Issues
Combating the Opioid & Heroin Epidemic
The opioid and heroin epidemic is tearing communities apart in the Granite State and all across the country. This is a public health crisis, and we need to be doing everything we can to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery services and strategies.
![Rep. Kuster with White Mountain park rangers Rep. Kuster with White Mountain park rangers](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/kuster-env.jpg?itok=kyzPqXz9)
Conserving Our Environment
In New Hampshire, we are blessed with incredible mountains, lakes, and forests. I come from a family that has a long history of supporting conservation and wildlife in New Hampshire, and I cherished growing up spending time on Newfound Lake and enjoying all four beautiful seasons in the North Country. My family continues to appreciate the natural beauty of our state and I am passionately committed to preserving the pristine environment of the Granite State.![](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/featured_image/issues/2018-2-6%20SVTF%20Launch%202017.jpg?itok=S_SpLQCU)
Ending Sexual Violence
Sexual violence cuts across party lines and affects women, men, and families in every single part of this country. It’s also an issue that’s deeply personal for me. Last year, for the first time, I shared my own experiences with sexual violence. Doing so was not easy. The stigma that surrounds this issue has silenced many survivors, but it's long past time we shatter that silence.
Pursuing Smart Energy Policies
New Hampshire must pursue smart energy policies that both protect our environment and lower costs for Granite State families and businesses. That’s why I have taken the following steps:
![Rep. Kuster with veterans Rep. Kuster with veterans](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/kuster-veterans.jpg?itok=u303pW6f)
Supporting Veterans, Military Families, and National Security
As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and daughter and daughter-in-law of WWII veterans, I am proud to advocate for the courageous veterans, service members, and military families who have sacrificed so much for our country. We have a fundamental responsibility to strengthen health care benefits, cut bureaucratic red tape, expand job opportunities, and properly honor the dedicated men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States.![shaking hands shaking hands](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/featured_image/issues/shaking-hands.jpg?itok=mI1LVKX7)
Strengthening Bipartisan Cooperation
Granite Staters don’t expect Members of Congress to agree on everything, but they do expect us to work together and put solving problems ahead of partisanship. At a time when we face major obstacles in New Hampshire and as a country, we must bring people together to find common sense solutions. While both parties have real differences and will disagree on some issues, Congress owes it to the American people to work together on the things we can agree on.![Rep Kuster talking with a citizen Rep Kuster talking with a citizen](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/kuster-seniors.jpg?itok=aUqBfsg4)
Protecting Seniors
For decades, Medicare and Social Security have been economic pillars in supporting our middle class seniors. Granite State seniors have worked hard their entire lives as they raised their families, strengthened our country, and paid into these vital programs.![Shoes stepping on the words fiscal responsibility Shoes stepping on the words fiscal responsibility](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/featured_image/issues/fiscal-responsibility.jpg?itok=2PdKe_Te)
Focusing on Fiscal Responsibility
I firmly believe that government governs the best when it does so within its means. We must make fiscally responsible decisions so we can continue to afford critical investments in our future. By cutting wasteful spending, streamlining duplicative programs, and finding inefficiencies throughout government, we can reduce the deficit in a balanced way that protects priorities such as education, research, and health care.![Rep. Kuster welding Rep. Kuster welding](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/kuster-jobs.jpg?itok=ZdJ-GHjs)
Fostering Job Creation and Economic Opportunity
From day one, my top priority in Congress has been helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class New Hampshire families. Since taking office, I have traveled to every corner of the second district to hear from educators, entrepreneurs, workers, and families about how Congress can help create jobs and grow the economy. Their thoughts and ideas form the foundation of the Jobs and Opportunity Agenda, which outlines a series of common sense, bipartisan steps – ranging from doubling down on investments in innovation and job training, to streamlining government programs – that Congress can take to help small business owners and middle class families achieve their goals.![a group of physicians a group of physicians](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/featured_image/issues/39168696.jpg?itok=w1w_s10q)
Improving Access to Affordable Health Care
It is my goal to help ensure that all Granite State families have access to affordable, quality health care. I am committed to working with the business community and all stakeholders in a fiscally responsible way to lower the skyrocketing cost of medical care. If both parties work together, we can crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse within the health care system, reduce overpayments to insurance companies, and start paying health care providers for how well they treat patients, rather than how often.![Rep. Kuster talking to a student Rep. Kuster talking to a student](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/kuster-education.jpg?itok=167KcA95)
Investing in Education
As the mother of two sons, I am acutely aware that the high cost of education is one of the biggest problems facing young people and their families. In order to address rising education costs, we must continue to maintain low interest rates for federal student loans and protect funding for Pell Grants. While Congress needs to cut spending, our nation must not reduce its budget deficit on the backs of America's students.![Apple Orchard By Scott Bauer, USDA ARS Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Apple Orchard By Scott Bauer, USDA ARS Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons](https://webharvest.gov/congress115th/20181222062250im_/https://kuster.house.gov/sites/kuster.house.gov/files/styles/congress_image_thumbnail/public/featured_image/issues/512px-Apple_orchard.jpg?itok=V5kZVj_X)