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AMHERST – Lorraine Alice Hamilton of Amherst, New Hampshire, Beach Haven, New Jersey and Rancho Mirage, California died June 14, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at her home in California. She was 73 years old and a participant in the trial of a new cancer drug at NYU Langone in New York City since April 2019. She hoped that results from the trial would improve care for other patients who develop this cancer. She was with her family when she died and was
State of NH
NH Tourism Officials Projecting 4.3 Million Travelers to Visit This Summer
Summer travel spending expected to reach $2.35 billion
CONCORD – The Department of Business and Economic Affairs, Division of Travel and Tourism (DTTD) is anticipating an estimated 4.3 million people will visit New Hampshire this summer with spending by those visitors expected to reach $2.35 billion. The numbers represent a 4.8% increase in visitation and a 6.5% increase in spending. DTTD unveiled its summer marketing campaign, along with the forecast for visitation, during the NH Tourism Summit at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage in Concord.
“We have seen record spending in New Hampshire the last two summers, despite having to deal with the COVID pandemic,” said BEA Commissioner Taylor Caswell. “While inflation and the potential for a recession continue to pose threats, data shows there continues to be a pent-up demand for travel, and we expect to experience higher levels of visitation this summer resulting in even stronger levels of spending.”
New Hampshire’s summer campaign platform will continue to be “Discover Your New, ” as well as deploying road trip messaging. The state will continue to market in its core markets of New England and New York; road trip markets of Eastern PA and New Jersey; and Montreal and Quebec City in Canada. The campaign launched in the road trip and Canadian markets in mid-March and in the core markets on May 1.
“With record visitation anticipated again this summer, one of the elements we’re focusing on is the visitor experience,” said NH Travel and Tourism Director Lori Harnois. “We believe we should all be working together regarding recreating responsibly. We encourage visitors and residents to become familiar with New Hampshire’s Leave No Trace initiative and help preserve the state’s natural resources for future generations.”
For more information on Leave No Trace and for summer travel inspiration visitwww.visitnh.gov.
Stay connected with New Hampshire tourism on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest andYouTube, and be sure to follow the #LiveFreeNH tag to see what other people are saying about New Hampshire.
House Republican Leadership Supports a Seven-Year Extension for Medicaid Expansion
CONCORD – Deputy Speaker Steven Smith (R-Charlestown) released the following statement regarding the importance of reauthorizing a seven-year extension of the Granite Advantage Healthcare Program as part of the state budget:
“We’ve heard from the business community, the health care community, and people across NH about the importance of reauthorizing Medicaid expansion. We all agree that the program needs to be reauthorized and we’ve had a productive conversation about the appropriate length of time for a sunset provision.
A seven-year extension of the Granite Advantage Healthcare Program makes logical and fiscal sense. NH gets the financial benefit of a full contract period, a continued drop in uncompensated care costs - which is a hidden tax - and it stabilizes the market allowing for more competition to help further drive down health care costs in our state. House Republican leadership fully supports the budget compromise of seven years. Let’s get it done.”
Shaheen Named Co-Chair on Bipartisan Commission to Combat Hostage Taking and Wrongful Detention
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Senate Armed Services Committees, announced that she’s been named an honorary co-chair on a bipartisan commission with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), tasked with combating the rise in hostage taking and wrongful detention around the world. The commission includes returned hostages, their family members, former law enforcement and national security officials, diplomats, academics and journalists, all of whom have a long track record working on hostage and detainee issues. Shaheen has long been an advocate for Americans unjustly imprisoned or held hostage abroad.
“The plight of Americans unjustly detained abroad is excruciating for both them and their loved ones. The totality of the U.S. government must be brought to bear to explore every measure to ensure the safe return of all unjustly detained Americans,” said Senator Shaheen. “This bipartisan commission brings together advocates, journalists, government officials and experts to help sharpen U.S. policy and actions to ensure the safe return of all Americans and put an end to the use of Americans as political tools of our adversaries. I’m proud to serve as an honorary co-chair of this important effort to help bring Americans home.”
The commission will work to explore and consider tools to strengthen U.S. Policy with the goal of:
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Studying the efficacy of different strategies to respond to different kinds of hostage-taking actors;
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Proposing new U.S. government policies that could deter further hostage –taking and unlawful detention of Americans; and
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Developing additional tools and authorities that will empower U.S. officials and the families of hostages.
In addition to the announcement of the commission, yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved bipartisan, bicameral legislation co-led by Shaheen that would establish a national day recognizing U.S. hostages and their families. The US Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day Act would establish a national day that would call increased attention to Americans unjustly held abroad while highlighting the urgency to bring home wrongfully detained Americans. The legislation would also establish an official Hostage and Wrongful Detainee flag.
“Establishing a day and having a specific flag to recognize Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained is an important way the United States can remind the public that these hostages and their families are not forgotten. The unanimous approval of this legislation in the U.S. Senate reaffirms our unwavering commitment to do everything in our power to bring Americans home and to support their families as they endure the unimaginable. I’ll keep working on policies to address these issues, help families and most critically – secure the freedom of Americans detained abroad, wherever that may be,” said Senator Shaheen.
