Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a great week.  I spent this week in the Second District, visiting innovative businesses around New Hampshire and promoting the effort to reform our campaign finance system.  

Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda

From day one, my top priority in Congress has been helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class New Hampshire families.  Since taking office, I have traveled to every corner of the second district to hear from educators, entrepreneurs, workers, and families about how Congress can help create jobs and grow the economy. Their thoughts and ideas form the foundation of my Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which outlines a series of common sense, bipartisan steps – ranging from doubling down on investments in innovation and job training, to streamlining government programs – that Congress can take to help small business owners and middle class families achieve their goals. 

This plan takes ideas from all across New Hampshire’s second district and shapes them into a cohesive vision that can help to create jobs and grow the economy, both here in the Granite State and all across the country. From supporting small business to reducing the deficit in a balanced way, the Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda touches on a wide range of issues. It includes proposals to increase investments in workforce development; protect access to affordable higher education; and provide tax credits to companies relocating to the United States, among many others.  Please take a moment to read the full text of my Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which is available here.

Working to Give Granite Staters a Voice

Continuing my efforts to strengthen grassroots influence on the electoral process, I recognized the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision with a constituent roundtable hosted by the Nashua Teacher’s Union. I was honored to be joined by Congressman John Sarbanes (MD-03), who is a leading national advocate for reforming campaign finance laws. 

Four years after the Citizens United decision, corporations and special interest groups continue to hold a disproportionate influence over elections and American politics. To combat these special interests, I am partnering with Congressman Sarbanes to introduce the Government By the People Act, which proposes a series of measures designed to amplify the voice of everyday Americans.

Our nation’s campaign finance system is stacked against us. It gives undue influence to corporations and special interest groups, while silencing the voice of everyday Americans. It’s time to restore fairness and openness to our electoral process.

Talking STEM Education at Dartmouth

Not only is the Thayer School conducting some of the world’s most innovative engineering research, but through the Engineering Entrepreneurship program, it’s preparing students to lead the 21^st Century economy. That’s what my Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Agenda is all about. This plan takes ideas from students and educators, like those at the Thayer School, and it shapes them into a cohesive vision that can help to create jobs and grow the economy, both here in the Granite State and all across the country.

During my visit to the Thayer School this week, I discussed the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, as well as the research and development tax credit and other elements of the Jobs and Opportunity plan. The R&D Tax Credit Extension Act would extend and make permanent the research and development tax credit, an essential tool to help maintain the United States’ leadership in the global innovation economy.

Discussing Innovation in Claremont

Across New Hampshire, businesses like Mikros Manufacturing are developing innovative, state-of-the-art products and strategies that are helping to lift the Granite State economy. During my engaging visit to Mikros this week, I discussed the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education (STEM), as well as extending the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) program and other elements of the Jobs and Opportunity plan. Last year, I introduced the Small Business Growth through Exports Act, legislation that would extend and expand the STEP program to help even more New Hampshire companies boost their exports and create jobs.

Have a fantastic weekend and thanks for everything you do to make New Hampshire such a great place to live!