Dear Friend,

My Special Guest at the State of the Union 

I was honored to bring Ross Cunningham, the Superintendent of the Merrimack County Department of Corrections, as my guest to the State of the Union. Mr. Cunningham has worked to improve and expand access to drug-related treatment in New Hampshire’s jails and reduce recidivism from drug-related crimes. He has a deep knowledge of the size and scope of the opioid crisis, and I couldn’t think of a more valuable person to bring to Washington for this important speech. You can read more about Mr. Cunningham and why I invited him in this Concord Monitor article. 

With Ross Cunningham before the State of the Union. Watch here.

President Trump must work with Congress

I was proud to join my Democratic Women’s Caucus colleagues in wearing white to the State of the Union to honor the 100-year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, and to recognize the remaining work we must do to achieve full equality. 

Wearing white with my colleagues at the State of the Union.

In his speech, President Trump addressed the nation and discussed issues important to New Hampshire, including lowering the cost of health care, supporting our nation’s working families, and empowering our workforce. It’s time for the President to act on his words and work with Congress to deliver results for the American people. A constructive first step would be to urge the Senate to take up some of the legislation we passed in the House to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, lower prescription drug costs, and combat climate change.

Republicans and Democrats have demonstrated that when we work together, we can make real progress for the American people. The House passed more than 275 bipartisan bills in 2019, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell failed to bring any of them for a vote. In 2020, we must build on the House’s momentum and honor our promise to the American people with or without the help of the White House. Read my full statement on the State of the Union here. 

Combating the Dangers of Fentanyl 

On Monday, I visited the New Hampshire Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office, where I met with Jon DeLena, the Associate Special Agent in Charge, to receive an update on DEA drug interdiction efforts in New Hampshire. I also discussed my recent work to extend fentanyl scheduling before it was set to expire. Fentanyl is fueling the opioid crisis here in the Granite State and in communities across the country. The complexities surrounding fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances demand a thoughtful, balanced approach to protect families in New Hampshire and public health and safety nationwide. Mr. DeLena and the hardworking men and women of the DEA are dedicated to addressing this crisis and decreasing the flow of these lethal drugs, and I look forward to sharing what I learned with my colleagues as we continue working to combat the opioid epidemic and support Americans struggling with addiction. 

At the Drug Enforcement Administration Office. Read more here.

Military Academy Nominations

I was honored to meet the fine young men and women I had the pleasure of nominating to our nation’s Military Service Academies on Monday. These young Granite Staters are truly impressive and represent the spirit of service that is so strong in New Hampshire. I wish them the best of luck as they seek their appointments and look forward to their future success!

With this year's service academy nominees. Read more here.

Protecting Our Conserved Lands

On Wednesday, I joined my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues to discuss my bill, the Protecting Our Conserved Lands Act, which would give local voices a seat at the table and enable them to protect their conservation land from natural gas pipeline routes. In the Granite State, we cherish our natural wonders and resources and want to ensure they are protected. In October, I was proud to introduce this legislation to ensure communities have the tools they need to stand up against intrusive pipelines in their backyards. I look forward to my continued work to protect New Hampshire's communities and great outdoors. 

Ensuring Access to Shelter and Housing for Survivors of Domestic/Sexual Violence

Yesterday, I joined my co-chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence to host a roundtable discussion on ensuring access to shelters and affordable housing for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. We know that until we have a safe place to call home, it is nearly impossible for anything else in life to fall into place. Without having somewhere else to go, particularly emergency shelters, many survivors will remain in abusive and dangerous situations. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to help prevent survivors, who have already endured so much, from having to face the further burden of homelessness. This roundtable provided us with important insights that we will share with our colleagues as we continue our efforts to combat sexual and domestic violence and support survivors. 

With Reps. Jackie Speier and John Katko at the roundtable. Read more here.

Upholding Our Constitutional Responsibilities

The Senate voted on articles of impeachment on Wednesday against the President. After turning away from the truth and refusing to hear from witnesses or review additional evidence, the Senate has concluded the impeachment trial of President Trump. Senate Republicans denied the American people the fair trial they deserve. This will be the only impeachment trial in American history to not include witnesses.

While I am disappointed in the outcome of the trial, I remain optimistic for the future of our great country. We must not allow this vote to impede or deter our efforts to form a more perfect union. We must heal our deeply divided nation and work together to better the lives of the American people. I will continue working on the priorities that matter to the people of New Hampshire and to uphold my constitutional responsibilities to conduct oversight and serve as a check on our other branches of government. Read my full statement on the Senate’s impeachment vote here. 

Here for You 

As always, I urge you to continue reaching out to my office with any questions, concerns or ideas you have - I love hearing from you! You can reach my Concord office at 603-226-1002 or my Washington, DC office at 202-225-5206. Thank you for all the wonderful contributions you make to our great state. Enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,