Senator Hassan Leads NH Congressional Delegation in Calling for Additional COVID-19 Relief Package

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas are calling on Congressional leadership to move forward on an additional, comprehensive COVID-19 relief package that meets the needs that they have heard from Granite Staters.

Senator Hassan Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Support Veterans' Health Care by Assessing Link Between Service Members' Toxic Exposure in Uzbekistan and Cancer

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) cosponsored a bipartisan bill, led by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to assess possible health conditions linked to service members' exposure to toxic substances at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K2) in Uzbekistan.

Senator Hassan Statement on President-Elect Biden's Announcement to Nominate Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after President-elect Joe Biden announced today that he will nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to be the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security:

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Join Colleagues in Urging Robust Funding for State and Local Governments to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and other colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to provide robust funding to ensure the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as a part of any upcoming legislation to address the pandemic.

Hassan Joins NH Delegation in Call to Trump Administration to Authorize Extension & Full Funding for National Guard’s COVID-19 Response

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter this week with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) to Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller requesting he extend the authorization and cover 100 percent of the costs for the New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG) to serve, activated under 502(f) authority. The extension and 100 percent reimbursement would enable the New Hampshire National Guard to continue its support of the fight against COVID-19 through March 31, 2021. Funding is currently authorized through December 31, 2020.

NH Delegation Meets with New Hampshire Hospital Association, Discusses Ongoing COVID-19 Response

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) met virtually with the New Hampshire Hospital Association (NHHA) and hospital CEOs. The delegation heard updates from the Association’s leadership and its members about the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fall surge and current outbreaks, discussed continued efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and plans to equitably distribute an effective vaccine.

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Join in Introducing Legislation to Help Protect Children From Home Lead Hazards

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), along with a group of their colleagues, in introducing legislation to help families cover the cost of eliminating lead from their homes. With lead hazards lurking in an estimated 3.6 million homes of families with young children nationwide, the Home Lead Safety Tax Credit Act of 2020 would significantly broaden the national response to this public health challenge by providing refundable tax credits for homeowners, landlords, and tenants to remove lead from homes.

Shaheen & Hassan Join VA Secretary Wilkie, Dean Kamen & State and Local Officials to Welcome New Shipment of Emergency PPE for VA Facilities

(Londonderry, NH) – Today at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie, DEKA Founder Dean Kamen and New Hampshire officials in welcoming a plane carrying a large emergency shipment of personal protective equipment that will be distributed to VA health care facilities. The shipment included 11 million pairs of gloves and will help protect veterans and health care providers from the spread of COVID-19. This delivery is part of a larger order of PPE that was spearheaded by Dean Kamen. At the event, the VA also announced a new VA New England Center for Innovation Excellence (VA NECIE), which will unite industry partners and the VA to develop innovative medical treatments and devices to assist veterans. Shaheen has welcomed previous deliveries of PPE to New Hampshire, and Shaheen and Hassan continue to call for federal relief to support New Hampshire communities on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Improve VA Caregiver Program

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) caregiver program following reports that caregivers and veterans were arbitrarily discharged or downgraded from the program. The bipartisan Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for (TEAM) Veteran Caregivers Act, introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would strengthen transparency and communication for veterans and caregivers participating in the program.

Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Senators Hassan, Shaheen to Protect Seniors from Fraud Passes Senate

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen to protect seniors from fraud. The Seniors Fraud Prevention Act will help fight scams designed to rob seniors of their assets by directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to create an office to educate seniors about fraud schemes and improve the agency's monitoring and response to fraud complaints. The legislation is led in the Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

Senators Hassan and Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Federal Disaster Responder Act

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management, and Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), who also serves on the Subcommittee, introduced bipartisan legislation that will help strengthen federal disaster response. The bill ensures that when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sends federal workers for disaster response, there is not an arbitrary cap of one year for their deployment to a disaster zone.

Portman, Hassan Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize Federal Government’s Use of Latest Technology Heads to President’s Desk for a Signature

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded the Senate for passing their bipartisan Information Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act that will 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 the AI Center of Excellence (CoE) within the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide technical expertise to relevant government agencies; advise 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 Information Technology 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. The legislation now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Secure Internet-Connected Devices

WASHINGTON – The Senate passed bipartisan legislation yesterday, introduced by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Steve Daines (R-MT), to require baseline security requirements for Internet of Things (IoT) devices purchased by the federal government. Their bipartisan legislation would leverage the purchasing power of the federal government to help move the wider market for IoT devices towards greater cybersecurity. The Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and now heads to the President’s desk for signature.

NH Delegation Calls on HHS to Change Formula for CARES Act Provider Relief Fund that Unfairly Penalizes Granite State Nursing & Long-Term Care Facilities

(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) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, calling on the Department to update the methodology for distributing the next round of awards from the CARES Act’s $175 billion Provider Relief Fund to prioritize nursing homes and long-term care facilities in states like New Hampshire that have lower COVID-19 infection rates, but face serious issues with the spread of COVID-19 and mortality rates among residents of nursing facilities.

Senator Hassan Reintroduces Legislation to Provide Student Loan Debt Relief to Young Entrepreneurs Starting Innovative Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan reintroduced the Reigniting Opportunity for Innovators Act to help provide student loan debt relief to young entrepreneurs starting innovative small businesses. Senator Hassan originally introduced the bill in 2017 and it was the first piece of legislation she introduced in the Senate.

Senator Hassan and Gold Star Mother Natalie Healy of Exeter Discuss Honoring Troops Who Served in Global War on Terror Through New Memorial

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) held a Facebook Live conversation today with Gold Star mother Natalie Healy of Exeter on the importance of honoring those who served in the Global War on Terror. In 2005, Natalie’s son, Navy Seal Daniel Healy, was killed in Afghanistan after his helicopter was shot down during an attempt to rescue a SEAL reconnaissance team.

Shaheen, Hassan & Pappas Announce $257K to Safeguard NH Coastal Communities & Ecosystems Impacted by the Effects of Climate Change

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the Vice Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee which funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) that NOAA will award $257,000 to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) for the Department’s Living Shoreline Stabilization for Communities and Tidal Wetlands in the Great Bay Estuary project. The effort will support living shoreline projects that protect salt marsh habitat and coastal communities from erosion, sealevel rise and flooding, such as plants, sand or rock, in the Great Bay Estuary municipalities of Dover, Durham and Newmarket. The funding was awarded through NOAA’s 2020 National Coastal Resilience Fund and will be matched dollar for dollar.

Murkowski, Hassan Push Legislation to Extend Deadline For Communities to Spend CARES Act Funding through September 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation that extends the period during which States, Indian Tribes, territories, and local governments may use Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) payments, allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. If enacted, this bipartisan legislation will allow the relief funds to be used until September 30, 2021, rather than the original deadline of the end of this year, December 30, 2020.

Senator Hassan Leads Roundtable with NH Local Leaders to Discuss Community Needs for Additional COVID-19 Relief Package

WASHINGTON -- On Monday, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led a virtual roundtable with local leaders in New Hampshire to discuss the importance of passing an additional, comprehensive COVID-19 relief package that includes robust funding to support public health -- including mental health -- and economic recovery for individuals, businesses, and communities. The Senator was joined by Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier, Strafford County Sheriff David Dubois and Sheriff-elect Mark Brave, Lebanon City Manager Shaun Mulholland, and Cheshire County Administrator Chris Coates.

Shaheen, NH Delegation Announce $685K for UNH Workforce Training Program for Rural Educators Amid COVID-19

(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) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the University of New Hampshire was awarded a $685,000 federal grant to bolster workforce training for rural educators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant invests in UNH’s “4-H Northeast Collaborative Closing the Gap” program and was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which Senator Shaheen fights to bolster resources for each year in government funding legislation.