Strengthening Bipartisan Cooperation
Granite Staters don’t expect Members of Congress to agree on everything, but they do expect us to work together and put solving problems ahead of partisanship. At a time when we face major obstacles in New Hampshire and as a country, we must bring people together to find common sense solutions. While both parties have real differences and will disagree on some issues, Congress owes it to the American people to work together on the things we can agree on.
That is why I joined with a group of Democratic and Republican colleagues who are committed to working together to solve our economic challenges. Early in 2013, we created the United Solutions Caucus to focus on balanced ways of addressing our nation's fiscal challenges. I am proud to be a founding member of this coalition of new Representatives from both sides of the aisle who share my commitment to finding common ground and breaking through the gridlock to solve the problems facing our country. That’s what New Hampshire families expect and deserve.
And that is why I am taking part in the following efforts to increase bipartisanship in Congress:
- Founding United Solutions: I am a founding member of the United Solutions Caucus, a bipartisan coalition of New Representatives focused on finding common ground.
- Pushing for Bipartisan Budget Talks: At the beginning of the 113th Congress, I led a push for congressional leadership to meet with new members of both parties to forge a bipartisan budget agreement. I have repeatedly pushed for increased bipartisan dialogue and reiterated this call when working to avoid a disastrous government shutdown.
- Working Across the Aisle: As part of my commitment to working across the aisle, I have introduced and advocated for a number of bipartisan bills, including legislation to:
- Facilitate the adoption process (H.R. 2439);
- Close costly and long-empty federal bank accounts (H.R. 1856);
- Improve veterans benefits for survivors of military sexual trauma (H.R. 2974);
- Improve whistleblower protections for individuals who report sexual assaults in the military (H.R. 1864);
- Encourage the greater use of automation to improve the processing of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation claims (H.R. 1805);
- Repeal a costly and duplicative catfish inspection program (H.R. 1313); and
- Expand access to capital for small businesses (H.R. 1106).
More on Strengthening Bipartisan Cooperation
Dear Friend,
From my first days in Congress, my main goal has been to bring people together in support of commonsense solutions to the challenges we face. Disagreements and debates over policy are an important and healthy part of our democracy, but at the end of the day people of good faith should come together with the goal of enacting change that will improve people’s lives and keep people safe.
Dear Friend,
Like all Americans, I was shocked and saddened by the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia on Wednesday. My thoughts and prayers remain with my colleague, Representative Steve Scalise, Matt Mika, Zack Brath, and US Capitol Police Officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey and to everyone else impacted by this senseless act of violence. When it comes to events like these, there are no Republicans or Democrats; there are only Americans. As Speaker Paul Ryan said so eloquently, “We are united in our shock and anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”
(Washington, DC) – Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) attended a classified briefing with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on the circumstances of former FBI Director James Comey’s firing.
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller III as special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election:
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on the House vote to pass the Fiscal Year 2017 Omnibus Appropriations Act, a spending bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year:
(Concord, NH) – Last night, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined sexual assault survivor Chessy Prout, advocates from sexual assault prevention groups, and care providers from around the state at the University of New Hampshire School of Law for a panel discussion on how to address sexual violence. This event follows the launch of Congresswoman Kuster’s Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence.
(Washington, DC)- Today, a group of lawmakers launched the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. The Task Force is led by Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02), Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and David Joyce (OH-14).
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on President Trump address to a Joint Session of Congress:
Dear Friends,
It’s been a very busy and historic few weeks both at home in the Granite State, and throughout the entire country. The peaceful transition of power from each presidential administration is a pillar of our democracy, and regardless of what party you belong to, it is important to try and find areas of common ground where policies can be advanced to benefit hardworking American families. I am ready to get to work with the new administration to focus on the needs of Granite Staters and for the United States as a whole.