Newsletter: My Thoughts on Paris Terrorist Attacks & More Updates

Statement

Dear Friends,

Like you, I was deeply saddened by the horrific terrorist attacks this week in France. My thoughts and prayers are with the French people and those who have been affected by these attacks, and we stand with them as they fight these evil Islamist terrorists who have no respect for life.

We do not yet know all of the details regarding who conducted this attack, but initial reports suggest links to Yemen, the home of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Since last year, I have been fighting to ensure that the administration does not transfer or release any Guantanamo detainees to Yemen because of the country's instability and al Qaeda's prolific presence there. I am deeply concerned about the threats that the U.S. and our allies face from radical Islamist terrorists, including thousands of Europeans and some Americans who have traveled to Iraq and Syria to fight with ISIS. In order to stop future attacks and to prevent foreign fighters from returning to Europe or coming to the U.S. to conduct attacks, we must gather the intelligence necessary to protect our nation and save lives.

Also this week, I was pleased to announce that I will serve as the Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. As Chair of this important subcommittee, I will fight to ensure that our troops, their families, and the DoD civilians who support them have the training and resources they need. I will also focus on cutting wasteful Pentagon spending and advocating for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base- which are critical national security assets. I will also chair the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, Safety, and Security and will advocate for a safer and more efficient air traffic system that will help grow New Hampshire's economy.

In New Hampshire on Monday, I held public town hall meetings in Charlestown and Richmond. I appreciated the time that citizens took to listen and ask questions on several topics - including health care, supporting our veterans, energy policy, and Social Security. See below for news coverage about my Sullivan County town hall meeting.

Please scroll down for more news of the week, including legislation I reintroduced to improve export assistance programs for small businesses in the state as well as legislation to protect the rights of New Hampshire's motorcycle riders.

Have a great weekend, and go Pats!

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