Hello Friends,

It was a very productive week in Washington – we passed consequential legislation to ensure marriage equality, support our service members, address the substance use epidemic, and more that will improve the lives of folks in the Granite State and all across the country.

Stay up to date on my work for you in Washington by liking my page on Facebook and following me on Twitter.

This historic legislation is a win for equality across the country.

Everyone deserves the freedom to marry who they love and love how they live — that’s why I was proud to vote for the Respect for Marriage Act this past week to finally make marriage equality the law of the land.

I want to commend my friend and colleague Congressman Chris Pappas for his tireless work leading this historic effort. I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law.

As founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence, I am focused on protecting survivors in NH and across the country.

This past week, my bipartisan legislation, the Safe Connections Act, was signed into law to help survivors of domestic violence leave shared phone plans with their abuser.

Survivors of domestic violence face enough challenges separating from their abuser – they shouldn’t be forced to stay in a shared phone plan with them. I look forward to seeing this law take effect and will continue working to ensure survivors have the tools and support they need to rebuild their lives and recover.

We must equip our communities with the tools they need to educate and keep Granite Staters safe.

Sex education is a critical tool to reduce teen pregnancy rates and provide information on reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, and more. However, the Executive Council has continued to deny funding to TLC Family Resource Center and Amoskeag Health to continue their sex education classes and support our communities.

That’s why I joined the New Hampshire delegation in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to directly fund and support these vital programs as soon as possible.

The NDAA for 2023 included key provisions for NH that I advocated for to strengthen our water infrastructure, expand access to mental health resources, and conduct fair investigations of sexual assault cases.

This past week, I voted for legislation to support our men and women in uniform and strengthen our national security. The National Defense Authorization Act passed by the House on Thursday takes bold steps to:

🌎 Promote American leadership in the global arena

💰 Deliver a 4.6% pay raise for service members

⚕️ Expand access to mental health resources for veterans

⚖️ Conduct fair, thorough investigations of military sexual assault cases

I will always fight for our men and women in uniform.

I will continue working to stop child exploitation online.

This past week, the House passed the Protect Our Children Act, bipartisan legislation I helped introduce to protect children from exploitation online, support victims of these heinous crimes, and hold perpetrators accountable. No child should be subjected to abuse online – and this legislation will help law enforcement ensure that is the case.

I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law to keep children in the Granite State and across our country safe.

We owe our men and women in uniform an incredible debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

This past week marked the 81st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a day that lives in infamy. While we reflected on the horrific attack, we remembered the more than 2,300 sailors, soldiers, and civilians who lost their lives that day.

The service and sacrifice of these brave Americans will never be forgotten. We are forever grateful for the heroism of all our veterans and their families.

Thanks to 1,000 acts of courage on January 6th, 2021, our country and our democracy carried on. Photo courtesy of the AP.

The law enforcement officers who responded to the violent attack on our Capitol on January 6, 2021, are heroes. They put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country and our democracy, and they deserve the highest honor we can bestow.

This past week, I was honored to witness these incredible Americans receive the Congressional Gold Medal for their service and bravery.

One of my most important jobs as your representative is helping Granite Staters.

Do you or a loved one need assistance navigating a federal agency? My office is here to help!

If you need assistance with a federal agency, please reach out to my Concord office at (603) 226-1002 or visit www.Kuster.House.Gov.

Visit HealthCare.gov to shop for health plans.

The open Enrollment Period to sign up or make changes to your health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace has begun. Visit HealthCare.gov to browse plans – if you need assistance learning more about which plan is right for you and your family, help is available. You can visit localhelp.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.

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.

I hope you have a safe and fun rest of your weekend!

Sincerely,

Annie