Hi Everyone!

Last week, I had the opportunity to invite Badger Balm to the White House for a roundtable on workplace policies at small businesses. I was thrilled to bring such an innovative NH company to the national stage to discuss the importance of employee-friendly workplace practices. I also continued working on behalf of Granite State veterans and demanding answers from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I questioned VA officials at two Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearings on ending physician shortages and improving the processing of disability claims for victims of military sexual assault.

Welcoming Badger Balm to Washington

I was delighted to bring Rebecca Hamilton, co-owner of Gilsum’s own W.S. Badger (Badger Balm), to the White House for a discussion on workplace policies for small businesses. We were joined at the discussion by President Obama’s senior advisor Valerie Jarrett, the First Lady’s Chief of Staff Tina Chen, and U.S. Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, among others. The roundtable focused on best practices for small businesses when implementing workplace policies that affect the health and happiness of workers and their families, like flexible scheduling and family leave. 

I was so proud to welcome Ms. Hamilton to the White House to discuss Badger Balm’s truly innovative approach to business with its family-friendly work policies. I visited W.S. Badger headquarters earlier this year as part of my Congress-At-Your-Company series, where I shared my own Women’s Economic Agenda that outlines steps Congress can take to level the playing field for working New Hampshire parents. Badger Balm has received awards and accolades for its ‘Babies at Work’ and child care program, which provides in-house daycare for working parents. Ms. Hamilton was the perfect Granite Stater to share with President Obama’s advisors how family-friendly work policies can lead to a company’s success, and I thank her again for joining me at the White House.

Expanding Access to Care and Fighting to End Inefficiency at the VA

I was proud to help introduce the Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act, which will add 2,000 medical residency positions at VA hospitals in communities that are facing physician shortages. By adding these slots, this legislation will bring the VA back up to its historical norm as a provider of graduate medical education, and will greatly increase patient access to care at the VA.  I believe no veteran should ever have to wait for care.

At a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing, I continued to question VA officials about why, despite Congressional action like this bill, the VA has not made more progress itself towards increasing care options for our nation’s veterans. I was very disappointed by the VA’s testimony, during which witnesses were unable to provide sufficient information about why this shortfall – not to mention other problems at the VA – had not yet been addressed. I am shocked by the number of problems the VA has allowed to linger and frankly has been covering up, and during my questioning I said enough is enough. VA officials must be straightforward and provide necessary data and cost-benefit analysis about the issues plaguing VA facilities, so Congress can step in and help provide necessary resources for the VA so no veteran is ever again forced to wait for care.

At another VA Committee hearing last week, I questioned VA officials about a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showing extreme inconsistencies in the VA’s method for processing disability claims made by victims of military sexual assault. According to the report, many claims made by assault victims have been wrongly denied, and I pushed VA officials to immediately reform the claims process so these victims are not unfairly discriminated against. It is outrageous that claims for veterans who were victims of sexual assault were incorrectly denied. Even worse, according to a recent GAO report, the compensation and pension (C&P) examinations for MST claims continue to be inconsistent at many facilities across the country and veterans are incorrectly denied disability benefits.

Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day is a time for us to celebrate and remember the things that our nation is all about. Not only cookouts and fireworks and the stars and stripes, but the liberty and independence that these things represent.

So take a moment during this weekend’s festivities to think about the noble dream of our Founding Fathers – a democracy where men and women are free to live as they see fit. I would also like thank all of the courageous Americans who have fought and sacrificed to protect our great country. Have a fantastic 4th and God Bless the USA!