Press
BIPARTISAN COALITION INTRODUCES BILL TO EXTEND, REFORM SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM
(WASHINGTON, DC) - Continuing a bipartisan effort to honor the service of civilians assisting the U.S. mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John McCain (R-AZ) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced the bipartisan Afghan Allies Protection Extension Act. The legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Shaheen, McCain, Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Rob Portman (R-OH,), Saxby Chambliss (… Continue Reading
May 07, 2014
SHAHEEN, COLLINS INTRODUCE BILL TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NATIONAL PARKS FOR DISABLED VETERANS
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act to amend the decade-old Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) and make all veterans with a service-connected disability eligible for a free, lifetime pass allowing entry to National Parks and other recreational lands and waters held by the United States. Under the 2004 law, veterans need to be classified as having a 100 percent permanent disability by th… Continue Reading
May 07, 2014
SHAHEEN INTRODUCES NEW LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS VETERANS APPEALS BACKLOG
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today introduced the Veterans Appeals Improvement Act which aims to reduce the disability claims appeals backlog by immediately increasing the VA's capacity in underserved areas, including New Hampshire. The Government Accountability Office reports that nationally, the number of appeals awaiting a decision grew 76 percent from fiscal years 2009 to 2012 and during that period, the average processing time increased 57 percent, from 293 days to … Continue Reading
May 07, 2014
TOMORROW ON CAPITOL HILL: SHAHEEN, BIPARTISAN COALITION TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE TO INTRODUCE SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISA BILL
(Washington, DC) -U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) will hold a press conference tomorrow, Thursday, May 8 at 10:30 a.m. in the Mansfield Room (S-207) with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) to introduce the bipartisan Afghan Allies Protection Extension Act. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Shaheen and John McCain (R-AZ) in the Senate and Representatives Blumenauer and Kinzinger in the House, will extend and reform the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program f… Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
SHAHEEN JOINS EFFORT TO HELP STUDENTS MANAGE LOAN DEBT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today joined Senate colleagues to introduce the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, legislation that would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. Many borrowers with outstanding student loans have interest rates of nearly 7 percent or higher for their undergraduate loans, while students taking out new undergraduate loans currently pay a rate of 3.86… Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
SHAHEEN, LOWEY RE-INTRODUCE PEACE CORPS EQUITY ACT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and U.S. Representative Nita Lowey (NY-17) today re-introduced the bipartisan Peace Corps Equity Act in the Senate and House which would extend basic reproductive health care services to all Peace Corp volunteers. Currently, female Peace Corps volunteers -unlike most women with federal health care coverage - are denied abortion coverage in the case of rape, incest or when the life of the woman is endangered. The legislation would bring the P… Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
SENATE ADVANCES SHAHEEN ENERGY EFFICIENCY BILL TO CREATE JOBS, SAVE BILLIONS, LOWER POLLUTION
(Washington, DC) - The U.S. Senate today advanced Senator Jeanne Shaheen's (D-NH) bipartisan energy efficiency legislation, the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, which would help create jobs, reduce pollution, and save consumers billions. The bill cleared a key procedural hurdle this morning in the Senate, advancing on a 79-20 vote to begin debate on the legislation which has attracted significant bipartisan support as well as endorsements from both industry and … Continue Reading
May 05, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON COUNCILOR PIGNATELLI
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli announced her retirement: "For almost 30 years Deb worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents and her leadership in Concord will be missed. She has been a great friend of mine for many years and was a valued colleague when we served together in the State Senate. I wish her, her husband Mike, and her entire family the best as they begin the next chapter of their lives."… Continue Reading
May 02, 2014
NEW HAMPSHIRE DELEGATION WELCOMES RELEASE OF ADDENDUM TO NORTHERN PASS DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement after the United States Department of Energy released an addendum to the Northern Pass draft Environmental Impact Statement: "We appreciate that the Department of Energy acted upon our request to release the addendum to the Northern Pass draft Environmental Impact Statement. It is critical that New Hampshire citize… Continue Reading
May 02, 2014
SUNDAY IN CONCORD: NEW HAMPSHIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO HONOR CHARLIE COMPANY, 238TH MEDEVAC UNIT AT FREEDOM SALUTE
The New Hampshire congressional delegation will join state and military officials at a Freedom Salute to honor members of Charlie Company, the 238th MEDEVAC unit for their successful mission in Afghanistan on Sunday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. in Concord. The 238th MEDEVAC unit returned from Afghanistan earlier this year after deploying to Afghanistan in July of 2013, where they provided 24/7 area MEDEVAC support to coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. During their deployment Charlie Company soldi… Continue Reading
May 02, 2014
SHAHEEN, AYOTTE, KUSTER HOST AIR FORCE SECRETARY DEBORAH LEE JAMES AT PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE
(Portsmouth, NH) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Representative Annie Kuster (NH-2) hosted Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James at Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth this morning for a facility tour and meetings with the servicemen and women of the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing. Last year, after months of advocacy by the New Hampshire congressional delegation, the 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease was selected as the first … Continue Reading
May 01, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON RE-NOMINATION OF CHERYL LAFLEUR AS A FERC COMMISSIONER
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement after the White House announced plans to re-nominate Cheryl LaFleur to serve as a Commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: "This is great news for New England and New Hampshire's energy future. Cheryl's knowledge of energy issues, particularly her expertise on the Northeast region, make her a valuable member of the commission. Her continued leadership on FERC will ensure that the Northeast an… Continue Reading
May 01, 2014
SHAHEEN, STABENOW, PETERS INTRODUCE SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO CAPITAL ACT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today introduced the Shaheen-Stabenow Small Business Access to Capital Act, which would reauthorize and improve the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a successful federal program that helps small businesses grow and create jobs. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), Mark Begich (D-AK) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA). Congressman Gary Peters (MI-14) introduced companion legislationtod… Continue Reading
May 01, 2014
SHAHEEN: NEW REPORT UNDERSCORES NEED TO REFORM MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM
(Washington, DC) - In response to new Pentagon figures demonstrating a 50 percent increase in reports of sexual assaults by members of the military, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is stressing the need for Congress to reform the military justice system, starting by passing the Military Justice Improvement Act. The bipartisan legislation would change the way the military prosecutes incidents of sexual assault by removing the decision from the chain of command. The new Pentagon report expecte… Continue Reading
April 30, 2014
In Case You Missed It: Industry Leaders Call for Action on Energy Efficiency Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today, a diverse coalition of industry leaders sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) requesting that the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014 (EISC) be considered by the full Senate as soon as possible. "This sensible, bipartisan legislation enjoys broad support in the business community. The bill's sponsors have worked with industry every step of the way in crafting and vetting this legi… Continue Reading
April 30, 2014
SHAHEEN CONTINUES FIGHT AGAINST PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
(Washington, DC) - In a continued effort to combat prescription drug addiction and abuse in New Hampshire, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today urged Senate appropriators to provide strong funding for the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and the National All-Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) program that monitor prescription drugs and prevent abuse. Heroin and prescription drug addiction has reached epidemic proportions in Ne… Continue Reading
April 30, 2014
SHAHEEN STATEMENT ON MINIMUM WAGE VOTE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) released the following statement today after a minority of Senators blocked action on the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, legislation that would have raised the minimum wage to $10.10, helped lift more than 10,000 Granite Staters out of poverty and resulted in a raise for more than 110,000 Granite Staters, including approximately 67,000 New Hampshire women: "It's disappointing that once again a minority of Senators were able to block action on a … Continue Reading
April 30, 2014
SHAHEEN: UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IS LEADING THE WAY IN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL ASSAULT
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is welcoming the announcement of new national guidelines to combat sexual assault on college campuses that recognize the University of New Hampshire (UNH) as a national leader in the effort. The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault's guidelines released Tuesday aim to more aggressively combat sexual assaults on college and university campuses and specifically highlight UNH's Prevention Innovations program that devel… Continue Reading
April 29, 2014
In Case You Missed It: Coalition Calls for Vote on Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill
(Washington, DC) - As bipartisan momentum builds behind Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman's (R-OH) efforts to pass a comprehensive energy efficiency bill, a coalition of 85 business, industry, environmental and public interest groups are urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the bipartisan legislation to the floor for a vote. In the group's letter, the coalition notes that the legislation "would help meet America's goals of increasing … Continue Reading
April 29, 2014
ON SENATE FLOOR SHAHEEN CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) went to the Senate floor this afternoon to urge her colleagues to increase the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10. An increase in the minimum wage would result in a raise for more than 110,000 people in New Hampshire and help lift more than 10,000 Granite Staters out of poverty. Shaheen's remarks as prepared for delivery are included below: Mr. President, along with many of my colleagues, I rise today to support an increase … Continue Reading
