In The News
Defense bill includes 3,500 more visas for Afghans who helped US troops
by Rebecca Kheel
The annual defense policy bill would provide 3,500 more visas for Afghans who helped U.S. troops. "The conferees believe the special immigrant visa program continues to be critical for the U.S. government's operations in Afghanistan," a conference report released Thursday says. The special immigrant visa program is meant to help Afghans facing threats to their lives for serving as interpreters or otherwise assisting U.S. troops. The program nearly lapsed earlier this year due to a lack of ava… Continue Reading
November 09, 2017
Defense bill includes funds for PFC study
by Jeff McMenemy
PORTSMOUTH -- U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. announced Wednesday afternoon that the final Senate- and House-negotiated defense authorization bill includes her bipartisan amendment to pay for the first-ever study on the health effects of PFC exposure in drinking water. The study will look to give answers to thousands of people exposed to PFCs at the former Pease Air Force Base here - including at two day care centers - about what the health impacts are from the chemicals. "I've spoken with Gr… Continue Reading
November 09, 2017
Defense bill includes 3,500 more visas for Afghans who helped US troops
by Rebecca Kheel
The annual defense policy bill would provide 3,500 more visas for Afghans who helped U.S. troops. "The conferees believe the special immigrant visa program continues to be critical for the U.S. government's operations in Afghanistan," a conference report released Thursday says. The special immigrant visa program is meant to help Afghans facing threats to their lives for serving as interpreters or otherwise assisting U.S. troops. The program nearly lapsed earlier this year due to a lack of ava… Continue Reading
November 07, 2017
Senators look to bolster background check system after Texas shooting
by Seung Min Kim
Senators are slowly turning on the legislative spigot following the shooting at a rural Texas church that left more than two dozen dead. The efforts in the Senate are being spurred by the U.S. Air Force's disclosure late Monday that officials did not submit information to a federal database that the shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, had a history of domestic assault that should have prevented him from owning firearms. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) is speaking privately with at least … Continue Reading
November 06, 2017
Trump signs into law Sens. Collins, Shaheen bill on diabetes
CONCORD, N.H. - President Trump has signed into law a bill authored by Sens. Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire that establishes a national commission of health care experts on diabetes care and prevention. Shaheen, a Democrat, and Collins, a Republican, say the legislation would bring together public and private sector experts, clinical endocrinologists and others involved in diabetes research and treatment to focus on improving education, care delivery and patient outcomes. Th… Continue Reading
November 06, 2017
Shaheen Visits Pelham Career Pathways program
by Kristen Giddings
PELHAM - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen visited Pelham High School on Friday for a round-table discussion with students, teachers and staff to learn about The Career Pathways initiative, a program to help guide and prepare students for careers that may interest them. The Career Pathways program, developed and launched by Pelham Dean of Students Anne Fowler six years ago, outlines several different "pathways" students can choose from, depending on their interests and goals for the future. Guidance is … Continue Reading
November 03, 2017
Shaheen, N.H. students pitch to keep student loan deduction
by Paul Steinhauser
Olivia Teixeira worries the proposed elimination of the student loan interest deduction in the federal tax code will hurt her after graduation when she gets a job and starts paying off her college education. Teixeira, a sophomore at Saint Anselm College, spoke Friday at a roundtable discussion led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and organized by the New Hampshire College and University Council. "I'm hoping to raise awareness to students because I didn't really know that this was happening," the second-… Continue Reading
October 28, 2017
Police stations throughout NH take part in National Drug Take Back Day
by Alyssa Dandrea
Six months after New Hampshire police departments collected more than 14,000 pounds of drugs as part of National Drug Take Back Day, officials are hoping to surpass that total at a second 2017 event Saturday. Senator Jeanne Shaheen made a personal pitch Friday morning outside the Concord Police Department for residents to take inventory of their medical cabinets and to safely dispose of unwanted prescription pills. "My husband and I went through my medicine cabinet this morning, and these are … Continue Reading
October 28, 2017
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: What President Trump doesn’t want you to know
by Senator Jeanne Shaheen
It's almost time to sign up for 2018 health coverage on the Affordable Care Act, "Obamacare," marketplaces. Unfortunately, the Trump administration doesn't want Granite Staters to know about it. Along with broader efforts to sabotage the law and discourage Americans from signing up, the administration has drastically cut back advertising to inform consumers about the coming enrollment period. The president has falsely claimed that the health care reform law is "dead." These actions to undermin… Continue Reading
October 25, 2017
Shaheen on sexual assault: ‘We need men to speak up’
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is calling for a comprehensive legislative strategy around the issue of sexual assault, while also acknowledging Congress can only do so much in the wake of extensive harassment and rape allegations against Hollywood mogul and Democratic megadonor Harvey Weinstein. "I do think we ought to look at every legislative remedy that might be available," the New Hampshire senator told POLITICO's Carrie Budoff Brown in the latest episode of Women Rule. But Shaheen warned th… Continue Reading
October 23, 2017
Shaheen: Affordable Care Act ‘very much alive’
by Marisa Novello
PORTSMOUTH -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen joined health care center professionals at Families First Health and Support Center to spread the word about the approaching health care marketplace open enrollment period. The Affordable Care Act sign-up period for 2018 insurance begins Nov. 1 and is open until Dec. 15, and this year's enrollment includes two major changes. The first is the time period people can sign up. Having been cut six weeks from last year's time frame, the group stressed the importance … Continue Reading
October 23, 2017
Shaheen pleased by Sununu’s letter on Indonesians
by Judi Currie
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, welcomed a letter sent by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, R-NH, to President Trump urging him to intercede on behalf of members of New Hampshire's Indonesian community who have been slated for deportation. According to a statement, Shaheen has spoken with senior officials in the Trump administration on behalf of these individuals, including the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Thomas Homan, Acting Homeland Security … Continue Reading
October 22, 2017
Bipartisan Senate bill could help NH reduce premiums
by Kevin Landrigan
CONCORD - A critical way for New Hampshire to at least try to soften the blow of overwhelming rate increases for health insurance in the individual market has surfaced in a bipartisan health care reform bill in the U.S. Senate. U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both D-N.H., urged key senators to include this provision which would allow the state to create a reinsurance pool which as desired is not permitted under the federal Affordable Care Act. Federal subsidies given to insurers to … Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
US Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s Bill Requiring Women To Be Part Of Conflict Prevention Becomes Law
We love the saying: "If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu". It can be applied to a number of situations, when talking about the representation of women in positions of leadership or in key decision-making roles. When it comes to government and conflict resolution, historically women have never been part of negotiations or major decisions. But with a greater global push toward gender equality, women must be included in discussions about conflict resolution and preve… Continue Reading
October 20, 2017
Shaheen talks tax reform at Dover brewery
by Brian Early
DOVER - U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said Friday during a tour of the 7th Settlement Brewery in Dover that she has "concerns" about a potential tax overhaul promised by President Trump. "First of all, it's not going through a process. We haven't even seen the language of it yet," she said. The Republican-controlled Senate passage of a $4 trillion budget Thursday, which Shaheen voted against, lays the groundwork for Republicans' promised tax legislation. The budget plan passed by a near party-line… Continue Reading
October 19, 2017
Make tax code less costly and complicated for small businesses
by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
It has been more than 30 years since Congress passed a major reform of our tax laws. Since then, the federal tax code has become more and more complex, frustrating small businesses and middle-class families every year.The President and Congressional Republicans released a plan to overhaul and rewrite our country's tax system and indicated they will use the same rushed process tried during the partisan health care debate. A better way forward is to seek real, bipartisan compromise through an open… Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Pentagon pressed on source code disclosures to Russia
by Morgan Chalfant
A Democratic senator is pressing the Pentagon on cybersecurity risks after revelations that Russia reviewed the source code for software used on U.S. military systems. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Defense Secretary James Mattis expressing "deep concerns" about reports earlier this month that Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) complied with a Russian defense agency's request to review source code of its ArcSight cybersecurity software. … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
After Equifax Hack, Calls For Big Changes In Credit Reporting Industry
by Chris Arnold
This past spring, David Mifflin looked at his credit report online and saw that something wasn't right. There were inquiries from Chase Bank about an application for a credit card that someone was trying to open in his name. Mifflin, who lives in San Antonio, says he called the bank and was told the identity thieves "had my Social Security number." He set up fraud alerts with the three major credit reporting companies. But he says the fraudulent attempts to open credit cards continued "multipl… Continue Reading
October 17, 2017
Study next step in water contamination cleanup
by Kyle Midura
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A chemical commonly found on military installations could wage a war with your health. A New Hampshire senator hopes the country can learn more about the enemy at home. The water at hundreds of military outposts across the country is contaminated, exposing men, women, and children to health impacts. Known associated health issues range from cancer to high cholesterol, many experts presume more are unknown. The contaminants are from a family of chemicals known as PFAS fou… Continue Reading
October 16, 2017
In New Hampshire, Indonesian Christians caught in Trump immigration crackdown
by Scott Malone
MANCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - Since fleeing deadly violence in Indonesia two decades ago, Meldy and Eva Lumangkun built a life in suburban New Hampshire and raised four children, their illegal status long tolerated by U.S. immigration authorities. But when they showed up at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Manchester in August for their regular check-in, they were told to buy one-way tickets back to Indonesia and get out of the United States in two months. "We are afraid to go … Continue Reading
