Friends of Betsi DeVries for State Senate - NH

Senate Passes Affordable Housing Bill

Release Date: Jan 17 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 17, 2008

Contact: Senator Betsi DeVries

SENATE PASSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL

CONCORD – The Senate passed legislation today designed to help certain agencies that provide affordable housing in New Hampshire.

The goal of Senate Bill 199 sponsored by Senator Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) is to assist certain agencies and developers who provide rent-restricted housing to New Hampshire workers and families but who must pay property taxes based on the market value, which assumes the property brings in market-value rents.

The legislation would require assessors to look at the actual income potential for certain affordable rental properties instead of the higher market rate.

“It is in the best interest of New Hampshire to encourage private investment in solving the affordable housing issues. If we’re going to succeed in expanding our stock of affordable housing, it has to be a public-private partnership,” DeVries said.

Any qualifying property would be required to have a deed restriction that ensures rents remain permanently affordable and would have to be financed through federal tax credits.

“This is a narrow group of properties,” DeVries said. It would apply to about 14 properties in Manchester, including several run by Families in Transition, she said. Families in Transition provides transitional housing and support for homeless individuals and families in Manchester and Concord.

“Both businesses and families know how difficult it is to find decent and reasonably-priced housing,” said Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord), who serves on the board for Families in Transition. “This bill makes sense to help meet that critical need.”

Senate co-sponsors include Deborah Reynolds, Harold Janeway, Maggie Hassan, Martha Fuller Clark, Jacalyn Cilley and Peter Burling.

Senator Betsi Devries Announces Re-Election Bid

For Immediate Release

Date: 6/3/2008

Contact: Senator Betsi DeVries

Senator Betsi devries Announces Re-Election Bid

Manchester - Today Senator Betsi DeVries announced her intention to seek re-election to the State Senate in District 18.

“I am extremely proud of the work the State Senate has been doing on behalf of New Hampshire’s working men and women since last year. From raising the minimum wage for the first time in ten years to expanding access to health care for an additional 100,000 children, our Democratic majority has made positive changes in the lives of Granite State citizens.”

“I intend to continue working on the issues that matter most to Manchester, Litchfield, and the rest of New Hampshire. We must continue to fight to make healthcare more affordable, strengthen public safety, improve education, and provide economic security to more New Hampshire families.”

Sen. Betsi DeVries served a twelve year career in the Manchester Fire Department. After her retirement, she decided to further her commitment to the city in which she lives by becoming an Alderman and is currently serving her fourth term. In addition to her elected positions Sen. DeVries also serves on the board of directors of the Heritage United Way, and the Manchester YWCA. She is past president of the Manchester Area League of Women Voters, a member of the Crystal Lake Preservation Association and a member of the Pine Island Pond Environmental Society.

Sen. DeVries serves as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Consumer Protection. She serves on the Election Law and Internal Affairs Committee, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee and the Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee. Sen. DeVries also serves as Chair of the Commission to Study Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Laws, Policies and Standards.

Senate District 18 comprises Litchfield and Wards 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 in the city of Manchester.

<30>

Gov. Lynch Applauds Senate's Vote in Support of The Online Child Safety Act

Release Date: Mar 20 2008

For Immediate Release: Contact: Colin Manning

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Gov. Lynch Applauds Senate's Vote in Support of The Online Child Safety Act

Act Builds on Child Protection Act of 2006

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today applauded the Senate's unanimous vote in support of the Online Child Safety Act. The bill, which seeks to modernize state laws to better protect children from sexual predators who use the Internet, now goes to the House for consideration.

"The Internet provides tremendous opportunities for children, but it can also be a dangerous place," Gov. Lynch said. "That legislation will help protect our children from the threats of the 21st century, and I want to thank the members of the Senate for their overwhelming support of our state's continuing efforts to protect children from these dangerous criminals."

The legislation, developed with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, the Attorney General and New Hampshire's law enforcement community, modernizes the state's laws to better protect children from sexual predators who use the Internet. The legislation builds on the Child Protection Act passed in 2006, which is one of the country's toughest laws to protect children from sexual predators.

The bill strengthens the penalties in existing law for enticing a child over the Internet, and provides enhanced penalties for repeat offenders; it overhauls and expands existing child pornography laws to better reflect the victimization that occurs everyday when images of sexually abused children are created and distributed; and it closes a loophole so that sex offenders using web cams can be held accountable.

"Parents are the most important people in protecting children from online predators. But children can access the Internet almost anywhere - without parental supervision. With this bill, we are helping parents and taking another important step forward in making our state a safer place for all our children," Gov. Lynch said.

Senate Bill 495 is sponsored by Sens. Joe Foster, Bob Letourneau and Betsi DeVries; Reps. David Welch and William Knowles.

SENATOR DEVRIES TO CHAIR LEAD POISONING STUDY COMMISSION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Contact: Senator Betsi DeVries

SENATOR DEVRIES TO CHAIR LEAD POISONING STUDY COMMISSION

CONCORD - Senator Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) was elected as chairwoman of the new Commission to Study Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Laws, Policies and Standards, which held its first meeting today.

Representative Frank Case (R-Nottingham) will serve as vice-chairman. The commission was part of the new law (Senate Bill 176) designed to protect children from the risk of permanent brain and organ damage from lead paint.

"The Legislature this year took a major step toward protecting children from lead paint poisoning by lowering the level of lead in a child's bloodstream that will trigger intervention. But as we learn from recent media accounts of lead paint discovered on children's toys, it is clear the fight isn't over," DeVries said.

"The commission has convened to review existing legislation and to look at best practices to prevent lead paint poisonings in New Hampshire. Representatives from insurance, property owners and health advocates are working collaboratively to determine future legislative and policy needs to better protect our children," she said.

The commission includes lawmakers, representatives from the New Hampshire Property Owners Association, a representative appointed by the insurance commission, the mother of a lead-poisoned child, a lead safe renovator/instructor and the program director of the Dartmouth Toxic Metals Research Program along with public health officials and others. The commission is scheduled to report its findings and recommendations by Nov. 1, 2008

The commission meets next on Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. in the Statehouse, Room 103.

"Protecting the public health and safety will remain a major issue for me as I continue serve in the state Senate. I look forward to the day when lead poisoning goes the way of polio and smallpox as a health threat to our children," DeVries said.

SENATE PASSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL