I hope you are all having a terrific week and enjoying the spring weather. Last week, I travelled around the district to meet with constituents and discuss some of the biggest issues facing Granite Staters. I co-hosted a mental health summit with Congressman Guinta in Concord, met with community leaders in Claremont to discuss the economic importance of passenger rail, and held a discussion on advanced manufacturing in Keene. I also announced my bill to fight carbon monoxide poisoning at the Hudson Fire Department and met with advocates and residents in Lebanon to talk about affordable housing in the Upper Valley.

Addressing Mental Health Issues with Congressman Guinta

As New Hampshire struggles to address a number of mental health issues, I joined Congressman Frank Guinta to host a mental health summit in Concord to hear directly from local stakeholders in New Hampshire about how best to increase access to mental health care for those in need. It’s long past time to remove the stigma around mental health and ensure that high quality care is offered in the Granite State and beyond, and I’m proud to join with Congressman Guinta in drafting legislation to improve mental health services across the nation. The summit gave us a chance to receive feedback on our legislation from those in the community who are working on these issues every day in New Hampshire, and we look forward to incorporating their thoughts in our bill as we prepare to introduce the legislation in the House. (Read more here)

Talking with Community Leaders about Passenger Rail in Claremont

A robust transportation infrastructure is critical for New Hampshire to thrive in the global 21st century economy, and I was thrilled to host a roundtable in Claremont to discuss the economic importance of passenger rail in Sullivan County and throughout New Hampshire. The roundtable gave me a chance to hear from business and community leaders about the importance of passenger rail to economic development in Claremont and the surrounding communities.  I have been a vocal advocate for improving our infrastructure, and I look forward to working together with local leaders to strengthen our roads, bridges, and railways so we can meet the needs of residents, businesses, and tourists. (Read more here)

Advocating for Advanced Manufacturing in Keene

I had the opportunity to hear from students and industry leaders during a manufacturing summit I hosted at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) in Keene. I have made supporting job creation and helping our small businesses grow one of my top priorities in Congress, and advanced manufacturing is an important piece of the Granite State’s economic future.  This summit also helped connect industry leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources in the Monadnock Region. I have been a strong supporter of advanced manufacturing in the Granite State, and it was great to hear directly from students and business leaders so that I can continue to go to bat for them on the federal level.

Combating Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Last week, I joined with New Hampshire Fire Marshal J. William Degnan and fire officials from Hudson and Nashua to announce the reintroduction of my bill, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act.  I’m proud to sponsor this legislation, which would help protect New Hampshire families from the grave dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning death in the United States, and is a particular concern in cold-weather states like New Hampshire. We must ensure that families have the resources they need to heat their homes safely and without incident, and this bill will go a long way toward that goal.

Fighting for Affordable Housing in the Upper Valley

In Lebanon, I brought together stakeholders, affordable housing advocates, and community members to discuss New Hampshire’s housing needs. I’ve long called on my colleagues in Congress to preserve crucial funding for affordable housing, and this roundtable underscored the urgent need for increased investment in these programs now. The stories I heard during this roundtable truly illustrated how affordable housing units across the Granite State can help our hardworking families get ahead. But without federal funds many of these programs are threatened and these families’ livelihoods are put in jeopardy.

I will continue to work with the USDA to encourage expansion of rural development programs that are particularly important in communities like those located in the Upper Valley, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to come together and support federal affordable housing programs across the board. (Read more here)

 Thanks for staying engaged and for everything you do for the Granite State!