Maggie HassanPrimary Election 2022 WinnerGeneral Election 2022 IncumbentGeneral Election 2022 Winner

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

I am fighting to reduce costs and build an economy that works for every New Hampshire family — not just corporate special interests. I’m proud of the results I’ve already delivered for our state — including passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which will help lower prescription drug and energy costs for Granite Staters, while also taking important steps to fight climate change, reduce the deficit, cut taxes for innovative businesses, end our dependence on Big Oil, and address inflation. In addition to passing this important legislation, I have also worked with Republicans on a number of significant accomplishments, including banning surprise medical billing, passing legislation to outcompete China, and negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure law. But there is still more work to do, including to tackle inflation and lower costs right now. For years, it has been too hard for Granite State families to make ends meet and for our small businesses to grow. That’s why if I’m re-elected, I will fight to pass legislation that would invest in our workforce, lower health care costs, expand home and community-based care, and bring down the cost of child care, higher education, and housing.

Finally, the most important job of government is to keep our country safe. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I have fought to protect our country from the many threats that we face — whether it’s terrorism, deadly fentanyl crossing our border, or cyberattacks – and if re-elected, this will continue to be my priority. I would also keep working to ensure that our service members, veterans, and their families have the support, care, and benefits that they need and have earned.

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

My responsibility as a Senator is to listen to and share the experiences and priorities of my constituents so that I can work with my colleagues to find common ground and deliver for the people of New Hampshire.

My approach to doing so stems from the experiences that I have had. I first entered public service in large part to help ensure that my son Ben, who experiences severe disabilities, and other people like him, could be fully included in their communities and have the same opportunities that all parents want for their kids. I saw the difference that generations of advocates and champions for individuals who experience disabilities made for my family and our community. Their example inspired me to get involved and ultimately run for office — first as a State Senator, then Governor, and now U.S. Senator.

One of the lessons that I learned from these brave advocates is that when more people are included at the table to share their perspectives, policymakers can better understand an issue at hand, and in turn, work to address it. As Senator, I focus on listening to Granite Staters, sharing those experiences with my colleagues, and finding agreement so that we can get things done for our constituents. Putting differences aside to solve problems is the foundation of our democracy. Granite Staters — and all Americans — deserve leaders who listen to them, respect them, and are committed to working together to help solve their problems.

That’s why in the Senate, I have worked to bring leaders from both parties together to help find solutions to our country’s biggest challenges. For instance, after hearing from Granite Staters who were saddled with surprise medical billing, I worked with a Republican and took on the entire health care industry to ban this absurd practice.

To enact legislation like this, and ensure that people’s views are fully heard and that members of Congress are accountable to their constituents, we first must have a functioning democracy. All members of Congress take an oath to protect our Constitution and our democracy, and I take that responsibility very seriously. Part of our work to safeguard our democracy also involves treating all constituents — and the people who represent constituents from across the country — with respect. Because when everyone knows that they are respected and that their voices are fully heard, that is the foundation of finding common ground and moving our country forward.

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?

Manchester is an economic hub for our state — and the Queen City’s rich and diverse culture is part of what makes New Hampshire so special. We must ensure that our state’s largest city has the support and resources that it needs to continue to grow and thrive.

One of the biggest concerns I hear about from Queen City residents is public safety. In the Senate, I have voted to help hire more police officers in New Hampshire and secured significant increases in law enforcement funding for our state. As Governor, I increased law enforcement budgets, hired more state troopers, and increased criminal penalties for fentanyl dealers and human traffickers.

I also know firsthand how the opioid epidemic has devastated too many people in Manchester and across our state. Those on the front lines of this crisis, including law enforcement and first responders, have worked hard to help those grappling with addiction, but they need resources in order to continue to do so effectively. That is why I worked to help secure a 900 percent increase in federal opioid funding to address the crisis in New Hampshire, and I’m working to eliminate a burdensome requirement, called the x-waiver, that prevents medical providers from prescribing medication-assisted treatment for people who are grappling with addiction.

Additionally, while I was Governor, I worked with Republicans and Democrats to expand Medicaid, which has been critical in our efforts to combat the opioid crisis and get Granite Staters the treatment and recovery resources that they need, including mental health support.

I have also heard from law enforcement officers, including in Manchester, who are sounding the alarm on the rise in counterfeit pills. These pills – which are disguised as popular drugs such as Adderall – are laced with deadly fentanyl that can end in an overdose. I have introduced legislation to help law enforcement go after these illegal drugs by implementing new penalties for counterfeit pill production. But there is still more work to do to address this threat, and I will continue to work with Manchester leaders, law enforcement, and first responders to combat it.

Lastly, I know that a lack of affordable housing is a major concern in Manchester that is hurting the local economy. The high cost of housing has been a challenge for families in Manchester and across our state for a long time, but in the last few years, we have seen costs go up higher than ever. We need to take action to help Granite Staters afford to pay rent, buy homes, and make their mortgage payments. That’s why I introduced bipartisan legislation to cut taxes to help middle-class homeowners afford their mortgage payments. I also helped lead successful bipartisan efforts to bring tens of millions of dollars to New Hampshire over the past few years to help folks who are struggling to afford high housing costs. And I am writing legislation that would help states and towns create more workforce housing – building on a law that I helped pass in the state legislature. But there is more work to do, and I will continue to stay focused on how we can help people afford to live in our state.

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?

Every day, I see Granite Staters roll up their sleeves, work together, and solve problems. We do not always agree, but we know that the future of our state — and our country — is too important for us to remain divided. I work to follow those Granite State values every day in the United States Senate.

That’s why I partnered with a Republican and stood up to the entire health care industry to ban the absurd practice of surprise medical billing. It is why I worked with members of both parties to help deliver critical care for our veterans. And when it came to our crumbling infrastructure, I joined Republicans to help negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure bill – which critics said could not be done.

I believe that our democracy is strongest when we find ways to overcome our divisions and work together to solve problems, and it’s why I was named the most bipartisan Senator in the country by the nonpartisan Lugar Center. I will work across party lines to deliver for our state and country.

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?

One of the biggest challenges that I hear about from Granite Staters is rising costs. From the grocery store to the gas station, families are finding it harder to pay their bills and make ends meet. That is why I am leading the fight to suspend the federal gas tax to give drivers critical relief at the pump. I am also taking on Big Oil for raking in record profits at Granite Staters’ expense and calling for the FTC to investigate any possible price gouging by oil and gas companies.

As previously mentioned, I also worked with my colleagues to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which will help lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, as well as put a cap on out-of-pocket costs for seniors on Medicare. Additionally, the bill will help lower Granite Staters’ energy bills, including by providing a tax cut to households that make energy efficient home upgrades ­– a bipartisan measure I introduced and that got included in the final bill.

Furthermore, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe and take away a woman’s fundamental freedom. I hear consistent concerns from Granite Staters that women are now second-class citizens in America. I will fight any effort to outlaw abortion nationwide and will continue working to protect Granite Staters’ reproductive rights.

I also hear frequently from Granite Staters about a lack of access to mental health support, particularly among our young people, who have been clear about the need for additional resources. That’s why it was important that I worked with Republican Senator Joni Ernst to pass and get signed into law legislation to address the rise in youth suicides by encouraging schools to implement suicide prevention training. I was also pleased that in the last year, we have worked across the aisle to secure significant additional funding to increase the availability of mental health services in schools, which will help ensure that our young people receive the support that they need, when they need it.

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

I am proud to have helped pass critical legislation that was signed into law to directly help Granite Staters, most recently the Inflation Reduction Act, which just passed the Senate and included critical measures that I fought for to help lower costs for Granite Staters and build a clean energy economy. In order to pass this legislation, we had to stand up to corporate special interests such as Big Oil and Big Pharma, who fought hard to defeat the bill. All of my opponents have sided with corporate special interest in opposing this bill, making clear that they are running to be shills for Big Oil and Big Pharma.

Another important measure that I mentioned earlier is my bipartisan work to ban surprise medical billing. I heard about this absurd practice from Granite Staters, who did everything right and made sure that their hospital was in-network, only to find a medical bill in their mailbox because one of their providers was not in their network. After hearing their concerns, I took on the entire health care industry to finally ban this practice.

Last year, I worked with Republicans to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law, which the President signed into law, and is providing critical resources to New Hampshire that are helping to lower costs for Granite Staters, including by cutting internet bills for households, and repairing our aging infrastructure.

Recently, the President signed into law bipartisan legislation that I cosponsored to help the United States outcompete countries like China, lower costs, and strengthen our national security by investing in American manufacturing. These investments will help to produce more semiconductors on American soil – which will help fight inflation and address longstanding supply chain challenges.

It was also important that the President recently signed into law bipartisan legislation – which I helped put together – to ensure that more veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances during their service receive the care that they need and have earned. I also worked to pass bipartisan legislation, which is now law, to expand employment opportunities for veterans by directing the VA to hire more veterans with medical experience.

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?

I live with my husband, my son Ben, and our black lab Chip in Newfields. The most important part of my job is traveling across our state and hearing directly from Granite Staters about the challenges that they are facing — and then fighting to get results for them in the US Senate.