Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster

October 21, 2023

Hello Friends,

I wanted to update you about what is happening in Washington, the Speaker of the House election, the ongoing situation in Israel, and efforts to protect innocent civilians caught in the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.

Working to End the Republican Chaos and Elect a Speaker of the House

The only path forward is a bipartisan solution.

It has been more than two weeks since the House of Representatives had a Speaker after far-right Republicans led an effort to oust Kevin McCarthy. In that time, Congress has ground to a halt, unable to vote on any critical legislation or relief funding to protect our homeland security and allies around the world, including in Ukraine and Israel.

This is bad for democracy both at home and abroad.

Since this crisis began, I have reached across the aisle to my Republican colleagues to find common ground and put an end to this chaos. We should be in the business of solving problems, not creating them. Our founders envisioned Congress as a body of compromise – we must live up to that sacred mission. I urge my Republican colleagues to put partisanship aside and finally come to the table to work with Democrats to elect a Speaker, end this crisis, and move our country forward.

You can read my op-ed about the need to work together here.

We need a Speaker who will protect the institution and work for the American people.

This week, Republicans failed to elect their latest nominee, one of the founders of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, Jim Jordan.

Let me be clear, hyper-partisan lawmakers who stoked the division that has paralyzed the House for months and led to the January 6th attack on our U.S. Capitol have no place serving as Speaker, and that includes Jim Jordan.

On Friday, Republicans voted to withdraw Jordan’s nomination for Speaker, putting us exactly where we started. It has become clear, time and again, that the Republican majority cannot agree on one member of their party to lead the House. It’s time for a new approach.

We have the chance to build a bridge between the parties and rebuild the trust and respect for each other that we need to govern effectively. We need a Speaker who can build that bridge, someone who refuses to cave to a handful of extremists and is dedicated to legislating from the middle out. That’s what I’m fighting for.

Supporting Our Allies in Israel and Ukraine

You can watch President Biden’s full address here.

The American people deserve better than the chaos of House Republican leadership. Without a Speaker, we cannot vote on critical military and humanitarian aid to our allies in Israel and Ukraine.

Following the brutal, unconscionable attacks against Israel by Hamas terrorists, it’s more important than ever for Congress to set aside partisan politics and stand with Israel and provide them with the resources necessary to defend themselves, free the hostages held by Hamas terrorists, protect innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank and prevent Hamas from launching this type of terrorist attack again.

We must stand up for our democracy and our allies across the world.

This week, President Biden addressed the nation about the ongoing threat to democracy around the world and the need for American leadership in these uncertain times. On Friday, the president requested Congress authorize significant U.S. aid to fund America’s national security needs and support our critical partners in Israel and Ukraine.

We have so much to accomplish here in Congress, from delivering much-needed support to our allies to providing essential humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

We have no time to waste – I’m working across the aisle with my colleagues to end this chaos and get back to work.

Protecting Civilian Lives

More must be done to limit innocent casualties in this conflict.

While the situation in Israel and Gaza continues to escalate, we cannot lose sight of the human cost of this conflict. Innocent Palestinians are paying the price for Hamas' brutal and ongoing attacks. I’m heartbroken and deeply concerned about the civilian lives Hamas has intentionally put in harm’s way and the rapidly growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza driven by Hamas’ brutality.

More must be done to prevent innocent civilian casualties and deliver the people of Gaza food, water, medicine, shelter, and aid.

This week, I joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle in calling on Egypt to work with international partners to establish and maintain safe zones in southern Gaza to protect civilians. This morning, the first wave of much-needed aid was sent into Gaza.

Egypt is a major global player and a consistent security partner to the United States. I urge the Egyptian government to recognize its humanitarian responsibility to help the United States protect innocent lives.

You can read the full letter here.

News You Can Use

Photo courtesy of usps.com.

United States Postal Service Job Fair: The United States Postal Service is hiring! This Saturday, October 21, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, USPS will be hosting job fairs across New Hampshire to fill all sorts of positions. Career counselors will be available to walk you through the application process. USPS currently has openings for carriers, mail handlers, and clerks throughout the state.

You can learn more here.

I hope you and your loved ones stay safe this Halloween!

Trick-or-Treating: Wondering when to take your child out trick-or-treating? WMUR has a working list of communities with set trick-or-treat times in New Hampshire. Remember to be safe and have fun!

You can see an updated list of locations and times 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.

Be bold, be brave, be kind.

Sincerely,

Annie

October 21, 2023

Working to End the Republican Chaos and Elect a Speaker of the House

Supporting Our Allies in Israel and Ukraine

Protecting Civilian Lives

News You Can Use

Office Locations