Dear Friend,

Ensuring Access to Mental & Behavioral Health Care 

On Wednesday, I joined Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), my co-chair of the Bipartisan Opioid Task Force, for a roundtable discussion on the challenges many Americans face in accessing mental health and substance use treatment under certain insurance plans. Despite federal laws requiring mental and behavioral health care to be covered just like other medical services, inequities remain.

There is no question that the complexities of the substance misuse epidemic require a multifaceted, thoughtful response. To effectively fight this crisis, we must ensure that Americans struggling with substance misuse disorder can access the mental health and treatment services that are crucial to recovery. I look forward to my continued work to help communities in the Granite State and across the country combat this epidemic. You can watch our full discussion here.

At the roundtable with Rep. Fitzpatrick. Read more here.

President Trump’s Misguided Budget Proposal 

The budget proposal President Trump released on Monday reflects his administration’s misguided priorities. By proposing deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and medical research programs, the President’s budget leaves behind some of the most vulnerable Americans while hampering our ability to innovate and cure our nation’s greatest health problems. This budget outline would gut federal investments in New Hampshire by eliminating the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps Granite State families heat their homes in the winter. 

Furthermore, the President’s budget continues his effort to  eliminate the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), which is headquartered in New Hampshire and has invested in dozens of job-creating economic development projects. I have been proud to lead the charge in Congress to protect these investments and I look forward to working across the aisle to reject these harmful cuts and protect New Hampshire priorities.

Putting Granite State Hardwood Producers First

I enjoyed a productive meeting this week with a bipartisan group of members of Congress and Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, where we discussed how we can work together to put Granite State hardwood producers first. 

President Trump’s trade war puts the livelihood of New England’s mill workers, craftsmen, loggers, foresters and multi-generation family hardwood companies on the line. In the Granite State, these companies proudly harvest timber responsibly to ensure healthy trees and forests. Last year, I led a bipartisan group of my colleagues in writing a letter to the USDA advocating for the hardwood industry workforce to get the support they need. I look forward to my continued collaboration with Secretary Purdue as I continue my work to support thoughtful, commonsense trade policy that sustains these businesses and protects jobs in the Granite State.

With Secretary Purdue

Standing up for a woman’s right to choose 

This week, I was proud to join my colleagues at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on protecting women’s access to a full range of reproductive health care services  - the first on this issue in over two decades. The Women’s Health Protection Act, which I am a cosponsor of, would keep family planning services safe, legal, and affordable. Political interference has no place in a woman’s private medical decisions, and I’m pleased to stand up for women’s rights by supporting this vital legislation. You can listen to the powerful testimony given at the hearing by Holly Alvarado, an Air Force veteran who faced barriers in accessing reproductive health care services. 

Holly Alvarado's testimony. Watch here.

Passing the Equal Rights Amendment

Yesterday, I was proud to vote in favor of a measure that passed the House that would remove the ratification deadline for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which was first introduced in 1923. We’ve made progress in our fight for gender equality over the last century, but there is still so much work to do. It’s time for us to ratify the ERA and enshrine equal rights for women in our Constitution. Read more about the amendment here. 

Here for you

As your Congresswoman, one of my biggest responsibilities is supporting Granite Staters when they need help with federal agencies. I was contacted by a constituent from Lancaster, who had an issue of concern regarding a visa with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). My staff worked with USCIS and helped resolve the constituent’s issue. If my office may be of assistance with a problem you are experiencing, please reach out to my staff at 603-226-1002 so we can learn how we may help. 

Thank you for everything you do to make our state such a wonderful place to call home. Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,