Hassan, Collins, 34 Colleagues Push for Support of School Meal Programs Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and 34 of their colleagues are urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibilities that have allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief.

Senators Hassan, Cassidy, Bennet Statement on White House, Congressional Efforts to End Surprise Medical Billing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) issued the following statement after the Trump administration issued a report on the importance of ending surprise medical billing. Their statement comes as Congress continues to negotiate the next COVID-19 relief package.

Senator Hassan Highlights Importance of Independent Oversight of Federal Government’s COVID-19 Response During Homeland Security Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management, highlighted the importance of conducting independent oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 response efforts to ensure that billions of dollars in federal funding are properly distributed.  

Senator Hassan Leads Colleagues in Calling on Facebook to Stop Spread of Climate Change Disinformation on Its Platform

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan led several colleagues in urging Facebook to stop the spread of climate change disinformation on its platform. In their letter to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, the Senators detail how Facebook’s decision to label climate change content as “opinion content” has prevented fact checks on misleading or false information on climate change, which emboldens climate deniers and promotes the spread of disinformation. The letter follows reporting from the New York Times detailing the harmful effects of Facebook’s policy.

Senator Hassan Recognizes Carter Manson of Manchester as July’s Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Carter Manson of Manchester as July’s Granite Stater of the Month for encouraging Granite Staters and all Americans to get outside and help clean up their communities.

Senator Hassan Holds Virtual Roundtable Discussion on Challenges to Reopening New Hampshire’s Schools in the Fall

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan held a virtual roundtable discussion today on the challenges that school districts are facing as they make plans for remote, in-person, or hybrid approaches this fall. The Senator heard from teachers, schools administrators, and parents from across New Hampshire on a number of issues, including concerns over safety, staffing, accessing personal protective equipment, and a lack of broadband access for expanded online learning.

Shaheen & Hassan Help Introduce the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined 46 other Senators, led by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in introducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bipartisan bill would restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, end the scourge of minority voter suppression and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis – one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes.

Senator Hassan Statement Ahead of 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

WASHINGTON – Senator Hassan released the following statement ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on Sunday, July 26:

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Join Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Help Address COVID-19 Racial Disparities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined a group of their Senate colleagues in introducing the COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act to help address the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on communities of color. The bill would require targeted testing, contact tracing, public awareness campaigns, and outreach efforts specifically directed at communities of color and other populations that have been made vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation is led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD).

Senators Hassan, Warren, Durbin, and Brown Lead Colleagues in Opposing COVID-19 Bailout for Predatory For-Profit Colleges

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led a group of their colleagues in calling for upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation to exclude federal funding for predatory for-profit colleges. If legislation does include support of for-profit colleges, the Senators raise specific limits that should be included in the legislation to hold for-profit colleges accountable.

New Hampshire Delegation Reiterates Concerns to VA Over Policy that Prevents Veterans From Accessing Care to Address Chronic Pain

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, joined by U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, reiterated concerns over a change in policy at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that limits veterans’ ability to access non-drug related therapies, such as muscle massage services and acupuncture, which can help veterans experiencing chronic pain.

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).