In The News
Afghan interpreters seeking asylum caught in political crossfire
by Leo Shane III
Thousands of Afghan translators hoping to escape to safety in America may have had their dreams ended due to a Senate procedural fight on Thursday. It culminated in a top Senate Republican accusing a colleague of having "blood on (his) hands" and left advocates scrambling to find an alternative path to pull critical foreign allies out of the war zone before enemy fighters can find them. At issue is renewal of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, started six years ago as a way to protect … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
To keep the Islamic State and Russia out, we need to keep Britain in
by Jeanne Shaheen and Lindsey Graham
Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, represents New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate, where Lindsey Graham, a Republican, represents South Carolina. As members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, we value Britain as the United States' strategic bridge to Europe, and we've been outspoken in urging the British people to vote to stay in the European Union in this month's referendum. The United States has a profound national interest in Britain remaining a member of the E.U., and in NATO remaining the co… Continue Reading
May 10, 2016
Another View -- Jeanne Shaheen: Internet sales tax would target NH
There is nothing "fair" about the misnamed Marketplace Fairness Act, which would force Granite State small businesses to become sales-tax collectors for other states. This misguided legislation would impose new burdens on New Hampshire's small businesses while offering no benefit to our state. It's no surprise that high-tax states love this legislation and giant retailers like Walmart are spending millions to pass it. But this bill is bad for small retailers who use the internet, bad for the na… Continue Reading
April 27, 2016
Seeking justice for NH sexual assault survivors
by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Amanda Nguyen was in her early 20s when she was sexually assaulted. The trauma of the attack was compounded by the emotional trauma of a legal system that put needless obstacles in her path as a survivor seeking justice. She had to fight repeated battles to prevent her rape kit (the DNA evidence gathered from a forensic exam) from being destroyed, and she persevered through a grueling criminal justice process. I was deeply moved by Amanda's experience. Earlier this year, with invaluable counsel… Continue Reading
March 31, 2016
Shaheen, Dems urge hearings on court nominee
by KATHLEEN RONAYNE
CONCORD - Senate Democrats increased the pressure on their Republican colleagues to consider President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, with New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen insisting that it's time for lawmakers to "get on with it" and do their jobs. Outside the federal courthouse in the state capital and inside Senate offices in the U.S. Capitol, Democrats on Wednesday dismissed the GOP argument that Obama's successor should fill the vacancy after the American voters have a say in Novem… Continue Reading
March 30, 2016
Shaheen calls opioid crisis a 'pandemic'
by Nik Beimler
| U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, left, and Rochester Mayor Caroline McCarley listen during the Tri-City Mayors Summit on the Opioid Addiction Crisis Wednesday evening at the McConnell Center in Dover. Photo by Shawn St.Hilaire/Fosters.com DOVER - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., met with a gathering of representatives from Dover, Rochester and Somersworth to discuss the opioid crisis, calling the situation a 'pandemic.' Shaheen is working at the federal level to secur… Continue Reading
February 22, 2016
Shaheen Visits Planned Parenthood Health Center, River Valley Com. College
by Bill Binder
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Planned Parenthood Vice President of Public Policy Jennifer Frizzell talk about the renovations and the future of Planned Parenthood during Shaheen?s visit to Claremont on Wednesday. Shaheen?s visit to the health center was to show support for the facility following two separate acts of vandalism against it last fall (Bill Binder photo). CLAREMONT, NH--Senator Jeanne Shaheen made two stops in Claremont on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Shaheen?s first stop was at Planned Parentho… Continue Reading
February 18, 2016
Shaheen, veterans' families work to get N. Korea sanctions bill amended to allow MIA searches
by Jennifer Crompton
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -A coalition of veterans' families has helped push for a change in congressional legislation to protect efforts to find the remains of missing POWs and MIAs in North Korea. The North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act was on its way from the House to the Senate when Rick Downes, president of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIAs, noticed that the legislation didn't address humanitarian efforts to account for the remains. The bill calls for increased sanctions on North Korea.… Continue Reading
February 16, 2016
Heroin, opioid epidemic is national emergency
New England is in the grip of an uncontrolled epidemic of opioid and heroin abuse, which has spread to our small towns and rural areas. As one addiction specialist put it: "It's easier to get heroin in some of these places than it is to get a UPS delivery." But this is also a nationwide crisis, and it requires an urgent federal response. In Congress, we are advancing an emergency funding bill that would provide an additional $600 million to mobilize major new resources for prevention, interventi… Continue Reading
February 10, 2016
Senate leadership advances Internet tax
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., reaffirmed her opposition to an Internet sales tax Tuesday after reports that Senate Republican leadership has agreed to advance the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act. Both Shaheen and New Hampshire's other representative in Senate, Republican Kelly Ayotte, have been vocal critics of attempts to pass bills that would impose sales tax collection requirements on Granite State businesses. "Internet sales tax legislation would be bad for New Hampshir… Continue Reading
February 03, 2016
Shaheen calls for end to attacks
by John Doyle
DOVER - A Portsmouth woman joined U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and other Congressional Democrats on Tuesday to demand an end to what Shaheen called the "ideological investigation" of Planned Parenthood. "We need our elected officials to stop attacking the few reproductive health-care providers we have in our communities, and instead focus on keeping their constituents healthy and safe," said Portsmouth's Crystal Paradis.Shaheen and Paradis noted the release last summer of several hidden- c… Continue Reading
February 02, 2016
Businesses Owned by Women Less Likely to Win U.S. Contracts, Study Shows
by JACKIE CALMES
"These are sobering statistics that show a real, unfair disadvantage for women entrepreneurs," said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire. CreditAlex Brandon/Associated Press WASHINGTON - The odds of businesses owned by women winning a federal contract are about 21 percent lower than for otherwise similar companies, and years of effort to increase those chances have barely made an impact, according to a new report from the Commerce Department. The report is being released as the fe… Continue Reading
January 28, 2016
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen asks for aggressive response to Zika virus
CONCORD, N.H. -U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has written to key federal agencies calling for an aggressive, and coordinated response to protect Americans from the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects and neurological problems in South America. The letter was sent Wednesday to the secretaries of state, health and human services and homeland security, urging them to quickly notify Congress of what resources they need to mount a defense. "As the Zika virus spreads, the federal… Continue Reading
January 28, 2016
Shaheen amendment would preserve POW/MIA efforts from Korean War
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - As Congress works on legislation to tighten sanctions against North Korea following its latest nuclear test explosion, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has introduced an amendment that preserves efforts to recover remains of American soldiers in the Korean War. Shaheen introduced it Thursday after the Coalition of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIA's in Portsmouth said the sanctions bill could unintentionally hamper the North Korea POW/MIA Accounting Mission. The amendment exe… Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Shaheen Asks for Spending Estimates for Fighting Zika Virus
by Kerry Young
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Wednesday asked three cabinet secretaries to quickly spell out what additional funds and legal authority their organizations may need to combat the spread of Zika, a rapidly spreading virus that may be linked to a birth defect. In a Jan. 27 letter, the New Hampshire Democrat asked the secretaries of the Health and Human Services, State and Homeland Security departments to "swiftly detail" any additional resources they may want to request to fight Zika virus. Obama will re… Continue Reading
January 11, 2016
SHAHEEN CALLS HEROIN EPIDEMIC A "NATIONAL EMERGENCY"
Shaheen pointed out that on average someone dies every day in New Hampshire from heroin and opioid abuse. She said the country needs to take the issue as seriously as it took the Ebola outbreak back in 2014. Roughly two-dozen community leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health and social service providers, first responders, clergy, and even a student representative attended a roundtable discussion with Shaheen Friday afternoon at Berlin High School. While not enough money, Shaheen sai… Continue Reading
January 10, 2016
SHAHEEN DISCUSSES HEROIN IN BERLIN
by Barbara Tetreault
"This is a multifaceted problem and we have to respond to each facet," she said. Roughly two dozen community leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health and social service providers, first responders, clergy and a student representative attended a round table discussion with Shaheen last Friday afternoon, Jan. 8, at Berlin High School. Shaheen said the federal government appropriated an additional $159 million for federal programs targeting the epidemic. Berlin City Manager James… Continue Reading
January 10, 2016
SHAHEEN DISCUSSES HEROIN IN BERLIN
by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN - Calling heroin and opioid abuse a national emergency, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she was pleased to see the collaborative approach the Berlin-Gorham region is taking to tackle the problem. "This is a multifaceted problem and we have to respond to each facet," she said. Roughly two dozen community leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health and social service providers, first responders, clergy and a student representative attended a round table discussion with Shaheen la… Continue Reading
January 09, 2016
Shaheen Says Feds Must Take Opioid Problem Far More Seriously
by Chris Jebsen
Sen. Shaheen met for about an hour with the group. Credit Chris Jensen for NHPR On Friday Senator Jeanne Shaheen said the federal government should take the problem with heroin and opioids as seriously as its concern over Ebola. She made the comments during a meeting with about two dozen health and social workers, educators and police at the Berlin High School. She said while the budget Congress approved last month has more money to deal with drug problems it is not enough. "My view… Continue Reading
January 06, 2016
SHAHEEN NOMINATES LOCAL STUDENTS FOR US ACADEMIES
MANCHESTER - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) has nominated 41 New Hampshire students to the United States Service Academies. The nomination from Senator Shaheen recommends students for acceptance into the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and West Point. "Once again, New Hampshire has produced an exceptionally talented group of young men and women who are eager to serve their country," said Shaheen. "I applaud the impressive work these students are doing i… Continue Reading
