Press
ON SENATE FLOOR, SHAHEEN SPEAKS OUT AGAINST INTERNET SALES TAX
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday evening in opposition to the Internet sales tax legislation that the Senate is considering this week. Shaheen is opposed to the measure - which would require online retailers to establish a costly and burdensome sales tax collection infrastructure - and plans to file amendments to the bill to exempt New Hampshire from the new regulations. To watch Shaheen's remarks, click here. Shaheen is part of a bipar… Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS PROTEST DECISION TO RUSH ONLINE SALES TAX BILL TO SENATE FLOOR
WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ted Cruz (R-TX), expressed serious concerns that the "Marketplace Fairness Act" (S. 743) is being rushed to the Senate floor for a vote this week - despite the fact that it has not gone through the regular committee process. Last week, Leader Reid used a procedural maneuv… Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON INTERNET SALES TAX LEGISLATION
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement on Internet sales tax legislation that the Senate is considering this week: "This Internet sales tax legislation is bad for New Hampshire small businesses who shouldn't be forced to collect sales taxes for other states. I strongly oppose this measure because it would put a serious burden on small businesses that rely on the Internet to tap into growing markets, expand their operations, and create jobs. Mand… Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON EARTH DAY
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement commemorating Earth Day: "Earth Day is a time to both celebrate New Hampshire's natural beauty and renew our commitment to conserving our natural resources for future generations. We must do more to protect our environment and we have an opportunity to do so while simultaneously boosting our economy if we invest in clean energy and energy efficiency. These are priorities that I've worked on throughout my car… Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
SHAHEEN HOLDS FIRST HEARING AS CHAIR OF READINESS SUBCOMMITTEE, QUESTIONS TOP MILITARY LEADERS ON STATE OF U.S. ARMED FORCES
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) questioned top U.S. military leaders on the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces today as she chaired her first hearing as the Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. The witnesses testifying at the hearing included General John Campbell, Vice Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army; Admiral Mark Ferguson, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; General John Paxton, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen… Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
SHAHEEN WELCOMES STATE DEPARTMENT ACTION ON INSPECTOR GENERAL VACANCY
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Secretary Kerry announced that the State Department is taking steps to fill its critical inspector general vacancy during a Senate Foreign Relations hearing earlier today: "Inspectors General provide critical oversight for our government agencies and taxpayers. We need a permanent inspector general at the State Department, so I'm encouraged by Secr… Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
SHAHEEN, PORTMAN RENEW PUSH FOR BIPARTISAN ENERGY EFFICIENCY BILL
(Washington, DC) - In a renewed push for a national energy efficiency strategy, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) will team up again today on Capitol Hill to reintroduce the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness (ESIC) Act. Industry leaders, energy efficiency advocates and environmental stakeholders will join the senators this morning to show their support for the legislation. The reintroduced Shaheen-Portman legislation offers a deficit-neutral… Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON DEFEAT OF MANCHIN-TOOMEY LEGISLATION
(Washington, DC) - Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance the Manchin-Toomey background check legislation aimed at reducing gun violence: "In New Hampshire we have a long tradition of safe and legal firearm ownership and that is a tradition I support and respect," said Shaheen. "But, as Americans, we also have a responsibility to work to reduce gun violence and to prevent horrible tragedies like the Newtown shooting. "Conducting back… Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
SHAHEEN, AYOTTE: HAGEL SHOULD ALLOW NAVY TO CANCEL FURLOUGHS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter today to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) are urging Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to provide maximum flexibility to the service branches in an effort to avoid furloughing civilian employees. As a result of sequestration cuts, Department of Defense civilian workers - including those at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard - will be furloughed for 14 days. "Under sequestration, we have learned recently that the… Continue Reading
April 15, 2013
ON TAX DAY, SHAHEEN INTRODUCES BILL TO SIMPLIFY TAX RETURN
(Washington, DC) - Today, on income tax day, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to streamline the federal tax return process. Shaheen's Simpler Tax Filing Act would pave the way for the Internal Revenue Service to provide many tax filers with a one-page tax return already filled out with the taxpayer's information, known as a "simple return," in turn saving American taxpayers billions in tax preparation fees. "Tax Day in America has become tantamount to billions of dol… Continue Reading
April 12, 2013
SHAHEEN INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO BOOST GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONTRACTOR OVERSIGHT
(Washington, DC) - Advancing her efforts for government oversight and fiscal responsibility, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) has introduced legislation to boost oversight and accountability when it comes to federal contractors. The Government Contractor Accountability Act of 2013 (S.664) would make federal agencies act on Inspectors General recommendations when it comes to potential cost-saving measures or on reimbursement for poor contractor performance and cost overruns. "This commons… Continue Reading
April 11, 2013
SHAHEEN WELCOMES NAVY DECISION TO NAME NEW COMBAT SHIP AFTER THE CITY OF MANCHESTER
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomed news today that the United States Navy will be naming a new Littoral Combat Ship USS Manchester in recognition of Manchester, New Hampshire. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus personally called Shaheen this morning to give the news and inform her that the ship's expected completion date would be August 2016. "The naming of USS Manchester is a tremendous honor for the city of Manchester and a testament to the incredible work carried … Continue Reading
April 11, 2013
SHAHEEN, COLLINS, AYOTTE, KING WELCOME SUPPORT FOR SHIPYARD AND VIRGINIA CLASS SUBMARINE IN FY14 BUDGET
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Angus King (I-ME) released this statement following the release of the White House's Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget request, which calls for $11.5 million in funding for new military construction at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as well as two Virginia-class submarines: "We're pleased that the Administration's budget request recognizes the importance of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to our co… Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
SENATE COMMEMORATES U.S.S. THRESHER’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
(Washington, DC) - Last night the U.S. Senate passed a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of U.S.S. Thresher - a U.S. Navy submarine built and based at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The resolution was introduced by New England Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The resolution pays tribute to the U.S.S. Thresher's naval and civilian crew who were lost on April … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
SHAHEEN MEETS WITH LGBT COMMUNITY LEADERS, DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO ENSURE EQUALITY
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) met with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community leaders today at a Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee meeting to discuss legislative priorities for the 113th Congress and underscore her commitment to LGBT equality. Shaheen specifically spoke about her legislation, the Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act, which would provide additional benefits to military spouses and families, regardless of sexual or… Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
SHAHEEN RESPONDS TO GAO REPORT WITH RENEWED CALLS FOR SMART, RESPONSIBLE SPENDING CUTS
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) urged Congress today to strongly consider the findings of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released this afternoon on duplicative government programs as a way to responsibly cut excess federal spending. Shaheen has repeatedly called for targeted, responsible cuts to government programs as a way to responsibly rein in spending and get the country's finances in order. "At a time when we are experiencing painful, across-the-bo… Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON EQUAL PAY DAY
(Washington, D.C.) -U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) - an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (S.84) - released the following statement in recognition of National Equal Pay Day: "Pay discrimination doesn't just hurt workers and our economy; it chips away at one of our country's fundamental principles of equality. Equal work demands equal pay, but an unacceptable income gap persists. "Today, on Equal Pay Day, I am reaffirming my commitment to a goal we haven't yet met. As long a… Continue Reading
April 08, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON SECRETARY HAGEL’S DECISION TO SEEK CHANGES TO MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) this afternoon applauded Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's decision to seek changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) which will help ensure justice for sexual assault victims. The news comes a month after Shaheen and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) called on Hagel to review the military justice system in light of the unilateral dismissal of the sexual assault conviction of Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkerson after he was initially c… Continue Reading
April 05, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON MARCH EMPLOYMENT REPORT
(Washington, D.C.) -U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement on the March employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that shows 88,000 jobs were added while the country's unemployment rate fell to 7.6 percent in March: "Today's jobs report shows that automatic, indiscriminate cuts are absolutely not the way to grow our economy. We need a balanced plan to deal with our debt and deficits while also creating jobs and protecting our economic interests, and the … Continue Reading
April 01, 2013
SHAHEEN MEETS WITH DARTMOUTH VETERANS, RENEWS CALL TO ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MILITARY
(Hanover, N.H.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) joined the Dartmouth Graduate Veterans Association at Dartmouth College today for a discussion on issues impacting veterans and our national security. Shaheen, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and also sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, specifically highlighted the need to address sexual assaults in the military, an issue that she has been a national leader on, during this afternoon's meeting. Along with t… Continue Reading
