Press
SHAHEEN WELCOMES REPEAL OF MILITARY RETIREE COLA CUT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today praised the passing of a bipartisan Senate bill that will reverse a cost of living adjustment (COLA) reduction for military retirees that was included in last year's bipartisan budget agreement. Shaheen, who has led the push to reverse the COLA adjustment for military retirees, was the first to introduce legislation repealing the cut back in December. The bill cleared the Senate this afternoon by a 95-3 vote. "It is important that we h… Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON DEBT CEILING VOTE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate voted 55-43 to raise the nation's borrowing limit: "This afternoon's vote prevents the type of manufactured crisis that has become all too common in Washington and it provides our economy with certainty as we continue to rein in our deficits," Shaheen said. "Moving forward we must stay focused on our most pressing priorities - creating jobs, growing the economy, and further helping our small … Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
SHAHEEN, AYOTTE MEET WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS FISHERY RELIEF FOR NEW ENGLAND
(Washington, DC) - As part of their ongoing efforts to protect New Hampshire's fishing industry, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) met with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials today to discuss disaster relief for fisheries. Shaheen and Ayotte were joined by Senators from coastal New England states at the meeting with NOAA Administrator Kathy Sullivan and NOAA Fisheries Director Eileen Sobeck. "Fishermen and coastal communities up and down N… Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
SHAHEEN INTRODUCES AMENDMENT TO REVERSE MILITARY RETIREE COLA REDUCTION, CLOSE OFFSHORE TAX LOOPHOLE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today introduced an amendment that would undo the cost of living adjustment (COLA) reduction for military retirees and replace those savings by closing an offshore tax loophole. The amendment is similar to language Shaheen filed last year as standalone legislation titled the Military Retirement Restoration Act, which Shaheen introduced in response to last year's bipartisan budget agreement which reduced cost of living adjustments for military… Continue Reading
February 10, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON SENATE VOTE TO ADVANCE MILITARY COLA FIX
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate voted 94-0 to advance legislation to undo the cost of living adjustment (COLA) reduction for military retirees included in last year's bipartisan budget agreement: "Tonight's bipartisan vote is an important step forward as we work to restore cost of living adjustments for military retirees who have bravely fought to protect our country. While I would prefer a plan that finds savings elsewhere… Continue Reading
February 10, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON PETERBOROUGH FACILITY EXPLOSION
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement in response to the explosion Monday afternoon at New Hampshire Ball Bearings in Peterborough: "My thoughts and prayers are with everyone at New Hampshire Ball Bearings in Peterborough today. I am grateful for the first responders who are working at the scene, and as the situation unfolds, my staff and I remain ready to assist however we can."… Continue Reading
February 10, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON JUSTICE DEPARTMENT POLICY RECOGNIZING EQUAL PROTECTION FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a policy change to extend privileges, protections and rights to all legally married couples in every program the agency administers: "The Justice Department's announcement takes a great step forward in the fight for full and complete equality for all Americans. But while our legal system is finally moving to recognize that no American should be discriminated aga… Continue Reading
February 07, 2014
SHAHEEN URGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO PRESS FRENCH PRESIDENT ON TRADE MISSION TO IRAN
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is today urging President Obama to use an upcoming state visit from French President François Hollande as an opportunity to press the French leader on the recent French trade mission to Iran, which has the potential to undermine progress toward an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program. In the letter, Shaheen expressed her concern that such trade missions undercut efforts that have brought Iran to the negotiating table. "It is criti… Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDICAID EXPANSION AGREEMENT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement responding to reports of an agreement to expand Medicaid in New Hampshire: "I'm very encouraged by the reports of a bipartisan agreement to expand Medicaid that will ultimately help some of our most vulnerable citizens access affordable health care. I look forward to reviewing the proposal and once approved by the Governor and state legislature, I stand ready to assist the state's efforts at the federal leve… Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON SENATE VOTE TO EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the Senate failed to clear a procedural hurdle to extend emergency unemployment insurance by a vote of 58-40: "Too many people are out of work right now, through no fault of their own, and failing to extend this critical lifeline hurts their ability to make ends meet, provide for their families, and put food on the table. I will continue to fight to extend these benefits because our economy and Granite… Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
ON SENATE FLOOR SHAHEEN CALLS FOR EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) called on her colleagues to support an extension of unemployment insurance in a speech on the Senate floor this morning. In her remarks Shaheen highlighted the consequences that the failure to extend unemployment insurance has already had on the economy and Granite State families; to date New Hampshire has lost an estimated $1.8 million worth of economic output as a result of lost emergency benefits. Senator Shaheen's remarks as prepared for… Continue Reading
February 05, 2014
SHAHEEN WELCOMES USDA SELECTION OF DURHAM LOCATION FOR NEW REGIONAL “CLIMATE HUB”
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) welcomed today's announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Durham, New Hampshire's USDA Forest Service Station has been selected as the location for the department's northeast regional climate hub. The Durham station will be one of seven new hubs throughout the country and will provide region-specific data to farmers, forest landowners, ranchers and rural communities about the impact of climate change on agricu… Continue Reading
February 05, 2014
SHAHEEN CONGRATULATES NEW HAMPSHIRE OLYMPIANS IN CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) submitted the following statement to the Congressional Record honoring the New Hampshire athletes that will compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia: Senator Jeanne Shaheen Statement on New Hampshire's Winter Olympians February 4, 2014 Madam President, I wish to recognize the great accomplishments of the many New Hampshire athletes who will be representing the United States this month in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russi… Continue Reading
February 04, 2014
SHAHEEN: BIPARTISAN FARM BILL WILL RENEW OIL-HEAT PROGRAM, SUPPORT NEW HAMPSHIRE FARMERS
(Washington, DC) - Today on a 68-32 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan Farm Bill that includes multiple New Hampshire priorities and will protect small farmers, fight hunger and save taxpayers billions. The five-year Agricultural Act of 2014 makes targeted investments in our nation's agricultural and nutrition sectors while eliminating some of the wasteful subsidies that cost taxpayers billions of dollars. After a nearly three years-long process, the 2014 Farm Bill also includes importa… Continue Reading
February 03, 2014
SHAHEEN: OVERSIGHT FINDINGS IN AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION REPORT REQUIRE ACTION
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) says the latest report to Congress from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) stresses the dire need for increased scrutiny and reforms for the ongoing U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. The report released this week raises concerns on possible oversight weaknesses and vulnerabilities of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) assistance while noting the ongoing issue of the longstanding backlog of… Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
SHAHEEN, AYOTTE ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE LIHEAP FUNDS
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release Low Income Home Energy Assistance Funds (LIHEAP) funds for FY 2014. The release of New Hampshire's $3.384 million in funding follows a letter Shaheen and Ayotte wrote to HHS last week calling for the immediate release of the state's LIHEAP funds. "The release of New Hampshire's LIHEAP funds is a welcome development for families acros… Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
SHAHEEN TO EUROPEAN PARTNERS: WE MUST STAND UNITED AGAINST IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and former Chair of the European Affairs Subcommittee, expressed deep concern to European leaders over recent and upcoming European delegations to Tehran. In letters sent today to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as ambassadors of Austria, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom, Shaheen said trade d… Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
SHAHEEN CALLS FOR MORE ROBUST HEALTH INSURANCE NETWORK, INCREASED TRANSPARENCY FOR CONSUMERS
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is today asking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to update insurance network standards so that people across New Hampshire have a greater choice of hospitals and providers. In a letter to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Shaheen expressed concerns that New Hampshire currently has only one health care provider on the federal marketplace and that 10 of the state's 26 hospitals have been excluded from that provider's network. "I am… Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
SHAHEEN, COLLINS URGE SENATE COMMITTEE TO ACT ON BILL BANNING LGBT DISCRIMINATION DURING JURY SELECTION PROCESS
(Washington, DC) - Citing a need to ban discrimination in the judicial system, today U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to promptly consider their bipartisan Jury ACCESS (Access for Capable Citizens and Equality in Service Selection) Act that would ban discrimination in jury selection. Shaheen and Collins' letter comes on the heels of a unanimous 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision holding that jurors could not be excluded on … Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
SHAHEEN: MORE WORK REMAINS FIVE YEARS AFTER LILLY LEDBETTER
[January 28, 2014 - from left to right: Lilly Ledbetter, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)] (Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement on the five year anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act: "Five years ago today I was proud to see the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act signed into law, an important bill that strengthened protections for victims of pay discrimination. Equal pay for equal work should be a ma… Continue Reading
