With the turn of the most recent election cycle, Chris Pappas has once again secured his position as New Hampshire’s representative in the first congressional district. Born and raised in Manchester, Pappas has been a long-time advocate in the Granite State since his time in the NH House of Representatives in 2002. This will be Pappas’ fourth term as NH representative, and he plans to continue pushing for veteran aid, high-speed internet, and easier access to healthcare.
In a request for comment, Pappas discussed Senator Elizabeth Dole’s 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This is a legislative package that would help “make good on our promise to support veterans and military families by addressing a number of key issues, including strengthening home- and community-based care, fighting veteran homelessness, and bolstering mental health and substance use disorder treatment,” said Pappas. This was met with strong bipartisan support and was passed on Nov. 18.
The bill also includes several provisions drafted by Pappas, including outreach and increasing awareness of Veteran Affairs programs, expanding access to long-term care, and breaking down barriers to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.
Pappas feels it’s necessary to honor those who served in the U.S. military by giving proper care and assistance for their dedication and service. Both of the representative’s grandfathers served in the military as pilots during World War II, honoring them through a mission statement on his website: “Their sacrifice to this great country never went unnoticed. The women and men defending our country today should feel that same appreciation. Sadly, this is often not the case.”
To expand veteran care and general health care further, Pappas has also pushed for rural healthcare within New Hampshire. According to the Health Resource and Service Administration, over 84% of New Hampshire’s landmass is considered rural, making accessing healthcare in those areas challenging.
The “Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act” would “help ensure more people can receive the right care at the right time while saving them both time and money by eliminating transportation costs.” Pappas’ newsletter regarding the bill was noted.
Pappas’s final goal for his new term was “expanding access to high-speed internet.”
On Nov. 21, Pappas announced a “$4.9 million in grant funding for New Hampshire’s Digital Equity plan,” translating digital equity support to more rural areas and underserved communities with limited to no access to the internet.
“This grant, created and funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law, will help close the digital equity gap that communities across New Hampshire continue to face, helping our students learn, businesses compete, and Granite Staters succeed,” stated Papas.
The message was closed with a simple thanks and regards to the New Hampshire and Durham communities.
