Dear Friend,
A little more than a week after we learned of President Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis, our thoughts remain with him, the First Lady, Senators Tillis (R-NC), Johnson (R-WI), Lee (R-UT), and all of the White House staffers and employees who have tested positive for COVID-19. We wish them a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the more than 212,000 Americans who have died, and with the 7.6 million who have contracted coronavirus. This has been a difficult time for our nation, but we are not helpless – wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and washing our hands frequently are key to stopping the spread of this virus. Our nation’s top infectious disease experts say that if everyone wore masks while in public, we could get the pandemic under control in as little as six weeks. I wear a mask while I’m in public to protect myself, but more importantly, to protect those around me. There is nothing political about wearing a mask – it’s an effective, simple way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep each other safe. If we all take the necessary precautions, we can stop the spread, save lives, and ensure that our economy can reopen and recover.
|
As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Health Subcommittee, I have been receiving regular briefings on our COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccine development efforts. In our committee, we have held nearly a dozen hearings on the COVID-19 public health crisis and we are continuing to conduct oversight of the government’s response to this virus as well as the path to a vaccine. Developing a safe, effective vaccine will be key to putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, but that will only be half the battle. Once we have an approved vaccine, we will still face the formidable challenge of distributing hundreds of millions of doses around the country, as well as assuring Americans that they can trust the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. This will be an unprecedented effort, and we must rely on science – not politics – throughout this process.
As I’ve said in the past, the key to any public health crisis is trust and credibility. I was encouraged that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a positive step towards ensuring transparency this week when they announced new vaccine standards for developing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. This guidance includes ensuring an adequate trial size, the vaccine’s effectiveness in comparison to a placebo, transparency throughout the approval process, and the long-term safety of the vaccine. In order to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, people will need to be immunized, but it’s crucial that the vaccine is safe for the American people and that the public can trust it.
|
Granite Staters and Americans across the country are hurting and they need relief — that's why we passed the HEROES Act in the House nearly five months ago. The health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic didn’t have to be this bad. Our nation’s small businesses, workers, and families are depending on Congress and the White House to provide additional funding and resources. We passed another COVID-19 relief package — the updated HEROES Act — last week in the House, and negotiations were ongoing until President Trump announced this week that there won’t be another relief bill until after the November 3 election. I will continue working to secure crucial relief funds and support for our state, and I hope that Senate Republicans and President Trump will put the health and wellbeing of the American people over politics.
|
|
|
|
|
My discussion with NH Bankers
|
|
On Wednesday, I met virtually with leadership from New Hampshire banks to hear about their experiences with COVID-19 funding relief programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Granite State small businesses hard, forcing some business owners to lay off employees or close their doors. Throughout this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, I have worked hard to secure federal funding that, with the help of our bankers across the state, has brought over $2.5 billion in aid to New Hampshire businesses. I look forward to sharing the insights I heard with my colleagues as we consider additional COVID-19 relief legislation, and will continue to act as a resource for businesses across the state. By working together, we can ensure a strong economic recovery and move forward from this crisis.
|
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that I requested during my time on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs outlining recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fix problems with its program intended to provide VA medical centers with medical and surgical supplies. I am deeply concerned about the continued delays in delivery times, numerous reports of backorders, and limited selection of critical medical supplies for our nation’s veterans. This GAO report outlines clear failures from VA leadership in making the needed improvements to the Medical Supply Vendor Program that would ensure VA medical centers have an efficient, cost-effective way to procure supplies. It is my hope that VA leadership will take the recommendations of this report seriously and implement these improvements.
|
While cases of COVID-19 in NH remain relatively low, new cases are on the rise. Until a safe, effective vaccine is available and most Americans get it, we can't go back to the same "normal" we knew before the pandemic.
Especially as the weather gets colder, it's crucial that we continue to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We must continue to wear masks while in public, avoid crowds, practice physical distancing, stay home when we are feeling sick, wash our hands frequently, and follow the advice of public health officials. For more information about preventing the spread of coronavirus, click here.
|
COVID-19 testing is available at many locations throughout the Granite State - click here for a list of testing sites (and see map below).
|
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence can impact anyone, and everyone deserves to live free from the threat of violence. As founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I remain committed to supporting survivors and working to prevent these crimes from occurring. If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact the Confidential, 24/7 Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-866-644-3574 or visit www.nhcadsv.org.
|
Last month, the NH Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency identified 48 recommendations to increase transparency and accountability in NH law enforcement. I’m glad to see some of these common-sense solutions are being implemented to ensure the police are held accountable to the communities they serve. Requiring our police officers to meet the highest standard of conduct is in the best interest of every Granite Stater. Read more here.
As we enjoy the first few weeks of fall and look forward to the winter holidays, it’s important to remember that we are about to be in the midst of flu season. Public health officials and the CDC recommend that Americans 6 months and older get a flu vaccine, and it’s especially important this year during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on where to get a flu shot, click here.
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 throughout the week on my work in Congress and around the Granite State, as well as important information and resources, like my page on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.
Have a fun and safe holiday weekend, and don’t forget to wear a mask when you are in public!
Sincerely,
Annie
|
|
