Dear Friend,

Protecting Access to Healthcare

It was great to meet with staff and residents at the new Keene Serenity Center this morning to discuss how the center’s community approach to healing and peer recovery services are helping people who have struggled with substance use disorder reclaim their lives and contribute to their communities. This afternoon, I met with clinicians at Maps Counseling Services in Keene and was taken on a tour of their facility. These visits are part of a healthcare listening tour, which I kicked off in February. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, I’ll highlight the perspective of families and individuals in New Hampshire as I work to lower costs and increase access to healthcare.

At Serenity Recovery Center

I’m pleased the House passed a resolution on Wednesday to condemn the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act. In addition, I'm glad my legislation, the Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act, passed the full House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday night. The American people elected a Congress that will protect access to quality, affordable healthcare, not launch partisan attacks on their care. There is much bipartisan work we can do to improve the Affordable Care Act, and I'm committed to strengthening the law and expanding access to affordable care. 

In a Counseling Room for Children at Maps

Lowering the Cost of Insulin

On Tuesday, I questioned public health experts about the rising cost of insulin and the impact it is having on patients with diabetes. It’s unconscionable that the price of insulin has put this critical medication out of reach for many Granite Staters and people across the country. Diabetes is a serious illness, and no one who is struggling with it should have to worry about having access to the medicine they need to live. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’m committed to working with my colleagues to lower the out of control costs of insulin and other medications.

At the E&C Hearing on Insulin Prices. Watch here.

Taking Care of Veterans Exposed to PFAS

I joined Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) and my House and Senate colleagues yesterday to introduce the Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act (VET PFAS Act). After bravely serving our country, veterans and their families should not face obstacles in receiving the healthcare they need for PFAS-related conditions. We’ve seen the impact of PFAS contamination in communities both military and civilian in New Hampshire and we must make sure families aren’t exposed to these chemicals and that everyone has access to clean drinking water. Ensuring that our veterans and their families are cared for is an important step toward tackling the issue of contaminated drinking water for all Americans.

Preventing Domestic and Sexual Violence

Yesterday, I voted to reauthorize H.R. 1585, a bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which I am a cosponsor of. We face the harsh reality that domestic and sexual violence crimes remain all too common and we must continue working toward solutions. This reauthorization will be a step forward and will help prevent these crimes from occurring and provide the support survivors need to heal. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in this fight and I will continue to work across the aisle to enhance protections for families in New Hampshire and across the country.

Combating Cyber Abuse and Harassment

On Wednesday, I joined my co-chairs on the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence to hold a roundtable discussion on cyber harassment and abuse. We must take a holistic approach that involves criminalizing this behavior, supporting survivors, and expanding educational opportunities, particularly to young people, to address it and prevent its occurrence. Aligning this work in conjunction with the efforts of state governments and private partners is critical to elevating this issue and building momentum for solutions. Sexual violence has nothing to do with party affiliation, and in Congress we remain committed to championing commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help eradicate this scourge.

Expanding Rural Economic Development

I’m teaming up with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) to lead a bipartisan call on the leaders of the House and Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittees to include funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in the Fiscal Year 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The NBRC has served as a successful resource for innovative and entrepreneurial projects, and the elimination of funding for this Commission would have a negative impact on job creation in the Northeast. The NBRC is a smart and strategic use of taxpayer dollars and it is clear we need to be encouraging economic and community development through programs like this. 

Here for You

I encourage you to make your voice heard. If you have any questions, concerns or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of my offices—I love hearing from you! Thank you, as always, for everything you do to make New Hampshire such a wonderful place to call home. I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Sincerely,