In The News
Planned Parenthood national president thanks NH delegation for support
by Doug Alden
CONCORD - The national president of Planned Parenthood visited New Hampshire on Monday, thanking members of the Granite State's congressional delegation for their support of women's health initiatives and their opposition to pending restrictions to a federal funding program set to take effect next month. After touring a health center in Derry, Dr. Leana Wen spoke to a gathering at New England College's Concord campus about the potential ramifications that a so-called domestic gag rule on Ti… Continue Reading
April 18, 2019
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: The Affordable Care Act protects millions yet it is under attack again
by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
As you may know, the Trump administration is accelerating its efforts to undo the Affordable Care Act in federal court. I'd like to share with you some of the ways I and my Democratic colleagues are working to protect your health care and the expanded coverage and reduced costs the ACA has brought to millions of Americans. It's been nearly nine years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Thanks to this landmark legislation, we've cut the uninsured share of the population by alm… Continue Reading
April 18, 2019
Shaheen: Women’s rights vital to foreign policy
by John Doyle
DURHAM -- Protecting women's rights must be "a pillar" of American foreign policy, according to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Reflecting on a recent trip to Afghanistan, Shaheen said "probably the No. 1 success" she has seen since the start of U.S. intervention in 2003 has been the progress women have made. "It's not unilateral, it's not across the board," Shaheen said. "But girls are now in school, women are in the universities. Nearly one-third of the Afghan Parliament is composed of wome… Continue Reading
April 15, 2019
Shaheen, Warren push for free tax filing service from IRS
by Ethan DeWitt
Tax filing season is a haven for the organized. For those whose record keeping is below par or those who are punctuality-challenged, it can quickly turn to a nightmare. It can also become fairly expensive. While some free tax filing options exist, anyone looking to maximize their deductions often pay between $30 to $100 for a basic online service, and potentially much more for in-person assistance. This year, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is among a handful of Democrats looking to provide … Continue Reading
April 15, 2019
Shaheen joins trio of senators visit Afghanistan, Iraq
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said Monday that based on what she heard during a trip to Afghanistan, she's encouraged that female leaders there are pushing hard for peace. The New Hampshire senator talked to reporters by phone from Iraq after she and two fellow Democratic senators spent two days in Afghanistan. During their trip, they met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, U.S. military officials and prominent Afghan women, including an award-winning film producer… Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Shaheen bill to address military exposure to PFAS
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is introducing the bipartisan PFAS Registry Act Wednesday with U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. The legislation seeks to create a national database for service members and veterans who have experienced health problems that are possibly connected to exposures to PFAS chemicals. The bill would allow military personnel and veterans to receive updates on recent scientific developments on the effects of PFAS exposure, possible treatment options and information on … Continue Reading
April 06, 2019
Your Turn, NH: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen -- The shipyard is more vital than ever to our national security
by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Three weeks before Granite Staters and the nation went to the polls to elect the 45th President of the United States, then-candidate Donald Trump stood on stage just three miles from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and promised the crowd, "Mexico will pay for the wall - 100 percent." As we all know, the President has since abandoned all pretense of our southern neighbor paying for the wall and has instead pursued a misguided plan that is not only unconstitutional, but could be detrimental to local… Continue Reading
April 04, 2019
Bipartisan bill calls for sanctions if China doesn't crack down on fentanyl
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators, including one from New Hampshire, wants to make sure China delivers on its promise to crack down on fentanyl. Earlier this week, China announced that it will now regulate all variations of fentanyl as controlled substances, closing a loophole that was feeding illegal, overseas demand for fentanyl and related drugs. On Thursday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., joined fellow Democrats and Republicans in introducing a sanctions bill that would penalize C… Continue Reading
April 02, 2019
Democratic lawmakers call on Trump to end attacks on Affordable Care Act
by Ray Brewer
WASHINGTON - About two dozen Democratic lawmakers, including New Hampshire U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, called on the Trump administration on Tuesday to halt its fight to have the Affordable Care Act thrown out. The lawmakers stood on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court and called on President Donald Trump to end attempts to get rid of the ACA. Trump has claimed that people with pre-existing conditions will not have to worry about losing their health care, but lawmakers said they will have no pr… Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Sen. Shaheen introduces three bills related to health insurance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is introducing three bills designed to help people who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. One bill would reduce deductibles and increase cost-sharing assistance, another would help control costs for patients who need out-of-network care and the third would expand who qualifies for premium tax credits. "What we're trying to do is expand help for people who need help with the cost of coverage, and it would be done on … Continue Reading
March 25, 2019
Delegation Urges Trump To Spare Portsmouth Shipyard Projects From Border Wall Funding Pool
by Annie Ropeik
Federal lawmakers want Portsmouth Naval Shipyard spared from budget cuts tied to plans for a wall at the southern border. President Trump hopes to use his recent emergency declaration to reallocate potentially billions of dollars from military projects and other funding areas. In a recent fact sheet, the Department of Defense says it won't consider tapping into any projects slated for funding before September. The upcoming projects listed the Seacoast shipyard, which employs thousands of peop… Continue Reading
March 21, 2019
NH gets nearly $12M to fight opioid epidemic
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire's congressional delegation and Gov. Chris Sununu are welcoming nearly $12 million in additional funding to fight the opioid epidemic. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced the funding Wednesday. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the resources will help save lives. Sen. Maggie Hassan said she's pleased the Trump administration heeded calls for additional funding. Rep. Annie Kuster said the funding will help bolster local efforts to e… Continue Reading
March 20, 2019
Senators inquire about DOD, EPA stance on PFAS
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH -- U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan sent a letter to leaders of the Department of Defense and Environmental Protection Agency requesting they release communications they had with the White House about PFAS chemicals. Shaheen and Hassan were among 16 senators who sent the letter to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler concerning the establishment of federal drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals. The letter follows media rep… Continue Reading
March 19, 2019
Congressional delegation vows to fight for NBRC funding
by Barbara Tetreault
COOS COUNTY - The state's congressional delegation is vowing to fight President Donald Trump's budget plan to eliminate funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission. Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget proposal eliminates funding for the commission, which provides money for economic and community development projects in northern sections of New England and New York. Since 2010, the commission has awarded over $10 million to 59 projects in New Hampshire. All projects are required to … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Shaheen seeks help to stop youth vaping
by Brian Early
DOVER -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen met with a panel that included student members of Dover Youth to Youth Friday to talk about her legislation that would impose fees on manufacturers and importers of e-cigarettes. Shaheen, a Democrat who lives in Madbury, also sought the advice of the students during a roundtable discussion at the Gourmet Table in the Dover High School on how to best educate youth about the dangers of using e-cigarettes. Shaheen recently introduced federal legislation called the E-c… Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Shaheen, Collins, reintroduce diabetes management bill
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Maine Sen. Susan Collins have reintroduced a bill to expand Medicare coverage for diabetes management. The bill would allow diabetes educators to help train Medicare patients on how to manage their glucose, maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy foods, and manage their insulin levels. Shaheen, a Democrat, said the training has been shown to reduce diabetic-related health risks. Collins, a Republican, said it would lower the cost of health care by preventin… Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Shaheen questions defense secretary on PFAS safeguards
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen questioned Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan Thursday about a published report that states the Pentagon is lobbying the Trump administration to adopt a weaker standard for PFAS chemicals. The New York Times reported the Pentagon is lobbying the administration to weaken the PFAS standard for groundwater as the Environmental Protection Agency is working to set tougher standards. Shaheen, D-N.H., told Shanahan she was "quite concerned" about the New Yo… Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Army Corps’ budget includes $200K for Rye Harbor dredging
RYE -- U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Wednesday reported the Army Corps of Engineers included $200,000 in its fiscal year 2020 budget to move forward with dredging plans for Rye Harbor. The Corps' budget was released following the unveiling of President Trump's FY20 budget proposal to Congress earlier this week. "I'm glad to see the Corps prioritize dredging of Rye Harbor in their annual budget - the economic vitality of our local businesses and fishing industry are at stake due to the shoaling," … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Law protects waterways, calls Saint-Gaudens historical park
The wide-ranging public lands bill signed into law by President Donald Trump has provisions that protect some New Hampshire waterways and redesignates Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site as a "National Historical Park." New Hampshire's congressional delegation has championed the provisions. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the redesignation of Saint-Gaudens finally recognizes the landmark appropriately "for its natural beauty, historical architecture and art." The legislation also will designate port… Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Shipyard group to Trump: ‘Hands off PNSY, please’
by Hadley Barndollar
KITTERY, Maine - To open its quarterly meeting Tuesday, the president of the Seacoast Shipyard Association sent a strong message aimed at the Trump administration: "Hands off the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, please." The statement of third generation, 40-plus year shipyarder John Joyal referred to the possibility that military construction funds already allocated to projects at the shipyard, and others around the country, may be raided to build the southern border wall. It's currently unknown whi… Continue Reading
