DeJoie for Congress
Democrat for New Hampshire's 2nd District
Democrat for New Hampshire's 2nd District
Biography
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The Early Years… I was born and raised in the Boston area. My dad had just returned from proudly serving in Korea with the US Army. My parents both grew up in Boston, and decided to raise their family outside the city. My dad worked 16 hours a day – drove a truck by day and a cab at night – to make their dream a reality. Eventually, my dad was hired as a mailman – a steady job, with a good wage, benefits and retirement – and my parents knew they could move their family out of Boston. We relocated to Marshfield, MA, when I was about 6 years old. I graduated from Marshfield High School in 1977, as a National Honor Society member, and a letterman for the cross country and ice hockey teams. I worked my way through both college and graduate school, and was the first person in my family to receive a college degree. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from North Adams State College and a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Simmons College.
Achievement Through Perseverance...After receiving my Master's Degree in Social Work, I worked in the field of emergency mental health for the next 11 years. But my path to this position was not easy. I was passed over for the position once, and nearly a second time, because I did not have the needed experience. Wanting and needing the job, I convinced the director to take a chance on me. She eventually decided to give me a chance but said, “We really don’t think you can do this, so we are going to be watching you closely”. I began as an emergency room therapist and quickly demonstrated my determination, perseverance and passion to learn. Three years after I was hired, I was promoted to be Assistance Director of the emergency room. Three years later – just six years after being told I could not do the job – I was hired as the Director of the emergency room. When I resigned from the hospital in 1997, I was the Center’s budget director, managing an annual budget of nearly $20 million.
Family man who is living the American Dream…I moved to New Hampshire about 25 years ago. Linda and met at work and were married in 1988. We settled in New Hampshire and bought our first home in Litchfield in 1990. It was there that we began raising our two terrific kids, Katie who is now 16 and Evan who is now 14. We moved to Concord in 2000, where Katie and Evan attend public schools. Katie is a junior in Concord High School and a goalkeeper for the varsity field hockey team. Evan is a freshman at Concord High and a member of the wrestling team. Linda has been the Registration Manager for Concord Hospital since 2001.
A professional firefighter for 14 years… I made a career change in the mid 1990’s to become a professional firefighter, fulfilling not only a childhood dream but also finding a way to integrate all of my education and experience in helping people during a crisis. As a firefighter with the Concord Fire Department for the past 14 years, I have been involved in numerous community activities including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Boys and Girls Club and donating Christmas Dinner to a local family. In 1998, I was awarded a Unit Citation for extinguishing a fire at 57 Centre Street in Concord. (see citation)
A four-term State Representative… I first ran for the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2002, where I am currently serving my 4th term. I am the former Director of Communications for the House Democrats (2004-2006), and currently the Vice Chair of the House Finance Committee, sub-committee on Health and Human Services.
Impressive tenure at the statehouse…During my time in the NH legislature, I have shown myself to be not only an effective leader, but also a problem solver. While serving two terms as a minority member of the legislature, and two terms in the majority, more than 30 percent of the legislation I have introduced has been signed into law. I know how to work across the aisle, but I also have the passion and courage to stand firm when the interests of New Hampshire demand it.
Foresight to help working families…Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, I anticipated a spike in home heating fuel costs during the approaching winter. Just a few weeks after Katrina, I introduced a bill to create a supplemental allowance for working families to be able to buy home heating fuel. I began calling for a special legislative session to act on the bill in early September. By mid October, the bill was passed and New Hampshire became the first state to provide a supplemental heating allowance for working families in need, giving them piece of mind that they would be able to stay warm for the winter.
Preserving the Social Safety Net… In my role as Vice Chairman, I have been instrumental in preserving social safety services in New Hampshire, including elimination of the Developmental Disabilities Wait List, funding of drug and alcohol services, expansion of public health wellness programs and funding of long term care services for our seniors. I have also introduced bills to create an autism registry, provide for workplace safety, enhance penalties for distracted drivers, and recover the costs for environmental clean-up after a hazardous materials spill. But I am best known for my work to pass Michelle's Law .
Addressing injustice… Michelle's Law is named after Michelle Morse, a 20 year old college student who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2003. Michelle was advised by her doctor to take a medical leave from college to receive aggressive chemotherapy, and Michelle and her family believed that the insurance coverage that they’d been paying for over many years would cover the costly chemotherapy she needed.
However, when the family informed the insurance company of Michelle’s diagnosis, they told the family that Michelle would lose her insurance if she did not remain a full-time student. Michelle’s family was unable to afford the costly COBRA payments involved if she took a leave of absence from school. So Michelle remained a full-time student while also receiving the debilitating weekly chemotherapy treatments she needed to fight her cancer. Michelle's mother, Annmarie Morse, brought this story to the NH Legislature with the hope of bringing some degree of fairness to this one small aspect of insurance regulatory policy.
HB 37 (2005) was introduced to correct this injustice. After languishing for several months, HB 37 was slated to be killed in committee because it was seen as an insurance mandate. When I became aware of the bill, I appreciated the importance of the legislation to New Hampshire’s families, and began working with Michelle, Annmarie, and the bill's sponsor, to keep the bill alive. After successfully blocking the bill’s demise, the first thing we did was work to rename the bill Michelle’s Law. Understanding the personal and compelling nature of Michelle’s story, I began arranging for Annmarie and Michelle to tell their story more publicly. After appearing on every major news station in New England and in most daily newspapers in New Hampshire and Boston, Annmarie and Michelle were instrumental in helping Michelle’s Law became law in 2006. Unfortunately, the law couldn't save Michelle, who died November 10, 2005. But her legacy is significant. Because of Michelle, legislation similar to Michelle’s Law has been enacted in 30 states. On October 9, 2009, Michelle’s Law became a federal law.
Because of Michelle’s — and her family’s — courage and advocacy, no other family will have to go through the heartbreak that the Morse family did. Michelle's Law ensures that college students can take a medical leave of absence without losing their health insurance.
When Michelle’s Law was finally signed into law by the Governor, the bill ‘s sponsor noted "If John DeJoie hadn't gotten involved with Michelle's Law, it never would have happened.
A promise that you can believe in…During my eight years as a representative in the NH Legislature, I have not only listened to my constituents, but I have also passionately worked to address the key issues that are most important to New Hampshire’s working families. I have been a relentless voice in the New Hampshire State House and I will be the same voice in Washington, fighting for New Hampshire's working families.
Achievement Through Perseverance...After receiving my Master's Degree in Social Work, I worked in the field of emergency mental health for the next 11 years. But my path to this position was not easy. I was passed over for the position once, and nearly a second time, because I did not have the needed experience. Wanting and needing the job, I convinced the director to take a chance on me. She eventually decided to give me a chance but said, “We really don’t think you can do this, so we are going to be watching you closely”. I began as an emergency room therapist and quickly demonstrated my determination, perseverance and passion to learn. Three years after I was hired, I was promoted to be Assistance Director of the emergency room. Three years later – just six years after being told I could not do the job – I was hired as the Director of the emergency room. When I resigned from the hospital in 1997, I was the Center’s budget director, managing an annual budget of nearly $20 million.
Family man who is living the American Dream…I moved to New Hampshire about 25 years ago. Linda and met at work and were married in 1988. We settled in New Hampshire and bought our first home in Litchfield in 1990. It was there that we began raising our two terrific kids, Katie who is now 16 and Evan who is now 14. We moved to Concord in 2000, where Katie and Evan attend public schools. Katie is a junior in Concord High School and a goalkeeper for the varsity field hockey team. Evan is a freshman at Concord High and a member of the wrestling team. Linda has been the Registration Manager for Concord Hospital since 2001.
A professional firefighter for 14 years… I made a career change in the mid 1990’s to become a professional firefighter, fulfilling not only a childhood dream but also finding a way to integrate all of my education and experience in helping people during a crisis. As a firefighter with the Concord Fire Department for the past 14 years, I have been involved in numerous community activities including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Boys and Girls Club and donating Christmas Dinner to a local family. In 1998, I was awarded a Unit Citation for extinguishing a fire at 57 Centre Street in Concord. (see citation)
A four-term State Representative… I first ran for the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2002, where I am currently serving my 4th term. I am the former Director of Communications for the House Democrats (2004-2006), and currently the Vice Chair of the House Finance Committee, sub-committee on Health and Human Services.
Impressive tenure at the statehouse…During my time in the NH legislature, I have shown myself to be not only an effective leader, but also a problem solver. While serving two terms as a minority member of the legislature, and two terms in the majority, more than 30 percent of the legislation I have introduced has been signed into law. I know how to work across the aisle, but I also have the passion and courage to stand firm when the interests of New Hampshire demand it.
Foresight to help working families…Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, I anticipated a spike in home heating fuel costs during the approaching winter. Just a few weeks after Katrina, I introduced a bill to create a supplemental allowance for working families to be able to buy home heating fuel. I began calling for a special legislative session to act on the bill in early September. By mid October, the bill was passed and New Hampshire became the first state to provide a supplemental heating allowance for working families in need, giving them piece of mind that they would be able to stay warm for the winter.
Preserving the Social Safety Net… In my role as Vice Chairman, I have been instrumental in preserving social safety services in New Hampshire, including elimination of the Developmental Disabilities Wait List, funding of drug and alcohol services, expansion of public health wellness programs and funding of long term care services for our seniors. I have also introduced bills to create an autism registry, provide for workplace safety, enhance penalties for distracted drivers, and recover the costs for environmental clean-up after a hazardous materials spill. But I am best known for my work to pass Michelle's Law .
Addressing injustice… Michelle's Law is named after Michelle Morse, a 20 year old college student who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in 2003. Michelle was advised by her doctor to take a medical leave from college to receive aggressive chemotherapy, and Michelle and her family believed that the insurance coverage that they’d been paying for over many years would cover the costly chemotherapy she needed.
However, when the family informed the insurance company of Michelle’s diagnosis, they told the family that Michelle would lose her insurance if she did not remain a full-time student. Michelle’s family was unable to afford the costly COBRA payments involved if she took a leave of absence from school. So Michelle remained a full-time student while also receiving the debilitating weekly chemotherapy treatments she needed to fight her cancer. Michelle's mother, Annmarie Morse, brought this story to the NH Legislature with the hope of bringing some degree of fairness to this one small aspect of insurance regulatory policy.
HB 37 (2005) was introduced to correct this injustice. After languishing for several months, HB 37 was slated to be killed in committee because it was seen as an insurance mandate. When I became aware of the bill, I appreciated the importance of the legislation to New Hampshire’s families, and began working with Michelle, Annmarie, and the bill's sponsor, to keep the bill alive. After successfully blocking the bill’s demise, the first thing we did was work to rename the bill Michelle’s Law. Understanding the personal and compelling nature of Michelle’s story, I began arranging for Annmarie and Michelle to tell their story more publicly. After appearing on every major news station in New England and in most daily newspapers in New Hampshire and Boston, Annmarie and Michelle were instrumental in helping Michelle’s Law became law in 2006. Unfortunately, the law couldn't save Michelle, who died November 10, 2005. But her legacy is significant. Because of Michelle, legislation similar to Michelle’s Law has been enacted in 30 states. On October 9, 2009, Michelle’s Law became a federal law.
Because of Michelle’s — and her family’s — courage and advocacy, no other family will have to go through the heartbreak that the Morse family did. Michelle's Law ensures that college students can take a medical leave of absence without losing their health insurance.
When Michelle’s Law was finally signed into law by the Governor, the bill ‘s sponsor noted "If John DeJoie hadn't gotten involved with Michelle's Law, it never would have happened.
A promise that you can believe in…During my eight years as a representative in the NH Legislature, I have not only listened to my constituents, but I have also passionately worked to address the key issues that are most important to New Hampshire’s working families. I have been a relentless voice in the New Hampshire State House and I will be the same voice in Washington, fighting for New Hampshire's working families.
