Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster

January 20, 2024

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! It was a busy week here in Washington — you may have seen in the news that we got dangerously close to a government shutdown. I wanted to give you an update on where things stand, how we got into this situation, my work to prevent a shutdown, and what comes next.

A government shutdown would be devastating for hardworking New Hampshire families.

On Thursday, Congress passed another short-term funding agreement to keep the government funded into March. While I’m pleased that level heads prevailed and Congress was able to keep the government open and working for the American people, we never should have come this close.

President Biden and Democrats and Republicans in Congress agreed to a budget for 2024 last May during the debt ceiling negotiations. Since then, House Republicans have continuously back-tracked on the agreements they made with Democrats and the White House.

Let me be clear: these short-term funding deals are not permanent solutions. Voting for this legislation was the responsible thing to do to keep the government open and avoid the devastating impacts a government shutdown would have on the U.S. economy and hardworking Granite State families.

Our government works best when Republicans and Democrats come together.

As Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of nearly 100 moderate Democrats working to find pragmatic solutions in Congress, I am laser-focused on working across the aisle to deliver results and relief for families in New Hampshire and across the country. From the beginning, I have worked to find common ground with Republicans on everything from funding the government and preventing a catastrophic default on our debt to ensuring our allies around the globe have the resources they need to fight for freedom and democracy.

It’s more important than ever that Americans have certainty and trust in our government. I’m urging Speaker Johnson and Republicans to work with Democrats in a bipartisan fashion to pass a long-term funding agreement, take up the President’s supplemental funding request to support our allies in Israel and Ukraine, deliver critical humanitarian aid to innocent civilians in Gaza, strengthen our national security, and improve border security.

Calling for Substance Use Disorder Training for Health Care Providers

It’s critical health care providers have the skills and training they need to serve their communities.

The addiction and overdose epidemic has touched every community across the country — tackling this crisis calls for a robust health care workforce trained in effective substance use disorder treatments.

Last week, I led a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter applauding the steps that medical education leadership has taken to respond to the opioid crisis while calling for more experiential training for medical students to learn to use medication-assisted treatment.

You can read the letter I sent here.

Fighting for Reproductive Freedom in New Hampshire

I will always fight to protect a woman’s freedom to make her own personal, private medical decisions.

Also this week, I was honored to join the entire New Hampshire Congressional delegation, Planned Parenthood leadership, and local medical providers in Concord to recognize the 51-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade, when the Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s right to an abortion in a 7-2 decision. As we approach the anniversary of Roe v. Wade this Monday, I am reminded of the generations of women and men who tirelessly fought to ensure a woman’s right to an abortion.

In 1991, my mother, State Senator Susan McLane, pushed for access to medication-assisted abortions in New Hampshire. Unbelievably, 33 years later, we must continue her efforts to protect women's bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.

It’s unbelievable and sad that in 2024, extreme Republicans here in New Hampshire have introduced a 15-day abortion ban, one of the most restrictive in the country. But I won't give up — I’ll keep fighting to ensure women and health care providers – not politicians – can make the personal, private medical decisions that are right for them.

Supporting New Hampshire Hardwood Producers

Granite State foresters play a critical role in New Hampshire’s economic success.

New Hampshire’s hardwood foresters generate some of the highest-quality products in the world – we need to ensure they have the support to continue serving their communities.

American-grown hardwood offers an incredible opportunity to create more sustainable, durable products in countless industries right here at home. This week, I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to support our hardwood producers right here in New Hampshire and strengthen our economy and supply chains.

News You Can Use

Photo courtesy of Concord Monitor.

First-in-the-Nation Primary: Make a plan to vote in New Hampshire's presidential primary on Tuesday, January 23! No matter your politics or party, it’s important to exercise your right to vote and have your voice heard!

Check your voter registration status or find your local polling place here.

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.

I hope you have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Be bold, be brave, be kind.

Sincerely,

Annie

January 20, 2024

Calling for Substance Use Disorder Training for Health Care Providers

Fighting for Reproductive Freedom in New Hampshire

Supporting New Hampshire Hardwood Producers

News You Can Use

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