KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow.com) – U.S. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander appeared on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on Thursday, July 31, ahead of her scheduled visits to Keene and surrounding communities in the Monadnock Region later today.
Goodlander, who represents New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, discussed her work on housing affordability, military family healthcare, and job protections at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The interview also served as a preview of her planned stops at local businesses and a housing roundtable during her trip through the region.
Affordable Housing a Top Priority
Goodlander opened the interview by calling New Hampshire’s housing crisis “a crisis of affordability,” stressing that the state must build between 60,000 and 90,000 new homes to meet demand and lower costs. She highlighted her bipartisan “Supply Act,” which aims to boost federal investment in housing construction, and criticized corporate landlords for worsening the crisis.
“Homes should be owned by people and rented by people—not by private equity firms gaming the system,” she said. Goodlander pointed to her past work at the Department of Justice, where she focused on identifying abusive corporate practices like bulk purchasing of single-family homes and algorithmic rent hikes.
Support for Shipyard Workers
Shifting to economic concerns, Goodlander reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding jobs at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a major employer and strategic asset for the state. She said she is working to reverse recent personnel policies that have made it harder for workers to stay in the region, emphasizing the shipyard’s $100 million impact on the New Hampshire economy.
Healthcare Fairness for Military Families
The congresswoman also discussed her introduction of the Bipartisan Healthcare Fairness Act, which she says would save military families more than $7,000 a year in healthcare costs. The legislation has bipartisan backing and aims to close longstanding gaps in coverage for military dependents and retirees.
“When I was serving in the Navy, I relied on Planned Parenthood to stay medically ready,” she added, tying her military experience to her broader advocacy for reproductive healthcare access.
Planned Parenthood and Medicaid Funding
Goodlander voiced strong opposition to a section of the president’s proposed budget—what she called “the big brutal bill”—that would eliminate federal Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood. She warned of “devastating consequences” if the provision, Section 71113, remains intact.
Other Local Efforts
Goodlander also noted a legislative victory for Swanzey residents: House passage of a bill that would grant the town its own zip code, improving mail delivery and emergency response times. The measure is now awaiting action in the Senate.
Listen to the full interview:
