Press
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
April 01, 2013
SHAHEEN: SKILLED WORKFORCE KEY TO KEEPING HIGH-QUALITY JOBS IN GRANITE STATE
(Charlestown, NH) - A highly skilled workforce is critical to strengthening our economy and maintaining our technological edge, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said today while touting workforce development and on-the-job training programs at Whelen Engineering in Charlestown. Shaheen toured the company's manufacturing facilities and discussed how manufacturing companies can follow Whelen's lead in using workforce training to create jobs and expand their workforce. Whelen Engineering has p… Continue Reading
March 29, 2013
SHAHEEN TO DOD: IMPERATIVE TO TAKE EVERY POSSIBLE STEP TO MITIGATE SEQUESTRATION, IMPACT ON WORKERS
(Washington, DC) - Continuing her repeated opposition toward automatic budget cuts that have been implemented on account of the sequester and renewing her call for a balanced, long-term solution, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) has called on the Department of Defense to maximize "available flexibility during the implementation process" in order to mitigate the sequester's impact on workers, specifically the thousands at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard who provide critical services to the country. … Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
BIPARTISAN COALITION OF SENATORS RENEW CALL FOR ARMY TO FULLY REVIEW CONTRACTOR CASES WITH LINKS TO TERRORIST GROUPS
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - A bipartisan group of senators led by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) are expressing continued concern and frustration over the Army's use of contractors that have potential ties to terrorist groups. The senators specifically referred to a longstanding backlog of 43 referrals pending before the Army's Suspension and Debarment Official that involve individuals or companies with links to groups including the Haqqani Network and Al Qaeda as reason for concern that underscor… Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
SHAHEEN: ENCOURAGING WOMEN IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS
(Portsmouth, NH) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) helped celebrate Women's History Month today as she spoke at a meeting of the Women's Resource Network at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard about the importance of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Shaheen underscored the need to attract women to emerging careers in STEM and highlighted the STEM initiatives already underway at the Shipyard. "Our country's economic competitiveness relies on being a global … Continue Reading
March 26, 2013
SHAHEEN, PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN VINCE WILFORK TEAM UP TO TACKLE DIABETES
(Derry, N.H.)- U .S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and New England Patriots All-Pro Defensive Lineman Vince Wilfork teamed up again today on Diabetes Alert Day at Gilbert H. Hood Middle School in Derry to promote diabetes awareness and encourage healthy living. Speaking to a crowd of 750 students, Shaheen and Wilfork shared how diabetes has affected them and their families and spoke about the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle. Both Shaheen and Wilfork have had family members a… Continue Reading
March 26, 2013
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT PROP. 8 HEARINGS
(Washington, D.C.) -U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement as the Supreme Court begins hearing arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry, a challenge to the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage: "Equality and freedom are at the core of who we are as Americans, and that means freedom for all of us, not just some of us," Shaheen said. "I'm glad the Supreme Court is hearing the challenges to Prop. 8 and DOMA because legalized discrimination is absolu… Continue Reading
March 25, 2013
SHAHEEN: BUDGET RESOLUTION RESPONSIBLY REINS IN SPENDING, PROTECTS ECONOMIC INTERESTS
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) voted for a responsible budget resolution that reins in the country's debt and deficit and sets us on a more sustainable, long-term fiscal path. The Budget Resolution (S. Con. Res. 8) cleared the Senate by a vote of 50-49. "American families and businesses have dealt with too many manufactured budget crises, so I'm pleased to have passed legislation that promotes our economic interests in a long-term fashion," Shaheen said. "This bud… Continue Reading
