Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster

Dear Friend,

As we look forward to Thanksgiving tomorrow, our family celebrations will look a bit different this year. However you are spending the holiday, I hope that you will be able to safely spend time with family and loved ones — whether that means sharing a meal with the members of your household or spending time virtually with the people you are thankful for.

In New Hampshire and across the country, cases of COVID-19 continue to rise rapidly. We are at a critical point in combating this pandemic, and especially with a vaccine on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that we take precautions to protect ourselves and those around us. I know that this will be particularly difficult during the holidays, but it’s crucial that we follow CDC guidance and do everything that we can to stop the spread and save lives – even if that means cancelling travel plans this year.

Speaking about the rise in COVID-19 cases and asymptomatic transmission.

The CDC now estimates that more than half of all COVID-19 infections are transmitted from people who are not showing symptoms, which means that the majority of people who get COVID got it from someone who did not feel sick and unknowingly passed it on to them. Fortunately, a vaccine is coming, but we need to be patient. We’re all this together, and we must continue taking precautions including wearing masks, washing our hands frequently, and practicing physical distancing. For more information on how to protect yourself and those around you — including tips on how to have a safe Thanksgiving — click here.

Committing to a Peaceful Transition of Power

The peaceful, orderly transfer of power is the backbone of our democracy. The incoming Biden-Harris Administration has been hard at work preparing to hit the ground running on day one to address the issues facing our nation, and I’m glad that the General Services Administration (GSA) has finally taken the official step to ensure a smooth transition process.

I was pleased to have a conversation earlier this week with the Biden-Harris Transition Team to discuss opportunities to work together. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to combat COVID-19, rebuild our economy, and focus on the issues affecting the Granite State including the opioid epidemic, climate change, and access to rural broadband.

Ensuring Veterans Have Access to the Benefits and Services They Have Earned

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges in our everyday lives, but it must not get in the way of veterans having access to the benefits and services they have earned.

Just as so many other businesses, agencies, and organizations have done across the country, the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is fully capable of maintaining its critical operations and ensuring veterans’ health and medical records are processed while keeping its staff safe. This week, I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in advocating for our men and women who have served in uniform by calling on the NPRC to resume processing military personnel records and address the growing backlog of requests due to the closure of the facility amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funding the National Guard’s COVID-19 Response

Read our letter here.

I joined the NH delegation in sending a letter to Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller requesting that he extend the authorization and cover 100 percent of the costs for the NH National Guard to serve and continue its support of the fight against COVID-19 through March 31, 2020. Funding is currently authorized through December 31, 2020.

The National Guard’s efforts are essential to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on New Hampshire citizens and the need for this support is expected to persist into the foreseeable future. As we continue to see a resurgence of coronavirus cases across the country, we share the Governor’s concern that prematurely ceasing federal funding for National Guard COVID-19 support operations will hinder our state’s ability to respond and could contribute to increased infections in New Hampshire.

News You Can Use

The incoming Biden-Harris Administration is hard at work preparing to hit the ground running on day one, and they are putting together a diverse group of qualified Americans to get to work to build back better — applicants interested in serving in the Biden-Harris Administration can get more information and submit their resume here.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to affordable, quality health coverage is more important than ever. Enrollment in healthcare.gov is open NOW through December 15th. If you need coverage or want to make changes to your existing plan for 2021, visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period is also happening now. From now until December 7th, you can enroll in Medicare health and drug plans. Visit medicare.gov for more information.

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 important information and resources, like my page on Facebook and follow me on Twitter.

Have a fun and safe Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

Annie

Committing to a Peaceful Transition of Power

Ensuring Veterans Have Access to the Benefits and Services They Have Earned

Funding the National Guard’s COVID-19 Response

News You Can Use

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