As NH Marks 500 COVID-19 Deaths, Shaheen Continues to Call for Return to Bipartisan Relief Negotiations in Congress

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement in response to New Hampshire losing 500 Granite Staters to COVID-19, calling for Senate Republicans to end their obstruction of bipartisan, comprehensive relief legislation that communities urgently need. COVID-19 cases are surging across the country, including New Hampshire. The United States saw 1 million new cases in less than six days.

“This is a solemn day for New Hampshire. Five hundred Granite Staters have been taken from us, each one of them a beloved family member, friend or colleague. My thoughts are with the loved ones and community members mourning and with those who are fighting to recover from this virus,” said Shaheen. “We’ve seen record-setting figures of infections in New Hampshire and across the country, including one million new cases in under a week. The foot-dragging in Washington to respond to this crisis has to end. Our hospitals and health care providers need resources to meet the surge of hospitalizations; cities and towns need help to keep first responders and teachers on payroll; small businesses need support to keep their doors open and families need assistance to put food on the table. We are still in the middle of this pandemic and our communities need help now. Refusing to come to the negotiating table hurts those who are suffering the most amid this crisis. It is past time for Mitch McConnell’s obstruction to end so we can get a deal done – the health and safety of Americans depends on it.”