Senate Passes Bipartisan Defense Bill, Including Key Provisions Introduced By Senator Hassan to Protect National Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) voted today to pass the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which included key priorities that Senator Hassan introduced and championed to protect the national security of Granite Staters and all Americans.

Hassan-Johnson Bipartisan Provision to Address Drone Threats Included As Part of Annual Defense Bill

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a bipartisan amendment introduced by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-WI) to help combat the threat that small, unmanned aircraft systems (drones) pose to U.S. service members worldwide.

Bipartisan Provision Introduced by Hassan, Cornyn, Peters, & Portman to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government Included as Part of Annual Defense Bill

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a bipartisan amendment introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Rob Portman (R-OH) to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state.

Hassan, Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Waive Provision in Law Preventing Smaller States from Accessing Necessary Financial Support for Community Services

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and other colleagues in introducing legislation that would address the “maximum allotment” provision that is significantly limiting the amount of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act relief funds that can be awarded to smaller states through the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The Senators’ bill waives the provision for the purposes of the CARES Act and any future supplemental CSBG funding provided by Congress for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2020. This will allow each of the 12 small states impacted by the maximum allotment provision to receive an extra $3.625 million in CSBG grants from the CARES Act, which is currently being withheld from the states due to the application of the maximum allotment provision.

House Sends Bill Backed by Shaheen & Hassan to Permanently Fund LWCF, Address Maintenance Backlog on NH Public Lands to President’s Desk

(Washington, DC)— Today, the House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation that previously passed the Senate and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide mandatory funding for deferred maintenance on public lands. The LWCF helps preserve and maintain critical lands for national parks, forests, wildlife refuges and recreational areas in New Hampshire and across the country. 

Senate Homeland Security Committee Passes Hassan-Backed, Bipartisan Measures to Strengthen COVID-19 Response Efforts and Government Efficiency

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing today, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and colleagues advanced bipartisan bills to help address the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen government efficiency.

Portman, Hassan Praise Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize Federal Government’s Use of Latest Technology

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) praised the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for passing the bipartisan Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act to accelerate the adoption of the latest technologies by government agencies. This legislation expands upon Senator Portman’s bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act which codifies an AI Center of Excellence (CoE) within the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide technical expertise to relevant government agencies; advises agencies on the procurement of AI technology; and promote U.S. competitiveness through agency and industry cooperation. Inspired by Senator Portman’s legislation, GSA created the AI CoE last year. The Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act lays out the responsibilities that all of GSA’s CoEs should have and harmonizes their roles to strengthen the government’s technology expertise beyond just AI.

Senators Hassan & Burr Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Small Business Support Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand small business and non-profits' access to federal COVID-19 relief. The bipartisan Employer Assistance Coordination Act would allow eligible small employers to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and claim the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers on payroll and pay for their health care coverage. Currently, small employers cannot participate in both of these… Continue Reading

As Shipyard Resumes Full-Scale Operations, NH & ME Delegations Send Letter to Navy Secretary to Ensure Safety of Workers

(Washington, DC) – As the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard resumes full-scale operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) – a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee – led the New Hampshire and Maine congressional delegations in a letter to U.S. Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite inquiring what steps and protocols are in place to safeguard the health and safety of the Shipyard workforce as it returns to full strength. The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Jared Golden (ME-02).

Senator Hassan, NH Public Health Leaders Discuss Racial Inequities in Health Care Outcomes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and New Hampshire public health care leaders discussed racial inequities in health care outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic during a virtual roundtable discussion yesterday. Participants discussed a range of factors that contribute to why communities of color in New Hampshire make up a disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases in the state.

Enzi, Hassan introduce bill to protect against counterfeit medical products

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., introduced legislation that would help protect patients from counterfeit medical products that could cause serious harm.

Senator Hassan Statement on the Passing of Congressman John Lewis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Lewis:

NH Delegation Announces More than $26 Million in CARES Act Relief to NH Health Care Providers with Significant COVID-19 Caseloads

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that $26,150,000 will be awarded to New Hampshire health care providers affected by substantial costs of COVID-19 caseloads, including in particular Manchester hospitals that have treated a significant share of the state’s COVID-19 cases. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Provider Relief Fund as part of $100 billion in health care provider grant appropriations provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and $75 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, both of which were passed by Congress and signed into law.

Senator Hassan Statement on Administration’s Agreement with Smiths Medical to Manufacture Vaccine Supplies in Keene, NH

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on the administration partnering with Smiths Medical for the manufacturing of hypodermic needle and syringe products in Keene, NH. These medical supplies would help administer a potential COVID-19 vaccine.

In Response to a Rise in Drug Overdoses in NH, Congressional Delegation Calls for Additional Funding for Substance Use Disorder Services in Next COVID-19 Relief Package

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, joined by U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, called for additional funding for substance use disorder services in the next COVID-19 relief package as recent preliminary data suggests an increase in overdose deaths in New Hampshire. 

NH Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Extend NH National Guard Support for COVID-19 Response

(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) have sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper asking that he extend the New Hampshire National Guard’s authorization to assist the State’s COVID-19 response efforts. This letter supports Governor Chris Sununu’s request this week to extend this authorization through December 31^st, 2020. The current authorization expires on August 21^st.  

Following Calls from Senators Hassan, Heinrich, & Whitehouse, FERC Rejects Petition Aimed at Upending States’ Net Metering Programs

WASHINGTON – Following calls from U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and 21 of their colleagues, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted unanimously to reject a petition by the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) that would have upended states’ net metering programs. Net metering allows consumers and businesses who generate some or all of their own electricity, particularly through wind and solar energy technology, to be compensated for the excess energy that they provide to the electric grid and other customers.

Senators Hassan, Shaheen, Colleagues Call for Boost in Immunization Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC – Seeking to protect public health, 27 U.S. Senators,including Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, are calling for Congress to provide at least $5.6 billion in federal funding to develop and support COVID-19 vaccine infrastructure.  The lawmakers say the funds are needed to boost the nation’s vaccine supply and distribution system and should be included in the next coronavirus relief package.  The federal funds could be used for distribution, provider training, public education, and to broaden vaccine access.

In Effort to Strengthen Contact Tracing, Senator Hassan Calls for Improvements to Electronic Health Record Systems

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan is urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to collaborate in modernizing health care records to improve patient outcomes and contact tracing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senator’s push comes as inadequate patient matching, which is the ability to link records for an individual from multiple health care providers, puts an unnecessary strain on the health care system and presents<

Following Call from Senator Hassan, Department of Labor Announces Campaign to Ensure Workers Know Their Rights to Paid Leave Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced that it will launch a public service awareness campaign to alert workers to their rights to paid leave under a law Congress passed earlier this year, which included paid leave options if an individual or a family member has COVID-19, or if an individual does not have access to child care for COVID-19-related reasons.