Dear Friend, 

Supporting Our Veterans

On Monday, I had the opportunity to meet with staff and veterans at the recently opened Harbor Homes Boulder Point Veterans Housing Project in Plymouth. This new center provides permanent housing for homeless veterans and serves as a critical lifeline for those who call this community home. I was pleased to do my part in seeing this community come together by helping to secure Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers for residents. Affordable housing projects like Boulder Point bring us one step closer to ending veteran homelessness – these Americans served and sacrificed to protect us, and it is our duty to support them. I look forward to my continued work with this community and doing my part to support future projects like Boulder Point.

It was wonderful to sit down with veterans at the North Country Veterans Center in Gorham this morning to discuss how we can work together to support our veterans across the North Country. In Congress, I have been proud to lead and sponsor legislation to increase access to health care and ensure our heroes receive the services they deserve.

Combating Sexual Violence 

I joined survivors, advocates, law enforcement officials, educators, and medical professionals at the Voices Against Violence crisis center in Plymouth on Monday to discuss how we can work together to support survivors and prevent sexual violence. It was great to hear about the work being done in the Plymouth area to better serve survivors as well as discuss the unique issues and challenges faced by those in rural areas when it comes to experiencing and reporting sexual violence. I will continue my work in Congress on the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence to support survivors, make our campuses and communities safer, and bolster efforts to prevent this violence across the Granite State.

Protecting Our Environment

I also had the opportunity to visit the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative on Monday where I heard about the great work the initiative is doing to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency in the area. Their program, NH Solar Shares, works with low-income families to help offset the burden of costly electric bills to help make ends meet. It was a joy to see this project firsthand and I look forward to our ongoing work together.

It was great to stop by the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation in North Woodstock on Wednesday to discuss the environmental and economic impacts of climate change. Their research is critical to combating climate change and protecting our environment, and I’m grateful for their ongoing efforts.

On Wednesday, I also had a chance to sit down with leaders and educators on climate change, forestry and recreation at the UNH Cooperative Extension in Lancaster to discuss the effects of climate change on New Hampshire’s forests and beautiful landscapes. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change in our state; an open dialogue with those who are leading the charge to combat this challenge is crucial to preserving all that makes the Granite State a wonderful place to call home. I will continue to support bold legislation to act on climate so future generations can continue to enjoy all that New Hampshire has to offer.

This morning, I visited the Burgess Biomass Plant in Berlin, which converts wood into biomass-fueled power and serves as the only utility-scale biomass power plant in the Granite State. It was great to learn about employment opportunities for Granite Staters at the plant as well as the facility’s plans for the future. As the House Biomass Caucus co-chair, I look forward to my continued work with the Burgess Biomass team!

Ending the Cycle of Homelessness

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting the devoted staff and residents of the Tyler Blain House Homeless Shelter in Lancaster, which is dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness by helping residents achieve independence to secure permanent housing. I will keep up my work in Congress to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have the tools they need to succeed and get ahead. 

Safeguarding Access to Health Care and Family Services

I was very impressed by what I learned about the North Country Family Services’s “Strength to Succeed” and “Parent Partners” programs during my visit to their Gorham office yesterday. From recovery services and legal assistance to equipping parents with the skills they need for their families to succeed – these programs offer crucial services to Granite Staters. 

Today, I enjoyed visiting the Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster and meeting with staff to learn about the construction of its new 42,000 square foot Lancaster Patient Care Center. Weeks is a critical hospital offering a wide range of care services to the Granite Staters who walk through its doors, and this new space will improve the facility’s primary care and specialty services. I’m elated to see this project realized and look forward to seeing the finished facility! 

Strengthening Support for Substance Misuse Treatment Services

I was touched yesterday by the dedication of the staff at the Hope For New Hampshire Recovery center in Berlin. The center helps folks transition back into their communities after completing treatment and recovery programs for substance use disorder, as well as strengthen relationships that were weakened by their struggles with addiction. 

I also visited Androscoggin Valley Hospital yesterday, which is one of nine hubs in New Hampshire that make up the ‘Doorway’ program for substance use disorder treatment services. Organizations like HOPE and Androscoggin are crucial to ending the opioid epidemic here in New Hampshire and nationwide.

Maintaining a Dialogue with Granite Staters

Yesterday evening, I held a Town Hall Meeting at White Mountains Community College in Berlin to hear from members of the community and provide an update on my work in Congress. I answered questions from North Country residents about critical issues including health care, climate change and immigration. Maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the people of New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District is my top priority as a Member of Congress, and I’m excited to hold more town halls to hear firsthand from Granite Staters about what’s on their minds. 

On Tuesday, I joined NHPR’s The Exchange to discuss my work in New Hampshire and in Congress to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, combat the opioid epidemic, prevent gun violence, and more. You can read about and listen to the entire conversation here. 

I Want to Hear from You

Thank you as always for the wonderful contributions you make to our great state. Please continue reaching out to me with any questions, concerns or ideas you have – I love hearing from you! Enjoy the weekend.
 
Sincerely,