Duckworth & Hassan: VA Inspector General Must Investigate Potential Legal & Ethics Violations at Trump’s VA

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) decision to probe whether several wealthy friends of Donald Trump improperly influenced policy decisions at VA, including its electronic health records modernization project as a ProPublica investigation revealed earlier this year. The Senators also reiterated their call for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG) to launch a full investigation into how Trump’s friends, who are not government employees and have little relevant experience, have inappropriately dictated a number of VA actions and used the department to advance their own business and personal interests. The VA IG had previously told Duckworth and Hassan they will evaluate whether VA officials inappropriately used private email to conduct government business in response to Duckworth and Hassan’s request for an investigation.

Shaheen & Hassan Respond to Findings for Northeast Region in Federal Climate Change Report

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Trump administration released on Friday a report on the effects of climate change, which includes specific findings for the Northeast region. The report details the profound impact climate change is having, and will continue to have, on the region’s environment, economy and public health:  

Senator Hassan Participates in Field Hearing on Columbia Gas Pipeline Explosions

LAWRENCE, MA – Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today questioned executives from Columbia Gas and its parent company, NiSource, as well as federal regulators, about the natural gas pipeline explosions and fires that occurred on September, 13, 2018, in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts. The incident left one person dead, more than two dozen injured, and damaged more than 100 structures, including 5 homes.

Shaheen & Hassan Applaud Army Corps Approval of Hampton-Seabrook Harbor Emergency Dredging

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statement in response to the Army Corps of Engineers’ (The Corps) release of their fiscal year 2019 work plan, which includes $4.6 million to move emergency dredging efforts for Hampton-Seabrook Harbor.

Kuster, Hassan Join Survivor Advocates to Highlight Negative Impact of DeVos Rollback of Title IX

(Concord, NH) – Today at the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV) headquarters, Representative Annie Kuster (NH-02) and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined survivor advocates from the NHCADSV, the University of New Hampshire Prevention Innovations Research Center, Keene State College, Colby Sawyer College, Plymouth State University, and Rivier University to highlight the potential negative impacts of the proposed changes to Title IX announced on Friday by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. The suggested changes to Title IX include narrowing the definition of sexual harassment, establishing a higher legal standard on which to hold schools accountable for ignoring wrongdoing, and constraining the purview schools have to investigate accusations against students. Title IX mandates equal opportunity to education without regard to gender, and empowers schools, colleges, and universities to improve resources for survivors and conduct internal investigations into reported incidents of sexual violence.

Shaheen & Hassan Demand Documents on EPA’s Abrupt Dismissal of Scientists from Advisory Committees

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) yesterday demanded information and documents from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about its recent dismissal and appointment of members to its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and its decision to disband two key scientific air pollution advisory panels. They also raised concerns about the EPA’s nomination of 174 individuals, some with troubling backgrounds and financial ties, to the EPA’s Science Advisory Board. Shaheen and Hassan joined Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and a group of senators to point out that the scientists on federal advisory committees are supposed to provide independent, scientific, and technical advice to EPA administrators on major agency programs.

Senator Hassan Statement on Sanctions Against Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Treasury’s announcement that it has imposed sanctions on 17 Saudi Arabian officials over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi:

Senator Hassan to Nominee for Director of ICE: “We have the capacity in the United States of America to control our borders without harming children"

WASHINGTON – As a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Maggie Hassan today questioned Ronald Vitiello during his nomination hearing to become the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Senator Hassan specifically pressed the nominee on the long-term health impacts on children that result from detaining families indefinitely and separating children from their parents, as well as ICE’s treatment of members of New Hampshire’s Indonesian community.

NH Delegation Announces Additional $2.4 Million In VAWA Funding

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) announced an additional $2,441,735 in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women. Shaheen, the lead Democrat of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, has led efforts in Congress to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and has secured historic federal funding through the yearly appropriations process to fund the Office on Violence Against Women. The New Hampshire delegation previously announced $449,139 to Strafford County, and the additional grants announced today include $1,447,290 to the State of New Hampshire, $457,243 to Grafton County, $238,112 to the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, and $299,090 to the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success. The grant funding awarded to New Hampshire for Fiscal Year 2018 totals $2,890,874.

Warren, Markey Lead Massachusetts, New England Delegations in Unveiling Resolution Honoring Boston Red Sox World Series Victory

Washington, DC - Massachusetts Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey today led the New England Senate delegation and the Massachusetts Congressional delegation in introducing a resolution to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their 2018 World Series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The resolution, which recognizes the Red Sox players, coaching staff, and management for their contributions to the team's historic season, thanks the world champions for their dedication to the City of Boston and all of Red Sox Nation.

Senator Hassan Statement on EPA Draft Toxicity Assessments for PFAS Chemicals

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft toxicity assessments for GenX and PFBS, which are both under the class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The assessments found levels at which exposure to the chemicals can create health issues:

Senator Hassan Votes to Approve Bipartisan Reauthorization of the U.S. Coast Guard

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today voted to approve bipartisan legislation to reauthorize, strengthen, and support the U.S. Coast Guard.

Shaheen, Hassan & Shea-Porter Announce $136K to Support NH Coastal Communities & Ecosystems

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee which funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) today that NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will award $136,242 to the New Hampshire Nature Conservancy for the Tidal Crossing Replacements for a Resilient Coastal New Hampshire project, which will be matched dollar for dollar. The funding will be awarded through the 2018 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), and will support the New Hampshire project to design high-priority tidal crossings across New Hampshire’s coastal zone to enhance Seacoast communities and ecosystems.

Senator Hassan Hosts Innovate NH Entrepreneurship Forum

MANCHESTER – Building on her efforts to make it easier to start up and grow innovative businesses in the Granite State, Senator Maggie Hassan today hosted the Innovate NH Entrepreneurship Forum featuring interactive workshops for entrepreneurs from across the state.

Shaheen Leads Letter to Army Secretary Advocating for USS Thresher Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led a letter with Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) urging Secretary of the Army Mark Esper to consider the USS Thresher Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Project to establish a monument honoring the 129 men who perished aboard the USS Thresher, a submarine that sank off the coast of New England on April 10, 1963. April 10, 2018 marked the 55^th anniversary of the tragedy.

Senator Hassan Participates in Veterans Day Events Across the Granite State

WINDHAM – Senator Maggie Hassan today participated in the Windham High School National Honor Society’s annual Veterans Day Assembly, where she spoke with students and recognized the veterans and service members who have sacrificed bravely in defense of America’s freedoms.

Senator Hassan Meets with New Hampshire National Guard Leadership, Reaffirms Commitment to Providing Support and Resources They Need

CONCORD – Senator Maggie Hassan today met with New Hampshire National Guard (NHNG) leadership to discuss their legislative priorities and reaffirm her commitment to providing the NHNG with the support and resources they need. 

Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump Forcing Jeff Sessions to Resign

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today after President Trump forced Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign and appointed Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting Attorney General:

Shaheen, Hassan & Kuster Announce $400,000 Department of Energy Grant For Dartmouth Solar Research Project

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) that the Department of Energy will award Dartmouth College $400,000 to support a new research project that advances early-stage solar technologies to lower electricity costs and create jobs in the solar economy.

At Annual Woodbury School Veterans Day Ceremony, Senator Hassan Emphasizes Importance of Supporting Veterans and their Families

SALEM – During this morning’s annual Woodbury School Veterans Day Ceremony, Senator Maggie Hassan commended veterans and their families for their courageous sacrifice in defense of the country’s freedoms, and emphasized to students the importance of supporting and honoring veterans and continuing their tradition of service in order to keep America safe and strong. The Senator also called on students to protect and strengthen American values as a way to honor veterans in New Hampshire and across the country.