Highlights From My First State Work Period
This past week, I spent my first state work period traveling our state, meeting with community leaders, public safety officials, advocates, educators, veterans, and health care professionals about the issues that matter most to them — issues like combating the substance abuse crisis, reducing the burden of student loan debt, ensuring that our veterans have the resources they need to thrive, and building a stronger workforce for our growing, innovative businesses.
I am always incredibly impressed by the dedication of Granite Staters to making our state — and our country — stronger, and I appreciate the time that everyone took to share their priorities and concerns with me. Not only does being with other Granite Staters lifts my spirits, but it also enables me to tell your stories and informs our work in Congress with New Hampshire common-sense.
Here are some highlights from my week.
Combating the Heroin, Opioid, & Fentanyl Crisis
Whether it was meeting first responders in Nashua, substance abuse treatment advocates in Manchester, or health care professionals in Berlin, I was inspired — as I always am — by the Granite Staters on the front lines of combating the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis.
On Friday morning in Nashua, I started my day with a hug from a veteran who, after 10 years of addiction, is getting treatment at Harbor Homes. While we know that we have far more work to do to help stem — and ultimately reverse — the tide of this deadly epidemic, stories like that reinforce that the tireless efforts of so many dedicated individuals across our state are making a real difference.
Protecting Access to Health Care
Over the course of the state work period, I spent a lot of time talking to Granite Staters who are worried that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and our bipartisan Medicaid expansion plan would jeopardize health insurance coverage for thousands of Granite Staters — including those receiving treatment for substance abuse.
In Berlin, Senator Shaheen, Congresswoman Kuster and I heard from representatives of Androscoggin Valley Hospital, members of the medical community, a small business owner and local residents, all of whom discussed how the Affordable Care Act is helping them.
And during a roundtable discussion I held at Salemhaven Long Term Care and Rehabilitation Center, I heard from a doctor who had patients that he couldn’t help before the Affordable Care Act because they couldn’t afford the full range of health care services that they needed. After 2010, he saw an increase in the number of people receiving care, including preventive care services such as mammograms and colonoscopies, because his patients finally had guaranteed coverage for these critical services at no extra cost. This doctor expressed to me his concern that if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, we will go back to a time where people cannot afford the health insurance coverage that they need to live healthy and productive lives.
I will continue fighting to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act, and to preserve health care coverage for the thousands of Granite Staters who now have access to affordable, quality health insurance through our bipartisan Medicaid expansion plan.
Tackling Student Debt
Unfortunately, the rising cost of student debt continues to stand between many of our young people and their aspirations after graduating college. I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with students, faculty, and administrators at Keene State College early last week to hear their stories about how the rising cost of student loan debt has affected them and our state’s economy, especially for entrepreneurs working to start small businesses. I heard from a young woman who planned to start her own business, but said she would likely have to put off her plans for another 10 years because of her student debt.
Hearing from students like these at Keene State underscored the critical importance of working to ease the burden of student debt, and in the Senate, I will focus on expanding Pell Grants, lowering interest rates for student loans and allowing students to refinance, and increasing apprenticeship and job training opportunities.
Helping Innovative Businesses Thrive
As Governor, I worked hard to support the innovative businesses that help our economy thrive, and I look forward to continuing this work in the United States Senate. I visited Creare in Hanover last week to learn more about how they are creating high-quality jobs for Granite Staters while developing technology to support our military and keep our country secure.
I also toured River Valley Community College on Wednesday, where I saw first-hand their successful workforce training programs. I met with faculty and students in the Allied Health Lab, the Science Lab, and the Machine Tooling Lab to better understand how these hands-on learning programs help prepare our people for jobs in the 21st century economy. These workforce-training programs are integral to the future success of our workers and our economy, and I will keep working to ensure that the federal government is adequately supporting successful programs that help expand economic opportunity.
Protecting Our Nation & Supporting Our Veterans
As a United States Senator, my top priority is to keep our nation safe and secure. I have long worked to support the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard — including fighting to oppose a misguided effort to close the facility while I was in the State Senate — because the Shipyard is vital to both our national security and our state’s economy. And last week, I visited the Shipyard to receive a briefing on the current work underway to fulfill their vital mission and on how Congress can better support their workforce and other needs.
We must also ensure that our veterans who have sacrificed bravely to keep our nation safe can access the benefits that they need and deserve. On Wednesday, I toured White River Junction VA Medical Center in Lebanon and met with staff to hear about the challenges they face and how we can help them improve the care they provide to our veterans.
Alfred Montoya
I was encouraged to hear that they are working to make it easier for veterans in New Hampshire to access care, particularly if they are unable to travel to Lebanon, and look forward to continuing to support their work as Senator.
Protecting Our Environment
I am constantly struck by the awe-inspiring beauty of the natural resources that define us as a state and as a people. Our White Mountains and beautiful Seacoast are critical to our economy and our way of life in New Hampshire — and I am focused in the Senate on combating the devastating threat that climate change poses.
The Climate Impact Breakfast I attended last week at UNH highlighted the toll that climate change is having on our state’s economy, including on our maple syrup and ski industries. I am grateful to the producers and environmentalists who shared their stories with me, and I left the breakfast feeling encouraged by the people from all walks of life who are making their voices heard on the need to act now.
A Great First State Work Period
Reflecting back on my first state work period, I am inspired — as I was as Governor — by the Granite Staters I met who are working together to address some of our state’s most pressing challenges. One of the things I love most about New Hampshire is the “all-hands-on-deck” spirit of our people, where we roll-up our sleeves, pitch-in, and work together to improve our communities. I encourage Granite Staters to stay engaged in their communities and to keep making their voices heard — like those who spoke up and asked important questions at the town hall Senator Shaheen and I held in Concord on Friday.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know that we will be successful because we are Granite Staters and we have never shied away from a challenge. To support the efforts of those I saw this week in New Hampshire and more, I will continue reaching across the aisle to identify common ground to expand middle class opportunity, support innovative businesses, keep New Hampshire and America safe, strong, and secure, and get results for hard-working Granite Staters.
If you are a Granite Stater who I didn’t get to see this week and have a concern or comment, please reach out to my office by submitting a comment through my website or by calling (603) 622–2204. Your feedback allows me to better represent you in the United States Senate.
