Shaheen, Hassan Urge Trump to Immediately Maximize Telework for Federal Workers

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with 25 of their colleagues, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing federal agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the administration has issued guidance recommending federal agencies expand their telework capabilities, many federal employees are still required to go to work in-person when they have the capacity to do their job from home. As part of their guidelines to combat and contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts are recommending the practice of social distancing. The Senators are calling on the federal government to lead by example and cease all policies that could endanger the health and safety of its employees and exacerbate the spread of this disease.

NH Congressional Delegation Calls on HHS to Help NH Hospitals Secure Critical Medical Equipment and Supplies During Coronavirus Outbreak

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calling for the Department to urgently provide guidance to health care providers in New Hampshire and across the country on the steps being taken to deliver personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and other essential supplies to hospitals as they prepare for an increase of coronavirus patients in the weeks to come. The delegation also requested changes to Medicare rules regarding the discharge of patients to increase the availability of urgently-needed hospital beds.

Hassan, Shaheen Urge FCC to Ensure That All Students Can Remotely Continue Education During Coronavirus Emergency

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen today joined their colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home. The letter requests that the FCC temporarily allow schools to utilize funding through the federal E-Rate program, which provides discounts to help eligible schools and libraries in the United States obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access. Temporarily expanding the funding to allow schools to support broadband access in students’ homes will give students in need the ability to access their classwork online. New Hampshire recently made the decision to close all public schools for three weeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus, increasing the urgency of ensuring that students have the support that they need.

Shaheen, Hassan Sponsor Bill Directing VA to ‘do its job’ and Provide Benefits for Veterans Suffering from Agent Orange

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are sponsoring legislation authored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide benefits for veterans suffering from four diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange.

Senator Hassan Releases Statement on Bipartisan Coronavirus Legislation that Passed the House

WASHINGTON — Following the U.S. House of Representatives’ overwhelming bipartisan vote to pass a coronavirus package, Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement:

Shaheen, Hassan Urge Trump Admin to Re-Open the ACA Health Care Enrollment Window

(Washington, DC) – In light of the ongoing outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and in an effort to ensure more Americans have access to affordable health care, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter with 23 of their colleagues to urge the Trump Administration to re-open the enrollment period to allow people without health insurance to purchase an Obamacare plan through the health insurance marketplaces.

Senator Hassan Statement on the President Issuing a Coronavirus Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after President Trump issued a coronavirus emergency declaration:

Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Older Americans Act Heads to President’s Desk to Be Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON – Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen to reauthorize and strengthen critical programs under the Older Americans Act passed the House this week and now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.  

Shaheen, Hassan Urge President Trump to Grant Disaster Declarations to Provide Emergency Funds to Aid State & Local Gov’t Coronavirus Response

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a group of Senators last night in a letter to President Trump, urging the President to immediately consider any disaster declaration requests so states can utilize the $42.6 billion currently available in the Disaster Relief Fund in their efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health. The Senators wrote that as the number of confirmed cases increases across the United States, the Trump administration must employ a whole-of-government approach, including the use of un-tapped Disaster Relief Fund money, and close collaboration with state, local and tribal officials and providing necessary resources to those on the frontlines.

Bipartisan Hassan-Led Bills to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government Pass Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Maggie Hassan to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. Each state’s coordinator would help their state 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 Applauds $4.9 Million Released to New Hampshire to Help Combat Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released a statement following an announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it has released an initial $4.9 million in funding to New Hampshire to help combat the coronavirus outbreak. This funding comes from the bipartisan emergency funding bill that Senator Hassan supported to help states address this evolving public health challenge.

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Press Administration for Plan to Support Workers, Students Impacted by Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen are calling for an economic package that focuses on working Americans and their families most impacted by the coronavirus and are calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to issue guidance to schools as they prepare to make difficult decisions about closures.

Bipartisan Legislation Cosponsored by Hassan, Shaheen Heads to President’s Desk to Become Law

WASHINGTON — Bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen to expand access to broadband in rural and underserved communities in New Hampshire by improving the accuracy of broadband maps has been approved by both the Senate and House and now goes to the President’s desk to become law.

Senator Hassan Applauds Bipartisan Vote to Overturn DeVos Rule that Favors Predatory For-Profit Colleges Over Defrauded Students

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, applauded the successful bipartisan vote today to overturn the Department of Education’s “borrower defense” rule, a proposal that will effectively deny students who were cheated or defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges of the debt relief that they are entitled to under law. The vote to overturn the proposal was agreed to in the Senate with both Democrats and Republicans voting in favor. The House voted to overturn the proposal earlier this year, and the resolution now goes to the President for his consideration.

Senator Hassan Calls for Answers on Non-Consensual Pelvic Exams

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, today sent letters to leading medical organizations requesting details on the practice of trainees conducting non-consensual pelvic exams while patients are unconscious. The letter follows recent reporting on this issue.

Shaheen, Hassan Sponsor Renewed Bipartisan Push to Permanently Fund LWCF, Address Maintenance Backlog on NH Federal Lands

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) that they’ve cosponsored bipartisan legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Restore Our Parks Act (ROPA), which provides mandatory funding for deferred maintenance at the National Park Service, the Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service. The LWCF helps preserve and maintain critical lands for national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreational areas in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill – the Great American Outdoors Act – was introduced yesterday by Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV).

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Senators Hassan, Shaheen to Honor World War II Army Rangers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the U.S. Army Rangers Veterans of World War II, in recognition of their extraordinary service. All members of the World War II-era Ranger Battalions were volunteers, whose service contributed greatly to the military success of the United States and our Allies.

Senator Hassan Statement on VA Barring GI Funding for Colleges & Universities with Deceptive Marketing, Enrollment Practices

WASHINGTON – Following the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) announcement that it will end GI Bill payments to five colleges and universities due to deceptive marketing or enrollment practices, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement:

Following Request from Senator Hassan & Colleagues, FDA Finalizes Rule Banning Use of Electrical Shock Devices on Children and Adults with Disabilities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, issued a statement on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s final rule to ban the use of electrical stimulation devices on children and adults who experience disabilities. The announcement comes following a February 10 request from Senators Hassan, Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and other colleagues urging the Food and Drug Administration to finalize the rule. The rule was first proposed in 2016, but years of delays and missed deadlines allowed for electrical stimulation devices — which attach to the skin and allow another person to administer electric shocks — to continue being used as a form of punishment and behavioral control.

Heeding Hassan Request, FEMA Extends State Deadlines for Grant Program to Strengthen Security at Nonprofits, Houses of Worship

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it would extend the deadline for states to submit applications for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program that allocates funding to help protect houses of worship and nonprofits from foreign and domestic attacks. The announcement comes after Senator Hassan heard from houses of worship in New Hampshire about the short timeline to apply for the grant, and raised those concerns at a hearing yesterday with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security.