Duckworth & Hassan Ask VA Inspector General to Investigate Potential Legal & Ethics Violations by Trump VA Officials

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are requesting a formal investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG) into a report that several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at VA. Last week, a ProPublica investigation revealed 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.

Senator Hassan Confronts Health and Human Services Official About Agency’s Failure to Ensure that States are Notified By Federal Agencies When Receiving Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today participated in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee hearing, where she confronted Commander Johnathan D. White, Incident Commander in the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Preparedness and Response who is tasked to lead the Unaccompanied Alien Children Reunification mission at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), about the agency’s failure to ensure that states are notified by and have support from federal agencies when an unaccompanied immigrant child is placed with a sponsor who lives in those states. 

At Senate Commerce Committee Hearing, Senator Hassan Presses FCC Chairman Pai and Commissioners on President Trump’s Portrayal of the Press As the “Enemy of the People”

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today participated in a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing, where she pressed Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai, and FCC Commissioners Michael O’Reilly, Brendan Carr, and Jessica Rosenworcel on President Trump’s portrayal of the press as the “enemy of the people.” Senator Hassan’s questioning comes as hundreds of newspapers across the country published editorials today decrying this rhetoric from the President and standing up for the freedom of the press.

Senator Hassan Joins in Introducing Legislation to Help Granite Staters and Americans Hurt by Medical Debt

WASHINGTON – As part of her efforts to help hard-working Granite Staters get ahead and stay ahead, Senator Maggie Hassan today joined her colleagues in introducing the Medical Debt Relief Act. The legislation would prevent medical debt from continuing to damage consumers’ credit scores after it has been paid off or settled, ensuring that otherwise-creditworthy consumers are able to find affordable credit to buy a home or a car or take out a loan.

Shaheen & Hassan Demand Trump Admin Uphold its Duty to Shield U.S. Troops from Predatory Lending & Financial Fraud

(Washington, DC) – In an effort to protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are urging the Trump Administration not to abandon its duty to protect our servicemembers and their families under the Military Lending Act (MLA), along with every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate. 

Plymouth to Receive More than $5.5 Million in Grants for Water System Upgrades

Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Congresswoman Annie Kuster announced that Plymouth will receive millions in grant funding and loans to make upgrades to city water infrastructure and wastewater systems. The funding and loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development include a grant of $3,450,000.00 and a loan of $5,225,000.00 to make upgrades and improvements to the town’s sewer and wastewater system as well as a grant of $2,104,000.00 and a loan of $2,568,000.00 to replace three miles of outdated and undersized mains and replace the town well field. USDA Rural Development Funding is a program authorized in the Farm Bill. As a member of the Farm Bill Conference Committee, Kuster will advocate for robust USDA Rural Development funding.

NH Delegation Statements on NH Application for Federal Opioid Response Grants

(Washington, DC) – Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster released the following statements in response to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for opioid response funding that the New Hampshire delegation helped secure. As members of the Common Sense Caucus, Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate for an additional $6 billion in opioid response resources in the budget agreement reached in February, as well as a commitment to set aside a portion of that funding to states hardest hit by the opioid crisis. Kuster and Shea-Porter pressed House leadership and senior appropriators to include increased funding to combat the opioid epidemic during budget negotiations. The delegation also led efforts to change the SAMHSA funding formula that previously put states like New Hampshire with small populations and high mortality rates from opioid overdoses, at a disadvantage. These successful efforts led to a substantial increase in funding available to New Hampshire for opioid response efforts, as the state applies for $22.9 million for each of the two years.

New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Announces $16M Grant to Improve Water Infrastructure

(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 a $16 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund Capitalization Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to improve water infrastructure and protect clean drinking water supplies. This grant is an increase of nearly $3 million from the previous year and will be used to protect water quality by financing NHDES’s construction of wastewater treatment facilities, Non-Point Source, and estuary projects throughout New Hampshire. NHDES was also awarded an additional $162,000 to fund New Hampshire’s Water Quality Management Planning program to improve contaminated water and water supplies across the state.

Senator Hassan Marks National Health Center Week at Health Care for the Homeless Manchester

MANCHESTER – Senator Maggie Hassan today marked National Health Center Week by visiting Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) Manchester, where she highlighted the critical role that community health centers play in promoting the well-being of Granite Staters and building a stronger, healthier New Hampshire.  The Senator was joined by leadership from the Catholic Medical Center and New Horizons, clinical and administrative staff from HCH, and local health care workers to discuss the importance of the clinic to providing critical primary care to Granite Staters in the region, as well as helping to combat the devastating opioid epidemic and homelessness.

Revision Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Facility, Joined by New Hampshire U.S. Senators

Portsmouth, New Hampshire (August 13, 2018) – Today Revision Military—a world leader in tactical and military eyewear, helmet systems, power management solutions, and advanced integrated soldier systems—held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Revision CEO Jonathan Blanshay was joined by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). The new facility will be located on an eight acre lot on Corporate Drive at the Pease International Tradeport. This new Center of Excellence—the Revision Advanced Warfighter Equipment Development Center—will house a warfighter experience and development lab, including simulation capabilities; a rapid prototyping lab; an integrated soldier systems development lab and offices; and an armor prototyping and development facility.

New Hampshire Delegation Urges VA Secretary Wilkie to Take Swift Action to Implement New Hampshire VA Task Force Recommendations

WASHINGTON – Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster sent a letter to the newly confirmed Veterans Affairs Secretary, Robert Wilkie, urging him to take swift action to implement the recommendations of the VA New Hampshire Vision 2025 Task Force, which was convened to reexamine VA care in New Hampshire and make recommendations for a path forward. In the letter, the delegation also formally invited Secretary Wilkie to visit New Hampshire to meet with veterans and tour New Hampshire VA facilities.

Senator Hassan Responds to Report of Mar-a-Lago “Shadow Rulers” at the Department of Veterans Affairs

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today in response to a report from ProPublica that a group of President Trump’s personal friends from Mar-a-Lago have been significantly influencing decisions about the health care of veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs:

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Cosponsor Legislation to Protect Medicare and Medicaid from Partisan Attacks

WASHINGTON – Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen cosponsored legislation last week to protect Medicare and Medicaid from partisan attacks. The Medicare and Medicaid Protection Act would require a supermajority (60 votes) to make major changes to these critical health care programs in the wake of repeated attempts from President Trump and Republicans in Congress to slash funding for these vital programs.

At Casimir Place in Nashua, Senator Hassan Emphasizes Importance of Expanding Affordable Housing for Hard-Working Granite Staters

NASHUA – Senator Maggie Hassan emphasized the importance of expanding affordable housing for hard-working Granite Staters today during a visit to Casimir Place. Casimir Place is a Neighborworks Southern New Hampshire development project that provides affordable housing funded by Section 42 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. 

Senator Maggie Hassan Calls on Jeff Woodburn to Resign Immediately

WASHINGTON -- Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on State Senator Jeff Woodburn: 

Senator Hassan Statement on Chris Weeks

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement on the passing of Chris Weeks of Keene:

Bipartisan Bill Supported by Senator Hassan to Improve Cybersecurity Resources for Small Businesses Heads to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Cybersecurity Act, which will provide a consistent set of resources for small businesses to best protect their digital assets from cybersecurity threats. Senator Hassan cosponsored the bill as part of her efforts to support New Hampshire’s innovative small businesses, which are the backbone of the Granite State’s economy, and are unfortunately a major target for cyberattacks. 

Senator Hassan Leads Letter Asking the Office of Government Ethics to Review Problematic Legal Expense Fund Set Up for Trump Personnel Involved in Russia Investigation

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today led a letter to the newly confirmed director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Emory Rounds, reiterating the importance of reviewing the agency’s earlier guidance regarding the highly problematic Patriot Legal Expense Fund Trust, LLC. This fund was established in order to help pay the legal expenses incurred by members of President Trump’s administration and campaign staff who are involved in the ongoing investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. 

Senator Hassan Votes to Approve Final National Defense Bill with Critical Priorities for New Hampshire

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today voted to approve the final version of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes critical New Hampshire priorities championed by the Senator and makes important investments to improve national security.

Senator Hassan and Colleagues from Both Parties Urge Trump Administration to Provide More Information on Family Reunification Process

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today joined more than a dozen of her Republican and Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the Attorney General and Secretaries of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting more information about the reunification of families that were separated at the border.