MANCHESTER, N.H. – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) talked with a group of downtown business leaders about the importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for New Hampshire small businesses during an event at Diz’s Restaurant on Elm Street last week.
Shaheen noted that New Hampshire businesses may face substantially higher premiums if ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year.
“What they all said is that (the ACA) is the way they can provide affordable healthcare for themselves and their employees,” said Shaheen. “The people who will be most affected [if the tax credits expire] are small business owners, people who live in rural areas, working families and older Americans.”
Shaheen also expressed concern about a potential federal government shutdown looming this week, which could further exacerbate health care access for many Americans. She urged President Trump to change his stance of not negotiating with Democrats in order to find a bipartisan agreement that could keep the government running. If there is no agreement, the shut down would happen at midnight on Sept. 30.
This week Shaheen also joined the other members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to welcome U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a tour of Manchester’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
“I was pleased to welcome Secretary Collins to the Manchester VA Medical Center to see firsthand the important work being done to serve veterans across New Hampshire, as well as the urgent need to upgrade the facility to expand health care services in our state,” said Shaheen.“The freedoms and rights we all enjoy were paid for with the sacrifices of the men and women who have served in the military—the least we can do is ensure veterans can access first rate health care no matter where they live.”