Pappas was joined by six virtual guests for the State of the Union, including Granite State health care and frontline workers, law enforcement, small business owners, and families.
Congressman Pappas meets with his virtual State of the Union guests on Tuesday
On Tuesday, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) was joined by six Granite Staters as his virtual guests to this year's State of the Union Address. The guests highlighted the hard work and perseverance that New Hampshire has shown over the last year in overcoming to COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding our economy, and keeping our families and communities healthy and safe.
He was joined by:
Detective Eric Adams - Detective, Laconia Police Department
Sheriff Mark Brave - Strafford County Sheriff
Melanie Davis - Owner, The Grind Rail Trail Cafe
Carrie Duran - Family benefited from the extended Child Tax Credit
Heidi Kukla - The first nurse to receive COVID-19 Vaccine in NH
Anna Thomas - Director, Manchester Health Department
"The State of the Union gives us a chance to take stock of how far we've come, appraise the work still left to do, and highlight those individuals doing important work in our communities," said Congressman Chris Pappas. "While more is needed, we've made important progress in the last year, including record job growth, wage increases, and declining COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates thanks to safe, effective vaccines. It is thanks in large part to the perseverance of Granite Staters that we have come this far, and I'm honored to welcome a number of these individuals as my State of the Union guests today. From our health care and frontline workers to law enforcement and first responders, to small businesses, and our families, I'm grateful to my guests for sharing their experiences and stories, and I remain committed to ensuring our state continues to move forward."
"This is a pivotal time for New Hampshire law enforcement as we work to not only recover from the impacts of the pandemic but continue to address both familiar and emerging challenges throughout our communities. I had the chance to meet with Congressman Pappas in Laconia earlier this month to share with him the work our team is doing in our Prevention, Enforcement, and Treatment (PET) program, which connects law enforcement with local resources to improve outcomes in the treatment of overdoses and other addiction-related crises. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Rep. Pappas and look forward to continuing to partner with him on efforts that improve the health and safety of our community." - Detective Eric Adams, Detective, Laconia Police Department
"Congressman Pappas and I have spoken a number of times over the last year about the needs of law enforcement in New Hampshire. He's been a strong supporter of public safety in New Hampshire, and I was grateful to share more with him about the work we are doing on behalf of the people of Strafford County. I'm thankful to have someone like Rep. Pappas, representing Strafford County, who listens to law enforcement and works to ensure we have the support needed to do our jobs well." - Sheriff Mark Brave, Strafford County Sheriff.
"When the pandemic hit, it was clear that small businesses like mine were going to need help. My business took advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program and other pandemic relief programs passed by Congressman Pappas that were integral to ensuring we could keep our lights on and our doors open. I was able to share these experiences with Rep. Pappas when he visited The Grind earlier this year and, as a small business owner, it was clear he understood what we had gone through and what the help meant to us." - Melanie Davis, the owner of The Grind Rail Trail Cafe in Derry.
"The expanded Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan was a lifesaver for my family and couldn't have come at a more critical time. I'm grateful to Congressman Pappas for voting to provide financial relief for me and my children and for his efforts to fight for legislation to continue this tax cut that's helping families like mine throughout New Hampshire. I was able to share my family's story during a roundtable conversation with Rep. Pappas, and I appreciated him listening and understanding our experiences." - Carrie Duran, whose family benefited from the extended Child Tax Credit.
"New Hampshire's nurses have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning working with persistence and perseverance with healthcare teams through extraordinarily difficult circumstances. While the last two years have been unbelievably challenging professionally and personally for everyone working in our hospitals-on the frontline or in supporting roles, there is no question that the work done by my colleagues has saved lives and eased the suffering of our patients. I was proud to be the first nurse in New Hampshire to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and continue to encourage everyone who is able to get the vaccine. I had the chance to meet with Congressman Pappas when he visited Elliot Hospital earlier this year to call attention to the strain our healthcare system was feeling under the Delta and Omicron variants. Since his visit, we have been fortunate to have help from medical teams from around the country. I greatly appreciate Congressman Pappas's support for New Hampshire's nurses and for the entire health care community." - Heidi Kukla, the first nurse to receive COVID-19 Vaccine in New Hampshire.
"As a public health leader in Manchester, I have seen first-hand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our friends, neighbors, and families for nearly two years. From the early days of the pandemic, Congressman Pappas was accessible and involved as we stood up operations to keep our communities safe. As we work to recover and fully overcome the pandemic, it could not be more important for our public health community to have the resources and support they need to address not only COVID-19 but the full spectrum of health challenges. In addition to my role as a public health director, I'm also a veteran. I'm thankful that New Hampshire veterans have Congressman Pappas representing us on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in Washington and advocating for our needs." - Anna Thomas, Director of the Manchester Health Department.
Original source can be found here.
