-14,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a New Hampshire congressional delegation letter today signed by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), urging the agencies to take action to protect eligible New Hampshire Medicare beneficiaries subject to aggressive and potentially predatory marketing tactics related to the sale of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans or other insurance products. “Beneficiaries must be aware prior to enrollment whether they are choosing traditional Medicare or a MA plan or other coverage. Without proper disclosures, it is impossible for enrollees to make a fully informed decision that will ultimately affect future care and treatment options. Unfortunately, as CMS is aware these disclosures are increasingly absent from marketing materials targeting Medicare beneficiaries,” the delegation wrote. The delegation emphasized the need for increased oversight from CMS to ensure marketing materials targeting Medicare beneficiaries and those from third party marketing organizations (TPMOs) include disclosures identifying the differences between traditional Medicare and MA plans. Including these disclosures would allow enrollees to make fully informed decisions regarding their health insurance coverage. “We appreciate CMS’s ongoing work to regulate the marketing materials for MA products, including the recent memorandum to MA and Part D Plan Sponsors on CMS Monitoring Activities and Best Practices during the Annual Election Period. However, we urge CMS to bolster their oversight to identify and stop predatory marketing practices in conjunction with state insurance departments receiving related complaints,” the delegation continued. The delegation also requested CMS provide recommendations to Congress to ensure the agency has the authority and resources necessary to protect Medicare beneficiaries. The letter can be read in full here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-to-announce-additional-era2-rental-assistance,Shaheen Leads NH Delegation to Announce Additional ERA2 Rental Assistance,2022-11-14,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"**The U.S. Department of Treasury’s supplemental funds follows the congressional delegation’s appeal last month to provide additional federal assistance to the State** (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led the New Hampshire congressional delegation in announcing $2,084,533 from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the State of New Hampshire through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. These funds, allocated under the ERA2 program authorized by congressional Democrats’ American Rescue Plan Act and signed into law by President Biden, assists New Hampshire renters with rent and other housing expenses, including energy and utility costs. “I’m glad the administration has provided additional federal funds to keep Granite State families housed, and that residents will soon benefit from this aid,” said Senator Shaheen. “This additional rental assistance will help support Granite Staters who rely on this program, despite the unnecessary hurdles created by the State’s mismanagement of the program. This latest allocation can help bridge the gap and allow New Hampshire households to access assistance, but more resources will be needed to meet the demand. I’ll keep working alongside New Hampshire’s Community Action Partnership agencies, New Hampshire Housing and other local stakeholders to make sure New Hampshire families have the assistance needed to stay safely housed this winter.” “Emergency Rental Assistance has played a critical role in helping Granite Staters stay in their homes and pay their bills. This latest funding announcement is a step forward in helping Granite Staters continue to get this assistance, and I’ll keep working with the NH Congressional Delegation to support Granite Staters in need,” said Senator Hassan. “Too many Granite State families struggle to afford housing which is why the Emergency Rental Assistance funds Congress has delivered to New Hampshire have been so critical,” said Representative Kuster. “This additional federal funding will help support residents who depend on this aid. I will continue working to expand access to safe, affordable housing in New Hampshire and pursue opportunities to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get Granite Staters the housing support they need.” “It’s welcome news that these funds will be delivered to New Hampshire to keep people safely housed as we continue to face an extreme housing shortage,” said Representative Pappas. “I’ll continue working to deliver needed resources to our state that will support people struggling to find safe, affordable housing and address the root causes of our housing crisis.” This latest allotment of ERA2 follows calls from the congressional delegation after New Hampshire was not awarded additional federal funding requested by the State. The ERA2 program was created in March 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act. Today’s announcement also follows the delegation’s successful efforts to provide additional rental assistance through the ERA1 program last month. Deadlines and criteria for both ERA1 and ERA2 programs have been available to participating states, counties and municipalities, including the State of New Hampshire, since the programs were established. New Hampshire's ERA program is funded by federal funds secured by the congressional delegation to assist with rent, utilities and home energy costs, including arrearages. The program is managed by the State. New Hampshire’s ERA program was paused on October 21, 2022 and is not currently accepting new applications. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-honoring-veterans-day,Senator Hassan Statement Honoring Veterans Day,2022-11-10,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement ahead of Veterans Day: “Every year, we come together on Veterans Day to show our profound respect and to honor those who courageously fought to defend freedom. Veterans have selflessly answered the call to serve their fellow citizens -- both during their time in uniform and through their efforts to give back to their communities after they return home. Their valiant efforts and their strong love of country is something that should inspire every American. We must all continue to reflect on and recommit ourselves to the values that all veterans have fought for -- values that put country, liberty, and justice first.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-push-from-senator-hassan-administration-expands-opioid-treatment-options-by-telehealth,"Following Push from Senator Hassan, Administration Expands Opioid Treatment Options By Telehealth",2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following a push from Senator Maggie Hassan to expand treatment access for substance use disorder, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it will expand access to opioid treatment and behavioral health services via telehealth for individuals on Medicare. Senator Hassan has previously called on the administration to expand flexibility to offer critical opioid treatment services. “The opioid epidemic is taking a devastating toll on our communities, and we need to be doing all that we can to help those who are struggling,” said Senator Hassan. “Telehealth is a critical way to reach Granite Staters where they are, and expanding access to it will give more people the opportunity to enter and remain in recovery. I’m pleased the administration heeded my call to take this step forward, and I will continue to work with members of both parties to address the opioid epidemic and expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services.” Senator Hassan is working to address the opioid epidemic. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Last year following Senator Hassan’s advocacy, the Biden administration removed some requirements that limited health care providers’ ability to prescribe medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. Senator Hassan is continuing to press for passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, a bipartisan bill that she reintroduced last year with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), that would fully eliminate bureaucratic barriers to treatment. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-and-congressman-pappas-highlight-infrastructure-investments-at-merrimack-wastewater-treatment-plant-construction-ceremony,Senator Hassan and Congressman Pappas Highlight Infrastructure Investments at Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Ceremony,2022-11-04,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Hassan and Congressman Pappas Participate in Construction Ceremony for Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Plant MERRIMACK – Senator Maggie Hassan and Congressman Chris Pappas today delivered remarks at the Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Ceremony, which is funded in part through legislation that they helped pass into law. “Water systems are a key component in delivering clean drinking water and protecting public health, and that is why the upgrades to the facility are so vital,” said Senator Hassan. “Through the bipartisan infrastructure law and the American Rescue Plan, both of which I helped to negotiate, we have been able to invest in the infrastructure that Granite Staters interact with every day. These aren’t always the projects that make national news, but they are the projects that make a real, tangible difference in the community. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure that we modernize water infrastructure all across our state.” “New Hampshire’s wastewater infrastructure is in need of critical upgrades, and federal funding will help Merrimack move forward on an important project to modernize its plant,” said Congressman Pappas. “Investing in our water infrastructure will improve quality of life, protect public health, and boost our economy, and I’ll continue to work together with our communities to deliver the funds we need to make improvements such as these.” Senator Hassan has worked to ensure that communities in New Hampshire have access to clean and safe drinking water. The bipartisan infrastructure law that Senator Hassan helped negotiate includes meaningful investments to help communities afford critical water infrastructure projects, including an estimated more than $400 million for water infrastructure improvements in New Hampshire, and dedicated funding to address PFAS contamination. The bill also includes a measure authored by Senator Hassan to better ensure that more New Hampshire towns are be eligible for an advanced technology grant program that can be used remove contaminants, including PFAS, from drinking water. Senator Hassan also introduced a bipartisan bill to ban PFAS chemicals in food wrappers and packaging, and joined in introducing a bipartisan bill banning the inclusion of PFAS chemicals in cosmetics products, such as makeup, moisturizer and perfume. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-congressional-delegation-announces-339m-in-liheap-funds-as-winter-months-approach,NH Congressional Delegation Announces $33.9M in LIHEAP Funds As Winter Months Approach,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP), announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) $33.9 million in LIHEAP dollars, which were administered through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). LIHEAP helps families pay home heating bills and prevent energy shutoffs. Assistance can also be used to restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient. “Especially as the winter months approach, ensuring Granite Staters are housed and in residences with adequate heating is crucial, so I’m relieved to see these additional federal resources allocated to New Hampshire. I urge the State to move quickly and get these funds out the door to applicants,” said Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds LIHEAP. “Democrats in Congress worked diligently to provide continued resources for LIHEAP through a variety of funding streams, including the emergency funding bill that was recently signed into law, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the American Rescue Plan and annual government funding legislation. I’ll continue to pursue every avenue available to deliver the tools our families need to keep safe and healthy homes.” “As Granite Staters grapple with high costs, I’m focused on ways to help our families, which is why I led a bipartisan effort that is now delivering a 30% increase to New Hampshire for home heating assistance,” said Senator Hassan. “This relief will help more New Hampshire families pay their home heating bills, and I will continue working to lower costs across the board.” “As energy costs remain high and we head into the cold winter months, LIHEAP is a critical resource for New Hampshire families to keep their homes safe and warm,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I called for increased funding for LIHEAP, and these additional federal funds will help ensure Granite Staters who struggle to afford their home energy costs can continue to rely on this lifeline. I’ll keep working to lower energy costs and support programs like LIHEAP that ease the burden of high prices on families and communities in New Hampshire.” “LIHEAP is a critical program that keeps Granite Staters safe and healthy, and it’s welcome news that this additional funding I called for is being provided,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “It is important all families can keep their heat on and maintain proper heating systems this winter, and this funding will help ensure that. I will continue to call on the administration to provide additional funding to our state, take further action to lower energy costs, and I will always support programs such as LIHEAP that serve our families and communities.” LIHEAP funds New Hampshire’s Fuel Assistance Program. Granite Staters needing assistance with their energy bills should apply through their local Community Action Partnership at https://www.capnh.org/home. In September, the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation celebrated $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP that was quickly signed into law. Earlier in the year, Shaheen announced that Senate Democrats’ fiscal year (FY) 2023 proposal includes $4 billion for LIHEAP, which would be an increase of $200 million over FY 2022. On top of the $900 million in LIHEAP funds allocated through the CARES Act in 2020, Shaheen and Hassan worked to secure $4.5 billion for LIHEAP in the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law in March 2021 and provided $35,498,757 to New Hampshire. Senator Shaheen also used her role on appropriations and as a lead negotiator for the bipartisan infrastructure bill to push to increase LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, leading to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history. Following the June announcement of electric rate increases approved by New Hampshire’s Public Utilities Commission, the New Hampshire Delegation urged the state to use the remaining funding secured in the American Rescue Plan to provide financial assistance to help Granite Staters afford their home energy bills. As a senior appropriator, Senator Shaheen has consistently secured federal funding for LIHEAP to assist low-income households in paying their energy bills and staying safe during the winter. Last month, Shaheen joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in a push urging for the swift release of LIHEAP funds. Shaheen also champions the Weatherization Assistance Program and other energy efficiency measures to help Granite Staters keep their energy usage down and lower their monthly bills. On Thursday, Shaheen hosted a roundtable discussion at Southern NH Services’ Sundance Village to highlight federal funds available to assist Granite Staters with home heating costs this winter. She also released a federal resource page to help New Hampshire families navigate the programs and tax incentives available to them to help keep costs down this winter. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to bring down energy costs for Granite Staters. During negotiations on the government funding legislation from September, Senator Hassan worked closely with Democrat and Republican leaders in Congress to build bipartisan support for LIHEAP funding, which led to the increase in funding announced today. Senator Hassan also recently led the New England delegation in calling on President Biden to lower energy costs by releasing oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. Senator Hassan successfully included in the Inflation Reduction Act her measure with Susan Collins (R-ME) to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by expanding and extending a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-announces-55-million-for-mascoma-bank-to-support-small-businesses-and-community-development,NH Delegation Announces $55 Million for Mascoma Bank to Support Small Businesses & Community Development,2022-11-02,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Committees on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Appropriations, announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that Mascoma Community Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mascoma Bank of Lebanon was awarded $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to incentivize development in underserved communities. Mascoma Community Development works to help raise capital, facilitate loans and support development in low income and distressed communities. The tax credits for Mascoma Community Development and other organizations were first announced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), which promotes development in economically distressed urban and rural areas by investing in mission-driven financial institutions. Senator Shaheen has been a strong supporter of the CDFI Fund, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has advocated for funding for CDFI programs. “Boosting investment in our rural and underserved communities is key to growing our state’s economy and creating good-paying jobs,” said Senator Shaheen. “Community Development Entities like Mascoma Community Development, provide crucial access to capital and services to support Granite State small businesses and other investments in affordable housing and community enrichment. I'll continue to advocate for the CDFI Fund and will keep working to ensure these programs receive robust funding to make more investments like this in our communities.” “New Hampshire is the best place to start a business, and we need to continue finding ways to support and uplift our local businesses,” said Senator Hassan. “These federal dollars are a direct investment in helping Granite Staters and our economy thrive. It will help Mascoma Community Development invest in additional small businesses, create good-paying jobs, and expand economic opportunity – and I look forward to seeing these funds make our Main Streets and communities across our state even more vibrant.” “Supporting and incentivizing development in rural communities is critical,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “These funds will invest in New Hampshire’s rural small businesses and boost our local economies. Moving forward, I’ll continue to support programs like this one that will help rural and underserved communities thrive across our state.” “This federal funding is a meaningful investment in the economic vitality of our local communities,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I have been proud to support Mascoma Bank’s efforts to maximize the New Markets Tax Credit Program’s impact in the Granite State and I’ve seen first-hand the positive effects funding through this program can create in our underserved communities. These tax credits will provide incentives and opportunities to bolster economic development throughout our state. I will continue working to ensure every Granite State community can thrive.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/at-the-start-of-open-enrollment-senator-hassan-encourages-granite-staters-to-sign-up-for-health-care,"At the Start of Open Enrollment, Senator Hassan Encourages Granite Staters to Sign Up for Health Care",2022-11-01,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan is urging Granite Staters to check for health insurance options and sign up for coverage during the open enrollment period, which starts today, by visiting HealthCare.gov. “Quality, affordable health insurance is essential for Granite Staters to live healthy and productive lives,” said Senator Hassan. “As open enrollment begins, it is critical that Granite Staters take advantage of this opportunity to sign up for health care coverage. And even if you already have health insurance, open enrollment is a great time to look at your options. I encourage people across New Hampshire to go online and shop for coverage to find the plan that works best for them and their families.” The Inflation Reduction Act that is now law extended provisions that Senator Hassan supported to lower health insurance premiums for Granite Staters and Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. This measure is saving tens of thousands of Granite Staters an average of $720 per year. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/seniors-to-be-protected-from-health-coverage-gaps-following-senator-hassan-and-colleagues-call,Seniors to be Protected from Health Coverage Gaps Following Senator Hassan and Colleagues’ Call,2022-11-01,2022,2022-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Hassan, Colleagues Pushed to Ensure That Seniors Have a Smooth Path to Medicare Coverage after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Ends Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Issue Final Rule Updating Medicare Enrollment and Eligibility to Prevent Delays in Coverage WASHINGTON – Following calls from U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and colleagues, the administration announced a final rule to create a new Medicare special enrollment period for seniors currently enrolled in Medicaid and waive any late-enrollment fees seniors may face for failing to get covered earlier due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. “Granite State seniors shouldn’t have to worry about losing their health insurance once the COVID emergency declaration formally ends,” Senator Hassan said. “I’m pleased to see the administration heed my call so that seniors can have a seamless transition to Medicare and not experience any gaps in their health care coverage.” When the COVID-19 public health emergency was announced, Congress passed into law legislation to expand Medicaid coverage for more children, working adults, and older Americans to ensure that they had access to health insurance. However, once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, that expanded Medicaid coverage will end and states will begin removing ineligible individuals from the program, including older Americans who qualified for Medicare during the pandemic but have not enrolled in Medicare yet because they are still receiving health coverage through Medicaid. In April, Senator Hassan and her colleagues called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) to establish a special enrollment period for these beneficiaries to sign up for Medicare coverage, and waive any related late-enrollment fees these seniors may face for failing to get covered earlier — which CMS has now announced it will do starting January 1, 2023. Senator Hassan is working to lower health care costs for all Americans, and led successful, bipartisan efforts with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to help end the practice of surprise medical billing, which is now in effect. Senators Hassan and Cassidy also successfully passed into law their bipartisan legislation to enhance education about biosimilar drug products in an effort to increase competition and lower drug costs. Earlier this month, Granite Staters started to be able to buy hearing aids over the counter through Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan work to remove outdated regulations that blocked consumer access to affordable hearing aids. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:24:37Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-steven-fiore-of-atkinson-as-octobers-granite-stater-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes Steven Fiore of Atkinson as October’s Granite Stater of the Month,2022-10-31,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Steven Fiore of Atkinson as October’s Granite Stater of the Month. This Halloween, seventeen-year-old Steven set up an elaborate haunted house to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his late grandmother. A Halloween enthusiast from a young age, Steven has collected various Halloween props, from fog machines to animated creatures, over the years. After Steven’s grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2021, he decided to honor her memory by setting up a hair-raising haunted house with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below. I am honored to recognize Steven Fiore of Atkinson as October’s Granite Stater of the Month. This Halloween, seventeen-year-old Steven set up an elaborate haunted house to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his late grandmother. A Halloween enthusiast from a young age, Steven has collected various Halloween props, from fog machines to animated creatures, over the years. His grandmother, who he was close with, was one of the main contributors to the collection and would gift him props for Christmas. After Steven’s grandmother passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2021, he decided to honor her memory by bringing his passion project to life. Utilizing his props and decorations, Steven set up a hair-raising haunted house for the weekends of October 21st and 28th, with proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. I especially admire Steven’s creativity and drive in setting up a haunted house that has also brought together the Atkinson community and am glad that more guests will experience the thrills of the haunted house this weekend. By taking a difficult situation--experiencing the loss of his grandmother—and turning it into a positive force for helping others, by raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association, Steven exemplifies the Granite State spirit and I am proud to recognize his efforts. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/10/28/2022/senator-hassan-encourages-granite-staters-to-participate-in-drug-take-back-day,Senator Hassan Encourages Granite Staters to Participate in Drug Take Back Day,2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is encouraging Granite Staters to participate in Drug Take Back Day, an event for people to drop off unused prescription medication. Drug Take Back Day will occur on Saturday, October 29, and you can find a collection site near you at dea.gov/takebackday. “As the opioid crisis continues to devastate communities across New Hampshire, it is more important than ever to take simple, preventative steps that will save lives,” said Senator Hassan. “Initiatives like Drug Take Back Day are key to disposing of prescription drugs that might be misused, and I encourage Granite Staters to find a collection site near them to participate.” Senator Hassan is working to stem the substance use disorder crisis. Senators Hassan and Mike Braun (R-IN) are working to pass their bipartisan bill to make it easier to dispose of opioids and other medications. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Last year following Senator Hassan’s advocacy, the Biden administration removed some requirements that limited health care providers’ ability to prescribe medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. Senator Hassan is continuing to press for passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, a bipartisan bill that she reintroduced last year with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), that would fully eliminate these bureaucratic barriers. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-congressman-pappas-celebrate-the-raymond-coalition-for-youths-9th-annual-prevention-summit,"Senator Hassan, Congressman Pappas Celebrate the Raymond Coalition for Youth’s 9th Annual Prevention Summit",2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Hassan and Representative Pappas with youth attendees at the Raymond Coalition’s 9th Annual Prevention Summit in Manchester. MANCHESTER – Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and Representative Chris Pappas joined the Raymond Coalition for Youth to celebrate their work in the community and share their perspective on stemming the opioid crisis at the 9th Annual Prevention Summit. In addition to leadership from the coalition, also in attendance were Jon DeLena, Special Agent in Charge New England Drug Enforcement Administration, Eddie Edwards of NH Department of Public Safety, and other local law enforcement leaders. “Over the last twenty years, because of the work of the Raymond Coalition for Youth and its partners, we have seen incredible growth as people come together to focus on strengthening our children, and our youth, and our communities – and as a result, our economy, and our state, and our country,” said Senator Hassan. ""I have been proud to partner with all of you to address the opioid epidemic, from working to stop fentanyl trafficking to supporting our health care workforce. Your advocacy has been critical in these efforts.” “For far too many New Hampshire families, the nation’s drug crisis is deeply personal. The prevention work being done by the Raymond Coalition for Youth and their partners to reduce the risk of youth substance abuse is critical to addressing this crisis,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’ll continue working to support our communities as we confront the addiction crisis and will always fight to deliver resources that will support prevention efforts, help law enforcement address drug trafficking, and expand access to recovery.” Senator Hassan is working to stem the substance use disorder crisis. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. Last year following Senator Hassan’s advocacy, the Biden administration removed some requirements that limited health care providers’ ability to prescribe medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder. Senator Hassan is continuing to press for passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, a bipartisan bill that she reintroduced last year with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), that would fully eliminate these bureaucratic barriers. Congressman Pappas is also a cosponsor to the House of Representatives’ version of the bill. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-to-announce-new-era1-rental-assistance-to-help-bridge-shortfall-in-funding-for-program-delegation-vows-to-keep-fighting-for-more-aid,"Shaheen Leads NH Delegation to Announce New ERA1 Rental Assistance to Help Bridge Shortfall in Funding for Program, Delegation Vows to Keep Fighting for More Aid",2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"**The U.S. Department of Treasury’s additional supplemental funds follows the congressional delegation’s appeal earlier this week to provide additional federal assistance to the State** **Delegation’s announcement follows previous intervention on behalf of the State and recoupment of funds from NH when the State failed to properly manage the ERA program and get relief out the door to Granite Staters** (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led the New Hampshire congressional delegation in announcing an additional $2.4 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Treasury for the State of New Hampshire through the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. The funds, allocated under the ERA1 program, have been a lifeline for thousands of New Hampshire families during the pandemic. The congressional delegation fought hard to secure federal dollars through the ERA1 and ERA2 programs that were awarded to the State. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the delegation’s appeal to the Treasury Department earlier this week for additional emergency rental assistance after the State suddenly shuttered the program. “I appreciate the Department of Treasury heeding our calls for additional resources to help bridge the gap and continue supporting New Hampshire’s rental assistance program. While this aid will not fully replace the money the State left on the table to be recouped and the full amount needed to run the program through September 2025 as intended, it will provide additional resources that can be used to support the 3,386 residents who were left with applications pending when the State abruptly ended the program without warning,” said Shaheen. “I want to thank staff at New Hampshire’s Community Action Partnership agencies and New Hampshire Housing who are working diligently to help households who heartbreakingly had the rug pulled out from under them last week when this program was unexpectedly shuttered by the State, especially as the coldest months approach. I am hopeful these additional federal funds secured by the delegation will allow advocates in New Hampshire to continue assisting households who have relied on the rental assistance program. This funding is good news, but more aid will be necessary to meet the demand from Granite Staters in need – I’ll keep fighting to get them the assistance to stay safely housed.” “I’m glad our Congressional Delegation was able to secure some additional funding for the ERA program. While this is a positive step forward, we know that there is more work to be done, and we will keep working on ways to get New Hampshire additional funding so that families have the help and support that they need,” said Senator Hassan. “Too many Granite State families are struggling to afford housing, and these resources that our Congressional Delegation helped secure are critical to keeping folks in their homes, especially during the cold fall and winter months,” said Representative Kuster. “We know that Granite Staters continue to struggle with high costs and I will continue working to deliver resources for New Hampshire to support individuals and families throughout our state.” “The Emergency Rental Assistance Program has provided the support that was intended when Congress created it, and it’s welcome news that these additional funds will be delivered to New Hampshire to keep people safely housed,” said Representative Pappas. “But we continue to grapple with an extreme shortage of affordable housing in New Hampshire, and there is more we must do to end our housing crisis. I’ll continue to work with the state, our CAP agencies, and local housing authorities to address the challenges they’re facing and deliver additional assistance that will support people struggling to find safe, affordable housing.” Previously, in February 2022, the delegation sent a letter to the Department of Treasury in support of the State’s application for additional funding for the ERA program. Subsequently, however, the State’s failure to get dollars out to Granite Staters in a timely manner resulted in ERA funds being recouped and redistributed to other jurisdictions around the country. Deadlines and criteria for both ERA1 and ERA2 programs have been available to participating states, counties and municipalities, including the State of New Hampshire, since the programs were established. New Hampshire's ERA program is funded by federal funds secured by the congressional delegation to assist with rent, utilities and home energy costs, including arrearages. The program is managed by the State. New Hampshire’s ERA program was paused on October 21, 2022 and is not currently accepting new applications. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-welcomes-nearly-3-million-from-epas-clean-school-bus-program-for-new-hampshire-school-districts,NH Delegation Welcomes Nearly $3 Million from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for New Hampshire School Districts,2022-10-27,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) welcomed an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that New Hampshire will receive $2,765,000 from the bipartisan infrastructure law to purchase new electric school buses. The grants will help Henniker and Rumney schools purchase a total of seven clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities. The grants mark another significant distribution of federal funds from the bipartisan infrastructure law, which Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate, and Representative Kuster supported. These latest awards come from the first $1 billion allocation of a five-year, $5 billion program created by the law to spur investment in clean transportation for our nation’s schools. The aim of the program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut costs for schools and better protect children’s health. The investment will also drive demand for American-made batteries and vehicles, boost domestic manufacturing and create good-paying jobs. “As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, investments like this are exactly what I had in mind to transform and modernize our transportation sector,” said U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “I’m thrilled to see those efforts come to fruition through world-class infrastructure improvements in New Hampshire, including the new electric school buses for Henniker and Rumney Schools. These buses are a win-win for our economy and the sustainability of our environment by giving us cleaner air, reducing health risks for children and often providing lower fuel and maintenance costs. These clean buses are critical steps forward towards building a climate-resilient economy.” “As climate change continues to threaten our environment and economy, we must invest in clean energy technology,” said U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan. “I am pleased that the Henniker and Rumney school districts will be able to purchase new electric school buses through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which I was proud to help negotiate. These new buses will help lower costs for the school district and are good for the environment. I look forward to continuing to invest in our clean energy economy and make sure that New Hampshire schools and towns have the support and resources that they need.” “It’s exciting to see our local schools helping to lead the way in cutting emissions and working to address the impacts of climate change,” said U.S. Representative Annie Kuster. “I’m proud to have advocated for these resources in the bipartisan infrastructure law that will allow our school districts to purchase clean, electric school buses. This transition is good for the health of our children, our planet and our economy. I will continue pushing for investments in zero-emissions transportation to protect our children, communities, and the environment.” “With the new Clean School Bus program, EPA is delivering significant funding to New Hampshire school districts for clean electric school buses, with a particular focus on reducing air pollution in historically-disadvantaged areas with priority needs,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. “These zero-emission vehicles will help provide cleaner and healthier air for school children, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.” Senators Shaheen and Hassan spearheaded efforts to include investments for clean energy and climate resiliency. During bipartisan infrastructure law negotiations, Shaheen fought to include critical provisions, such as $65 billion to fund grid reliability and resilience measures in the legislation and key components of her energy efficiency legislation with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) – the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness (ESIC) Act – that improves energy efficiency and climate resilience of buildings and industrial facilities, as well as invest in clean jobs. Senator Hassan successfully worked to strengthen energy efficiency programs in the bipartisan infrastructure law. The bipartisan package supports domestic battery energy storage development and deployment, technology needed to increase the use of renewable energy sources and eliminate reliability gaps throughout the day. These provisions build on Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Battery Storage Innovation Act – which was signed into law as part of the December government funding package. Senator Hassan also helped pass into law a bipartisan measure that provides a tax cut to help families lower their energy bills by making energy-efficient home upgrades such as updating an HVAC system or even windows or doors. # # #",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-letter-to-treasury-urging-additional-rental-assistance-relief-for-granite-staters,Shaheen Leads NH Delegation Letter to Treasury Urging Additional Rental Assistance Relief for Granite Staters,2022-10-26,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"**Delegation’s letter follows previous intervention on behalf of the State and recoupment of funds when the State failed to properly manage the ERA program and get relief out the door to Granite Staters** (Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a New Hampshire congressional delegation letter today signed by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01), urging the U.S. Department of Treasury to approve the State of New Hampshire’s recent application for additional Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) funding, which has been a lifeline for thousands of New Hampshire families during the pandemic. The congressional delegation fought hard to secure federal dollars through the ERA1 and ERA2 programs that were awarded to the State, and in their letter, urge the agency to approve the State’s request for more ERA dollars. The delegation urged the Department to approve the additional resources, despite missteps by the State to initially get funding out the door, writing, “Despite hiccups in the initial rollout and administration of the State of New Hampshire’s ERA program, nearly 24,000 Granite State households have benefited from nearly $240 million in rental relief through these critical programs, which we strongly supported in both the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and American Rescue Plan Act. However, we know from our constituents and other stakeholders that the need for this assistance persists in New Hampshire, particularly as we enter the colder months and heating costs increase.” The delegation closed their letter requesting the Department to extend additional funding to New Hampshire so the thousands of applicants waiting for assistance are stably housed, and pledged to work with the Biden administration and State to ensure the program is successful going forward. The letter can be read in full here. Previously, in February 2022, the delegation sent a letter to the Department of Treasury in support of the State’s application for additional funding for the ERA program. Subsequently, however, the State’s failure to get dollars out to Granite Staters in a timely manner resulted in ERA funds being recouped and redistributed to other jurisdictions around the country. Deadlines and criteria for both ERA1 and ERA2 programs have been available to participating states, counties and municipalities, including the State of New Hampshire, since the programs were established. New Hampshire's ERA program is funded by federal funds secured by the congressional delegation and the program is managed by the State. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-hassan-requested-gao-report-senator-hassan-pushes-for-additional-action-to-strengthen-cybersecurity-in-schools,"Following Hassan-Requested GAO Report, Senator Hassan Pushes for Additional Action to Strengthen Cybersecurity in Schools",2022-10-24,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today, requested by Senator Maggie Hassan, that recommends instituting a coordinating council to strengthen cybersecurity in schools. This comes after Senator Hassan called on federal agencies to take more aggressive steps to strengthen cybersecurity in K-12 schools amid an alarming rise in cyberattacks on school districts across the country, such as the 2019 ransomware attack on Sunapee School District. “Ransomware attacks, including right here in New Hampshire, have underscored the need for more support for schools to defend against cyberattacks,” said Senator Hassan. “As Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, I’ve pushed to strengthen state and local cybersecurity, including in our schools. I am glad that today’s GAO report echoes a recommendation that I have made to increase coordination between the federal government and local school districts, and I will continue to push for this to happen.” The GAO recommends that the Department of Education should: Work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to establish a government coordinating council to coordinate cybersecurity efforts between federal agencies and K-12 schools; Develop ways to measure the effectiveness of the Department of Education’s K-12 cybersecurity-related products and services; and Work with school districts to overcome the challenges identified in the report. In addition, the report recommends that CISA should develop metrics to measure the effectiveness of their K-12 cybersecurity-related products and services. Senator Hassan is leading bipartisan efforts to strengthen cybersecurity at every level of government. Senator Hassan successfully secured her bipartisan amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 defense bill that is now law to ensure that the National Guard can help state and local governments and businesses improve their cybersecurity. In addition, Senator Hassan worked to pass into law her measure to create a Cybersecurity Coordinator in every state to help federal, state, and local governments, as well as schools, hospitals, and other entities, coordinate and better protect their systems against cyberattacks. Senator Hassan also helped secure a measure in the bipartisan infrastructure law to create and fund a state and local cybersecurity grant program. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-hassan-and-pappas-join-eda-at-armi-to-highlight-biofabrication-cluster-grant-for-manchester,"Shaheen, Hassan & Pappas Join EDA at ARMI to Highlight BioFabrication Cluster Grant for Manchester",2022-10-21,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Craig Buerstatte, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs for the EDA, in Manchester today to highlight the new $44 million BioFabrication Cluster grant to the City and its coalition partners for which the New Hampshire congressional delegation successfully advocated. Shaheen, Hassan and Pappas were also joined by Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and ARMI Executive Director Dean Kamen for a driving tour of ARMI, followed by a roundtable with other stakeholders and local officials. “Today was an exciting day to launch this historic project for the City of Manchester and participating partners, solidifying our state’s role as a hub for regenerative medicine and the most cutting-edge research and development,” said Shaheen. “The tour of ARMI and dialogue during the roundtable were incredibly informative for how this joint effort will progress and what these robust investments will mean for Southern New Hampshire in terms of job creation and scientific innovation. This federal award reaffirms the important – and groundbreaking – opportunities that the EDA can create for New Hampshire, which is why I’ll work to ensure it is properly funded as the Senate works to finalize government spending legislation for the coming year.” “I’m excited to see this $44 million heading to Southern New Hampshire to position our state as a leader in cutting-edge science and innovation – not just across the nation, but also on the global stage. This substantial investment will revitalize our communities in meaningful, lasting ways, from creating good-paying jobs to preparing our workforce to propel emerging industries. Manchester and its coalition partners were awarded this highly competitive EDA grant in recognition of their transformative vision around local biotechnology,” continued Shaheen. “I’m thrilled to welcome this grant from the innovative Build Back Better Regional Challenge, and I stand ready to support the region’s economic growth and revitalization in the years to come.” “New Hampshire is an innovation state and leading our country’s biotechnology industry, which is why I was proud to advocate for Manchester to receive this transformative grant,” said Senator Hassan. “We will see the impacts of the technologies that are developed through this project reverberate across the world -- and we will see the economic impacts right here at home. This project will produce life-saving research and technology and bring good-paying jobs to our state, while also supporting job training initiatives that will meet the workforce needs of businesses.” “The Biofabrication Cluster will firmly establish Manchester’s place as a leader in the development of regenerative tissues and organs,” said Congressman Pappas. “I was a proud advocate for this proposal and I thank Mayor Joyce Craig and her office for pursuing this new opportunity to support our businesses, manufacturers, and economy. With a focus on economic equity and underserved communities, the Biofabrication Cluster will create good-paying jobs and improve quality of life in our city and state.” The visit to ARMI follows the EDA’s selection of Southern New Hampshire’s BioFabrication Cluster as a BBBRC awardee. This $44 million award will be used to establish Southern New Hampshire as the global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative tissues and organs. Through her leadership as Chair of the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen routinely secures strong federal resources for the agency. As an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, the EDA invests in economically distressed communities to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. During negotiations for government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022, Senator Shaheen secured $373.5 million for the EDA. In the FY 2023 government funding legislation that Shaheen’s Subcommittee released earlier this year, the Senator included $450 million for the EDA, which is an increase of $76.5 million above the prior year. Shaheen previously opposed efforts by the Trump administration to reduce or eliminate funding for the EDA, which recently awarded grants to Granite State communities for a wide variety of projects. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:34:28Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senator-hassans-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-veterans-during-their-transition-to-civilian-life,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans During Their Transition to Civilian Life,2022-10-18,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) to strengthen the Solid Start program. The Solid Start program was created by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during the previous administration to contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. “America’s veterans bravely answered the call to serve their fellow citizens, but too many return home and are unaware of the VA services and support that can help ease their transition to civilian life,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan Solid Start Act will ensure that the VA reaches out to veterans proactively – helping connect them to vital tools and resources. This bipartisan bill becoming law is a win for veterans, and helps meet our commitment to ensuring that those who bravely served have the support that they have earned. Granite State veterans have raised with me the importance of strengthening support for new veterans – and their advocacy was essential in helping make this law possible.” “The Solid Start program was created by the Trump Administration to help veterans transition to civilian life, and I’m glad to see it being signed into law. Making sure the brave servicemen and women have access to the benefits, healthcare, and other resources they earned is a crucial part of my role on the Veterans Affairs Committee. The Solid Start program better supports our veterans ensuring they have access to the services they need,” said Senator Cramer. “The transition to civilian life is not always easy. Getting this bill signed into law is one more step towards giving veterans the support they need to ensure they receive the benefits they earned,” said Dr. Cassidy. New Hampshire and national veterans leaders applauded the legislation. “Transitioning from military to civilian life can be extremely stressful for new veterans. Any period of uncertainty elevates the risk of suicide. This is why The American Legion has previously testified in support of the Solid Start Act which would make permanent the Solid Start Program which requires VA to call veterans at least three times within the first year of separation to provide them with vital information on VA medical care and benefits eligibility. We are pleased to see it become law. The American Legion is incredibly grateful for Senator Hassan’s and Rep. Slotkin’s diligent work on behalf of the veteran community,” said American Legion National Commander Vincent J. Troiola. “Connecting veterans to their benefits enables the growth of protective factors against death by suicide. As veterans are particularly vulnerable to suicide within the year following military discharge, concerted efforts to make these connections are invaluable. The VFW strongly believes the Department of Veterans Affairs Solid Start Program should be made permanent, as this program facilitates three distinct touchpoints with each veteran as they settle into civilian life and gain a better understanding of their needs and goals. We commend Senators Hassan, Cramer, and Cassidy for their bipartisan leadership on this issue,” said Brittany Dymond, Associate Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars National Legislative Service. “The American Legion supports any legislation that eases the difficult transition many veterans face when returning to civilian society. Peer support works in the effort to stop veteran suicide. Moreover, VA must be responsive and accommodating to our women veterans, who are just as devoted to this country as their male counterparts. Our nation owes all transitioning veterans a ‘solid start,’ just as this legislation is aptly named, and we are grateful to Senator Hassan and her colleagues for getting this bill passed into law,” said New Hampshire American Legion Commander Charles A. Arkwell Jr. “The Department of New Hampshire VFW is pleased that the Bipartisan Solid Start legislation just became law. It is essential that our Veterans transitioning have the required knowledge to access their VA benefits in a timely manner. We also applaud the provisions to tailor this information for the increasing number of Women Veterans so their specific healthcare needs can be met in a timely manner,” said Leon H. Rideout, Department Commander, NH Veterans of Foreign Wars. The bipartisan Solid Start Act would codify the Solid Start program that the previous administration started – thus ensuring that the program continues – and make improvements such as providing women veterans with information that is tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs – a priority that women veterans from New Hampshire raised with Senator Hassan during a roundtable last year. This law is part of ongoing efforts from Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to strengthen support for veterans. For example, this summer, the President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ historic, bipartisan military toxic exposure bill. The President also signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-bipartisan-push-from-senator-hassan-and-colleagues-lower-cost-hearing-aids-are-now-available-over-the-counter,"Following Bipartisan Push From Senator Hassan and Colleagues, Lower Cost Hearing Aids Are Now Available Over-the-Counter",2022-10-17,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – As a result of Senator Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan law, the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act, pharmacies are able to start selling hearing aids over the counter today. Senator Hassan’s legislation removed outdated regulations that blocked consumer access to lower costs hearing aids and allowed hearing aids to be made available over-the-counter to Americans with mild or moderate hearing loss. “Hearing loss is a challenge that impacts millions of Americans, but too often, Granite Staters struggle to afford or access hearing aids,” said Senator Hassan. “I worked with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to make hearing aids available over-the-counter, and this is now starting to happen. This is an important way to make hearing aids more affordable and accessible, and I will continue working with my colleagues to lower health care costs.” More than 38 million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. Older Americans are particularly affected, with nearly half of adults 75 or older reporting difficulty hearing. Despite the prevalence of hearing loss, only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid use one, mainly due to high costs. Hearing aids are not generally covered by private health insurance plans or traditional Medicare and can cost thousands of dollars – making them prohibitively expensive for many Americans. Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act removed outdated regulations that blocked consumer access to affordable hearing aids, and allows certain types of hearing aids to be made available over-the-counter to Americans with mild or moderate hearing loss. By introducing more competition into the hearing aid market, the law will provide consumers with more options at prices they can afford. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-announces-500k-for-local-law-enforcement-to-hire-officers,NH Delegation Announces $500K for Local Law Enforcement to Hire Officers,2022-10-16,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice (DOJ), announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that New Hampshire will receive $500,000 through the DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive grant program that supports state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies’ ability to hire, preserve and/or rehire law enforcement officers and increase community policing efforts. The federal funding announced this week will allow police departments in Laconia and Lincoln to each hire an officer, as well two officers for Dover. More on the announcement is available here. “I’m thrilled to see Laconia, Lincoln and Dover benefit from the COPS Hiring Program through these new awards to hire additional law enforcement officers. Funding this program is always a top priority for me because of the return we see on investments in New Hampshire law enforcement and community policing efforts across the nation,” said Senator Shaheen, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the COPS Hiring Program. “As Congress works to finalize government funding legislation for the next fiscal year, I’ll keep working to increase investments for public safety efforts that foster better community relations and provide law enforcement with the resources they need.” ""Our law enforcement officers take tremendous risks in the line of duty day in and day out, and it is vital that our local police departments have the resources that they need to keep us safe,"" said Senator Hassan. ""I am proud to advocate for the COPS grant program, and am glad that Dover, Laconia, and Lincoln are receiving more funding through this program. I will continue working to support Granite State police."" “Ensuring New Hampshire police departments have the resources to hire and retain the personnel they need has been a top priority of mine,” said Representative Kuster. “These crucial federal funds will help local police departments hire additional officers and improve public safety. I’m glad to see this funding headed to our state, and I will continue working to support our law enforcement community.” “To keep our communities safe, we must ensure our law enforcement has proper funding and resources,” said Representative Pappas. “These funds will support our local departments in hiring additional personnel to improve public safety and reduce crime. I will always fight to bring resources that advance public safety back to New Hampshire.” As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen historically secures robust funding for the COPS Hiring program through the annual government funding process. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 government funding legislation released in August, Senator Shaheen worked to add $240.5 million for Office of Justice Programs and COPS Office grant programs to support efforts that improve police-community relations. This is an increase of $39.5 million, or 20 percent, above the enacted FY 2022 funding level and will support programs for law enforcement officer training on de-escalation, implicit bias and crisis intervention, as well as hate crime prevention and community violence intervention programs. In addition, Shaheen uses her role as a senior appropriator to push for local projects in New Hampshire through the CDS process, including priorities for local law enforcement. The CDS process allows the federal government to invest in policies and programs that provide direct assistance to Granite State communities and help move our nation forward. Shaheen secured $69,047,000 for New Hampshire in the FY 2022 government funding bill that was signed into law. Read more about those here. Senator Hassan is committed to providing law enforcement officers, first responders, and service members with the support that they need. Last week, Senator Hassan joined Manchester Police Lieutenant Matthew Barter for a ride-along, her latest check-in with New Hampshire law enforcement on ways to support their critical work. The President recently signed into law bipartisan legislation that Senator Hassan cosponsored to support law enforcement officers suffering from PTSD and their families. In August, the Senate passed three bills to increase funding for small police departments by increasing funding for the COPS grant program, and to improve officer training. Senator Hassan also joined her colleagues in introducing legislation to gather greater information on attacks targeting law enforcement and pushed to increase funding for state and local law enforcement. In 2019, bipartisan legislation became law that Senator Hassan cosponsored to help prevent law enforcement officer suicide. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-attends-8th-annual-james-w-foley-freedom-run,Senator Hassan Attends 8th Annual James W. Foley Freedom Run,2022-10-15,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"ROCHESTER – Senator Hassan delivered remarks at the 8th Annual James W. Foley Freedom Run. The event honors the legacy of James Foley, a New Hampshire native and journalist, who was murdered in Syria by ISIS in 2014. At the event, Senator Hassan thanked his family and supporters of the James W. Foley Foundation, which works to honor his life by advocating for the freedom of all Americans held hostage abroad and promoting the safety of journalists worldwide. “James Foley’s work connected us to events across the globe and illuminated stories of struggle and of hope – and his kindness and fearlessness left an incredible impact,” said Senator Hassan. “I am grateful to his family, and all of the participants, teams, and sponsors here for your willingness to devote your time and energy to support his mission, life, and legacy. We must all continue this vital work to protect journalists, defend the freedom of the press, and advocate for human rights.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/key-hassan-backed-provisions-included-in-senates-annual-defense-bill,Key Hassan-Backed Provisions Included in Senate’s Annual Defense Bill,2022-10-13,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped secure key bipartisan provisions in the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA). “This year, we have seen a range of threats that risk the safety and security of the American people, from Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to ongoing challenges with our supply chains – our bill comes at critical time for our nation’s defense,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad that the upcoming defense bill includes bipartisan priorities that I have pushed for, including cracking down on illicit drug traffickers in order to combat the opioid epidemic, strengthening security for houses of worship, and closing loopholes that allow Putin to fund his unconscionable war. As the Senate and House work together to get this bill done, I will continue to push for critical measures that support New Hampshire’s military institutions and that fortify our national security.” Key measures that Senator Hassan championed that are included in the Senate NDAA: Cracking Down on Drug Traffickers: Bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to authorize in law the existing Transnational Criminal Investigative Units, which help identify gang members and drug dealers, and collect and share intelligence on transnational criminal organizations; Protecting Houses of Worship: Bipartisan bill which Senator Hassan introduced to establish a federal clearinghouse through which faith-based organizations and houses of worship could access information on safety and security best practices, available federal grant programs, and training opportunities; Supporting Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Authorizing funding to procure Virginia-class submarines that will be maintained at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Strengthening Domestic Supply Chains: Bipartisan bill, which Senator Shaheen introduced and Senator Hassan worked to advance, to bolster the domestic supply chain for national security-related items and increase the government’s capacity to supply these critical materials that the Department of Homeland Security needs; Sanctioning Russia: Bipartisan bill, which Senator Hassan introduced, to sanction the purchase of Russian gold as part of ongoing efforts to stand up to Putin; Combating Transnational Criminal Organizations: A bill, which Senator Hassan helped to advance, to extend the creation and operation of Joint Task Forces to combat transnational criminal organizations, enforce immigration laws, and coordinate border security efforts. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-the-passing-of-derry-police-chief-edward-garone,Senator Hassan Statement on the Passing of Derry Police Chief Edward Garone,2022-10-12,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on the passing of retired Derry Police Chief Edward Garone: “Chief Garone represented the very best of New Hampshire, living his life in service to our state and our country. For a remarkable half-century, Chief Garone served with dedication, leading the Derry Police Department and working day in and day out to keep the people of Derry safe. “Chief Garone was an invaluable member of the Derry community, and worked to give back even outside his time in uniform. He always cared first and foremost about helping people – and people across our state are grateful for his decades of dedicated service. My prayers are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-congressional-delegation-honors-recipients-of-congressional-law-enforcement-awards-in-concord,NH Congressional Delegation Honors Recipients of Congressional Law Enforcement Awards in Concord,2022-10-07,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"CONCORD – Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas tonight honored law enforcement officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty at the annual New Hampshire Congressional Law Enforcement Awards ceremony. “Keeping our citizens safe is at the core of strong communities and a strong economy – and public safety is truly the most fundamental task of any government. That is why the work of New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers is so vital,” said Senator Hassan. “I am so impressed by the work that our law enforcement officers do every day on behalf of our state and what it means to our communities, and I want to congratulate all those being honored this year. As our law enforcement officers continue their heroic efforts to keep the public safe, I look forward to continuing to work together to build a safer and stronger New Hampshire.” “This annual ceremony serves as a testament to the outstanding service of our Granite State law enforcement officers. While often underappreciated and unheralded, they remain committed to serving and protecting Granite Staters, even when it means putting their own well-being at risk. Such a level of dedication is a source of great pride and admiration across our state,” said Senator Shaheen. “This year’s honorees demonstrated exceptional courage in addition to a deep-rooted commitment to keeping our communities safe. We are forever grateful to these brave men and women, and I offer my sincere thanks to them, their families and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.” “I was honored to join the annual Congressional Law Enforcement Awards ceremony this evening to honor Granite State law enforcement officials and their families for their commitment to the safety of our communities,” said Representative Kuster. “Across New Hampshire, law enforcement officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our communities safe, and this is an important opportunity to recognize and honor their courage and commitment to public safety. We are so grateful to members of law enforcement in New Hampshire and across the country who put their lives on the line to protect others and I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the brave men and women we are honoring this evening.” “It was an honor to join members of New Hampshire’s law enforcement community at tonight’s Congressional Law Enforcement Awards and congratulate this year’s awardees for the incredible work they do keeping our communities safe,” said Representative Pappas. “Members of our law enforcement, as well as their families and loved ones, deserve our utmost gratitude and respect for the sacrifices they make to keep our communities safe. Day in and day out, those who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for all of us, and we must never forget them. I remain committed to ensuring that law enforcement, public safety, and first responders get the resources they need to do their jobs and keep our communities healthy, safe, and secure.” The following groups and individuals were recognized: For their response to a bus depot explosion on March 3, 2022, Chief Edward Shaughnessy and Sergeant Neil Flanagan of the Bradford Police Department received Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. Philip Biron, Michael Boucher, David Camire, Debra Dimond, Drew Patterson, Hunter Patterson, Joshua Raney, Emily Selig Roy, Derek Sykes, and Jeffrey Sykes received Associate Service Awards. For the State Police SWAT response to a man with a gun in Claremont on March 31, 2021, NH State Police Sergeant Gary Ingham, Sergeant Shane Larkin, Sergeant Noah Sanctuary, Trooper First Class Nicholas Cyr, Trooper First Class Stefan Czyzowski, and Trooper William Neilsen received a Unit Citation Award. For their work on the cold case of a missing person from July 1978, Conservation Officer Joseph Canfield, Sergeant Kevin Bronson, Sergeant Geoff Pushee, and Conservation Officer Graham Courtney of the NH Fish and Game Department received a Unit Citation Award. For their response to a juvenile in distress rescue on June 10, 2022, Detective Molly Martuscello and Officer Juel Cooper of the Dover Police Department received the Officer Richard W. Bateman Dedication and Professionalism Award. For rescuing a woman from a burning vehicle on May 25, 2022, Officer Haley Magee of the Hampton Police Department received the Officer Richard W. Bateman Dedication and Professionalism Award. For recognition of his dedication throughout his career with the State Police, Mr. Bruce Taylor, NH State Police Forensic Laboratory photographer, received the Officer Richard W. Bateman Dedication and Professionalism Award. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-introduces-bill-to-help-provide-support-to-students-with-disabilities,Senator Hassan Introduces Bill to Help Provide Support to Students with Disabilities,2022-10-05,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced a bill that would help students with disabilities receive the support that they need to succeed in the classroom by ensuring that their rights are upheld. “As a mother with a son who experiences disabilities, I learned firsthand the importance of advocacy to ensure that he received the support he needed in the classroom. My experience is far from unique, and we must make sure that the rights of people with disabilities are fully protected in all places, including at school,” said Senator Hassan. “This bill would enable Granite State students with disabilities and their parents to get help advocating for the education that they deserve – and are entitled to. I will continue to work to make sure that people with disabilities are fully included in our society.” Senator Hassan’s bill creates a new program specifically dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities access the high-quality education that they are entitled to by law. Currently, there are seven Protection and Advocacy Systems (P&As) that are run through states that provide legal and advocacy support to people with disabilities to help them gain access to health care, employment, and other needs – the bill adds a specific program for education. The bill is also being introduced in the House by Congressman DeSaulnier. “Students with disabilities in New Hampshire and across the country are entitled to a free appropriate public education,” said Stephanie Patrick, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Disability Rights Center. “Every day, we receive calls from parents whose children are not getting the support they need from their local schools. These students need access to legal advocacy to enforce their rights, but our capacity to help is limited. On behalf of over 30,000 students with disabilities in New Hampshire, we thank Senator Hassan for introducing this important legislation.” The bill is also supported by the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN); the Center for Learner Equity; the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocate; the Advocacy Institute; the PACER Center; the National Center for Parent Leadership, Advocacy, and Community Empowerment (National PLACE); and the SPAN Parent Advocacy Network. Senator Hassan is committed to ensuring that Americans with disabilities can be fully included in their community. Senator Hassan recently led the NH Congressional Delegation in announcing $5 million in federal funds for the state to support seniors and individuals who experience disabilities and their caregivers. In February, Senator Hassan led colleagues in introducing a bill to restore full funding for educational and early-intervention services for children who experience disabilities. Senator Hassan successfully secured nearly $3 billion in dedicated federal funding to support students with disabilities in the American Rescue Plan. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/gao-releases-report-requested-by-senator-hassan-on-federal-support-for-state-and-local-cybersecurity,GAO Releases Report Requested by Senator Hassan on Federal Support for State and Local Cybersecurity,2022-10-04,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released a report, requested by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), on its review of the federal government’s efforts to support state and local governments against ransomware attacks. The report highlights several of Senator Hassan’s bipartisan efforts to strengthen state and local governments’ cybersecurity. “From cyberattacks on the Town of Peterborough to the Sunapee School District, it’s clear that we need to help communities to defend against cyberattacks,” said Senator Hassan. “This report highlights the progress we’ve made in strengthening state and local cybersecurity, including through programs that I’ve pushed for as Chair of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, as well as the challenges that we must continue working to address. I will keep working across the aisle on ways to strengthen cybersecurity, including through improving the federal government’s coordination with state and local entities.” The GAO’s report reviewed federal efforts to provide ransomware prevention and response assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial government organizations. As part of GAO’s findings, the report highlights various initiatives that Senator Hassan helped establish or fund, including: The state and local cybersecurity grant program which Senator Hassan secured $1 billion for to help local governments better protect their networks from cyber intrusions; The National Guard’s cyber security assistance to state and local governments, which Senator Hassan has worked to set up; Cyber incident response teams that Senator Hassan and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) worked to enshrine into law to help prevent cyberattacks at all levels of government and the private sector, and help mitigate the impact of such attacks when they occur; and The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center program which ensures that the federal government communicates information on cyber threats and best practices to state and local entities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-and-colleagues-bipartisan-bill-to-crack-down-on-undisclosed-foreign-influence-passes-senate,Senator Hassan and Colleagues’ Bipartisan Bill To Crack Down On Undisclosed Foreign Influence Passes Senate,2022-10-04,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate recently passed a bipartisan bill, which Senator Maggie Hassan joined in introducing, that would close a loophole that the Chinese Communist Party frequently exploits to conceal its role in lobbying efforts. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). ""As countries like China and Russia seek to exploit loopholes to influence our democracy, increasing transparency around foreign lobbying activities is critical to our national security,"" said Senator Hassan. ""It's important that the Senate passed our bipartisan bill, which will crack down on loopholes in lobbying disclosure laws that for too long have allowed bad actors to sneak through our system."" “The Chinese Communist Party has exploited loopholes in lobbying disclosure laws to mask their involvement in lobbying campaigns that are pushing their agenda and influencing U.S. policy. This bill shines a light on those types of secret schemes so we can make more informed decisions when crafting policy. I’m grateful to have bipartisan support for this measure,” Senator Grassley said. The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act makes clear that foreign governments and political parties that participate in the planning, supervision, direction or control of a lobbying effort must disclose their activity, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort. This would prevent the Chinese Communist Party from circumventing federal lobbying laws by using registered, closely-connected organizations and businesses as proxies to push their interests when lobbying the U.S. government. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to address the national security and economic threat posed by the Chinese government, and this past summer she worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which included $1.5 billion to strengthen telecommunication technology research and development here at home, so we can install our own technology instead of using Chinese technology in telecommunications networks. The President also previously signed into law the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Senator Hassan, which directs the FCC to close a loophole to better prevent telecommunications equipment manufactured and sold by companies that pose a national security threat from being deployed in the United States. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-young-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-foster-youth-obtain-drivers-licenses,"Senators Hassan, Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Foster Youth Obtain Driver’s Licenses",2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN) recently introduced a bipartisan bill to help foster youth succeed by helping them obtain driver’s licenses. The process of getting a driver’s license includes high costs and other barriers for foster youth. The Senators’ Foster Youth and Driving Act works to address these barriers by creating a grant that would help young people in foster care obtain the necessary practice and insurance to get a driver’s license. “Getting a driver’s license can be an important part of young adulthood – helping young people gain independence and allowing them to access work and education opportunities. Unfortunately, foster youth face financial barriers to getting a driver’s license,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill takes steps to ensure that foster youth have tools to get a license and to access the opportunities that can come along with it.” “Given the hardships faced by young Hoosiers in the foster system, we should do all we can to ensure they have the tools necessary for future success. Our bill would remove some of the existing barriers these individuals face when obtaining a driver’s license,” said Senator Young. Transportation is a barrier for foster youth and their opportunities to access education and employment – and can present even more challenges for those in rural areas with limited public transportation. The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative found that foster youth with driver’s licenses were more likely than their peers to attend school and almost twice as likely to work. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-in-welcoming-over-525000-for-state-digital-equity-planning,"Shaheen Leads NH Delegation in Welcoming Over $525,000 for State Digital Equity Planning",2022-10-03,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) to welcome over $525,000 in federal funding to support the state’s development of a state-wide plan for digital equity and inclusion projects. This funding will be allocated through the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program and administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. As a lead negotiator of the broadband provisions included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Shaheen worked with Senator Collins (R-ME) to include authorization of the State Digital Equity Planning Grant Program. This program will support states in planning projects that will expand broadband access and increase digital literacy so that individuals have the necessary skills and technological resources to fully leverage the benefits of high-speed internet access. In New Hampshire, these grant funds will be used to engage with local communities in order to identify barriers to digital equity and develop meaningful projects to promote the full participation of Granite Staters in today’s digital economy. Upon completing the State Digital Equity Plan, New Hampshire will be eligible to receive additional funds through the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program to carry out its planned activities to promote digital equity and inclusion. “Every Granite Stater should be empowered with the fundamental skills and affordable access needed to participate in today’s digital economy. That’s why I’m glad to see this Digital Equity Act funding heading to New Hampshire to begin the important work of identifying barriers to digital equity and developing meaningful solutions to ensure every New Hampshire resident can reap the full benefits of high-speed internet access,” said Senator Shaheen, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Commerce. “I’ll continue advocating for resources to ensure digital equity can be achieved across the Granite State.” “Access to reliable high-speed internet is critical to helping communities across New Hampshire thrive,” said Senator Hassan. “This new funding will help ensure that people in New Hampshire have the tools necessary to succeed in the digital economy. This program was made possible as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which I was proud to help negotiate, and I will continue working across the aisle to help more Granite Staters get connected.” “Closing the digital divide so that households and small businesses in New Hampshire have access to the resources and skills they need is crucial to ensuring all Granite Staters can thrive in the 21st Century economy,” said Representative Kuster, a member of the House Rural Broadband Task Force. “These federal Digital Equity Act funds headed to our state will help identify challenges and obstacles preventing some Granite Staters from accessing and fully utilizing high-speed internet connections. I will continue working to expand access to broadband in our state and ensure no one is left behind because of digital inequity.” “Access to broadband is critical to education and our economy, and improving digital equity in New Hampshire will ensure everyone has access to this resource,” said Representative Pappas. “These funds will help our state close the digital equity gap and help Granite Staters build essential skills that will empower them to fully participate in our digital economy. I will continue to support programs such as this one that support our workforce and our economy.” Earlier this month, Senator Hassan led the delegation in announcing $66 million of a total of $122 million in federal funds through the Capital Projects Fund to help bring high-speed internet access to New Hampshire households and businesses in the most rural parts of the state. In addition, the delegation previously announced $2.2 and $2.4 million in funding to New Hampshire to help connect students to high-speed internet at home through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. As a lead negotiator of the historic bipartisan infrastructure deal, Shaheen led bipartisan broadband negotiations with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and successfully secured $65 billion to support broadband affordability and deployment across the nation. Earlier this week, the Senate passed Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation to better assist small businesses in accessing broadband internet and other emerging information technology resources. Senator Hassan also helped to negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure package, including key provisions on high-speed internet, passenger rail, coastal resiliency, and cybersecurity. The law also incorporates elements of bipartisan legislation Senator Hassan authored to support rural broadband using private activity bonds to help pay for high-speed internet infrastructure in unserved locations, an approach that allows state and local governments to access and leverage new sources of capital and attract investment for broadband. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-encourages-newly-eligible-veterans-to-apply-for-va-health-care,Senator Hassan Encourages Newly Eligible Veterans to Apply for VA Health Care,2022-10-01,2022,2022-10,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following the signing of Senator Maggie Hassan and colleagues’ bipartisan PACT Act into law, the VA announced that, starting today, many veterans who served in the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars, and War on Terror are newly eligible for VA health care. WATCH Senator Hassan’s video on the eligibility period opening. “I was proud to help develop and pass our bipartisan PACT Act into law, providing long-deserved support for veterans exposed to toxic substances,” said Senator Hassan. “We need to connect our veterans to the health care and benefits that they have earned and deserve after sacrificing so much for our country. I encourage veterans who may be newly eligible to apply for VA health care to enroll now, and I will continue working to make sure that our veterans receive the support that they need.” October 1 is the first day that many veterans of the Vietnam War, Gulf Wars, and War on Terror can apply for VA health care. The PACT Act also includes additional health care and disabilities benefits for veterans. To learn more about these options, visit www.va.gov/PACT or call the VA at 800-698-2411. Additionally, Granite Staters can contact Senator Hassan’s office with questions here or at 603-622-2204. More than 60,000 veterans in New Hampshire stand to benefit from the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022. Among its many priorities, Senator Hassan and colleagues’ law: Expands VA health care eligibility to Post-9/11 combat veterans, which includes more than 3.5 million toxic-exposed veterans; Creates a framework for the establishment of future presumptions of service connection related to toxic exposure; Adds 23 burn pit and toxic exposure-related conditions to VA’s list of service presumptions; Expands presumptions related to Agent Orange exposure, including hypertension; Includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam, American Samoa, and Johnston Atoll as locations for Agent Orange exposure; Strengthens federal research on toxic exposure; Improves VA’s resources and training for toxic-exposed veterans; and Sets VA and veterans up for success by investing in: VA claims processing; VA’s workforce; and VA health care facilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/breaking-senator-hassans-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-veterans-during-their-transition-to-civilian-life-heads-to-presidents-desk,BREAKING: Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans During Their Transition to Civilian Life Heads to President’s Desk,2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) to strengthen the Solid Start program passed the U.S. House of Representatives and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The Solid Start program was created by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) during the previous administration to contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. During a hearing last week, Senator Hassan spoke about the importance of the bill with VA Secretary Denis McDonough, who shared his support of the bill. “After our service members make sacrifices to protect our freedoms, we must ensure that they have the support that they need after their active duty service – but if our veterans are not even aware of VA services, then we cannot effectively help them,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill will make sure that the VA proactively reaches out to veterans to help support them in their transition to civilian life. This bill is a victory for veterans across the country, and I thank the Granite State veterans who have raised with me the importance of strengthening support for new veterans.” The bipartisan Solid Start Act of 2021 would codify the Solid Start program that the previous administration started – thus ensuring that the program continues – and make improvements such as providing women veterans with information that is tailored to their specific health care and benefit needs – a priority that women veterans from New Hampshire raised with Senator Hassan during a roundtable last year. This bill is part of ongoing efforts from Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to strengthen support for veterans. For example, last month, the President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ historic, bipartisan military toxic exposure bill. The President also signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-votes-to-pass-government-funding-bill-including-new-funding-to-reduce-energy-costs,"Senator Hassan Votes to Pass Government Funding Bill, Including New Funding to Reduce Energy Costs",2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today joined her colleagues in voting to pass a bill to continue government funding. Senator Hassan also helped to secure $1 billion in emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the bill, in order to help bring down energy costs for Granite Staters. “I am pleased that we came together today on a bipartisan basis to prevent a government shutdown. I am also proud that our bill includes new funding that will help Granite Staters and Americans afford to heat their homes as we approach colder months – this is a critical priority that Granite Staters have raised with me as they face rising costs, and it’s important that additional funding will go to New Hampshire through the LIHEAP program. I’ll keep working to bring down costs for Granite State families,” said Senator Hassan. The Union Leader recently covered Senator Hassan’s work behind the scenes to secure LIHEAP funding, noting “Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., had been negotiating with senators of both political parties from the hardest-hit states affected by soaring prices of natural gas linked to the war in Ukraine.” Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to bring down energy costs for Granite Staters. During negotiations for the bill that passed today, Senator Hassan worked closely with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress to build bipartisan support for LIHEAP funding. Earlier this month, Senator Hassan led the New England delegation in calling on President Biden to lower energy costs by releasing oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. Senator Hassan successfully included in the Inflation Reduction Act her measure with Susan Collins (R-ME) to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by expanding and extending a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-in-celebrating-1-billion-in-emergency-funding-for-liheap,Shaheen Leads NH Delegation in Celebrating $1 Billion in Emergency Funding for LIHEAP,2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) in celebrating the inclusion of $1 billion in emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in government funding legislation under consideration by the U.S. Senate. In August, the New Hampshire Delegation joined a bipartisan, bicameral push to increase emergency funding for LIHEAP. Funding allocated through LIHEAP assists individuals and families with the costs of heating and cooling their homes and helps to mitigate the impacts of rising energy costs and extreme weather events. Across the nation, LIHEAP helps over 5.3 million households afford their energy bills. “As we head toward the coldest months of the year, this additional funding for home heating assistance is so important,” said Senator Shaheen. “LIHEAP provides a lifeline for families hit hardest by high prices. No one should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table or buying other necessities. As we shore up our energy infrastructure and invest in efficiency to lessen the impact of volatile oil and natural gas prices, I will continue to support robust funding for LIHEAP.” “With rising energy prices and challenges to our supply chain, Granite Staters will face increasingly high costs to heat their homes,” said Senator Hassan. “I was proud to work across the aisle to build bipartisan support for LIHEAP and get emergency funding included in this bill. This is one of the largest increases in LIHEAP funding that we have ever secured, and will go a long way to help New Hampshire families.” “As electricity, natural gas, and heating oil costs remain high and the cold winter months approach, additional funding for LIHEAP is critical to ensuring Granite State families are able to keep their homes safe and warm,” said Representative Kuster. “I have called for increased funding for LIHEAP, which is a lifeline for those who struggle to afford their home energy costs. This additional funding will help New Hampshire families, but more work remains – I have urged the Biden administration to release supply from the home heating oil reserve as soon as possible. I will continue working to bring down energy costs and ease the burden of high prices on Granite Staters.” “As winter approaches it is critical that all families are able to keep their heat on and pay their bills in the months ahead,” said Representative Pappas. “LIHEAP is an essential program that helps keep families safe, healthy, and warm in the Granite State, and I’m pleased the additional funding I called for is being provided in the government funding legislation. In addition to these needed funds, I continue to call on the administration to take further action to lower energy costs, restrict exports, and increase domestic supply. I will always advocate for programs such as LIHEAP that have a long history of serving our families and communities.” In addition to this $1 billion in emergency funding, the FY 2023 proposal includes $4 billion for LIHEAP, which is an increase of $200 million over FY 2022. On top of the $900 million in LIHEAP funds allocated through the CARES Act in 2020, Shaheen and Hassan worked to secure $4.5 billion for LIHEAP in the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law in March 2021 and provided $35,498,757 to New Hampshire. Senator Shaheen also used her role on appropriations and as a lead negotiator for the bipartisan infrastructure bill to push to increase LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, leading to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history. Following the June announcement of electric rate increases approved by New Hampshire’s Public Utilities Commission, the New Hampshire Delegation urged the state to use the remaining funding secured in the American Rescue Plan to provide financial assistance to help Granite Staters afford their home energy bills. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has prioritized ensuring Granite State families and seniors have access to heating and energy assistance. Senator Shaheen championed increases in funding for key programs to assist Granite State families with home heating bills, efficiency upgrades and emergency situations in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Senate government funding proposal released in August. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to bring down energy costs for Granite Staters. During negotiations on the government funding legislation, Senator Hassan worked closely with Democrat and Republican leaders in Congress to build bipartisan support for LIHEAP funding. Earlier this month, Senator Hassan led the New England delegation in calling on President Biden to lower energy costs by releasing oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. Senator Hassan successfully included in the Inflation Reduction Act her measure with Susan Collins (R-ME) to help lower energy costs for families and reduce carbon emissions by expanding and extending a tax credit for energy efficient home upgrades. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-committee-passes-hassan-backed-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-computers-to-veterans,Senate Committee Passes Hassan-Backed Bipartisan Bill to Provide Computers to Veterans,2022-09-28,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced bipartisan legislation that Senator Maggie Hassan pushed for, including a bill to help provide surplus government computers to nonprofit computer refurbishers — who would then repair and distribute these computers to veterans and others who need them. ""This bipartisan bill will help more veterans, students, and seniors have access to a computer, which will help them to do everything from completing homework to making doctor's appointments,” said Senator Hassan. “I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this commonsense, bipartisan bill.” “Owning a computer is the foundation of digital equity and it’s the thing that unlocks opportunity for folks to be able to participate in the modern economy. Thanks to Senator Hassan and the support of the committee, this bill moves to the Senate floor, and if passed will make a large supply of free and low-cost devices available for veterans, students, seniors, and so many others who need it,” said Scot Henley, Executive Director of Digitunity, based in North Conway, NH. Digitunity is a national nonprofit focused on advancing digital equity through device ownership. The Computers for Veterans and Students Act would allow certified, nonprofit refurbishing organizations to directly obtain, refurbish, and distribute repairable, surplus government computers to serve veterans, students, and seniors in need of a device. Additionally, the legislation would require each nonprofit computer refurbisher receiving computers to provide training programs in the use of this technology. Senator Hassan also voted to pass additional critical bills through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, including: The bipartisan Access for Veterans to Records Act, which would help eliminate the current backlog of veterans’ record requests at the National Personnel Records Center, an issue that Senator Hassan has worked to address; The bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act, which would reauthorize critical Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs that local fire departments – including in New Hampshire -- use to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services. Senator Hassan successfully worked to increase funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program in the American Rescue Plan that was passed into law, and most recently, she worked to support funding a new fire engine for Berlin through this program; The bipartisan Illicit Border Tunnel Defense Act, which would better secure the southern border by directing Customs and Border Protection to develop a plan to counteract illegal underground tunnels under the U.S.-Mexico border. Senator Hassan discussed this challenge with border agents during her visit earlier this year to the Southern border; and The bipartisan Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act, which would save taxpayer dollars by improving management of how the federal government purchases and uses software. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-caroline-keane-of-concord-as-septembers-granite-stater-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes Caroline Keane of Concord as September’s Granite Stater of the Month,2022-09-28,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Caroline Keane of Concord as September’s Granite Stater of the Month. For the past eight years, Caroline has organized the Ready to Learn Fair, where Concord School District students can receive free backpacks and other school supplies. Nine years ago, while Caroline was an education assistant for Rundlett Middle School’s autism program, she came across a young student using a plastic bag as a makeshift backpack. She began raising money to purchase school supplies and reaching out to local businesses and organizations to donate materials or provide free services. Since then, the Ready to Learn Fair has expanded beyond school supplies, even helping provide free haircuts from the New England School of Barbering, and has become an essential part of the school’s community. After the fair, Caroline stores any leftover supplies in a closet at the school, so that students can access supplies they may need throughout the year. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below. I am honored to recognize Caroline Keane of Concord as September’s Granite Stater of the Month. For the past eight years, Caroline has organized the Ready to Learn Fair, where Concord School District students can receive free backpacks and other school supplies. About nine years ago, when Caroline was an education assistant for Rundlett Middle School’s autism program, she came across a young student who was attempting to carry his books in a flimsy plastic bag, crying. He was upset because the plastic bag -- his makeshift backpack -- had torn open. She began raising money to purchase school supplies and reaching out to local businesses and organizations to donate materials or provide free services. Over the past eight years, the Ready to Learn Fair has expanded beyond just school supplies and has become an essential part of the school’s community. At the fair, the New England School of Barbering provides free haircuts – and there is a long line for this every year. Caroline also works to bring representatives from the district’s Free and Reduced Lunch program to the fair so that families can sign up their kids. Last year, families could get their COVID-19 vaccines, and this year she is collecting winter supplies such as coats and hats for students in need. After the fair, Caroline stores any leftover supplies in a closet at the school, so that students can access the supplies throughout the year. After seeing a need in her community, Caroline took action to make sure that students, regardless of their family’s income, are prepared for school – helping students succeed and alleviating parents’ stress. Even beyond this impact, Caroline’s initiative brought her community together, from volunteers, to small business owners, to the school’s maintenance team, to donors. Caroline’s initiative represents the Granite State spirit of taking care of your neighbors and bringing people together for a common goal, and I commend her for her work. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-push-from-senator-hassan-medicare-lowers-premiums-for-first-time-in-a-decade,"Following Push from Senator Hassan, Medicare Lowers Premiums for First Time in a Decade",2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following a push led by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), the administration announced today that monthly Medicare Part B premiums will decrease by 3% – the first time that premiums have gone down in over a decade – and that the Medicare Part B deductible will also go down. “As seniors struggle with high health care costs, I am glad that the administration heeded my call to lower Medicare premiums, averting a potential price hike. This is one step in the right direction to lower health care costs, and it’s also critically important that we recently passed into law legislation that will lead to lower prescription drug prices for those on Medicare, and help drive down prices across the board. I’ll keep pushing to bring down costs for seniors and all Granite Staters,” said Senator Hassan. Last year, Senator Hassan led four of her colleagues in calling on the administration to prevent increases in Medicare Part B premiums, which covers doctor visits, outpatient hospital services, and more. As the Senators wrote at the time, “Seniors cannot afford these increased health care costs. At a time when costs are increasing in many areas, we should be looking for ways to reduce costs, not add to them – particularly for seniors and others living on fixed incomes.” In addition to today’s announcement, Senator Hassan previously worked with her colleagues to pass into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lead to lower health care costs. The law allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, a measure that Senator Hassan has pressed for, which will bring down the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and help drive down prices across the board. It also caps out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare Part D prescription drugs, while also capping insulin costs for those on Medicare. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-welcomes-30-million-for-climate-smart-forest-practices,NH Delegation Welcomes $30 Million for Climate-Smart Forest Practices,2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Manchester, NH - This month, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announcement that the agency is awarding $30 million to the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF). This funding will support the implementation of climate-smart forest practices by forest landowners to protect the environment. The grant was one of the 70 selected projects under the first pool of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This program’s investments seek to expand climate-smart solutions, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide direct benefits to agricultural producers, including small and underserved producers. NEFF’s proposal includes the duality of stimulating New Hampshire’s forestry sector while protecting the ecosystem and its biodiversity. By enacting climate-smart forestry incentives and a system to monitor and report metrics on greenhouse gas benefits, this funding will help to understand which climate-smart forestry practices can benefit the environment and to what extent. “New Hampshire agricultural producers will benefit from sustainable practices that support their operations and protect our environment. This investment in climate-smart forest practices ensures both of these goals are possible,” said Congressman Pappas. “I applaud this announcement from the USDA, and I will continue to support programs that benefit the Granite State economy, our rural small businesses, and our environment.” “Working forests are not only an important part of our economy and way of life in New Hampshire, they’re also a powerful tool to combat climate change,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m excited about this work to support climate-smart forestry practices and sustainable harvesting that result in substantial climate benefits. Expanding markets for wood products from sustainable forests can further benefit climate mitigation efforts by substituting for more carbon-intensive materials, all while supporting healthy rural economies.” “Sustainable, climate-smart agriculture and forestry can be a major catalyst for our economy and another step to fighting climate change,” said Senator Hassan. “The federal funding headed to New Hampshire will provide necessary resources to help forest landowners transition to environmentally-sustainable practices. I will continue working to help reduce the threat of greenhouse gas emissions and invest in growing our clean energy economy.” “Climate-smart and sustainable forestry operations are key to combating climate change, and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have been proud to advocate for forward-thinking and innovative forestry practices in New Hampshire,” said Representative Kuster. “This federal funding headed to the New England Forestry Foundation to help Granite State forest landowners implement sustainable practices represents an important investment in our environment, local rural agricultural producers, and our state’s economy.” In July, Congressman Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in sending a letter in support of the New England Forestry Foundation’s (NEFF) application for the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This letter urged the USDA to give NEFF’s proposal full consideration and stated that “the NEFF proposal would advance the goals of the pilot program, benefit our state, and constitute a responsible use of federal funds.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-hassan-pappas-announce-54-million-in-lead-based-paint-and-other-home-health-hazard-reduction-grants-heading-to-manchester,"Shaheen, Hassan, Pappas Announce $5.4 Million in Lead Based-Paint and Other Home Health Hazard Reduction Grants Heading to Manchester",2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, along with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the agency is awarding a $5.4 million grant to the City of Manchester to help protect families with small children from the dangers of lead-based paint exposure. This funding consists of $4.7 million through the Lead Hazard Reduction Grant program intended to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing, plus an additional $700,000 in Healthy Homes Supplemental funding to help identify and address other housing hazards that affect occupant health such as mold, allergens, carbon monoxide and radon in homes where lead remediation is also required. Lead is highly toxic and can cause a variety of severe health problems in children, ranging from impaired brain development and hearing, higher risk of coma and even death. According to the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, 42,057, or 50 percent of Granite State children, reside in housing units built before the 1978 ban on lead in residential paint, which increases their risk of exposure. “Lead poisoning is an entirely preventable tragedy that dramatically impacts a child’s health and ability to learn,” said Senator Shaheen. “This funding will help families in Manchester protect their children from lead poisoning and exposure to other hazardous contaminants in their homes. Particularly in many of our neighborhoods with older housing stock, it is critical to identify and remediate housing units with potential lead-based paint to ensure our kids can grow up healthy.” “Granite Staters and their families deserve a safe and healthy place to call home. However, in many older homes, lead-based paint can be a serious threat to the health and well-being of children,” said Senator Hassan. “The federal funds headed to Manchester will help identify homes at risk for lead exposure and other health hazards, helping build on our promise of a healthier, stronger New Hampshire.” “The health of our children is of the utmost importance, and we must be vigilant in our efforts to protect them from lead and other hazardous materials,” said Representative Pappas. “These funds will identify lead-based paint hazards so that they can be properly remediated and ensure that children in Manchester grow up healthy and safe. Moving forward I will continue to fight for funding to remediate lead and similar health hazards to protect children and families at risk of exposure.” “New Hampshire, and Manchester specifically, have a relatively old housing stock and lead paint hazards pose a risk to families with young children,” said Joyce Craig, Mayor of Manchester, NH. “This $5.3M for lead abatement will have a significant impact on increasing the health of our community and making homes safer and more livable for generations to come.” As a Senior Member of the Appropriations Committee, Shaheen helps lead an annual letter to fellow appropriators requesting funding for the Office of Lead Control and Healthy Homes at HUD, which administers the Lead Hazard Reduction and Healthy Homes grant programs, as well as funding for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-hampshire-delegation-announces-nearly-3-million-to-train-and-support-community-health-workers-in-new-hampshire,New Hampshire Delegation Announces Nearly $3 Million to Train and Support Community Health Workers in New Hampshire,2022-09-24,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Representative Chris Pappas, and Representative Annie Kuster announced that Southern NH Area Health Education Center (Southern NH AHEC), a program of Lamprey Health Care, has been awarded a nearly $3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to support and train community health workers in rural and underserved areas in New Hampshire. The Southern NH AHEC program works with community partners to train new Community Health Workers and upskill people already in the workforce, providing access to supportive job readiness services as well as access to apprenticeships. “Community health centers are an incredibly important resource for Granite Staters – providing high-quality care, including for mental health and substance use disorder,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “This new funding will bolster efforts of Southern NH AHEC and Lamprey Health Care, helping support and grow the dedicated community health workforce in our state. I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that community health centers across New Hampshire have the support that they need to continue their vital work.” “Our community health centers play a vital role in responding to COVID-19 and delivering essential, affordable health care to thousands of Granite Staters. Securing funding for frontline providers to hire and train more professionals is crucial to ensuring rural and underserved communities have access to quality care. I’m very pleased that Lamprey Health Care has received this funding to expand their Community Health Worker program and will continue to make sure New Hampshire’s health providers have the resources they need to provide the best care possible,” said Senator Shaheen. “Granite Staters rely on our community health centers for countless services, and it’s crucial that we ensure they have the qualified staff they need to serve our communities,” said Rep. Pappas. “These funds will help recruit, train, and retain community health workers to strengthen our public health workforce. Community health centers provide essential health services regardless of someone's ability to pay and are fundamental in helping constituents find affordable high-quality care, and I will continue to advocate for them in Congress.” “Community health centers provide crucial health care to Granite Staters, especially in our rural and underserved communities,” said Rep. Kuster. “This substantial federal funding to train new community health workers and provide additional training for existing employees will help address the shortage of health care workers in New Hampshire. I’m proud to help announce this investment in our state and I will continue working to help bolster our health care work force in our rural communities and throughout the Granite State.” “Community Health Workers (CHWs) act as the bridge between the health systems and the communities they serve,” explains Paula Smith, Director of SNHAHEC. “They use their skills to help people navigate their way to get the help they need, focusing on addressing social determinants of health such as housing, transportation, and food insecurity to keep people healthy.” Greg White, CEO of Lamprey Health Care states, “CHW ADVANCE! will infuse New Hampshire and Vermont workforce with a cadre of well-trained CHWs who represent underserved populations most in need of their services, allowing health care organizations to promote health in the communities we serve.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-honors-nh-veterans-at-the-25th-anniversary-commemoration-for-the-new-hampshire-state-veterans-cemetery,Senator Hassan Honors NH Veterans at the 25th Anniversary Commemoration for the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery,2022-09-24,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator Hassan Gives Remarks at the 25th Anniversary of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery Commemoration BOSCAWEN – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today delivered remarks at the 25th anniversary of the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery commemoration, honoring the sacrifices of Granite State veterans and the important role of the cemetery. “Each of the heroes who lie in this sanctuary has their own story -- serving across different battlefields coming from all walks of life and a range of political, personal, and religious beliefs. But they all shared the bonds of service and their belief in the strength and promise of our remarkable country. At this cemetery, the individual stories of these service members come together to tell the story of New Hampshire’s role in our ongoing fight for, and protection of, freedom,” said Senator Hassan. “In both quiet moments and in commemorative ceremonies, the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery is truly a sacred place. Whether we come here to remember and mourn a loved one or to reflect on the challenges and tribulations we face, this place provides us all a chance to focus on what’s truly important to us -- as a people and as a country.” Senator Hassan has worked with New Hampshire veterans to honor their sacrifices. Following advocacy from New Hampshire veterans, Senators Hassan, Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led a successful bipartisan push to return the POW/MIA flag atop the White House, after it was removed during the previous administration, and she recently worked with Granite State veterans to add the POW/MIA flag to Arlington National Cemetery’s administration building. Senator Hassan and the NH Congressional Delegation worked to pass a law to enable veterans cemeteries -- including the NH Veterans Cemetery -- to bury all members of the Reserves and National Guard. In addition, Senators Hassan and Joni Ernst (R-IA) passed into law their bipartisan bill to create a Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-braun-and-hassan-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-lower-prescription-drug-costs-by-increasing-competition,Senators Braun and Hassan introduce bipartisan bill to lower prescription drug costs by increasing competition,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Braun and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced bipartisan legislation today to lower prescription drug costs by removing barriers that prevent some medications, including generic drugs, from entering the market. Generic medications generally cost less than name-brand drugs, and when generics enter the market, it increases competition and brings down overall prescription drug costs. “For far too long, politicians and pharmaceutical companies have sparred over drug pricing, all the while patients and their families bear the costs of expensive inaction and endless bureaucratic red tape. We need to shake up this dysfunctional system, and more generic drug competition in the pharmaceutical industry would give patients the upper hand. This is why I am proud to co-introduce the Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will open the door for more generic drugs to enter the market, ultimately driving consumer-friendly price competition. This bill will help patients in every state get drugs they need for less,” said Senator Braun. “Granite Staters and Americans need us to keep working together to stand up to Big Pharma and bring down prescription drug costs,” said Senator Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill would take an important step forward to lower costs at the pharmacy counter by preventing pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to block generic drugs from entering the market. I encourage my colleagues to join us in supporting this commonsense bill.” DETAILS: Senator Braun and Hassan’s bipartisan Increasing Prescription Drug Competition Act will help get more generic drugs onto the market. The FDA often requires that drug manufacturers have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program for potentially dangerous medications – for instance, requiring training for doctors to prescribe the drug. Pharmaceutical companies sometimes patent their REMS program as a way to slow or block generic versions of the medication from entering the market. Senator Hassan and Braun’s bill enables the FDA to immediately approve generic drugs – instead of the normal 30-month approval stay – if the only barrier to approval is a REMS patent. In addition, their bill stops pharmaceutical companies from abusing the patent and court system by ensuring that if a drug company sues to stop a generic over a REMS patent, the lawsuit may go on but it cannot stop the sale of the generic drug. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/va-secretary-shares-support-for-senator-hassans-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-veterans-during-their-transition-to-civilian-life,VA Secretary Shares Support for Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans During Their Transition to Civilian Life,2022-09-22,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – At a U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough discussed his support for Senator Hassan’s bipartisan bill to strengthen the Solid Start program, and how the VA uses this program to better serve veterans. Senator Hassan also pressed the Secretary on the need to strengthen mental health care services for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here. During the hearing, Senator Hassan asked Secretary McDonough if he supports her bipartisan bill to strengthen the Solid Start program, which the Senate recently passed. The Solid Start program was created by the VA during the previous administration to contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after they leave active duty service to check in and help connect them to VA programs and benefits. On whether he supports her bill to strengthen the program and make it permanent, Secretary McDonough said, “We support your bill, yes.” Senator Hassan also asked the Secretary if the VA uses feedback that it gathers through the Solid Start program to better allocate resources and provide newly separated veterans with timely health care. “It gives us an opportunity to get a relationship with those vets, and obviously the feedback loop for us is we identify where vets are and therefore where we need additional resources to provide care,” Secretary McDonough said. “And most importantly, it gives vets a better understanding of what’s available to them.” Senator Hassan also highlighted the need to strengthen mental health services for veterans in New Hampshire. “Many veterans suffer from mental health crises, and the VA needs to provide appropriate and time sensitive care,” said Senator Hassan. “According to the VA’s website, the current wait time for a new patient to get a mental health appointment at the VA Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire is 22 days. This delay in accessing care can put veterans at unnecessary risk, and discourage them from seeking help in the future.” In response, Secretary McDonough committed to doing a better job on reducing those wait times. He also encouraged veterans who are in an emergency mental health situations to call the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s Veterans Crisis Line, which Senator Hassan helped set up by cosponsoring the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act that is now law. “Every veteran I talk to in New Hampshire—this is their number one concern for themselves and/or for their peers,” also added Senator Hassan. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-announces-725000-for-substance-use-disorder-treatment-and-prevention-in-jaffrey-and-dover,"NH Delegation Announces $725,000 for Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Prevention in Jaffrey and Dover",2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior appropriator on the Labor-Health and Human Services (L-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) $725,000 in federal funds for Reality Check, Inc. in Jaffrey and the City of Dover for substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Specifically, Reality Check, Inc. in Jaffrey was awarded $300,000 to expand recovery services and mobilize resources to improve long-term recovery outcomes, educate people on addiction and reduce stigma. The City of Dover was awarded $425,000 through two awards: $375,000 for New Hampshire’s Partnership for Success Grant and $50,000 for NH’s Dover Coalition for Youth STOP Grant Act. Both awards prioritize substance misuse prevention. “New Hampshire has been on the frontlines of the substance use disorder epidemic for years, so our response to finally turn the tide must be comprehensive and consistent. These federal awards tackle both ends of the crisis – prevention and treatment – to address the full scope of the epidemic,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who specifically authored a letter of support for Jaffrey’s award. “These resources will play an important role in Jaffrey and Dover to reduce stigma, invest in education and prevention and support long-term recovery efforts. Helping those affected and keeping the next generation safe from succumbing to this public health emergency will continue to be my top concerns in the Senate.” “Tackling the opioid epidemic requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. We need to look at this crisis from all angles, from increasing mental health resources to supporting law enforcement to reducing stigma,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “New Hampshire has dedicated professionals committed to stemming the tide of this crisis, and this federal funding will go a long way to helping provide support and resources to New Hampshire communities who are on the frontlines of this fight. I’ll continue to push for more funding so that individuals and families can have the care and support that they need as we keep combating the substance misuse epidemic.” “This federal investment in the health and well-being of Granite Staters will help expand access to treatment for those who are struggling, reduce the stigma around addiction, and bolster prevention efforts,” said Representative Annie Kuster, a founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. “Addressing the evolving substance use disorder crisis requires a comprehensive approach, and these funds will go a long way to prevent addiction and support Granite Staters in recovery. I’m glad that these funds are headed to communities in our state, and I’ll continue working to ensure those who are struggling have the resources they need to recover and thrive.” “The addiction epidemic requires diligent and constant action from all levels of government. These funds will support coalitions that work to prevent substance abuse, promote healthy choices for our youth, help those suffering from addiction, and develop evidence-based strategies to address gaps in substance misuse prevention,” said Representative Chris Pappas. “These needed resources will support the wellbeing of our communities, and I will always keep fighting in Congress to address this epidemic.” On Monday, the New Hampshire congressional delegation announced more than $28.5 million in State Opioid Response Grant funding. Shaheen and Hassan have led efforts in Congress to combat the substance use disorder epidemic, both through Shaheen’s leadership on the L-HHS Appropriations subcommittee and Hassan’s position on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Over the last five years, New Hampshire has received more than $140 million from SOR grants that Shaheen and Hassan have secured to combat the opioid epidemic in the state, with the hardest-hit state set-aside responsible for the majority of those funds. The FY2022 funding bill that Shaheen helped write continues to provide flexibility provisions that she authored to allow for SOR grant dollars to be used to support treatment and recovery for cocaine and methamphetamine use, in addition to opioid use. Shaheen and Hassan led efforts this year to prevent a steep cliff in SOR funding, securing a commitment to protect New Hampshire funding from Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra. Shaheen and Hassan's efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire. Last week, Shaheen reintroduced her legislation with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that would improve the SOR program by providing additional investments in flexibility for states and local communities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-celebrating-bipartisan-ratification-of-kigali-amendment,Senator Hassan Statement Celebrating Bipartisan Ratification of Kigali Amendment,2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement on the U.S. Senate voting today on a strong bipartisan basis to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocols, which will phase down the use of super-pollutants found in many consumer products. “Today’s bipartisan vote ratifying the Kigali Amendment is not only good news for our environment, it is a boon for American manufacturing and will help lower energy costs for families and businesses. This is a win-win and ensures that the U.S. will be a global leader for the next generation of energy-efficient consumer products, such as everyday items like air condition units and refrigerators, which in turn will boost exports and grow manufacturing jobs right here at home. This measure also helps us to outcompete countries like China, who would like nothing more than to corner the market on these popular consumer goods without having to compete with American innovation. Our bipartisan vote to ratify the amendment is an important step forward in our efforts to combat climate change and strengthen our economy.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-tillis-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-that-service-members-do-not-lose-out-on-education-benefits,Senators Hassan and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ensure that Service Members Do Not Lose Out on Education Benefits,2022-09-21,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that service members are protected financially and won’t fail their classes if they need to withdraw from school because they are called up for duty. “When a service member is suddenly called up for duty, they should not have to fear losing any VA tuition assistance or receiving failing grades because of their service-related withdrawal,” said Senator Hassan. “Our service members make enormous sacrifices to protect our freedom, and we must ensure that they receive the benefits that they have more than earned, including accessing higher education. I am glad to work across the aisle on this bill with Senator Tillis, and I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill.” “When a student reports to active duty, inactive duty training, or state active duty, they and their spouses should not be penalized with failing grades or sacrifice of education benefits,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to introduce this legislation to support our servicemembers and their families to ensure they receive the educational benefits they have earned.” The Protections for Student Veterans Act would allow student service members and their spouses, who use VA education benefits and are in good standing, to withdraw or take a leave of absence from their education when a service member reports to active duty, inactive duty training, or state active duty. Schools would be barred from assigning failing grades to students who either withdraw or take a leave of absence. This bill will ensure that covered individuals can recoup lost VA education benefits caused by their orders. Students who take a leave of absence would be assigned a grade of incomplete, and, when possible, schools would allow the student to complete their course credits after completing their term of service. The Student Veterans of America has endorsed this bill. This bill is part of ongoing efforts from Senator Hassan to strengthen support for veterans. The President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. Following a successful push by U.S. Senators Hassan and Dick Durbin (D-IL), the administration announced that it is taking steps to implement legislation that the Senators passed to close a loophole that for-profit colleges use to increase their own profits by taking advantage of veterans, service members, and their families. To read bill text, click here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-helps-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-travel-reimbursement-rates-for-veterans,Senator Hassan Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Travel Reimbursement Rates for Veterans,2022-09-20,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jon Tester (D-MT) to introduce legislation that will increase reimbursement rates for veterans who must travel to receive medical care provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As part of Senator Hassan’s work to lower costs for Granite Staters, the Veterans Medical Mileage Adjustment Act of 2022 would increase the reimbursement rate for the Beneficiary Travel Program for eligible veterans who have to travel more than seven miles for VA-related health care. “Too often, Granite State veterans have to travel far distances to get the health care that they need. Making matters worse, they have had to grapple with high energy prices that can make traveling more expensive than ever before,” said Senator Hassan. “Increasing reimbursement rates will help more veterans - no matter where they live - access VA health care. This is an issue that uniquely impacts Granite Staters veterans, and I’m proud to help push forward this bipartisan legislation so that we can better deliver on our promise to support those who bravely served our country.” The legislation is endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and Wounded Warrior Project. This bill is part of ongoing efforts from Senator Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, to strengthen support for veterans. Last month, the President signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ historic, bipartisan military toxic exposure bill. The President also signed into law Senator Hassan and colleagues’ Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021 to direct the VA to create a program to recruit military medical personnel who have less than one year left in their service to work in federal health care occupations at the VA. Additionally, earlier this month, the VA announced it will extend eligibility for certain veterans and their family caregivers through September 30, 2025 following Senator Hassan’s push for the VA to address concerns with the Program Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-delegation-announces-pivotal-sor-funding-for-nh-to-tackle-substance-use-disorder-crisis,NH Delegation Announces Pivotal SOR Funding for NH to Tackle Substance Use Disorder Crisis,2022-09-19,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior appropriator on the Labor-Health and Human Services (L-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that $28,507,046 in State Opioid Response (SOR) grants are now being made available to the State of New Hampshire, which Shaheen and Hassan fought to secure in the government funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2022 that was signed into law. The SOR program is pivotal in providing communities and states with the federal resources necessary to combat the substance use disorder epidemic. Shaheen and Hassan successfully pushed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to maintain SOR funding levels for New Hampshire and avoid significant cliffs in funding year-over-year. “Especially after our successful efforts in Congress to bring flexibility to the SOR program to better adapt to the crisis as it evolved in our communities, these funds are instrumental to addressing the full scope of this epidemic,” said Senator Shaheen. “As the Appropriations Committee works to finalize government funding legislation for the next fiscal year, I’ll do everything I can to ensure the SOR program gets the attention and resources it needs to continue making these investments in New Hampshire so we can put people on the path to long-term recovery.” “The opioid epidemic is devastating Granite State communities, which is why I fought to ensure that New Hampshire continues to get significant federal resources to increase prevention, treatment, and recovery services,” said Senator Hassan. “I have heard countless heartbreaking stories from Granite Staters, including from parents who have lost two children to opioid overdoses – and I have also heard from Granite Staters in recovery about the difference that treatment and peer-to-peer support has made. We need to continue an all-hands-on deck approach to combating the opioid epidemic, and I will stay laser focused on getting New Hampshire communities and law enforcement the tools that they need to combat this crisis.” “State Opioid Response (SOR) grants provide crucial federal funding to address the evolving addiction crisis in our communities, and I’m thrilled to announce this substantial investment in the well-being of our state” said Representative Kuster, a founder and co-chair if the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. “As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I helped to secure sustained funding for the SOR program, and I advocated for increased flexibility so that these grants extend to treatment for cocaine and methamphetamine dependency, in addition to opioids. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support prevention efforts and ensure that Granite Staters have access to the treatment and recovery services they need.” “The addiction crisis is deeply personal for New Hampshire families, and we must continue to build and invest in a multi-pronged approach,” said Representative Chris Pappas. “This grant from the Department of Health & Human Services will help those suffering from addiction and ensure they get the support they need. I remain committed to working across the aisle with my colleagues, public safety officials, and health experts to find solutions to combat this epidemic.” Shaheen and Hassan have led efforts in Congress to combat the substance use disorder epidemic, both through Shaheen’s leadership on the L-HHS Appropriations subcommittee and Hassan’s position on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Over the last five years, New Hampshire has received more than $140 million from SOR grants that Shaheen and Hassan have secured to combat the opioid epidemic in the state, with the hardest-hit state set-aside responsible for the majority of those funds. The FY2022 funding bill that Shaheen helped write continues to provide flexibility provisions that she authored to allow for SOR grant dollars to be used to support treatment and recovery for cocaine and methamphetamine use, in addition to opioid use. Shaheen and Hassan led efforts this year to prevent a steep cliff in SOR funding, securing a commitment to protect New Hampshire funding from Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra. Shaheen and Hassan's efforts have led to a more than tenfold increase in federal treatment and prevention funding for New Hampshire. Last week, Shaheen reintroduced her legislation with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that would improve the SOR program by providing additional investments in flexibility for states and local communities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-honors-pow/mia-recognition-day,Senator Hassan Honors POW/MIA Recognition Day,2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NEW HAMPSHIRE – Today is POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement honoring the day: “I join Granite Staters across our state in marking POW/MIA Recognition Day and honoring all of our former prisoners of war and those who have yet to return home. This day serves as a reminder that we must continue to do all that we can so that one day the families of those missing can, at the very least, find the answers and closure that they deserve. We must also remember the experiences of those who were prisoners of war – who were often subject to horrific and unimaginable conditions. Because of these heroes, our country is safer and our freedom is stronger.” Senator Hassan has worked with New Hampshire veterans to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action by ensuring that the POW/MIA flag flies at key landmarks. Following advocacy from New Hampshire veterans, Senators Hassan, Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led a successful bipartisan push to return the POW/MIA flag atop the White House, after it was removed during the previous administration. Most recently, Senator Hassan, Senator Cotton, and New Hampshire veterans pushed to ensure that the POW/MIA flag is displayed at an Arlington National Cemetery building, and the building just yesterday put up the flag. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-braun-lead-bipartisan-push-to-help-train-more-doctors-to-treat-opioid-use-disorder,Senators Hassan and Braun Lead Bipartisan Push to Help Train More Doctors to Treat Opioid Use Disorder,2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Today, Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Mike Braun (R-IN) called on the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to require more training for medical providers in treating substance use disorders, so that more people can get the help that they need. In the letter to the ACGME Chair, the Senators write, “The ACGME must swiftly update its specialty requirements to ensure that physicians-in-training gain the skills needed to address the current crisis. The overdose crisis has persisted in part because of the dearth of treatment providers. Just one in five individuals with an opioid use disorder receives the treatment they need. As of 2019, fewer than seven percent of all physicians prescribe buprenorphine for an opioid use disorder.” The Senators continue, “ACGME has taken some steps to improve resident education on substance use disorder recognition, but experts believe the organization has not done enough to address the treatment of substance use disorders…Leading experts have recommended that residency programs be required to train physicians in addiction treatment.” The Senators also discuss how updating requirements would better fulfill ACGME’s mission, stating, “The ACGME’s general requirements are due for an update, and the specialty working groups update their requirements on an ongoing basis, meaning that there are opportunities for these updates to be issued in the near future. New requirements would align with the mission of the ACGME, which is ‘to improve health care and population health by assessing and enhancing the quality of resident and fellow physicians’ education.’” The letter is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing bipartisan efforts to increase access to substance misuse treatment. She introduced bipartisan legislation to create 1,000 new medical residency positions focused on addiction medicine at teaching hospitals in New Hampshire, Maine, and across the country. This bill builds on progress that Senators Hassan and Susan Collins (R-ME) made through previous legislation that was signed into law that increased the number of Medicare-supported graduate medical education training positions by 1,000, but did not specify a specialty for the positions. Since 2017, Senator Hassan has successfully worked to secure a nine-fold increase in funding to New Hampshire to address the substance use disorder epidemic. The Senator has also led bipartisan efforts to vastly increase access to life-saving addiction medicine by pushing to eliminate a requirement that currently blocks millions of highly trained health professionals from prescribing medication-assisted treatment to their patients. Click here or see below to read the full text of the letter. Dr. Karen Nichols Chair, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Dear Dr. Karen Nichols, Communities across the country are grappling with the devastating effects of widespread and growing substance misuse. More than 100,000 people died of a drug overdose in 2021 alone, while many others struggled with substance use disorders. Given the shortage of addiction specialists, access to treatment for these disorders depends on all medical providers, including internists, family physicians, obstetricians and gynecologists, pediatricians, and emergency physicians. Unfortunately, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) does not require residency programs in these fields to provide such training, and it has not announced plans to implement such a requirement for any of these specialties in 2022. The ACGME must swiftly update its specialty requirements to ensure that physicians-in-training gain the skills needed to address the current crisis. The overdose crisis has persisted in part because of the dearth of treatment providers. Just one in five individuals with an opioid use disorder receives the treatment they need. As of 2019, fewer than seven percent of all physicians prescribe buprenorphine for an opioid use disorder. ACGME has taken some steps to improve resident education on substance use disorder recognition, but experts believe the organization has not done enough to address the treatment of substance use disorders. While ACGME does not set curricula, it does create common program requirements that programs implement through their own curricular design. In 2018, ACGME directed all residency programs to “provide instruction and experience in pain management, if applicable for the specialty, including recognition of the signs of addiction.” Three years later, ACGME followed up with suggestions for how specialty residency programs could provide training for the treatment of substance use disorders. However, these recommendations were not binding, and the relevant programs have not put in place additional requirements. Leading experts have recommended that residency programs be required to train physicians in addiction treatment. The National Academy of Medicine has published a perspective on making this recommendation, and a consensus committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine affirmed this conclusion as well. The ACGME’s general requirements are due for an update, and the specialty working groups update their requirements on an ongoing basis, meaning that there are opportunities for these updates to be issued in the near future. New requirements would align with the mission of the ACGME, which is “to improve health care and population health by assessing and enhancing the quality of resident and fellow physicians’ education.” Given the urgency of this crisis, and the strong recommendations for residency programs to train physicians in treatment of substance use disorders, I am writing today to request additional information on ACGME’s efforts. I ask that you respond to this letter by October 14, 2022 with answers to the following questions: 1. Are there currently enough addiction medicine physicians to treat all patients with substance use disorders? 2. If no policies change, when will there be a sufficient number of addiction medicine specialists offering treatment for substance use disorders to meet the existing need? 3. In the fields of internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine, obstetricians and gynecologists, and pediatrics, how many and what percentage of residency programs train all their residents in treating substance use disorders? 4. How many physicians were trained in residency programs last year to treat substance use disorders? How many will be trained this year? 5. How many physicians in residency programs receive a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe buprenorphine as part of their training? 6. What is the position of ACGME on professional recommendations to require training in treatment of substance use disorders? With more than 100,000 Americans dying each year from fatal overdose, please explain why ACGME will or will not require such training in 2022. I appreciate your response on this issue, and look forward to working with you to address this urgent matter. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/shaheen-leads-nh-delegation-in-welcoming-72-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-capitalization-grants-to-improve-water-infrastructure,Shaheen Leads NH Delegation in Welcoming $72 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Capitalization Grants to Improve Water Infrastructure,2022-09-16,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01), applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of over $72 million in capitalization grants from the bipartisan infrastructure law awarded to New Hampshire. This funding was issued through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and Clean Water SRF Programs and will be used towards water infrastructure updates and improvements. The grants mark the first significant distribution of water infrastructure funds following the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate. The law allocates more than $50 billion toward repairing the nation’s essential water infrastructure, in turn helping communities access clean, safe and reliable drinking water, prevent flooding, collect and treat wastewater to protect public health, and safeguard vital waterways. Shaheen specifically led negotiations around water infrastructure provisions with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT). Senator Hassan also secured a provision in the legislation to better ensure that New Hampshire towns would be eligible for an advanced technology grant program that could be used to remove PFAS from drinking water. Planned projects in New Hampshire that the law will fund include lead line replacement projects in Hanover and Claremont, as well as PFAS treatment projects in Londonderry and Jaffrey. A host of other projects are slated for funding in the state through this new increase in funding, which will significantly increase the ability of towns and cities to meet their infrastructure needs. “Granite State families deserve reliable access to safe drinking water and clean rivers, lakes and streams,” said Senator Shaheen, who was the Democratic lead negotiator of water provisions on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. “That’s precisely why I fought to deliver the largest single investment in water ever made by the federal government - from updating crumbling water infrastructure to addressing harmful PFAS contamination. It’s thrilling to see what started a year ago as negotiations on how to make these investments turn into tangible results in our communities, and in this case, a historic $72 million for New Hampshire to improve water infrastructure. This funding, and the continued resources we’re seeing come back to New Hampshire from the bipartisan infrastructure bill, will have a meaningful impact for generations of Granite Staters to come.” “The historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding is now reaching our states and will soon be invested in important water infrastructure projects across New England,” said EPA Regional Administrator David Cash. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents a once-in-a-lifetime investment in water infrastructure ensuring clean, safe water in communities across the region.” “Safe drinking water is essential to Granite Staters’ health and our economy, which is why my colleagues and I made unprecedented investments in our water systems when we negotiated the bipartisan infrastructure law,” said Senator Hassan. “It is exciting to see federal funding through our law come to New Hampshire, where communities will put it to use to address PFAS contamination, replace lead lines, modernize drinking water and wastewater systems, and more. Granite Staters have raised concerns for years about water safety, and this funding will go a long way towards providing clean and reliable drinking water for all.” “As I travel throughout the district I consistently hear from our communities about the challenges that aging water infrastructure poses to providing clean reliable drinking water and effective waste water treatment,” said Representative Kuster. “This funding represents a significant investment in the wellbeing of our cities and towns and will contribute to our economic competitiveness. This is critical, particularly for underinvested communities that need support to provide reliable water that its farmers, residents, and local businesses depend on.” “Modern water infrastructure is critical to the health and strength of our communities. This funding from the EPA will upgrade our drinking water and wastewater systems, meeting the needs of our families and businesses,” said Representative Pappas. “Today’s announcement represents an important advancement for our water infrastructure, and I’ll continue working to ensure New Hampshire communities will reap the benefits.” Senator Shaheen has spearheaded efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination, respond to the chemical exposure and remediate polluted sites. Senator Shaheen has successfully included continued authorization and funding for the PFAS health impact study that she created in the 2018 defense legislation, which includes a pilot study at Pease. In addition to her leadership on the bipartisan infrastructure law and through her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, as a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Shaheen helped secure investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for New Hampshire in fiscal year (FY) 2022 government funding legislation that was signed into law. Congress provided $1.638 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRFs) and $1.126 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund through the fiscal year 2022 government funding bill, including more than $18.6 million to the state to make additional water infrastructure updates. Shaheen built on this progress in Senate Democrats’ FY23 government funding proposal that was announced in July. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-push-from-senator-hassan-and-colleagues-va-extends-eligibility-for-va-family-caregivers-program,"Following Push from Senator Hassan & Colleagues, VA Extends Eligibility for VA Family Caregivers Program",2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON -- Following Senator Maggie Hassan’s push for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address concerns with the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, the VA today announced it will extend eligibility for certain veterans and their family caregivers through September 30, 2025. “Caregivers provide invaluable support for veterans, and the VA Caregivers program has been an essential resource for Granite State veterans and their families,” said Senator Hassan. “This announcement is an important step forward to give veterans more certainty that they can continue to access this program and not experience unexpected changes. I will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to ensure that New Hampshire veterans and their families have the support that they need and have earned.” The VA Caregiver Program supports family members caring for veterans severely injured in the line of duty. The previous administration narrowed the program’s eligibility, and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, on which Senator Hassan serves, found that the VA denied 88 percent of applications to the program between October 2020 and August 2021. After New Hampshire veterans raised concerns, Senator Hassan pressed the VA in February to reverse the previous administration’s changes and keep veterans in the program, and the VA announced in March that it will not remove anyone from the program before they reexamine the eligibility criteria for the program. The VA later announced it will suspend its annual reassessment process for participants in the program as part of its ongoing review. The latest announcement from the VA is an additional step forward in ensuring that New Hampshire veterans can stay in the program. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-presses-the-fda-commissioner-to-update-opioid-labeling-policies-what-people-are-looking-for-right-now-is-action,Senator Hassan Presses the FDA Commissioner to Update Opioid Labeling Policies: “What People are Looking for Right Now is Action”,2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – At a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing yesterday, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan pressed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf on the need to update the FDA’s harmful labeling policies that continue to play a role in fueling the opioid crisis in New Hampshire. Senator Hassan also asked about taking lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to inform the administration’s response to monkeypox. To watch Senator Hassan’s questioning, click here. During the hearing, Senator Hassan pressed FDA Commissioner Califf on addressing the opioid crisis by changing the labeling guidance for opioid prescriptions. “The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities in New Hampshire and all across the country…and your agency needs to move swiftly to correct its previous mistakes,” said Senator Hassan. “You yourself have repeatedly said that the FDA needs high quality evidence to support the long-term use of opioids. The agency has the authority to remove labels from drugs now given the absence of this evidence.” When Senator Hassan asked why the process is taking so long, Dr. Califf responded that the FDA is actively considering relabeling. Senator Hassan then underlined the urgency to address this crisis, stating that “I just was at a recovery rally in my state with people who have engaged in peer-to-peer recovery, people who are helping pregnant women with their recovery…parents who have lost two children to fentanyl and to opioids. The FDA first approved and labeled opioids for long-term use more than 25 years ago. That means that they have been on the market for more than 25 years without substantial evidence that they are effective for that purpose – and with plenty of evidence about the harm that these drugs can cause...What people are looking for right now is action.” Previously, during Dr. Califf’s nomination hearing, Senator Hassan discussed how the FDA helped fuel this crisis by approving and labeling opioids for long-term use – despite a lack of evidence supporting those labels, and Senator Hassan subsequently voted against Dr. Califf’s confirmation given her concerns about lack of FDA action. In April, Senator Hassan joined Republican Senator Mike Braun of Indiana in again pushing the FDA to update its opioid labeling policies. In addition to discussing opioid labeling, during the hearing Senator Hassan asked Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Dawn O’Connell how the department’s experience with COVID-19 is informing its monkeypox response. O’Connell discussed how based on the department’s work addressing COVID-19, it is digitizing and modernizing systems for states to order monkeypox therapies and the vaccines and expanding distribution capacity. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassans-cut-red-tape-for-online-sales-act-named-to-2022-no-brainer-list-of-bills-congress-should-pass,Senator Hassan’s Cut Red Tape for Online Sales Act Named to 2022 “No Brainer” List of Bills Congress Should Pass,2022-09-15,2022,2022-09,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan announced today that her bill to cut tax paperwork for online sales was named a National Taxpayers Union “No Brainer” bill, an annual list of 10 “no brainer” pieces of legislation that bridge the partisan divide and demonstrate broad support for meaningful solutions to a variety of issues. Senator Hassan’s Cut Red Tape for Online Sales Act would raise the threshold for when online sellers receive 1099-K tax forms showing their online sales, helping ensure that casual sellers are not burdened with unnecessary paperwork or mistakenly pay more tax than they owe. Representative Chris Pappas introduced a companion bill in the House. “Online marketplaces can help many Granite Staters get much-needed extra income from selling used goods or cleaning out their closets. Needless confusion caused by unnecessary tax forms risks burdening Granite Staters with undue taxes,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m pleased that my bill was honored as a commonsense piece of legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort to protect Americans from paying taxes that they don’t owe.” ""NTU is proud to highlight 1099-K reform efforts on its 12th annual No Brainers list of bipartisan legislation Congress should pass in 2022,” said Andrew Lautz, Director of Federal Policy at National Taxpayers Union. “NTU applauds Sen. Hassan, a repeat No Brainers winner, for her leadership on the Cut Red Tape For Online Sales Act. This bill would raise the 1099-K reporting threshold for taxpayers from $600 to $5,000 and provide relief to numerous middle-class taxpayers using third-party payment platforms. Reforming 1099-K and saving taxpayers a whole lot of hassle and paperwork is a No Brainer."" Senator Hassan has focused on fiscal responsibility and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars in the federal government – working across the aisle to cut hundreds of billions in wasteful spending. As Chair of the Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, she introduced bipartisan legislation to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste by eliminating duplicative government programs. She was named a “Fiscal Hero” by Fix the Debt, a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, as well as the “Most Bipartisan Senator” by the nonpartisan Lugar Center. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z