U.S. Rep Annie Kuster

CONCORD – U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement after President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the country’s COVID-19 response and announced new resources available for American families. During his speech, President Biden announced he is sending emergency response teams of clinical personnel to six states, including New Hampshire, due to rapidly rising cases of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. The President also outlined his administration’s approach to mitigating the spread as families gather for the holidays, and steps Americans can take to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

“Today, president Biden made clear the ongoing threat that COVID-19 poses to our country, our families, and our economy and laid out his administration’s plan to keep America moving forward. By deploying military doctors, nurses, and medics to local hospitals, the President is offering a reprieve for rural health care workers right here in New Hampshire facing some of the highest hospitalization rates since the start of this pandemic. This will provide essential relief for Granite State frontline workers who have been pushed to their limits handling this surge.

“The President also emphasized the efficacy of the vaccines and announced more free testing, a critical tool in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and catching active cases early. New federal emergency testing sites will offer a lifeline to over-capacity laboratories and hard-hit communities facing massive delays in getting results. The faster and more accessible testing is, the better equipped our communities are to stop the spread. Key to this plan is the distribution of 500 million free, at-home rapid tests for Americans that want them. This will make a huge difference for families traveling to see family, employees deciding whether or not to go to work, and kids heading back to school in the new year.

“As more Granite Staters make the choice to get vaccinated and boosted to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, the President’s plan will help to get more shots into arms to put this surge behind us faster. I welcome the steps President Biden announced today and will continue working in Congress and with New Hampshire officials to deliver resources to our communities as we combat this crisis.”