Thinking of the Lewiston Community

October 27, 2023

Hello Friends,

This week, our nation was again struck by a senseless act of gun violence that took the
lives of at least 18 people. The horrific shooting in Lewiston, Maine, is beyond words, and my heart is with the entire Lewiston community and all those impacted by this cruel, senseless act of brutality. There have been 565 mass shootings this year alone – more than one every single day.

We don’t have to live like this – we can and must do better.

My office is monitoring the situation closely, and New Hampshire law enforcement is standing by to assist our neighbors in Maine in any way they can. In the meantime, please be safe and diligent, check in on your friends and family, and follow all instructions and guidance from law enforcement.

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

In the face of these senseless tragedies, we cannot allow ourselves to become numb to these horrible acts of violence. We can respect the rights of responsible gun owners and pass common-sense legislation that protects our communities and keeps firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a risk to themselves and others.

I will continue pushing for common-sense legislation to end the scourge of gun violence terrorizing our communities and families. From ensuring universal background checks to instituting red flag laws, we can get weapons of war off our streets.

These are common-sense actions that are proven to save lives, and Congress has a responsibility to the American people to keep them safe. I’m not giving up.

The House's New Speaker

Speaker Johnson is not the moderate kind of leader the House needs right now.

After almost a month of chaos and dysfunction following the House GOP’s move to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans finally managed to elect a new Speaker: Representative Mike Johnson from Louisiana.

Let me be clear, I’m relieved that the House is no longer paralyzed by Republican chaos and infighting and can begin voting on critical legislation to support our allies like Ukraine and Israel, deliver humanitarian aid to innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as funding the government and preventing a shutdown. But, Speaker Mike Johnson is by far the most extreme, far-right Speaker of the House in recent memory.

Mike Johnson — Republicans’ fifth choice for Speaker in less than a year — is a danger to our domestic and national security. He parroted the Big Lie and was a key architect in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election, has voted against codifying same-sex marriage and protecting legal access to contraception, spearheaded efforts to cut programs like Social Security and Medicare, and supports a nationwide ban on abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.

He does not share the New Hampshire values that we hold dear.

Time and again, Democrats offered to work with our Republican colleagues in good faith to elect a reasonable Speaker committed to moving the Chamber forward on a moderate, bipartisan basis. Instead, the Republican Conference has doubled down on their worst instincts, electing a hyper-partisan Speaker who actively worked to undermine the foundations of our democratic institutions.

Republicans have decided to forgo compromise and bipartisanship in favor of extreme partisanship.

I hope Speaker Johnson will put partisanship aside to deliver for the American people and our allies and fully reject the far-right’s extremist approach to governing. The fact of the matter is that we are in a closely divided government, and bipartisanship is still the only way we can fund the government, support our allies, and tackle key priorities like lowering costs, growing the middle class, and securing our border.

Standing with Our Allies in Israel and Protecting Innocent Civilians

Photo courtesy of New York Times.

The United States unequivocally stands against Hamas terrorists and their brutal attacks on Israeli civilians.

This week, I voted to reaffirm this position and show America’s strong support for Israel as they defend themselves from Hamas terrorists.

As this situation continues to unfold, I am urging more action to provide essential support for our allies in Israel, deliver critical humanitarian aid to the innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank caught in the middle of Hamas' terror campaign, and establish humanitarian corridors for those fleeing the violence.

Making New Hampshire a Leader in Innovative Technologies

This designation will help accelerate Southern New Hampshire’s growth into a global epicenter for innovation.

BIG NEWS: This week, the Biden Administration recognized ReGen Valley, which includes Manchester and Nashua, as a Tech Hub for its incredible work developing groundbreaking medicines, treatments, and therapies.

Our New Hampshire businesses are leading the nation’s most competitive industries through their innovation, and this designation will help accelerate Southern New Hampshire’s growth into a global epicenter for the production and distribution of regenerative cells, tissues, and organs and help further bolster our economic and national security.

Keeping the Heat on for Granite State Families

Access to affordable home energy is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.

Also this week, I was thrilled to announce that New Hampshire has secured significant federal funding for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Granite State families pay their home heating bills. With cold winter months just around the corner, programs like LIHEAP are a lifeline for New Hampshire families. Access to affordable home energy is not a luxury – it is essential for the health and safety of families.

I was proud to advocate for these resources, and I am pleased to see them heading to our state to help hardworking families pay their home heating bills and stay safe and warm this winter.

This relief will make a real difference for families, and I’ll continue working to bring down energy costs to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

News You Can Use

Graphic courtesy of HHS.gov.

LIHEAP Eligibility: New Hampshire is set to receive significant funding to help Granite State families pay their home heating bills.

You can quickly identify your home’s eligibility through the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool.

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,