Hello Friends,

As we head into the holidays and folks across the country who celebrate Christmas gather with loved ones, I am wishing you and yours a safe and joyful weekend!

There are so many wonderful ways to safely enjoy the season here in New Hampshire — I encourage you to get outdoors and explore all our state has to offer!

On Tuesday, President Biden addressed the nation on the country’s COVID-19 response as we head into Christmas weekend and the New Year — during his speech, he made one thing abundantly clear: the COVID-19 vaccines are a triumph of American ingenuity and scientific research, and they are saving lives even as the Omicron variant spreads.

He also announced new measures to keep our communities safe:

1️⃣ More testing sites and vaccine clinics in hard-hit areas.

2️⃣ Deployment of clinical personnel to help our hospitals handle the surge.

3️⃣ Purchase of 500 million at-home rapid tests for American families.

As more Granite Staters make the choice to get vaccinated and boosted to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, the President’s plan will help to get more shots into arms to put this surge behind us faster. I welcome the steps President Biden announced this week and will continue working in Congress and with New Hampshire officials to deliver resources to our communities as we combat this crisis.

NH Veterans Home staff accepted the cards on behalf of service members.

Our nation’s active-duty service members, veterans, national guardsmen, and their families sacrifice a great deal for our country and our communities, and it is very important we honor their service, especially around the holidays. This week, I wrapped up my 8th annual Holiday Cards for Heroes drive — a program I started in 2013 to teach students about our armed forces and help them write cards to the men and women who serve in the military to protect our country during the holidays. 

My Holiday Cards for Heroes drive is an opportunity for young students to learn about and participate in New Hampshire’s proud tradition of honoring those who serve, and I hope these thoughtful, handcrafted cards from students bring joy to our Granite State service members this holiday season.

Access to quality, affordable health coverage is more important than ever, and thanks to the American Rescue Plan, it’s more accessible than ever!

Open enrollment is open from now until January 15, 2022! Don’t miss your chance to update your current plan or enroll in a new health care plan through HealthCare.gov.

A high-quality plan may be more affordable than you think! ➡️ www.healthcare.gov

As we head into the holidays, it can be difficult to have conversations about comfort and COVID-19 safety precautions with family or loved ones. Regardless of how you gather, I encourage you to plan ahead to keep your gathering safe. Learn more about what to ask and how to prepare: https://wapo.st/3GyEBqw.

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. 

As 2021 comes to a close and we look toward 2022, I hope you find time to reflect on all we have accomplished in the past year. It hasn’t been easy, but we have made tremendous progress for our country — progress we will carry into the new year!

Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday,

Annie