Dear Friend,

Our nation faced a harsh reality last week as we watched mobs of pro-Trump domestic terrorists storm the Capitol during a deadly attempted effort to overturn the results of a free and fair election. President Trump poses a serious threat to the safety of our country and our democracy. He has shown time and again that he is either unable or unwilling to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States or the American people. Every day he remains in office, our country and our citizens are at risk. It is the solemn duty of Congress to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution and the American people and to serve as a check on the executive branch. We have much work to do to heal our nation and build a better future for all, and I believe part of that includes justice and accountability by constitutionally and forcefully condemning President Trump's role in inciting the violence at the Capitol and preventing him from causing further damage. We must set the precedent for generations to come that this is unacceptable. You can watch me discuss this on WMUR’s CloseUp earlier this week.

When the Capitol was invaded, those of us who were in the chamber during the insurrection were evacuated to a secure location. We were together for hours while we waited for the Capitol to be secured, and at least half a dozen of our Republican colleagues refused to wear masks. One of my colleagues offered them masks — face coverings are required inside the Capitol complex — but they refused.

Now, we have been informed that Members and staff may have been exposed to someone with an active COVID-19 infection while we sought safety in that room. It's difficult to comprehend this level of absurdity and the lack of regard for the health and wellbeing of others. I hope that anyone who has or does come down with COVID-19 makes a swift and full recovery.

As we recognized National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9th, I had our Capitol Police Officers on my mind. Tragically, we have lost two over the last week as a result of the deadly violence at the Capitol. After losing Officer Brian Sicknick the day after the attack at the Capitol, Officer Howard Liebengood’s death was announced on Sunday. For more than 15 years, Officer Liebengood served our nation and protected the halls of Congress — including during Wednesday’s deadly riot. The passing of these two Capitol Police officers is a tremendous tragedy, and I am sending my deepest condolences to their families and the Capitol Police force.

My thoughts are also with Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who diverted the mob of rioters away from the Senate chambers during the attack on the Capitol. Officer Goodman’s courage and quick thinking kept these terrorists away from an unsecured Senate door, and he deserves to be recognized. That’s why I joined a bipartisan group of House Members yesterday in introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Officer Goodman. His actions were nothing short of heroic, and I urge House leadership to bring this legislation to the floor.

On Wednesday, I joined Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and more than 30 of our colleagues in sending a letter to the acting House Sergeant at Arms, the acting Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the U.S. Capitol Police requesting an investigation into suspicious activity at the Capitol on January 5, the day before pro-Trump rioters violently attacked the Capitol. Anyone who helped these terrorists gain access to the Capitol or aided their insurrection efforts must be brought to justice.

I’m pleased that the Northern Forest Center will receive $1 million in federal funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to launch efforts to help improve the availability of high-quality workforce housing in northern New Hampshire.

The Northern Forest Center does incredibly important work to spur economic growth and job creation in rural New Hampshire communities. This funding will help the Center ensure there is adequate affordable housing in North Country communities, which is key to the economic viability of the region. I will continue working to ensure Granite Staters have the support and resources they need to succeed and thrive.

The deadly COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to improve access to affordable, quality health care, strengthen our health care infrastructure, expand access to broadband internet, and strengthen our agriculture supply chains. And that’s exactly what I’m focused on in the 117th Congress. I’m honored to be re-appointed to the Agriculture Committee, which I served on for my first three terms. I will be well-positioned to advocate for the priorities of New Hampshire’s agriculture industry, which contributes nearly one billion dollars to our state’s economy every year — and the Energy and Commerce Committee — where I will help lead the charge on developing forward-thinking legislative solutions to the problems facing our nation and addressing the critical issues that are most important to our New Hampshire communities.

On Tuesday, I joined Senator Maggie Hassan and leaders from New Hampshire’s performance venue industry to discuss key provisions of the Save Our Stages Act, which was included in the latest COVID relief package that was signed into law. We also talked about what the legislation means for New Hampshire’s live music and entertainment industry, which employs thousands of Granite Staters.

COVID-19 and the necessary public health measures have taken a tremendous financial toll on New Hampshire, and our performance industry has been hit particularly hard. In addition to providing general enjoyment to the public, independent live music venues also play a meaningful role in the economy in New Hampshire and across the country. These businesses were some of the first to shut down and will likely be some of the last to re-open, and this legislation is the first step to ensure they will be able to re-open and serve our communities on the other side of this pandemic. I look forward to continuing to support our performance industry and working to bring support to those who need it in New Hampshire.

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is now reopened for new borrowers and certain existing borrowers. I was happy to host a virtual roundtable with representatives from local Chambers of Commerce this week to listen to their concerns and share details on the rollout of this second round of PPP loans. Congress included $248B for additional PPP loans as part of the most recent relief package. For more information about what funds are available and the application process, businesses can contact their local lender or visit the US Small Business Administration website at https://www.sba.gov/ppp. My office is also available to assist with navigating the process either by visiting my website (www.kuster.house.gov) or calling our Concord office at (603) 226-1002. 

Starting next Friday, January 22, New Hampshire residents ages 65 and older will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Those who are eligible can register for a vaccine at www.vaccines.nh.gov, with administration to that group beginning on January 26th.

I’m so grateful to our New Hampshire National Guard members who have been essential to New Hampshire’s COVID-19 response. Now, they are helping to protect and defend our democracy during the peaceful transfer of power. We thank them for their service to our country and our state! 

As always, the CDC and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services are the best resources to turn to during the COVID-19 public health emergency. If you are sick, stay home and call your health care provider. If you live in NH and have questions about coronavirus, dial 211 or visit CDC.gov for more information.

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

Remember: hope and brighter days are on the way! We’re all in this together, and we will come out stronger on the other side. In the meantime, I hope you have a fun and safe weekend and don’t forget to wear a mask when you are in public.

Sincerely, 

Annie