Chris PappasPrimary Election 2022 WinnerGeneral Election 2022 IncumbentGeneral Election 2022 WinnerDemocrat

If elected or re-elected, please describe legislation you expect to sponsor or co-sponsor.

I don’t believe that members of Congress should profit off of their time in public service. That is why helped introduce legislation to ban members of Congress and their families from trading stock on inside information they may have gained through their service in Congress. I broke from my own party to advocate for this bill, and I plan to continue to push to bring this up for a vote so that public service never becomes self-service.

I have supported and will continue to support legislation to fund local New Hampshire law enforcement and forest responders.  The Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Act is legislation I introduced and will continue to fight for as well as other bills that authorize funding for local police departments to earn or renew accreditation.

What is your overarching philosophy when it comes to the duties of being a member of Congress?

As a member of Congress, my most important role is listening to the constituents I serve and being their voice in Congress. That is why I spend as much time as possible back in the First District holding events, meeting with constituents, and listening to what is on their minds. These stories and perspectives are vital, and I take them back to Washington with me to inform the work I do to improve the lives of Granite Staters.

What is the most significant issue facing Manchester residents at the municipal level and how can you, as a member of Congress aid the city government and/or directly aid Manchester residents on that issue?

I’m proud to call Manchester my hometown, where I’ve lived my entire life.  I’m proud to have helped deliver federal resources to safely re-open Manchester Schools, help Manchester Police, Fire, and EMS continue to provide vital care with cutting services or layoffs, and invest in Manchester’s infrastructure that will create good, well-paying jobs and spur economic development throughout the region.

Manchester residents, like all Granite Staters, continue to deal with rising costs. That is why I have remained focused on doing all I can to lower costs for Queen City families, including suspending the federal gas tax to provide immediate relief at the pump, voting to take on the pharmaceutical companies and gas companies to lower the price of prescription drugs and gas, and making smart investments in our infrastructure to create good jobs and strengthen our supply chains.

How do you feel the current divisive political climate in the United States will impact the Congress over the next two years and how would you navigate that divisiveness in Washington?

While our politics may feel more divided than ever, I’ve made it a top priority to work across the aisle with Republicans to get things done. I’m proud to be ranked in the top 15% of most bipartisan members of Congress, and I’ve received Republican support on over half of the bills I’ve introduced. I’ve also worked with Republicans like Rep. Elise Stefanik on legislation to help our veterans and improve care. Instead of furthering the political divide, we should look for ways to work together. That’s why when my own political party is in the wrong, I’m not afraid to speak up. I broke with Democratic leadership to fight for a ban on stock trading by Members of Congress, opposed efforts by the Biden Administration to impose burdensome regulations on our small businesses, and led the fight to protect New Hampshire workers from paying an unfair income tax from Massachusetts.

In your conversations with voters, what is the most significant issue to them right now? How would you address that if elected or re-elected?

Families across New Hampshire continue to struggle with high costs on everything from groceries to gas and home heating oil. That is why my highest focus remains on bringing down costs for families. Related to that, I also hear nearly everywhere I go about the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. From the mother and daughter who share a prescription because they can’t afford one for each of them to the senior couple putting off retirement because they rely on the medications covered through private insurance, these stories illustrate the importance of taking action like we just did to pass the Inflation Reduction Act which will provide Granite Staters with relief.

In your opinion, what were the five most significant pieces of legislation in Congress introduced over the last two years?

Congress has been talking about lowering the cost of prescription drugs for decades, but this year we finally got it done. The prescription drug provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will finally allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prices, cap insulin at $35 for those on Medicare, and limit out-of-pocket costs for seniors.

I’m fighting to pass legislation to support local law enforcement and first responders. That includes introducing the Establishing Accreditation Grants for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Act, which will authorize funding for local police departments to earn or renew accreditation. This bipartisan legislation will help police departments update their standards and best practices to strengthen accountability, enhance community trust, and improve operational effectiveness.

As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I worked for three years to negotiate a bipartisan infrastructure law, and this year we made good on generations of promises from Washington. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is rebuilding our roads and bridges; connecting our small businesses, schools, and homes to high-speed broadband; and modernizing our water and sewer infrastructure. All while creating good, well-paying jobs along the way.

This year Congress finally passed legislation to provide the care and support that toxic exposure veterans need and who have been calling for for years. Exposure to toxic substances and burn puts is a tragic cost of war, and the Honoring Our PACT Act finally allows us to help veterans who, for too long, have been made to jump through hoops and lose precious time when they could be receiving life-saving care.

The CHIPS And Science Act is another critical piece of legislation we passed in the House this year and is now law. This will allow us to jumpstart U.S. manufacturing of semiconductor chips that are used in everything from new cars to refrigerators. It is vital to our economic and national security that America makes more high-tech products and components here at home. This legislation will allow us to outcompete the world, including and especially China, and bring down costs for products that New Hampshire families need.

How much time does a member of Congress need to spend in Washington to do their job properly and how much time does a member of Congress need to spend in their home state to do their job properly?

The amount of time spent in a Representative’s home district and Washington, D.C. depends on the member, but I always prioritize spending as much time as possible here at home in the First District when I’m not in Washington for votes. It’s important to me to be in New Hampshire as often as possible to hear directly from Granite Staters about their concerns and priorities. That is why I’ve held hundreds of in-person events throughout the First District, as well as hosted nearly 30 town hall meetings attended by over 100,000 Granite Staters since taking office to get direct feedback and answer questions.