Hello Friends,

It was an exciting week in Washington working on behalf of the Granite State! On Wednesday, Congressman Chris Pappas and I hosted a telephone town hall to discuss the recent Omicron surge and New Hampshire’s ongoing pandemic response. On Thursday, the House passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, legislation that takes some of the hallmarks of our Granite State elections — like same-day voter registration — and ensures elections across the country are held to the same high standard.

The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy, and I was proud to support this bill to help protect that right for every American.

In Congress, I will continue to advocate for every American who serves our country in uniform.

In recent years, the National Guard has been utilized at unprecedented levels, often taking on the same jobs and risks as their active duty counterparts. Yet, Guardsmen and reservists have unequal access to GI Bill benefits.

This week, the House passed the bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act to fix this inequity and ensure National Guard and reserve members receive the benefits they deserve for each day spent in uniform.

This month, as we rang in the new year, I found myself reflecting on all the work we accomplished in the past 12 months, and wanted to share some of the highlights. Although it was a difficult year, we took incredible steps to build a better future for all Granite Staters, progress we will carry into 2022!

A look back at the winter of 2021.

Our country started off 2021 under tremendous strain. In January, our nation witnessed the violent attack on the United States Capitol and the failed insurrection attempt to overturn the lawful election of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. 

America does not yet know just how close we — Members of Congress, staff, journalists, and our very democracy — came to our demise on January 6th. It’s essential we remember the violence of that day, stand up against the far-right conspiracies that motivated the mob, and unite to defend our democracy and its future.

I will continue to fight for our shared American values, and stand up to those who wish to see our democracy fail.

It was an honor to witness the historic swearing-in of President Joe Biden and the first-ever female Vice President, Kamala Harris in January! 

The peaceful transition of power is the cornerstone of our democracy, and in January 2021, we defended it.

In February, I worked with my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to ensure the equitable and efficient delivery of COVID-19 vaccines across our country.

In 2021, our country achieved what many thought to be impossible: the efficient and equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines across the United States. I was proud to help ensure every American who wanted it had access to the vaccines through my role on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. 

With thousands of Americans dying every day, any delay at all in getting the vaccines administered was unacceptable.

In February, I also participated in a House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing entitled, "No Time to Lose: Solutions to Increase COVID-19 Vaccinations in the States." The Subcommittee heard from state public health officials to examine the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines across the United States. 

Throughout 2021, I participated in dozens of hearings like these — from expanding access to health care through telehealth to ensuring those with long COVID were not left behind — to ensure our country was diligent in its response to COVID-19. In 2022, I will continue these efforts so we can finally crush this virus.

I spoke on the House floor about the benefits of this transformational plan for NH as we recover from COVID-19.

In March, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law. This comprehensive legislation included funding for my bill to increase COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and production to get shots into arms quickly and efficiently. 

This forward-looking package also included:

• Additional relief payments for families and individuals — The plan finished the job on the President’s promise to provide $2,000 in direct assistance with checks of $1,400 per person, following the $600 down payment enacted in December.
• Expanded Child Tax Credits — The Child Tax Credit provision of the American Rescue Plan Act increased the tax break to $3,000 for every child age 6 to 17 and $3,600 for every child under the age of 6.
• Bolstered SNAP and nutrition assistance benefits — One in seven families in New Hampshire struggle with hunger, up 69% since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The American Rescue Plan expanded SNAP and nutrition assistance benefits to ensure every Granite Stater has food on the table.
• Funding to Get Vaccines in Arms — The plan mounted a national vaccination program that set up community vaccination sites nationwide. It also took measures to combat the virus, including scaling up testing and tracing, addressing shortages of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies, investing in high-quality treatments, and addressing health care disparities.

I’m proud to work in Congress to expand access to child care for Granite State families.

In March, I also met with New Hampshire Child Care providers, advocates, and officials to discuss the Child Tax Credit provision of the American Rescue Plan.

Addressing the urgent need for high-quality, accessible, and affordable child care is crucial to ensuring that working mothers, fathers, and families are not left behind as we build back from this pandemic. That’s why I was thrilled for the Child Tax Credit provision of the American Rescue Plan — which has delivered an estimated $159 million in tax cuts to more than 66,000 families in New Hampshire’s Second District. 

This transformative provision is a crucial step toward building a more resilient, more diverse economy and workforce, and I will continue working to extend it for families across the Granite State.

Dr. Jill Biden spoke about the American Rescue Plan in Concord, NH.

In March, I was honored to welcome First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to New Hampshire at the Christa McAuliffe School. Dr. Biden highlighted the American Rescue Plan and discussed the benefits of this legislation to schools across New Hampshire.

A look back at the spring of 2021.

It was wonderful to show Vice President Kamala Harris around Concord and take a visit to Gibson’s Bookstore!

In April, I had the opportunity to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to New Hampshire to highlight the needs of Granite Staters as we build back better. We stopped by Gibson’s Book Store in Concord and talked with owner Michael Herrmann about their COVID-19 operations and the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to get critical relief to small businesses across the country. Later in the day, we toured a local job training center in Concord to discuss building a stronger, more resilient workforce.

In May, I spoke on the House floor about the heroic actions of the Ghost Army.

In May, my legislation, the Ghost Army Congressional Gold Medal Act, passed the House. This bill would recognize and honor the heroism and bravery of the Ghost Army, the top-secret World War II Army units that put their lives on the line to draw fire and confuse enemy troops. 

Members of the Ghost Army saved thousands of allied lives during WWII, employing creative and daring techniques that were some of the most important psychological warfare operations used during the Second World War. But, because their missions were kept secret for decades, these soldiers were never recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments — this legislation would change that and give these American heroes the long-overdue recognition they deserve. 

We expect President Biden to sign this legislation into law in the coming weeks.

This spring, I joined the deployment ceremony for some of our New Hampshire National Guardsmen.

As the daughter of a WWII POW and Purple Heart recipient, advocating for our men and women in uniform hits close to home and has always been a top priority. From ensuring our veterans have access to the health care and benefits they have earned, to supporting the families of POW and MIA service members, I will continue to advocate on behalf of those who served our country.

A look back at the summer of 2021.

In June, I visited Warner Public Market and met with co-owner Bret Ingold to discuss challenges and opportunities in developing a sustainable, resilient local food system in New Hampshire.

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I am focused on advancing legislation to support our Granite State farmers and producers, and ensure our food supply system has the tools needed to thrive, especially as we recover from COVID-19 disruptions.

For our nation to thrive as we recover from this pandemic, we need to make sure no part of the country is left behind, especially our rural communities.

In June, I participated in an Agriculture Committee hearing entitled, “Examining Opportunities for Growth and Investment in Rural America.” During the hearing, I heard from industry experts about projected agricultural growth in rural America as the nation continues rebuilding from COVID-19, and steps Congress can take to help ensure a robust recovery and continued development. 

Throughout 2021, I was proud to represent New Hampshire on the House Agriculture Committee in hearings like these, and bring the voices of Granite State producers to Congress. In 2022, I will continue this critical work and advance legislation to ensure Americans have food on the table and our farmers have the support needed to get it there.

The Child Tax Credit put money back in the pockets of hardworking families in New Hampshire and across the country.

In July, I welcomed Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to New Hampshire to highlight new investments in family-friendly policies like expanding the Child Tax Credit included in the American Rescue Plan to put your hard-earned tax dollars back in your pockets, ensuring paid leave for all, and making meaningful public investments in child care! 

It was an honor to join President Joe Biden for the signing of legislation to curb methane emissions and protect our planet.

In July, I was honored to join my colleagues and President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of critical legislation to reduce methane emissions and restore the progress that was rolled back during the previous administration. 

I’ll continue working in Congress and on the Energy and Commerce Committee to advance legislation to build the clean energy economy of the future and protect our climate for generations to come.

I was joined by my task force co-chairs along with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and experts who study and combat sexual violence to talk about the role Congress can play in enacting legislation to protect survivors.

As founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I am committed to addressing domestic and sexual violence, holding perpetrators accountable, and ensuring survivors have the support and resources they need to recover. 

In July, I hosted a virtual roundtable on military sexual violence with my co-chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, Dave Joyce (R-OH), Jackie Speier (D-CA), and John Katko (R-NY). We spoke with experts in the field and discussed steps Congress can take to bolster resources for survivors and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. 

For decades, military leaders have stated that sexual violence and harassment has ‘no place in our Armed Forces,’ when in fact the reality our service members still face on the ground is very different. This roundtable was an important step forward to reform our military sexual assault system, and I will continue working across the aisle to end sexual violence within our Armed Forces.

This bill will authorize dormant grants and provide critical support to survivors who have been stuck at home with their abusers during the pandemic.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans in abusive and dangerous situations reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline (NSAH), operated by the dedicated staff and volunteers at RAINN, for help and support. In July, I was proud to team up with Rep. Dave Joyce to reauthorize key federal grants for NSAH that have been dormant for years. With call volume reaching record highs in 2020, it has never been more essential for federal funds to leverage and supplement the critical work of NSAH to protect survivors.

The National Sexual Assault Hotline operates 24/7 for those in need: 800-656-HOPE (4673).

I’m proud to be leading legislation in Congress — inspired by work conducted by Stanford University — to modernize our waterways and restore our rivers.

In July, I was proud to introduce H.R. 4375, my bipartisan Twenty-First Century Dams Act. This bill makes a $25.8 billion investment in enhancing the safety, grid resilience benefits, and power generating capacity of America’s existing dams while also providing historic funding to remove dams that are no longer necessary.

Here in New Hampshire and across the country, advocates from diverse industries have come together to reimagine our energy and water infrastructure, and my bill takes these conversations and advances an innovative plan to rehabilitate, retrofit, or remove U.S. dams (the 3Rs) to bolster clean energy production while conserving our waterways.

In August, I toured the Wilder Dam in Lebanon with energy and conservation leaders to discuss our nation’s energy future and my bipartisan legislation, the Twenty-First Century Dams Act. 

Our North Country communities have endured through the COVID-19 pandemic — in 2022, I will continue working to ensure they have the tools they need to thrive.

In August, I spent time in the North Country meeting with local leaders, businesses, and constituents to talk about my work in Congress on behalf of New Hampshire, and hear about their priorities.

Learn more about my North Country tour, and my work on behalf of New Hampshire communities and businesses above.

From funding I helped deliver to White Mountains Community College to design a new Business and Industry Training Facility in Littleton to American Rescue Plan support for Granite State manufacturers, I’m proud to advocate for the North Country in Congress.

A look back at the fall of 2021.

I spoke on the House Floor in favor of the Women’s Health Protection Act. It is time we codify the precedent of Roe v. Wade to ensure the government cannot insert itself in personal reproductive decisions.

In September, the House passed the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, legislation to codify the constitutional right to an abortion found in Roe v. Wade, create federal protections against state laws that fail to protect women’s health and intrude upon personal decision-making and prohibit medically unwarranted restrictions that single out abortion services or the facilities that provide them.

I was proud to join Granite State activists and those from across the country to stand up in defense of reproductive freedom as the Supreme Court considers a challenge to Roe v. Wade.

2021 saw unprecedented attacks on women’s reproductive rights, and in 2022, we will carry on our work to ensure no one has to answer to the government when deciding when and how to start a family. I’m proud to advocate for our Granite State family planning services and remain committed to our work to ensure every Granite Stater has the right to make their own reproductive decisions.

By bringing together Members from across the aisle and across the country, we are taking meaningful steps to save lives.

In 2020, more than 93,000 Americans died of a drug overdose — this staggering loss of life is a tragic reminder of the urgent need to address the addiction epidemic. In 2021, I was proud to announce the creation of the  Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. As co-chair, I am working across the aisle to take action and address the addiction and substance use crisis in our country.

In October, the Task Force unveiled our 2021 Legislative Agenda and highlighted the importance of a unified front to finally end this epidemic and expand access to resources. The Legislative Agenda outlines steps Congress can take to address the ongoing mental health and substance use crisis by:

• Increasing access to recovery resources;
• Ending the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health;
• Building the public health infrastructure needed to address the addiction crisis; and
• Creating safeguards against the flow of dangerous drugs in our communities.

I was joined for a Task Force press conference in October by Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), her son and recovery advocate Harry Cunnane, Captain Lee Rosbach, and Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL).

In October, I was proud to welcome Capt Lee Rosbach from Bravo’s ‘Below Deck’ to Capitol Hill to talk about something his family knows all too well: the personal cost of addiction. After losing his son two years ago, Captain Lee has been a tireless advocate for better awareness about the threat of fentanyl-laced drugs and the importance of removing the stigma of addiction. His advocacy and honesty were heart-wrenching, and a stark reminder of the personal cost of substance use.

Watch the full press conference: https://youtu.be/ygaXY6qlYkg

We accomplished a great deal in 2021 to address the substance use epidemic, and I will continue working with colleagues across the aisle to advance the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force’s 2021 Legislative Agenda to address addiction, expand access to treatment, and help save lives.

Read the full agenda here: https://bit.ly/3DWGagv

To stay up to date with my bipartisan efforts to advance evidence-based policies and end the addiction crisis, follow the Task Force on Twitter and like the Task Force on Facebook.

I was honored to join President Biden at the White House for the signing ceremony of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package in November.

In November, President Joe Biden signed the transformative Bipartisan Infrastructure Package into law, delivering much-needed investments in our nation’s roads, bridges, highways, broadband, and so much more. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law takes bold steps to invest in our country’s future.

The very same week, I welcomed President Biden to New Hampshire to talk about what this legislation means for our state: 

$1.1B for roads and highways

$225M for bridge repairs

$125M for public transport

$100M to expand broadband

$12.4M to defend against cyber attacks

$418M to bolster water infrastructure

And that’s just the beginning. You can watch President Biden’s full remarks here, and learn more about what the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package means for you and your family here.

It was an honor to welcome President Biden to New Hampshire.

I was proud to secure New Hampshire priorities in this bill to invest in the future of our roads, bridges, highways, communities, and more.

I look forward to the Capitol Corridor Project finally coming to fruition for our communities and our economy.

In December, I welcomed Secretary Pete Buttigieg to New Hampshire to talk about how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package will support the Capitol Corridor Project, expand access to public transportation options, and allow Granite State workers and businesses to fully capitalize on opportunities in the Boston region.

From broadband and clean water to roads, bridges and commuter rail, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime investment in our state and our economy.

I will continue working to direct new federal investments into our state to promote clean energy and protect our planet for generations to come.

In December, I welcomed USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small to New Hampshire to announce new federal funding to support renewable energy. Building the clean energy economy of the future is an incredible opportunity for rural communities and is a win-win for local jobs and protecting our state from the impact of climate change.

During the visit, we toured a solar array site in Franklin that benefits from this funding and discussed the importance of investing in renewable energy projects to create jobs, achieve a resilient, reliable electric grid, and lessen our dependence on foreign fossil fuels.

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As always, the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services are the best resources to turn to for information about COVID-19. If you are sick, stay home and call your health care provider.

To stay updated on my work in Congress and around the Granite State and for important information and resources, like my page on Facebook and follow me on Twitter. 

It is the honor of my lifetime to represent the people of New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District in Congress, and I look forward to bringing the voices of Granite Staters to Washington in the coming months as we work to deliver the Build Back Better Agenda, protect the sacred right to vote, invest in our families, and build a better future for all. 

Stay safe and have a great start to 2022!

Sincerely,

Annie