Following Bipartisan Push Led by Senators Collins, Hassan, Department of Education Halts Cuts to Rural, Low-Income Schools

Washington, D.C. — Following the Department of Education’s announcement to halt a change to the methodology that determines which rural schools are eligible for funding through the Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) released a statement on this major win for more than 800 rural, low-income schools nationwide:

Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Reauthorize Older Americans Act

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate yesterday unanimously passed bipartisan legislation, cosponsored by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to reauthorize and strengthen critical programs under the Older Americans Act.

Shaheen and Hassan Applaud Bipartisan, Bicameral Agreement on Coronavirus Response Legislation

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Committee released bipartisan, bicameral legislation to bolster the national response to the Coronavirus.

Collins, Hassan Lead Bipartisan Group Urging Education Department to Protect Funding for More Than 800 Rural, Low-Income Schools

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led a letter that was signed by 19 of their colleagues, expressing their strong opposition to an abrupt decision by the Department of Education that jeopardizes funding eligibility for more than 800 rural, low-income schools. In their letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos, the Senators objected to the Department’s abrupt change to the methodology that determines which rural schools are eligible for funding through the Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program. The change is being implemented without notice to Congress and after funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020 has already been appropriated.

Senator Hassan Introduces Bill to Support Passenger Rail Connecting New Hampshire and Boston

WASHINGTON –  U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today introduced the Capital Investment Grant Program Improvement Act to help spur federal investment in passenger rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester. The bill would increase funding for the federal Capital Investment Grant program and prioritize projects connecting smaller cities to existing passenger rail in larger cities, making it easier for New Hampshire to secure the grant funding needed to move forward with passenger rail.

In Response to Alarming Growth of Online Child Sexual Abuse Imagery, Senator Hassan Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Review of Federal Efforts to Crack Down on These Heinous Crimes

WASHINGTON – In response to the alarming growth of child sexual abuse materials available online, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today led a bipartisan, bicameral group of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) urging a review of the federal government’s efforts to crack down on these heinous crimes. This bipartisan letter follows reporting from The New York Times, which found that technology companies reported 69 million online photos and videos showing the sexual abuse of children in 2019 alone, more than tripling the amount of content reported from 2017. The letter was also signed by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH).

NH Congressional Delegation Calls on House and Senate Leadership to Ensure that States Are Reimbursed for Spending on Coronavirus Response

Yesterday, 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) wrote to House and Senate leadership calling for the inclusion of language in the coronavirus emergency supplemental spending bill to ensure that states, including New Hampshire, are reimbursed for the cost of their ongoing efforts to combat the virus. The letter follows the announcement of the first presumptive positive case of coronavirus in the state.  As New Hampshire officials continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to officially confirm this finding, it is critical that the state government receives the necessary federal support to sustain and grow its coronavirus response. The State of New Hampshire is currently ramping up testing capabilities, investigating potential cases, communicating with federal partners and working with individual communities on containment and mitigation. 

Senator Hassan Questions Administration Officials on Coronavirus Response

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan questioned top administration officials about their agencies' efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus and provide consistent, accurate information to the public during a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing today.

NH Delegation Announces $712K in Federal Funding to Support Type 1 Diabetes Research

(Washington, DC) – 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) today announced the award of $712,837 in federal funding to Dartmouth College’s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health in support of the first year of a five-year research study to test new ways to better treat and control type 1 diabetes. Specifically, the funding will be used in support of a study led by Dr. Catherine Stanger, Principal Investigator, that will use new digital tools to support behavioral changes that will help young people with Type 1 Diabetes follow a complicated medical regimen and achieve better health outcomes. The funding will be distributed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). NIDDK is housed under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Senators Hassan, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Address Critical Need for More Direct Support Professionals

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), both members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, introduced bipartisan legislation today to address the critical need for more Direct Support Professionals in the workforce. Direct Support Professionals provide vital support to individuals who experience disabilities, like assisting with communication, providing on-the-job coaching, and helping with daily living needs. Unfortunately, home and community based service providers in New Hampshire, Maine, and across the country are struggling to recruit and retain Direct Support Professionals.

Senator Hassan Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Help Law Enforcement Crack Down on Online Child Exploitation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to require that technology platforms like Facebook and Google preserve evidence for reports of online child exploitation for 180 days – doubling the current period of 90 days – in order to give law enforcement more time to go after these serious crimes. The bipartisan END Child Exploitation Act follows reporting from The New York Times, which found that technology companies reported 69 million online photos and videos showing the sexual abuse of children in 2019 alone, more than tripling the amount of content reported from 2017. The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). 

Senator Hassan Calls for Answers from VA on Claims Backlog

WASHINGTON – Following reports of $134 million in unpaid claims that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) owes New Hampshire health care providers, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie calling for answers on what the VA is doing to address the claims backlog. The claims stem from veterans accessing care through the VA’s Community Care Network, in which veterans can visit providers who offer services outside of the VA system, ranging from home health aides to acupuncturists to emergency room services.

Senator Hassan Votes Against Anti-Choice Legislation on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released a statement today after voting against two partisan, anti-choice bills that would infringe on women’s reproductive health rights.

Senators Hassan, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Startups Thrive

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced a bipartisan bill to support innovative startups across the country by establishing a competitive grant program for incubator networks. Incubators help startups by providing resources such as low-cost space, access to capital, business counseling, and mentorship opportunities during their early stages of development. According to a study conducted for the Economic Development Administration, investment in business incubators has a large impact on community economic development, with investment in incubators creating 20 times more jobs than other community investment projects.

Senator Hassan Cosponsors Legislation to Strengthen Renewable Energy Technology in New Hampshire and Across the Country

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan cosponsored the Grid Modernization Act, which would require the Department of Energy to conduct a research and development program to help strengthen renewable energy through improving electric grid energy storage technology in New Hampshire and across the country. The bill, introduced by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), directs the Department of Energy to establish a grant program to fund projects to modernize the electric grid, such as investing in electric vehicle chargers and developing more microgrids.

Shaheen and Hassan Condemn Republican Efforts in Concord and Washington to Rescind Women’s Reproductive Rights

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements in response to Republican efforts, both at the state level in New Hampshire and in Congress, to pass dangerous legislation that would infringe on women’s constitutional rights and compromise their reproductive health care.

Senator Hassan Tours Southwestern Community Services Head Start Program in Claremont to Highlight Importance of Early Childhood Education

CLAREMONT – Senator Maggie Hassan toured Southwestern Community Services Head Start Program in Claremont today to visit with children and speak with parents and staff about the importance of early childhood education programs. Senator Hassan has advocated for additional funding for Head Start programs in New Hampshire and across the country, and the government funding bill – which is now law – included a record level of $10.6 billion in funding for Head Start, a $550 million increase.

NH Delegation Applauds Over $5.7 Million in Federal Grants for Manchester, Lebanon & Pease Airports

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded $5,744,000 in federal grants to support infrastructure, operations and safety at Manchester, Lebanon and Pease Airports. The federal funding was awarded under the agency’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped craft the omnibus funding legislation for fiscal year (FY) 2020 that included $3.75 billion for AIP.

In Honor of Black History Month, Senator Hassan Recognizes JerriAnne Boggis, Valerie Cunningham as February’s Granite Staters of the Month

PORTSMOUTH – In honor of Black History Month, Senator Maggie Hassan today recognized JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, and Valerie Cunningham, founder of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, as February’s Granite Staters of the Month. Cunningham and Boggis were recognized for their work to bring to light New Hampshire’s too often forgotten Black history and engage communities across the state in conversations about New Hampshire’s full past. After presenting Boggis and Cunningham with a copy of the Congressional Record honoring their work, Senator Hassan walked with the two women to the African Burying Ground memorial in downtown Portsmouth, which commemorates the spot where 13 Africans were buried in the 18th century – their final resting place was then paved over and mostly forgotten until the late 20th century.

Senator Hassan Holds Wide-Ranging Discussion with North Country Business Leaders at Schilling Beer Company in Littleton

LITTLETON – Senator Maggie Hassan visited Schilling Beer Company yesterday, where she held a roundtable discussion about some of the most pressing issues facing small businesses in the North Country. Participants at the roundtable included state, regional, and local business leaders, such as Benoit Lamontagne of the NH Division of Economic Development; Jeff Cozzens, owner of Schilling Beer Company and President of the NH Brewers Association; Marlaina Renton, owner of Rek’-Lis Brewing Company in Bethlehem; and Rusty Talbot, owner of Littleton Climbing Center.