Hello Friends,
As you may have seen in the news, the deadline for Congress to fund the government is quickly approaching, and the extreme Republicans in the House are hurtling us toward a shutdown. I wanted to update you on the situation and what I’m doing to ensure a government shutdown doesn’t happen. One of the core duties of Congress is to fund the government and keep it open, serving the American people. That’s why the House is dubbed as having the ‘power of the purse.’ Unfortunately, this most basic responsibility seems to be too much for Speaker Kevin McCarthy to manage. The extreme Republican majority's unwillingness to negotiate in good faith with Democrats, as they promised to do earlier this year, is pushing our country toward a government shutdown.
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The American people look to Congress to lead by example and to solve problems, not create them. At the bare minimum, they expect us to keep the government open. And now, instead of having Members of Congress stay here in Washington over the weekend working to find a solution, Speaker McCarthy sent everyone home again, pushing us even closer to an expensive and harmful shutdown. I want to be clear: the government does not have to shut down. Democrats and Republicans hammered out and agreed to spending levels for the next fiscal year back in May during the debt ceiling negotiations. The only reason we are on track for a shutdown is because Kevin McCarthy is going back on his word—and the American people deserve to know that. Government funding packages are traditionally bipartisan because they have to be. In a closely divided government, cooperation is key, and both parties must be willing to work together to get things done, even when it means neither side gets everything they want.
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The American people want solutions, not partisan brinksmanship. |
A government shutdown is bad for our economy, our communities, and our country. |
Here in New Hampshire, the impacts of a government shutdown would have serious consequences. Our state is home to almost 5,000 civilian federal employees who would go without pay until this crisis is resolved, and more than 430 air traffic controllers and 750 active duty military members would be asked to work without being paid. That’s thousands of families missing a paycheck because of Republican chaos. The ripple effects don’t stop there. New Hampshire is home to more than 73,000 people who receive nutrition assistance benefits who would be at risk of losing access to the healthy food and baby formula they need. Children and families should not go hungry because the Republican majority can’t govern. The five-week government shutdown in 2019 cost our economy about $3 billion in lost economic activity that won't be recovered, and the 2013 shutdown cost the U.S. economy more than $2 billion. As our economy continues to recover and rebuild, we cannot risk losing our hard-earned progress. My focus is to work with Republicans and Democrats to get back to the original deal, fully fund the government, prevent a shutdown, and deliver for our constituents. This fight is far from over, and I will continue pushing every day to bring reasonable Republicans to the negotiating table and get this done.
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My 2023 Legislative Agenda represents the united front that Congress must take to help save lives. |
September marks Recovery Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about addiction and expand access to substance use disorder treatment and recovery resources. This week, the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force held a press conference with mental health professionals and recovery advocates to honor Recovery Month and unveil our 2023 Legislative Agenda.
Our Task Force stands more united than ever to expand access to treatment and recovery resources, stop the flow of these dangerous drugs into our communities, end the stigma associated with treatment, and ensure every community has the support they need to thrive.
You can read our legislative agenda here.
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Mothers who choose adoption should not be taken advantage of. |
As an adoption attorney for over 25 years, I know that adoption can be the right choice for folks trying to start a family, but it can also be an intimidating process. We must do more to create proper oversight of adoption agencies to ensure mothers who choose adoption are not taken advantage of. This week, I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure the Department of Health and Human Services maintains a public list of licensed adoption agencies to keep adoption safe and transparent for everyone. You can learn more about my bill here.
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I will always stand up for New Hampshire seniors. |
This week, in the Energy and Commerce Committee, I urged my colleagues in the Health Subcommittee to support my legislation to make lower-cost generic drugs more accessible and increase transparency in our health care system.
Rising costs at the doctor’s office and pharmacy counter are barriers to care for too many Granite State seniors. Increasing the use of generic drugs can not only save our health care system money but also help lower costs for patients and ensure families can afford the medication they need—a win-win.
You can learn more about the legislation I introduced here.
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New Hampshire is home to the most beautiful land in the country – thank you for helping me celebrate that! |
Voting for my Summer Photo Contest ends tonight! Thank you to everyone who shared their beautiful pictures!
You have until tonight, September 22, at 11:59 PM to vote for your favorite scenery of the Second District by liking, commenting, reacting to, and sharing submissions.
Winners will be determined by the total number of engagements — cumulative likes, comments, shares, and reactions.
Good luck!
You can find the 2023 Summer Photo Contest album here.
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New Hampshire is lucky to have you, Sian! |
Congratulations to Dartmouth’s new president, Sian Beilock!
The first woman to hold the position in the history of the college, I look forward to seeing how you lead Dartmouth into the future! |
Medicaid Renewal: The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has reinstated Medicaid insurance for 3,176 people, including 1,351 children, based on new eligibility guidance from the federal government. The change will also allow nearly 1,200 people who are up for renewal in October to keep their Medicaid.
If you believe you may qualify or need to renew your coverage: - Visit nhdhhs.gov
- Call 1-844-ASK-DHHS (1-844-275-3447)
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I will always fight to ensure our veterans can access the care they have earned and deserve. |
Calling all veterans who deployed to a combat zone and left active duty between September 11, 2001, and October 1, 2013: You are eligible for VA healthcare under the PACT Act. The deadline for this open enrollment period is September 30, 2023.
Don’t wait. Sign up today and go to: http://VA.gov/PACT
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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
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