Press Releases
Shaheen, Hassan Introduce Legislation to Overhaul Broken VA Appeals Process
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today joined a group of 17 Senators in introducing legislation to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs' broken appeals process. The process has not been updated since 1933, and more than 450,000 appeals are currently pending. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. By replacing the current process, the Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act would expedite appeals before the Board of Veterans Appeals and give veterans clear options after receiving an initial decision.
… Continue ReadingMarch 23, 2017
In Hearing, Senator Hassan Underscores the Threat Budget Cuts Would Pose on Coast Guard’s Role in Drug Interdiction Efforts
WASHINGTON - As part of her efforts to keep New Hampshire and America safe, secure, and free, Senator Hassan highlighted the negative impactthat budget cuts to the Coast Guard wouldhave on the Coast Guard's role indrug interdictionand counterterrorism efforts.During a hearing of the Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard yesterday, Senator Hassan spoke out against cuts the Trump Administration has reportedly been considering to the Coast Guard's budget. The President's budget outline made no mention of the levels at which the Coast Guard would be funded.
… Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2017
Senator Hassan Highlights Need for Enhanced Protections Against Cyber Attacks on Companies like Dyn
Senator Hassan Highlights Need for Enhanced Protections Against Cyber Attacks on Companies like Dyn Senator Also Discusses Russian Use of "Bots" to Influence Discourse on Social Media Watch video of Senator Hassan's questioning here. WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan questioned witnesses at the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on emerging technologies for cybersecurity about the need to enhance protections and safeguards against distributed-denial-of-service… Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues, Advocates for Disability Community in Speaking Out Against Trumpcare
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), former Senator Tom Harkin, members of the disability community, and advocates for a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol highlighting the devastating impact Trumpcare would have on Granite Staters and Americans who experience disabilities.
… Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2017
Senator Hassan Statement on Most Important SCOTUS Decision for People with Disabilities in a Decade
WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 8-0 in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, the most important Supreme Court decision for people with disabilities in a decade. The decision affirms that school districts must ensure that students who experience disabilities receive an education that is "appropriately ambitious" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
… Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2017
Senator Hassan Presses Secretary of Labor Nominee Alex Acosta on Workplace Safety and Protections for Workers who Experience Disabilities
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan participated in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing for Alex Acosta, President Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Labor.
… Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2017
Shaheen, Hassan Call for Reversal of Proposed EPA Cuts That Would Devastate Americans’ Clean Air and Water
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a group of 36 Senators in opposing President Trump's proposal to inflict a more than 30 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget.
… Continue ReadingMarch 22, 2017
Senator Hassan’s Statement on the Passing of State Senator Scott McGilvray
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on the passing of New Hampshire State Senator Scott McGilvray:
… Continue ReadingMarch 21, 2017
At HELP Committee Hearing, Senator Hassan Questions FDA on Designation of Certain Opioids as “Abuse Deterrent”
WASHINGTON - Today, Senator Maggie Hassan participated in a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing where she questioned an FDA official on the designation of certain opioids as "abuse deterrent" and pushed the FDA to engage in efforts to combat the substance misuse crisis. Senator Hassan pointed out that designating particular opioids as "abuse deterrent" is misleading because these products are just as addictive as other opioids.
… Continue ReadingMarch 21, 2017
Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Hearing Aids Available Over the Counter
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), today reintroduced legislation to make hearing aids for those with mild to moderate hearing loss available over the counter (OTC). A companion bill led by Representatives Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) was also introduced in the House.
… Continue ReadingMarch 21, 2017
In Letter to Leader McConnell, Shaheen and Hassan Call Trumpcare Disastrous for New Hampshire’s Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic
WASHINGTON - As New Hampshire continues to combat the devastating opioid epidemic, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) joined a group of 19 senators in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on him not to take up any legislation that would further harm individuals struggling with an opioid use disorder. The repeal of the Affordable Care Act could strip health care coverage from millions of Americans suffering from a substance use disorder, including thousands of Granite Staters. In the letter, the senators point to the fact that 12 percent of adult Medicaid beneficiaries live with some form or a substance abuse disorder, and Medicaid finances one-third of the medication-assisted treatment administered for opioid and other substance use disorders in the country.
… Continue ReadingMarch 17, 2017
Senator Hassan Joins in Reintroducing the Healthy Families Act to Allow Workers to Earn Paid Sick Days
WASHINGTON - This week, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined her colleagues in the Senate and House in introducing theHealthy Families Act, which would allow Granite State workers to earn paid sick leave to use when they are sick, to care for a loved one, to obtain preventative care, or to address the impacts of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Currently, 41 million workers across the nation do not have access to paid sick leave, forcing them to take time off with no pay, and at times even risk their jobs when they or a loved one is sick.
… Continue ReadingMarch 16, 2017
Senator Hassan Statement on Trump Budget Proposal to Eliminate Northern Border Regional Commission
WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on President Trump's budget proposal to completely eliminate the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC). The NBRC has invested millions of dollars to help spur economic and community development in northern New Hampshire, and it has provided funding to increase access to substance misuse services.
… Continue ReadingMarch 16, 2017
Senator Hassan: Trump’s Budget is Built for Corporate Special Interests, Would Hurt New Hampshire’s Middle Class Families and Economic Priorities
WASHINGTON - Senator Hassan released the following statement on President Trump's proposed budget:
… Continue ReadingMarch 16, 2017
Senator Hassan Applauds Action by United Nations to Regulate Dangerous Precursor Chemicals of Fentanyl
WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs voted to put precursor chemicals of fentanyl under international control and regulation by designating them as Table 1 substances.
… Continue ReadingMarch 15, 2017
Senator Maggie Hassan Statement on the Confirmation of Former Senator Dan Coats to Serve as Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after voting to confirm Senator Dan Coats as Director of National Intelligence:
… Continue ReadingMarch 15, 2017
Senate Committee Votes to Approve Bipartisan Measure Introduced by Senator Hassan to Maintain Fiscal Responsibility and Improve Efficiency in Federal Spending
WASHINGTON - Today, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted to approve a bipartisan measure Senator Hassan (D-NH) joined in introducing to help maintain fiscal responsibility by improving transparency about federal government spending. Senator Hassan serves as a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
… Continue ReadingMarch 15, 2017
Senator Maggie Hassan Delivers Maiden Floor Speech, Focuses on Efforts to Combat the Heroin, Opioid, and Fentanyl Epidemic
WASHINGTON - Calling attention to the importance of working across party lines to combat the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisisand the need for continued federal action, Senator Maggie Hassan today delivered her first official speech on the U.S. Senate floor.
… Continue ReadingMarch 14, 2017
Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues in Calling on Education Department to Explain Delay of Gainful Employment Rule
WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a group of her Senate colleagues in calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to explain the Department's decision to delay the implementation of the Gainful Employment rule, which cracks down on for-profit higher education institutions that fail to prepare students for good-paying jobs that allow them to repay their student debt. Last week, the Department of Education announced it would postpone the deadline for failing schools to submit appeals of their debt-to-earnings rates and delay the use of a new disclosure template to provide students better information about their programs.
… Continue ReadingMarch 14, 2017
Senator Maggie Hassan Statement on the Resignation of U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire Emily Gray Rice
CONCORD - Senator Maggie Hassan issued the following statement on the resignation of U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire Emily Gray Rice, who was among the 46 U.S. Attorneys asked to resign last week by the Trump Administration:
… Continue Reading