Introducing our November Granite Stater of the Month: Linda Saunders Paquette

I am proud to recognize Linda Saunders Paquette of Contoocook as the Granite Stater of the Month for November.

Linda has been a true leader in the fight against the fentanyl, heroin, and opioid crisis in New Hampshire, which remains our most pressing public health challenge and threatens the health and safety of our fellow Granite Staters.

Through her decades of service to the people of New Hampshire, including at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and starting in 2010 as Executive Director of New Futures — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocating, educating, and collaborating in the fight against substance misuse — Linda has made an enormous difference in the lives of countless people and families affected by this crisis.

During my time as Governor and now as Senator, Linda has been a tremendous partner and relentless advocate. Thanks in part to Linda’s advocacy, we were able to increase funding for critical prevention, treatment, and recovery services in New Hampshire, extend substance use disorder coverage to the Medicaid program, and pass and reauthorize Medicaid expansion — providing quality, affordable health coverage to more than 50,000 Granite Staters.

As the state legislature debated whether to reauthorize Medicaid expansion, Linda fought for the program at every step along the way, calling it “the most important tool New Hampshire has in its fight against the opioid epidemic and more broadly the substance misuse crisis we are facing in our state.”

Linda has also strongly spoken out in defense of the Essential Health Benefits that require insurers to cover substance misuse and mental health treatment, she has stood up against cuts to Medicaid and other programs that Granite Staters struggling with substance use disorder rely on, and she has worked effectively to help reduce the stigma that has hurt our efforts to combat this crisis for far too long.

People like Linda perfectly exemplify New Hampshire’s all-hands-on-deck spirit, where we roll up our sleeves and work together to strengthen our communities. Linda’s dedication to supporting those struggling with substance use disorder, first responders, and treatment providers has strengthened our state’s response to the substance misuse crisis, and her advocacy will continue to help us stem — and ultimately reverse — the tide of this epidemic.

After years of dedicated service, Linda will soon be stepping down from her role at New Futures. I join all Granite Staters in thanking Linda for her service and I am honored to recognize her as our November Granite Stater of the Month.

You can read my announcement about Linda in the Congressional Record here.

If you know someone who you would like to be considered for Granite Stater of the Month, you can fill out the nomination form on my website here.