Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) helped pass the bipartisan, bicameral government funding legislation for Fiscal Year 2023. This comprehensive package includes federal funding for the next year across departments and agencies. Kuster helped secure funding for addiction and mental health programs, domestic and sexual violence interdiction, and much more.

“I’m pleased that today Republicans and Democrats were able to come together to pass comprehensive federal funding that will deliver for New Hampshire families, small businesses, health care providers, veterans, and more,” said Kuster. “This legislation invests in our communities by bolstering resources for programs with a proven track record such as the Northern Border Regional Commission and supporting access to critical services for children and families. I was proud to lead the charge on critical priorities for our state, including the NO PAIN Act to incentivize non-opioid pain management in surgical settings to address opioid addiction before it begins.”

“I am especially pleased to see the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act included in this package,” Kuster continued. “From medication-assisted treatment to recovery support programs, this legislation is a major breakthrough in our efforts to address the addiction and mental health crisis. I was proud to advocate for its inclusion in the funding package and look forward to the positive impact it will have on communities across the country.”

The funding package for Fiscal Year 2023 delivers for New Hampshire and includes:

1. Addiction and Mental Health:
1. The NO PAIN Act, legislation to provide a separate Medicare surgery payment for two years for non-opioid payments for pain relief. 
1. Rep. Kuster co-led this bill with Rep. Sewell (D-AL).
2. The Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act, to strengthen health parity laws, expand access to lifesaving medication-assisted treatment, and improve Medicaid behavioral health services for children.
1. Rep. Kuster advocated for the inclusion of this legislation as chair of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force and as Chair-elect of the New Democrat Coalition.
3. Easier access to medication-assisted treatment, to not require providers to register separately in order to dispense methadone, which supports the expansion of “mobile medication units” or mobile methadone clinics. 
1. Rep. Kuster wrote a letter in support of this issue in a previous Congress.
4. Reauthorization and expansion of programs to address the addiction and mental health crisis, including the State Opioid Response (SOR) Grants and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Grants.
1. This was a top priority of Rep. Kuster’s Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force.  
2. Community Investments:
1. $40 million for the Northern Border Regional Commission, to allow the Commission to invest in development projects in northern and western New Hampshire.
1. Rep. Kuster advocated for this more than 15% increase for the NBRC.
2. $455 million for expanding Broadband service, including significant investments in the ReConnect Program and improving access to distance-learning and telemedicine services in rural areas. 
1. Rep. Kuster has advocated for increased funding as a Rural Broadband Task Force member.
3. $2,000,000 to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, establish a grant program to install carbon monoxide alarms in childcare, senior living, and public facilities, and fund the development and distribution of educational materials. 
1. Rep. Kuster introduced the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2022.
4. $4 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a $200 million increase from the previous year. 
1. Rep. Kuster has consistently championed this program to help families pay home heating bills and prevent energy shutoffs.
5. $45 million for PFAS remediation and disposal technologies, with an additional $200 million for PFAS cleanup through the military base closure and realignment program.
6. The Visiting America Act, to require the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy and establish an Assistant Secretary of travel and tourism.
1. Rep. Kuster was a cosponsor of this legislation.

1.       $3.5 million to expand access to technology in rural areas, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) offers programs like “Armed to Farm,” agriculture training for military veterans transitioning to farming.

1.       Rep. Kuster led a bipartisan amendment in support of this measure.

1. Supporting NH Families:
1. The KIDS CARE Act, to allow for Medicaid and CHIP screenings, referrals, and case management for juveniles in public institutions. 
1. Rep. Kuster co-led this bill with Rep. Hudson (R-NC).

1.       $125 million for the Family Self-Sufficiency program, to support families living in federally-assisted housing to achieve economic independence.

1.       Rep. Kuster leads the annual letter in support of this program. 

1.       The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, to ensure reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and prohibit discrimination.

1.       Rep. Kuster co-sponsored this legislation in the House.

1.       The PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, to guarantee workers the right to breaks to pump during the work day.

1.       Rep. Kuster helped pass this legislation in the House earlier this year.

1. Addressing Sexual Violence:
1. Supporting Health Programs for Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors, $10,000,000 for the Violence Against Women Act Health state partnership initiative, which works to improve access to health care services pertaining to recovery from or prevention of abuse and assault.
1. Rep. Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, led this funding request.
2. $52 million for Sexual and Domestic Violence Survivors, to expand access to safe housing options.
1. Rep. Kuster championed funding for programs that provide rapid re-housing and support services for survivors who don’t have a safe place to call home. 
2. Other Priorities:

1.       $45 billion in aid to Ukraine, to support Democracy abroad and stand up to Russian aggression.

1.       Electoral Count Reform Act, legislation to ensure electoral college votes in presidential elections are tallied by Congress to accurately reflect each state’s vote President and inhibit any future efforts to unfairly overturn elections like the January 6th insurrection.  

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