Shaheen & Hassan Respond to Trump Administration's Decision to Not Prioritize Hardest-Hit States, Including NH, for Opioid Funding

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statements after the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would not revise the state formula for determining Opioid State Targeted Response grants, which were included in the 21^st Century Cures legislation Congress passed last year. This formula underfunds response efforts in New Hampshire and other hard-hit states. For FY2018, the Department will continue to consider state population size, rather than rate of overdose death, as a significant factor in determining funding.

Senators Shaheen, Hassan to Trump Health Dept: Time to Drop Tom Price Era “Strategic Plan” Prioritizing Extreme Ideology Over Science

WASHINGTON – Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined their colleagues in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to revise its troubling and backward draft Plan for 2018-2022, which prioritizes ideology over science and fails to address the diverse health needs of vulnerable populations.  

Shaheen, Hassan to EPA: Show Your Work on Clean Power Plan Repeal

Washington, DC – Last week, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senate Democrats and sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt asking for more information on the agency’s decision to repeal the Clean PowerPlan. The proposal, released by the agency earlier this month, relies heavily on skewed scientific and mathematical data in order to justify repealing the Clean Power Plan.

Shaheen and Hassan Hold Press Conference to Raise Awareness of Health Insurance Open Enrollment Period

(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) held a press conference at Manchester Community Health Center to highlight the health insurance open enrollment period, which runs from November 1st through December 15th. While legislative efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have repeatedly failed, the Trump administration has accelerated attempts to sabotage the ACA, which includes ending cost-sharing reduction payments that help low and middle-income families afford insurance, repealing the birth control mandate, cutting the open enrollment period in half and shutting down the sign-up website for 12 hours nearly every Sunday of the enrollment period.

Senator Hassan, IAVA Executive Director Join Women Veterans to Highlight Need for Better Access to Quality Care for Women at VA Facilities

MANCHESTER – Senator Maggie Hassan joined Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Executive Director Allison Jaslow and women veterans in Manchester today to highlight the need for better access to quality care and services for women at Veteran Affairs facilities across the country.

Senators Shaheen, Hassan Call on Trump Administration to Ramp Up Power Restoration Efforts in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

WASHINGTON – Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined their Democratic colleagues in calling on the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite and better coordinate the on-going power restoration efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the devastating hurricanes.

During Commerce Committee Hearing, Senator Hassan Questions Witnesses from the Satellite Industry on Broadband Connectivity for Rural Granite Staters

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan questioned witnesses from the satellite industry about the importance of closing the rural-urban divide on broadband connectivity during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Technology on Wednesday. Senator Hassan highlighted what she has heard from Granite Staters, including during a Commerce field hearing she hosted in Keene earlier this month, who express frustration with their lack of broadband connectivity in rural areas of the state. 

Senator Hassan and Colleagues Urge Judiciary Committee to Invite DEA Judge to Testify at Hearing on 2016 Bill that Undermines DEA Enforcement of Opioid Distributors

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee urging them to invite Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney to provide testimony as a witness during a hearing on 2016 legislation that undermines the DEA’s enforcement of opioid distributors.

Shaheen, Hassan Introduce Legislation to Address Heroin and Fentanyl Backlog at Police Forensic Labs and Medical Examiner Offices

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced legislation to help the State Police Forensic Laboratory and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New Hampshire and their counterparts across the country that are dealing with dramatically increased demands and serious backlogs as a result of the opioid epidemic. This legislation would establish a grant program to help forensic labs and medical examiner offices around the country keep pace with their caseloads. Senators Shaheen and Hassan introduced the Combating the Heroin Epidemic Through Forensic Drug Testing Act of 2017 earlier this year, but have revised the legislation to ensure that medical examiners are also eligible for funding.

Senator Hassan Statement on President Trump Directing Acting HHS Secretary to Declare the Opioid Crisis a Public Health Emergency

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after attending President Trump’s announcement at the White House, where he directed the Acting Health and Human Services Secretary to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency:

Shaheen, Hassan Call on President to Allow Government to Negotiate Lower Prices for Naloxone, a Life-Saving Opioid Overdose Reversal Drug

Washington, DC – As the White House finalizes its emergency declaration on opioid abuse, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined their Senate colleagues to call on President Trump to follow the recommendations of his Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and allow the government to negotiate lower prices for naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug.  Drug overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 and access to naloxone is critical given the magnitude of the opioid epidemic. 

Shaheen, Hassan Join Colleagues to Unveil Legislation to Invest $45 Billion to Address Opioid Crisis

(Washington, DC) – Today, to address a number of critical shortcomings of our nation’s approach to combating the opioid epidemic, including the Administration’s unwillingness to make a long-term investment in the fight, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined 13 of their Democratic colleagues in introducing the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act. This legislation would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance and treatment of opioids. This is the same number proposed by Senate Republicans earlier this summer.

Senator Hassan on New Reports that Republican Tax Bill Will Change 401(k) Rules, Undermine Retirement Security for Working Families

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on a new report that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady has not dropped his efforts to change 401(k) rules as part of the Republican tax bill, despite calls from President Trump not to touch this middle class tax break. 

Senator Hassan Announces October “Granite Stater of the Month”

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan announced today that Rusty Talbot, of Sugar Hill, is the “Granite Stater of the Month” for October, an initiative she launched last month to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who exemplify the Granite State’s values and sense of community. 

Senator Hassan Statement on Repeal of Critical Consumer Protection Rule

Senate Passes Bipartisan Legislation Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Help Reduce National Rape Kit Backlog

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan to help reduce the national rape kit backlog. The Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act would reauthorize, strengthen, and extend the Sexual Assault Forensic Reporting program.

Senator Hassan Statement on Change in Leadership of Manchester VA Task Force

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement on Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin’s decision to change the leadership of the Manchester VA Task Force exploring how to provide full services to New Hampshire veterans. Following calls from New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation, Dr. Mike Mayo- Smith has been replaced as the Co-Chair of the Task Force by Dr. Jennifer Lee, the VA’s Deputy Under Secretary of Health for Policy and Services.

Senators Hassan, Shaheen Question EPA on Timing of Determination that Coakley Landfill Does Not Pose “Unacceptable Human Health Risk”

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sent a letter to Acting Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England Region, Deborah Szaro, questioning the timing of the EPA’s disclosure that it had determined the Coakley Landfill does not pose an “unacceptable human health risk.”

Senator Hassan Statement on FY 2018 Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after voting against the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Resolution, which paves the way for Republicans to fast-track tax legislation that would hurt hard-working Granite Staters and Americans:

Shaheen, Hassan Co-Sponsor Bipartisan Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs for Patients & Families Nationwide, Stabilize Individual Insurance Market

(Washington, DC) – Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined a bipartisan group of 24 co-sponsors, led by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Leadership, for legislation to lower premiums and improve quality of care for patients and families across the country.