Hello! This month, I have been busy fighting for the priorities we all care about here in New Hampshire - protecting our national security, creating new jobs in the Granite State, taking care of our veterans, and making college more affordable for students and families. Below please learn a little more about my continued efforts to stand up for NH families!

Sharing Holiday Cheer with our Veterans

I was delighted to hold my third-annual “Holiday Cards for Heroes” drive, during which local students designed holiday cards that I then delivered to veterans at the Manchester V.A. Medical Center and the NH Veterans Home in Tilton. We should take every possible opportunity to honor the heroic sacrifices of our veterans, especially during the holiday season.

This year, I visited with students in Hopkinton and collected additional cards from elementary school students in Bow, Hudson, and Milford. I was proud to deliver these heartwarming cards to our brave veterans, and to hear directly from residents about how I can continue serving them in Washington. As the daughter of a World War II veteran and a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I remain deeply committed to ensuring our veterans have access to the services and care they deserve.

Bringing Tax Relief to Granite State Families

I joined a majority of my colleagues – both Republican and Democratic – in supporting the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, which marked a major step forward for Granite State families and small businesses. For too long, congressional gridlock has created uncertainty, and this vote ensures New Hampshire families have much-needed, long-term tax relief. I was proud to join both parties in voting to help our hard-working families and small businesses.

The legislation extends indefinitely the research and development tax credit, which I have long championed and will benefit an array of manufacturers and innovators in NH and help create jobs here in the Granite State. Additionally, the legislation makes permanent several tax provisions important to working families, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, and the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which helps students pay for college.

The bill also makes permanent a number of provisions that enhance land conservation and charitable giving, which will benefit many of the critical organizations currently serving Granite State communities.  It also provides long-term extensions for solar, wind, and other renewable energy incentives, and phases out those credits over time as renewables becoming more competitive in the marketplace.

Supporting a Responsible Budget that Helps Fight the Heroin Epidemic

I joined a bipartisan majority of my colleagues to pass the “omnibus” budget agreement, which will fund the government for the next fiscal year.

I am committed to combatting and stopping the opioid epidemic that is devastating too many New Hampshire families and communities. That’s why I was particularly pleased that this budget agreement provided federal funding to prevent abuse and treat addiction. What’s more, the bill will help fund the work of law enforcement, health care providers, and community stakeholders who are fighting every day to address this crisis, and who provide critically-important resources to communities across the Granite State.

The package includes crucial funding for programs such as the COPS grants for Anti-Heroin Task Forces, as well as the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which assists states in preventing the abuse of prescription drugs. Additional funding is provided for drug courts, which enter non-violent, high-risk drug offenders into court-supervised treatment programs rather than traditional prison time.

I was so pleased to fight for these Granite State priorities both in Washington and here at home. As always, thank you for all you do to make New Hampshire a terrific place to live, work and raise a family. Happy holidays and best wishes for 2016!