Senator Hassan, New Hampshire Fire Chiefs Discuss Budget Shortfalls for Community Fire Departments Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

NEW HAMPSHIRE – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan held a virtual discussion yesterday with New Hampshire fire safety professionals about the challenges that fire departments are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

NH Delegation Applauds $3.45 Million Grant to the Community College System of New Hampshire for High School Apprenticeship Programs

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today announced with Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Community College System of New Hampshire will receive $3.45 million through the U.S. Department of Labor to support high school apprenticeship programs. This new grant will help enhance apprenticeship programs that span 30 different occupations and serve up to 315 high school students a year in industries such as automotive, advanced manufacturing, business and finance, construction, health care and hospitality sectors.

Senator Hassan Statement on Reports FEMA is Ending Defective Gown Delivery to New Hampshire

WASHINGTON – Following reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is stopping the sending of defective gowns to New Hampshire nursing homes and instead sending a different type of gown, Senator Hassan issued the following statement:

Senator Hassan Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Veteran Caregiver Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) cosponsored legislation introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) caregiver program. According to reports, caregivers and veterans have been arbitrarily discharged or downgraded from the program, with benefits subsequently revoked or reduced. The Senators’ bipartisan legislation would take a number of steps to give caregivers and veterans an opportunity to appeal any downgrade or termination of benefits and ensure that all caregivers are recognized as part of the clinical team attending to veterans.

Senator Hassan’s Bipartisan Amendment to Address Drone Threat to be Included in Annual Defense Bill

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

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Introduce Resolution Defending Postal Service, Urging More Funding to Offset COVID-19 Losses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen joined colleagues in introducing a resolution about the importance of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and urging increased funding in the next COVID-19 relief package to help it offset losses incurred due to the pandemic. The resolution also makes clear that the USPS should not be forced to reduce its services, close post office facilities, or excessively raise rates. The resolution was led by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as well as Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Gary Peters (D-MI).

Portman, Hassan Introduce 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) introduced 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 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.

VAN HOLLEN, MURPHY, HASSAN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to increase funding for children with disabilities in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Supporting Children with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act appropriates $11 billion for state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), $1.2 billion for early childhood education programs, $55 million under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, and requires recipients of funds to report to Congress how this money is spent. Senator Van Hollen has also introduced the bipartisan, bicameral IDEA Full Funding Act to ensure Congress’s full investment in IDEA and the bicameral Keep our PACT Act to maximize Congressional funding for both IDEA and Title I.

Shaheen, Hassan & Colleagues to Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care for Millions During Public Health Crisis

(Washington, DC) – As the Trump Administration continues its efforts to dismantle the health care law that provides coverage for millions of Americans, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced a resolution with U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and their colleagues putting in the official Senate record their condemnation of that “reckless” effort and demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) to defend existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal the health care protections for millions – including 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions— in the middle of a public health emergency.

Senator Hassan Leads Colleagues in Calling for Answers On Nursing Homes Evicting Residents Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led 11 of her colleagues in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to act in response to nursing homes evicting residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter cites New York Times reports that nursing homes have evicted more than 6,400 residents since the beginning of the pandemic.

Senator Hassan Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation to Extend PPP Loan Application Deadline

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the Senate last night unanimously approved an extension of the deadline for small businesses and non-profits to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The application deadline expired yesterday at midnight and this bipartisan legislation would extend the deadline through August 8, 2020. The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives.

As Eviction Moratorium Expires in NH, Senator Hassan Urges Additional Support to Renters Amid Ongoing Economic Challenges

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help assist renters following the lifting of New Hampshire’s eviction moratorium today. The Senator’s outreach follows conversations with affordable housing leaders in New Hampshire about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the state’s housing and homelessness needs.

Senator Hassan Takes to Senate Floor to Call for Immediate Action to Protect Nursing Homes, Schools Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined her colleagues on the Senate floor this evening to deliver two speeches calling for immediate action to protect nursing home residents and staff who have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and calling for additional support for schools.

State of New Hampshire to Receive Almost $8 Million for Homeland Security & Emergency Management; NH Non-Profits, Including Houses of Worship, to Receive More Than $600,000 in Grants to Increase Safety

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today announced with Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded New Hampshire nearly $4.3 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program and more than $3.5 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grant Program. New Hampshire non-profits, including houses of worship, will also receive $635,085 under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, an increase from the $150,000 New Hampshire received last year. The full list of New Hampshire non-profits to receive funding this year is included below.

Senator Hassan Pushes IRS Commissioner to Send Families Promised COVID-19 Stimulus Payments for Children as Quickly as Possible

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today pushed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig on the Agency’s efforts to ensure that families who automatically received their COVID-19 stimulus payments will not need to wait until next year to receive the additional $500 payment per dependent child that they were promised.

Senator Hassan Questions Dr. Fauci on Factors Driving Increase of COVID-19 Cases in the U.S.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan today questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about factors driving a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the U.S., protections for nursing home residents and staff, and guidance on school reopening, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. This hearing is the first time in over a month that Dr. Fauci and other members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force have appeared before the Senate.

Senator Hassan Calls For Immediate Action to Support Local Communities Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan called for immediate action to support local communities and states in a Senate floor speech this evening. Specifically, the Senator called on Senate Republicans to join Democratic efforts to provide significant and flexible economic relief for state and local governments across the country to help them save lives and preserve jobs.

Senators Hassan, Durbin, Brown, and Warren File Series of NDAA Amendments to Protect Service Members and Veterans from Predatory Higher Education Practices

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) filed a series of amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to protect service members and veterans from predatory higher education practices.

Senator Hassan Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Strike Down Restrictive Abortion Law in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling to strike down a law in Louisiana that would have drastically limited access to abortion services.

Hassan, Cornyn, Peters, & Portman Introduce Bipartisan Amendment to NDAA to Bolster Cybersecurity at All Levels of Government

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Rob Portman (R-OH) filed a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator position in every state. Each state would have its own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator, who would be 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. This amendment mirrors the Cybersecurity State Coordinator Act that the Senators introduced earlier this year, and in March, the Homeland Security Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to approve this legislation.