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://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-bolster-northeast-energy-reserve,Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Northeast Energy Reserve,2025-12-26,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) reintroduced his bipartisan Bolstering Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Act to require the Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a long-range strategic review of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR) and report to Congress on opportunities to strengthen it.

The Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve was established as a source to reduce the impact of severe supply disruptions for the region. However current reserves in the Northeast are ill-suited to addressing supply disruptions. This bipartisan legislation would examine the NEHHOR to understand their current limitations and provide ways of improvement for potential future needs, to ensure that this reserve can provide proper assistance to the Northeast in the event of supply disruptions or emergency energy needs.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/as-holiday-gifts-continue-to-be-delivered-pappas-pushes-for-porch-pirates-crackdown,"As Holiday Gifts Continue to Be Delivered, Pappas Pushes for ‘Porch Pirates’ Crackdown",2025-12-24,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"As Granite Staters eagerly await the delivery of gifts for friends and loved ones, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) is pushing Congress to pass the Porch Pirates Act, which would increase penalties for package theft and safeguard millions of dollars that New Hampshire residents lose each year to so-called “porch pirates.”

One out of every 25 people in New Hampshire loses at least one package to theft every three months. So far this year, 104 million total packages have been stolen, and nearly half of all Americans have been victims of porch pirates. Last year, shoppers lost nearly $16 billion in stolen goods they paid for. Porch pirates cost Americans an estimated $16 billion in the past year, with more than 104 million packages stolen nationwide.

Pappas helped introduce the Porch Pirates Act, which would impose the same penalties for the theft of packages from private carriers like FedEx and UPS as those that apply to the theft of United States Postal Service mail.

“Granite Staters are still receiving deliveries of holiday gifts for their friends and loved ones, and package theft remains a significant concern,” said Congressman Pappas. “So far 104 million packages have been stolen this year, costing families and businesses billions of dollars. To combat the rise in porch piracy and deter theft, this bipartisan legislation will put in place the same federal penalties for package theft, whether a package was delivered by a private carrier or by the U.S. Postal Service. I’m urging Congress to take up and pass this common-sense legislation now.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-condemns-va-s-decision-to-reinstate-near-total-abortion-ban,Pappas Condemns VA’s Decision to Reinstate Near-Total Abortion Ban,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the below statement following the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issuing an internal memorandum reinstating a near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling, ripping away access to health care from thousands of veterans.

""The Trump administration is taking away health care from veterans and their families who have served our country. They’re blocking access for veterans without even providing exceptions for rape or incest, interfering in deeply personal medical decisions. VA is the only place some veterans can obtain counseling and reproductive care, so I will continue to do everything I can to fight this ban because extreme politicians should stay out of other people’s health care.”

In September 2022, following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the VA used its rulemaking authority under the Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996 to allow VA health care providers to offer abortion counseling and abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and the life and health of the veteran. Prior to that rule, VA enforced the most restrictive abortion ban of any federal health care agency. The Biden-era policy survived legal challenges and was finalized in March 2023.

On August 4, 2025, the Trump administration issued a proposed rule to repeal the 2022 policy and it was finalized yesterday. Rather than waiting to finalize a proposed regulation on abortion care, VA issued an internal memorandum which only preserves a narrow exception when the life of the mother is at risk, eliminating VA’s ability to provide abortion care in nearly all other cases. This once again makes the VA the only major federal health provider with such an extreme restriction.

Background:

In August, Pappas helped introduce the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, which would guarantee that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas and protected by law.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/23/2025/senator-hassan-nominates-new-hampshire-students-for-united-states-service-academies,Senator Hassan Nominates New Hampshire Students for United States Service Academies,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,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 that she has nominated students from New Hampshire to attend United States Service Academies – the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

“It is a privilege to nominate these outstanding New Hampshire students to our United States Service Academies,” said Senator Hassan. “The choice to serve our country in uniform reflects the highest form of public service, and I am grateful for these young Granite Staters who are answering that call. I have no doubt that they will make New Hampshire and our country proud.”

For more information on the nomination process for interested applicants, click here.

See below for a list of Senator Hassan’s nominees:

United States Military Academy

Justin Baldridge – Salem

Ryleigh Bannister – Derry

William Bellerose – Chichester

Caidyn Carter – Northfield

Liam Conway – Alton

Ryan Cowher – Keene

Troy Hayes – Windham

Jacob Levesque – Jaffrey

Charlotte Lund – New London

Leah Lynskey – Durham

Liam Mahoney – Hampton

Kyle Paolino – Rindge

Wade Plaskiewicz – Surry

James Sisco – Goffstown

Jack Williams – Stratham

United States Naval Academy

Talia Batherwich – Londonderry

Anna Boyer – Ashland

Hayden Brunell – Meredith

Liam Canty – Exeter

Eamon Griffin – Amherst

Samuel Kellner – Hollis

Ciara Kerley – Wilmot

Addison Knoetig – Goffstown

Colin Magnuszewski – Brookline

Sophia Malloy – Portsmouth

Kelly Moriarty – Rye

Ruby Neutra – Marlborough

Reilly O'Brien – Salem

Anita Parmelee – Exeter

Christian Salaun – Greenland

United States Air Force Academy

Brandon Adamson – Londonderry

Andrew Allen – East Kingston

Kevin Benard – Pembroke

Jack Calderwood – Intervale

Jacob Daley – Nashua

Dominic Fazzio – East Hampstead

Nathan Ferreira – Pembroke

Kipling Hedquist – Hopkinton

Ashlie Klawes – Allenstown

Giana Leonardi – Dover

Cooper Mack – Holderness

Gavin Niemela – Dublin

Victor Pham – Tilton

Samuel Sanders – Hillsborough

Maximilian Williams – Concord

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Samuel Kellner – Hollis

Addison Knoetig – Goffstown

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-postal-caucus-chairs-introduce-bipartisan-postal-suspension-transparency-act,"Pappas, Postal Caucus Chairs Introduce Bipartisan Postal Suspension Transparency Act",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Jack Bergman (MI-01), and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), the bipartisan Co-Chairs of the Congressional Postal Service Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency around temporary post office closures, known as “emergency suspensions.” The Postal Suspension Transparency Act would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to publicly post all temporary closures, alternative services available, and the estimated end date of the disruption in service.

“Without proper public notice, the temporary suspension of mail service at local post offices can leave people without the ability to receive essential packages and medication, respond to their mail in a timely fashion, and can harm the operations of our small businesses, non-profits, and more,” said Congressman Pappas. “Our legislation is a simple fix that will bring transparency to the emergency suspension process and guarantee that everyone knows how they will be able to receive their mail through the duration of any temporary post office closure.”

“When local post offices are unexpectedly suspended, residents are often left in the dark - unsure when service will resume and forced, especially in rural areas, to travel to neighboring towns just to collect their mail. For many elderly residents, that burden can be especially difficult. In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, some post offices have remained ‘suspended’ for years - Ramsay has been closed since 2019, and just last week Deerton was suspended, leaving residents with more questions than answers. Our communities deserve timely, transparent communication when postal services are disrupted, and I’m proud to help co-lead this bipartisan bill with Representatives Pappas, Garbarino, and Budzinski,” said Congressman Bergman.

“A post office is a core part of any community, and when it’s not operating, the public deserves timely and transparent notice. When people are left in the dark, it disrupts businesses, delays critical packages, and hinders access to essential mail that can impact someone's health and wellbeing. This legislation provides a clear and necessary fix to ensure communities are kept informed. It is one of many steps we as Members of Congress must take to strengthen mail service and ensure reliability for the American people,” said Congresswoman Budzinski.

“When a local post office is suddenly closed, families, seniors, and small businesses are often left in the dark about how to receive essential mail,” said Congressman Garbarino. “This bipartisan legislation brings common-sense transparency to the emergency suspension process by ensuring the Postal Service clearly communicates when closures are happening, what services are available, and when normal operations are expected to resume. As Co-Chair of the Postal Service Caucus, I’m proud to work across the aisle to make sure communities have the information they need when disruptions occur.”

Specifically, this bill would require USPS to establish a publicly accessible and searchable website that provides the following information on each “covered post office”, which the bill defines as a post office at which “operations have been temporarily suspended pursuant to subchapter 61 of the Postal Service Handbook PO-101, or any successor policy.” Information required to be shared for each post office under emergency suspension would include: street address; suspension date; reason for emergency suspension; alternative services available, including how to request curbside delivery; the location of and hours of operation for the nearest retail postal facility; and to the extent reasonable, an estimated date for the resumption of retail postal service.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-kevin-semprini-of-portsmouth-as-decembers-granite-stater-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December’s Granite Stater of the Month,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,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 Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December’s Granite Stater of the Month. Throughout his decades-long law enforcement service, Kevin has helped protect children across New Hampshire and keep our communities safe.

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Kevin grew up admiring the police officers in his neighborhood who worked to build a strong community. Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a part of that mission. Inspired by their example, he joined the police force and dedicated himself to serving his community.

Early in his career, Officer Semprini identified a need to strengthen child safety across New Hampshire. Working closely with the Portsmouth police chief, he helped to create a new school safety program. His work took him to local schools where he helped elementary school students learn about tips on how to stay safe. He quickly earned a nickname from students who struggled to pronounce his last name which reflected his warm and reassuring presence: “Officer Friendly,” a name that would stay with him throughout his career.

As the department evolved, Officer Semprini played a key role in expanding youth-focused safety initiatives. He was introduced to the DARE program by a new Chief of Police and worked with state officials to pilot New Hampshire’s first DARE program, which was later expanded statewide.

After 46 years of service, Officer Semprini retires with the gratitude of the Portsmouth community and all Granite Staters. His lifelong dedication to protecting children and strengthening public safety exemplifies the Granite State spirit of going the extra mile for one’s community. His lifelong work to support Portsmouth students is why Senator Hassan is proud to name him December’s Granite Stater of the Month.

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 Kevin Semprini of Portsmouth as December’s Granite Stater of the Month for his work to bolster public safety in his community.

Growing up in Portsmouth, Kevin looked up to the police officers in his neighborhood, admiring the way they worked to foster a strong community. Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a part of that mission and, when he was old enough, he joined the police force.

Soon after joining the force, Officer Semprini saw that there was a need to improve child safety in New Hampshire and worked with the Portsmouth police chief to create a new school safety program. His work took him to local schools where he helped elementary school students learn about safety. Because students had some trouble pronouncing his last name they quickly landed on a nickname for him, a new name that reflected the warmth and comfort he conveyed: Officer Friendly. It’s a nickname that has stayed with him for the rest of his career.

In the years that followed and as the police department continued to evolve, a new Chief of Police from California introduced Officer Semprini to the DARE program. Officer Semprini worked with the state to pilot the program, which eventually expanded statewide. Officer Semprini also pioneered the school resource officer program at Portsmouth High School and organized local toy drives for the holidays.

As he retires, Officer Semprini carries with him the thanks of the people of Portsmouth and all Granite Staters for his 46 years of service and his steadfast protection of the children of New Hampshire. Officer Semprini’s commitment to improving children’s safety is a true example of the Granite State spirit of going the extra mile to protect your community. His lifelong work to support Portsmouth students makes me proud to name him December’s Granite Stater of the Month.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-and-young-secure-lab-test-report-improvement-that-helps-parents-reduce-childrens-exposure-to-toxic-lead,Senators Hassan and Young Secure Lab Test Report Improvement That Helps Parents Reduce Children’s Exposure to Toxic Lead,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following a bipartisan push from U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Todd Young (R-IN), major lab testing companies are taking steps to help parents reduce their children’s exposure to toxic lead. Young children who are exposed to lead can develop long-lasting cognitive impairments.

In November, Senators Hassan and Young wrote to Quest and Labcorp, the nation's two largest lab testing companies, urging the companies to clearly state when providing children’s lead blood test results that there is no safe level of lead in a child’s blood. Both companies are now implementing this change, helping parents act to reduce their children’s toxic lead exposure when blood tests show elevated lead blood levels.

Prior to this change, elevated lead blood levels below a particular “reference value” were frequently categorized as “normal” when patients received their results. As a result, parents looking at these test results may not have understood that their children’s even slightly elevated lead blood levels could cause long-lasting health problems.

“I commend Quest and Labcorp for working quickly to help parents better protect their children from toxic lead exposure,”said Senator Hassan. “Clearly stating on blood test results that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children will help ensure that parents can take action when lead exposure is putting their children at risk of life-long impairment.”

“It’s important that patients receive accurate and clear information from health care providers – especially when it comes to kids. I’m pleased that these providers quickly made adjustments to ensure that parents are more aware that any level of lead in their children’s blood can have serious health consequences,” said Senator Young.

“We welcome the efforts of Senators Hassan and Young to educate the public on the dangers of lead exposure, even at the lowest levels, and the critical role blood lab tests play in illuminating a path to good health,” said Yuri Fesko, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Quest Diagnostics.

“We applaud Senators Hassan and Young for their leadership in raising awareness about the dangers of lead exposure. Labcorp is committed to providing parents with clear, actionable insights to make the most informed decisions about their children’s health and wellbeing,” said Brian Caveney, M.D., Chief Medical and Scientific Officer, Labcorp

Senator Hassan has led efforts to help protect the health and safety of children and families. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan successfully led a bipartisan push to improve medication safety labeling for pregnant women.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/following-pappas-s-leadership-2026-ndaa-protecting-portsmouth-naval-shipyard-staff-from-layoffs-and-hiring-freezes-becomes-law,"Following Pappas’s Leadership, 2026 NDAA Protecting Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Staff From Layoffs and Hiring Freezes Becomes Law",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), founding member of the bipartisan Public Shipyard Caucus and representative for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, applauded the signing of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act which enacts provisions from his bipartisan Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act.

These provisions would place a “prohibition on the use of funds from carrying out a hiring freeze, reduction in force, or hiring delay without cause at a public shipyard,” and effectively exempt the workforces of America’s four public shipyards, which are responsible for repairing and retrofitting the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers and submarines, from the Trump administrations’ unjustified hiring freezes and mass layoffs.

“The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a critical component of our national defense and is an economic engine for New Hampshire. The men and women of our Shipyard work every day with skill and patriotism to ensure our nation’s readiness and support our military for any battle that lies ahead and it is my honor to represent them in New Hampshire’s First District. Their contributions are essential, and their job security and the ability of the Shipyard to hire the staff they need should never be in question,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m thrilled that the bipartisan version of the NDAA signed into law by President Trump includes my provisions to protect the civilian workforce at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Administration’s mass layoffs that hurt Shipyard personnel, our economy, and our military readiness, and I will keep fighting to make these protections permanent.”

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is one of just four public shipyards nationwide that maintain the US Navy’s submarine fleet. The Shipyard is also the region's largest employer. In 2023, the latest available data, more than 7,400 civilian employees worked at the base with an economic impact exceeding $1.5 billion, according to the Seacoast Shipyard Association's 2024 report. The Shipyard is currently working to hire additional workers to increase its capacity amid a $1.87 billion dry dock expansion.

Under the current administration's most recent guidelines, the Navy was currently limited to hiring no more than 1,550 external personnel across all naval institutions each month – far too few to meet the demand of America’s public shipyards.

Background:

Since President Trump took office, Pappas has worked to protect civilian workers who play a critical role in maintaining U.S. national security. In February, he joined workers from PNSY to discuss the impact of the administration’s job cuts and hiring freezes, which led the Shipyard to pause hiring.

In March Pappas led his House colleagues in further sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and workforce cuts. Later that month, the U.S. Department of Defense exempted the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze.

In July the New Hampshire Congressional delegation also called on General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to exempt critical safety roles, including firefighters and air traffic controllers, from its planned 10.7% reduction to federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG). More than half of the civilian employees at Pease Air National Guard Base are civilian emergency personnel and air traffic controllers, and the proposed cuts could devastate the important role Pease plays in supporting emergency services in the region, including at Portsmouth International Airport.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-annual-defense-bill-with-key-hassan-backed-provisions-and-new-hampshire-priorities,SIGNED INTO LAW: Annual Defense Bill with Key Hassan-Backed Provisions & New Hampshire Priorities,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – President Trump signed into law the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which included key provisions that Senator Maggie Hassan helped secure and supported. Among other measures, the legislation protects Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from the Trump Administration’s chaotic firings.

“Service members and defense workers sacrifice to keep our country safe, secure, and free, and we must always have their backs,” said Senator Hassan. “I’m glad that President Trump has signed into law this bipartisan defense bill, which will help protect Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from the Trump Administration’s disruptive workforce reductions and advance other key priorities for New Hampshire and our service members.”

Key measures that Senator Hassan supported that are included in the Senate-passed NDAA include:

A provision Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped secure to protect Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees, and other public shipyard employees, from the Trump Administration’s chaotic firings by prohibiting the Department of Defense from carrying out reductions in force, hiring freezes, and unfounded hiring delays at our nation’s public shipyards

A 3.8% pay raise for service members

Authorizes funding for Virginia-class submarines, which are repaired in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Authorizes funding for construction projects for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Pease Air National Guard Base, and the New Hampshire Army National Guard

Extends support for the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom against Vladimir Putin

Protects American national security by constraining the ability of the President to unilaterally withdraw troops and equipment standing guard against Russia in Europe

Senator Hassan is focused on keeping our country safe, secure, and free. Last year, she successfully passed into law critical measures in the annual defense bill, including a measure to help National Guard and Reserve members return to school after a mobilization or deployment. Senator Hassan has also been a champion of workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and has spoken out against the Trump Administration’s cuts and its hiring freeze at the Shipyard, which were later reversed.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-leads-nh-delegation-in-raising-alarm-on-delays-to-distribution-of-weatherization-assistance-program-funding,Pappas Leads NH Delegation in Raising Alarm on Delays to Distribution of Weatherization Assistance Program Funding,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Last week, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Maggie Hassan (NH), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in calling on Secretary Wright of the Department of Energy (DOE) to immediately release $9 million in funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). These funds were granted to New Hampshire through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), which Congressman Pappas and Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped pass into law.

“On December 2, 2025, NH DOE alerted subgrantees of the New Hampshire Weatherization Assistance Program that the state has been awaiting the release of the third and final tranche of Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) WAP funding since June,” wrote the lawmakers. “Due to the delay in disbursement by DOE, subgrantees were alerted that a pause on all IIJA WAP spending would go into effect on December 31, 2025.”

“WAP reduces energy costs for households by increasing energy efficiency in homes, while ensuring the health and safety of occupants. According to the DOE’s own statistics, the program supports 8,500 jobs and supports 32,000 homes every year. Households that utilize weatherization improvement and upgrades save on average $372 or more every year,” the lawmakers highlighted. “With energy costs for New Hampshire households averaging at $2,844 per year, this program can save families more than 13% on their energy bills each year.”

They closed by demanding immediate updates from DOE and the disbursement of delayed funds by December 31, 2025,“This delay in funding is unacceptable. We urge you to communicate immediately a timeline of disbursement of WAP funds to provide predictability to the NH DOE and subgrantees throughout the state. Furthermore, we urge you to disburse these funds no later than December 31, 2025 and provide an explanation of what specifically caused this delay.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-shaheen-reintroduce-bipartisan-bring-our-heroes-home-act-legislation-to-address-powmia-backlog,"Pappas, Shaheen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bring Our Heroes Home Act, Legislation to Address POW/MIA Backlog",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee (HVAC), and Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01) re-introduced the Bring Our Heroes Home Act in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would expedite and coordinate the process of collecting, declassifying, and making public records of Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing in Action (MIA) service members, eliminating obstacles that prevent families and caseworkers from accessing records needed for recovery of America’s prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA). Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Mike Crapo (ID) introduced companion legislation in the Senate earlier this year. Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) is a cosponsor of this legislation.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, approximately 80,930 Americans, including 316 Granite Staters, remain unaccounted for from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars and other conflicts.

“Loved ones of service members who are missing in action or unaccounted for have been forced to wait for far too long for the closure they deserve,” said Congressman Pappas. “In many cases, families wait years to decades long to learn any information about their loved ones due to the current failure to prioritize declassifying and making the necessary information public. This bipartisan legislation will expedite the process of identification and repatriation, provide information that could bring peace to these families in a timely manner, and help bring our service members home once and for all.”

“The families of America’s missing service members carry the heavy weight of uncertainty, waiting years and often decades for answers about their loved ones who served our nation with courage and conviction,” said Senator Shaheen. “We owe it to these families to make that wait as short as possible and free from unnecessary bureaucratic burden. Our bipartisan Bring Our Heroes Home Act takes meaningful steps to ensure that vital records are preserved, responsibly declassified and made accessible so that families can finally gain the clarity they deserve. Our nation has a solemn responsibility to honor every hero’s legacy and to ensure none are forgotten or left behind.”

The Bring Our Heroes Home Act would:

Create a collection of missing Armed Forces and civilian personnel records at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) for families and caseworkers to easily access;

Require executive agencies to identify, locate and transmit any missing Armed Forces personnel records to the National Archives for placement in the collection; and

Establish an independent Missing Armed Forces and Civilian Personnel Records Review Board to identify missing personnel records, facilitate the transmission and disclosure of these records, and review any decisions by federal agencies to postpone declassification for purposes of protecting sensitive classified material.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-study-finds-mrna-vaccine-research-cancellation-by-secretary-kennedy-could-cost-nearly-50000-lives-annually,"New Study Finds mRNA Vaccine Research Cancellation by Secretary Kennedy Could Cost Nearly 50,000 Lives Annually",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – A new study from the Yale Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis highlights the health and economic costs of the decisions by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to abruptly cancel nearly $500 million in mRNA-related research and development contracts. The study finds that emerging mRNA vaccines against cancer could save 49,000 American lives annually and contribute $75 billion annually to the economy. Senator Hassan requested this analysis in September.

“This new independent analysis provides even more evidence that Secretary Kennedy’s reckless behavior will cost American lives,” said Senator Hassan. “The mRNA vaccine platform is one of the most powerful technologies to be discovered in the last decade, and Secretary Kennedy’s decision to abruptly pull funding that could help develop mRNA vaccines for cancer and other diseases will abandon the 49,000 people a year whose lives could be saved.”

Click here to see the new analysis released by the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis.

In August, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly canceled nearly $500 million in mRNA-related research and development contracts. The Secretary’s decision, which he justified with baseless claims that mRNA vaccines are ineffective, terminated funding for research that could be used to develop treatments and cures for deadly diseases, including cancer. Senator Hassan then wrote to the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at the Yale School of Public Health asking for a comprehensive assessment of how Secretary Kennedy’s abandonment of mRNA research could impact American lives and health.

Senator Hassan has spoken out about the dangers that Secretary Kennedy poses to the health and safety of Americans and has called for his resignation. Senator Hassan recently called out Secretary Kennedy at a Senate hearing for making it harder for Americans to get vaccinated. She has also pushed Kennedy during multiple hearings and delivered remarks on the Senate floor highlighting the ways in which Kennedy’s abandonment of his prior support for reproductive freedom, lack of knowledge about the basics of the health care programs that he is now overseeing, and history of promoting dangerous anti-vaccine conspiracy theories put the health and safety of Americans at risk.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-reintroduces-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-no-cost-contraception-coverage-for-all-women,Senator Hassan Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Ensure No-Cost Contraception Coverage for All Women,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to help ensure that all women have full access to no-cost contraception coverage. Currently, private insurance plans and Medicaid are required to cover all types of contraception, such as oral contraception and IUD insertion, at no cost to the patient. However, gaps in coverage remain and affect many women in the Granite State and across the country. The Closing the Contraception Coverage Gap Act seeks to close these remaining gaps and ensure that all women can access the best form of contraception for them without a copay or other out-of-pocket costs.

This bipartisan bill would require Medicare to also cover contraception at no cost to the patient, closing a known gap in contraception coverage for young and middle-aged women who experience long-term disabilities. Approximately one million women aged 20 - 49 rely on Medicare for their health coverage, which they are most often eligible for because of a long-term disability. The bill would additionally direct the Government Accountability Office to identify any remaining gaps in contraception coverage as well.

“Every woman deserves access to the health care that she needs, and this bipartisan bill seeks to help ensure that all women can access no-cost contraception under all insurance plans,” said Senator Hassan. “This bill will close a gap that has prevented women from accessing coverage for contraception and help ensure that there are no other gaps in this basic form of health care.”

“Women with disabilities shouldn’t face greater barriers to contraception than anyone else,” said Senator Murkowski. “While Medicaid and private insurance already guarantee no-cost access to birth control, Medicare still leaves too many women without the same coverage. This bill would fix that by ensuring Medicare covers contraception at no cost to patients, removing a long overdue barrier to access contraception.”

“There’s no reason that women with disabilities should have a harder time accessing birth control than anyone else,” said Senator Duckworth. “By requiring Medicare to cover birth control without any cost to patients, our bipartisan bill would make sure all beneficiaries have equal access to birth control. It’s long overdue.”

“Unlike Medicaid and private insurance, which generally cover most FDA-approved contraceptive methods and services without cost to patients, Medicare coverage leaves thousands of women without the same access to these services,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would require Medicare to cover contraception methods and services at no cost to patients, removing a significant barrier to health care for women who qualify for Medicare because of a long-term disability.”

This bill has been endorsed by leading reproductive and disability rights groups, including the American Association of People with Disabilities. This legislation has also been endorsed by Upstream, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, National Women’s Law Center, National Partnership for Women & Families, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, New Disabled South, National Council of Jewish Women, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Center for American Progress, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Community Catalyst, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, Families USA, Medicare Rights Center, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Health Access Project.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-renews-push-to-pass-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-security-for-houses-of-worship,Senator Hassan Renews Push to Pass Bipartisan Bill to Improve Security for Houses of Worship,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following the horrific violence last weekend, including the antisemitic murder of 15 people in Australia, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is renewing her push to pass into law her bipartisan Pray Safe Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will help connect houses of worship, faith-based organizations, and other nonprofits with information on safety and security best practices including available federal security grant programs. Senator Hassan will lead a push to add a bipartisan amendment to one of the upcoming appropriation bills before the Senate to pass the Pray Safe Act.

“Every American deserves to be safe, especially in their houses of worship. But we are seeing a rise in religious and political violence across the world – including the antisemitic terrorism this weekend in Australia,” said Senator Hassan. “It’s long-past time for Congress to pass into law the bipartisan, bicameral Pray Safe Act and help connect our houses of worship with federal resources to keep them safe. As the Senate will soon consider appropriations legislation, I urge my colleagues to include the Pray Safe Act and to help get the bill over the finish line.”

The Pray Safe Act directs the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Federal Clearinghouse on Safety and Security Best Practices for Nonprofit Organizations, Faith-Based Organizations, and Houses of Worship. This centralized location will provide organizations with information about best practices and recommendations to enhance safety and security. In addition, the Clearinghouse will direct users to available federal resources and grant programs relevant to the safety and security of faith-based organizations and houses of worship.

The legislation, which has previously passed the U.S. Senate, is led by Senator Hassan as well as Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), as well as Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL). It is also co-sponsored by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), James Lankford (R-OK), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in the Senate, and Representatives Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Max Miller (R-OH), Dave Min (D-CA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Don Bacon (R-NE), Lou Correa (D-CA), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Andre Carson (D-IN), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).

This effort builds on Senator Hassan’s work to strengthen security at houses of worship and nonprofits. In 2020, Senator Hassan helped pass into law bipartisan legislation to ensure that grant funding for houses of worship and nonprofit organizations be available to houses of worship and nonprofits in small states like New Hampshire, not just in major metropolitan areas. Senator Hassan also worked to quadruple funding for the program.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-peters-press-national-security-contractors-on-usage-of-banned-chinese-drones,"Senators Hassan, Peters Press National Security Contractors on Usage of Banned Chinese Drones",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senators: “The use of these types of drones at sensitive and secure facilities creates the potential …for the transfer of important national security-related information to the Chinese government”

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Committee, pressed several U.S. construction contractors that work at homeland security and national security facilities on their relationships with the Chinese drone manufacturer Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI). In letters to Hensel Phelps, Brasfield & Gorrie, and the Bechtel Corporation, the Senators pushed the companies for answers on their relationships with DJI and their usage of Chinese-made drones despite the national security threats they pose.

“The U.S. government considers the use of Chinese-made drones generally — and DJI drones specifically — a threat to national security and prohibits their use by federal agencies or contractors. Recent reporting, however, has raised questions about the extent to which key contractors have complied with these prohibitions and the nature of their relationships with DJI,” the Senators wrote. “The use of these types of drones at sensitive and secure facilities creates the potential to provide a pathway for the transfer of important national security-related information to the Chinese government.”

Read the letters the Senators sent to Hensel Phelps, Brasfield & Gorrie, and Bechtel, or the letter to Hensel Phelps below.

Dear Mr. Choutka:

I am writing to request information about your company’s relationship with the Chinese drone manufacturer Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) and compliance with federal rules regarding the use of DJI drones, as well as the potential exposure of sensitive information about defense, nuclear, and border security facilities. The U.S. government considers the use of Chinese-made drones generally — and DJI drones specifically — a threat to national security and prohibits their use by federal agencies or contractors. Recent reporting, however, has raised questions about the extent to which key contractors have complied with these prohibitions and the nature of their relationships with DJI.

Construction companies use drones for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to, surveying and mapping, tracking construction progress, and inspecting potential safety issues. Such drones can be equipped with a variety of cameras and sensors, including systems that use lasers to map the exact shape of buildings, terrain, and vegetation. These drone-supported cameras can capture large amounts of information about the locations they are employed at, including strategically important locations and secure facilities. Importantly, detailed information about the design of secure facilities is often sensitive and can be classified if it shows undisclosed security features or potential vulnerabilities.

Large construction companies were early adopters of drone technology, a market DJI has dominated. Companies that use DJI construction drones include the builders of some of the most sensitive defense and border security sites in the United States. This includes the Bechtel Corporation (Bechtel), which has constructed nuclear weapons labs and missile bases and was one of the first engineering and construction companies to establish a drone program. As early as 2017, Bechtel cohosted a webinar with DJI entitled, “Getting Started with Drones in Construction.” Likewise, Hensel Phelps, a contractor for nuclear weapons facilities as well as ports of entry along the Southwest Border, was the first construction company to obtain government approval to fly construction drones over populated areas. A profile of the company and an interview with a Hensel Phelps executive from 2020 remains available on DJI’s website. Brasfield & Gorrie, another construction contractor at ports of entry and U.S. military bases, was the subject of a DJI case study in 2017 that highlighted drones’ data collection capabilities.

According to a January 2024 joint bulletin from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Chinese-manufactured drones present three key security vulnerabilities. First, they provide a means of data transfer and collection. The bulletin states that “[drones] controlled by smartphones and other internet-connected devices provide a path for [drone] data egress and storage, allowing for intelligence gathering on U.S. critical infrastructure.” Second, patching and firmware updates to drones could “introduce unknown data collection and transmission capabilities without the user’s awareness.” Third, drones connected to a network create “the potential for data collection and transmission of a broader type — for example, sensitive imagery, surveying data, facility layouts [emphasis added].” As CISA and the FBI note, these risks are present with all drone technology but are especially concerning with Chinese-made drones, as Chinese law compels cooperation between private companies and state intelligence services. In short, it appears that the use of these types of drones at sensitive and secure facilities creates the potential to provide a pathway for the transfer of important national security-related information to the Chinese government. For its part, DJI disputes claims that it poses a national security risk to the United States and has commissioned several third-party audits appearing to show that its drones are secure.

The U.S. government, however, has reported on potential security risks associated with DJI since at least 2017. In recent years, Congress and the Executive Branch have sought to address these possible risks, including through a 2019 Congressional prohibition on the Department of Defense (DOD) using or purchasing Chinese-made drones; the 2020 addition of DJI to the Department of Commerce Entity List, designating the company as a national security concern; a 2021 executive order advising all federal agencies against purchasing and using drones manufactured by foreign adversaries; and the October 2022 addition of DJI to the DOD list of Chinese military companies, which triggered a statutory ban on government contracts using DJI drones. In November 2024, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued acquisition regulations that further codified and clarified prohibitions on the use of Chinese drones by federal agencies and in government contracts.

Despite these restrictions, recent reports have raised questions about the extent to which construction contractors may be using prohibited drones on government contracts, as well as the extent to which data gathered by approved drones may be stored on vulnerable computer networks. The GSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG), for example, has found multiple cases of construction contractors using prohibited DJI drones. These include a major contractor that “frequently used a [DJI] drone to take aerial photographs to document construction progress” at the San Luis, Arizona, Port of Entry as recently as January 2025. Another GSA OIG report describes the use of DJI drones at six Northern Border ports of entry as recently as August 2022. Corporate social media posts also suggest ongoing relationships between federal contractors and DJI. For example, in July 2025, a Bechtel post on LinkedIn about the 10-year anniversary of the company’s drone program featured a DJI drone and celebrated more than 1.5 million images collected by drones over the past decade. DJI drones are also featured in a September 2024 promotional YouTube video from Hensel Phelps and a May 2024 article about how Brasfield & Gorrie combines data from drones with other sources, among other examples.

To aid Congress in understanding security issues associated with the potential use of DJI or other Chinese-made drones at sensitive government facilities, please provide responses to the following document and information requests for Fiscal Years 2020 through 2025, unless otherwise noted:

A description of the relationship between Hensel Phelps and DJI;

A list of all drones owned, operated, or leased by Hensel Phelps, including the make, model, and initial date of operation;

A list of all Chinese-made drone critical components currently owned, operated, or leased by Hensel Phelps, including the make, model, and initial date of operation;

A list of all DOD, Intelligence Community, National Nuclear Security Administration, or Department of Homeland Security contracts where Hensel Phelps provided architectural, engineering, or construction services, and where Hensel Phelps operated drones, regardless of whether drones were a contract deliverable, including the dates and locations of drone operation;

A list of all DOD, Intelligence Community, National Nuclear Security Administration, or Department of Homeland Security contracts in which Hensel Phelps subcontractors operated drones in the performance of their subcontracts, regardless of whether drones were a contract or subcontract deliverable, including the names of such subcontractors, and the dates and locations of drone operation;

Documents sufficient to show all waivers sought by Hensel Phelps for the use of drones or drone components as part of DOD, Intelligence Community, National Nuclear Security Administration, or Department of Homeland Security contracts, regardless of whether drones were a contract or subcontract deliverable, including the location of services to be performed, the date of the request, and whether a waiver was granted;

All Hensel Phelps policies and procedures related to drones and/or drone components covered by Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Section 817 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, and/or the American Security Drone Act of 2023, including versions of Hensel Phelps policies that have been superseded, and including policies and procedures related to:

Cybersecurity, including network connectivity and data storage;

Use of mobile devices associated with such drones and/or drone components;

Compliance with federal acquisition regulations and policies;

The retention, storage, and/or destruction of data obtained from the use of such drones/and or drone components; and

Reporting of anomalous incidents involving such drones/and or drone components;

A description of any testing, auditing, or related work Hensel Phelps undertook internally or engaged externally to evaluate and/or mitigate potential national security risks posed by DJI drones or Chinese-made drone components, including the date of any such work, and any reports or other documents generated in connection with this work; and

A description of Hensel Phelps network connectivity or data storage, including dedicated device requirements, for drone data located in or administered by an entity domiciled in a covered foreign country under the American Security Drone Act of 2023.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-in-senate-passed-ndaa-shaheen-led-provision-requires-trump-administration-to-consult-with-congress-on-troop-withdrawals,"ICYMI: In Senate-Passed NDAA, Shaheen-Led Provision Requires Trump Administration to Consult with Congress on Troop Withdrawals",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requiring the Trump Administration to consult with Congress and U.S. allies before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe. Specifically, the annual bipartisan defense legislation that passed through Congress prevents the Pentagon from reducing the number of troops permanently stationed or deployed to Europe below 76,000 for longer than 45 days until U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the head of U.S. European Command certify to Congress that it is in U.S. national security interests to do so and that NATO allies were consulted. The Shaheen-led provision also requires the Administration to provide assessments of that decision’s impact.

The inclusion of the provision is especially notable in light of the Trump Administration’s attempt to reduce U.S. troops in Romania by nearly half in October, which Shaheen slammed for being deeply misguided. Amidst reports that Secretary Hegseth intends to alter U.S. worldwide force posture, Congressional oversight of the Pentagon’s ability to remove an American general from the position of Supreme Allied Commander in Europe—which controls U.S. nuclear weapons—is paramount.

“As the Trump Administration continues to undermine the transatlantic relationship, I’m extraordinarily proud that the Senate came together in a bipartisan way to reaffirm America’s commitment to our NATO partners and reassert Congress’ oversight authority on U.S. posture in Europe and beyond,” said Senator Shaheen. “In doing so, we’re establishing a guardrail to ensure Secretary Hegseth must answer to Congress if he attempts to make serious changes that jeopardize regional stability and our partnerships abroad.”

Click HERE to view the national security and New Hampshire priorities Senator Shaheen secured in the NDAA.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-reintroduces-bipartisan-package-to-improve-veterans-insurance-and-veteran-survivors-benefits,Pappas Reintroduces Bipartisan Package to Improve Veterans’ Insurance and Veteran Survivors’ Benefits,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, introduced three bipartisan bills to improve processes at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and expand eligibility for survivors’ benefits, insurance coverage, and burial processes. These bills are the Gulf War Survivor Benefits Update Act, co-led by Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02), as well as the VA Insurance Improvement Act, and Veterans’ Burial Improvement Act, both co-led by Congressman James Moylan (GU-AL).

“Service members, veterans, and their families deserve our utmost respect for the sacrifices they make for us and our country. These bipartisan bills make commonsense improvements to these programs and take a small step towards repaying the debt we owe our veterans and their families,” said Congressman Pappas. “My legislation would protect survivors' pensions for Gulf War spouses and dependents, make all veterans under the age of 81 years old eligible for VA Life Insurance, and extend burial benefits to family members who predecease their veteran family members but wish to be buried together. I will continue to advocate for these changes and further improvements to VA processes that will cut red tape and improve benefits for veterans and their families.”

Background:

The Gulf War Survivor Benefits Update Act would ensure surviving spouses of Gulf War veterans remain eligible for survivors’ pension by extending the statutory marriage delimiting date.

The VA Insurance Improvement Act would improve and update VA insurance coverage. Specifically, it would:

Extend eligibility for VA Life Insurance (VALife) coverage for all veterans under 81 years old, regardless of service-connected disability status;

Allow for Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) administrative expenses to be reimbursed from the VMLI program funds;

Add Space Force to the definition of “uniformed service” for the purpose of eligibility for the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program.

The Veterans’ Burial Improvement Act would update burial standards and eligibility for service members’ families, Medal of Honor recipients, and veterans. Specifically, it would:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/nh-congressional-delegation-urges-trump-administration-to-expand-public-engagement-on-roadless-rule-changes-restore-full-staffing-at-forest-service,"NH Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Expand Public Engagement on “Roadless Rule” Changes, Restore Full Staffing at Forest Service",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to provide greater opportunity for public engagement regarding the Trump Administration’s plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire. The “roadless rule” prohibits road construction and timber harvesting, with limited exceptions, across nearly 45 million acres of our national forests—including more than 265,000 acres of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.

The delegation wrote, in part, “We write regarding the U.S. Forest Service’s process to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (0596-AD66) that covers nearly 45 million acres of our national forests. We are concerned about the short timeline that you have outlined, with just 21 days for the initial public comment period. We urge you to provide greater opportunity for those who care about our national forests to have meaningful involvement, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire.”

The delegation continued, “The 265,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas within the White Mountain National Forest include designated wilderness and other treasured landscapes for hiking, backcountry skiing, fishing and all of the outdoor activities that make New Hampshire so special. The $3.9 billion outdoor recreation economy, the $1.4 billion forest products industry and the incalculable benefits of wildlife habitat and watershed health all depend upon sound management of the national forest. With opportunities for sustainable timber harvesting and protection for unfragmented forest landscapes, these values can and do coexist.”

The lawmakers concluded, “Finally, we note that the health of our forests and the ability to manage for timber, recreation, water quality and wildlife depend on people to do the work. With more than 4,000 U.S. Forest Service staff accepting deferred resignations, an unspecified number of improper firings and a disruptive reorganization plan expected to push out additional employees, we worry about the Forest Service’s ability to meet its statutory obligation to manage our national forests for multiple use and sustained yield to benefit current and future generations. Accordingly, we urge you to restore Forest Service staffing to appropriate levels and take steps to appropriately engage with the public on rulemaking regarding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-justice-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-delays-in-accessing-gold-standard-addiction-treatment,"Senators Hassan, Justice Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Eliminate Delays in Accessing Gold Standard Addiction Treatment",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act Would Remove Bureaucratic Barriers to Life-Saving Medication

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jim Justice (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure that people who are struggling with addiction can access life-saving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – the gold standard of addiction care – without dangerous delays. The No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act would eliminate prior authorization requirements for people with Medicaid coverage who need medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, removing a bureaucratic barrier that can leave patients waiting days to fill their prescriptions when every moment counts.

“The fentanyl crisis continues to devastate communities in New Hampshire and across the country, and when someone takes the courageous step to seek treatment, bureaucratic red tape should not stand in their way,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “Medication-assisted treatment is the gold standard for treating opioid use disorder, and this commonsense bipartisan bill will help ensure that people grappling with addiction have immediate access to this evidence-based, life-saving medication. I am grateful for Senator Justice’s partnership on this bipartisan effort to remove barriers to treatment and help save lives.”

“When someone asks for help, the answer shouldn’t be a stack of paperwork. This legislation cuts through the red tape and puts lifesaving addiction treatment where it belongs — in the hands of doctors for patients that need them. The No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act is commonsense, protects our families, and gives West Virginians and Americans a second chance at life,” said Senator Jim Justice.

Under current law, many patients who seek treatment and receive a prescription for MAT are forced to wait days for Medicaid to authorize payment, drawing out the window during which they remain at high risk for deadly overdose. This bipartisan bill requires that:

All state Medicaid programs cover at least one formulation of each FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder without prior authorization, including long-acting injectable options when available.

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment Advisory Commission issue a report to Congress examining how states use utilization management controls – such as dosing limits, age restrictions, counseling requirements, or psychological screening – for MAT, and how these controls may burden clinicians. The report must also identify other state or federal Medicaid policies that hinder access to treatment.

Organizations that support the No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act include: American Society of Addiction Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, Mental Health America, Partnership to End Addiction, Zero Overdose, Legal Action Center, Opioid Prevention Initiative, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Inseparable, Big Cities Health Coalition, Drug Policy Alliance, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Federation of American Hospitals.

“In the aftermath of a non-fatal overdose, every minute counts. Paperwork can be deadly. We are grateful to Senators Hassan and Justice for leading on a commonsense fix that ensures Medicaid coverage works the way it was intended, with timely access to proven medications when it matters most.” – Libby Jones, Associate Vice President, Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator

“Delayed access to opioid use disorder treatment caused by prior authorization can have dangerous and deadly consequences. Americans with opioid use disorder deserve timely access to lifesaving medications, which is why ASAM proudly supports the No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act. This bill recognizes that every minute counts in addiction care by reducing burdensome prior authorizations in Medicaid on FDA-approved medications that treat addiction and save lives.” – Stephen M. Taylor, MD, MPH, President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

“As emergency physicians on the frontline of the opioid and substance use disorder crisis, we see firsthand how every bit of red tape is an impediment for our patients on their path to recovery. The No Red Tape for Addiction Treatment Act will ensure that burdensome prior authorization processes or dosage limitations do not prevent patients from accessing the safe, effective, and proven treatments they need through the Medicaid program. ACEP thanks Senators Hassan and Justice for their leadership in the continued effort to combat the opioid epidemic.” – L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, President of the American College of Emergency Physicians

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/12/17/2025/icymi-shaheen-secures-exemption-to-protect-public-shipyards-in-annual-defense-bill,ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Exemption to Protect Public Shipyards in Annual Defense Bill,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, secured the Protecting Naval Shipyards (PNSY) Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was advanced out of the U.S. Senate. This legislation will exempt the employees from all four public shipyards from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) civilian hiring freeze and any future hiring freezes or reductions in force. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in New Hampshire and the surrounding region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security; and the Shipyard needs to hire almost 700 workers a year to keep up with maintenance on our Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet.

“The work at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to maintain and overhaul nuclear fast-attack submarines is an essential component of our national defense,” said Senator Shaheen. “This provision will ensure that our nation’s four public shipyards can continue to get submarines to the Navy on time without the misguided workforce policies that created uncertainty and chaos over this past year. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan legislation head to the President’s desk.”

After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the U.S. Department of Defense claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze. After Navy Secretary Phelan visited Portsmouth in April, at the request of Shaheen, Collins and Angus King (I-ME), the Senators sent a letter to OPM urging the agency to process personnel that have been hired and are awaiting onboarding into jobs in order to implement the Navy’s exemption. Shaheen then secured Secretary Hegseth’s commitment to investigate these hiring delays during his annual budget testimony – but delays still exist today. This legislation will address this needless bureaucracy once and for all.

Senator Shaheen has long advocated for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In the Committee-approved FY26 NDAA, Shaheen secured full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. She also secured a number of other provisions to increase capacity at the Shipyard and improve quality of life.

Click HERE to view the national security and New Hampshire priorities Senator Shaheen secured in the NDAA.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/12/17/2025/senate-passes-shaheen-shaped-annual-defense-bill-with-significant-national-security-and-new-hampshire-priorities,Senate Passes Shaheen-Shaped Annual Defense Bill with Significant National Security and New Hampshire Priorities,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"**A top member of the Armed Services Committee, Shaheen built on her years-long legacy of securing key New Hampshire priorities, as well as measures that address America's top security challenges and place important guardrails on the Trump Administration**

(Washington, DC) – The Senate today voted to advance the annual bipartisan defense legislation shaped by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law—includes multiple Shaheen-led priorities to address America's top national security objectives while enhancing New Hampshire’s role in support of our national defense.

Notably, the Senate-passed NDAA includes Shaheen’s provisions to exempt public shipyards from reductions in force (RIFs) and hiring freezes, require consultation with Congress before withdrawing troops from NATO, repeal outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria, better address the spread of PFAS contamination and more.

“The annual defense bill asserts Congress’s oversight authority and advances policies that make us stronger and safer while improving the lives of our service members. This is especially important at a time when Secretary Hegseth and the Trump Administration are pursuing a national security strategy that leaves America weaker on the global stage,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud that the legislation will support Granite Staters and America’s national defense and readiness, including by exempting the public shipyards from hiring disruptions, limiting the spread of PFAS in military communities, repealing outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria and placing checks on the Administration's posture at NATO. I hope that this bipartisan bill is swiftly signed into law by the President.”

As the second-ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen is instrumental in constructing the annual bipartisan bill that authorizes Pentagon priorities and programs for the next fiscal year. Below is a summary of top New Hampshire and national security priorities secured by Shaheen in the FY 2026 NDAA.

Protecting Public Shipyards:

Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act, was included in the final compromise text. This provision will exempt all four public shipyards from future hiring disruptions, ensure the chaos and confusion that ensued from Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense (DoD) civilian hiring freeze does not happen again—protecting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security. The Shipyard needs to hire almost 700 workers a year to keep up with maintenance on our Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet. After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), DoD claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze, but issues persist in implementation by the White House. Shaheen’s provision will make this exemption final, take new political litmus tests out of the hiring process for our public shipyards and addresses hiring delays.

Supporting NATO Allies and Enhancing Global Partnerships:

Senator Shaheen also secured provisions that send a strong message of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and other U.S. partners abroad. Her legislation requires the executive branch to consult with Congress and our NATO Allies before any attempt to relinquish the Commander of U.S. European Command’s dual role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This comes after Senator Shaheen pressed senior U.S. military officials on the importance of this U.S. responsibility at NATO. An American general has also served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe since General Dwight Eisenhower assumed the role following the establishment of the NATO alliance.

The bill includes legislation led by Senator Shaheen requiring the Pentagon to consult with Congress before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. presence in Europe and the Indo Pacific deters adversaries and strengthens our alliances. This legislation will require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that he has consulted the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, senior U.S. military officers in the theaters and officials from regional governments—including NATO Allies, South Korea, Japan and others—before reducing our force presence in Europe or South Korea.

Standing with Ukraine:

Senator Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and democracy amid Putin’s war of aggression.

The Senate-passed NDAA includes a reauthorization of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the Department of Defense’s authority to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Senator Shaheen also secured language prohibiting the diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon’s misguided decision, since overruled by President Trump.

The Senate-passed bill also includes Shaheen-authored amendments that allow the continued sharing of U.S. information, intelligence and imagery to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield and prevent cuts to security cooperation funding for U.S. forces in Europe.

Confronting the Challenges Posed by PFAS Contamination:

The legislation also includes a provision supported by Shaheen requiring a strategy from the Department of Defense to respond more quickly to the spread of PFAS contamination at military installations and surrounding communities. The policy also requires the Department of Defense to provide safe drinking water to communities. Shaheen also secured adoption of an amendment to clarify that DoD can use innovative technologies for destroying PFAS to provide more tools to address contamination.

Shaheen has worked for more than a decade to hold the Department of Defense responsible for remediation of PFAS contamination at military bases and ensure transparency for affected communities. Shaheen spearheaded the first nationwide PFAS health impact study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that is in its final stages. Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination. Because of her efforts, Pease served as a model site for the nationwide study.

Bolstering the Defense Workforce:

Meeting our national security requirements requires a strong science and technology workforce. To bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce, Senator Shaheen's bipartisan legislation with Senator Rounds, the Defense Workforce Integration Act, was included in the compromise legislation. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would leverage existing programs and best practices within the Department of Defense to address civilian workforce shortages by retaining the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are found to be medically disqualified.

The compromise legislation also includes a bipartisan provision from Senator Shaheen and Senator Sullivan to give direct hire authority to graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps, a program at universities to help recruit science, technology, engineering and mathematics students into the acquisition workforce.

Supporting the New Hampshire National Guard:

To strengthen the National Guard’s ability to protect and aid New Hampshire in times of crisis, Shaheen secured a provision in this year’s NDAA to help the National Guard retain quality commissioned and warrant officers and maintain increased levels of personnel readiness. Specifically, the amendment allows officers and warrant officers to transfer from active status in the Reserves to the Inactive National Guard. Additionally, the bill authorizes $26 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Readiness Center to support the New Hampshire National Guard in Plymouth, New Hampshire, and $16 million for a new small arms training range at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, New Hampshire.

Senator Shaheen also secured a provision to increase accountability and transparency for investigations into military sexual assault cases. The legislation includes Shaheen’s amendment requiring the National Guard Bureau to provide an annual report on the number of Guardsmen who participate in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training each year.

Investing in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New England’s Shipbuilding Workforce:

Senator Shaheen built on her long legacy of support for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Senate-passed FY26 NDAA includes full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which will expand the Shipyard’s capacity to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Senator Shaheen helped secure this funding beginning in the fiscal year 2019 funding legislation, which she has continued in ensuing years.

Shaheen also helped to authorize funding for increased reliability, resiliency and capacity to the existing electric and water utility systems primarily responsible for the nuclear support facilities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Similarly, the legislation includes a Shaheen provision aimed at improving the quality of life and bolstering recruitment and retention of employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the country's three other public shipyards. The Shaheen amendment requires DoD to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing civilian employees with apartment-style or dormitory housing options.

Repealing Syria Sanctions to Support Stability and Recovery:

Senator Shaheen authored a repeal of Caesar sanctions on Syria. Senate passage of this repeal follows intensive diplomatic efforts and bipartisan coordination to lift sanctions designed to hobble the Assad regime and give Syria a fighting chance at economic and political stability. This builds on Senator Shaheen’s recent meetings with Syrian President al-Sharaa in Damascus and New York City. It also marks a historic milestone for U.S.-Syria relations and clears a pathway for Syrians to recover from decades of brutal dictatorship and conflict. The sanctions repeal also promotes the chance of ridding Syria of malign Iranian and Russian influence and building a more peaceful and prosperous future for the Syrian people and the region.

Strengthening Relations Between the United States and the Countries in the Western Balkans:

The NDAA also includes Senator Shaheen’s Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation that would require sanctions against those who threaten peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The legislation authorizes a regional prosperity initiative to support economic development in the region. It expands university partnerships, invests in youth initiatives, endorses the BOLD Leadership program to invest in young leaders in the region and encourages the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to consider opening a previously announced office in the Western Balkans. The measure also recognizes the key role of cyber security in protecting critical infrastructure and countering malign activities by adversaries including Russia and Iran.

Bolstering Congressional Oversight and Reining in Wasteful Spending:

In this year’s NDAA, Senator Shaheen secured several provisions to assert Congress’s oversight authority over the Trump Administration and prohibit wasteful spending, including the use of Department of Defense resources for immigration enforcement activities. The bill requires DoD to notify Congress before using military airlift for immigration enforcement purposes and expands existing notifications to include requests for assistance in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at Guantanamo Bay. DoD has spent over a billion dollars in non-reimbursable support to DHS for immigration enforcement since the beginning of this Administration.

Additionally, Shaheen included language in the NDAA urging DoD not to downgrade the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay to a clinic. The hospital is the only source of health care for the over 6,000 active duty personnel, DoD civilians, family members, contract personnel and local and foreign national employees stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay (NSGB).

The provisions come after Shaheen joined a Congressional delegation to Guantanamo Bay in March of this year after the Pentagon refused to answer Congressional oversight questions on its support to DHS’s new migrant operations there.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-shaheen-secures-exemption-to-protect-public-shipyards-in-annual-defense-bill,ICYMI: Shaheen Secures Exemption to Protect Public Shipyards in Annual Defense Bill,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, secured the Protecting Naval Shipyards (PNSY) Act in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was advanced out of the U.S. Senate. This legislation will exempt the employees from all four public shipyards from the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) civilian hiring freeze and any future hiring freezes or reductions in force. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in New Hampshire and the surrounding region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security; and the Shipyard needs to hire almost 700 workers a year to keep up with maintenance on our Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet.

“The work at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to maintain and overhaul nuclear fast-attack submarines is an essential component of our national defense,” said Senator Shaheen. “This provision will ensure that our nation’s four public shipyards can continue to get submarines to the Navy on time without the misguided workforce policies that created uncertainty and chaos over this past year. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan legislation head to the President’s desk.”

After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the U.S. Department of Defense claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze. After Navy Secretary Phelan visited Portsmouth in April, at the request of Shaheen, Collins and Angus King (I-ME), the Senators sent a letter to OPM urging the agency to process personnel that have been hired and are awaiting onboarding into jobs in order to implement the Navy’s exemption. Shaheen then secured Secretary Hegseth’s commitment to investigate these hiring delays during his annual budget testimony – but delays still exist today. This legislation will address this needless bureaucracy once and for all.

Senator Shaheen has long advocated for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In the Committee-approved FY26 NDAA, Shaheen secured full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. She also secured a number of other provisions to increase capacity at the Shipyard and improve quality of life.

Click HERE to view the national security and New Hampshire priorities Senator Shaheen secured in the NDAA.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/nh-congressional-delegation-urges-trump-administration-to-expand-public-engagement-on-roadless-rule-changes-restore-full-staffing-at-forest-service,"NH Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Expand Public Engagement on “Roadless Rule” Changes, Restore Full Staffing at Forest Service",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to provide greater opportunity for public engagement regarding the Trump Administration’s plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire. The “roadless rule” prohibits road construction and timber harvesting, with limited exceptions, across nearly 45 million acres of our national forests—including more than 265,000 acres of New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.

The delegation wrote, in part, “We write regarding the U.S. Forest Service’s process to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (0596-AD66) that covers nearly 45 million acres of our national forests. We are concerned about the short timeline that you have outlined, with just 21 days for the initial public comment period. We urge you to provide greater opportunity for those who care about our national forests to have meaningful involvement, including by holding public meetings in New Hampshire.”

The delegation continued, “The 265,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas within the White Mountain National Forest include designated wilderness and other treasured landscapes for hiking, backcountry skiing, fishing and all of the outdoor activities that make New Hampshire so special. The $3.9 billion outdoor recreation economy, the $1.4 billion forest products industry and the incalculable benefits of wildlife habitat and watershed health all depend upon sound management of the national forest. With opportunities for sustainable timber harvesting and protection for unfragmented forest landscapes, these values can and do coexist.”

The lawmakers concluded, “Finally, we note that the health of our forests and the ability to manage for timber, recreation, water quality and wildlife depend on people to do the work. With more than 4,000 U.S. Forest Service staff accepting deferred resignations, an unspecified number of improper firings and a disruptive reorganization plan expected to push out additional employees, we worry about the Forest Service’s ability to meet its statutory obligation to manage our national forests for multiple use and sustained yield to benefit current and future generations. Accordingly, we urge you to restore Forest Service staffing to appropriate levels and take steps to appropriately engage with the public on rulemaking regarding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/senate-passes-shaheen-shaped-annual-defense-bill-with-significant-national-security-and-new-hampshire-priorities,Senate Passes Shaheen-Shaped Annual Defense Bill with Significant National Security and New Hampshire Priorities,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"**A top member of the Armed Services Committee, Shaheen built on her years-long legacy of securing key New Hampshire priorities, as well as measures that address America's top security challenges and place important guardrails on the Trump Administration**

(Washington, DC) – The Senate today voted to advance the annual bipartisan defense legislation shaped by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—which now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law—includes multiple Shaheen-led priorities to address America's top national security objectives while enhancing New Hampshire’s role in support of our national defense.

Notably, the Senate-passed NDAA includes Shaheen’s provisions to exempt public shipyards from reductions in force (RIFs) and hiring freezes, require consultation with Congress before withdrawing troops from NATO, repeal outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria, better address the spread of PFAS contamination and more.

“The annual defense bill asserts Congress’s oversight authority and advances policies that make us stronger and safer while improving the lives of our service members. This is especially important at a time when Secretary Hegseth and the Trump Administration are pursuing a national security strategy that leaves America weaker on the global stage,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud that the legislation will support Granite Staters and America’s national defense and readiness, including by exempting the public shipyards from hiring disruptions, limiting the spread of PFAS in military communities, repealing outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria and placing checks on the Administration's posture at NATO. I hope that this bipartisan bill is swiftly signed into law by the President.”

As the second-ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen is instrumental in constructing the annual bipartisan bill that authorizes Pentagon priorities and programs for the next fiscal year. Below is a summary of top New Hampshire and national security priorities secured by Shaheen in the FY 2026 NDAA.

Protecting Public Shipyards:

Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act, was included in the final compromise text. This provision will exempt all four public shipyards from future hiring disruptions, ensure the chaos and confusion that ensued from Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense (DoD) civilian hiring freeze does not happen again—protecting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a key economic driver in the region, supporting thousands of jobs integral to America’s national security. The Shipyard needs to hire almost 700 workers a year to keep up with maintenance on our Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet. After calls from Shaheen and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), DoD claimed to have exempted the shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze, but issues persist in implementation by the White House. Shaheen’s provision will make this exemption final, take new political litmus tests out of the hiring process for our public shipyards and addresses hiring delays.

Supporting NATO Allies and Enhancing Global Partnerships:

Senator Shaheen also secured provisions that send a strong message of commitment to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allies and other U.S. partners abroad. Her legislation requires the executive branch to consult with Congress and our NATO Allies before any attempt to relinquish the Commander of U.S. European Command’s dual role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe. This comes after Senator Shaheen pressed senior U.S. military officials on the importance of this U.S. responsibility at NATO. An American general has also served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe since General Dwight Eisenhower assumed the role following the establishment of the NATO alliance.

The bill includes legislation led by Senator Shaheen requiring the Pentagon to consult with Congress before making changes to U.S. military force posture in Europe and on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. presence in Europe and the Indo Pacific deters adversaries and strengthens our alliances. This legislation will require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that he has consulted the Secretary of State, Director of National Intelligence, senior U.S. military officers in the theaters and officials from regional governments—including NATO Allies, South Korea, Japan and others—before reducing our force presence in Europe or South Korea.

Standing with Ukraine:

Senator Shaheen has consistently worked to ensure the delivery of military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine as they fight for their freedom and democracy amid Putin’s war of aggression.

The Senate-passed NDAA includes a reauthorization of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, the Department of Defense’s authority to equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Senator Shaheen also secured language prohibiting the diversion of military equipment obligated for Ukraine after the Pentagon’s misguided decision, since overruled by President Trump.

The Senate-passed bill also includes Shaheen-authored amendments that allow the continued sharing of U.S. information, intelligence and imagery to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield and prevent cuts to security cooperation funding for U.S. forces in Europe.

Confronting the Challenges Posed by PFAS Contamination:

The legislation also includes a provision supported by Shaheen requiring a strategy from the Department of Defense to respond more quickly to the spread of PFAS contamination at military installations and surrounding communities. The policy also requires the Department of Defense to provide safe drinking water to communities. Shaheen also secured adoption of an amendment to clarify that DoD can use innovative technologies for destroying PFAS to provide more tools to address contamination.

Shaheen has worked for more than a decade to hold the Department of Defense responsible for remediation of PFAS contamination at military bases and ensure transparency for affected communities. Shaheen spearheaded the first nationwide PFAS health impact study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that is in its final stages. Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination. Because of her efforts, Pease served as a model site for the nationwide study.

Bolstering the Defense Workforce:

Meeting our national security requirements requires a strong science and technology workforce. To bolster the civilian defense and national security workforce, Senator Shaheen's bipartisan legislation with Senator Rounds, the Defense Workforce Integration Act, was included in the compromise legislation. This bipartisan, bicameral bill would leverage existing programs and best practices within the Department of Defense to address civilian workforce shortages by retaining the talent and motivation of those who desire to serve in uniform but are found to be medically disqualified.

The compromise legislation also includes a bipartisan provision from Senator Shaheen and Senator Sullivan to give direct hire authority to graduates of the Defense Civilian Training Corps, a program at universities to help recruit science, technology, engineering and mathematics students into the acquisition workforce.

Supporting the New Hampshire National Guard:

To strengthen the National Guard’s ability to protect and aid New Hampshire in times of crisis, Shaheen secured a provision in this year’s NDAA to help the National Guard retain quality commissioned and warrant officers and maintain increased levels of personnel readiness. Specifically, the amendment allows officers and warrant officers to transfer from active status in the Reserves to the Inactive National Guard. Additionally, the bill authorizes $26 million for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art Readiness Center to support the New Hampshire National Guard in Plymouth, New Hampshire, and $16 million for a new small arms training range at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, New Hampshire.

Senator Shaheen also secured a provision to increase accountability and transparency for investigations into military sexual assault cases. The legislation includes Shaheen’s amendment requiring the National Guard Bureau to provide an annual report on the number of Guardsmen who participate in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training each year.

Investing in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and New England’s Shipbuilding Workforce:

Senator Shaheen built on her long legacy of support for New England’s shipbuilding industry and workforce, including through authorizing funding and workforce development for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Senate-passed FY26 NDAA includes full authorization for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) investments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which will expand the Shipyard’s capacity to maintain America’s fast-attack submarine fleet. As a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Senator Shaheen helped secure this funding beginning in the fiscal year 2019 funding legislation, which she has continued in ensuing years.

Shaheen also helped to authorize funding for increased reliability, resiliency and capacity to the existing electric and water utility systems primarily responsible for the nuclear support facilities at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Similarly, the legislation includes a Shaheen provision aimed at improving the quality of life and bolstering recruitment and retention of employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the country's three other public shipyards. The Shaheen amendment requires DoD to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing civilian employees with apartment-style or dormitory housing options.

Repealing Syria Sanctions to Support Stability and Recovery:

Senator Shaheen authored a repeal of Caesar sanctions on Syria. Senate passage of this repeal follows intensive diplomatic efforts and bipartisan coordination to lift sanctions designed to hobble the Assad regime and give Syria a fighting chance at economic and political stability. This builds on Senator Shaheen’s recent meetings with Syrian President al-Sharaa in Damascus and New York City. It also marks a historic milestone for U.S.-Syria relations and clears a pathway for Syrians to recover from decades of brutal dictatorship and conflict. The sanctions repeal also promotes the chance of ridding Syria of malign Iranian and Russian influence and building a more peaceful and prosperous future for the Syrian people and the region.

Strengthening Relations Between the United States and the Countries in the Western Balkans:

The NDAA also includes Senator Shaheen’s Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation that would require sanctions against those who threaten peace and stability in the Western Balkans. The legislation authorizes a regional prosperity initiative to support economic development in the region. It expands university partnerships, invests in youth initiatives, endorses the BOLD Leadership program to invest in young leaders in the region and encourages the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to consider opening a previously announced office in the Western Balkans. The measure also recognizes the key role of cyber security in protecting critical infrastructure and countering malign activities by adversaries including Russia and Iran.

Bolstering Congressional Oversight and Reining in Wasteful Spending:

In this year’s NDAA, Senator Shaheen secured several provisions to assert Congress’s oversight authority over the Trump Administration and prohibit wasteful spending, including the use of Department of Defense resources for immigration enforcement activities. The bill requires DoD to notify Congress before using military airlift for immigration enforcement purposes and expands existing notifications to include requests for assistance in support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at Guantanamo Bay. DoD has spent over a billion dollars in non-reimbursable support to DHS for immigration enforcement since the beginning of this Administration.

Additionally, Shaheen included language in the NDAA urging DoD not to downgrade the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay to a clinic. The hospital is the only source of health care for the over 6,000 active duty personnel, DoD civilians, family members, contract personnel and local and foreign national employees stationed at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay (NSGB).

The provisions come after Shaheen joined a Congressional delegation to Guantanamo Bay in March of this year after the Pentagon refused to answer Congressional oversight questions on its support to DHS’s new migrant operations there.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-demands-va-secretary-address-education-benefit-payment-delays-ahead-of-today-s-hearing,Pappas Demands VA Secretary Address Education Benefit Payment Delays Ahead of Today’s Hearing,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"On Friday Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (CT), and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) sent a third letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins urging him to address VA’s failure to pay required education benefits on time to over 75,000 veterans and their families and survivors.

""These payment failures are not merely a bureaucratic inconvenience; they are a direct failure to uphold the sacred promise made to those who earned these veteran benefits,” said the lawmakers. ""The fact that VA is continually failing to publicly communicate creates the appearance that you and this administration are attempting to hide this problem.""

This is the third letter Congressional leaders have sent on this issue. Secretary Collins has failed to respond to previous letters sent on October 9 and November 14, missing multiple deadlines to provide the requested information. VA acknowledged during a December 5 briefing that it never informed Congress of the issue impacting 75,000 beneficiaries, which started in August. VA is aware of the failed distribution of checks that is still affecting the finances of thousands, but deemed it unnecessary to communicate with the veterans, families, and survivors impacted or notify Congress and the public.

""This continues to create uncertainty and financial stress for those using Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits,""the lawmakers said.

The lawmakers urged Secretary Collins to appear at the Economic Subcommittee hearing on December 16, 2025, to explain VA's failure to deliver mandatory benefits and VA officials' choice not to inform or communicate with beneficiaries, the public, and Congress.

Secretary Collins has yet to respond to any of the three letters or demands for action.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-introduces-legislation-to-protect-granite-staters-access-to-affordable-health-care-coverage,Pappas Introduces Legislation to Protect Granite Staters’ Access to Affordable Health Care Coverage,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, legislation to assist Americans in alleviating paperwork burdens and making informed enrollment decisions. This includes extending the 2026 Open Enrollment period, restoring auto-reenrollment and the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which were repealed in the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and funding the Navigator Program.

“I’m not letting up in the fight for affordable health care for Granite Staters. We have one month left in open enrollment and individuals are seeing eye-popping premium increases of double or even triple,” said Congressman Pappas. “We have bipartisan legislation ready to go, but Republican leadership continues to refuse to bring it to the floor to stop skyrocketing health care costs. While we keep fighting to get our bill to the floor, my legislation would give families the time, flexibility, and resources to find health insurance coverage that is right for them. I will continue pushing to expand health care access and lower costs at this critical time for New Hampshire families.”

This legislation is endorsed by NAMI, Third Way, and Protect Our Care.

“NAMI NH often hears from Granite Staters with mental illness who struggle to access essential health care for themselves and their families,” said Susan Stearns, Executive Director of NAMI New Hampshire. “We are grateful to Rep. Pappas for introducing TheProtecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act to help prevent gaps in coverage – and in care – by extending open enrollment & supporting trusted Navigators.”

""Health care decisions shouldn't be rushed or based on incorrect information, which can limit people's access to critical mental health services,"" said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at NAMI. ""By extending open enrollment, protecting auto-reenrollment, and investing in the trusted Navigator Program, the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would help Americans better understand often confusing options and information, potentially avoiding unnecessary gaps in health coverage. NAMI thanks Rep. Pappas for introducing this important legislation, which would benefit many Americans' access to mental health care.""

""Americans are under constant threat from Republican health care cuts and efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas is fighting to restore key policies to ensure Americans have adequate access to health care,"" said Darbin Wofford, Deputy Director of Health Care at Third Way. ""Third Way applauds his introduction of the Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act, which would ease administrative burdens for those seeking health insurance and maximize access to the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces.""

""Trump and Republicans have blown past deadline after deadline as hard-working Granite Staters wait for a fix to their GOP-driven skyrocketing health insurance premiums,” said Protect Our Care New Hampshire’s Jayme Simoes. “Republicans got us into this mess, and if they’re not going to dig us out by ending their disastrous war on health care, the very least they can do is pass Rep. Pappas’s Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act. This bill would be a lifeline for New Hampshire families, giving them additional time and resources to make major decisions about their health and finances as the new year begins.”

The Protecting Access to Affordable Coverage Act would:

Extend 2026 Open Enrollment through May 1st, 2026 to provide individuals and families more time to assess Marketplace prices and make an informed decision about health insurance coverage as a result of the chaos and confusion caused by Republican inaction;

Reinstate auto-reenrollment, which was repealed by the Republican One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to reduce administrative burden for consumers to enroll in ACA coverage;

Make permanent a Special Enrollment Period for low-income individuals to ensure the ACA plans are available to Americans even when income fluctuates;

Restore and make mandatory funding of $100 million to the Navigator Program, which helps consumers make informed decisions about their health plans.

Full text is available here.

This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), and Julie Johnson (TX-32).

Background:

Last week Pappas was a part of a bipartisan coalition of 38 total House Members that introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act, which includes a year extension of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, new guardrails to prevent “ghost beneficiaries” and crack down on fraud, an extension of open enrollment, and PBM reform. In November Pappas led the call for the Trump administration to extend the ACA open enrollment period and subsequently introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the enrollment period through May 1, 2026. Pappas supports multiple pieces of legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/watch-pappas-presses-va-on-delays-to-education-benefits-to-veterans,WATCH: Pappas Presses VA on Delays to Education Benefits to Veterans,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today at a hearing held by the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the subcommittee, pressed VA leadership on VA’s failure to pay required education benefits on time to over 75,000 veterans and their families and survivors. View Pappas’s remarks here.

Underscoring the lack of communication from VA to veterans, their families, and Congress, Pappas said, “We have not had that – in fact, in all my years on this Committee I have never experienced this level of stonewalling before… VA has issued little to no public acknowledgment for months regarding the seventy-five thousand beneficiaries whose benefits have been delayed. There has been minimal communication for months to schools and beneficiaries themselves. And there has been zero communication with Congress, unless you can count the letter that we received back that didn’t answer our questions at 5:45 yesterday. Three letters that were sent from members of this committee went unanswered for a month and a half.”

Stressing the length of time of four months for VA to share information, he said, “It took four months between this problem being identified and Congress being updated. Four months - during which tens of thousands of beneficiaries were left without any information. There’s just no excuse for such an egregious lack of communication around an issue that affects so many veterans. Any reasonable person would conclude that a deliberate, political decision was made to cut off communications with Congress and veterans to avoid accountability and hide the problem.”

Pappas shared a constituent story, saying, “One of my constituents from Manchester contacted our office and said: ‘Due to an error with the VA benefits system I have not received my education benefits so far this semester. The call-in line that I and the University of New Hampshire veteran center staff use to resolve such issues has been deactivated for the duration of the shutdown, leaving me dead in the water. My wife’s salary has so far covered our rent and food, but we are at risk of losing child care for my son due to non-payment as well as having to miss car payments.’ Financial stress put on him and his family is evident. It is also unacceptable.”

Background:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-colleagues-introduce-the-bipartisan-ai-workforce-prepare-act,"Senator Hassan, Colleagues Introduce the Bipartisan AI Workforce PREPARE Act",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 recently helped introduce the bipartisan AI Workforce Projections, Research, and Evaluations to Promote AI Readiness and Employment (PREPARE) Act, which would enhance federal agencies’ ability to assess AI’s impact on the workforce in order to make job training and education programs more effective. The bill would help prepare American workers to succeed in the AI economy.

“American workers cannot be left behind as American corporations continue to push forward with the development and adoption of artificial intelligence,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation helps the federal government better assess the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing our economy and helps ensure that increased automation does not result in fewer jobs for hard-working American families.”

“We have to understand how AI is changing the workforce so we can equip American workers with the skills necessary to stay ahead of China and lead the world,” said Senator Banks.

Key Provisions of the AI Workforce PREPARE Act:

Create an AI Workforce Research Hub

Solicit ideas from the public and convene researchers, technical experts, business, and labor to improve data collection on AI and the workforce.

Enhance the Labor Department’s authorities to hire a core group of AI experts.

Carry out a pilot project to produce statistics on workers’ job changes as they are affected by AI.

Increase researchers’ access to the federal government’s workforce data.

Conduct prize competitions to better understand AI adoption, job impacts, and how AI systems augment or automate tasks in particular occupations.

Facilitate voluntary public-private partnerships to share anonymized data on how users are adopting AI.

Improve AI-related questions in federal surveys.

Update the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice (WARN) Act to provide basic information to employees if AI is a substantial factor in a layoff.

Improve the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational projections.

Produce a report on how better AI forecasts can be incorporated into grantmaking decisions.

Conduct a study on how to design more effective rapid retraining programs to assist workers displaced by AI.

Use AI-informed projections to update states’ in-demand occupation lists, which are used to allocate training funding.

Encourage federal agencies, states, local governments, and businesses to collect and report labor market data in more consistent ways.

Apply existing privacy protections and accessibility requirements to all data collected and exchanged.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-joins-senate-house-colleagues-to-demand-accountability-from-army-for-sexual-misconduct-failures,"Shaheen Joins Senate, House Colleagues to Demand Accountability from Army for Sexual Misconduct Failures",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a bicameral letter led by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) to the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General demanding accountability for the Army’s failure to stop widespread sexual misconduct. The letter comes after over 80 women joined a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct from a doctor at Ford Hood and Tripler Army Medical Center.

The members wrote, in part: “According to reports, for years, Dr. McGraw allegedly sexually exploited women, including servicewomen and military wives, in his care. When these women attempted to report their concerns and experiences were purportedly repeatedly ignored and Dr. McGraw was kept on staff. The Army, like the other Services, has a history of failing to adequately address sexual misconduct in the ranks, which required Congress to step in and institute hundreds of reforms over the last fifteen years, culminating in the establishment of the Office of the Special Trial Counsel in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). One of those issues involved military services being slow to intervene in cases at an early stage. This appears to have happened in this case since Dr. McGraw was not suspended until this October. This delayed response is unacceptable, and we need answers.”

They continued: “In the lawsuit, female servicemembers and patients noted that a recurring issue was the lack of adequate response from Army leadership. Reportedly, when victims and their loved ones tried to make complaints with Army leadership, they were ‘refused meetings at every level.’ If true, these women deserve better. The alleged dismissive response from the Army demonstrates an immense failure at every level to properly support survivors.”

They concluded: “The allegations against Dr. McGraw are extremely serious, and the Army’s criminal investigation of this matter must continue unabated. That said, the separate concerns raised by survivors about members of the Army at many levels not timely acting on their complaints must be confronted immediately. Additionally, we request that DoD IG investigate to determine whether personnel within the Army properly followed procedures to timely report allegations of sexual misconduct to law enforcement and whether other SAPR procedures and existing protections were followed or not.”

The full letter can be read HERE.

Shaheen has championed efforts in the Senate to respond to and address sexual assault in the military. In the FY26 NDAA, she secured requirements to improve sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training in the National Guard. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she played a role in the adoption of historic reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to address sexual assault in the military, including taking those offenses out of a service member’s chain of command.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-announces-clean-water-agenda-with-reintroduction-of-three-bills-to-combat-pfas-contamination-support-affected-communities,Pappas Announces Clean Water Agenda with Reintroduction of Three Bills to Combat PFAS Contamination & Support Affected Communities,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced three bills to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination and hold polluters accountable: his bicameral, bipartisan Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), the bipartisan PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and his No Taxation on PFAS Remediation Act.

""The dangers posed by ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS remain a pressing environmental and public health issue. No industry should be given a free pass to poison our water, no community should bear the burden of addressing this challenge alone, and no family should ever have to wonder whether their drinking water is safe when they turn on the tap,"" said Congressman Chris Pappas.“Today I am introducing three pieces of legislation to tackle PFAS contamination in a comprehensive manner.

“My Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act will finally hold polluters accountable, establish proactive limits for PFAS, set water quality criteria, and support communities with contaminated water. The PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act will reauthorize EPA’s PFAS research and development authority so we can continue to accurately measure PFAS contamination and use the most up-to-date technologies to remediate it. And my No Taxation on PFAS Remediation Act will end federal taxation of PFAS contamination reimbursements so families who spend their hard-earned money to ensure their water is safe don’t face an added tax burden from the federal government. I will keep fighting to protect our water, hold polluters accountable, and ensure all families have access to safe, clean water.”

Pappas’s bipartisan, bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would require EPA to develop water criteria for PFAS under the Clean Water Act and provides EPA with an ambitious yet achievable roadmap to establish effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) and standards for eight priority industry categories for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS within three years. The bill also includes significant federal support to assist communities in upgrading their municipal water infrastructure in order to safeguard public health and protect ratepayers. This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the Environmental Working Group and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.

“It is unacceptable that toxic PFAS chemicals are infiltrating our waterways in New York and across the country,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Protecting the health and safety of our communities requires addressing the scourge of PFAS contaminants in our drinking water, food, and environment. Our Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would limit PFAS in industrial discharges, and I’m proud to work with Representative Pappas on this critical legislation as we continue fighting to protect the public from these dangerous chemicals.”

“Clean water is fundamental to every community’s health, growth, and future. As Co-Chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to build a national strategy that matches the scale of this challenge. This legislation moves that vision forward—establishing clear timelines for EPA action, advancing strong monitoring and science-based standards, and providing meaningful support for our municipal systems so families and ratepayers are protected. When we work together, we can strengthen public health, support our communities, and ensure every American household has access to safe, reliable water for generations to come,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

“PFAS impacted communities in Merrimack, NH and several surrounding communities have been powerless to stop the source of vast environmental contamination due to the lack of federal regulations prohibiting PFAS discharges. The Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act will finally stop pollution of our water sources at the source and give us the rights that we don't currently have to hold known parties accountable to true environmental stewardship,” said Laurene Allen, Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water.

""I am thankful to Congressman Chris Pappas for his unwavering commitment to the protection of our planet and public health from the dangers of PFAS. His work to direct the EPA to establish important PFAS standards, publish water quality criteria, and award grants to publicly owned water treatment works to implement PFAS pre-treatment standards is especially important to those of us living in communities with known, significant impact. Recognizing the need to stop exposure, now-–not later, citizens in communities like mine, though not responsible for the contamination, have borne the burden of this cost in an effort to protect ourselves from the PFAS in our public drinking water. Passage of this important legislation will protect other communities from our experience,"" said Nancy Murphy, Merrimack Town Councilor and NH State Representative, Hillsborough 12.

""I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to Congressman Chris Pappas for his continued, multipronged, efforts to press for stricter regulation to curb sources of PFAS contamination that end up in our kitchen tap water in New Hampshire. Stopping the pollution before it gets in the environment is the most cost-effective and efficient way to address this problem that plagues our communities across the state,"" said Mindi Messmer, MS, PG, CG, Senior Research Scientist and co-founder of New Hampshire Safe Water Alliance.

“Industries shouldn’t be able to dump as much PFAS as they like into nearby rivers, streams, and lakes, putting the health of their neighbors at risk,” said Melanie Benesh, Vice President for Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group. “The Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act is a critical piece of legislation that will ensure that the EPA acts quickly to turn off the tap on some of the most notorious PFAS polluting industries.”

The bipartisan PFAS Research and Development Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research and development (R&D) authority with regards to PFAS. EPA’s PFAS research includes projects to measure PFAS in our air and water, understand the human health impacts of PFAS exposure, and mitigate PFAS contamination in our environment. EPA’s PFAS R&D authority expired at the end of fiscal year 2024. This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the Environmental Working Group and the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The No Taxation on PFAS Remediation Actwould eliminate federal income taxes on reimbursement or rebate funds that individuals receive to clean up PFAS contamination in communities without municipal water service. Pappas has heard from constituents who received reimbursements from New Hampshire’s PFAS Rebate Program for the cost of addressing PFAS contamination in their wells, only to have their rebates inappropriately classified as taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service. Pappas’s legislation would fix this issue by permanently removing PFAS remediation reimbursements as taxable income.

Background:

Pappas has been a leader in addressing PFAS and advocating for improved standards, increased investment, and a stronger national focus on PFAS contamination and also leads the PFAS Registry Act and the PFAS-Free Procurement Act. In 2024, following his calls for EPA to establish water quality criteria and limits on industrial PFAS discharges into water and to water treatment plants as required by his Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, EPA finally finalized a PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation which issues strict Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for PFAS chemicals and announced $1 billion in funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law would be directed to help address PFAS contamination in both municipal systems and private wells, with a focus on small and rural communities. Since then, the Trump administration has weakened and delayed these efforts, demonstrating the continued need to pass Pappas’s legislation to make these standards permanent and irreversible.

Specifically, the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would require EPA to develop water quality criteria under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS within three years; require EPA to establish ELGs and standards for eight priority industry categories for all measurable PFAS or classes of PFAS; require EPA to immediately establish PFAS monitoring requirements for three additional industry categories (Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard; Airports; and Electrical and Electronic Components) and reach a determination on whether ELG standards are needed for these industries by December 31, 2026; require EPA to promulgate Method 1633 no later than January 31, 2026; authorize $1 billion overall to help publicly owned treatment works address PFAS contamination for fiscal years 2026 through 2030; and authorize $12 million for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to help EPA implement the bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-helps-pass-bipartisan-legislation-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-0,Pappas Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Restore Federal Workers’ Union Rights,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), bipartisan legislation to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers. Today’s vote follows a bipartisan effort to build support for the legislation and to garner 218 signatures on a discharge petition, which forced Speaker Mike Johnson to bring a motion to discharge the bill to the floor yesterday. Today the House voted on the underlying legislation, passing it 231-195.

""President Trump’s Executive Order stripping federal workers of their right to organize and collectively bargain for better wages, safe conditions, and full benefits is a direct attack on working families. I vowed to fight this order and do everything possible to protect workers, and was proud to help force a vote on this legislation and pass it through the House today,” said Congressman Pappas. “But our work doesn’t stop here. Unions built the middle class in this country and play a critical role in advocating for all American workers. There is more we must do to ensure all workers can stand together and use their collective power to negotiate, and I will continue fighting to fully enshrine those rights in law.”

Background:

President Trump’s March 27 Executive Order, “Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,” sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice, and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior, and Agriculture. The order affected around a million federal workers, of whom roughly one-third are veterans.

In April, Pappas cosponsored the Protect America’s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to nullify this Trump administration Executive Order and restore collective bargaining rights for affected federal employees.

The Protect America’s Workforce Act has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-rulli-stanton-introduce-bipartisan-continuous-skilled-nursing-quality-improvement-act,"Pappas, Rulli, Stanton Introduce Bipartisan Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Yesterday Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Congressman Michael Rulli (OH-06), and Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04) introduced the Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025, which would modernize Medicaid’s approach to continuous skilled (private duty) nursing, remove outdated provider red tape, and mandate that the Secretary of Health and Human Services convene a working group to establish national quality standards of care for these services. This would strengthen Medicaid nursing services and expand access to in-home care to ensure that individuals with complex medical needs, many of them children, can access consistent, high-quality care in their homes and communities.

“Granite Staters’ access to the health care they need remains a top priority of mine, and continuous skilled nursing allows for people with disabilities to get the care they need at home. This bipartisan legislation would update Medicaid standards to cut bureaucratic red tape and reflect the unique care these services provide as well as make progress in establishing national quality standards,"" said Congressman Pappas. “I’ll continue working to strengthen and protect access to health care for all New Hampshire families.”

""Congressman Chris Pappas’s steadfast leadership and dedication to advocating for New Hampshire’s medically complex community make a real difference,"" said Keliane Totten, CEO of the Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance of New Hampshire. ""He understands the challenges facing this population, and we deeply appreciate his commitment to ensuring this vulnerable population receives the care and support they need.""

“This bill is a game-changer for Medicaid patients who depend on skilled nursing at home,” said Jason Lee, CEO of the Home Care Association of America. “By updating outdated regulations and establishing national quality standards, we can make sure that patients receive the care they need, when and where they need it. Our members are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Rulli, Stanton, and Pappas, along with Senators Tillis and Hassan, for championing this important issue.”

""The Alliance is proud to support the Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act and commends Representatives Rulli, Stanton, and Pappas for their leadership,"" said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the Alliance. ""Medicaid beneficiaries deserve the highest quality care, and this legislation takes critical steps to ensure they receive it by modernizing the continuous skilled nursing benefit, establishing clear standards for provider participation, and implementing robust quality measures.""

The Continuous Skilled Nursing Quality Improvement Act of 2025 directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work collaboratively with providers, state Medicaid agencies, and patient advocates to establish national quality standards for continuous skilled nursing services. These updates will improve oversight, ensure consistent quality, and reduce unnecessary administrative barriers. Together, these improvements will strengthen program integrity, expand access to qualified nurses, and deliver greater stability for families who depend on continuous skilled nursing care.

Specifically, the bill includes:

Terminology Modernization: Updates the definition of private duty nursing to “continuous skilled nursing services” to reflect the needs of patients requiring extended skilled nursing care.

National Quality Standards: Requires HHS to convene a working group to develop national standards for continuous skilled nursing services.

Medicaid Coverage Clarity: Ensures Medicaid providers are not subject to Medicare home health agency participation conditions, reducing regulatory burdens and improving access to care.

Home and Community-Based Services Inclusion: Expands Medicaid’s home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program to include continuous skilled nursing care.

Quality Measure Updates: Directs HHS to update and maintain quality measures for Medicaid-covered skilled nursing services.

The Senate companion bill is led by Senator Thom Tillis (NC) and Senator Maggie Hassan (NH).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-failed-health-care-vote-in-the-senate,Senator Hassan Statement on Failed Health Care Vote in the Senate,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Click Here to Watch Senator Hassan’s Remarks on the Floor of the Senate Ahead of Today’s Vote

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement today after the Senate failed to advance a common-sense proposal which had bipartisan support and would have prevented health insurance premiums from skyrocketing for millions of Americans next year:

“I am disappointed that Washington Republicans are choosing to allow a surge in health insurance costs to go forward – and that the American people will be forced to pay the price.

“The price will be paid by the Granite State couple who each earn $42,000 a year and will go into debt because their health insurance costs $12,000 more next year. The price will be paid by the mom who can’t afford routine check-ups without her insurance and later gets diagnosed with a preventable disease. The price will be paid by the millions of Americans who, when faced with a doubling of their health insurance premiums, will have no choice but to go without health care.

“Today’s vote was the best opportunity for us to extend the Affordable Care Act tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance. I have and will continue to engage in bipartisan conversations to deliver relief for our families. As always, I am willing to work with members across both sides of the aisle to lower costs for families. But between their reckless tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and now these new health care cost increases, Congressional Republicans and President Trump keep making life harder and more expensive for families at every turn. Granite Staters and Americans are watching closely to see who is fighting to lower costs and who is standing in the way.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/on-senate-floor-shaheen-calls-on-republicans-to-join-democrats-in-voting-to-extend-aca-enhanced-premium-tax-credits,"On Senate Floor, Shaheen Calls on Republicans to Join Democrats in Voting to Extend ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Ahead of the vote to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation to permanently extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, took to the Senate floor to outline the consequences should Republicans allow the tax credits to expire in a matter of weeks and urged her Republican colleagues to help Democrats prevent premiums from skyrocketing. Click HERE to watch the Senator’s full remarks.

Key quotes from Senator Shaheen:

“In a few moments, we're going to vote on whether millions of Americans can keep the ACA enhanced premium tax credits or whether they will face a crushing financial blow.”

“These credits have helped millions of families, including tens of thousands of people in New Hampshire, keep their coverage and balance their family budgets. For many, they are the only thing that's standing between stability and a crisis.”

“Now, yesterday, at a forum that I co-hosted with Senator Warner, we heard directly from people who depend on this coverage. Their stories were personal and they were urgent. [...] These are real families who have real stakes in this debate that we're having. This is not a game.”

“I know there are members in both parties who want to find a responsible path forward. I welcome the discussion on where we can find common ground, and I'm ready to come to the table, as I said, with any of my colleagues to work on long term reforms. But first, we must keep millions of Americans from losing coverage in the coming months.”

Remarks as delivered:

Before I begin my official remarks to address the vote that we're going to be having shortly, I just want to respond to the Majority Leader's remarks because I think there was some misinformation there.

The fact is that 92% of people who get those enhanced premium tax credits are making $200,000 or less, and the average income for a person who receives those premium tax credits is $32,000 a year. That's not somebody in a higher income bracket.

And in fact, about 50% of the people who receive premium tax credits are small business owners or their employees who have no other option for health care because they can't afford an employer sponsored health insurance.

So I think much of what the Majority Leader said about costs and about addressing fraud and about lowering the cost of health care is something that we all ought to support. And I'm ready to come to the table, and I think we would be better served if, after we get through these votes, we sit down and come to a compromise to address the real costs that people are facing in terms of health care. And I'm ready to do that.

But in a few moments, we're going to vote on whether millions of Americans can keep the ACA enhanced premium tax credits or whether they will face a crushing financial blow.

These credits have helped millions of families, including tens of thousands of people in New Hampshire, keep their coverage and balance their family budgets.

For many, they are the only thing that's standing between stability and a crisis.

And I've worked on these tax credits since 2019, when I first introduced the bill. I have warned for more than a year about what would happen to rates if we fail to address this issue in Congress.

Well, now that open enrollment has begun, we are seeing the consequences of that failure to act in real time.

States and insurers are reporting that significantly fewer people are re-enrolling in health insurance plans, because families simply cannot afford the rising premiums. And the Republican proposal that Senators Cassidy and Crapo are introducing doesn't really address that issue.

Even those who are re-enrolling are often being pushed into less comprehensive plans that leave them exposed to substantial out-of-pocket costs.

Now, yesterday, at a forum that I co-hosted with Senator Warner, we heard directly from people who depend on this coverage. Their stories were personal and they were urgent.

One small business owner, who's also a health care provider, told us that affordable ACA coverage allows her to keep serving new mothers in her community while still caring for her own family. But she also pointed out that if we don't address these premium tax credits, that the cost of her health insurance was going to quadruple.

Another woman from Concord, New Hampshire, described the moment her son, who lives with a serious mental illness, had his coverage approved. She said, “she wept with relief”. With that coverage, he's been able to work to live independently and to get the treatment that he needs.

These are real families who have real stakes in this debate that we're having.

This is not a game. People are already feeling the impact of inaction.

Democrats have put forward a straightforward, immediate solution to prevent the premiums from jumping and to keep people insured.

Some of my Republican colleagues have offered ideas that they believe could help. And I think that engagement has been constructive.

But the time is short. We need to act now. We need to extend the tax credits.

I know there are members in both parties who want to find a responsible path forward.

I welcome the discussion on where we can find common ground, and I'm ready to come to the table, as I said, with any of my colleagues to work on long-term reforms.

But first, we must keep millions of Americans from losing coverage in the coming months.

Extending these credits is the easiest and most direct way to protect families.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-vote-for-senate-democrats-bill-to-protect-health-care-costs-from-skyrocketing,Shaheen Statement on Vote for Senate Democrats Bill to Protect Health Care Costs from Skyrocketing,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation to permanently extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, released the following statement on her vote today in favor of a Democratic proposal to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits:

“Today, my Republican colleagues voted against preventing health care costs from spiking for tens of millions of Americans. I’m deeply disappointed with this outcome, but the conversation over the past few months has moved the issue to the forefront of Congress. There’s no mystery now about who is fighting to ensure health care is affordable for the American people.

“This vote is not the end of this fight. With the ACA tax credits expiring in a matter of days, we cannot stop working to find a solution that will help millions of Americans afford their health insurance premiums each month. I have had and will continue to have bipartisan conversations in the hopes of finding a path forward, and I’m encouraged to see an increasing number of my Republican colleagues showing a willingness to extend the tax credits.

“The day the Affordable Care Act became law was a watershed moment in our country, and I have worked ever since to improve and expand upon this historic legislation. I first introduced legislation on the tax credits in 2019, I fought to make that law in the American Rescue Plan in 2021 and again in the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. It was the first bill I introduced this year. There is no one in the Senate who wants to see this get done more than I do.

“I’m going to pursue every possibility to reduce the health care costs for millions of Americans, and I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join me. The American people overwhelmingly want Congress to extend these tax credits and have made the consequences of inaction abundantly clear: if Republicans fail to join us, they will be held accountable at the ballot box next year.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-goodlander-introduce-bipartisan-commonground-legislation-to-address-skyrocketing-aca-premiums,"Pappas, Goodlander Introduce Bipartisan “CommonGround” Legislation to Address Skyrocketing ACA Premiums",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), with a bipartisan coalition of 38 total House Members, introduced the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act based on the bipartisan health care framework they unveiled last week. Over 47,000 Granite Staters benefited from the expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits and face increased health insurance costs if Congress does not act.

This bipartisan bill includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families—including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, new guardrails to prevent “ghost beneficiaries” and crack down on fraud, an extension of open enrollment, and PBM reform. The bill also requires a vote on a second year of continued health insurance premium savings, including more significant reforms, in the Senate and House by July 1, 2026.

“Affordability is not a hoax to the New Hampshire families facing massive increases to their health insurance costs next year. The first open enrollment deadline is in less than a week. Granite Staters cannot wait any longer for Congressional action on the expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. Congress must act now,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’ve come together with a bipartisan group of colleagues to get this done. Today we introduced legislation to deliver on health care, cut insurance premiums, and ensure families can make ends meet. I’ll continue to urge House leadership to immediately bring this bill to the floor.”

“Lowering the sky-high cost of healthcare is a matter of life or death for families across New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Our commonsense, bipartisan bill will save the healthcare that tens of thousands of Granite Staters are at risk of losing this month, kickstart critical reforms to cut your costs, and crack down on the big corporations that are jacking up your healthcare costs.”

Find the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act bill text here.

The Members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers. The framework would also extend the open enrollment period for this year through March 19, 2026, as Pappas has led, with Goodlander joining, the call for the Department of Health and Human Services to do.

Background:

In November Pappas led the call for the Trump administration to extend the ACA open enrollment period and subsequently introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the enrollment period through May 1, 2026. As negotiations to extend these critical cost savings continue, Pappas’s legislation would ensure families aren’t forced to make decisions about their health care coverage for next year without sufficient time to consider their changing options. Pappas held a roundtable with leadership from Lamprey Health Care about the burden of these increased costs, during which they shared stories about the impact the lapse will have on their patients, as well as the news that the health center's annual premium to cover their staff is also expected to increase by 40% next year. Small businesses across New Hampshire are bearing these costs, including a manufacturer Pappas visited that expects to see a 38% increase in its health insurance costs next year due to the lapse of the tax credits.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-leads-bipartisan-demand-for-action-to-stop-claim-sharks-scamming-veterans-following-npr-report,Pappas Leads Bipartisan Demand for Action to Stop Claim Sharks Scamming Veterans Following NPR Report,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, led a bipartisan group of more than 40 members in sending a letter to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlighting the disturbing and escalatory tactics of claim sharks, including those in recent reporting from NPR, and demanding the agencies immediately investigate and take meaningful action to curb these practices and protect veterans.

“19 years ago, Congress voted to let claim sharks off the hook. Now unaccredited companies are ripping off veterans and using their private, personal information to charge veterans tens of thousands of dollars, in some cases for help they didn’t even provide,” said Congressman Pappas. “I have repeatedly raised alarm about the rise of unaccredited claims consultants profiting from veterans’ disability claims, and the profiteering exposed by this article is outrageous. No one can deny that predatory companies are exploiting legal loopholes to defraud veterans. I am demanding answers from the administration about their knowledge of these tactics and am calling on them to take every possible action to protect veterans from being defrauded.

“It is already illegal to exploit veterans looking for claims help but VA lacks an enforcement mechanism. It’s time to pass my GUARD VA Benefits Act, reinstate VA’s enforcement authority, and finally hold these companies accountable for the harm they are causing.

Background:

Unaccredited claims representatives, or claim sharks, are not subject to VA standards. They strategically advertise their services to avoid regulatory oversight and as a result, may engage in predatory and unethical practices that target veterans and rob them of their VA benefits. Federal laws and regulations prohibit anyone from assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim, or charging a fee for this assistance, without accreditation from VA. However, VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce existing law because explicit criminal penalties were stripped from statute nearly two decades ago. This has contributed to the proliferation of unaccredited claims representatives in recent years, a troubling development especially as more veterans receive the benefits they’re owed thanks to the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Pappas’s Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for VA disability compensation benefits. This legislation will discourage for-profit companies from operating outside the bounds of federal law, and will give VA and other agencies an additional tool to protect veteran claimants from predatory practices.

Pappas has been working to raise awareness of and protect veterans from the predatory practices of claims sharks since 2021, calling on VA to improve awareness, chairing an oversight hearing on the topic, and introducing the GUARD VA Act in both the 117th, 118th, and 119th Congresses.

Read the full text of the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Collins, Chair Ferguson, and Acting Director Vought:

We write to express serious concern regarding a recent NPR investigation documenting predatory practices by unaccredited claims representatives and providing new evidence of escalating, disturbing tactics used to systematically target and illegally charge veterans tens of thousands of dollars for assistance with their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims.

For years, we have warned that unaccredited representatives – commonly known as claim sharks – charge illegal fees, misrepresent their services, and exploit a loophole in federal law to escape accountability. This is why we support H.R. 1732, the GUARD VA Benefits Act, which would simply reinstate the enforcement mechanism VA needs to finally hold these bad actors accountable. However, as the NPR investigation makes clear, aggressive and coordinated federal action is needed now. Claim sharks’ predatory practices grow more nefarious and efficient with each passing day, robbing veterans of the benefits they earned and diverting taxpayer dollars into their own pockets.

According to NPR’s reporting, Trajector and potentially other companies are now using automated data-extraction tools that allow them to monitor veterans’ personal financial information and VA claims data, track when a claim is approved and VA benefits are deposited, and automatically issue an invoice to the veteran. In many cases, this appears to be done by requiring veterans to provide sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers. This information is then fed into automated systems capable of identifying any increase in a veteran’s disability compensation and immediately sending an invoice to the veteran, even if the unaccredited representative played no role in the successful claim.

These practices represent a deeply disturbing escalation in claim shark industry tactics and raise serious questions about data privacy, informed consent, financial security, and whether these companies are accessing or leveraging sensitive VA-related information in ways that may violate federal laws related to consumer protection, privacy, and unauthorized access to government systems or data. This is in addition to the prohibition on unaccredited representatives preparing, presenting, or prosecuting VA claims.

These revelations further underscore regulatory and enforcement gaps that have enabled claim sharks to proliferate. VA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have acknowledged that their ability to curb these activities is limited due to the lack of an enforcement statute – precisely the authority the GUARD VA Benefits Act would restore. This long-standing and well-known gap has allowed claim sharks to expand their operations, refine predatory practices, and aggressively lobby Congress to oppose federal legislation to close this loophole.

Unaccredited representatives cannot continue to operate with impunity. While Congress works to restore VA’s enforcement authority through the GUARD VA Benefits Act, we expect VA, FTC, and other relevant agencies to use every available authority to investigate these practices, enforce current statutes, and prevent further harm. The practices outlined in the NPR report demand an immediate response, a coordinated, multi-agency investigation, and meaningful federal action.

Additionally, we request written responses to the following questions no later than December 18, 2025:

1. Has VA, FTC, CFPB, or any related federal entity previously identified, investigated, or received complaints regarding the use of automated or robotic tools by Trajector or similar companies to track VA benefit payments or claim approvals? If so, have any enforcement actions been taken?

2. What information do your agencies have regarding how these companies obtain, store, use, or transmit veterans’ personal data? Have you found any indication that entities are improperly accessing VA.gov, eBenefits, claim-status interfaces, or other VA data systems directly or through automated tools?

3. Has the FTC or CFPB opened any inquiries, civil investigative demands, enforcement actions, or reviews related to Trajector or any similar company?

4. What interagency coordination mechanisms currently exist among VA, FTC, CFPB, and state attorneys general to monitor and respond to these practices?

5. What additional authorities, resources, or statutory changes would allow your agencies to fully investigate these practices and protect veterans from unauthorized data collection or financial exploitation?

Veterans deserve clear, lawful, and trustworthy assistance when seeking the benefits they have earned. The conduct described in this recent investigation represents an unacceptable threat to their privacy and financial security and demands immediate, meaningful federal action.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-secures-protections-for-portsmouth-naval-shipyard-military-pay-raise-in-ndaa,"Pappas Secures Protections for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Military Pay Raise in NDAA",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), founding member of the bipartisan Public Shipyard Caucus, voted to pass the bipartisan FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes language based on his legislation, the Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act, to protect the civilian workforce at America’s four public shipyards, including the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, from the Trump Administration’s reckless hiring freezes and mass layoffs.

The legislation also includes a 3.8% pay increase for members of the U.S. military, improves food security, health care, childcare, and housing needs of military families, reauthorizes the U.S. Coast Guard for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and aggressively cracks down on fentanyl traffickers and funds vital counter-narcotics operations.

“As America continues to confront challenges across the globe, it is essential we reauthorize our national defense programs and give our service members the resources and tools they need to project American power and values throughout the world, safeguard our interests from authoritarian regimes, and stand with our allies,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “This bipartisan legislation includes a key provision I fought to include that will protect the civilian workforce at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Trump administration’s mass layoffs that hurt Shipyard personnel, our economy, and our military readiness. It also includes a much-deserved pay raise for service members, additional health care, child care, and housing support for military families, and expands counter-narcotic and fentanyl trafficking operations.""

""I share the frustrations of colleagues on both sides of the aisle over the lack of an open amendment process and insufficient details about new weapon systems authorized by this bill. While I cast my vote in favor of this bipartisan legislation that strengthens our defense, boosts New Hampshire’s economy, and improves our service members' quality of life, I will continue working to ensure Congress provides strict oversight of the Administration, holds the Department of Defense accountable for passing an audit, and responsibly spends taxpayer dollars.”

Background:

Since President Trump took office, Pappas has worked to protect civilian workers who play a critical role in maintaining U.S. national security. In February, he joined workers from PNSY to discuss the impact of the administration’s job cuts and hiring freezes, which led the Shipyard to pause hiring. In March Pappas led his House colleagues in further sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and workforce cuts. Later that month, the U.S. Department of Defense exempted the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze.

In July the New Hampshire Congressional delegation also called on General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to exempt critical safety roles, including firefighters and air traffic controllers, from its planned 10.7% reduction to federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG). More than half of the civilian employees at Pease Air National Guard Base are civilian emergency personnel and air traffic controllers, and the proposed cuts could devastate the important role Pease plays in supporting emergency services in the region, including at Portsmouth International Airport.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-ernst-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-support-working-american-families,"Senators Hassan, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Working American Families",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan legislation will modernize family and medical leave policies.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are supporting hardworking American families by introducing the Fair Access for Individuals to Receive (FAIR) Leave Act to ensure that married couples employed by the same employer are no longer unfairly limited in the amount of family medical leave they can take.

“Hardworking families deserve the ability to take earned leave from their jobs upon the birth of a child or when caring for a parent with a serious health condition, but because of a loophole in our laws, married couples who work for the same employer are unfairly limited in the leave available to them,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation makes a long-overdue fix to the earned family and medical leave available to couples, providing them each with 12 weeks of unpaid leave regardless of whether they work for the same employer or not. I will continue to work to ensure that hardworking families in New Hampshire and across the country get the support that they need, including access to leave.”

“As every mother knows, those first few weeks with a newborn are precious, and parents shouldn’t be punished if they happen to work for the same employer,” said Senator Ernst. “This commonsense fix guarantees hardworking parents are treated fairly, and it also ensures families have the time to care for a loved one who’s ill, including our brave servicemembers. I will always work to support our Iowa families.”

While the Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) Act provides unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons, it limits the amount of leave married couples that work for the same employer may take to spend time at home with their new baby or care for a sick loved one or servicemember. The bipartisan FAIR Leave Act will repeal this limitation and modernize the law to provide more comprehensive and effective leave for American families.

The bill enables eligible spouses working for the same employer to each take up to 12 work weeks each (24 total) of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for the following FMLA-qualifying reasons:

The birth of a child;

The placement and adoption of a child; or

The care of a parent with a serious health condition.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/ahead-of-senate-vote-shaheen-warner-hold-spotlight-forum-on-the-disastrous-impacts-of-aca-tax-credit-expiration,"Ahead of Senate Vote, Shaheen, Warner Hold Spotlight Forum on the Disastrous Impacts of ACA Tax Credit Expiration",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation to permanently extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, and Mark Warner (D-VA) hosted a spotlight forum underscoring the urgent need for Congress to extend the soon-expiring tax credits that have made health care more affordable for tens of millions of Americans. The spotlight forum, entitled “The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits”, featured several Democratic Senators and five witnesses and came ahead of a Senate vote Thursday on a Democratic proposal to extend the tax credits. Click HERE to watch the full forum and click HERE for media files.

In addition to Shaheen and Warner, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Chris Coons (D-DE) spoke at the forum. Witnesses included: Katie Keith, Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Health Policy and the Law at the O’Neill Institute, Audrey Gasteier, Executive Director of Massachusetts Health Connector, Susan Stearns, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) New Hampshire, Kathleen Winters, Small Business Owner in Norfolk, Virginia and Kendra Bush, a Patient Advocate in Portage, Indiana.

“The cost of inaction is too high for my Republican colleagues to ignore: It is past time for Congress to come together and pass an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits that ensure working families can afford health care. I was glad to host this forum with my colleague Senator Warner to emphasize how important these tax credits are and to hear directly from those who are going to be affected if they expire,” said Senator Shaheen. “Here in Congress, we have the opportunity to address the concerns of millions of Americans who worry about the rising cost of health care. I’m calling on my colleagues across the aisle to join us to prevent millions of Americans from losing their health insurance.”

“Today we heard from Americans and their message was clear: health care tax credits save lives. These tax credits make it possible for Americans to navigate life with the certainty that they’ll be able to see a doctor, afford medication, and receive critical care when they need it,” said Senator Warner. “In three short weeks, these and many more Americans will have to begin shouldering the financial burden of Republican inaction to the tune of hundreds of dollars per month. We cannot leave Americans in the lurch. We must extend ACA tax credits.”

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-applauds-more-than-13-million-in-noaa-funding-for-granite-state-coastal-restoration,Shaheen Applauds More than $1.3 Million in NOAA Funding for Granite State Coastal Restoration,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, celebrated the announcement of more than $1 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) funding for Granite State coastal restoration through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund.

“Investing in New Hampshire’s natural resources is essential not only for our environment, but for the strength of our economy,” said Senator Shaheen. “Building resiliency—from flood-hazard assessments to wetland and habitat protection—lays the groundwork for healthier ecosystems, stronger local economies and a more sustainable future for the Granite State. I helped secure this federal funding, which will help Granite State communities confront flooding risks and use nature to reduce impacts around the Great Bay estuary, and I’ll continue to support these efforts.”

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will receive $999,711 to develop a flood hazard assessment to identify areas vulnerable to flood risk and create a plan to serve as a long-term roadmap to mitigate risk and guide solutions. Ducks Unlimited—a non-profit organization focused on waterfowl and wetland conservation—will receive $304,658 to create nature-based restoration plans to enhance coastal storm protection and water quality for communities near New Hampshire's Great Bay estuary while combating habitat loss for at-risk wildlife.

The National Coastal Resilience Fund, established in 2018, invests in nature-based solutions that protect coastal communities while enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife. The National Coastal Resilience Fund invests in conservation projects that restore, increase and strengthen natural infrastructure such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, rivers and floodplains, coastal forest and barrier islands that mitigate the impacts of storms and other coastal hazards to communities.

Shaheen is the former chair and a current member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds NOAA. In the fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bill advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen helped secure inclusion of $32 million for NOAA’s National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund, which supports NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund. This funding will help coastal communities in New Hampshire and across the nation bolster their resilience to changing climate, as well as support ocean health and research. Last year, Shaheen announced nearly $1 million in NOAA grant funding for New Hampshire to support coastal resiliency projects. Shaheen was also a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and supported the Inflation Reduction Act, which included historic investments to address coastal resilience.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/new-hampshire-delegation-welcomes-more-than-9-million-for-granite-state-projects-through-northern-border-regional-commission,New Hampshire Delegation Welcomes More than $9 Million for Granite State Projects Through Northern Border Regional Commission,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), welcomed more than $9 million in federal funding for Granite State projects through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). Today’s awards are funded through NBRC’s Fall 2025 Catalyst, Timber for Transit and Forest Economy programs.

“The Northern Border Regional Commission is an essential partner helping to ensure that rural communities across the Granite State get their fair share of federal resources,” said Senator Shaheen. “The awards announced today will improve rural health care facilities, bolster and grow the northern outdoor economy, strengthen access to child care and much more. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding for New Hampshire and increased funding for NBRC programs in the recently passed Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill that I lead.”

“I’m glad to see federal funding heading to New Hampshire’s rural communities to expand health care facilities, hire more child care providers, and support other critical projects that will improve our economy,” said Senator Hassan. “The Northern Border Regional Commission’s investments in communities across our state will help more Granite Staters get the resources that they need to thrive.”

“Smart investments into New Hampshire communities through the Northern Border Regional Commission help drive economic and community development. This federal funding is headed to local projects that will strengthen our child care workforce and services, expand health care access, bolster workforce housing, support our outdoor recreation and tourism economy, upgrade our water infrastructure, and more,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’ll always support projects like these that boost our communities and economy, create more good-paying jobs, and invest in our future.”

“Granite Staters work hard and show up for one another. These investments reflect that same spirit and are a big win for communities across New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “From protecting our rural hospitals and expanding childcare access to supporting our farmers, foresters, small businesses, historic centers, and outdoor heritage, these awards will help keep New Hampshire vibrant and our economy strong. I will continue fighting to make sure every community across our state has the tools it needs to thrive.”

NBRC encourages business retention and expansion, invests in public infrastructure and promotes tourism across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. This vital federal-state partnership for economic and community development provides grant funding to communities within Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton and Sullivan counties.

NBRC’s Catalyst program supports a broad range of economic development initiatives including projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy and provide access to new childcare and health care facilities. The Timber for Transit program funds efforts to advance the use of wood-based materials in transportation and transportation infrastructure. The Forest Economy Program supports efforts to advance the region’s forest-based economy.

Shaheen and Hassan have led efforts in Congress that support and invest in the NBRC. As ranking member of the Ag-FDA Appropriations subcommittee, Shaheen recently secured a $500,000 increase in funding for the NBRC through the Ag-FDA FY 26 funding legislation recently signed into law by President Trump. Shaheen also secured inclusion of an additional $5 million increase in funding for NBRC through the Senate draft FY 26 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill.

A list of the New Hampshire projects awarded funding in today’s announcement is available below.

NBRC Catalyst Program Awards

Forest Economy Program Awards

NBRC Timber for Transit Program Awards

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/following-pappas-s-leadership-2026-ndaa-text-protects-portsmouth-naval-shipyard-staff-from-layoffs-and-hiring-freezes,"Following Pappas’s Leadership, 2026 NDAA Text Protects Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Staff From Layoffs and Hiring Freezes",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), founding member of the bipartisan Public Shipyard Caucus and representative for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, announced that provisions enacting his bipartisan Protecting Public Naval Shipyards Act were included in the text of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

These provisions would place a “prohibition on the use of funds from carrying out a hiring freeze, reduction in force, or hiring delay without cause at a public shipyard,” and effectively exempt the workforces of America’s four public shipyards, which are responsible for repairing and retrofitting the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers and submarines, from the Trump administrations’ unjustified hiring freezes and mass layoffs.

“America’s public shipyards are a critical component of our national defense, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard specifically is an economic engine for New Hampshire's Seacoast. The men and women of our Shipyard work every day with skill and patriotism to ensure our nation’s readiness, and their job security should never be in question,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m glad to see these provisions enacting my bipartisan legislation included in this year’s NDAA, ensuring that Portsmouth and all of America’s public shipyards will be able to bring on the staff they need to ensure our country is strong and prepared for the future.”

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is one of just four public shipyards nationwide that maintain the US Navy’s submarine fleet. The Shipyard is also the region's largest employer. In 2023, the latest available data, more than 7,400 civilian employees worked at the base with an economic impact exceeding $1.5 billion, according to the Seacoast Shipyard Association's 2024 report. The Shipyard is currently working to hire additional workers to increase its capacity amid a $1.87 billion dry dock expansion.

Under the current administration's most recent guidelines, the Navy is currently limited to hiring no more than 1,550 external personnel across all naval institutions each month – far too few to meet the demand of America’s public shipyards.

Background:

Since President Trump took office, Pappas and the New Hampshire delegation have worked to protect civilian workers who play a critical role in maintaining U.S. national security. In February, he joined workers from PNSY to discuss the impact of the administration’s job cuts and hiring freezes, which led the Shipyard to pause hiring. In March Pappas led his House colleagues in further sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration’s hiring freeze and workforce cuts. Later that month, the U.S. Department of Defense exempted the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workforce from the civilian hiring freeze.

In July the New Hampshire Congressional delegation also called on General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to exempt critical safety roles, including firefighters and air traffic controllers, from its planned 10.7% reduction to federal civilians at the Air National Guard (ANG). More than half of the civilian employees at Pease Air National Guard Base are civilian emergency personnel and air traffic controllers, and the proposed cuts could devastate the important role Pease plays in supporting emergency services in the region, including at Portsmouth International Airport.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/nh-delegation-welcomes-more-than-9-million-for-granite-state-projects-through-northern-border-regional-commission,NH Delegation Welcomes More than $9 Million for Granite State Projects Through Northern Border Regional Commission,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in welcoming more than $9 million in federal funding for Granite State projects through the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). Today’s awards are funded through NBRC’s Fall 2025 Catalyst, Timber for Transit and Forest Economy programs.

“Smart investments into New Hampshire communities through the Northern Border Regional Commission help drive economic and community development. This federal funding is headed to local projects that will strengthen our child care workforce and services, expand health care access, bolster workforce housing, support our outdoor recreation and tourism economy, upgrade our water infrastructure, and more,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’ll always support projects like these that boost our communities and economy, create more good-paying jobs, and invest in our future.”

“The Northern Border Regional Commission is an essential partner helping to ensure that rural communities across the Granite State get their fair share of federal resources,” said Senator Shaheen. “The awards announced today will improve rural health care facilities, bolster and grow the northern outdoor economy, strengthen access to child care and much more. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding for New Hampshire and increased funding for NBRC programs in the recently passed Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill that I lead.”

“I’m glad to see federal funding heading to New Hampshire’s rural communities to expand health care facilities, hire more child care providers, and support other critical projects that will improve our economy,” said Senator Hassan. “The Northern Border Regional Commission’s investments in communities across our state will help more Granite Staters get the resources that they need to thrive.”

“Granite Staters work hard and show up for one another. These investments reflect that same spirit and are a big win for communities across New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “From protecting our rural hospitals and expanding childcare access to supporting our farmers, foresters, small businesses, historic centers, and outdoor heritage, these awards will help keep New Hampshire vibrant and our economy strong. I will continue fighting to make sure every community across our state has the tools it needs to thrive.”

NBRC encourages business retention and expansion, invests in public infrastructure and promotes tourism across northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. This vital federal-state partnership for economic and community development provides grant funding to communities within Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton and Sullivan counties.

NBRC’s Catalyst program supports a broad range of economic development initiatives including projects that modernize and expand access to public water and wastewater services, revitalize transportation infrastructure, establish workforce development programs and facilities, grow the outdoor recreation economy and provide access to new childcare and health care facilities. The Timber for Transit program funds efforts to advance the use of wood-based materials in transportation and transportation infrastructure. The Forest Economy Program supports efforts to advance the region’s forest-based economy.

A list of the New Hampshire projects awarded funding in today’s announcement is available below.

NBRC Catalyst Program Awards

Forest Economy Program Awards",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-new-gallup-poll-shows-aca-tax-credits-hit-all-time-high-popularity-growing-support-among-independents,"ICYMI: New Gallup Poll Shows ACA Tax Credits Hit All-Time High Popularity, Growing Support Among Independents",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: A new survey shows that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) have reached an all-time high of 57% popularity among Americans. The polling also shows that support for the tax credits has continued to grow among independents, jumping 10 points to a high of 63% approval compared to last year. The Gallup poll comes as the Senate is set to vote on a Democratic proposal to extend the soon-expiring tax credits later this week.

Key Findings:

“Gallup has tracked Americans’ approval of the ACA since November 2012, and the latest rating is up three percentage points from last year’s, which was similar to the previous 55% high recorded in April 2017 and in November 2020.”

“While Democrats’ and Republicans’ current ratings are roughly in line with last year’s figures, independents’ rating has jumped 10 points to a record high.”

“The polling is clear: More and more Americans, including more independents than ever before, support the vital ACA tax credits that are set to expire at the end of this year,” said Senator Shaheen. “There’s still time to come together to find a solution that will prevent premiums from skyrocketing for millions of families, but my Republican colleagues need to join with us — it’s in their political interest to get this done.”

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-highlighting-new-hampshire-and-national-security-priorities-included-in-annual-defense-bill,Shaheen Statement Highlighting New Hampshire and National Security Priorities Included in Annual Defense Bill,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement highlighting the multiple provisions benefitting New Hampshire and America’s national defense and security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Notably, the final version of the annual bipartisan defense legislation includes Shaheen’s provisions to exempt public shipyards from reductions in force (RIFs) and hiring freezes, require consultation with Congress before withdrawing troops from NATO, repeal outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria and more.

“With Secretary Hegseth and the Trump Administration pursuing a national security strategy that leaves America weaker on the global stage, it’s especially important that the annual defense bill assert Congress’s oversight authority and advance policies that make us stronger and safer while improving the lives of our service members. I’m incredibly proud to share that the final NDAA—which includes many Granite State priorities that bolster our nation’s security and readiness—helps do exactly that.

“This legislation includes my measures to repeal outdated Caesar sanctions on Syria—a historic milestone that will help Syrians recover from decades of conflict and move toward stability—and reaffirm Congress’ role by requiring the Administration consult with Congress before withdrawing troops from NATO as it recklessly did in Romania earlier this year. We also reaffirm America’s commitment to allies in the Western Balkans by codifying sanctions against those who threaten peace and stability in the region.

“Critically for New Hampshire, I secured provisions to respond more quickly to the spread of PFAS contamination and clarify that DoD can use innovative technologies to destroy PFAS, providing more tools to address contamination. And to support local jobs that are essential to our nation’s security, I successfully included my legislation to exempt Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and all other public shipyard employees from reductions in force and future hiring disruptions.

“I look forward to seeing this bipartisan bill advance out of the House and Senate and head to the President’s desk.”

As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Shaheen shapes the defense bill to address both America's top national security objectives, while also enhancing New Hampshire’s role in support of our national defense.

Click HERE to read more about Senator Shaheen’s provision exempting Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees from hiring freezes and reductions in force.

Click HERE to read more about Senator Shaheen’s provision requiring consultation with Congress before withdrawing troops from NATO.

Click HERE to read more about Senator Shaheen’s provision repealing the Ceasar sanctions.

Click HERE to read more about Senator Shaheen’s provision safeguarding Ukraine assistance.

Click HERE to read a summary of Senator Shaheen’s wins in the Senate-passed NDAA earlier this year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-joins-call-for-the-bureau-of-prisons-to-restore-union-contracts,Pappas Joins Call for the Bureau of Prisons to Restore Union Contracts,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and 27 of his colleagues in urging the Bureau of Prisons to immediately restore the cancellation of the collective bargaining agreement between the Bureau of Prisons and its employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prison Locals 33.

The lawmakers wrote that these correctional officers and Bureau of Prisons employees put their safety on the line every day to protect our communities and work in high-stress and dangerous work environments.

The letter stresses that it is highly concerning that the BOP chose to terminate the agreement because it provided protection for workers and is essential to the safety, fairness, and stability of the federal prison system.

Click here or see below for the full letter:

Dear Director Marshall:

We write to express deep concern regarding the recent cancellation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and its employees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prison Locals 33. This action is an unjustified attack on the rights of dedicated public servants who work in one of the most challenging and demanding professions in federal service, and we urge you to swiftly restore these workers’ collective bargaining rights.

Correctional officers and BOP employees put their safety on the line every day to protect our communities. Given the high-stress and dangerous work environments, it is highly concerning that the BOP chose to terminate this CBA because it provided protection for workers. Specifically, the CBA ensured fair treatment, due process, a safe workplace, and a voice. BOP’s termination of this CBA undermines morale, weakens institutional accountability, and jeopardizes the safety and security of both staff and inmates.

Union representation at the BOP has long contributed to safer working conditions, improved staffing protocols, and better training. These protections enhance public safety, as well as help to retain experienced staff, reduce costly turnover, and minimize the need for excessive overtime. Furthermore, the union plays a proactive role in preventing workplace disputes, injuries, and potential legal liabilities—promoting efficiency and transparency within the agency.

We urge the BOP to immediately restore this union contract and reinstate vital collective bargaining rights that are essential to the safety, fairness, and stability of the federal prison system. Protecting the rights of federal workers is not just about honoring their service, it is about upholding the integrity of the institutions they serve.

We look forward to your prompt attention to this matter and commitment to restoring the full collective bargaining rights of BOP employees.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-joins-effort-urging-the-president-to-immediately-address-the-housing-crisis,Pappas Joins Effort Urging the President to Immediately Address the Housing Crisis,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the New Dems Coalition, joined 51 New Dems members in a letter to President Trump urging the Administration to take immediate steps to help make housing more affordable and accessible for more Americans.

The letter lays out eight commonsense and immediate steps the Administration could take to address the ongoing housing crisis. The letter comes as the Secretary of the Treasury has indicated the Administration is planning to declare a “national housing emergency” to address rising costs, while refusing to take quick and decisive actions to actually bring down the cost of housing.

The letter reads in part: “We agree with the Secretary’s comments that this is an ‘all hands on deck’ challenge and believe there are concrete steps the Administration and Congress should take to meet this ongoing crisis. However, details on actual policies that would expand affordable housing options have not been provided. In fact, recently announced policies at the Department of Housing and Urban Development would do the opposite, and reverse progress made in fighting homelessness and go against Congressional instruction.”

The recommendations include restoring funding for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) homelessness programs, lowering tariffs on construction materials to decrease costs, improving data collection and transparency, and prioritizing reforms to planning, permitting, and zoning.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-banks-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-increase-ai-security,"Senators Hassan, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase AI Security",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,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) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to advance AI research that strengthens U.S. national security by making AI systems more secure and reliable. The bipartisan Reliable Artificial Intelligence Research Act of 2025 creates two federally funded research competitions to strengthen AI defenses and reveal how AI systems make decisions.

“As AI technology continues to advance rapidly, we need to make sure that these systems are secure and that they make reliable decisions,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill invests in research that makes AI harder to manipulate and easier to predict, so that we can also strengthen our defenses against bad actors and foreign adversaries like China, who may utilize AI to hurt Americans.”

“Winning in the AI economy requires giving American workers every advantage. That starts with the federal government partnering with the best private-sector researchers to fully understand how the labor market is changing,” said Senator Banks.

This bill would create two national competitions, run by the Department of Homeland Security, that would reward advanced research in two core areas of AI security: AI interpretability and adversarial robustness. AI interpretability focuses on making AI decisions more transparent and predictable, while adversarial robustness seeks to strengthen AI systems against malicious manipulation. By investing $10 million into this program over the next five years, this bill would provide some of the first significant federal funding dedicated to foundational AI security science, encouraging further innovation across the industry, universities, and independent researchers working on these issues. These competitions would reward breakthroughs that improve AI security and deepen our understanding of how advanced AI models make decisions.

Senator Hassan is focused on keeping our country secure as AI technology advances. Senator Hassan has spoken out about the ways in which AI can impact national security and how to safeguard Americans from potential cybersecurity threats. Additionally, Senator Hassan helped introduce legislation last year to mitigate AI-enabled extreme risks such as chemical, biological, and cyber-attacks by our foreign adversaries. Senator Hassan also recently sounded the alarm on Chinese AI-enabled hackers using AI tools to conduct cyberattacks and urged the National Cyber Director to take action to prepare the government to respond to this new type of threat.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-senator-hassans-bill-to-make-better-sunscreen-available-for-americans,SIGNED INTO LAW: Senator Hassan’s Bill to Make Better Sunscreen Available for Americans,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,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, bipartisan legislation, led by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), to speed up the approval process for sunscreen products was recently signed into law. The legislation requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to modernize its process for reviewing and approving new sunscreens, helping Americans access sun protection products that have been safely used in other countries for years.

“For too long, outdated regulations have prevented Americans from accessing the same safe and effective sunscreen products available in other countries,” said Senator Hassan. “Now, the FDA will finally update its approval process so that American manufacturers can produce modern, user-friendly sunscreens and American families can benefit from the sun protection options that have been safely used around the world for years. I’m glad that we were able to work across the aisle to get this done.”

“When it comes to something as simple and essential as having access to the safest, most effective sunscreens, there is no reason America should be lagging,” said Senator Marshall. “The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act fixes that by modernizing FDA reviews and opening the door to proven ingredients already used abroad. It’s a commonsense win that puts American consumers first.”

The FDA has not approved a new sunscreen active ingredient since 1999, while other countries, such as France and South Korea, have better sunscreen products on the market that often use newer, more effective UV filters. The SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act requires the FDA to review and improve its outdated approval process, helping bring more modern sunscreen products to the market. Under this law, FDA must update its guidance to manufacturers within the next year.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-goodlander-launch-bipartisan-plan-to-lower-health-care-costs,"Pappas, Goodlander Launch Bipartisan Plan to Lower Health Care Costs",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) helped announce a new bipartisan health care framework, CommonGround 2025, led by Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02). The bipartisan framework includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The Members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers.

The framework would also extend the open enrollment period for this year through March 19, 2026, as Pappas has led, with Goodlander joining, the call for the Department of Health and Human Services to do.

“I’m continuing to work with colleagues to address health care affordability, and the framework we developed will extend health insurance cost savings for Granite Staters through the next two years,” said Congressman Pappas. “As we near the end of the year, more and more families are confronting massive cost increases as they consider their coverage for next year, and we must work together to get a proposal to the House floor that will cut premiums and ensure families can make ends meet. I will continue working with anyone who is willing to come to the table in good faith to improve the lives of Granite Staters.”

“Lowering the sky-high cost of healthcare is a matter of life or death for people across New Hampshire,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “Tens of thousands of Granite Staters are just days away from losing their healthcare. Congress must act, and the bipartisan plan we launched today with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is a mission-critical step to protecting your healthcare and lowering your costs.”

A fact sheet on the bipartisan plan is available HERE.

Background:

In November Pappas led the call for the Trump administration to extend the ACA open enrollment period and subsequently introduced the Right to Enroll Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to extend the enrollment period through May 1, 2026. As negotiations to extend these critical cost savings continue, Pappas’s legislation would ensure families aren’t forced to make decisions about their health care coverage for next year without sufficient time to consider their changing options.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-mann-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-december-as-national-impaired-driving-prevention-month-0,"Pappas, Mann Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing December as “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month”",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing December as “National Impaired Driving Prevention Month”.

Impaired driving is a persistent factor in crash fatalities and injuries on U.S. roadways, accounting for 30% of roadway deaths each year on average. On average, someone is killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 42 minutes, and the average drunk driver has driven drunk 87 times before their first arrest.

“Every life lost to impaired driving is a tragedy and a preventable death. We must do more to address drunk and impaired driving and prevent repeated offenses,” said Congressman Pappas. “This month, we raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence, support the prevention efforts of federal agencies and local law enforcement, and urge individuals to drive sober or make plans for a safe ride home. I’ll keep working to pass legislation that will make roads safer for everyone, including my bipartisan End DWI Act.”

Yesterday Pappas joined Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety President Cathy Chase, advocates, and law enforcement officers for a press conference on strengthening road safety and to talk about his bipartisan End Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Act, which would create a national ignition interlock standard by encouraging states to adopt mandatory first-time offender ignition interlock laws, helping reduce recidivism and improve road safety by ensuring fewer drunk drivers are on the road. Twenty-four states and D.C., including New Hampshire, already meet the standards outlined in this legislation.

The use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) reduces recidivism by up to 70% in first-time, repeat, and high-risk offenders. Across the country, IIDs prevented 3.78 million attempts to drive drunk between 2006 and 2020, including 390,456 attempts in 2020 alone. A University of Pennsylvania study found that requiring IIDs for all drunk-driving convictions was associated with 15% fewer alcohol-involved crash deaths, compared with states with less stringent requirements. According to the study, “Interlocks are a life-saving technology that merit wider use.”

“Every year, nearly 14,000 Americans lose their lives to impaired driving,” said Congressman Mann. “During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, we can increase awareness and provide more resources that reduce these tragedies and save lives. I will continue to support legislation that aims to reduce recidivism like my End DWI Act and makes our roads and passengers safer.”

“We applaud Congressman Pappas and Congressman Mann for shining a bright spotlight on Impaired Driving Prevention Month during this higher risk December holiday season, and for championing the End DWI Act – bold action to strengthen DUI laws and save lives,” said Brandy Nannini, Board Member of the SAFE Coalition. “Drunk driving is the leading killer on America’s roads, and it is entirely preventable. As holiday celebrations begin, we ask everyone to make one simple pledge that can save lives: Plan a sober ride home. Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your ability to drive.”

“Every day, families lose parents, siblings, friends and loved ones to the devastating consequences of impaired driving. These tragedies are not inevitable—they are entirely preventable. Recognizing Impaired Driving Prevention Month is a critical step toward shining a light on this national crisis and mobilizing action to save lives. The National Safety Council applauds Representatives Pappas and Mann for their bipartisan leadership in championing safer roads for everyone. Together, we can turn awareness into prevention and ensure that no more lives are needlessly lost,” said Lorraine Martin, CEO, National Safety Council.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-reintroduces-bipartisan-bill-to-recognize-the-role-of-direct-support-professionals,Senator Hassan Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Recognize the Role of Direct Support Professionals,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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) and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced a bill aimed at addressing the continued need for more Direct Support Professionals in the workforce.

Direct Support Professionals assist with communication, provide on-the-job coaching, and help with daily living needs for individuals who experience disabilities. Home- and community-based providers in New England and across the country struggle to recruit and retain Direct Support Professionals. The bill would more accurately measure the need for Direct Support Professionals by improving data on workforce trends collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current methods of data collection have resulted in the underreporting of workforce needs and regional workforce shortages. The bipartisan legislation unanimously passed the Senate last year.

“Direct Support Professionals provide critical support for people who experience disabilities and their families and help ensure that individuals who experience disabilities can live independently and fully participate in their communities. As the mother of a son who experiences disabilities, I have seen first-hand the difference that these professionals make,” said Senator Hassan. “By improving data collection, this bill will help local and federal lawmakers better understand and then address the shortage of Direct Support Professionals while also recognizing the important role these professionals have in the lives of many. I urge my colleagues to take up and pass this bill into law alongside other measures to support caregivers.”

“Direct Support Professionals work hard to provide critical care and support to individuals with disabilities, allowing their patients to live more independently and with better quality of life,” said Senator Collins. “We face a considerable shortage of information on the work DSPs do and the important services they provide. This bipartisan bill would address this information deficit by directing OMB to specifically collect data on Direct Support Professionals to help us better understand and address the challenges these workers experience.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-reintroduces-bipartisan-bill-to-reduce-college-costs-and-increase-college-completion-rates,Senator Hassan Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Reduce College Costs and Increase College Completion Rates,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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) and Todd Young (R-IN) reintroduced the bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act, which would create a federal grant program to help states expand opportunities for high school students to begin earning college credits, including through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and dual-enrollment courses. The program would also require public colleges and universities to accept the credits, making the transfer process more seamless, saving students money and time.

“In New Hampshire and across the country, many high school students are ready for college-level coursework that will help them develop the skills to be successful in the workforce and life,” said Senator Hassan. “The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act will allow more students to earn college credits while in high school, helping families save money, making college both more accessible and affordable. Young people in our country are looking for pathways to opportunity that won’t saddle them with debt as they face a rapidly changing economy. I encourage my colleagues to join me in lowering college costs and increasing opportunities that help students thrive.”

“Early college programs provide students with affordable opportunities to prepare for postsecondary education,” said Senator Young. “Our bill would help create a pathway for more high school students to earn college credits, including providing access to advanced coursework, dual credits, and professional support.""

The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act would create a competitive grant program to help more high school students receive college credit toward their future college degree. The bill supports early college programs like the ones in New Hampshire by equipping states to:

Enroll more students in early college programs to help them take as much as a full year of early college courses toward their postsecondary degree or credential

Ensure that students receive credit for the classes that they take by requiring public colleges and universities to accept credit from early college programs

Expand need-based financial aid access to the programs by allowing Pell Grants to cover dual-enrollment costs for low-income, Pell-eligible students in states receiving a fast-track grant

There are extensive dual-enrollment programs in place in New Hampshire, with more than 100 high schools in the state offering the Early College program in partnership with the Community College System of New Hampshire. These types of early college programs provide academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to receive college credit while they are still in high school and demonstrate the potential of this bill.

The bipartisan Fast Track To and Through College Act is supported by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Advance CTE, All4Ed, Association for Career and Technical Education, Bard Early Colleges, Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice at SNHU, Complete College America, Education Reform Now, Empower Schools, Jobs for the Future, KnowledgeWorks, Linked Learning Alliance, Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National Urban League, New Hampshire Learning Initiative, Michigan Association for Computers in Learning, and Third Way.

Senator Hassan has led efforts in the Senate to expand access to workforce development programs. She has successfully worked to double funding for a program that supports rural students, including through college prep and career pathway programs, in rural communities. Earlier this year, Senator Hassan, along with the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, announced federal funding for New Hampshire through the Northern Border Regional Commission, which included support for workforce development initiatives across the state. In 2022, Senator Hassan and her colleagues’ bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act was passed into law, which authorized federal funding for New Hampshire and other states to expand workforce training programs in science, engineering, and manufacturing fields. Senator Hassan has also led her colleagues in introducing 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.

Click HERE to read the bill text.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-new-survey-shows-president-trump-and-congressional-republicans-to-blame-if-health-care-costs-spike-from-expiring-aca-tax-credits,ICYMI: New Survey Shows President Trump and Congressional Republicans to Blame if Health Care Costs Spike from Expiring ACA Tax Credits,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: A new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) poll released today shows that spiking health care costs due to the expiration of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) will impact how a majority of Marketplace enrollees plan to vote during the upcoming 2026 Midterms. Of the Marketplace enrollees who want to see the tax credits extended, 41% put the blame on President Trump and 35% blame Congressional Republicans.

Key Findings:

“A large majority (84%) of enrollees say that Congress should extend the enhanced tax credits.”

“A slight majority (54%) of enrollees who are registered to vote say if their health care expenses increase by $1,000 next year, it would have a major impact on whether they will vote in the 2026 elections and about half (52%) say it would have a major impact on which party’s candidate they will support.”

“If the tax credits are allowed to expire, most enrollees who want to see the credits extended think either President Trump (41%) or Congressional Republicans (35%) deserve most of the blame.”

“More than half of Marketplace enrollees (54%) expect that the cost of their health insurance coverage for next year will ‘increase a lot more than usual.’”

“Nearly six in ten Marketplace enrollees say they would not be able to afford an annual increase of $300 in health care expenses without significantly disrupting their household finances.”

“Many Marketplace enrollees are already struggling with health care costs. Six in ten adults (61%) who buy their health coverage on the ACA Marketplace say it is very or somewhat difficult to afford their deductibles and out-of-pocket costs for medical care and half (51%) say it is difficult to afford the cost of health insurance premiums each month.”

“In mere weeks, families across the nation are going to feel the pain of higher health care premiums if the ACA tax credits expire,” said Senator Shaheen. “The time is running out to take action to prevent disastrous price hikes that will render health care unaffordable for tens of millions of people. Americans will hold President Trump and Congressional Republicans accountable if they refuse to work with Democrats in good faith to find a path forward.”

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-inspector-general-report-findings-on-secretary-hegseth,Shaheen Statement on Inspector General Report Findings on Secretary Hegseth,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the findings of an Inspector General report on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of an unsecure Signal chat to share classified information:

“From day one, we’ve known that Pete Hegseth was never qualified to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, and the chaos that he’s created at the Pentagon has proven this correct time and again – that's why I voted against his nomination. The Inspector General’s findings confirmed what our military leadership has already said: By sharing air strike plans that had been labeled classified on Signal, the Secretary endangered the lives of American service members and put our military readiness at risk through his recklessness.

“It should go without saying that such sensitive operational information is to be handled with the utmost discretion. Secretary Hegseth’s unsecured group chat could have given our adversaries the ability to target our troops with dangerous accuracy. Secretary Hegseth has failed at his most basic duty, to protect American service members.

“Secretary Hegseth knows well that any uniformed officer who was found to have committed the same reckless violations would face swift and severe punishment. There must not be a double-standard for the Secretary, and he must be held accountable. This gross incompetence and his inability to take responsibility as a leader demonstrate that Secretary Hegseth should not be in charge of the world’s largest fighting force and that he cannot be trusted to make life or death decisions for our military and country.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-senate-democrats-plan-to-protect-aca-tax-credits-lower-health-care-costs-for-millions-of-americans,"Shaheen Statement on Senate Democrats’ Plan to Protect ACA Tax Credits, Lower Health Care Costs for Millions of Americans",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation that would permanently extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, released the following statement on Senate Democrats’ plan to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing:

“I have been sounding the alarm for more than a year on the need to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits tens of millions of Americans rely on to afford health insurance – and I have warned time and again how catastrophic the consequences will be if my Republican colleagues allow the credits to expire. With premiums set to double in a matter of weeks, there is no other alternative: Congress must extend this lifeline for working families. That’s exactly what this bill would do by providing the certainty of these tax credits for another three years.

“76 percent of Americans who benefit from these tax credits live in states President Trump won last year. 56 percent of them live in Republican-controlled Congressional districts. I encourage my Republican colleagues—many of whom I believe want to get this done—to join Democrats in advancing a proposal to ensure our constituents can afford their health insurance.

“This is not about achieving a political victory for one party or the other – it's about coming together to act in the best interest of the American people. Right now, our constituents are making abundantly clear that the cost of living is far too high and that they want to see action from Washington. Should Republicans let partisan politics stand in the way, the onus is on them to explain why they chose to raise health care costs on their constituents at a time when so many are struggling to make ends meet.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-joins-bipartisan-effort-to-force-vote-to-ban-stock-trading-in-congress,Pappas Joins Bipartisan Effort to Force Vote to Ban Stock Trading in Congress,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced his support for a discharge petition that would force a vote on theRestore Trust in Congress Act. Rep. Pappas is a co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation that would ban Members of Congress from trading stocks and profiting off of public service.

Since entering Congress, Pappas has repeatedly broken with his own party in support of the stock trading ban. Following his advocacy, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi reversed course and announced legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress would be considered by the House. Pappas has regularly called on Speaker Johnson to allow a vote on this common-sense, bipartisan legislation.

“For me, representing Granite Staters in Congress will always be about public service, not self-service,” said Congressman Pappas. “But far too many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are prolific stock traders who could potentially use inside information to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they were elected to serve. The leadership of both parties has blocked common-sense reforms even as the majority of Americans demand action. That is why I am joining this bipartisan effort to force a vote on legislation that would ban Members of Congress from trading stocks and help restore faith and trust in this institution.”

Pappas helped introduce theTRUST in Congress Act, which would require Members of Congress — as well as their spouses and dependent children — to put certain investment assets into a qualified blind trust during their entire tenure in Congress, effectively banning them from trading individual stocks.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-ernst-sound-alarm-on-chinese-ai-enabled-hackers,"Senators Hassan, Ernst Sound Alarm on Chinese AI-Enabled Hackers",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,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) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are urging National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross to take action after Chinese state-sponsored hackers reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) systems to conduct cyberattacks. Anthropic, a major AI company, recently reported that its Claude Code tool was used to design cyberattacks against major technology companies, financial institutions, and government agencies across several countries. This marks the first known cyberattack executed with minimal human intervention. Senators Hassan and Ernst are pushing National Cyber Director Cairncross to take action to prepare the government to respond to this new type of threat.

“We write regarding a recent report by Anthropic stating that, in September 2025, Chinese state-sponsored hackers successfully directed the company’s AI system to autonomously conduct a sophisticated cyberattack campaign against 30 entities,” Senators Hassan and Ernst wrote to National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross. “Given your office’s role in countering cyberattacks against the U.S. government, we urge you to continue coordinating with Congress and other federal agencies to address this emerging national security threat.”

“The emerging threat to U.S. cybersecurity posed by foreign adversaries deploying autonomous AI systems requires a robust response from your office and other federal agencies… We appreciate your consideration of this issue, and continued work to ensure that the government and people of the United States are protected from cyberattacks,” concluded the Senators.

Click here or see below for the full letter Senators Hassan and Ernst sent:

Dear Director Cairncross,

We write regarding a recent report by Anthropic stating that, in September 2025, Chinese state-sponsored hackers successfully directed the company’s AI system to autonomously conduct a sophisticated cyberattack campaign against 30 entities, including government agencies in multiple countries. According to Anthropic, this was “the first documented case of a cyberattack largely executed without human intervention at scale.” Given your office’s role in countering cyberattacks against the U.S. government, we urge you to continue coordinating with Congress and other federal agencies to address this emerging national security threat.

In September 2025, a well-resourced foreign organization used Claude Code, an advanced agentic AI coding tool from Anthropic, to design cyberattacks against major technology corporations, financial institutions, chemical manufacturing companies, and government agencies across multiple countries. Anthropic’s report on these attacks states “with high confidence” that this foreign organization was “a Chinese state-sponsored group.” In this sophisticated cyber campaign, the Claude AI system executed 80 to 90 percent of the operation without any human involvement and at speeds that are “physically impossible” for human hackers.

Further, these autonomous AI cyberattacks were successful against several targeted entities. In one case, “the threat actor induced Claude to autonomously discover internal services, map complete network topology across multiple IP ranges, and identify high-value systems including databases and workflow orchestration platforms.”

The emerging threat to U.S. cybersecurity posed by foreign adversaries deploying autonomous AI systems requires a robust response from your office and other federal agencies.

Accordingly, we request responses to the following questions by January 9, 2026.

Anthropic stated in its report that this operation took place in mid-September 2025. At what point did the company notify the Office of the National Cyber Director, or one of the agencies it coordinates with, about the attack?

Which U.S. government agencies have been involved in the investigation and response to this attack? How specifically are these agencies assisting Anthropic and any impacted entities?

Is there any evidence that this group targeted U.S. government agencies or contractors? If so, were any of those attacks successful?

Is the Office of the National Cyber Director aware of any other cases in which an autonomous AI agent was used in a similar way to conduct a cyberattack?

How will your office collaborate with the private sector, and specifically AI technology companies, to limit autonomous AI cyberattacks and mitigate damage from these attacks if and when they occur?

How can Congress best support the Office of the National Cyber Director in countering this emerging threat?

We appreciate your consideration of this issue, and continued work to ensure that the government and people of the United States are protected from cyberattacks.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/nh-delegation-applauds-28-million-from-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-to-support-clean-drinking-water,NH Delegation Applauds $28 Million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Support Clean Drinking Water,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), a lead negotiator of the water provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Maggie Hassan (NH) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) in applauding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of $28,650,000 in new funding for New Hampshire to identify and remove lead pipes. The funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law, which was supported by Shaheen, Hassan, and Pappas.

“Removing lead pipes is essential to ensure New Hampshire families and children have safe, clean drinking water,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “I fought to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to deliver federal resources to New Hampshire, and I’m pleased these funds will help communities modernize water infrastructure and protect the health and well-being of Granite Staters.”

“Granite State families should be able to trust that the water coming out of their tap is lead-free and safe to drink,” said Senator Shaheen. “With new funding from a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that I helped negotiate, more communities will be able to upgrade aging water infrastructure and remove toxic lead pipes from water systems.”

“Every Granite Stater should have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “This new $28 million in federal funding will help communities across our state identify and remove aging lead pipes that put families at risk. When I helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, investments like this were a top priority, and I will keep working to deliver resources to protect public health and support our economy.”

“Every Granite Stater needs reliable access to clean water,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This federal investment will make life better for hardworking people across New Hampshire, and I’ll never stop fighting to deliver every penny promised to our state.”

The New Hampshire Congressional delegation has championed work to ensure every Granite Stater has access to clean, safe drinking water, no matter where they live. Including the $28.65 million announced this week, New Hampshire has received more than $363 million for water infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law since its enactment in 2021.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-statement-on-liheap-funds-being-distributed-to-new-hampshire,Pappas Statement on LIHEAP Funds Being Distributed to New Hampshire,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the below statement following the release of delayed Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds, which he led a bipartisan call for last week.

“I’m relieved that home heating assistance funds have finally been distributed as we experience colder weather in New Hampshire,” said Congressman Pappas. “With high home heating costs expected this winter, families and seniors must be able to stay warm and safe, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is an essential resource for them. I will continue to fight to protect and strengthen this program, including rehiring of dedicated staff.”

LIHEAP assists low-income 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 nearly 6 million households afford their energy bills. In Fiscal Year 2023, over 29,000 New Hampshire households benefited from an average savings of $1,579.

Fuel and electric assistance programs funded by LIHEAP are available through New Hampshire Community Action Agencies to help Granite Staters afford to heat and cool their homes. Granite Staters can apply through their CAP agency.

Background:

Last week, Pappas and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan group of 42 of their colleagues in pressing the Department of Health and Human Services to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds were distributed to the states by November 30, 2025. States typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-asks-granite-staters-to-share-their-experiences-at-methadone-clinics-in-new-hampshire-community-survey,Senator Hassan Asks Granite Staters to Share Their Experiences at Methadone Clinics in New Hampshire Community Survey,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,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), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, today launched a community survey to learn more about the experiences that Granite Staters have had with methadone clinics in New Hampshire. The survey asks Granite Staters who have received treatment at a methadone clinic or have worked at one to anonymously share their experiences. The confidential responses will inform Senator Hassan’s work to expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.

“As the fentanyl crisis continues to devastate families and communities across New Hampshire, people need to be able to get the life-saving addiction treatment that is right for them,” said Senator Hassan. “If you or a loved one have received treatment from or worked at a methadone clinic, I would love to hear from you. By completing the survey, you can convey your experiences and support our work to connect Granite Staters to the treatment that they need.”

This survey is part of Senator Hassan’s overall efforts to expand access to medication-assisted treatment, which includes methadone and buprenorphine. Medication-assisted treatment is considered the gold standard for opioid addiction treatment, as it helps people recover and significantly decreases the likelihood of relapse.

Click here or on the banner at the top of Hassan.Senate.Gov to take the New Hampshire community survey on methadone clinics.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-shaheen-applaud-release-of-delayed-home-heating-assistance-funding-following-their-advocacy,"Senators Hassan, Shaheen Applaud Release of Delayed Home Heating Assistance Funding Following Their Advocacy",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,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 Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) applauded the release of delayed Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding, which more than 57,000 Granite Staters rely on to help pay their home heating bills. The announcement comes after Shaheen and Hassan joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for LIHEAP swiftly and at the highest level possible last month.

“Especially as energy costs continue to rise, LIHEAP is a lifeline for New Hampshire families trying to stay warm during the cold of winter. I’m glad that, working with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, we were able to push the Administration to release LIHEAP funding and deliver relief for families,” said Senator Hassan. “Helping keep families warm during a cold New Hampshire winter shouldn’t be a partisan issue; looking after our neighbors is just what we do as Granite Staters.”

“As winter sets in across New Hampshire, the cost of basic necessities, from groceries to child care to energy, remains too high for too many Granite Staters,” said Senator Shaheen. “For families grappling with high prices, the LIHEAP program is a lifeline that means they won’t have to choose between keeping warm or putting food on the table. I called on the Trump Administration to release funding I helped secure for the program quickly and at the highest levels possible to ensure that Granite Staters can stay safe and warm in their homes. I'm glad to see that this funding is now on its way to New Hampshire.”

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. According to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher – to 10 percent above last year.

States and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. In New Hampshire, eligibility is set at 60% of the state median income, which is $62,252 for a two-person household or $91,548 for a family of four. Granite Staters can apply for fuel assistance through their Community Action Agency at www.CAPNH.org.

The Trump Administration previously proposed eliminating LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget plan, but Shaheen supported successful bipartisan pushback to save and fund the program as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 would provide a $20 million increase for LIHEAP to $4.045 billion, while the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $10 million increase.

Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In April, Shaheen condemned efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the LIHEAP program. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that made landmark investments in energy efficiency. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen pushed for increased LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, contributing to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/signed-into-law-major-bipartisan-bill-to-address-fentanyl-crisis-led-by-senator-hassan,SIGNED INTO LAW: Major Bipartisan Bill to Address Fentanyl Crisis Led by Senator Hassan,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Following U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan’s advocacy, the bipartisan SUPPORT Act was signed into law by President Trump, expanding the federal response to the fentanyl crisis and allowing more training, equipment, and resources to flow to first responders as they support Americans battling addiction. Senator Hassan spearheaded passage of the legislation in the Senate, taking to the Senate floor and securing unanimous support.

“The SUPPORT Act is the foundation of our federal response to the devastating fentanyl crisis which continues to rip through communities in New Hampshire and across the country,” said Senator Hassan. “Now that this bipartisan legislation has become law, our first responders will have more equipment, our health care workers will have more resources, and Granite Staters who are struggling with addiction will know that more help is on the way. There is still work to be done to put an end to the opioid epidemic, and I will continue to work with my colleagues from both political parties to help put an end to this deadly scourge.”

Senator Hassan and her colleagues first passed the SUPPORT Act into law in 2018, with the legislation representing the foundation of the federal response to the fentanyl crisis, providing landmark investment in addiction prevention, treatment, recovery, and law enforcement efforts. The renewal and expansion of this legislation includes:

Increased training and resources for first responders and other essential community members on how to use life-saving overdose reversal drugs, like naloxone, and how to connect people to treatment

Significant funding for training and recruitment for health care workers who want to work in mental health, addiction medicine, and related fields, including measures to expand student loan repayment for health care workers who focus on addiction medicine and recovery in underserved areas

Funding to provide residential treatment for pregnant and postpartum women who need addiction treatment

Expansion of access to fentanyl and xylazine test strips, a critical tool to help lower overdose deaths

Funding for community organizations that help people stay in recovery over the long term, as well as those that help connect people in recovery to jobs

Read coverage highlights HERE from WMUR on how Sen. Hassan spearheaded this landmark legislation and took to the Senate floor in September to garner the unanimous support of her Senate colleagues for it to head to the President’s desk.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/new-hampshire-congressional-delegation-applauds-28-million-from-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-to-support-clean-drinking-water,New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Applauds $28 Million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Support Clean Drinking Water,2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a lead negotiator of the water provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of $28,650,000 in new funding for New Hampshire to identify and remove lead pipes. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was negotiated by Senators Shaheen and Hassan, and which the full New Hampshire Congressional delegation supported.

“Granite State families should be able to trust that the water coming out of their tap is lead-free and safe to drink,” said Senator Shaheen. “With new funding from a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that I helped negotiate, more communities will be able to upgrade aging water infrastructure and remove toxic lead pipes from water systems.”

“Every Granite Stater should have reliable access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Senator Maggie Hassan. “This new $28 million in federal funding will help communities across our state identify and remove aging lead pipes that put families at risk. When I helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, investments like this were a top priority, and I will keep working to deliver resources to protect public health and support our economy.”

“Removing lead pipes is essential to ensure New Hampshire families and children have safe, clean drinking water,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “I fought to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to deliver federal resources to New Hampshire, and I’m pleased these funds will help communities modernize water infrastructure and protect the health and well-being of Granite Staters.”

“Every Granite Stater needs reliable access to clean water,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “This federal investment will make life better for hardworking people across New Hampshire, and I’ll never stop fighting to deliver every penny promised to our state.”

The New Hampshire Congressional delegation has championed work to ensure every Granite Stater has access to clean, safe drinking water no matter where they live. As a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen spearheaded the water infrastructure provisions with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), securing record funding to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, address PFAS contamination and replace lead pipes. Including the $28.65 million announced this week, New Hampshire has received more than $363 million for water infrastructure from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law since its enactment in 2021.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-hassan-applaud-release-of-delayed-home-heating-assistance-funding-following-their-advocacy,"Shaheen, Hassan Applaud Release of Delayed Home Heating Assistance Funding Following Their Advocacy",2025-12-02,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded the release of delayed Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding, which more than 57,000 Granite Staters rely on to help pay their home heating bills. The announcement comes after Shaheen and Hassan joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for LIHEAP swiftly and at the highest level possible last month.

“As winter sets in across New Hampshire, the cost of basic necessities, from groceries to child care to energy, remains too high for too many Granite Staters,” said Senator Shaheen. “For families grappling with high prices, the LIHEAP program is a lifeline that means they won’t have to choose between keeping warm or putting food on the table. I called on the Trump Administration to release funding I helped secure for the program quickly and at the highest levels possible to ensure that Granite Staters can stay safe and warm in their homes. I'm glad to see that this funding is now on its way to New Hampshire.”

“Especially as energy costs continue to rise, LIHEAP is a lifeline for New Hampshire families trying to stay warm during the cold of winter. I’m glad that, working with a bipartisan group of my colleagues, we were able to push the Administration to release LIHEAP funding and deliver relief for families,” said Senator Hassan. “Helping keep families warm during a cold New Hampshire winter shouldn’t be a partisan issue; looking after our neighbors is just what we do as Granite Staters.”

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. According to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher – to 10 percent above last year.

States and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. In New Hampshire, eligibility is set at 60% of the state median income, which is $62,252 for a two-person household or $91,548 for a family of four. Granite Staters can apply for fuel assistance through their Community Action Agency at www.CAPNH.org.

The Trump Administration previously proposed eliminating LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget plan, but Shaheen supported successful bipartisan pushback to save and fund the program as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 would provide a $20 million increase for LIHEAP to $4.045 billion, while the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $10 million increase.

Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In April, Shaheen condemned efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the LIHEAP program. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that made landmark investments in energy efficiency. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen pushed for increased LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, contributing to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-introduces-legislation-to-refund-small-businesses-for-trump-tariffs,Pappas Introduces Legislation to Refund Small Businesses for Trump Tariffs,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Last week, ahead of Small Business Saturday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison (MN-03) introduced new legislation, the Small Business RELIEF Act, to exempt small businesses from global baseline and reciprocal tariffs and to provide refunds to the small businesses that were forced to pay them. The Senate companion to this legislation is led by Senator Ed Markey.

Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy taxes and tariffs, not the President. During arguments in the tariff case brought by small businesses earlier this month, the Supreme Court expressed skepticism about the legality of Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. Small importing businesses may be entitled to relief if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Main Street.

“In an entirely predictable outcome, President Trump’s tariffs have forced American small businesses to freeze hiring, hit pause on plans to expand, and cut their already tight budgets to keep their doors open,” said Congressman Pappas. “They can’t wait for a Supreme Court ruling or the end of this administration to get back on track. They need us to act now. That’s why we’re introducing the Small Business RELIEF Act, which would exempt all goods imported by small businesses from the Trump tariff tax and refund any tariffs they've paid. New Hampshire’s Main Street businesses are the heart of our communities, and we need to act now so that they can keep their doors open.”

Recently Pappas joined an effort calling for Speaker Johnson to immediately take up the bipartisan resolutions that passed the Senate last month to end the Trump Administration’s tariffs, which have worsened our nation’s affordability crisis, driven up costs for consumers, and pose an existential threat to our nation’s small businesses.

“President Trump’s tariffs have placed enormous financial strain and stress on so many hard-working small business owners, and it’s long overdue for Congress to act,” said Congresswoman Morrison. “I’ve heard from countless small business owners: small businesses desperately need relief from the Trump Administration’s tariffs. Congress needs to reclaim its Constitutional authority and right this wrong. I’m proud to lead the Small Business RELIEF Act and will keep working every day to bring much-needed relief to our small business owners.”

""Small businesses need relief from tariffs because tariffs put small firms at a competitive disadvantage relative to larger companies. Due to the thin margins on which many small businesses already operate, sweeping tariffs will force many small firms to pass higher costs on to customers. Larger businesses, however, are more likely to have flexibility to absorb increased overhead, keeping prices lower and undercutting their smaller competitors. There is no time to lose as far as small businesses are concerned, and lawmakers must act now to save small businesses from damaging tariffs,"" said John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO, Small Business Majority.

""Small business owners have been sounding the alarm for months: President Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are nothing more than an illegal tax on Main Street. They’re driving up costs, squeezing margins, and forcing entrepreneurs to make impossible choices between raising prices, cutting staff, or closing their doors. The Small Business RELIEF Act is a critical step toward righting those wrongs. Exempting small businesses from these reckless tariffs—and refunding the dollars already taken—will deliver immediate, overdue relief. Main Street Alliance strongly supports this legislation and urges members of Congress to stand with the small, independent businesses that form the backbone of our local economies,” said Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance Executive Director.

The bill text is here.

Background:

Congressman Pappas has loudly and strongly opposed President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on New Hampshire’s #1 trading partner, Canada, and other U.S. allies.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-moylan-golden-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-green-to-gold-program-participants-benefits,"Pappas, Moylan, Golden Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Green to Gold Program Participants’ Benefits",2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01), James Moylan (GU-AL), and Jared Golden (ME-02) reintroduced the Save the Green to Gold Program Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure servicemembers participation in the Army’s Green-to-Gold (G2G) Active Duty Option Program is recognized toward their Time in Service (TIS) calculation, which determines future pay and retirement benefits.

“The Green-to-Gold Active Duty Program has historically allowed active duty Army soldiers the opportunity to simultaneously serve, advance within the Army, and obtain a degree without any impact on their prospective military careers. However, changes to Army policy for soldiers’ Time in Service accruement for the program could threaten their future pay and retirement benefits,” said Congressman Pappas. “The soldiers who participate in this program have already dedicated themselves to serving our country, commit to remaining on Active Duty, and seek to further their military careers and service. This bipartisan legislation will protect the benefits that Army soldiers participating in the program rightly deserve, and I thank Congressmen Moylan and Golden for joining me in this effort.”

The G2G Active Duty Program offers eligible enlisted active duty Army soldiers the opportunity to pursue a degree and become commissioned Army officers upon the attainment of their degree. The Army has traditionally counted soldier time enrolled in university as part of TIS for both pay and retirement purposes, making the program a popular pathway to advancement within the Army while also enabling servicemembers to obtain a degree. However, in April 2023, the U.S. Army Cadet Command revised its ROTC Program policies, including the G2G Active Duty Option Program. The decision marked a stark departure from the Army’s prior application of its authority under the law regarding TIS accrual during program participation.

Background:

In December 2023, Pappas and Moylan sent a bipartisan letter to the Army expressing concerns about its new policy on recognition of the Green-to-Gold (G2G) Active Duty Option Program toward Time in Service (TIS) and calling on them to grant an exception for the most recent class, many of whom applied with the expectation that they would continue to accrue TIS during their participation in the G2G Program as was historically allowed. Heeding their calls, it was announced in March 2024 that the Army would fully recognize the participation of this year’s soldiers in the G2G program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-critical-state-and-local-cybersecurity-grant-program,Senator Hassan Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Critical State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,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) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the state and local cybersecurity grant program, which Senator Hassan helped to create in 2021, that has provided $1 billion over four years to help state, local, and tribal governments prevent cyberattacks. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program Reauthorization Act would ensure that recipients can continue building on the important cybersecurity work already underway with these resources.

“State and local governments continue to face evolving cyber threats that put essential services like school systems, utilities, and emergency services at risk,” said Senator Hassan. “The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program has given states and localities critical resources to strengthen their cyber defenses, and this bipartisan legislation will ensure that this important work can continue. I will continue to work across the aisle to make sure that governments and organizations at all levels have the tools that they need to protect their systems and the people who rely on them.”

“As the digital threat landscape continues to evolve and grow more perilous, it’s imperative that Texans are able to defend against harmful attacks online,” said Senator Cornyn. “I am proud to have created this program, which has provided nearly $40 million in resources for Texas, and this legislation will continue to ensure communities across the Lone Star State are equipped with the tools necessary to maintain vigilance and improve cybersecurity.”

The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided $1 billion to help state, local, and tribal governments prioritize cybersecurity investments and protect the critical systems and services that citizens rely on. The reauthorization would allow this successful program to continue supporting these critical investments.

Senator Hassan has prioritized efforts to address state and local cybersecurity threats as a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus. Senator Hassan helped pass into law a program to create a Cybersecurity Coordinator position in each state, who is responsible for helping to prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats by working with federal, state, and local governments, as well as schools, hospitals, and other entities. Senator Hassan has met on numerous occasions with New Hampshire’s Cybersecurity Coordinator, law enforcement, school administrators, and other officials to discuss the need to strengthen cybersecurity for K-12 schools.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-wall-street-journal-profiles-senator-shaheens-work-to-extend-aca-tax-credits-for-millions-of-americans,ICYMI: Wall Street Journal Profiles Senator Shaheen’s Work to Extend ACA Tax Credits for Millions of Americans,2025-12-01,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: The Wall Street Journal profiled U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation that would permanently extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, on her work to extend the soon-expiring tax credits that millions of Americans rely on to afford their health insurance. Shaheen has led efforts to expand and extend the premium tax credits since 2019, highlighting that if Congress fails to act before the end of the year, 24 million Americans’ premiums will skyrocket and four million people could lose their health insurance entirely.

Read the full Wall Street Journal profile of Senator Shaheen HERE.

Highlights from the article:

“Now, a core group of lawmakers—from both parties and both chambers of Congress—that includes Shaheen is in discussions about devising a short-term extension of expiring ACA subsidies, paired with changes to tighten eligibility sought by some Republicans, and hoping the package gets a shot on the floor.”

“’It’s in everyone’s interest to get this done,’ Shaheen said Tuesday on Fox News, where she warned that it would be ‘shortsighted’ of Republicans to fail to act. Shaheen spoke on the network Trump is known to watch before making the same point later on CNN, which has a Democratic-leaning audience.”

“Democrats passed the ACA in 2010 and first expanded the subsidies in 2021 to people at every income level during the Covid-19 pandemic, with no Republican support either time. But with many voters in red states set to see the premiums they pay increase sharply if enhanced subsidies expire next year—a number of Republican lawmakers are eager to find some sort of extension to fend off voter anger in the midterms.”

“Shaheen said she isn’t holding any grudges against colleagues. ‘We need to put the shutdown behind us; end the circular firing squad,’ she told CBS.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-recognizes-the-students-and-teachers-at-dublin-consolidated-school-as-novembers-granite-staters-of-the-month,Senator Hassan Recognizes the Students and Teachers at Dublin Consolidated School as November’s Granite Staters of the Month,2025-11-30,2025,2025-11,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 the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School as November’s Granite Staters of the Month. Dublin Consolidated School honored local veterans by inviting them to a special assembly on Veterans Day and by raising money for the ‘Wounded Warrior Project’.

Dublin Consolidated School, which serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade, invited local veterans to a special assembly to honor Veterans Day. The teachers and student body were unsure how many veterans would participate, but on assembly day, almost 20 veterans arrived for the celebrations. At the event, veterans were honored with songs and readings, and the students thanked the veterans for their service. While this is the first Veterans Day assembly hosted by the school, they are determined to ensure that it won’t be the last.

The teachers organized this event as a way for students to learn about military service and the important contributions of veterans to our country. In the weeks leading up to the assembly the students learned about the ‘Wounded Warrior Project’ – an organization which provides support for wounded, ill, and injured veterans, along with service members and families. Together, the students and teachers brainstormed ways to raise money for the organization, and held a coin drive which raised more than $900 in total, an amount matched by USAA Bank.

The special Veterans Day celebration hosted by the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School is a true example of the Granite State spirit of showing gratitude and respect for our veterans and that is why Senator Hassan is proud to name them November’s Granite Staters of the Month.

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 the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School as November’s Granite Staters of the Month for their efforts to honor local veterans, including by inviting them to a special assembly and by raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

At the beginning of this school year, the students at Dublin Consolidated School – which serves children in kindergarten through fifth grade – invited local veterans to a special Veterans Day assembly. While the students and teachers were not sure how many veterans would participate, on Veterans’ Day, the students honored almost 20 veterans with songs and readings, and after the assembly the students thanked the veterans for their service. This special assembly was the first Veterans Day event that the school has hosted, but they have resolved that it won’t be the last.

The teachers at Dublin Consolidated School helped organize the event as a way for students to learn about military service and the contributions of veterans to our country’s history. They also helped students learn about the Wounded Warrior Project and the support that it provides for wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members, and families, and brainstormed ways to raise money for the organization. Through a coin drive held in the weeks leading up to the assembly, the students raised more than $900, an amount matched by USAA bank, to help those who kept our country safe, secure, and free.

The special Veterans Day celebration hosted by the students and teachers at Dublin Consolidated School is an example of the Granite State spirit of showing gratitude and respect for our veterans. Their work to honor local veterans is why I am proud to name them November’s Granite Staters of the Month.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-leads-nh-delegation-in-demanding-transparency-into-pfas-cleanup-timelines-for-pease-air-force-base-and-new-boston-space-force-station,Pappas Leads NH Delegation in Demanding Transparency into PFAS Cleanup Timelines for Pease Air Force Base and New Boston Space Force Station,2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation in calling on Secretary Hegseth and the Department of Defense (DOD) to quickly provide the delegation with a list of all PFAS investigation or cleanup timelines that have been revised since January 2024 at Pease Air Force Base (AFB) and New Boston Space Force Station, in response to recent reporting that the Department of Defense recently quietly updated their PFAS investigation and remediation timelines without providing sufficient public notice.

“PFAS exposure poses serious health risks not only to service members but also to surrounding communities contaminated by PFAS run-off, most often found in their drinking water,” wrote the lawmakers. “Studies have shown clear associations between PFAS exposure and kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, immune suppression, and pregnancy complications. In recognition of these risks, the Department has committed to an investigation and remediation process of PFAS at hundreds of military installations and to keep Congress and affected communities informed of its progress.”

“However,” they noted, “recent reporting revealed that DOD has quietly revised its PFAS cleanup schedule, delaying work at hundreds of sites, including some in New Hampshire… Communities that have waited years for action and relief now face prolonged uncertainty and potential continued exposure. Each additional year of delay increases risks to public health, complicates remediation efforts, and erodes public trust.”

They concluded by reiterating that “New Hampshire communities deserve transparency, urgency, and accountability in addressing PFAS contamination that originated from Department of Defense activities,” and reminding DOD that publishing clear, publicly accessible notice guidance on timeline changes is required under law.

Read the full letterhere and below:

Dear Secretary Hegseth:

We write in response to the Department of Defense’s (DOD) recent report indicating significant delays in the investigation and cleanup of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. This development is troubling given the long history of PFAS use and contamination linked to the sites, the well-documented health risks these “forever chemicals” pose, and the Department’s obligation to protect service members, veterans, and surrounding communities from harmful exposure. We are especially concerned about any delays at military cleanup sites in New Hampshire. We request that the department provide a written response outlining a list of all PFAS investigation or cleanup timelines that have been revised since January 2024 at Pease Air Force Base (AFB) and New Boston Space Force Station. Please include the prior target dates, the new dates, and the reasons for the change by December 1, 2025.

For decades, DOD relied on PFAS-based firefighting foams and other materials at hundreds of installations, including Pease Air Force Base (AFB) and New Boston Space Force Station. PFAS exposure poses serious health risks not only to service members but also to surrounding communities contaminated by PFAS run-off, most often found in their drinking water. Studies have shown clear associations between PFAS exposure and kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, immune suppression, and pregnancy complications. In recognition of these risks, the Department has committed to an investigation and remediation process of PFAS at hundreds of military installations and to keep Congress and affected communities informed of its progress.

However, recent reporting revealed that DOD has quietly revised its PFAS cleanup schedule, delaying work at hundreds of sites, including some in New Hampshire. These changes were posted online without any advance notice to Congress or local stakeholders. Communities that have waited years for action and relief now face prolonged uncertainty and potential continued exposure. Each additional year of delay increases risks to public health, complicates remediation efforts, and erodes public trust.

New Hampshire communities deserve transparency, urgency, and accountability in addressing PFAS contamination that originated from Department of Defense activities. Delays of this magnitude, implemented without explanation to Congress or community stakeholders, are unacceptable, and prevent us from quickly working together to find a solution that keeps our communities and veterans safe.

Finally, we ask that the Department of Defense commit to publishing a clear, publicly accessible website for future timeline changes, including justifications, and to providing local and state authorities advance notice before such changes are finalized. Publishing this guidance is required under Section 321 of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your response.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/ahead-of-small-business-saturday-shaheen-visits-granite-state-small-businesses-in-contoocook,"Ahead of Small Business Saturday, Shaheen Visits Granite State Small Businesses in Contoocook",2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Contoocook, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee and a former Chair of the Committee, joined U.S. Small Business Administration New Hampshire District Director Amy Bassett and former New Hampshire Governor John Lynch for a walking tour of downtown small businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday on November 29th. The group made stops at Gould Hill Farm & Contoocook Cider Co., Witching Hour Coffee & Provisions, Indigo Blues and Der Markt at Marklin. Photos from today’s small business walk can be found HERE.

“It was great to be in downtown Contoocook visiting a number of small businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday and to highlight the role Main Street plays in our communities by creating jobs, supporting the economy and enriching our neighborhoods,” said Senator Shaheen. “I continue to hear from small businesses that the President’s policies are making it harder instead of easier to make ends meet. I’m going to keep pushing back in Washington - whether it’s by advocating for an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that disproportionately benefit small businesses and their employees or by calling out the harms of the administration’s tariffs taxes that make basic necessities more expensive for business owners and everyday customers alike.”

As the former Chair of the U.S. Senate Small Business Committee, Shaheen has championed efforts to support New Hampshire’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. That includes helping lead efforts in Congress to mitigate the harmful impacts of President Trump's tariffs on Main Street. In recent months, Shaheen has traveled across the Granite State to discuss the impact of tariffs on New Hampshire’s tourism industry and to visit businesses impacted by President Trump’s trade war including Brothers’ Cortado, Brueckner Group USA, Colby Footwear, Chatila’s Bakery, C&J, DCI Furniture, Mount Cabot Maple, American Calan Inc. and NH Ball Bearings. Earlier in the year, Shaheen helped introduce bipartisan legislation, Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, that would exempt United States-owned small businesses from the sweeping tariffs imposed on Canadian products.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-on-fox-and-friends-and-cnn-news-central-this-morning-shaheen-presses-president-trump-and-congressional-republicans-to-address-looming-premium-hike-extend-aca-tax-credits,"ICYMI: On Fox & Friends and CNN News Central This Morning, Shaheen Presses President Trump and Congressional Republicans to Address Looming Premium Hike, Extend ACA Tax Credits",2025-11-25,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: On Fox News’ Fox & Friends and CNN News Central this morning, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), author of bicameral legislation that would permanently extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, pressed Congressional Republicans and President Trump to work with Democrats to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing imminently by extending the ACA credits that have helped millions of Americans afford health care. Yesterday, Shaheen released a statement on reports that the White House was preparing to unveil a health care framework that included a temporary extension of the enhanced premium tax credits.

On Fox & Friends, Shaheen said: “I appreciate the fact that the President said he’s willing to come to the table, I think Democrats are ready to join in any negotiations and our Republican colleagues have indicated that they think we can come up with a compromise. But it’s in everyone’s interest to get this done because we know that 76% of people who receive those premium tax credits are in states that Donald Trump won when he won the election last year, 57% of them are in Republican Congressional districts – so there’s a real incentive to get this done. And if Republicans don’t come to the table, the American people are gonna make them pay at the polls next year.”

On CNN News Central, Shaheen said: “I think Democrats are willing to come to the table. I understood that a number of our Republican colleagues also wanted to get this done. It’s in their interest – they understand that this is an issue not just for blue but for red, and that people don’t care what party you’re in. If they can’t afford their health insurance, that means they can’t get the health care they need.”

Click HERE to watch the full Fox News interview. Click HERE to watch the full CNN interview.

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-calls-on-hud-secretary-to-prevent-170000-people-from-losing-homes-in-the-dead-of-winter,"Pappas Calls on HUD Secretary to Prevent 170,000 People from Losing Homes in the Dead of Winter",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and more than 200 of his colleagues, including Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), are calling on Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner to work with Congress to prevent 170,000 people from losing their homes in the dead of winter.

On top of the more than 770,000 people currently without housing throughout the United States, 170,000 more people would be pushed out of their homes as a result of the Trump administration’s significant and unnecessary delay in making applications available for Continuum of Care (CoC) grants – known as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) – coupled with new restrictions within the CoC program.

“Nearly $3.7 billion in CoC grants awarded nationally during the FY24 cycle will begin expiring on December 31, 2025. The timing of the FY25 CoC NOFO represents the most delayed issuance of a NOFO for the CoC Program over the last 10 years, and consequently, will result in the most prolonged funding gap for this critical homelessness prevention program,” the Members wrote. “We believe that the timing of the issuance of the NOFO, combined with major policy changes for the FY25 competition, will cause major disruptions to homeless services at the local level through the Winter and into Spring 2026, threatening housing assistance for at least 170,000 people currently served through the CoC Program.”

HUD’s Continuum of Care program is one of the nation’s largest and most effective programs in combating homelessness. More than 750,000 veterans, unaccompanied youth, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and other Americans rely on its support across the country.

“These grants serve as a lifeline for more than 400 communities across the country and we are prepared to work with you to help ensure resources appropriated by this Congress continue to serve those most in need without delay,” the Members conclude.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-lawler-lead-bipartisan-house-effort-pushing-hhs-secretary-rfk-jr-to-distribute-liheap-funds-by-november-30,"Pappas, Lawler Lead Bipartisan House Effort Pushing HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to Distribute LIHEAP Funds by November 30",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan group of 42 of their colleagues in pressing the Department of Health and Human Services to take all necessary steps to ensure that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are distributed to the states by November 30, 2025. States typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October.

The lawmakers wrote, “We appreciate the agency’s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing. It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.”

LIHEAP assists low-income 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 nearly 6 million households afford their energy bills, but this assistance has been put at risk by Secretary Kennedy’s decision to fire all LIHEAP staff earlier this year. In response, in April Pappas led 89 of his Congressional colleagues in calling for the protection of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the rehiring of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) staff who manage the LIHEAP program that were fired.

They continued to note the importance of the speedy delivery of funds for families who rely on home heating oil or propane, stating, “Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste… The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.”

In light of the lawmakers concern about the LIHEAP’s capacity to operate without dedicated staff, they also asked HHS to issue states an initial allocation if HHS is unable to disburse full amounts by the end of the month to ensure all heating assistance programs are able to begin without delay, writing, “If disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.”

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) supports the lawmakers' call for HHS to speed the delivery of LIHEAP funds to the states and highlighted how the speedy release of funds will help protect seniors, families, and people with disabilities who rely on LIHEAP assistance to keep their homes safe during the winter months.

“The National Energy Assistance Directors Association, representing the state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), strongly supports the bipartisan letter led by Representatives Pappas and Lawler urging the immediate release of LIHEAP funds,” said NEADA Executive Director Mark Wolfe. “Timely distribution is essential to helping low-income households especially seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities maintain safe and affordable access to home energy. States and program administrators need these resources now to prepare for the winter heating season and prevent shutoffs. Swift action to release the funds will ensure LIHEAP can effectively protect vulnerable households during a period of rapidly rising home energy costs.”

Read the full letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

As the federal government resumes the administration of essential programs, we write to you regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We appreciate the agency’s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing. It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.

As you know, states typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. This four-week delay between appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and disbursement to states is usually attributed to the amount of time it takes HHS to calculate each state’s apportionment of LIHEAP funding. Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste. If the HHS does not marshal all available resources to get LIHEAP funds out the door, it risks putting households across the U.S. in jeopardy of not receiving heating assistance in time.

The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.

In the agency’s notification to LIHEAP Grant recipients and stakeholders, HHS noted that the Office of Community Services’ (OCS) would use special authority to release the funds. Should the agency require additional action from Congress to ensure these funds are disbursed expeditiously, we request that you notify us without delay.

Additionally, we request that HHS take the following actions:

Continue to carry out all necessary steps to accelerate the typical four-week timeline for LIHEAP disbursement.

Tap additional staff as needed to ensure that funds are disbursed rapidly.

Maintain regular contact with LIHEAP recipients about expected timelines for release of funds and any estimated delays as soon as possible.

If disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.

We continue to have serious concerns about the LIHEAP program’s capacity to operate effectively without dedicated staff. We urge you to ensure that necessary personnel and resources are in place to support LIHEAP's continued success.

We urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families without delay. With home heating costs expected to rise faster than inflation this winter , families should not have to choose between staying warm and other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-leads-colleagues-in-condemning-previously-planned-uscg-change-in-hate-symbol-policy-presses-acting-commandant-lunday-for-answers,"Pappas Leads Colleagues in Condemning Previously Planned USCG Change in Hate Symbol Policy, Presses Acting Commandant Lunday for Answers",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, led 29 of his colleagues in a letter condemning a U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) policy that was set to take effect on December 15, 2025, reclassifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as 'potentially divisive' instead of as ‘hate symbols.’ The lawmakers also call on acting Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday to explain how the previously planned policy change came about, confirm whether reports are now subject to an arbitrary 45-day deadline, and explain how the branch will rebuild trust with Black and Jewish Coast Guard members.

The lawmakers wrote, “We write to condemn to the highest degree the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) policy that was set to take effect on December 15, 2025, classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as 'potentially divisive' instead of as the clear antisemitic and racial hate symbols they are.”

While acknowledging the USCG has since announced an updated policy, they condemned the fact that the change in policy was ever considered and pressed USCG on the reported 45-day deadline to report such incidents saying, “While USCG’s previous policy did not include a deadline to report an incident, the change would create a cutoff that may have a clear chilling effect on members of the USCG who in many instances are deployed for longer period than 45 days.”

They closed by calling for USCG to report to Congress on “the series of events within the USCG that created this level of uncertainty about hate symbol policy,” to answer whether the updated policy now includes a 45-day deadline, and how “the USCG [intends] to rebuild trust with Black and Jewish Coast Guard members following this series of events.”

Read the full letter here and below:

Dear Acting Commandant Kevin E. Lunday,

We write to condemn to the highest degree the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) policy that was set to take effect on December 15, 2025, classifying swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag as “potentially divisive” instead of as the clear antisemitic and racial hate symbols they are.

We appreciate that on Thursday, November 20, 2025, that USCG announced an updated policy which reflects that “a noose, a swastika, or any symbols or flags co-opted or adopted by hate-based groups as representations of supremacy, racial or religious intolerance, antisemitism, or any other improper bias” are hate symbols and prohibited. However, we remain seriously concerned that USCG ever took steps to reclassify these emblems as merely “politically divisive.” You were right to fix it so quickly when it was publicly reported , but it should never have happened in the first place. Swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag are hate symbols. Full stop.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), in 2024 alone, 9,354 antisemitic incidents occurred across the United States, representing a 5% increase from the previous year, and a 344% increase over the last 5 years. Incidents occurred in all 50 states. These numbers are staggering. The swastika is not a “potentially divisive” symbol, but a clear and direct reference to the murderous legacy of the Nazi regime and the Holocaust.

Furthermore, racially motivated violence has increased dramatically in the United States in recent years and continues to rise, with Black Americans being disproportionately targeted. More hate crimes took place in 2024 than in any other year but one since the FBI began tracking this data. Even consideration of classifying these emblems as anything other than hate symbols disrespects and disregards the safety of Black Americans and Jewish Americans who are serving their nation at a time when hatred and extremism are reaching crisis levels.

We are additionally concerned about the 45-day deadline this policy implemented for members of the service to report an incident. While USCG’s previous policy did not include a deadline to report an incident, the change would create a cutoff that may have a clear chilling effect on members of the USCG who in many instances are deployed for longer period than 45 days.

Members of the USCG should not fear for their safety or how they will be treated by their fellow Coasties during deployments, nor should they have such a strict time limit on when they are able to report incidents of hate and harassment. Your updated memo of November 20, 2025, did not mention this deadline or clarify that it is no longer in effect. We urge you to clearly rescind this arbitrary deadline.

Consideration alone of no longer classifying these symbols – including known emblems linked to the murder of millions of Jews and the German Nazi Party white supremacy, and slavery – as hate symbols is reprehensible. In a time of rising antisemitism and racial violence across the nation, we must forcefully take a stand against emblems which incite hate and violence.

We request you report to Congress responding to the following no later than December 5, 2025:

Please describe the series of events within the USCG that created this level of uncertainty about hate symbol policy.

If a new, weaker policy regarding these symbols was never intended to be implemented, what necessitated the publication the new USCG lawful order and policy you referred to in your statement, rather than a reiteration of existing policy?

Please share any updates or follow ups to “COMDTINST 5350.6A” that contained these changes.

Does the updated policy include an arbitrary deadline of 45 days to report an incident?

How does the USCG intend to rebuild trust with Black and Jewish Coast Guard members following this series of events?

We agree there should be no tolerance for the display or use of this hateful imagery in our Coast Guard or any part of our government. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/scams-alert-ahead-of-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-senator-hassan-warns-consumers-about-holiday-shopping-scams,"SCAMS ALERT: Ahead of Black Friday & Cyber Monday, Senator Hassan Warns Consumers About Holiday Shopping Scams",2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Click Here to See Senator Hassan's New Scam Alert, and Click Here to Take Her Survey on Scams

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, released an alert warning consumers about Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams. The report details the heightened risk of scams that consumers face during the holiday shopping season – last year, phishing emails mimicking major U.S. retail brands like Walmart and Target surged by more than 2,000 percent during the holiday season. The report also provides tips for consumers to protect themselves from common online shopping scams. People can also click here to take Senator Hassan's survey on scams that she launched earlier this year.

“If your inbox is anything like mine, each holiday season brings an ever-growing flood of emails promising huge discounts and exclusive deals,” said Senator Hassan. “While some of those deals may be legitimate, many are sent by scammers trying to steal the money that you’ve saved up to buy gifts for loved ones. I encourage people to follow the guidance in this report, share it with your friends and family, and ensure that your holiday spending doesn’t end up swept away in the flood of Black Friday fraud.”

The report is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing comprehensive effort to combat scams. In recent months, Senator Hassan opened investigations into SpaceX and Match Group, pushing the companies to take steps to curtail the use of their tools or platforms by scammers.

Read the Senator’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams alert here, or see key tips from the alert below:

Tips for Combating Common Online Shopping Scams

Be skeptical of deeply discounted items. If a deal seems too good to be true, it often is.

Look out for suspicious emails, phone calls, and texts, including messages from unknown numbers or from email addresses that do not match official company websites.

Be wary of emails that demand urgent action, such as resetting your password, resolving an issue with a package delivery, or claiming a bargain or giveaway that is about to expire – as scammers frequently try to rush their targets into providing sensitive information or making a fraudulent payment.

Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from emails, texts, and social media, which can direct you to a fraudulent website or install malware on your device.

Instead, to address concerns with your account or verify a discount from a company you trust, go directly to the vendor’s website. Do not use contact information listed in an email, text, or ad, which can steer you to a scammer.

Research unfamiliar sellers on sites like BBB.org, where you can check customer reviews and complaints.

Before making a purchase, look for signs of a fraudulent website, including misspellings, extra words, or unusual domains in the website’s URL with extra characters or different spellings of popular brand names, for example.

Ensure that any website where you are entering your payment information has “https” in its URL, which indicates that the site has a protected network connection.

Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication on your accounts, as this can make it harder for bad actors to access them.

Monitor your bank account and credit card statements for suspicious transactions.

Be wary of sellers who ask you to pay with a money transfer, cryptocurrency, or pre-paid gift cards. These irreversible, difficult to trace payment methods are a favorite of scammers.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-statement-on-reports-of-white-house-health-care-proposal,Shaheen Statement on Reports of White House Health Care Proposal,2025-11-24,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the original author of bicameral legislation that would permanently extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, released the following statement on reports of a White House health care framework:

“As I have said time and again, it is critical that the enhanced premium tax credits – which I’ve championed for nearly five years – are extended to ensure Americans can afford their health care. I'm glad the President is reportedly considering a serious proposal to begin negotiations to prevent health insurance premiums from soaring for tens of millions of Americans in a matter of weeks.

“I’ve had constructive conversations with many of my Republican colleagues who I believe want to get this done. They understand that the vast majority of people who benefit from these tax credits live in states the President won, and that the President’s own pollsters have underscored the enormous political urgency of Republicans acting.

“If the reports are true and the President is considering coming to the table in good faith, I believe we can find a path forward that can earn broad bipartisan support in Congress.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-statement-on-president-trumps-health-care-announcement,Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump’s Health Care Announcement,2025-11-23,2025,2025-11,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 ahead of President Trump’s reported plan to announce on Monday a framework to extend the expiring tax cuts for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA):

“We are just weeks away from a massive surge in health insurance premiums that will hit millions of Americans. As I have said for weeks, the best way to keep people from losing their health insurance will be for leaders from both parties to come together and extend the expiring tax cuts that help people who buy insurance through healthcare.gov afford their premiums. This should have happened earlier, but President Trump and Congressional Republicans are now coming to the table.

“We need to learn more about what exactly the President is putting forward, and we must ensure that any proposal rejects the idea of repealing the Affordable Care Act and its protections, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions. While I have significant concerns about some of the ideas reportedly in the President’s proposal, it nonetheless represents a starting point for serious negotiations.

“The fact that President Trump is putting forward any offer at all to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits shows that there is a broad understanding that inaction in this regard will cause serious harm to the American people. The Senate will vote on this issue next month and neither the President nor Congress should let pass the opportunity to prevent a health care calamity. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work in good faith to reach a deal and deliver relief to the American people.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-pappas-leads-effort-to-staff-new-drug-testing-lab-amid-trump-hiring-freeze,ICYMI: ‘Pappas leads effort to staff new drug testing lab amid Trump hiring freeze’,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"November 21, 2025

In case you missed it, this week the Union Leader reported on new bipartisan legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) to exempt Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab personnel from the Trump administration’s federal hiring freeze or any workforce reductions related to spending cuts, reprogramming of funds, or the probationary status of employees, as their roles are critical to combating drug trafficking and keeping communities safe.

Read the full story from the Union leader here.

Key Excerpts:

With a new drug lab scheduled to open in New Hampshire next spring, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., is co-authoring bipartisan legislation to exempt Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab workers from President Trump’s ongoing hiring freeze on civilian workers.

While most DEA positions were exempt from the freeze that Trump signed January, Pappas said lab positions such as chemists and fingerprint analysts were not specifically exempt.

Drug overdose deaths are declining in New Hampshire, but Pappas said the work in this new lab is critical in helping to detect the newest generation of illicit drugs such as fentanyl analogs, fentanyl mixed with methamphetamine, xylazine, and other novel psychoactive substances.

Pappas said he learned of the hiring glitch while recently attending the DEA’s temporary lab in Bedford where five chemists and fingerprint analysts now work.

In September, Pappas and the rest of the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation wrote the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging the administration to allow the new lab to staff up in time for its opening.

“It is crucial that the administration exempt lab personnel because the DEA faces data analysis backlogs, hampering the DEA’s ability to prosecute major drug crimes, identify new and emerging trends, and respond to drug threats in a timely manner,” the delegation wrote.

The Trump hiring freeze was to expire Oct. 15 but the president extended it indefinitely.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/nh-delegation-pushes-va-to-release-action-plan-on-establishing-full-service-va-facility-in-new-hampshire,NH Delegation Pushes VA to Release Action Plan on Establishing Full-Service VA Facility in New Hampshire,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Congressman Chris Pappas, member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), joined Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and Representative Maggie Goodlander in pushing U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins to publicly share the Department’s action plan to establish a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire. This new letter to Secretary Collins comes after New Hampshire’s congressional delegationmet with the Secretary at Manchester VA Medical Center in August for a briefing with Medical Center leaders and continued their advocacy to bring a full-service VA facility to the state.

“New Hampshire’s lack of a full-service VA hospital means our veterans may not have access to, or may need to travel long distances for, essential care. As we work to ensure that we can meet the needs of all New Hampshire veterans, VA should publicly release their action plan so that all those who are directly impacted can make their voices heard,” said Congressman Pappas. “We must continue to build on the progress we’ve made to finally deliver a full-service hospital to New Hampshire veterans.”

“We owe veterans a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid for their sacrifices to keep our nation safe, secure, and free,” said Senator Hassan. “This action plan is a much-needed step in establishing a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire, and sharing it publicly will allow Granite State veterans and their families to provide input on the next steps. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure that veterans have access to the high-quality health care that they need, including by establishing a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire.”

“The freedoms and rights we all enjoy were paid for with the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the military—the least we can do is ensure veterans can access first rate health care no matter where they live,” said Senator Shaheen. “It’s long past time New Hampshire’s veterans had a full-service VA facility - making the plans publicly available would be a critical step towards expanding services for Granite Staters.”

“Every American should get the healthcare they need when they need it and where they need it. New Hampshire’s brave veterans face far too many barriers to care and have waited far too long for a full-service VA hospital in our state,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Releasing this action plan is a critical step in getting this done and delivering for our veterans.”

Senator Hassan has repeatedly pushed the VA on the need for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and spoken out against efforts to weaken the VA. Senator Hassan has also led on bipartisan legislation to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care scheduling process so that veterans can easily schedule multiple visits at once through one phone call or online.

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen has worked tirelessly to make health care more accessible for New Hampshire veterans and has long worked to secure federal funding for VA health care sites throughout New Hampshire. The first piece of legislation she introduced in Congress was the Veterans Health Equity Act in 2009, which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every state has a full-service veterans’ hospital or that comparable services are provided by contracting with in-state hospitals.

Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in introducing legislation to require VA to operate at least one full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and calling on VA Secretary Doug Collins to seriously and fully follow through on the feasibility study and action plan. In May, Pappas secured a commitment from Secretary Collins at a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing to engage with New Hampshire veterans and stakeholders as the Department conducts the study and develops its action plan. Pappas co-leads the House companion bill to Senator Hassan’s Improving Veteran Access to Care Act.

Goodlander, a member of the For Country Caucus and House Armed Services Committee who served for more than a decade in the United States Navy Reserve, has been a vocal champion for bringing a full-service VA hospital to New Hampshire, including byco-sponsoring legislation and an amendment that passed the House and advocating directly before the House Appropriations Committee and on the House Floor for this effort.

See the full letter that Senators Hassan and Shaheen and Congressmembers Pappas and Goodlander sent to Secretary Collins below:

Dear Secretary Collins

We write today to request that you make publicly available the action plan to develop a full-service medical center in New Hampshire that you were required to submit to President Trump by November 5, 2025. Making this plan publicly available will ensure that the people of New Hampshire, particularly Granite State veterans, can review and comment on your proposal. Getting input on this plan from Granite Staters is vital to ensuring that the establishment of a full-service Veterans Affairs hospital in New Hampshire will best support the needs of Granite State veterans.

On May 9, President Trump issued Executive Order 14296, titled “Keeping Promises to Veterans and Establishing a National Center for Warrior Independence.” Section 5(b) of this order, which dealt with veterans’ health care, required that, within 180 days, you submit to the President “an action plan to expand services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire so that it is no longer the only State in the contiguous United States without such a center.” We agree with the President that New Hampshire veterans deserve expeditious access to a full-service VA hospital within the Granite State. We also know that the best way to ensure that Granite State veterans’ needs are being met is to hear from Granite State veterans. To that end, we request that you publish your action plan in an easily accessible public forum no later than December 1, 2025, and that you provide a meaningful mechanism for Granite Staters to express their thoughts and comments on the action plan.

We look forward to continuing to work together with you to support Granite State veterans.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-to-mark-national-rural-health-day-senators-hassan-barrasso-cortez-masto-and-blackburn-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-support-rural-hospitals,"ICYMI: To Mark National Rural Health Day, Senators Hassan, Barrasso, Cortez Masto, and Blackburn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Rural Hospitals",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,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), John Barrasso (R-WY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) reintroduced the Rural Hospital Flexibility Act, which provides rural hospitals with critical funding to support training, technical support, and equipment to better serve patients. This legislation comes at a time when health facilities across the country – including in rural areas – face major challenges in keeping their doors open. The reintroduction of this legislation coincided with yesterday’s National Rural Health Day when the country recognizes the work of rural health professionals.

“At a time when strains on the health care system put at risk the ability of rural health care providers to keep their doors open, it is crucial that we provide hospitals and doctors in rural communities with the support that they need,” said Senator Hassan. “Reauthorizing and modernizing the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility program is a commonsense way to ensure that New Hampshire’s rural hospitals have access to the support, training, and equipment that they need to give Granite Staters the best possible care.”

“Wyoming’s frontier and rural hospitals know better than anyone what their patients and communities need,” said Senator Barrasso. “The Rural Flex program gives them the tools and flexibility to keep their doors open and continue delivering high-quality care. Hospitals rely on this program to strengthen their workforce, update critical technology, and improve patient outcomes. Our legislation will ensure they are free from one-size-fits-all Washington mandates that simply don’t work in rural America.”

“The Rural Hospital Flex program has long helped Nevada’s rural hospitals serve the needs of their communities,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will allow health care facilities across the Silver State to keep their doors open and ensure that Nevadans in all 17 counties have access to the high-quality, affordable health care they need.”

“For over 25 years, the FLEX program has been instrumental in supporting rural hospitals and healthcare providers, ensuring access to quality care for millions of Americans,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Reauthorization Act would build on this legacy by modernizing the program to support quality improvement, behavioral health services, telehealth, and innovative care models. This reauthorization reflects our commitment to ensuring that rural hospitals and clinics can continue to serve as lifelines for their communities, providing high-quality, sustainable care well into the future.”

“The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Senators Hassan, Barrasso, Cortez Masto, and Blackburn for leading the reintroduction of the Rural Hospital Flexibility Act. NRHA is proud to support this legislation that continues to improve healthcare for rural communities and keep rural hospitals open. This bill will reauthorize the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program, which functions as a lifeline for rural America. Flex plays an integral role in helping Critical Access Hospitals improve their financial status and focus on enhancing quality of care, which supports rural communities’ access to excellent, sustainable healthcare,” said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.

“The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) applauds Senator Hassan and her Senate colleagues for introducing this strong bipartisan bill. This bill seeks to provide stability to the FLEX grant program which provides states with funding needed to support Critical Access Hospitals in New Hampshire and all 50 states,” said Tammy Norville, CEO of the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

The legislation permanently reauthorizes the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility program, which supports Critical Access Hospitals – small, rural hospitals that have fewer than 25 beds and are located either more than 35 miles from the nearest hospital or more than 15 miles in areas with mountainous terrain or only secondary roads. New Hampshire has 13 Critical Access Hospitals located throughout the state.

This bipartisan bill is part of Senator Hassan’s continued efforts to support rural health care. Senator Hassan leads bipartisan legislation to support rural health care facilities in providing urgent obstetric care. Earlier this year she also introduced the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA), to address the rising trend of labor and delivery unit closures in rural and underserved areas.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-leads-nh-delegation-in-pushing-va-to-release-action-plan-on-establishing-full-service-va-facility-in-new-hampshire,Senator Hassan Leads NH Delegation in Pushing VA to Release Action Plan on Establishing Full-Service VA Facility in New Hampshire,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,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 (SVAC), and Senator Jeanne Shaheen along with U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), and Representative Maggie Goodlander pushed U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Doug Collins to publicly share the Department’s action plan to establish a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire. This new letter to Secretary Collins comes after New Hampshire’s congressional delegation met with the Secretary at Manchester VA Medical Center in August for a briefing with Medical Center leaders and continued their advocacy to bring a full-service VA facility to the state.

“We owe veterans a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid for their sacrifices to keep our nation safe, secure, and free,” said Senator Hassan. “This action plan is a much-needed step in establishing a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire, and sharing it publicly will allow Granite State veterans and their families to provide input on the next steps. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure that veterans have access to the high-quality health care that they need, including by establishing a full-service VA facility in New Hampshire.”

“The freedoms and rights we all enjoy were paid for with the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the military—the least we can do is ensure veterans can access first rate health care no matter where they live,” said Senator Shaheen. “It’s long past time New Hampshire’s veterans had a full-service VA facility - making the plans publicly available would be a critical step towards expanding services for Granite Staters.”

“New Hampshire’s lack of a full-service VA hospital means our veterans may not have access to, or may need to travel long distances for, essential care. As we work to ensure that we can meet the needs of all New Hampshire veterans, VA should publicly release their action plan so that all those who are directly impacted can make their voices heard,” said Congressman Pappas. “We must continue to build on the progress we’ve made to finally deliver a full-service hospital to New Hampshire veterans.”

“Every American should get the healthcare they need when they need it and where they need it. New Hampshire’s brave veterans face far too many barriers to care and have waited far too long for a full-service VA hospital in our state,” said Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Releasing this action plan is a critical step in getting this done and delivering for our veterans.”

Senator Hassan has repeatedly pushed the VA on the need for a full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and spoken out against efforts to weaken the VA. Senator Hassan has also led on bipartisan legislation to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health care scheduling process so that veterans can easily schedule multiple visits at once through one phone call or online.

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Shaheen has worked tirelessly to make health care more accessible for New Hampshire veterans and has long worked to secure federal funding for VA health care sites throughout New Hampshire. The first piece of legislation she introduced in Congress was the Veterans Health Equity Act in 2009, which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that every state has a full-service veterans’ hospital or that comparable services are provided by contracting with in-state hospitals.

Pappas led the New Hampshire delegation in introducing legislation to require VA to operate at least one full-service VA hospital in New Hampshire and calling on VA Secretary Doug Collins to seriously and fully follow through on the feasibility study and action plan. In May, Pappas secured a commitment from Secretary Collins at a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing to engage with New Hampshire veterans and stakeholders as the Department conducts the study and develops its action plan. Pappas co-leads the House companion bill to Senator Hassan’s Improving Veteran Access to Care Act.

Goodlander, a member of the For Country Caucus and House Armed Services Committee who served for more than a decade in the United States Navy Reserve, has been a vocal champion for bringing a full-service VA hospital to New Hampshire, including by co-sponsoring legislation and an amendment that passed the House and advocating directly before the House Appropriations Committee and on the House Floor for this effort.

See the full letter that Senators Hassan and Shaheen and Congressmembers Pappas and Goodlander sent to Secretary Collins below and HERE.

Dear Secretary Collins,

We write today to request that you make publicly available the action plan to develop a full-service medical center in New Hampshire that you were required to submit to President Trump by November 5, 2025. Making this plan publicly available will ensure that the people of New Hampshire, particularly Granite State veterans, can review and comment on your proposal. Getting input on this plan from Granite Staters is vital to ensuring that the establishment of a full-service Veterans Affairs hospital in New Hampshire will best support the needs of Granite State veterans.

On May 9, President Trump issued Executive Order 14296, titled “Keeping Promises to Veterans and Establishing a National Center for Warrior Independence.” Section 5(b) of this order, which dealt with veterans’ health care, required that, within 180 days, you submit to the President “an action plan to expand services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire so that it is no longer the only State in the contiguous United States without such a center.” We agree with the President that New Hampshire veterans deserve expeditious access to a full-service VA hospital within the Granite State. We also know that the best way to ensure that Granite State veterans’ needs are being met is to hear from Granite State veterans. To that end, we request that you publish your action plan in an easily accessible public forum no later than December 1, 2025, and that you provide a meaningful mechanism for Granite Staters to express their thoughts and comments on the action plan.

We look forward to continuing to work together with you to support Granite State veterans.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-grassley-reintroduce-legislation-targeting-illicit-drug-knockoffs,"Senators Hassan, Grassley Reintroduce Legislation Targeting Illicit Drug Knockoffs",2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today reintroduced the Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act. The bipartisan bill would crack down on deadly drugs that are substantially similar to controlled substances but carefully engineered to slip into the U.S. undetected.

“America’s scheduling system is inefficient and outdated, and our law enforcement officers are struggling to keep pace with emerging drug threats,” Grassley said. “The SIMSA Act would provide much-needed adaptability to get ahead of bad actors and their deadly knockoffs.”

“Communities across New Hampshire have been devastated by fentanyl and other deadly drugs. Fentanyl analogues pose just as severe a threat as fentanyl itself, and criminals have deliberately engineered these drugs to circumvent our laws and evade bans,” Hassan said. “Our bipartisan legislation will provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to crack down on the criminals flooding our streets with these drug analogues. I urge my colleagues to support this effort to protect our communities and save lives, and I will keep working to combat the fentanyl crisis.”

The SIMSA Act would create a new schedule of drug – Schedule A. Substances could be classified as Schedule A if (1) their chemical structure is substantially similar to a controlled substance and (2) they are expected to have the same or greater effect on the human body. The bill would subject individuals who manufacture, export and import these knockoffs to criminal penalties, but includes provisions to ensure legitimate research can continue.

Read the bill text HERE.

Background:

U.S. law prohibits the unauthorized use of certain controlled substances. However, illicit drug makers and importers circumvent those laws by altering single atoms in controlled substances, creating tweaked drugs that are not yet outlawed, but have similar effects on users. Currently, uncontrolled substances must undergo a time-consuming analysis before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can permanently schedule them.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-shaheen-secures-3-million-for-new-program-to-help-communities-save-money-on-energy-costs,ICYMI: Shaheen Secures $3 Million for New Program to Help Communities Save Money on Energy Costs,2025-11-21,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA) Subcommittee and a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $3 million for a new Energy Circuit Rider pilot program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Ag-FDA Appropriations bill that was signed into law by President Trump. The program is designed to help boost clean energy and energy efficiency investments in rural Granite State communities. The pilot is modeled after a successful program in New Hampshire run by Clean Energy NH, a nonprofit based in Concord.

“With electricity prices on the rise it’s critical that small and rural communities have the tools they need to take on clean energy and energy efficiency projects that lower costs,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m proud that my commonsense energy circuit riders pilot was included in the government funding bills that were signed into law. This pilot will bring a successful model run by Concord’s Clean Energy NH to the national scale and will help level the playing field for rural communities so that they can get the technical expertise they need to leverage funding opportunities and make energy improvements.”

The pilot program is based on Shaheen’s Energy Circuit Riders Act, which would establish a new grant within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development to help eligible entities hire local, on-the-ground experts that travel to rural communities and provide technical assistance on projects that help spur economic development and reduce energy costs that help ease rural property tax rates.

Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In April, Shaheen condemned efforts by the Trump Administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided an approximately $6 billion investment in energy efficiency, including funding for residential, municipal, industrial and federal entities to implement efficiency upgrades based upon her longstanding bipartisan legislation with former U.S. Senator Rob Portman.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-introduces-two-bipartisan-bills-to-combat-drug-trafficking,Pappas Introduces Two Bipartisan Bills to Combat Drug Trafficking,2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced two pieces of legislation to combat drug trafficking: the Laboratory Analysts and Biometric (LAB) Personnel Act and the Dark Web Interdiction Act.

""I’ve heard directly from local law enforcement, public health experts, and advocates across New Hampshire that we must do more to stop the trafficking of fentanyl and other deadly substances,"" said Congressman Pappas. “I’m introducing two bills based on conversations I’ve had with New Hampshire law enforcement. The first aims to target the use of the dark web to procure and ship deadly drugs. The second would exempt DEA labs from the administration's hiring freeze which hurts the New Hampshire lab's ability to analyze evidence and combat drug trafficking. We must strengthen efforts that hold traffickers accountable and stop the flow of drugs into our communities.”

Pappas introduced the Laboratory Analysts and Biometric (LAB) Personnel Act with Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), bipartisan legislation to exempt Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab personnel from the Trump Administration’s federal hiring freeze or any workforce reductions related to spending cuts, reprogramming of funds, or the probationary status of employees, as their roles are critical to combating drug trafficking and keeping communities safe. This legislation follows Pappas’s visit to the DEA Lab in Bedford, which currently employs five chemists and fingerprint analysts who work with law enforcement throughout the region.

The DEA’s Labs across the country play a vital role in safeguarding our communities by employing cutting-edge scientific techniques to identify and analyze dangerous synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, methamphetamine, xylazine, and other novel psychoactive substances. The New England Lab, scheduled to open in April 2026, will be the eighth regional DEA laboratory in the nation and will specialize in both drug chemistry and latent fingerprint identification. Their detailed analysis is essential for identifying emerging threats, supporting investigations and prosecutions, informing public safety and health strategies, and contributing to international efforts.

“Laboratory personnel like forensic chemists and fingerprint analysts are essential to solving drug crimes and getting dangerous substances off our street, yet they were excluded from the DEA hiring freeze exemption,” said Congressman Bacon. “I'm pleased to co-lead the Laboratory Analysts and Biometric Personnel Act with Rep. Pappas to ensure our DEA laboratories have the critical personnel they need to fight drug trafficking in our communities. Our bipartisan legislation will fix this bureaucratic oversight and give law enforcement the tools needed to protect our families from the ongoing drug crisis.”

Pappas reintroduced the Dark Web Interdiction Act with Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23), bipartisan, bicameral legislation to strengthen penalties on drug dealers and target international fentanyl trafficking through the dark web.

The Dark Web Interdiction Act would increase criminal penalties on individuals convicted of trafficking illegal drugs on the dark web by directing the United States Sentencing Commission to enhance sentencing for those individuals; strengthen and make permanent the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) task force that leads coordinated international, federal, state, and local efforts to combat drug trafficking on the dark web. Since its creation in 2018, J-CODE has led to hundreds of arrests worldwide, seizures of thousands of pounds of narcotics, and the closure of several dark web marketplaces; and directs the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Treasury Department to issue a report to Congress within one year detailing the use of cryptocurrency on the dark web, as well as provide recommendations for how Congress can address the use of virtual currency for opioid trafficking on the dark web.

“The Dark Web Interdiction Act would give law enforcement officers the resources they need to help combat the rising trend of dark web drug dealers who have used the platform as a way to peddle illegal drugs across the United States. I look forward to co-leading this bipartisan effort once again to help law enforcement apprehend and convict contraband dealers across the dark web,” said Congressman Gonzales.

Background:

Pappas led the effort in Congress to permanently classify all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs so law enforcement can keep them off the streets and hold traffickers accountable, and helped pass the HALT Fentanyl Act earlier this year. He also leads the DISPOSE Act, which would create fentanyl and precursor chemical destruction facilities in three critical drug trafficking choke points: Mexico, Colombia, and Peru; it was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025. Pappas also leads the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, which has passed the House, and the OPIOIDS Act.

After Pappas heard about DEA lab personnel being impacted by the administration’s hiring freeze during his visit to the DEA Lab in Bedford, he led the New Hampshire delegation in a letter urging the Office of Management and Budget to exempt DEA lab personnel from the federal hiring freeze.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/11/20/2025/shaheen-collins-applaud-passage-of-senate-resolution-recognizing-american-diabetes-month,"Shaheen, Collins Applaud Passage of Senate Resolution Recognizing American Diabetes Month",2025-11-20,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, applauded the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution recognizing November as American Diabetes Month. The resolution supports the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month, including raising public awareness of prevention and treatment options and enhancing education of the risks of developing diabetes. It also recognizes the importance of decreasing the incidences of type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes through research, treatment and prevention.

“Every November, my Diabetes Caucus co-chair and I work to raise awareness around what is a pervasive, chronic disease that 38 million Americans—including my granddaughter—live with every day,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad the Senate came together to once again unanimously pass our resolution recognizing American Diabetes Month, but there is so much more we need to be doing in this chamber to draw attention to the barriers that patients face to receiving care, to increase access to diabetes treatment options and to fund research that will get us closer to finding a cure.""

“During American Diabetes Month, we recognize the 38 million Americans living with diabetes, including more than 115,000 Mainers. For so many of these Americans, like those with Type 1 diabetes, there is no day off from this disease,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan resolution underscores our commitment to improving screening, lowering insulin costs, and supporting the research that is transforming the future of diabetes treatment. We have made real progress towards finding a cure, but there is more to do.”

The resolution can be read in full here.

Senator Shaheen has led efforts across the aisle to lower health care costs for Granite Staters and Americans. As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen and Collins have consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Their bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would comprehensively address the soaring cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. The Senators have also pushed for passage of their bicameral, bipartisan Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act, to improve early detection and screening for type 1 diabetes.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-pappas-lack-of-aca-tax-credit-deal-leaves-nh-families-facing-real-financial-pain,ICYMI: ‘Pappas: Lack of ACA tax credit deal leaves NH families facing ‘real financial pain’’,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

November 19, 2025

New Hampshire families are seeing their health insurance costs skyrocket due to the upcoming expiration of ACA Marketplace enhanced premium tax credits

In case you missed it, Manchester Ink Link reported on the roundtable discussion Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) held with three New Hampshire women to discuss the impact already facing families across New Hampshire if Congress fails to extend the enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act. Due to impending massive increases to families’ health insurance costs, Granite Staters are being forced to consider going without coverage, putting off costly medical procedures, leaving their jobs, moving homes, and choosing between food and health care.

Read the full story from Manchester Ink Link here.

Key Excerpts:

Each of the women have received notifications that their health insurance costs may go up next year and they each feared what might happen if nothing is done soon in Washington.

Barrington resident Jenny Belmont Earl has two disabled children, stating that recent hikes on the price of day-to-day items has forced her family to cut back on Christmas expenses, adding that she now expects her health insurance costs to triple as well.

Earl said that prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, she wasn’t able to afford a home in New Hampshire because she and her spouse did not have insurance through their jobs. Without help from the Affordable Care Act benefits, that choice may return if a job that offers insurance benefits cannot be found near Barrington.

Nicole Sheaff from Exeter also has several disabled children and her husband has a history of relatives dying from diabetes-related health complications… “There were times that we went without insurance (in the past) and just prayed that people didn’t get hurt,” said Sheaff.

Amanda Carter of Peterborough said she is expecting her premiums to climb 277% in 2026, with a significant procedure that cannot be done before January set to cost $7,000.

She [Carter] said that she may have to choose between that procedure and food for her family, although delaying the procedure could harm the people she helps as a kinship navigator at the River Center, a role where she often helps people navigate the complicated path taken by disadvantaged families to receive government assistance.

Pappas added that action on the Affordable Care Act tax extensions could not wait until the next vote on the continuing resolution keeping the government open comes on Jan. 30, as that would come after the 2026 Affordable Care Act plan enrollment period.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/passed-the-senate-bill-to-end-unintentional-government-payments-to-deceased-americans,PASSED THE SENATE: Bill to End Unintentional Government Payments to Deceased Americans,2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,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, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) that would save Americans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars by curbing unintentional payments to individuals who have died.

“Our government has a responsibility to safeguard taxpayer dollars and root out waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill takes an important step forward by updating existing safeguards so that the federal government can better prevent payments from being unintentionally sent to deceased individuals.”

The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act would permanently amend the Social Security Act to allow the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File – a record of deceased individuals – with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system. Because long-standing privacy restrictions limit how the Social Security Administration can share this information, federal agencies often do not receive timely notice when a beneficiary has died, which can unintentionally lead to improper payments. The bill would also allow the Treasury’s Do Not Pay system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.

This legislation is part of Senator Hassan’s ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. In April, in her role as Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, Senator Hassan helped lead a hearing focused on ways to use artificial intelligence and data to improve government efficiency.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-in-new-survey-trump-pollster-finds-broad-support-for-extending-aca-premium-tax-credits-consequences-for-gop-majorities-if-congress-refuses-to-act,"ICYMI: In New Survey, Trump Pollster Finds Broad Support for Extending ACA Premium Tax Credits, Consequences for GOP Majorities if Congress Refuses to Act",2025-11-19,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – In case you missed it: John McLaughlin—one of President Trump’s pollsters and advisors—released a new poll finding that Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about health care premiums skyrocketing if Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) expire at the end of the year. The poll, conducted across 16 GOP-held battleground districts, underscores how health care affordability is top of mind for working Americans who are concerned about the cost-of-living crisis.

Key Findings:

“Nine in ten (91% to 8%) voters believe keeping healthcare affordable is important to lowering the overall cost of living for working American families. The belief is intense, with nearly threequarters (72%) ‘strongly’ agreeing.”

“Virtually three-quarters (73%) are concerned about their healthcare premiums increasing next year, including 47% who are ‘very’ concerned.”

“By a 50-point margin (70% to 20%), a broad majority supports the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits.”

“Among Independents, who will be casting the deciding votes in the midterm elections, two-thirds (66%) support the healthcare tax credits, reaching 73% among Independent women.”

“The majority (57%) is more likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who votes to extend the healthcare tax credits.”

“The majority of swing voters are more likely to vote for the candidate, including 56% of Independents and 61% of ticket splitters.”

“Voting to extend the healthcare tax credits attracts Hispanic voters (66%), college educated women (70%), and married women (62%).”

“Conversely, the majority (53%) is less likely to vote for a candidate for Congress who allowed the healthcare tax credits to expire, resulting in higher insurance premiums.”

“The ACA Marketplace is open, and Americans who are already facing a cost-of-living crisis are seeing premium price hikes that are unaffordable,” said Senator Shaheen, author of bicameral legislation that would permanently extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits. “These findings send a clear message: Working Americans are increasingly worried about the rising cost of health care and President Trump and Congressional Republicans will pay a price next year at the ballot box if they refuse to act.”

Shaheen is leading efforts in Congress to make health care more affordable through the preservation and extension of the enhanced premium tax credits. Through negotiations to reopen the government, Shaheen secured a guaranteed vote by mid-December on legislation to address skyrocketing health care costs. Shaheen’s first bill introduction this Congress was her landmark Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation to permanently extend the tax credits for Marketplace coverage that lower health care costs for millions of Americans.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/nh-delegation-applauds-more-than-18-million-to-expand-state-s-broadband-infrastructure,NH Delegation Applauds More Than $18 Million to Expand State’s Broadband Infrastructure,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Senator Maggie Hassan (NH), and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH-02) applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement approving New Hampshire’s Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This important step means that within 50 days New Hampshire will receive $18.6 million dollars in grant funding to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure. The announcement comes after the delegation called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse changes to the BEAD program that have delayed the disbursement of funding for broadband expansion across New Hampshire.

“Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress worked together to approve critical investments that are making our communities safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for every city and town, and it helps businesses compete, ensures students can learn, and allows patients to see a provider. This funding should never have been threatened or delayed, and I’m relieved that it will soon be delivered to New Hampshire,” said Congressman Pappas. “I will continue working to secure resources that modernize our infrastructure and improve Granite Staters’ quality of life.”

“Having worked on the broadband provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I know how important internet connectivity is for small businesses to grow and compete, for students to learn and thrive and for those in remote areas to access health care,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad Commerce approved New Hampshire’s BEAD proposal so that we can take a great leap towards increasing access to broadband in every corner of the state.”

“Everyone deserves access to high-speed, reliable internet no matter where they live,” said Senator Hassan. “I worked with my colleagues to negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help expand access to reliable internet, and am glad to see our state one step closer to ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. I will continue to push for federal funding that supports Granite state families and small businesses and ensures that communities across our state, including in rural areas, can grow and thrive.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-joins-bipartisan-vote-to-release-the-epstein-files,Pappas Joins Bipartisan Vote to Release the Epstein Files,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement after voting for H.R. 185, which directs the United States Department of Justice to make publicly available records related to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell:

“Today’s vote to release these files represents a significant step towards justice for countless victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his associate, and it represents accountability for all those who played a role in their heinous crimes. This should have happened sooner, and it should not have taken a literal act of Congress for this level of transparency to occur. At the expense of justice for the victims, Congressional Republicans delayed this day to provide cover and protection for the wealthy and influential individuals who may be named in these documents. That is why I joined the bipartisan effort to force this vote and ensure that no one, no matter how powerful, is above the law.”

Background:

Pappas was a cosponsor of H. Res. 581, a resolution that provides for consideration of H.R. 185 and amends that bill to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make publicly available certain records related to Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell.

In September, Pappas signed Discharge Petition No. 9, which forced today’s floor vote on releasing the Epstein Files.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-urges-congress-to-stop-playing-political-games-focus-on-affordability,"Pappas Urges Congress to Stop Playing Political Games, Focus on Affordability",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congressman Pappas (NH-01) released the following statement after his voteon H.Res 878:

“I condemn the way Chuy Garcia’s retirement from Congress was engineered to prevent other candidates from being able to seek public office and for voters to have a real choice at the ballot box. It’s also bullshit that Congress is burning more time on matters like this than focusing on protecting health care access and the other urgent problems my constituents face. I was sent here to get things done for New Hampshire, and it’s time to get bills to the floor that will help make life better and more affordable.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-hampshire-delegation-applauds-more-than-18-million-to-expand-states-broadband-infrastructure,New Hampshire Delegation Applauds More Than $18 Million to Expand State's Broadband Infrastructure,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,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 U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement approving New Hampshire’s Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This important step means that within 50 days New Hampshire will receive $18.6 million dollars in grant funding to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure. The announcement comes after the delegation called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse changes to the BEAD program that have delayed the disbursement of funding for broadband expansion across New Hampshire.

“Having worked on the broadband provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I know how important internet connectivity is for small businesses to grow and compete, for students to learn and thrive and for those in remote areas to access health care,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad Commerce approved New Hampshire’s BEAD proposal so that we can take a great leap towards increasing access to broadband in every corner of the state.”

“Everyone deserves access to high-speed, reliable internet no matter where they live,” said Senator Hassan. “I worked with my colleagues to negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help expand access to reliable internet, and am glad to see our state one step closer to ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. I will continue to push for federal funding that supports Granite state families and small businesses and ensures that communities across our state, including in rural areas, can grow and thrive.”

“Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress worked together to approve critical investments that are making our communities safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for every city and town, and it helps businesses compete, ensures students can learn, and allows patients to see a provider. This funding should never have been threatened or delayed, and I’m relieved that it will soon be delivered to New Hampshire,” said Congressman Pappas. “I will continue working to secure resources that modernize our infrastructure and improve Granite Staters’ quality of life.”

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury. It is a lifeline and economic driver for hardworking families, small businesses, farmers, and rural communities across our state,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “I look forward to seeing these federal dollars put to work quickly and effectively to deliver for New Hampshire.”

As a lead negotiator of the broadband provisions included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Shaheen worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to include authorization of the BEAD Program. The program provides funding to states to improve access to high-speed internet and ensure that Americans have access to the high-quality internet service they need for the 21st century economy. In total, Shaheen successfully secured $65 billion to support broadband affordability and deployment programs across the nation including nearly $200 million for New Hampshire.

Senator Hassan helped negotiate key provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law on high-speed internet, passenger rail, coastal resiliency, and cybersecurity. The bill 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,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hassan-shaheen-urge-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-home-heating-aid-as-granite-staters-face-climbing-costs,"Senators Hassan, Shaheen Urge Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Home Heating Aid as Granite Staters Face Climbing Costs",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Margaret Wood Hassan,H001076,www.hassan.senate.gov,hassan,https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"***Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds help Americans keep the lights and heat on and afford rising utility bills***

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues, including Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, the Trump Administration has $4 billion in federal LIHEAP dollars to distribute. In New Hampshire, more than 57,500 Granite Staters rely on fuel assistance funded by LIHEAP to help pay their heating bills.

The lawmakers wrote, in part: “As Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the Continuing Resolution.”

The bipartisan group of Senators say the federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and older adults on fixed incomes pay their energy bills or replace a broken furnace in an emergency. The program also helps reduce energy costs through weatherization.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. According to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher – to 10 percent above last year.

States and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. In New Hampshire, eligibility is set at 60% of the state median income, which is $62,252 for a two-person household or $91,548 for a family of four. Granite Staters can apply for fuel assistance through their Community Action Agency at www.CAPNH.org.

The Trump Administration proposed eliminating LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget plan, but Shaheen supported successful bipartisan pushback to save and fund the program as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 would provide a $20 million increase for LIHEAP to $4.045 billion, while the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $10 million increase.

In addition to Shaheen, Hassan, Reed, Collins and Murkowski, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Richard Durbin (D-IL) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

You can read the full letter here.

Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In April, Shaheen condemned efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the LIHEAP program. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that made landmark investments in energy efficiency. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen pushed for increased LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, contributing to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-hassan-urge-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-home-heating-aid-as-granite-staters-face-climbing-costs,"Shaheen, Hassan Urge Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Home Heating Aid as Granite Staters Face Climbing Costs",2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues, including Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, the Trump Administration has $4 billion in federal LIHEAP dollars to distribute. In New Hampshire, more than 57,500 Granite Staters rely on fuel assistance funded by LIHEAP to help pay their heating bills.

The lawmakers wrote, in part: “As Congress works to finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services, we urge you to immediately release the highest amount of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding available under the Continuing Resolution.”

The bipartisan group of Senators say the federal LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that keeps vulnerable citizens safe and warm during winter by helping low-income households and older adults on fixed incomes pay their energy bills or replace a broken furnace in an emergency. The program also helps reduce energy costs through weatherization.

Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year. According to a new forecast from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, home heating costs are estimated to rise nearly 8 percent over last winter on average, with costs for heating with electricity forecasted to increase even higher – to 10 percent above last year.

States and tribes typically receive their LIHEAP allocations from HHS by early November. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. In New Hampshire, eligibility is set at 60% of the state median income, which is $62,252 for a two-person household or $91,548 for a family of four. Granite Staters can apply for fuel assistance through their Community Action Agency at www.CAPNH.org.

The Trump Administration proposed eliminating LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget plan, but Shaheen supported successful bipartisan pushback to save and fund the program as a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations committee. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor-HHS-Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for FY26 would provide a $20 million increase for LIHEAP to $4.045 billion, while the House Appropriations Committee recommended a $10 million increase.

In addition to Shaheen, Hassan, Reed, Collins and Murkowski, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) Richard Durbin (D-IL) Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

You can read the full letter here.

Shaheen has championed work to secure federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives to lower energy costs across New Hampshire. In April, Shaheen condemned efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate staff responsible for administering the LIHEAP program. Shaheen was a key supporter of the Inflation Reduction Act and a lead negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that made landmark investments in energy efficiency. In the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Shaheen pushed for increased LIHEAP funding for Granite State families, contributing to the highest total of LIHEAP funding ever received in a 12-month period in New Hampshire history.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-leads-new-hampshire-delegation-in-applauding-more-than-18-million-to-expand-states-broadband-infrastructure,Shaheen Leads New Hampshire Delegation in Applauding More Than $18 Million to Expand State’s Broadband Infrastructure,2025-11-18,2025,2025-11,Democrat,Senate,NH,Jeanne Shaheen,S001181,www.shaheen.senate.gov,shaheen,https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), alongside U.S. Representatives Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), applauded the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announcement approving New Hampshire’s Final Proposals to deliver universal broadband access through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. This important step means that within 50 days New Hampshire will receive $18.6 million dollars in grant funding to support the deployment of broadband infrastructure. The announcement comes after the delegation called on Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to reverse changes to the BEAD program that have delayed the disbursement of funding for broadband expansion across New Hampshire.

“Having worked on the broadband provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I know how important internet connectivity is for small businesses to grow and compete, for students to learn and thrive and for those in remote areas to access health care,” said Senator Shaheen. “I’m glad Commerce approved New Hampshire’s BEAD proposal so that we can take a great leap towards increasing access to broadband in every corner of the state.”

“Everyone deserves access to high-speed, reliable internet no matter where they live,” said Senator Hassan. “I worked with my colleagues to negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to help expand access to reliable internet, and am glad to see our state one step closer to ensuring that everyone has access to broadband. I will continue to push for federal funding that supports Granite state families and small businesses and ensures that communities across our state, including in rural areas, can grow and thrive.”

“Under the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress worked together to approve critical investments that are making our communities safer, stronger, and more prosperous. Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for every city and town, and it helps businesses compete, ensures students can learn, and allows patients to see a provider. This funding should never have been threatened or delayed, and I’m relieved that it will soon be delivered to New Hampshire,” said Congressman Pappas. “I will continue working to secure resources that modernize our infrastructure and improve Granite Staters’ quality of life.”

“Access to reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury. It is a lifeline and economic driver for hardworking families, small businesses, farmers, and rural communities across our state,” said Congresswoman Goodlander. “I look forward to seeing these federal dollars put to work quickly and effectively to deliver for New Hampshire.”

As a lead negotiator of the broadband provisions included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Shaheen worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to include authorization of the BEAD Program. The program provides funding to states to improve access to high-speed internet and ensure that Americans have access to the high-quality internet service they need for the 21st century economy. In total, Shaheen successfully secured $65 billion to support broadband affordability and deployment programs across the nation including nearly $200 million for New Hampshire.

Senator Hassan helped negotiate key provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure law on high-speed internet, passenger rail, coastal resiliency, and cybersecurity. The bill 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,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-pappas-ranking-members-takano-blumenthal-demand-secretary-collins-address-va-education-and-housing-benefit-payment-delays,"Congressman Pappas, Ranking Members Takano & Blumenthal Demand Secretary Collins Address VA Education and Housing Benefit Payment Delays",2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Chris Pappas (NH-01), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-41), and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (CT) sent a letter addressed to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins urging him to address VA’s failure to pay out required education benefits to tens of thousands of veterans, their families, and survivors.

“With the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Benefits Administration offices once again open and funded, we write to express alarm about VA failing to pay out required education benefits to thousands of veterans, their families, and survivors,” wrote the lawmakers.

Their letter notes that in August 2025, Congress was initially informed that 750 individuals were experiencing payment delays. Recent reporting indicates that “VA recently shared with schools that there are now 75,000 Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA) beneficiaries impacted by delayed payments.” This reporting echoes the information congressional offices are receiving directly from veterans, families, and schools.

“These payment failures are not merely a bureaucratic inconvenience; they are a direct failure to uphold the sacred promises made to those who served our country,”continued the lawmakers. “The fact that payments for essential housing and tuition benefits have been delayed for nearly four months, forcing student veterans and survivors into financial instability and uncertainty as they began a new academic term, is simply unacceptable.”

The lawmakers demanded an immediate resolution to these issues and urged Secretary Collins to provide his “overdue answer to the questions posed in our October 9th, 2025, letter” by December 3rd, 2025, and to immediately share an “action plan from VA detailing the scope of those impacted, how VA is going to make them whole, timeline for a resolution of both the 75,000-case backlog for Chapter 35 and delayed Post-9/11 GI Bill payments, and how VA will be preventing any recurrence of this failure in the future.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/pappas-joins-effort-calling-on-speaker-johnson-to-take-action-on-bipartisan-measures-to-end-tariff-war,Pappas Joins Effort Calling on Speaker Johnson to Take Action on Bipartisan Measures to End Tariff War,2025-11-17,2025,2025-11,Democrat,House,NH,Chris Pappas,P000614,pappas.house.gov,pappas,https://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined his colleagues in calling for Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately take up the bipartisan resolutions that passed the Senate last month to end President Trump’s global trade war and restore congressional authority over tariffs.

Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to levy taxes and tariffs, not the President. Last month, the Senate passed a series of bipartisan resolutions to overturn the Trump Administration’s tariffs, which have worsened our nation’s affordability crisis, driven up costs for consumers, and pose an existential threat to our nation’s small businesses.

The members wrote, “While the Senate has reasserted its constitutional authority, under your leadership, the House has ceded control to the President and abdicated its responsibility to the American people. Although you have blocked any similar resolutions from coming to the floor under privileged consideration through March 2026, we urge you to reconsider your position as these tariffs threaten to ravage the American economy.”

“As the federal government emerges from the longest shutdown in history – due to Republicans’ refusal to protect health care for millions of Americans – it is time to show the American people that we are serious about lowering costs. President Trump’s tariffs are causing chaos in the economy and exacerbating the affordability crisis facing our country today. We cannot afford to wait any longer to take action,” they concluded.

Read the full letter HERE.

Background:

Congressman Pappas has loudly and strongly opposed President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on New Hampshire’s #1 trading partner, Canada, and other U.S. allies.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:52:45Z