Shaheen, Hassan Announce New Legislation to Scale Up Made in America Production of Medical Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment For Hospitals and Health Care Workers

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced new legislation with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to expedite the procurement of medical equipment, under the Defense Production Act (DPA), to combat the spread of coronavirus. Despite multiple announcements, President Donald Trump has not utilized the federal government’s entire authority under DPA, so Shaheen, Hassan and Baldwin’s legislation would require the President to do so in order to quickly tap into the industrial base to produce and ensure access to supplies, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), for health care workers on the frontlines of this pandemic.

Shaheen, Hassan & Baldwin Call for No Junk Plans Act and Enrollment Assistance in Economic Stimulus Response Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are leading a letter to Senate leadership calling for the COVID-19 economic stimulus response legislation to include the No Junk Plans Act, as well as a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and additional funding for outreach and enrollment. This would overturn the Trump administration’s expansion of junk health insurance plans that don’t have to provide comprehensive health care coverage and help ensure that Americans have the ability to sign up for coverage during this public health emergency.

Shaheen, Hassan Call for Increased Funding for Schools and Education Support Professionals Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and their colleagues in calling for increased federal funding for schools and school employees, such as cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and custodians, who are working overtime to support their communities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As the pandemic continues, schools are continuing to provide essential services in their communities, from providing meals to implementing distance learning to serving as community hubs. Given these demands, the senators wrote to Senate appropriators to request additional funding for schools and their employees.

Hassan Joins Shaheen, Bipartisan Group of Northern Border Senators in Call to President to Address Impact of U.S-Canada Border Closure and Quarantines on Medical & Other Essential Supply Chains

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan joined a bipartisan group of Senators representing states along the United States-Canada border in a letter led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen to President Trump calling on him to consider necessary exemptions to protect public health and safety for businesses and individuals affected by travel restrictions from closing the U.S.-Canadian border, as well as enforcement mandated by quarantines. The bipartisan letter highlights concerns regarding the border closure’s effect on the supply chains of companies that produce or provide essential goods and services. The northern border closure began March 21^st. The letter also urges the President to consider the impact on families living in border communities.

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Introduce Bill to Help Mitigate COVID-19 Risk to Seniors and People with Disabilities

WASHINGTON – Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen joined with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to introduce a bill to mitigate the risks that COVID-19 poses to seniors and people who experience disabilities. The Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act would address critical health and financial needs of older adults, people with disabilities, home health workers and family caregivers.

Governor and NH Congressional Delegation Urge President to Help Speed Up the Distribution and Production of Critical Medical Supplies

WASHINGTON - New Hampshire's Governor and Congressional Delegation today urged President Trump to take additional action to swiftly get critical medical supplies such as personal protective equipment, swabs for diagnostic testing, and ventilators to New Hampshire and states across the country. The letter from Governor Sununu, Senators Hassan and Shaheen, and Representatives Kuster and Pappas thanks President Trump for his announcement today that he will use the Defense Production Act to help … Continue Reading

Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic, Hassan, Peters, Stabenow, Shaheen, Introduce Bill to Support Small Business Lending

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Maggie Hassan (NH) today reintroduced legislation to support small business lending as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to negatively impact small businesses in Michigan and across the country. The Small Business Access to Capital Act will reauthorize and improve the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) which helps small businesses grow and create jobs. SSBCI funds the Michigan Economic Dev… Continue Reading

Senator Hassan, Colleagues Call on Health Insurance Companies to Cover COVID-19 Treatment for Presumptive Positive Cases

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led her colleagues today in writing to major health insurance companies urging them to cover testing and treatment for presumptive positive COVID-19 patients as they would for confirmed positive COVID-19 patients. The letter helps to address the disparity in coverage for those whose doctors have ordered tests and treatments for their patients given COVID-19 symptoms, but who c… Continue Reading

Shaheen & Hassan Statements on 2020 Grant Award to Assist New Hampshire in Battling the Substance Use Crisis

(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that New Hampshire will receive $28 million in federal funding through State Opioid Response (SOR) grants for substance use disorder treatment in 2020. For the first time, this grant funding can be used to help those with meth and cocaine dependencies thanks to a provision that Senator Shaheen recently secured in government funding legislation in December.

Senator Hassan Leads Group of Colleagues in Urging Department of Labor to Provide Support for Workers Who Experience Disabilities During COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led a group of her colleagues in urging the Department of Labor to better support workers who experience disabilities and who may be at particular risk as a result of COVID-19. The letter was also signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

Senator Hassan Statement on Introducing New Legislation to Suspend SBA Loans for 6 Months, Provide Financial Reprieve to NH Small Businesses Financially Impacted by Coronavirus

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement after joining Senator Jeanne Shaheen and other colleagues in introducing legislation to ensure every small business with a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA) would be relieved of their loan payments—including principal, interest, and fees—for the next six months. The Small Business Debt Relief Act of 2020 would be a lifeline for a wide range of American small businesses fighting for their survival over the coming months.

Hassan, Shaheen Urge Federal Communications Commission To Expand Access To Telehealth Services For Rural Communities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase support to health care providers through the Rural Health Care Program to help them deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shaheen, Hassan Introduce Bill to Help Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers during Coronavirus Public Health Emergency

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced with their colleagues the MEP Crisis Response Act of 2020, which would help Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers stay open during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

NH Delegation Applauds SBA Administrator’s Approval of State Emergency Declaration Request Which will Release Support to Granite State Small Businesses

(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) issued the following statements after Small Business Administrator (SBA) Jovita Carranza signed New Hampshire’s emergency declaration to allow Granite State small businesses to be eligible for the full suite of emergency resources through the SBA, as firms mitigate financial hardships due to the spread of the coronavirus. The New Hampshire delegation called on the SBA earlier this week to approve the emergency declaration.

Senator Hassan Recognizes All Granite Staters as March’s Granite Staters of the Month for Response to COVID-19

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today took to the Senate floor to recognize all Granite Staters as March’s Granite Staters of the Month for coming together during the COVID-19 pandemic to try to slow the spread of the virus and help those in need. The senator emphasized the importance of supporting one another through difficult times and highlighted some of the ways that Granite Staters have been pulling together to help those in their communities.

Shaheen & Hassan Statement After Legislation to Bring Financial Relief to Workers and Families Passes the Senate

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after bipartisan legislation to provide economic support to families and communities financially impacted by the coronavirus passed the Senate:

Shaheen, Hassan Join Group of Senators in Call for Direct Cash Assistance to Help Americans Weather Economic Fallout of Coronavirus Outbreak

(Washington, DC) – As the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak escalates, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) sent a letter today with a group of Senators led by Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlining a bold new proposal to provide Americans with direct cash payments.

NH Congressional Delegation Calls on SBA to Approve State’s Emergency Declaration to Support NH Small Businesses

(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) called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue an emergency declaration to ensure New Hampshire small businesses are eligible for the full suite of emergency resources available through the SBA.

Shaheen, Hassan Press Coronavirus Task Force on Situation in Nursing Homes

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are pressing the Coronavirus Task Force for answers on their preparedness and response plans to protect nursing home residents, workers and their families. With their colleagues, the Senators sent a letter to the Trump administration regarding the steps the administration is taking to protect the health and safety of these Americans.

Shaheen, Hassan Urge Trump to Immediately Maximize Telework for Federal Workers

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with 25 of their colleagues, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing federal agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the administration has issued guidance recommending federal agencies expand their telework capabilities, many federal employees are still required to go to work in-person when they have the capacity to do their job from home. As part of their guidelines to combat and contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health experts are recommending the practice of social distancing. The Senators are calling on the federal government to lead by example and cease all policies that could endanger the health and safety of its employees and exacerbate the spread of this disease.