Senator Hassan Underscores Urgent Need for Increased Federal Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic During Hearing on the Crisis

Senator Maggie Hassan participated today in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing with substance misuse experts, medical professionals, and public safety officials where she underscored the urgent need for increased federal funding to address the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid epidemic. Senator Hassan also highlighted the critical role that prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and New Hampshire’s Safe Stations play in combatting substance misuse.

Senator Hassan Presses HHS Secretary Nominee Alex Azar on Need for Additional Funding to Combat the Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan participated today in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on the nomination of former pharmaceutical company executive Alex Azar to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Senator Hassan pressed Azar on the need for more federal opioid funding for the hardest hit states like New Hampshire, and raised concerns about his commitment to lowering skyrocketing prescription drug prices given his close ties to pharmaceutical companies. 

Senator Hassan Applauds More Than $650,000 in Federal Funds for NH Department of Safety to Combat Fentanyl, Heroin, and Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today applauded the announcement that the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of State Police, a $688,856 grant to help combat the devastating fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis in New Hampshire.  In August, Senator Hassan wrote a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions supporting New Hampshire’s grant request through the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program (AHTF) from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office under the U.S. Department of Justice. 

As Homeland Security Committee Roundtable, Senator Hassan Highlights Importance of Restoring DEA Enforcement Power Over Drug Distributors in Fight Against Substance Misuse

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today participated in a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee roundtable discussion focused on “Restoring the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Power Over Drug Distributors.” Senator Hassan helped introduce legislation repealing the 2016 law following media reports indicating that the DEA personnel believe that the bill restricted the ability of the DEA to crack down on opioid distributors suspected of wrongdoing. 

Senator Hassan Statement on Court Order Delaying Deportation of Indonesian Community Members

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after Chief Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued an order delaying the deportation of New Hampshire’s Indonesian community members in order to give them time to make their legal case:

Senator Hassan Meets with Secretary of Health and Human Services Nominee Alex Azar

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, met today with Alex Azar, President Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Hassan pressed Mr. Azar on the importance of addressing skyrocketing prescription drug costs, and the need to take urgent action to support states like New Hampshire that have been hardest hit by the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis.

Senator Hassan and Colleagues Press DoD and VA to Protect Veterans and Service Members at Bridgepoint Education’s Ashford University

WASHINGTON— Senator Maggie Hassan and a group of her colleagues today urged the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take steps to protect service members using Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits and veterans using GI Bill benefits at Bridgepoint Education’s Ashford University in light of the company’s impending loss of VA Post-9/11 GI Bill approval. On November 9th, the VA notified Ashford that it is not in compliance with GI Bill eligibility requirements related to state approval and has 60 days to come into compliance or lose eligibility.

Shaheen, Hassan Announce $500K in Federal Funds for NH Police Departments

(Washington, DC)—Today, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), announced $500,000 in federal funding for the Lebanon, Farmington and Laconia Police Departments to hire additional law enforcement officers and invest in community policing efforts. The funding was awarded through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), which is managed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Senator Hassan Statement on White House Report on Economic Impact of Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement today following a report from the White House finding that the opioid epidemic cost the economy more than $500 billion in 2015:

At Ruderman Inclusion Summit, Senator Hassan Calls for Continued Action to Fully Include Individuals Who Experience Disabilities

BOSTON – Senator Maggie Hassan participated today in the 2017 Ruderman Inclusion Summit, an annual gathering of advocates, stakeholders, and policymakers to advance the full inclusion of individuals who experience disabilities in our society, including at home, in school, and at work. 

Senator Hassan, Congresswoman Kuster, Mayor Donchess Highlight How Republican Tax Bill Leaves Middle Class Families Behind

NASHUA – Senator Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Annie Kuster and Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess today highlighted how the Republican tax bills, which give tax breaks to big corporations and the wealthiest few at the expense of middle class Americans, would hurt Granite Staters. They were joined by Ken Ferreira, associate vice president for student financial services at Franklin Pierce University; Lisa Henderson, executive director of LeadingAge Maine & NH; and Adria Bagshaw, vice president of W.H. Bagshaw Co., Inc.

Senator Hassan Leads Group of Colleagues in Letter to Trump on Nominating Key Leaders for Office of Science and Technology Policy

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan led a group of her colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump calling on him to finally appoint well-qualified science and technology experts to fill key positions at the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 

Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump’s Nomination of Scott Murray as U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement today after President Trump announced the nomination of Merrimack County Attorney Scott Murray to serve as the U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire:

National Defense Authorization Act with Important New Hampshire Priorities Supported by Senator Hassan Sent to President for Signature

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act, which includes key priorities for New Hampshire that Senator Hassan fought to include. The bipartisan bill is now on its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

Senator Hassan Statement on Al Franken

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on Senator Al Franken:

Senator Hassan Announces Substance Misuse Advocate Linda Saunders Paquette as “Granite Stater of the Month” for November

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan announced today that Linda Saunders Paquette, of Contoocook, is the “Granite Stater of the Month” for November. Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative earlier this year to recognize exemplary New Hampshire citizens who stand out for their contributions to their community. 

Shaheen and Hassan Call on DHS to Accept DACA Applications Delayed by Postal Service

(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a group of 24 Democratic Senators in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressing their concern with recent reports that DHS has rejected renewal requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that were received after the application deadline due to U.S. Postal Service processing delays, and called on the Department to take immediate action to reverse this decision.  

Senator Hassan Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Breastfeeding Protections at Work

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Maggie Hassan announced that she helped introduce the Supporting Working Moms Act of 2017. This bipartisan legislation would help ensure that more working mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies after they return to work. 

Senator Hassan on GOP Plan to Raise Health Care Premiums as Part of Tax Bill

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on Washington Republicans’ plans to include a repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate as part of their tax bill: 

Senator Hassan Votes Against Kirstjen Nielsen’s Nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security in HSGAC Committee

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after voting in opposition to the nomination of President Trump’s nomine for the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, in the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.