Kuster’s Q&A can be watched here.

Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, stressed the need for Congress to update and invest in our nation’s infrastructure at a full committee hearing on the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s America Act (LIFT America Act), which she is a cosponsor of. Kuster questioned Jessica Eckdish, Legislative Director of BlueGreen Alliance about the challenges older schools face in addressing lead contamination, as well as how the LIFT Act will help low-income and underserved communities meet their clean energy goals. Kuster also discussed the importance of expanding access to quality broadband internet in rural communities in New Hampshire and across the country.

“Updating our water systems and energy and broadband infrastructure is a win for the American people, our economy, our environment, and public safety,” said Kuster. “The LIFT America Act will make critical investments to help ensure all students have access to safe, clean water in their schools, support solar installations to help low-income communities reduce their carbon footprint, and increase access to quality broadband internet. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this legislation, which is an important step forward, and I will continue working to bring our nation’s infrastructure into the 21^st century.”

Kuster has been vocal about the need to address PFAS and other water contaminants in New Hampshire. Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) increased funding for the study of PFAS as requested by Kuster. In addition, she has called on the Trump Administration to immediately release a toxicology report about widespread water contamination from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).

Kuster is also the Chair of the Biomass Caucus in Congress and has been a strong proponent of expanding biomass energy and taking meaningful steps to protect our environment and economy from carbon pollution. Kuster has pushed for resources to expand broadband to rural communities and discussed the importance of this issue with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. Earlier this month, she joined the new Bipartisan Task Force on Rural Broadband, which will work to allocate federal funding for rural broadband and ensure every American has affordable internet access by 2025.

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