Kuster Statement on President Trump's State of the Union Address

Statement

Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union Address:

"Tonight, President Trump addressed the nation and discussed issues important to New Hampshire, including lowering the cost of health care, supporting our nation's working families, and empowering our workforce. It's time for the President to act on his words and work with Congress to deliver results for the American people. A constructive first step would be to urge the Senate to take up some of the legislation we passed in the House to protect Americans with preexisting conditions, lower prescription drug costs, combat climate change and ensure that no one who works full time lives in poverty.

"Granite Staters want to know that their government truly is working for the people. While the President expressed his desire to improve health care for all Americans tonight, the Trump Administration has made every effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and strip protections for preexisting conditions. Just last week, the President announced a new proposal to block grant Medicaid to states, which could remove health coverage for thousands of Granite State families and hinder our ability to combat the opioid epidemic.

"I have been proud to support legislation to combat climate change and protect our planet, lower the cost of prescription drugs and increase access to quality care. Over the last year, we have continued our work to combat the opioid epidemic by passing legislation to ensure our most vulnerable Americans have access to the resources they need to move past addiction.

"Recently, we marked the passage of the USMCA, in which House Democrats secured key provisions to protect American jobs and block prescription drug costs from rising. I have also been proud to join my colleagues in supporting crucial bills to ensure our veterans have access to the care they need, protect survivors of domestic violence and stalking, and so much more.

"Together, Republicans and Democrats have demonstrated when we work together, we can make real progress for the American people. The House passed more than 275 bipartisan bills in 2019, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell failed to bring any of them for a vote. In 2020, we must build on that momentum and honor our promise to the American people with or without the help of the White House."

Congresswoman Kuster hosted Ross Cunningham, Superintendent of the Merrimack Department of Corrections, as her State of the Union guest. Cunningham has worked to reduce drug related recidivism by improving access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for justice-involved Granite Staters with substance use disorder. In August, Kuster reintroduced the Humane Correctional Health Care Act, which would repeal the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion that strips health coverage from Medicaid enrollees who are involved in the criminal justice system. The legislation would increase the justice-involved population's access to quality coverage and care needed to help them successfully return to their communities, saving state and taxpayer dollars.

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