{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"ME\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-irresponsible-short-term-continuing-resolution", "Pingree Statement on Irresponsible Short-term Continuing Resolution", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement on a short-term continuing resolution. She voted against the resolution today.  \n\t  \n\tNo one wants to see a government shutdown, but the Republican proposal is inadequate and irresponsible. We just spent the last week voting on a holiday giveaway to the wealthy when we should have been working out a way to reliably meet the countrys real needs in the year ahead. This short-term CR leaves inadequate resources to address many pressing issues, including the opioid epidemic, a funding shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and protecting the nations environmental health.  \n\t  \n\tWe shouldnt be going home when so many Americans have been waiting on Congress for months to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act and long-term reauthorizations of vital initiatives like the Childrens Health Insurance Program and Community Health Centers. Its simply unacceptable to kick the can down the road any longer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/2017-what-year", "2017: What A Year", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The last year has certainly been one of the most eventfulif not the most eventfulof my time in Congress. The presidency of Donald Trump has taken our country in new and frightening directions, making my work in Congress all the more important.\nThroughout, I've been focused on how policy decisions in Washington and events around the nation and world impact the lives of Mainers. That's led me to oppose many negative actions taken in the last year, but also find opportunities for bipartisan victories that benefit our state. Here are some highlights from a roller coaster of a year.  \n\t--Chellie\n Opposing Repeal of the Affordable Care Act \n  \n\tOne of the first actions Republicans took in 2017 was passing a budget resolution that allowed them to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority vote in the Senate. As Trumpcare took shapewhich in its various forms would have taken health-care coverage away from 22 million AmericansI hosted a town hall to get feedback from my constituents. One by one, they told me how Trumpcare would hurt them and their family. While I'm glad the law did not end up passing, and that Maine voters approved expanding Medicaid coverage in a historic vote, I've been dismayed to see Republicans find back-door ways to weaken the ACA. The GOP Tax Scam, which repeals the individual mandate and will lead to great numbers of uninsured and higher premiums for others, is just the latest.\n Sitting Out President Trump's Inauguration \n  \n\tI hadn't planned on sitting out President Trump's inauguration, but when he belittled Civil Rights hero Representative John Lewis, I knew I couldn't attend. Instead, I spent the day with my constituentsserving breakfast at Preble Street Resource Center, meeting with Planned Parenthood staff and clients, and watching the inauguration on TV with a group of New Mainers at Portland Adult Education.\n Holding President Trump Accountable \nI think it's critical that we hold President Trump accountable for his words and actions. I've supported legislation to create an independent bipartisan commissionfree of interference from the Trump Administrationto fully investigate Russia's hacking of our election. When he failed to denounce the violence of white supremacists in Charlottesville, I co-sponsored a resolution to censure him. And I joined over 50 colleagues to call for an investigation into 17 sexual harassment accusations made against the President.\n Calling Out the Muslim Ban \nPresident Trump's views on immigration are simply un-American. Nothing epitomizes it more than his Muslim Ban, indiscriminately banning individuals from several Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the United States. The administration's first attempt to implement the ban left Banah Al-Hanfy, a 19-year-old from Iraq, separated from her family, who had come to live in Maine after her father helped our military as an interpreter. Thankfully, my office was able to help community members reunite her with her family. I was lucky to have this bright young woman as my guest to President Trump's address to Congress and an intern in my Portland office.\n Questioning EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt \n  \n\tSome of the most damaging acts of the Trump Administration have been at the EPA. Secretary Scott Pruitt has led efforts to turn our back on addressing climate change, let corporate polluters rewrite the rules that are supposed to hold them accountable, and weaken the EPA overall. Through my role on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA, I was able to fight back against a proposed 30 percent cut to the agency. I also had the chance to question Pruitt directly about something that's been on my mind: what am I going to tell my grandchildren if we don't do something about climate change?\n James Beard Foundation Leadership Award \nIt was an incredible honor to receive a James Beard Foundation Leadership Award for my work in Congress on food system reform. With this award comes a great responsibility to keep pusing my experience as a farmer and advocate to help shape food and agriculture policy in Congress.\n Rewriting the Farm Bill \nAs Congress prepares to reauthorize the Farm Bill next year, I spent much of 2017 collecting input from local stakeholders and introducing legislation to influence this massive piece of legislation. The bills I introduced would:\n Take comprehensive steps to reduce the incredible amount of food that goes to waste in our country (Food Recovery Act);\n\tIncrease investments in research for organic agriculture--the fastest growing sector of the agriculture industry (Organic Agriculture Research Act); and\n\tSupport smaller-scale food systems by helping farmers increase local production and widening access for consumers (Local FARMS Act)\n  Victories for Veterans \nOne of my highest priorities in Congress has always been making sure our veterans get the care and benefits they have earned. I'm happy to report several victories this year for Maine veternas. After working for years with Maine's Congressional Delegation, we were finally able to push a much-needed expansion of the Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic through Congress. Legislation I introduced to help veterans who find themselves with VA debt unanimously passed the House of Representatives. And full GI Bill benefits were extended to a group of veterans who had been denied them previouslyan issue I've introduced legislation to address.\n #MeToo \nI'm so proud of the brave women across the countrywho areshininga light on the sexual harassment and assault they routinely face. It's time we keep Congress and the White House accountable as well, which is why I have cosponsored legislation to require sexual harassment training for Members of Congress and their staffs, reform processes to make victims feel safer when speaking out, and to end a secret taxpayer fund that has been used to settle Congressional harassment cases.I've also called for an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against President Trump.\n Gun Violence \nI wish there was something positive to report on this important issue, but there is not. In the last year, our nation has faced many senseless tragedies from gun violence, yet Congress has done nothing--absolutely nothing--to address it. I will continue pushing for commonsense reforms in the new year.\n GOP Tax Scam \n  \n\tOne of the \"highlights\" from the year is unfortunately a \"lowlight.\" Congress has passed the Republican tax plana giveaway to massive corporations and the wealthiest of the wealthy. It won't offer true relief to the middle class, but instead raise taxes on many and threaten cuts to program we all depend on, like Medicare and Social Security. After speaking with a group of Mainers who would be harmed my plan, I spoke out with my opposition.\n Incredible Level of Constituent Engagement \n  \n\tOne thing I am truly grateful for in 2017 was the incredible level of engagement from my constituents, who are tuned into to Washington's dealings like never before and letting their opinions be known. In 2016, constituents called, emailed or mailed their opinions to my office 50,771 times. So far in 2017, that number is 135,262--nearly three times as many! I truly appreciate everyone's feedback. Please keep your comments coming and have a happy new year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-today-s-tax-vote-us-house", "Pingree Statement on Todays Tax Vote in U.S. House", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today voted against the tax plan compromise reached by Republicans in the House and Senate. She released the following statement.  \n\t  \n\tThis is a bad bill thats going to have a major negative impact on generations to come. The latest analysis from the Tax Policy Center shows just how bad: 86 million middle-class Americans will pay higher taxes and 83 percent of the benefits will go to the wealthiest 1 percent. Middle-class families who do see some benefit wont for long, because their cuts are temporary while the handouts to corporations will be permanent.  \n\t  \n\tBecause the bill explodes the deficit, you can bet that it will lead to cuts to programs we all depend onlike Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Securitywhen Republicans come back next year and say theres no money. And in ending the individual mandate, millions more Americans will go uninsured, destabilizing the insurance market, bankrupting families with uncovered health costs, and driving up premiums for everyone who decides to keep their coverage. The Center for American Program estimates that in Maine it would lead to 50,000 more uninsured by 2025 and a $2,350 Marketplace premium increase by 2019.  \n\t  \n\tIts so clear that this bill is bad for the country and the people we represent. Im absolutely appalled that Republicans have blindly pushed it forward despite all the warnings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-defazio-delauro-kind-pingree-call-usda-withdrawal-organic-livestock", "Reps. DeFazio, DeLauro, Kind & Pingree Call USDA Withdrawal of Organic Livestock Rules Indefensible", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) issued a joint statement today on the USDAs withdrawal of Obama-era Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules.\nUSDAs decision to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules after three pointless delays is outrageous and shows complete disregard for the public comment process and the agency's role in providing stability in the organic marketplace.\nFor years now, consumers have asked for high welfare standards for animals raised under organic practices and organic farmers have wanted clarity and a level playing field. The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules would finally have taken steps in the right direction to protect the high standards of the organic label. Despite its stated justification for withdrawing these rules, the USDA not only has the authority but also the responsibility to develop these rules under the Organic Foods Production Act.\nThis is like the net neutrality decision all over again. Just like the FCCs partisan vote, this is a clear case of the Trump Administration ignoring public feedback to follow through on its own politicized wishes. When asked for feedback, over 40,000 people submitted comments in support of implementing the rules immediatelyonly 28 individuals wanted them withdrawn. This undermining of the public process is absolutely indefensible and should not be allowed to stand.\nStarting this Monday, December 18, the public will have 30 days to submit their feedback on the withdrawal of the rules. Comments can be made here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-says-courts-must-block-fcc-overstep-net-neutrality-backs", "Pingree Says Courts Must Block FCC Overstep on Net Neutrality, Backs Congressional Resolution", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement regarding today\u2019s FCC decision to rollback Obama-era net neutrality regulations:\u00a0\n\u201cSince FCC Chairman Pai announced his intention to rollback net neutrality rules, I\u2019ve heard from thousands of Mainers who are outraged by his willingness to sacrifice a free and open internet for bigger telecommunications profits. Despite millions of faked public comments and overwhelming public outcry from individuals and elected officials, FCC Chairman Pai pressed forward with a razor-thin, partisan vote to determine the future of the internet. I am sickened by the lack of transparency in this process and that my constituents\u2019 voices were drowned out by hacked comments. I call on the courts to block this major overstep by the FCC and all of my House colleagues to enact Congressman Mike Doyle's resolution to overturn this decision using the authority granted by the Congressional Review Act.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleague-oppose-repeal-net-neutrality-protections", "Pingree Joins Colleague to Oppose Repeal of Net Neutrality Protections", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.--Ahead of tomorrow\u2019s FCC vote, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined over 30 of her colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman Ajit Pai voicing their opposition to his proposal to repeal net neutrality protections.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe future of the Internet is at stake with tomorrow\u2019s vote. If net neutrality protections are repealed, it will allow Internet service providers to game the system for their benefit like they did before the rules were in place,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cCreating fast and slow lanes on the Internet will allow these corporations to exploit consumers while stifling real innovation. My colleagues are doing everything in our power to keep that from happening.\u201d\u00a0\nPingree has also called on the FCC to delay its vote in light of reports finding that millions of comments submitted during the public comment period were likely fake.\u00a0 The letter was led by Rep. Keith Ellison. A pdf is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maine-delegation-applauds-va-announcement-fund-veteran-support", "Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today applauded the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) announcement that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman made the announcement during the First Annual Military Veteran Symposium in Portland this morning.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMaine veterans answered the call to uphold our freedoms, and those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness deserve our comprehensive support,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThese new positions in Maine provide veterans with expanded access to specialists so they can get the treatments and services they need. Maine is a community \u2013 we care for our neighbors and for each other \u2013 and with the VA\u2019s announcement today, we have taken an important step to strengthen our community and better care for veterans across the state.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAs our population of veterans has grown, aged, and diversified, the Togus VA Medical Center has adapted to these changes to meet the needs of patients,\u201d said Senator Collins.\u00a0 \u201cToday\u2019s announcement that the VA is funding three critical positions at Togus to help promote suicide prevention, assist veterans returning to society, and prevent unnecessary criminalization of those with mental illness will enhance the hospital\u2019s work to provide high-quality care for veterans.\u00a0 I applaud the VA for making this important investment.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"The high rate of veteran suicides is one of the most heartbreaking issues our country faces. We owe it to these brave men and women to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies and ensure they have someone to turn to. I appreciate the VA giving attention to this and other issues Maine veterans face. These new staff positions will be critical additions to the team at VA Togus,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cTragically, too many of our Veterans face extraordinary mental and health challenges when they return from service,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cWe must make sure our Veterans have the help and support they need. I\u2019m very pleased with the announcement of these new positions at Togus that will help provide important resources to our Veterans.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn February, Senator King wrote to the VA urging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleagues-call-investigation-sexual-misconduct", "Pingree Joins Colleagues to Call For Investigation into Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against President Trump", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a press conference this afternoon, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) joined fellow members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group calling on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for an official investigation into 17 sexual misconduct claims against President Trump.\u00a0\nPingree was one of 59 members to sign a letter to the Committee making a formal request for an investigation.\u00a0\nThis morning, Pingree also responded to Trump\u2019s Twitter attacks on the women who have accused him of sexual harassment.\u00a0\n \n\t.@POTUS denying stories of women on Twitter makes an even stronger case for investigating allegations of #sexualharassment against him. We all heard the bus tape, @RealDonaldTrump. I'm one of 56 Members of Congress demanding accountability. #mepolitics https://t.co/tN0MkB70rT\n\t\u2014 Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) December 12, 2017 \nTEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE:\nDear Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings,  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and may at \u201cany time\u201d investigate \u201cany matter\u201d as set forth in House Rule X. In that regard, as Members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group, we are requesting that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigate the reports of sexual misconduct raised against President Trump, many of which he has denied. The American people deserve a full inquiry into the truth of these allegations.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAt least 17 women have publicly accused the President of sexual misconduct. Natasha Stoynoff recounted how the President pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue down her throat. Jill Harth described how the President attempted to get up her dress. Kristin Anderson detailed how the President touched her genitals through her underwear. Mariah Billado, Rachel Crooks, Tasha Dixon, Jessica Drake, Cathy Heller, Samantha Holvey, Ninni Laaksonen, Jessica Leeds, Temple Taggart McDowell, Mindy McGillivray, Cassandra Searles, Bridget Sullivan, Karena Virginia, and Summer Zervos also offered alarming accounts.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe President\u2019s own remarks appear to back up the allegations. The President has boasted in public and in crude terms that he feels at liberty to perpetrate such conduct against women. Subsequently, Mr. Trump apologized and called it \u201clocker room talk.\u201d He has since called all his accusers liars.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn the time of \u201cMe Too,\u201d women across the country are coming forward with their own harrowing stories of sexual harassment and assault. Members of Congress have also come under scrutiny and investigation, with some resigning, for improper sexual conduct. We cannot ignore the multitude of women who have come forward with accusations against Mr. Trump. With that said, the President should be allowed to present evidence in his own defense.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPlease respond with a decision within 10 days so that the Democratic Women\u2019s Working Group can proceed accordingly. We await your prompt response.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-cosponsors-legislation-reauthorize-critical-health-care-programs", "Pingree Cosponsors Legislation to Reauthorize Critical Health Care Programs that Serve Thousands of Maine Families", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 As partisan politics have needlessly held up the reauthorization of the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers and other important public health programs, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is co-sponsoring a bill (H.R. 4541) that reauthorizes all of these programs and pays for it in a commonsense way that does not strip funds from other health care programs.\u00a0 Funding for CHIP expired on September 30, putting health care for nine million American kids at risk.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMaine is actually one of the few states where the number of uninsured children has gone up in recent years. We can\u2019t afford to lose even more ground by not reauthorizing CHIP, which about 11,000 Maine children rely on for their health care. On top of that, partisan politics have also jeopardized the future of the Community Health Centers that serve over 200,000 Mainers every year,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cThe reauthorization of these and other critical programs have been stalled because Congressional Republicans want to pay for them by undermining the country\u2019s health care system in other ways. This is our answer to their unacceptable proposal: reauthorizing CHIP, Community Health Centers and other important public health programs while funding them in a commonsense way that doesn\u2019t strip health insurance and services away from kids and families.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe legislation fully extends CHIP for five years, and Community Health Centers (CHCs) and other important public health programs for two years. It also takes important steps to address the critical health care needs of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe bill pays for these programs by shifting the timing of payments to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-urges-fcc-delay-net-neutrality-vote-fully-investigate-fake", "Pingree Urges FCC to Delay Net Neutrality Vote to Fully Investigate Fake Public Comments", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is urging the FCC to delay its vote next Thursday, December 14 regarding net neutrality protections in order to investigate a slew of potentially fake comments submitted during the public comment period. An investigation by the New York Attorney General\u2019s office found hundreds of thousands of Americans had their identities stolen and used in a spam campaign to support repealing net neutrality. Pingree also released a video message via Twitter asking her constituents to enter their names at https://ag.ny.gov/fakecomments and see if they were used in the fake comment scam. Watch Pingree\u2019s video here.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen how bots have been used to spread misinformation and influence our elections.\u00a0 Now, they\u2019re trying to sway our regulatory process on an issue that\u2019s absolutely critical to the future of innovation and the economy. The FCC should delay its vote on net neutrality to fully investigate to what extent the public process was compromised, who was behind it, and what was their intention. I've heard from thousands of Mainers who do not want the FCC to create fast and slow lanes on the Internet by rolling back net neutrality. Their voices should not be drowned out by bots.\u201d\nPingree is cosigning two letters to the FCC with colleagues that will be sent early next week: one opposing the rollback of net neutrality protections and the other calling on the FCC to cancel next Thursday\u2019s vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/winners-2017-congressional-app-challenge-maine-s-1st-district-develop", "Winners of 2017 Congressional App Challenge for Maines 1st District Develop Innovative Program for Diagnosing Concussions", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As part of Computer Science Education Week, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that Falmouth High School students John Wahlig and Pawan Yerramilli have won the 2017 Congressional App Challenge for Maine\u2019s 1st District. The team developed an innovative smartphone app to help coaches, athletes, and parents quickly diagnose potential concussions.\u00a0\n\u201cEvery day, digital devices and the streams of code that run them become a larger and larger part of our lives. The Congressional App Challenge is a great chance for Maine students to learn about everything that goes into developing these products and even start exploring it as a career,\u201d said Pingree.\u00a0 \u201cI applaud John and Pawan for developing an app that not only looks incredibly professional, but could have a valuable public benefit on the nation\u2019s playing fields. My congratulations as well to all this year\u2019s participants for completing such well conceived and executed programs.\u201d\u00a0\nWahlig and Yerramalli\u2019s app works by testing several criteria for gauging concussions outlined by the American Neurological Association: critical thinking, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and short-term memory.\u00a0 Designed with athletics in mind, the tests involve color patterns, number lists, and targets that move across the screen, as well as a questionnaire. If the tests are failed, the app recommends seeking medical attention.\u00a0\nThe students produced a video to show how the app works.\u00a0\nPingree also recognized two honorable mentions.\u00a0\nJean Claude Zarate and Julian Bernard of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in Portland developed baterio, an app to track battery usage for First Robotics Competition robots.\nTyler Hansen of South Portland High School developed Meteor Multiplication to test multiplication skills in a fun video game environment.\u00a0  \nThe Maine Technology Institute assembled a panel of Maine technology professionals and entrepreneurs to judge the competition. The submissions were judged equally on the criteria of concept, design, and coding skill.\u00a0\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition\u2014Members of Congress must choose to participate for students in their District to be eligible. Winning apps from each District will be displayed and recognized at an event in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 The Internet Education Foundation coordinates the competition.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/briefing-highlights-success-produce-prescriptions-which-pingree-bill", "Briefing Highlights Success of Produce Prescriptions, Which Pingree Bill Would Expand", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014At the Capitol today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) hosted a briefing on produce prescription programs, an element of the food is medicine movement that is proving effective at improving people\u2019s diets and health outcomes by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Launching a national produce prescription pilot program called Harvesting Health is one provision of HR 3491, the Local FARMS Act, a bipartisan bill Pingree has introduced with Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Patrick Maloney (D-NY) to increase consumer access to healthy food in the Farm Bill.\u00a0\n\u201cEveryone knows that eating enough fruits and vegetables can help keep us healthy\u2014but our food system hasn\u2019t gotten the message. The least expensive foods are the least healthy for us and that\u2019s leading to obesity, heart disease, and other health conditions that cost our country billions of dollars every year,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cA simple idea is helping change that bit by bit\u2014having doctors write prescriptions for fruits and vegetables and offering vouchers to help their patients purchase them. The results so far have been very encouraging, and I think we need to see what would happen if we ran this initiative on a larger scale.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nPingree was joined at the briefing by Michel Nischan, CEO of Wholesome Wave, which run its Fruits and Vegetables Prescription (FVRx) Program at 34 sites across the country. It works with healthcare providers and public health promoters to write prescriptions for fruits and vegetables, and with retailers to unlock affordability for the families that need it most. According to the organization, nearly all participants (93%) met their fruit and vegetable recommendations by the end of the program, nearly half (47%) decreased their BMI, and 45% reported increased food security.\n\u201cDoctors tell us that when they can prescribe produce, patients go from eating no fruits and vegetables at all, to eating several servings every day. And over time, that can turn their health around,\u201d said Nischan. \u201cIf this provision passes, we could very well see the day where all Americans, regardless of income, can exercise their right to choose healthier food for their families, and take part in eating our way out of the national debt. Wouldn\u2019t that be delicious?\u201d\nAt the hearing, Karen Landry, Executive Director of War on Poverty\u2014Florida, highlighted the success of one such program at the Jessie Trice Community Health Center in Miami. The program is not only helping improving individual eating habits, but those of entire families, she said.\nAnd Kristy Anderson, Senior Government Relations Advisor at the American Heart Association, spoke about how increased access to fresh produce can help address diet-related diseases that are the highest causes of death in the nation.\u00a0\n\u201cEncouraging and making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables is critical to improving their health. This is especially true when it comes to vulnerable and underserved populations,\u201d said Anderson. \u201cPrescriptions for healthy foods from a health care provider are a way to improve access and health.\u00a0 Launching a pilot that would help us study fruit and vegetable prescription projects is essential for understanding their impact on the health of patients.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-slams-today-s-vote-hr-38-nra-giveaway", "Pingree Slams Todays Vote on H.R. 38 as NRA Giveaway", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on H.R. 38, the first piece of legislation relative to guns that the House has taken up following more than 327 mass shootings in this calendar year alone. Pingree will vote against the bill, H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The vote is expected around 4:30 p.m. today.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cSeeing this bill come to the floor a week before the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting is absolutely sickening. In 2017 so far, the U.S. has seen 14,398 gun violence deaths, including 327 deaths from mass shootings alone. In the never-ending current of these horrific tragedies, Congressional Republicans have blocked all efforts to enact common sense gun legislation. Now, they actually want to make it harder for local law enforcement to do their jobs. This blatant giveaway to the NRA is so far off-base from what the American people have been calling on Congress to do.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-secretary-zinke-s-report-regarding-maine-s-katahdin-woods-and", "Statement on Secretary Zinkes Report Regarding Maines Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement regarding new reports stating that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will recommend President Trump preserve Maine\u2019s Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument:  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s attack on public lands is disturbing and, as has been reported, the largest elimination of protected areas in U.S. history. While I am pleased Secretary Zinke has said he\u2019ll recommend that Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument stay intact, I would like the opportunity to read his full report and ensure Maine\u2019s monument is safeguarded from the attacks Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments have suffered.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cKatahdin Woods and Waters Monument has spurred much-needed economic growth in the North Woods region and drawn thousands of new visitors to our state. It would be a mistake for the Trump Administration to reduce or revoke monument that has breathed life into Northern Maine\u2019s economy and introduced thousands to the natural beauty of Maine.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the Department of the Interior.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-calls-national-monument-reductions-deeply-troubling", "Pingree calls national monument reductions deeply troubling", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on President Trump\u2019s decision to slash the acreage of both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. She is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the Department of the Interior.\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s decision to severely shrink these national monuments is deeply troubling for the precedent he is setting. If he is allowed to undermine the process our country has for conserving its most special places, how can we know if any public lands are truly protected for the future?\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe entirety of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are worth conserving for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. Bears Ears itself is sacred to several Native American tribes. It\u2019s disgraceful and disheartening to see them opened up for the exploitation of their natural resources.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cThe review of national monuments by President Trump\u2019s administration has also been troubling for its lack of transparency. We still have yet to see compelling justifications for these decisions and it remains unclear if the President has this authority at all.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-nominates-28-maine-students-united-states-service-academies", "Pingree nominates 28 Maine students to United States Service Academies", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Portland, Maine\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has announced her office\u2019s nominees to the United States Service Academies\u2014the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.\u00a0 To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThis group represents some of Maine\u2019s best and brightest. They have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, high academic standards, and a passion for helping others,\u201d said Pingree.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever happens from here, they should all be proud of themselves.\u00a0 We are lucky that they have chosen to offer their talents in service to the country, and it\u2019s an honor to nominate them.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe nominees were interviewed by a panel of six on their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extra-curricular activities, and exemplified commitment to serving their country.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree nominated several students to more than one academy.\u00a0 The full list of nominations is below.\u00a0 Contact information is available upon request.\nUnited States Naval Academy  \n\tKelsey Brayboy, Eliot, Marshwood High School  \n\tJack Freeman, Owls Head, Oceanside High School  \n\tZach Grant, Brunswick, Brunswick High School  \n\tBrinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy  \n\tEric Heiman, Arundel, Thornton Academy  \n\tDana Hirschhorn, Kennebunkport, Waynflete  \n\tRay Horne, Berwick, Noble High School  \n\tJake Lapierre, Winslow, Winslow High School  \n\tPayje Leclerc, Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach High School\u00a0  \n\tMarco Manfra, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tRichard Mann, Bowdoinham, Baxter Academy  \n\tJames Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),\u00a0  \n\tEric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tAiden Roberts, Hope, Phillips Exeter Academy  \n\tSean Scanlon, Bath, Cheverus High School  \n\tBrendan Sullivan, Berwick, St. Thomas Aquinas High School  \n\tJames Waaler, Yarmouth, Yarmouth High School  \n\tJohn Wallace, Bowdoin, CTI2, U.S. Navy, Mount Ararat High School \u201813  \n\tConnor Winn, Saco, Thornton Academy  \n\tMichael Wrigley, Wells, Wells High School\nUnited States Military Academy  \n\tSam Colesworthy, North Yarmouth, Greely High School  \n\tJack Freeman, Owls Head, Oceanside High School  \n\tElizabeth Garver, Bailey Island, Mount Ararat High School  \n\tBrinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy  \n\tPayje Leclerc, Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach High School\u00a0  \n\tMichael Lunny, Springvale, Sanford High School  \n\tAsa Muthig, North Berwick, Berwick Academy  \n\tEric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tAiden Roberts, Hope, Phillips Exeter Academy  \n\tSierra Weston, Winthrop, Lawrence High School\nUnited States Air Force Academy  \n\tMia Ferrante, Buxton, Bonny Eagle High School  \n\tElizabeth Garver, Bailey Island, Mount Ararat High School  \n\tZach Grant, Brunswick, Brunswick High School  \n\tBrinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy  \n\tPatrick Hopkins, Winslow, Maine Maritime Academy, Winslow High School (prior)  \n\tJames Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),\u00a0  \n\tEric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy  \n\tRay Horne, Berwick, Noble High School  \n\tDerrick Littllefield, Casco, Marion Military Academy, Sewickley (PA) Academy (prior)  \n\tMarco Manfra, Scarborough, Scarborough High School  \n\tJames Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),\u00a0  \n\tEric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-flynn-guilty-plea-pingree-calls-potus-release-tax-returns", "Following Flynn Guilty Plea, Pingree Calls for POTUS to Release Tax Returns, Reiterates Call for Independent Investigation", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement after President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his connections to Russia:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWithin a year of taking office, four of President Trump\u2019s advisers have been criminally charged in the investigation into Russian election hacking. Earlier this year, when Michael Flynn resigned in disgrace I called for an independent, outside investigation into the President\u2019s ties to Russia. Now that Michael Flynn has plead guilty to lying to FBI officials, I am reissuing that call and calling on the President to finally release all of his tax returns. President Trump has done everything he can to undermine Mr. Mueller\u2019s investigation in the eyes of the public and mislead Americans about the severity of Russia\u2019s influence over his White House. As Republicans push a tax plan that will ensure a windfall for the wealthiest at the expense of middle-class Americans, it is imperative that the President finally disclose his personal finances and make clear if he has financial ties to Russia.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cultivating-community-receive-nearly-600000-federal-grant-train-new", "Cultivating Community to Receive Nearly $600,000 Federal Grant to Train New Farmers", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Pingree meeting\u00a0with veteran farmers earlier this year.\nPORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Portland-based Cultivating Community would receive a $597,252 grant from the USDA to train and help support the growth of New American and veteran farmers in Maine.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s been so exciting to see new groups of Mainers enter farming in recent years, thanks to organizations like Cultivating Community that have helped them get started and to grow their businesses. Agriculture has been especially beneficial in creating economic opportunities for Maine\u2019s New American and veteran populations,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThis grant will help keep up that momentum by building on recruitment, training, and assistance efforts that have already led to the creation of over 50 new farms. My sincere thanks to Cultivating Community and its partners for their work to diversify and strengthen Maine\u2019s farming economy.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cWe in Maine and New England need to produce more of our own food. It's what's right for our people and our land and it's an increasingly important economic driver for the region,\u201d said Cultivating Community Executive Director Craig Lapine. \u201cOur work generally and this project specifically is about making sure that all Maine people\u2014whether they're young or old, whether their families have been in the region three centuries or three years\u2014can have an impact and make a living through agriculture.\u201d\nThe USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) grant will be used to provide land access, new opportunities for product diversification and market access, and four levels of training to New American, veteran and other small-scale producers. Among other initiatives, the project will expand an existing gardener-to-farmer pipeline, provide intensive training to new farmers at varying levels of expertise, and work to address land access issues.\u00a0\nThis project builds on the success of existing training programs supported by BFRDP grants in 2014 and 2009 that have resulted in the creation of 52 new farm businesses to date. By project end, this BFRDP grant will result in the creation of another 30 new farm businesses, will provide intensive support to 12 new and beginning farmers, and will provide services to an additional 490 farmers and people exploring farming.\nCultivating Community\u2019s partners on the project are the Maine AgrAbility Program, the Somali Bantu Community Mutual Assistance Association of Lewiston-Auburn, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, Maine Farmland Trust, Community Financial Literacy, and Coastal Enterprises Inc.\u00a0\nPingree is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees funding for the USDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-pushes-bill-end-taxpayer-funded-secret-harassment-settlements", "Pingree Pushes Bill to End Taxpayer Funded Secret Harassment Settlements, Require Disclosure of Past Payments", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In light of revelations that Congress has spent $17 million in order to settle 260 harassment scandals since 1997, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has cosponsored legislation to eliminate this unethical hush fund and reveal details of past secret settlements.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cBuying silence with taxpayer money is flat-out corrupt. It\u2019s sad that we need an act of Congress to get to the bottom of these secret settlements and hold perpetrators accountable, but apparently that\u2019s what it takes,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThe bill I\u2019ve cosponsored would ensure taxpayers know how their money was spent and require those who used this hush fund to pay the public back with interest.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is one of 33 original cosponsors of the Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act, introduced by Representatives DeSantis, Blackburn, Cooper, Gabbard, and Rice. Pingree is also a cosponsor of Representative Speier\u2019s Me Too bill to reform the Office of Compliance and H. Res 630 to mandate anti-harassment training in Congress, which unanimously passed the House yesterday.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act would:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 prohibit the use of public funds to pay settlements or awards for sexual harassment or assault claims;  \n\t\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 disclose all payments previously made by the Office of Compliance on its website (the name of the victim is expressly prohibited from being disclosed);  \n\t\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 require perpetrators to reimburse the taxpayers with interest;  \n\t\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 prohibit nondisclosure agreements as a precondition to initiate procedures to address sexual harassment or assault claims; and  \n\t\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 permit victims of sexual harassment or assault to make public statements about their claim, regardless of any previously signed nondisclosure agreement.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSUMMARY OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND HUSH FUND ELIMINATION ACT  \n\tPROHIBITING USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY SETTLEMENT CLAIMS WHICH ARISE FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT  \n\tProhibits the use of public funds for settlements in connection with acts of sexual harassment or sexual assault. This prohibition covers the use of any funds from the Treasury, a House or Senate account, or any other account within the federal government. This prohibition becomes effective on the date of enactment.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tREPORT BY OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE  \n\tNo less than 30 days after enactment, the Office of Compliance shall make available to the public on its website a report on all payments with public funds prior to date of enactment. The report shall include: the amount paid for each settlement; the source of the public funds; and the identification of the employing office and the individual who committed the violation.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tREPAYMENT BY PERPETRATORS  \n\tEach individual who committed an act of sexual harassment or sexual assault and settled with public money at any time after the enactment after the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 shall make a payment to the Treasury equal to the amount of the award increased by an interest rate equal to the interest rate for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan on the date the settlement was paid.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPROHIBITING IMPOSITION OF NONDISCLSOURE AGREEMENTS AS A PREREQUISITE FOR PROCEDURES  \n\tProhibits the requirement of a nondisclosure agreement as a condition of initiation of any procedures addressing sexual harassment or sexual assault claims.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tTREATMENT OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS  \n\tAny individual who received an award or settlement prior to the date of enactment of this Act in connection with a violation of the Congressional Accountability Act which consisted of a sexual harassment or sexual assault claim and who signed a nondisclosure agreement may make public any information related to the award or settlement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-floor-pingree-shares-stories-mainers-who-would-be-harmed-gop-tax", "On House floor, Pingree Shares Stories of Mainers Who Would be Harmed by GOP Tax Plan", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) took to the House floor today to share stories of Mainers who would be hurt by the Republican tax plan.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  After meeting with a group of constituents, Pingree voted against the legislation when it came to a House vote two weeks ago. The Senate is currently considering its own version.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFull text of her remarks as drafted below.\u00a0\nMr. Speaker,\n\t\u00a0\n\tI recently sat down with Mainers who are terrified of the Republican tax plan.\n\t\u00a0\n\tIn tears, a high-school teacher listed the items she purchased for her students in need. Under this plan, she\u2019ll no longer be able to deduct them.\n\t\u00a0\n\tA cancer survivor told me she now writes off thousands of dollars of medical expenses every year. No more under the tax plan.\n\t\u00a0\n\tA recent college graduate wondered how difficult it would be to achieve his career goals while paying off his student loan debt without a deduction for the interest.\n\t\u00a0\n\tA dairy farmer talked about a tax exemption that has allowed farmers to have more control over their businesses by forming co-ops. That\u2019s gone under this GOP tax scam.\n\t\u00a0\n\tIn 10 years, one in five Mainers will pay more in federal taxes under this plan. Their sacrifices\u2014and our national debt\u2014will pay for generous benefits to massive corporations, foreign investors, and the wealthiest of the wealthy.\n\t\u00a0\n\tI urge my colleagues to withdraw this thinly veiled handout for the 1-percenters and bring forth tax reform that will actually benefit the middle class.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-backs-mandatory-harassment-training-says-not-enough-reform", "Pingree Backs Mandatory Harassment Training, Says Not Enough to Reform Culture of Secrecy & Predatory Behavior in Congress", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Following the unanimous passage of H. Res 630 mandating workforce harassment training in Congress, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement:\n\u201cAs women and minorities in the workforce have long known, harassment and discrimination are pervasive in every industry. This systemic abuse of power is deeply wrong and continues to go unchecked in professional environments where victims are disempowered. Until now Congress hasn\u2019t required even basic workforce harassment training to prevent a culture of secrecy and predatory behavior from running amok.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u201cI\u2019ve co-sponsored legislation to make training mandatory for members, staff and officers and voted in favor of H. Res 630 today because everyone deserves to be treated with dignity in the workforce. Making this training mandatory is an important first step in changing the culture of Congress, but we must also urgently reform the Office of Compliance so that accountability, transparency, and safety are upheld for every single person who works here. I urge Speaker Ryan to bring the bipartisan Me Too bill to the floor so we can begin reform a system that has for too long shielded the powerful from consequences.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/why-i-oppose-gop-tax-plan", "Why I Oppose the GOP Tax Plan", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The following is a piece distributed to local newspapers in November 2017\nEarlier this month, I sat down with a group of Mainers who would be negatively impacted by the House Republicans\u2019 tax plan. Among them were a teacher, a cancer survivor, a recent college graduate, and a dairy farmer, who all told me how the plan would hurt them and their families.\nIt was for them\u2014and thousands of other hard-working Mainers\u2014that I voted against the plan. I was incredibly disappointed to see it pass along party lines with the exception of a few Republicans who voted in opposition.\nTo be clear, I\u2019m not opposed to tax reform that streamlines filing, helps small businesses grow, and offers relief to working families. But this is not that kind of plan\u2014not by a long shot.\u00a0\nDespite what Republican leaders have said, this is not tax reform for the middle class. This is a giveaway to big corporations, foreign investors, and the wealthiest of the wealthy. If passed by the Senate and enacted, nearly half of the total cuts in this plan would go to the richest 1 percent of Americans.\u00a0\nAs tax cuts for the wealthy grow year by year, they will be reduced for the middle class. In 10 years, 90,000 Maine households earning less than $148,000 annually will actually pay more in federal taxes. Do you think this what tax reform should look like?\u00a0\nThe wealthy get a number of tax breaks in this plan like total repeal of the estate tax. Currently, this tax is charged only when an estate worth more than $5.5 million is inherited by an individual\u2014about 2 of every 1,000 estates.\u00a0\nThe plan also eliminates the alternative minimum tax, which currently ensures that millionaires and billionaires can\u2019t use creative accounting to pay next to nothing in taxes. President Trump\u2019s 2005 tax return, for instance, showed that he would have paid much less if it weren\u2019t for the alternative minimum tax. (Since we haven\u2019t seen his other tax returns, however, we don\u2019t know all the ways he\u2019ll benefit from this plan\u2014but he most certainly will.)\u00a0\nMeanwhile, Mainers will lose a number of important deductions that help them save on taxes. Teachers won\u2019t be able to deduct the hundreds of dollars they spend out-of-pocket on school supplies for their students. The sick, elderly, and disabled won\u2019t be able to claim thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Students struggling with mounting debt will have to pay taxes on their loan interest. And you will no longer be able to deduct your state income taxes and some property taxes\u2014which essentially amounts to a tax on taxes.\u00a0\nIn all this nickel and diming, the middle class will pay the brunt of benefits for the wealthy\u2014and so will our children. The unfunded bill adds $1.5 trillion to the national debt. Under budget sequestration rules, that could trigger automatic across-the-board cuts. This includes a $25 billion cut to Medicare, the health insurance program that most seniors rely on.\u00a0\nMore cuts could follow in future. Today, GOP leaders are paving the way to create this debt. Tomorrow, they\u2019ll be using it as an excuse to slash spending on programs important to Maine communities.\nHard-working Maine families deserve better than what this plan has to offer. It still has several steps until its final passage and I plan to fight it to the very end.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-against-house-republican-tax-plan", "Pingree Votes Against House Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement after the House voted to approve the Republican tax plan today. She voted against the bill after holding a roundtable earlier this week with Mainers who would be harmed under the plan.\u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m incredibly disappointed to see the House pass this bill. I support tax reform that helps our small businesses and working families, but this is not that kind of plan\u2014not by a long shot.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFor the wealthiest of the wealthy, the tax cuts under this bill get bigger and bigger every year, while they get smaller and smaller for everyone else. At the end of 10 years, many middle-class Mainers will actually be paying more in taxes. And for some, the harmful impacts will come immediately, in the form of repealing important deductions that help offer relief to graduates, teachers, those with high medical expenses, and many others.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAnd don\u2019t forget that this unfunded tax cut adds $1.5 trillion to the national debt\u2014which, under sequestration, would automatically trigger $25 billion in cuts to Medicare.\u00a0 Hard-working Maine families deserve much better than what this plan has to offer.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-will-vote-against-republican-tax-plan", "Pingree Will Vote Against Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-13", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014A cancer survivor, a school teacher, a recent college graduate and several others told Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) how the Republican tax plan would harm them during a roundtable she held today. At the event, Pingree announced that she would vote against the plan, which is expected to come for a vote in the House this week.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI think it will come as no surprise that I am opposed to the Republican bill and plan to vote no on it this week. There are a variety of reasons I am frustrated with this bill. Basically, it\u2019s going to be a giveaway to corporations and some of the wealthiest people in the country,\u201d Pingree said at the event. \u201cThey\u2019re dropping the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent, a $5 trillion benefit to some of the wealthiest people in the country. They\u2019re eliminating $3 trillion in tax cuts. And then they\u2019ll be adding $1 to $2 trillion to the deficit. That means they\u2019re going to come to us in no time and say that now we don\u2019t have enough money for Medicare or Medicaid.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAt the event, Sarah Austin, a policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy, offered an analysis of how the plan would impact real Mainers.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cSomething Republicans have been saying is that this bill is about is the middle class. When you look at the data, there\u2019s actually no way that is possible,\u201d Austin said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at a tax proposal where the top 1 percent get half of the benefit by 2027. Across the board, foreign investors will get more in tax breaks than the bottom 60 percent of Americans by income. So this is not America first, not for the middle class. It\u2019s structured in ways that are going to harm real people.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  Pingree then heard from several Mainers about tax deductions that are eliminated or reduced in the Republican plan.\n Jonathan Brown, a 2016 college grad who will use the student loan interest deduction in this tax year.\n\tSue Clifford, a breast cancer survivor from Freeport has relied on the medical expense deduction.\n\tJodie Hall, a local advocate for people with disabilities spoke to the medical expense deduction.\n\tSally Reagan, a teacher at Portland High School spoke about a deduction for the many classroom supplies she purchases out of pocket for her students.\u00a0\n\tBarbara Berry, a representative from the Maine Realtor Association discussed the mortgage deduction.\n\tNancy Smith, a representative from GrowSmart Maine discussed the Historic and Low-Income Housing tax deductions.\n\tBob Wellington, a representative from Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative who discussed the Section 199 Waiver for agriculture cooperatives in Maine.\u00a0\n  BACKGROUND \nUnder the Republican tax plan, millions of middle-class families \u2014 particularly those with children \u2014 would see an immediate tax increase, averaging about $2,000. By 2026, almost half of middle-class families would suffer a tax hike. In fact, a recent Tax Policy Center report found 38 million middle class households would face a tax hike under the Republican tax plan.  \n\t\u00a0  The proposed tax plan that may be voted on as early as Wednesday would harm middle-class families by:\n Eliminating Medical Expense Deduction \u2013 destroying a key deduction claimed by nearly 9 million American households, which helps families with children with disabilities, long-term care needs, a need for expensive fertility treatments, and many others.\n\tDismantling the State and Local Tax Deduction \u2013 imposing an unfair double tax on middle class families, driving down home values, and endangering local governments\u2019 ability to fund law enforcement, schools and health services.\u00a0\u00a0\n\tEliminating Student Loan Interest Deduction & Lifetime Learning Credits \u2013 destroying a key deduction for young graduates and workers getting the job training they need to succeed in the 21st century economy, while preserving special giveaways for the wealthiest.\u00a0\n\tImposing New Limits on Mortgage Interest Deduction \u2013 impacting the dream of homeownership in Maine.\n\tNo longer allowing teachers to deduct classroom school supplies, for which they spend $500 out of pocket on average.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-backs-bipartisan-bill-increase-federal-investment-rural", "Pingree Backs Bipartisan Bill to Increase Federal Investment in Rural Broadband", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has cosponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill to offer rural communities more federal investment to improve broadband Internet access and boost their economies.\n\u201cMaine ranks 49th out of 50 states when it comes to broadband access. Across the state, Internet speeds are well below the national average. In today\u2019s economy, where so much relies on technology, that\u2019s a serious handicap for our state,\u201d Congresswoman Pingree said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this legislation to help our rural communities access the technology they need to succeed in the 21st Century.\u201d\nThe Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program (B-CROP) Act would make grants available to rural areas, funding between 50 and 75 percent of a broadband project\u2019s cost. Grants would be combined with loans administered by the USDA\u2019s Rural Utilities Service\u2014the bill increases authorized funding for the agency\u2019s loan programs to $50 million annually.\u00a0 A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate. \u201cIn many areas, especially rural Maine, broadband is essential for communities to survive and thrive. Whether it\u2019s telemedicine, access to markets for small businesses, education for our children and adults, or just a chance to stay connected with family, quality high-speed broadband is an essential utility,\u201d said Peggy Schaffer of the Maine Broadband Coalition. \u201cWe are thrilled that Congresswoman Pingree recognizes this and has joined in this bipartisan effort to make sure rural Maine is not left behind.\u201d\n\u201cBroadband infrastructure is critical to the economic future of Maine\u2019s coastal communities. Having workable, high-quality Internet is essential for local businesses and will help attract young families,\u201d said Stephenie MacLagan, community broadband expert at the Island Institute in Rockland. \u201cThis legislation helps focus much deserved attention on the expansion of broadband in rural areas.\u00a0 21st Century high-speed internet is needed to serve all Maine communities well into the future.\u201d\n Maine Broadband Statistics\u00a0 \u00a0 \n A recent study by technology site Gizmodo found that Maine ranked ahead of only one state\u2014Montana\u2014for broadband speed and availability.\u00a0\n\tThe same study found that the majority of Maine counties offer top download speeds of 7.3 to 10.9 megabits per second (mpbs) compared to the national average of 18.2 mpbs. York, Cumberland, and Lincoln performed better\u2014with speeds of 10.9 to 14.6 mpbs\u2014but were still well under average.\u00a0\n\tBroadband speeds in Boston range from 21.8 to 25.5 mpbs.\u00a0\n  Pingree working to make Maine more competitive for federal broadband investments \nA member of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, Pingree is working in several ways to grow federal broadband investments and make them more accessible to Maine.\u00a0\nThese efforts have included:\u00a0\n Meeting with the Maine Broadband Coalition to gather input from stakeholders last April;\n\tWriting to President Trump asking him to include broadband in his infrastructure plan;\n\tCosponsoring the New Deal Rural Broadband Act, legislation that takes comprehensive steps to improve rural broadband access; and\n\tAsking the USDA to update an outdated definition of high-speed Internet that keeps many Maine communities from receiving funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-unanimously-passes-pingree-bill-assist-veterans-va-debt", "U.S. House Unanimously Passes Pingree Bill to Assist Veterans with VA Debt", "2017-11-08", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014The U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously\u00a0passed Congresswoman Chellie Pingree\u2019s (D-Maine) bill, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act. The legislation provides veterans with more timely and understandable notifications about possible debts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\u00a0\n\u201cThis bill offers a common sense fix to frustrations that veterans across the country have experienced with the VA\u2019s debt management system. \u00a0Veterans in Maine have called my office shocked to find out they owe the VA money,\u201d Pingree said during a floor speech before the vote. \u201cSome are confused by the letters they receive. \u00a0Others are told by the VA that they\u2019ve missed important deadlines to dispute, seek forgiveness, or create a payment plan for the alleged debt. Regardless of whether the debt is real or a mistake by the VA, we shouldn\u2019t make it so hard for veterans to know their rights and obligations.\u201d\nLast Thursday, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs\u00a0passed an amended version of Pingree\u2019s bill. In September,\u00a0Pingree testified before committee members\u00a0on her legislation.\nThe intention of the bill is to provide veterans with more timely and understandable notifications when they have a possible debt with the Department of Veterans Affairs for overpayment of benefits. Pingree\u2019s office has worked with multiple veterans who did not learn of their debt until it was too late for them to take action.\u00a0\nAs amended by the committee, the legislation directs the VA to:\u00a0\n1. Work with veterans service organizations to draft a plain language notification,\n2. Create a system for sending notifications electronically in combination with mail, and\u00a0\n3. Study the problem of veterans not receiving notifications and the costs of sending letters by certified mail.\u00a0\n Congresswoman Pingree\u2019s Floor statement on H.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act \nThank you for yielding the time.\nI rise in support of the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act. \u00a0This bill offers a common sense fix to frustrations that veterans across the country have experienced with the VA\u2019s debt management system.\nVeterans in Maine have called my office shocked to find out they owe the VA money. \u00a0Some are confused by the letters they receive. \u00a0Others are told by the VA that they\u2019ve missed important deadlines to dispute, seek forgiveness, or create a payment plan for the alleged debt.\u00a0\nRegardless of whether the debt is real or a mistake by the VA, we shouldn\u2019t make it so hard for veterans to know their rights and obligations.\nWe\u2019ve seen single mom veterans who can\u2019t get a home loan and newly transitioned service members who struggle to re-integrate with garnished pay, recouped tax returns and reduced disability payments, all because of assigned debts they knew nothing about after notifications got sent to the wrong place or \u201clost in the mail.\u201d\nIn response, H.R. 3705 directs the VA to work with veterans service organizations to develop standard notification letters that are written in plain language.\nIt also directs the VA to explore how to inform veterans of debts more quickly by sending notifications electronically in addition to standard mail.\u00a0\nAnd it requires the VA to study why so many veterans have not received notifications in the mail, as well as steps the VA can take to improve its address database and the costs using certified mail.\nI thank Chairmen Roe and Bost, and Ranking Members Walz and Esty for bringing this legislation to the House floor, and I urge its passage.\nThank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/keep-americas-waterfronts-working-act-statements-support", "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act Statements of Support", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Working waterfronts are an integral part of the nation's coastal and Great Lakes economy and culture. Working waterfronts face multiple challenges, including permanent conversion to non-water-dependent uses and storm damage to already compromised waterfront infrastructure. Businesses that depend on working waterfront, from commercial fishermen to tour boat operators to waterborne trade, need solutions to work with states and municipalities to protect and enhance these critical economic assets.\"  --Natalie Springuel, a founder of the National Working Waterfront Network and extension associate with Maine Sea Grant.\n\u201cAs a lobsterman working on the regional ocean planning process, I've always said that fishermen need two basic things; a healthy stock to fish on, and the ability to access that resource. That access begins in the harbor at the shoreline. Without places to work on, store, load and unload, their catch, gear and boats, fishing, as we know it in Maine, will cease to exist.\u201d  --Richard Nelson, Fishermen, Friendship, Maine.\n\u201cWorking waterfronts are an integral part of coastal economies. In Maine, tens of thousands of jobs are connected to working waterfronts. Federal efforts such as Congresswoman Pingree\u2019s Keep America\u2019s Working Waterfronts bill are so important to rural economic health. In Rockland Maine, for example, the Municipal Fish Pier has been an integral part of the midcoast working waterfront for many decades.\u00a0 It is one of a very few deep-water docks in the region where herring carriers and sein boats can land their catch, and this is vital to the entire Maine lobstering bait industry.\u00a0 Over 25 local lobstermen, scalloper draggers and islanders use this pier to land catch, take on supplies, and maintain their vessels.\u00a0 There are three buying stations on site. There also is a proposal to moor the only marine fuel delivery service vessels for the entire midcoast of Maine delivering vital fuel to local island communities for home heating and commercial vessels. The future of this pier depend depends on many resources, including those from the federal government. The current condition of the pier barely sustains operations.\u00a0 The pier fendering system, deck, and electrical systems are well beyond their expected service life and need to be replaced.\u00a0 Dredging is vital since even shallow draft lobster boats are unable to land their catch at lower tide conditions, drastically reducing production.\u00a0 Necessary improvements are estimated at least $1.4 million.\u00a0 Federal programs that recognize the economic benefits of working waterfronts, contribute to their continued health and bring resources together to address needs are important \u2013 both locally and to the regional industries that depend on them.\u201d  --Matt Ripley,Harbor Master for Rockland, Maine.\n\u00a0\u201c(Because of a state program for working waterfronts)\u00a0we were able to pay off our debt and keep from selling out. Second and maybe more important, a fishermen\u2019s Co-op was formed that not only includes three generations of my family using the wharf but also other local fishermen. We have paired with Luke\u2019s Lobster/Cape Seafood to form a vertically integrated entity. Our lobster not only supplies Luke\u2019s chain but also Whole Foods. Each year the coop members put on an island cleanup where we donate our time, boats, effort to pick trash from local islands. The coop has spawned Maine\u2019s only aquaculture Co-op with members into year two of scallop aquaculture. In a short period of time the WWF money has lead to more diversification for our fishermen and potentially the coast. This is a program that is a star in the state of Maine and I can only believe that a national program can shine just as brightly.\u201d  --Peter Miller, lobsterman/aquaculturist, Tenants Harbor, Maine\u00a0\n\"Fishermen depend on the working waterfront for their businesses to survive and as it disappears so does the soul of the communities that fishing has been a part of for generations. Protecting working waterfronts is the best way to support Maine fishermen who brave the stormy waters of the Gulf of Maine to bring us delicious and healthy seafood to enjoy.\"  --Maine Coast Fishermen Association\n\u201cWith a history of boatbuilding that spans more than 400 years in Maine, we are delighted to see that Rep. Pingree has continued her efforts to ensure the protection of working waterfronts for the businesses, people and communities whose livelihoods and economies are dependent on access to the water. The very real pressures of rising property rates, property taxes and the costs of regulatory compliance take their toll on the predominantly small business \u2013 for our members who are boatbuilders, marinas, repair facilities and others - who must operate at the water\u2019s edge. These entities can benefit from the relief that various components of H.R. 1176 offer and we are hopeful that this important legislation will pass. We also look forward to being part of the solution by working with federal, state, and local governments and other partners to provide a brighter future for Maine\u2019s working waterfronts.\u201d\u00a0  --Susan Swanton, Executive Director, Maine Marine Trades Association", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-committee-approves-pingree-initiative-help-veterans-debt-va", "House Committee Approves Pingree Initiative to Help Veterans in Debt to VA", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014The House Committee on Veterans Affairs today passed an amended version of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree\u2019s legislation\u2014H.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act\u2014to help veterans who have a debt with the Department of Veteran Affairs. The bill could come to the House floor as soon as next week.\n\u201cToo many veterans don\u2019t learn about their possible debts with the VA until it\u2019s too late for them to take action. That\u2019s simply unacceptable, especially in light of the commonsense changes that can be made to make sure veterans are properly notified,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cToday\u2019s vote is an important first step in addressing this problem, giving clear and timely information to veterans about their rights and steps they can take to resolve their debt. I\u2019m pleased that this bipartisan effort will move forward.\u201d\u00a0\nCongresswoman Pingree testified at a September 13 Veterans Committee hearing in support of her bill. Video of her testimony can be seen here.The Committee held an oversight hearing on October 25 on the underlying issue of VA overpayments.\u00a0\u00a0\nPingree\u2019s bill originated from assisting veteran constituents who only learned about their debt with the VA once their benefits had been withheld or loans rejected. Having never received notifications about their debt with the VA, they missed deadlines to appeal the debt, apply for a waiver, or set up a payment plan.\u00a0 Sent by standard mail, notifications had gone to outdated addresses or ones where veterans had never lived at all.\nThe Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act Pingree introduced would require the VA to send these notifications by certified mail\u2014ensuring that their receipt is confirmed\u2014as well as to use plain language.\u00a0\nAs amended by the committee, the bill wouldn\u2019t require the VA to use certified mail, but it does take several other steps to ensure more timely and understandable notifications:\u00a0\n Directs the VA to work with veterans service organizations to come up with a standard letter with plain language to explain why the veteran owes the debt and what his/or her options are to challenge or seek forgiveness or a payment plan.\u00a0\n\tDirects the VA to develop a method of informing veterans of the option of receiving such notices by electronic means in addition to standard mail.\n\tRequires the VA to perform a study on (a) the scope of the problem of veterans not receiving notices in the mail, (b) steps the VA can take to improve its address database, and (c) the cost estimate of sending notifications by certified mail.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-15-million-usda-investment-energy-improvements-maine-s", "Pingree Announces $1.5 million USDA Investment for Energy Improvements in Maines Fox Islands", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the Fox Islands Electric Co-Op in Vinalhaven and North Haven, Maine, would receive a $1,579,000 loan from USDA Rural Development to make electrical system improvements.\u00a0\n\u201cMost people probably don\u2019t realize that many of Maine\u2019s year-round island communities actually run their own electrical systems. Upkeeping those systems can be costly and, when taken with some of the highest electricity rates in the country, can be tough for these small, hard-working communities to handle,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cI\u2019m so glad that USDA Rural Development is investing in the Fox Islands Electric Co-Op to make these critical improvements financially possible.\u201d\u00a0\nAccording to USDA Rural Development, funds will be used to improve 5 miles of line and make other system improvements.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe Fox Islands Electric Cooperative is owned by the Maine island communities of Vinalhaven and North Haven, where Congresswoman Pingree is a resident. The electrical energy for the islands' grid is partly purchased from the mainland through our submarine cable, but most of it is generated on Vinalhaven by a community-owned wind farm. The cooperative has approximately 1,950 members.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-pingree-testifies-hearing-her-bipartisan-bill-preserve-working", "VIDEO: Pingree Testifies at Hearing on Her Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Working Waterfronts", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) advocated today for increased federal resources to help states preserve their working waterfronts at a hearing on her bipartisan bill, HR 1176, the Keep America\u2019s Waterfronts Working Act. The hearing was held by the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.\u00a0\n\u201cThe men and women who work on the waterfront want to stay there. These are their communities and their work. Unfortunately, waterfront access is quickly disappearing under pressure from incompatible development. It truly puts our communities and their economies at risk,\u201d Congresswoman Pingree testified. \u201cThe federal government should be supporting this work (of preserving working waterfronts) with the same dedication that we have at the state level.\u00a0 Not duplicating efforts, but maximizing dollars, bringing in more resources, and making sure that the goals and plans that communities create can be brought to life.\u201d\n  \n\tFull\u00a0text of Pingree\u2019s testimony is below.\u00a0\nAt Pingree\u2019s invitation, Rob Snyder, President of the Rockland-based Island Institute, testified before the committee in support of the bill.\u00a0\nA number of other local organizations submitted testimony. (Three quotes are below but more are available here.)\n\u201cWith a history of boatbuilding that spans more than 400 years in Maine, we are delighted to see that Rep. Pingree has continued her efforts to ensure the protection of working waterfronts for the businesses, people and communities whose livelihoods and economies are dependent on access to the water,\u201d said Susan Swanton, Executive Director, Maine Marine Trades Association.\u00a0\n\u201cIn Maine, tens of thousands of jobs are connected to working waterfronts. Federal efforts such as Congresswoman Pingree\u2019s Keep America\u2019s Working Waterfronts bill are so important to rural economic health,\u201d said Matt Ripley, Harbor Master for Rockland, Maine.\n\u201cAs a lobsterman working on the regional ocean planning process, I've always said that fishermen need two basic things; a healthy stock to fish on, and the ability to access that resource. That access begins in the harbor at the shoreline. Without places to work on, store, load and unload, their catch, gear and boats, fishing, as we know it in Maine, will cease to exist,\u201d said Richard Nelson, a fisherman from Friendship, Maine.\n About the Keep America\u2019s Waterfronts Working Act \nEarlier this year, Pingree introduced HR 1176, the Keep America\u2019s Waterfronts Working Act with Republican Congressman Rob Wittman of Virginia.\u00a0\nThe bill would establish a Working Waterfront Grant Program to provide matching, competitive grants to coastal states.\u00a0 These grants would help to preserve and expand access to coastal waters for commercial fishing, recreational guiding, aquaculture, boat building, and other water-dependent businesses.\nThe bill would also create a Working Waterfront Task Force at the Department of the Interior.\u00a0 The task force would identify and prioritize critical working waterfront needs with respect to their cultural and economic importance, climate change and other environmental threats, and market conditions for water-dependent businesses.\u00a0\nWorking waterfronts support thousands of Maine jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. But due to development pressures, they have been reduced to just 20 miles of Maine\u2019s coastline, which, depending on how it\u2019s measured, is up to 5,300 miles long.\u00a0\nPingree has long advocated for federal resources to help Maine communities preserve and expand shoreline access and infrastructure for water-dependent industries, such as fishing, boat building, and aquaculture.\u00a0\n Pingree\u2019s Full Testimony \nThe Honorable Chellie Pingree  \n\tU.S. House of Representatives  \n\t1st District of Maine\u00a0  \n\tTestimony on H.R. 1766 Keep America\u2019s Waterfront Working Act\u00a0  \n\tBefore the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee\u00a0  \n\tNovember 2, 2017\nThank you, Chairman Lamborn and Ranking Member Huffman, for allowing me to testify today about the Keep America\u2019s Waterfronts Working Act and the issue of working waterfronts generally.\u00a0 This is an important issue that I have been working on since coming to Congress. And I am eager to talk about it, and call attention to it whenever I can.\nThis Subcommittee knows well the importance of supporting our coastal communities.\u00a0 You hear on a regular basis, from constituents from across the country who make their living on the water.\u00a0 Whether they are boatbuilders from the West Coast, or recreational fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico, or commercial fishermen in the Gulf of Maine,\u00a0 the refrain is the same\u2026that our water dependent businesses along our coasts need help in preserving and protecting vital waterfront access.\u00a0\nI have a short one minute video that is actually produced by the Island Institute in my state, and that you will hear from in a later panel, to explain a little bit more about what a Working Waterfront is and what it means in Maine.\nCould the clerk please start the video, and I thank the Chair and the staff for their indulgence in allowing it.\nSo, as you can see, the men and women who work on the waterfront want to STAY there\u2026these are their communities and their work.\nUnfortunately, waterfront access is quickly disappearing under pressure from incompatible development.\u00a0 Our fishermen already have concerns about changes in the Oceans, storm surge OR migration patterns in fish, OR changes in their lobstertraps..things they have never seen before in their traps.\u00a0 But when you add to these issues, the loss of access, it truly puts our communities, and their economies at risk.\nAccording to the National Working Waterfront Network, in 2009 when they compiled their statistics on the footprint of Working Waterfronts they found that these communities support over 3.4 percent of the country\u2019s total GDP. They also found that they support almost 5% of total US employment.\nFor Maine specifically, we rely on our hardworking fishermen and lobstermen. Our commercial fishery is part of our core.\u00a0 In 2016, Maine\u2019s fishing industry topped $700 million in overall value, including a dockside value for the lobster fishery of $533 million.\nBoatbuilding is one of the state\u2019s oldest industries, and we have nearly 80 boat builders employing nearly 1400 workers, with wages totaling about $59 million.\n\tMaine\u2019s aquaculture sector has a direct economic impact of $73.4 million in output, and over 550 jobs. This is an industry that has tripled in the past 10 years.\nTo support these industries, we need to do more.\u00a0 At the State level in Maine we have a Maine Working Waterfront Access Protection Program, and although this program is wonderful, it\u2019s not enough.\u00a0\nFor example, there are 22 working waterfront projects in Maine funded by the program and there are new applications coming due to the demand.\u00a0\nThe Federal government should be supporting this work with the same dedication that we have at the state level in some states\u2026not duplicating efforts but maximizing dollars, bringing in more resources and making sure that the goals and plans that communities create can be brought to life.\nThe grant program created by this bill is voluntary and it allows states to decide if they want to participate in it. The working waterfront plans allow each state, rather than Congress or the Federal government to say what kinds of working waterfronts are most important to that state.\u00a0\nThe federal government should support states in these efforts and encourage states to consider the importance of supporting working waterfront infrastructure while recognizing that each state has different needs.\nSeeing these needs, I have worked with my colleagues in the past Congresses and have been proud to work with Congressman Wittman of Virginia, to raise this issue and make sure that we call attention to Working Waterfronts with some concrete steps.\nThe bipartisan bill before us today would establish a working waterfront grants program and, it would create a working waterfronts task force that would identify crucial needs and bring various federal agencies to the table on this issue.\nI know that NOAA already does great work in this area and also that they have the authority under the CZMA to address this effort . What our bill would do, is make sure we dedicate resources for this specific work.\nBeyond this bill, there is more to be done and I have been working on another piece of legislation that is still in discussion draft stages to address if we can additionally support coastal communities through changes to the Magnuson Stevens Act.\u00a0\nWe need to look at various ways to help coastal areas and that is why I am so grateful for this hearing today. I would welcome an opportunity for the subcommittee to move the bill if possible.\nIn closing, I would like to read a quote from one of my constituents about the need for this work.\nThis statement is from a fisherman from Friendship Maine, a community of about 1100.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cAs a lobsterman working on the regional ocean planning process, I've always said that fishermen need two basic things; a healthy stock to fish on, and the ability to access that resource. That access begins in the harbor at the shoreline. Without places to work on, store, load and unload, their catch, gear and boats, fishing, as we know it in Maine, will cease to exist.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/psa-pingree-reminds-mainers-aca-open-enrollment-begins-tomorrow", "In PSA, Pingree Reminds Mainers ACA Open Enrollment Begins Tomorrow", "2017-10-31", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Since mid-September Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has been getting the word out about the 2018 Open Enrollment to purchase coverage on the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace with a public service announcement running on three local television stations\u2014WPXT-TV (The CW), WPME-TV (MyTV), and ME-TV (Memorable Entertainment). Pingree recorded the PSA, which will run until the close of Open Enrollment on December 15, to remind Mainers that they only have 45 days to sign up this year, and make up for the Trump Administration\u2019s lack of ACA outreach.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn contrast to President Obama\u2019s extensive ACA outreach over the past five years, the Trump Administration has decided to shut down Healthcare.gov during peak hours of Open Enrollment, cut the window of time to sign up for coverage in half, and not to advertise for the brief 45-day window when Americans must purchase health insurance.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cDespite the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to suppress enrollment in the Marketplace, Mainers need to know they have options to shop for and enroll in coverage beginning tomorrow, November 1,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cWith many plan changes this year, it\u2019s really important that Mainers explore Healthcare.gov before December 15.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  Transcript of PSA:\nHello, I\u2019m Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.\n\t\u00a0\n\tThe Affordable Care Act has helped thousands of Mainers purchase the health insurance they need\u2014and I want to make sure you can, too.\n\t\u00a0\n\tFor 2018 coverage, you have from November 1 to December 15 to sign up or change plans. It is important to shop for the insurance that is best for you as there have been a number of plan changes. Most Mainers qualify for subsidies to lower their premiums. So visit www.healthcare.gov to learn about your coverage options or to identify where to get local assistance and begin enrolling on November 1.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-indictment-trump-advisers", "Statement on Indictment of Trump Advisers", "2017-10-30", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014After special prosecutor, Robert Mueller, issued criminal indictments for two of President Trump\u2019s campaign advisers, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, as well as a plea deal for George Papadopoulos, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement:\n\u201cA special prosecutor and congressional inquiries have revealed criminal actions by Trump\u2019s advisers, but preserving democracy requires full transparency. After Michael Flynn resigned in February, I called for an outside, independent investigation into Russian interference in last year\u2019s election. We should not be in a position where President Trump can undermine those charged with uncovering the truth about Russian interference in our elections.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-selected-serve-board-advising-national-endowment-arts", "Pingree Selected to Serve on Board Advising National Endowment for the Arts", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Pingree with NEA Chairman Jane Chu at a 2015\u00a0event in Portland.\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has been selected as an ex-officio member of the National Council on the Arts, which advises the National Endowment for the Arts on its grant programs and other priorities. She will participate in her first meeting with the council later today.\u00a0\n\u201cThe National Endowment for the Arts plays a pivotal role in supporting the arts and creative economy in Maine. It\u2019s an honor to help advance the NEA\u2019s work through the National Council on the Arts,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThe public investments we make in the arts are important not just for our culture, but for jobs and the economy. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I\u2019ve been proud to advocate for that funding and tout what it\u2019s made in possible in Maine\u2014from arts exhibitions in Rockland to film festivals in Waterville. I\u2019m excited to use my experience as a Member of Congress to help strengthen the NEA\u2019s efforts however I can.\u201d\nPingree is one of two non-voting Members of Congress currently serving on the council\u2014the other is Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).\u00a0\nThe major areas in which the Council advises the agency and its Chairman are:\n\u2022 Applications for Federal grant funds recommended by advisory panels;  \n\t\u2022 Guidelines outlining funding categories, objectives, and eligibility;  \n\t\u2022 Leadership initiatives and partnership agreements with other agencies;  \n\t\u2022 Agency budget levels, allocations, and funding priorities;  \n\t\u2022 Policy directions involving Congressional legislation and other issues of importance to the arts nationally; and  \n\t\u2022 Recommending individuals and organizations to receive the National Medal of Arts\n Pingree\u2014Dedicated Advocate for the Arts \nPingree has long been recognized as an advocate for the arts in Maine and the NEA. She has hosted the last two NEA Chairmen\u2014Rocco Landesman and Jane Chu\u2014on visits to Maine to see NEA funds in action.\u00a0\nAs a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the NEA, she worked with colleagues to protect funding for the agency that had been zeroed out in President Trump\u2019s budget proposal.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-against-tax-cuts-billionaires-adding-15-trillion-national", "Pingree Votes Against Tax Cuts for Billionaires & Adding $1.5 Trillion to National Debt", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) voted against a disastrous Republican budget proposal that was rammed through the U.S. House without a conference committee. Pingree issued the following statement following the vote:\n\"By fast-tracking this budget, Republicans are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of working families. This budget is a tax giveaway to those who already have plenty at the expense of those who are struggling to make ends meet. Not only will this Republican budget add $1.5 trillion to our national deficit, it will cut billions from Medicare, infrastructure projects, Pell Grants, Head Start, low-income heating assistance, and NIH research in order to give the wealthiest Americans massive tax cuts. Republicans always claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility, but raiding essential services and adding more than a trillion dollars to our national debt is flat out irresponsible. I am disappointed by this process and voting no on this reckless budget.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-receives-leadership-award-james-beard-foundation", "Pingree Receives Leadership Award from James Beard Foundation", "2017-10-24", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NEW YORK CITY\u2014At an awards dinner last night, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) received a 2017 Leadership Award from the James Beard Foundation for her work on national food system reform.\u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply honored to receive a James Beard Leadership Award and indebted to everyone I\u2019ve learned from and worked with through the years to strengthen the nation\u2019s food system,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cWe\u2019ve had some important victories, but there is still much to do to ensure that every American can access healthy, sustainable food no matter their zip code and that our farmers and fishermen have the resources they need to produce it. With this award comes a great responsibility to keep pushing toward those goals by using my experience as a farmer and advocate to help shape food and agriculture policy in Congress.\u201d\u00a0\nPingree was introduced at the dinner by John Piotti, former executive director of Maine Farmland Trust who now leads American Farmland Trust. Her children\u2014Asa, Cecily and Hannah Pingree\u2014also attended the event (photo attached).\nVIDEO: The James Beard Foundation produced a video tribute to Pingree available at https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/2017-leadership-award-winner-chellie-pingree?\nVIDEO: Earlier in the day, Pingree gave a presentation at the JBF Food Summit on how consumers are influencing food policy decisions in Washington. A video of her remarks is online at https://livestream.com/jamesbeardfoundation/foodsummit2017/videos/164857805\nThe James Beard Leadership Award recognizes visionaries across a broad range of backgrounds who influence how, why, and what we eat. \u00a0Recipients are chosen by previous honorees, which include former First Lady Michelle Obama, Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, and Eliot Coleman.\u00a0\nPingree is a longtime organic farmer who has made food system reform a priority in Congress. The last reauthorization of the Farm Bill contained numerous provisions she introduced to increase investments for local farmers and broaden access to healthy, sustainable food. In the current session of Congress, she has introduced three pieces of legislation to influence the upcoming authorization of the Farm Bill: The Local FARMS Act, the Organic Agriculture Research Act, and the Food Recovery Act. Information and updates on all three bills are available at www.pingree.house.gov/food.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/trump-administrations-withdraws-new-protections-american-farmers", "Trump Administrations Withdraws New Protections for American Farmers", "2017-10-17", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement today on the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to withdraw the USDA\u2019s Farmer Fair Practice Rules, which would have helped level the playing field between contract poultry farmers and the large processors they contract with.\u00a0\n\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s decision to withdraw these long-awaited and much-needed protections for American farmers is extremely disappointing but not surprising. From big banks to fossil-fuel giants, the Trump Administration has consistently put the interests of the largest corporations before those of hard-working Americans. \u00a0Now, you can add the handful of meat and poultry processors that dominate the market to that list. \u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019ve sat down to talk with contract poultry farmers about the terrible conditions they work under. Their lopsided contracts with giant processors have put their families into poverty or caused them to lose their homes. They can\u2019t even speak out without fear retribution from these companies.\u00a0\n\u201cAfter nearly 10 years of delay, these rules were finally going to help restore a more level playing field for farmers. It\u2019s terrible that the Trump Administration would yank them back just as farmers could see light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d\u00a0\nOn the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Congresswoman Pingree has actively fought against appropriations amendments that blocked the USDA from writing the rules for years. She helped defeat such an amendment last year, which allowed the Obama Administration to finally release the rules in December 2016. The Trump Administration quickly moved to delay their implementation before deciding this week to withdraw them totally.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-calls-va-uphold-core-mission-delivering-quality-care-veterans", "Pingree Calls on VA to Uphold Core Mission of Delivering Quality Care to Veterans With Accountability", "2017-10-13", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on the recent report detailing malpractice at VA facilities:\n\u201cI was deeply concerned to hear from leadership at Togus that our state\u2019s veterans had received substandard care and a formal investigation was underway. This is an inexcusable situation\u2014one that has again raised alarm bells about the quality of care at VA health facilities and eroded trust in the VA\u2019s mission of \u2018caring for those who have borne the battle.\u2019\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tIt is long past time for the VA to uphold their purported mission of delivering quality health care with accountability.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tOur veterans deserve the best. Whether in Maine or at VA hospitals across the nation, these failures in oversight and accountability cannot stand and I will work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that this does not happen again.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-supports-house-disaster-relief-package-blasts-trump-threatening", "Pingree Supports House Disaster Relief Package, Blasts Trump for Threatening to Abandon Puerto Rico", "2017-10-12", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today voted in support of a $36.5 billion House package to provide disaster relief to communities affected by recent hurricanes and wildfires, while criticizing President Trump for his tweets on Puerto Rico.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWhether it\u2019s because of wildfires in California, or hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico, Americans who are suffering in the wake of these horrific disasters need to know that we will not leave them behind,\u201d Pingree said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m glad to support this relief package to make sure these communities have the resources they need right now.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  The relief package contained:\u00a0\n $18.67 billion for FEMA\u2019s Disaster Relief Fund\u00a0\n\t$16 billion for cancellation of debt incurred by the National Flood Insurance Program\u00a0\n\t$1.27 billion for disaster nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).\n\t$576.5 million for wildland fire suppression, including:\n\t\t$184.5 million for the U.S. Forest Service for firefighting operations;\u00a0\n\t\t\t$342 million for the FLAME Wildfire Suppression Reserve Fund and to replenish Department of Agriculture accounts from which funding had been transferred to meet urgent firefighting obligations;\n\t\t\t$50 million for wildland suppression at the Department of the Interior and to repay transfers needed for these costs.\n\t\t\n Pingree went on to criticize President Trump, who earlier today threatened to pull federal disaster responders out of Puerto Rico though the U.S. territory is still under dire circumstances.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cPresident Trump still doesn\u2019t get it. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens who deserve all the resources they need to recover and rebuild\u2014they don\u2019t need him to pour salt in their wounds,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cOur country\u2019s responsibility is to provide aid to Puerto Rico as long as it\u2019s needed to save lives and get the island back in working order.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-trump-executive-order-undermine-health-care-mainers", "Statement on Trump Executive Order to Undermine Health Care for Mainers", "2017-10-12", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order that will spike premiums for Mainers with pre-existing conditions and push individuals toward health insurance plans without consumer protections:\n\"The Executive Order signed today by President Trump is the equivalent of giving a backpack without a parachute to someone jumping from an airplane. Health insurance is useless if it doesn\u2019t cover your health care needs, but this Executive Order opens the door to the bare bones plans that were insufficient for so many before the Affordable Care Act was passed. It\u2019s yet another attempt by the Trump Administration to sabotage and undermine the Affordable Care Act, despite the unprecedented level of support shown by Americans who want to preserve its fundamental consumer protections.\"\n\t\u00a0\n\t\"We need to focus on what\u2019s important \u2013 making sure that this year\u2019s open enrollment is successful and that Mainers have the information and support they need to make coverage decisions for themselves and their families.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-passing-former-maine-state-legislator-ed-mazurek", "Statement on the Passing of Former Maine State Legislator Ed Mazurek", "2017-10-06", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) issued the following statement on the passing of Ed Mazurek of Rockland, ME.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cEd was so devoted to his family, his community, and his state. His tireless leadership and fierce advocacy will be impossible to replace. I know Ed will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and so many others who had the pleasure of knowing him as I did.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEd Mazurek moved to Rockland in 1975, where he and his wife Mary Ellen continued their careers and raised their three children. A Xavier graduate, he was drafted by the NFL\u2019s Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals, and finished his career with the New York Giants. After his football career, Ed went on to coach football and softball and teach social studies for 35 years. After he retired from coaching and teaching, Ed ran successfully for the Rockland City Council (serving as Mayor twice), the Maine State House of Representatives, and the Maine State Senate. He declined to seek re-election in 2014.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-more-1-million-federal-funding-support-maine-local", "Pingree Announces More than $1 Million in Federal Funding to Support Maine Local Food Economy", "2017-10-05", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today announced over $1 million in USDA funding to support a number of local food projects throughout Maine, including a $500,000 award to build up Greater Portland\u2019s food processing infrastructure.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cIncreasing the production and consumption of local food represents a fantastic opportunity for Maine jobs and businesses,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cFrom boosting local food processing in Greater Portland to marketing locally caught seafood, these federal investments will be terrific assets to building Maine\u2019s food-based economy.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I\u2019ve advocated so hard for these kinds of investments in Washington and am actively working to strengthen them.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\nYesterday, Pingree introduced the bipartisan Local FARMS Act to help producers meet the growing demand for local products and increase consumer access to healthy, local food. Senator Sherrod Brown introduced companion legislation in the Senate.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe Greater Portland Council of Governments is receiving a $500,000 USDA Local Food Promotion Grant for its project, \u201cScaling for Growth in the Portland Foodshed\u201d to address a lack of food processing infrastructure and an inefficient distribution network.\u00a0 The project will add processing capacity, reduce food waste by finding inefficiencies, and increase local food purchasing among retailers and institutions by $7.5 million.\n\u00a0\nThe Gulf of Maine Research Institute will receive a $99,473 Local Food Promotion Program Grant to work with New England fishermen to address marketing local seafood to local markets.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cWe are thrilled to begin working with regional fishermen to address the barriers preventing them from marketing their catch to local restaurants, retailers, and institutions,\u201d said Kyle Foley, Sustainable Seafood Program Manager at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, this is an exciting sign that the USDA recognizes seafood is an important part of our regional food system, which is great for both fishermen and consumers.\u201d\n\u00a0\nCoastal Enterprises Inc. will receive a $36,637 USDA Rural Development Rural Microentrepreneur Grant to help microenterprises startup and grow in\nrural parts of the state.\n\u00a0\nThe Maine Department of Agriculture is also receiving $530,367 in Specialty Crop Block Grants to support a number of projects.\n\u00a0\n\u2022 A marketing campaign by the Maine Landscape and Nursery to support Maine\u2019s Nursery and Landscape Specialty Crop industry.\n\u00a0\n\u2022 A marketing plan by the Maine Maple Producers Association to promote the growing state maple industry and increase retail sales by at least 10%.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u2022 Research by the Maine Potato Board to improve Maine potato yields through crop rotation.\n\u00a0\n\u2022 A project at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension to develop soil and climate-based phosphorus recommendations for the purpose of improving nutrient use efficiency and reducing grower\u2019s input cost and environmental issues.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u2022 A partnership between the Maine Agricultural & Forest Experiment Station and University of Maine Cooperative Extension to address microbial quality and safety of Maine maple syrup.\n\u00a0\n\u2022 A project at the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine to optimize inputs for wild blueberry weed and implement disease integrated management for Maine\u2019s 510 wild blueberry growers with 44,000 acres of commercial production.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u2022 AgMatters LLC will provide Maine Specialty Crop Growers assistance as they prepare for the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act\u2019s Produce Safety Rule.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-pingree-leads-bipartisan-local-farms-act", "Congresswoman Pingree leads bipartisan \"Local FARMS Act\"", "2017-10-04", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) introduced HR 3941, the Local Food And Regional Market Supply Act (Local FARMS Act).\u00a0 The Local FARMS Act builds on the success of local and regional food economies by helping farmers tap into growing markets and helping consumers access healthy food. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.\n\u00a0\nAmong other provisions, the legislation would consolidate and streamline a number of federal local food programs; help farmers implement food safety practices; create a new food-as-medicine pilot program to support fruit and vegetable prescriptions for low-income individuals; expand the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program to include veterans; and provide schools more resources to purchase food locally. Bill details and statements of support are available at pingree.house.gov/localfarmsact.\n\u00a0\n\u201cMore and more consumers want to know where their food comes from, who grew it, and how it was produced. This growing demand has been a game changer in Maine and around the country, increasing sales of local food and providing a bright spot for U.S. agriculture,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. \u201cIt\u2019s been exciting to see the impact this growth has had on local economies, but imagine what the effect would be if our country invested in it the way we should or if more Americans could access it. I\u2019m proud to introduce the bipartisan Local FARMS Act so our farmers can take full advantage of the opportunities in the local food movement and so more consumers can reap its benefits as well.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe Local FARMS Act is another creative way in which federal policy can expand the agricultural family, helping reconnect the local farm to the local community and the urban to the rural, with the added benefit of reinvigorating localized economies,\u201d said Representative Jeff Fortenberry, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help initiate this effort in the United States Congress as a part of the upcoming Farm Bill discussion and see it as highly impactful to farmers and families, and the growing awareness as to how nutritious food is integral to better health outcomes.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis bill is the real deal\u2014it\u2019ll do wonders for our rural farm economies while providing more opportunities to feed America\u2014it\u2019s a win for everyone,\u201d said Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture. \u201cTalk to any farmer and they\u2019ll tell you how hard it is to get their food directly to customers\u2014this will smooth some of those roadblocks, reduce the headaches for farmers, and make it easier for folks to get their hands on clean, locally grown food.\u201d\n\u00a0\nFarmers selling local food through direct marketing channels have seen an incredible growth in economic opportunities. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 160,000 U.S. farmers sold $8.7 billions of local food to directly to consumers, retailers, institutions and local distributors in 2015\u2014$3 billion directly to consumers, $2.4 billion to retailers, and $3.4 billion to institutions and businesses that market locally branded products. Of those producers, 81 percent sold all their food within 100 miles of the farm.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nIn rural communities, boosting local and regional food markets can have a significant impact on local economies and help keep rural families on the farm.\u00a0 \u00a0Direct marketing channels also serve as an important entry point for new farmers who are breaking into the industry for the first time.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nInvesting in local food markets would offer consumers more choices while helping farms diversify their incomes to become more sustainable.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nNational organizations supporting the bill include the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Farmers Union, American Farmland Trust, National Young Farmers Coalition, Food Corps, Wholesome Wave, Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy at Columbia University, Self-Help Credit Union and Affiliates.\n\u00a0\n HR 3941, the Local FARMS Act would: \n\u2022 Consolidate key programs into the Agricultural Market Development Program, which would be a one-stop shop for farmers and other supply chain participants to expand local food market opportunities;\n\u2022 Address veterans' hunger by expanding eligibility for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to all veterans;\n\u2022 Provide resources to farmers for food safety certification and equipment upgrade expenses;\n\u2022 Promote local food procurement and education in schools;\n\u2022 Ensure USDA grants and loans can be used to support local livestock, dairy and poultry processing infrastructure;\n\u2022 Help domestic organic farmers meet the growing demand for organic food by continuing the organic cost-share program; and\n\u2022 Connect food and medicine through a pilot program that would provide produce prescriptions to low-income individuals.\n\u00a0\nBefore the 2014 Farm Bill, Congresswoman Pingree and Senator Brown introduced the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act (LFFJA).\u00a0 Over half of the provisions in LFFJA were signed into the law under the legislation. It is critical that the next farm bill continues to invest in programs that will help farmers and communities tap into the growing demand for locally produced American food.\n\u00a0\nA longtime organic farmer herself, Congresswoman Pingree has been an advocate in Congress for reforming federal policy to better support the diverse range of American agriculture\u2014including sustainable, organic, and locally focused farming. Pingree currently sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-says-enough-enough-after-mass-shooting-las-vegas", "Pingree Says \"Enough is Enough\" After Mass Shooting in Las Vegas", "2017-10-02", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on the mass shooting in Las Vegas that has claimed 58 lives and injured more than 500.\nToday, America woke to the deadliest mass shooting in modern history. The fear, sadness, and heartbreak felt in Las Vegas reverberates in our communities and leaves us wondering how we could allow this to happen once again. The 58 dead and more than 500 injured deserve more than our sympathies and sentiments\u2014they deserve to know their lives and losses prevented another tragedy.\n\t\u00a0\n\tLast June, in the wake of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, House Democrats demanded action on common-sense gun legislation. I sat with my Democratic colleagues on the floor of the U.S. House and said no one else should die at the hands of a reckless gunman because of Congressional inaction. Republicans blocked our effort and never allowed for debate on the bill. More than a year later, the nation is reeling from the most devastating mass shooting in modern history with no sign of a safer tomorrow.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tFour out of five Americans support universal background checks, so why won't Congress listen to their constituents and pass a bill to prevent weapons from getting into the hands of irresponsible gun owners once again? Recently, House Republicans have pushed to take up bills that would reduce restrictions on silencers and allow greater access to armor piercing bullets. Not only are these bills completely out-of-touch, they would make it more difficult to know where gunshots are being fired and put law enforcement officers in danger.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tEnough is enough.\n\t\u00a0\n\tUnless Congress stands on the side of public safety to pass common-sense gun legislation now, what happened in Las Vegas today could happen anywhere in America tomorrow. I urge Speaker Ryan to allow a vote on legislation that would help prevent future mass shootings immediately.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-passing-farm-table-pioneer-gus-schumacher", "Pingree Statement on Passing of Farm-to-Table Pioneer Gus Schumacher", "2017-09-28", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement on the passing of Gus Schumacher, a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement and dedicated advocate for helping low-income families access healthy, local food.\u00a0\n\u201cI will dearly miss Gus, who was a good friend and a trusted partner in our shared work to reform the food system. He was one of the first to connect local farmers to local chefs in New England, which has fundamentally changed our restaurants. But he also made sure that fresh, local food was available to all, not just a few. As co-founder of Wholesome Wave, he was an effective advocate for giving low-income families more buying power to purchase fresh food. And you don\u2019t have to look very far at USDA to see the profound impact he had on federal farm and nutrition programs as an undersecretary. His legacy will live on, showing just how dedicated, creative, and successful Gus was in championing a better food system.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/senators-collins-king-and-representative-pingree-announce-agreement", "Senators Collins, King and Representative Pingree Announce Agreement Between BIW, Navy to Build Two New Destroyers", "2017-09-28", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Collins, King and Representative Pingree Announce Agreement Between BIW, Navy to Build Two New Destroyers  \n\t  \n\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that the U.S. Navy awarded contracts to Bath Iron Works to build two new DDG-51 destroyers.  \n\tThe first ship will be in the Flight IIA configuration, and the second will be in the Flight III configuration. The Flight III ship will incorporate the SPY-6 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and upgrade the electrical power and cooling capacity plus additional associated changes.\nThese contracts to construct two new DDG-51 class destroyers in Bath demonstrates the Navy's commitment to BIW and its confidence in the highly skilled, hard-working employees at the shipyard. There is no workforce in the world better positioned to build these ships, said Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree in a joint statement. As the workhorses of the Navy, destroyers' ability to deliver capability and presence has been demonstrated many times over. These ships will strengthen our naval fleet and allow the Navy to promote stability and security in the face of proliferating threats around the globe.\nAs a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured the $433 million in additional DDG-51 funding in the Defense Appropriations bill that became law in May 2017. The funding builds on the $1 billion Senator Collins secured toward the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer in 2015. One of the ship contracts awarded today to BIW is a direct result of that funding. The additional destroyer was included on the Navy's list of unmet requirements.\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King worked to authorize more than $5.62 billion for the Navy destroyer programs in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including more than $5 billion for the procurement of three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers in fiscal year 2018 that Bath Iron Works can compete to build. He also helped secure authorization of $90.5 million for the continued production of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, all of which are built at Bath. The Senate passed the 2018 NDAA earlier in September by a vote of 89-8.\nAs a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Pingree has worked with her colleagues over the past several years to advocate for the funding for the DDG-51 class destroyer program in the House passed bills. In particular, she has educated her House colleagues about the importance of accepting the funding included by Maine's Senators in the Senate FY16 bill to provide an additional DDG-51 destroyer. She was successful in her efforts in June of this year to secure language in the FY18 Department of Defense Appropriations bill to clarify the intent of the Congress on the construction of the additional DDG-51.\nBecause the Navy expects to release a competitive solicitation for additional DDG 51 class ships in the Flight III configuration in future years, the contract award amount is considered source selection sensitive information and is not being made public at this time.\nAt present, the Navy has 280 deployable battle force ships, well short of the new goal set by the Navy in December for 355 ships.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-welcomes-454000-federal-grant-create-maine-mass-timber", "Pingree Welcomes $454,000 Federal Grant to Create Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center", "2017-09-27", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today welcomed news of a major federal grant from the Economic Development Administration to create the Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center at the University of Maine.\u00a0\n\u201cThe first step to revitalizing Maine\u2019s critical forest products industry\u2014and bringing back the jobs it has supported for generations\u2014is finding and commercializing new innovations for those products. The University of Maine has done fantastic work in this regard, notably in mass timber products that can compete with concrete and steel in building practices,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cWith our natural resources and hard-working labor force, Maine is in a great position to capitalize on that potential. I\u2019m excited to see what developments come out of the Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center and have been proud to work with Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation to help bring federal resources to help write the next chapter of Maine\u2019s forest products industry.\u201d\nMass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber, have the increased strength needed to build taller, multi-story buildings than with conventional lumber.\u00a0\nThe Economic Development Administration i6 grant is for $454,532. According to the EDA, \u201cThis EDA investment funds the creation of the Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center, based at the University of Maine. The Center will team up with industrial partners, trade organizations, construction firms, architects, and other stakeholders in the region to revitalize and diversify Maine\u2019s forest-based economy by bringing innovative mass timber manufacturing to the State of Maine. The emergence of this new innovation based industry cluster will result in positive economic impacts to both local and regional economies, particularly in Maine\u2019s rural communities.\u201d\nPingree has worked work with the rest of Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation to bring an Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) to Maine to study ways to revitalize the state's forest products economy and bring federal resources to implement the team\u2019s recommendations. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and has worked with her colleagues on fully funding the Forest Service budget and the EDA.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-anthem-s-departure-maine-s-aca-marketplace", "Statement on Anthems Departure from Maines ACA Marketplace", "2017-09-27", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement regarding Anthem Blue Cross\u2019s decision to leave Maine\u2019s ACA marketplace:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m deeply disappointed by Anthem Blue Cross\u2019s choice not to participate in our state's health insurance marketplace, which will eliminate coverage options for tens of thousands of Mainers.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAnthem was clear that the Trump Administration\u2019s lack of commitment to market stability and lack of clarity about future decision-making made participation too difficult. From putting cost-sharing reductions in limbo, to shortening the 2018 open enrollment period and slashing the advertising budget, to planning to shut down Healthcare.gov during peak hours, the Trump Administration has chosen to undermine our current health care system and Mainers will be harmed.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI have long advocated for Congress to pass bipartisan fixes to the Affordable Care Act. Instead, Republican leadership has spent the year pushing disastrous ACA repeal plans that would throw millions off of health insurance. We now see that inaction in Congress along with the extreme actions of the Trump Administration have resulted in fewer options for Mainers instead of more affordable, quality health care. It\u2019s time Congress came together to pass legislation to support the individual marketplace.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/urging-trump-administration-send-more-military-assets-address", "Urging Trump Administration to Send More Military Assets to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands", "2017-09-27", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Responding to the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) co-authored a letter with 144 of her Congressional colleagues calling on President Trump to dramatically increase the amount of military assets on the ground in the U.S. Territories.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cRight now the number of people in Puerto Rico who are without access to drinkable water is greater than the entire population of Maine. The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that demands greater military support,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) \u201cIt\u2019s incumbent on President Trump to put more military resources into action to help our citizens and bring order to the devastation that\u2019s occurred on American soil. Meanwhile, I urge Republican leadership to bring a hurricane relief package to a vote so that these areas can begin to rebuild just as Houston and Florida have.\"  \n\t\u00a0  Pingree\u2019s full letter is available here.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tText of the letter is as follows:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSeptember 26, 2017  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPresident Donald J. Trump  \n\t1600 Pennsylvania Avenue  \n\tWashington, DC 20500  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDear President Trump:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tOn September 20th, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands endured a direct impact from Hurricane Maria. \u00a0With winds up to 160 mph, Hurricane Maria devastated these islands, caused significant power outages, destroyed telecommunications infrastructure, and thereby paralyzed region. Given the impact of the damage and the population of 3.6 million American citizens affected, we are concerned that federal efforts to date have been insufficient to address the severity of the situation. We know there are DOD elements helping today, and all the service members involved are working very hard, but we are concerned that the scale of DOD assets supporting the operation are inadequate. \u00a0Thus, we write to urge you to further mobilize the Department of Defense to immediately deploy additional assets in support of Puerto Rican and U.S. Virgin Island recovery efforts.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAs you know, the Department of Defense has additional capabilities that could help alleviate suffering in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and prevent this catastrophe from worsening. First and foremost, a senior general officer must be appointed to work with FEMA to manage a joint response assist with the recovery effort on the ground, and enable local constituencies to have a single point of contact. This was done in response to Hurricane Katrina, and we feel the same approach is warranted now for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAs we are sure you are aware, in Puerto Rico, there are numerous municipalities that are inaccessible from the ground, which is where DOD engineer and aviation assets would be most helpful. With millions of U.S. citizens stranded in remote areas without basic necessities, engineers are needed first to clear the roads. \u00a0Additional aviation assets are needed to get relief supplies to isolated locations. Additionally, substantial ground and air logistics support is required to get aid to the island, rescue stranded citizens, and provide them with supplies and thereafter assist with the restoration of power and telecommunications infrastructure if needed. To fulfill DOD\u2019s mission, we believe the aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, should be sent to Puerto Rico, similar to its deployment to Miami following Hurricane Irma.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDHS has indicated it has \u201cprovided more than 1.5 million meals, 1.1 million liters of water, nearly 300 infant and toddler kits, and nearly 12,000 emergency roofing kits to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria\u2019s landfall.\u201d \u00a0 While these meals and resources are profoundly needed, unfortunately, there is a large portion of the population that has been underserved.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLastly, the Department has critical resources that could assist with addressing security issues. \u00a0We have heard reports that the ongoing supply shortages are causing looting and crime. We were recently informed of armed gangs ransacking a warehouse that distributes food and supplies. \u00a0Defense Department personnel could provide essential support to local law enforcement in both Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to ensure relief supplies are delivered to those most in need\u2013 and that those that have already been immensely devastated by the hurricane, do not need to fear for their lives when filling up their gas at the pump or securing food for their family.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. \u00a0Please feel free to contact our staffs with any questions.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe look forward to your timely response.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-poliquin-introduce-house-resolution-recognize-today-national", "Pingree, Poliquin Introduce House Resolution To Recognize Today as National Lobster Day", "2017-09-25", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Maine Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin have introduced a resolution in the House to recognize today, September 25, 2017, as National Lobster Day. The resolution is a companion to one passed in the Senate after being introduced by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King.\n\u201cMaine\u2019s Congressional Delegation has been united in supporting and promoting our state\u2019s lobster industry. I\u2019m proud to work with Representative Poliquin to support those efforts in the House by recognizing today as National Lobster Day,\u201d Pingree said. \u201cLobsters form the economic backbone of Maine\u2019s coastline, thanks to the hard work of the fishermen who catch them and everyone else who supports them. But more than that, lobsters are a part of Maine\u2019s identity\u2014millions come to our state to eat the best lobster in the world. And we want to keep it that way by spreading the word.\u201d\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobster industry, and the more than 10,000 jobs it supports statewide, is one of the most important parts of our State\u2019s history, economy and culture,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation in recognizing the significance the lobster trade has for our State and continuing to work together to ensure that the industry continues to thrive for generations to come.\u201d\nText of the resolution is below:\u00a0\nRESOLUTION  \n\tDesignating September 25, 2017, as \u2018\u2018National Lobster Day\u2019\u2019.\nWhereas the American lobster is recognized around the world as a prized and flavorful culinary delicacy;\nWhereas lobster fishing has served as an economic engine and family tradition in the United States for centuries;\nWhereas thousands of families in the United States make their livelihoods from lobster fishing and processing;\nWhereas, with approximately 150,000,000 pounds of lobster landed each year in the United States, at an annual value of more than $500,000,000, lobster represents one of the most valuable catches in the United States;\nWhereas foreign markets for lobster from the United States are booming, with export values having nearly tripled since 2005;\nWhereas historical lore notes that lobster likely joined turkey on the table at the very first Thanksgiving feast in 1621;\nWhereas responsible lobstering practices beginning in the 1600s have created one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world;\nWhereas 2017 marks the 145th anniversary of lobster conservation efforts in the United States, starting with a Maine law banning the harvest of egg-bearing females;\nWhereas, throughout history, United States Presidents have served lobster at their inaugural celebrations and state dinners with international leaders;\nWhereas lobster is an excellent, versatile source of lean protein that is low in saturated fat and high in vitamin B12;\nWhereas the peak of the lobstering season in the United States occurs in the late summer;\nWhereas the preservation and long distance transportation of lobster meat was first achieved 175 years ago with the advent of a canning process;\nWhereas lobster has become a culinary icon, with the lobster roll featured at the 2015 World Food Expo in Milan, Italy; and\nWhereas lobster is enjoyed at casual beach-side lobster boils and also revered as a delicacy at fine dining restaurants:\u00a0\nNow, therefore, be it  \n\tResolved, That the U.S. House of Representatives\u2014  \n\t(1) designates September 25, 2017, as \u2018\u2018National Lobster Day\u2019\u2019; and  \n\t(2) encourages the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-produces-open-enrollment-psa-pushes-back-trump-administration-s", "Pingree Produces Open Enrollment PSA, Pushes Back on Trump Administrations Effort to Sabotage Affordable Care Act", "2017-09-25", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014In response to the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to shut down Healthcare.gov during peak hours of Open Enrollment and not to advertise for the brief 90-day window when Americans must purchase health insurance, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is doing her part to ensure Mainers know Open Enrollment begins on November 1st. Pingree recorded a 30-second public service announcement which will run on WPXT-TV (The CW), WPME-TV (MyTV), and ME-TV (Memorable Entertainment) from now until the close of 2018 Open Enrollment on December 15th.  \n\t\u00a0  \n  Transcript of PSA:  \n\t\u00a0  Hello, I\u2019m Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.\n\t\u00a0\n\tThe Affordable Care Act has helped thousands of Mainers purchase the health insurance they need\u2014and I want to make sure you can, too.\n\t\u00a0\n\tFor 2018 coverage, you have from November 1st to December 15th to sign up or change plans. It is important to shop for the insurance that is best for you as there have been a number of plan changes. Most Mainers qualify for subsidies to lower their premiums. So visit www.healthcare.gov to learn about your coverage options or to identify where to get local assistance and begin enrolling on November 1st.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/katahdin-woods-and-waters-recommendations-create-uncertainty-region", "Katahdin Woods and Waters Recommendations Create Uncertainty for Region", "2017-09-18", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on a leaked report from the Department of Interior concerning the future of recently designated National Monuments, including the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.\u00a0\n\u201cThe lack of transparency in this entire review process has been extremely concerning\u2014even more so now that Interior Secretary Zinke\u2019s report comes out three weeks after it was sent to the President and only after being leaked.\u00a0\n\u201cThe recommendation of opening Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument to active timber management creates confusion and unnecessary uncertainty. The National Park Service already has the authority to manage the forest for the resource\u2019s health, so this report raises questions about what it really opens the door for. Economic investments are being made in the region right now because the monument is drawing visitors to experience this incredible natural environment. It\u2019s foolish to endanger that momentum by leaving unanswered questions about how it will be managed in the future.\n\u201cAs a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, my concerns also extend to the other monuments specified for changes. It seems that the Administration has decided to put a greater priority on exploiting the natural resources of these special places rather than protecting them for the future.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/usda-s-office-inspector-general-s-report-recommends-changes-protect", "USDAs Office of Inspector Generals Report Recommends Changes to Protect Integrity of Organic Imports", "2017-09-18", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), a member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on a report the Office of Inspector General released today on organic integrity.\u00a0During appropriations hearings earlier this year, Congresswoman Pingree questioned Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong about the integrity of organic imports.\n\u201cIntegrity is the cornerstone of the organic label. Organic farmers in my district and across the country deserve a fair playing field when it comes to the enforcement of organic standards. \u00a0I\u2019m very concerned by the loopholes USDA Office of Inspector General\u2019s found in the verification and inspection process that have allowed non-organic food from other countries to be sold as organic in the U.S. The recommendations in this audit provide a good road map for addressing these concerns and strengthening the integrity of organic imports. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Committee on Appropriations to ensure that USDA has the resources it needs to accomplish the recommendations outlined in the report.\"\nPingree is a longtime certified organic farmer in Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-welcomes-pelosi-schumer-trump-agreement-daca", "Pingree Welcomes Pelosi-Schumer-Trump Agreement on DACA", "2017-09-14", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) welcomed news that Democratic leadership in the U.S. House and Senate had reached tentative agreement with President Trump to provide a path to legalization for young immigrants known as \u201cdreamers.\u201d She also praised President Trump\u2019s reported decision to separate a solution on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program from his request for billions of dollars for an ineffective Mexican border wall. Pingree said of the agreement:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to see President Trump working with Democratic leadership to ensure tens of thousands of young DREAMers are not deported to countries completely unknown to them. I hope he follows through on this promise. For the 800,000 Americans\u2014including nearly 100 Mainers\u2014enrolled in DACA, America is where they\u2019ve build roots as neighbors, business owners, colleagues, and obviously taxpayers,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. \u201cThe economic loss of deporting tens of thousands of DREAMers is nothing short of devastating, but the message it would send about America\u2019s values is even more damaging. America is a nation made up immigrants and very few of us can trace our ancestry directly to this land. That\u2019s why I am a proud co-sponsor of the DREAM Act and urge my House colleagues to swiftly approve this bill.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree continued, \u201cAs a member of the House Appropriations Committee, we\u2019ve seen Draconian budget cuts requested from the Trump Administration. In the face of cuts to low-income heating for seniors and Meals on Wheels, it was completely absurd for the President to request billions of dollars for a border wall that would do nothing to address our nation\u2019s immigration challenges. I am pleased to see President Trump appears to be backing away from this ridiculous request and acknowledging that a DACA fix can be done separately, which will increase the chances of accomplishing thoughtful immigration reform.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act (H.R. 3440). A copy of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-testifies-hearing-her-legislation-assist-veterans-va-debt", "Pingree Testifies at Hearing on Her Legislation to Assist Veterans with VA Debt", "2017-09-13", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) testified today at a hearing of the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs in support of H.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act. The legislation she\u2019s introduced assists veterans who find themselves with debts to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWe\u2019ve seen single mom veterans who can\u2019t get a home loan and newly transitioned service members who struggle to re-integrate with garnished pay, recouped tax returns and reduced disability payments, all because of assigned debts they knew nothing about because something got \u2018lost in the mail,\u2019\u201d Pingree told the committee in her testimony. \u201cH.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, proposes a straightforward solution. \u00a0It requires the VA to modify its regulations so that debt notifications are sent by certified mail. \u00a0Thus, the VA would know that the veteran has actually received the letter.\u201d\u00a0\nFull text of her testimony is below.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSeveral national veteran service organizations submitted testimony to the committee in support of the bill, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDuring her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pingree has been contacted by many veteran constituents who\u2019ve been surprised to find out that they owe the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) money for overpayment of benefits.\u00a0\nOften, these veterans only learn about the debt when their benefits are withheld. Having never received a prior notification, they miss deadlines for appealing the debt, setting up a payment plan, or applying for a waiver. The shock of learning that they owe money when they can no longer do anything to address it adds undue stress to veterans who may be dealing with service-connected disabilities and challenges, such as homelessness.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEven when some veterans have sent a timely response, the VA has said they did not receive it. One reason is that the VA does not send notifications via certified mail, meaning that it can\u2019t confirm whether they have a veteran\u2019s correct address and a veteran can\u2019t be sure of whether their response was received.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree\u2019s bill, H.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, would do two things to remedy the situation\u2014requiring the VA to 1) used certified mail for these kinds of notifications and 2) use plain language so veterans can clearly understand their rights in these situations.\n Pingree\u2019s Testimony Text \nChairman Bost, Ranking Member Esty, thank you for the opportunity to testify on the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act. \u00a0I believe this bill offers a common sense fix to frustrations that some veterans in my district have shared with me, which I know veterans across the country have also experienced.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tMy district office has been contacted by veterans who are shocked and surprised to learn that they owe money to the VA -- for overpayment of benefits or some other reason -- months or even years after the debts were incurred. \u00a0By the time they inquire, they are told by the VA: tough luck, the clock has run out. \u00a0You\u2019ve lost the ability to dispute, seek forgiveness, or create a payment plan for the alleged debt. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe\u2019ve seen single mom veterans who can\u2019t get a home loan and newly transitioned service members who struggle to re-integrate with garnished pay, recouped tax returns and reduced disability payments, all because of assigned debts they knew nothing about because something got \u201clost in the mail.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCurrent VA regulations provide that such debtors are notified by \u201cordinary mail,\u201d which is deemed to provide a \u201csufficient\u201d notification to a veteran of an outstanding debt and what his or her rights of redress are. \u00a0The problem is that people move and mail can get lost. \u00a0This is a particular challenge for homeless vets or those without fixed address. \u00a0At times the error is on the VA side. \u00a0Our caseworkers have uncovered instances where the VA sent mailings to addresses in states where the veteran has never lived.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tH.R. 3705, the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act, proposes a straightforward solution. \u00a0It requires the VA to modify its regulations so that debt notifications are sent by certified mail. \u00a0Thus, the VA would know that the veteran has actually received the letter. \u00a0 Likewise, it directs the VA to request that veterans seeking waivers use certified mail, so a veteran knows that the VA has received his or her response. \u00a0We have heard from veterans who have submitted waivers, tried to create payment plans or tried to dispute the charges within the allotted time period, only to be told by the VA that the office never received their materials.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tLastly, the bill requires the VA to use plain language in how it communicates to a veteran about his or her debts and the rights to challenge it or seek accomodations. \u00a0A veteran shouldn\u2019t have to rely on a Congressional caseworker to interpret the VA\u2019s bureaucrat-ese.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI urge the Committee to approve the Veterans Fair Debt Notice Act to promote accountability, consumer protection, efficiencies in the VA system, and fairness to our veterans who deserve peace of mind.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFinally, I appreciate the support of this legislation from veterans service organizations, who can attest to the frustrations that their members have experienced.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThank you.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-16th-anniversary-911-attacks", "Statement on 16th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks", "2017-09-11", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement today on the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMay we never forget the 3,000 people who lost their lives in the terrible and senseless attacks on 9/11. They included beloved friends and family members, devoted community members, and heroes who spent the last moments of their lives saving others. On that fateful day, we all held our heads in our hands over their tragic loss\u201416 years later, we continue to do so. I hope we will all take a moment today to honor their lives as well as the first responders and service members who made incredible sacrifices in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-hurricane-relief-continuing-appropriations-and-debt-limit", "House Passes Hurricane Relief, Continuing Appropriations, and Debt Limit Package", "2017-09-08", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) voted in support of a legislative package today containing hurricane relief funding as well as a three-month extension of the debt limit and continuing appropriations. She released the following statement on the legislation.\n\u00a0\n\u201cToday\u2019s bipartisan vote lets Americans whose communities are being ravaged by hurricanes know that we have their backs and that relief is on the way. It also gives Congress the next three months to work on reaching a budget deal that hopefully will be better for the country than the crippling package of cuts and policy riders the House has been debating this week. \u00a0I hope this bipartisan momentum carries over to writing DACA into law so hard-working young DREAMers can stay in the only country they\u2019ve ever known and continue making valuable contributions to our communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-poliquin-successfully-add-amendment-house-spending-bill-remove", "Pingree, Poliquin Successfully Add Amendment To Remove Regulatory Burdens on Maine Sea Urchin and Sea Cucumber Businesses", "2017-09-07", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a win for Maine\u2019s sea urchin and sea cucumber harvesting industry and businesses, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin had their bipartisan amendment, the Poliquin Amendment, included into one of the major spending bills being considered by the House.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe amendment, which is similar to the representatives\u2019 bipartisan bill introduced earlier this year, will make it easier for Maine seafood dealers to export sea urchins and sea cucumbers outside of the United States. This amendment puts an end to repetitive, mandatory inspections of urchins and sea cucumbers being exported from the country, which are causing the highly perishable product to be held in warehouses for prolonged periods and spoiling.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSince the 1980s, certain shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, urchins and cucumbers, have been exempt from certain inspections. In 2011, Federal officials started requiring inspections of sea urchins and sea cucumbers entering and leaving the United States. Federal officials claimed that technically urchins are echinoderms instead of shellfish.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThis amendment is a huge victory for hundreds of hardworking Mainers who dive for, harvest and process urchins and cucumbers. We must continue to ensure the federal government is there to help\u2014not hurt\u2014our jobs, local businesses and communities in Maine,\u201d said Representatives Poliquin and Pingree of their legislation. \u201cIt is time to revise burdensome regulations in order to support the more than 650 Maine jobs in our State\u2019s urchin and cucumber industry.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe representatives have long fought for the easing of these duplicative regulatory burdens. Earlier this year, the two reintroduced their bipartisan bill to remove the regulations. Last Congress, the Maine representatives\u2019 bill passed the House and the Senate with bipartisan support. The two also testified before the House Natural Resources Committee during a hearing held at the request of Poliquin.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThis year, Representative Poliquin also sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke asking him to review and consider removing certain trade restrictions administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services that force the repetitive, mandatory inspections.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-submits-bipartisan-amicus-brief-supreme-court-calling-end", "Pingree Submits Bipartisan Amicus Brief To Supreme Court Calling For End to Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering", "2017-09-06", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined dozens of current and former Members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court regarding a pending case before the High Court that could stop the undemocratic partisan gerrymandering of political districts.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cGovernment accountability is only possible when every vote counts. The integrity of our democracy relies on the ability of all voters to be heard, counted, and represented,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of the amicus brief filed on Monday night. \u201cI am proud to work across the aisle with so many current and former members of Congress, including Maine\u2019s own Senator Snowe, to stop gerrymandering.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0\u00a0  \n\t\u201cExtreme partisan gerrymandering harms our political system, and harms the functioning of the House in particular,\u201d wrote the Members in the brief. \u201cExtreme partisan gerrymandering is undemocratic, and cannot be reconciled with the Framers\u2019 idea of a House of Representatives that would be directly accountable to the People through competitive and broad-based elections. Partisan gerrymandering makes it more difficult for Members to do the one job voters expect above all: delivering results for their constituents.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe case before the Court, Gill v. Whitford, involves a group of Wisconsin voters who in 2015 challenged the Wisconsin state legislature\u2019s 2011 redistricting map in federal court as an excessively partisan gerrymander barred by the Constitution. A lower court ruling last year found the map violated both the Constitution\u2019s Equal Protection Clause and the plaintiffs\u2019 First Amendment freedom of association. This fall, the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the appeal to the lower court ruling.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn the brief, the Members point out that the Supreme Court explained in 2015: \u201c[T]he core principle of republican government [is] that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.\u201d When legislators\u2019 draw districts that ignore traditional criteria such as representational fairness, natural geography, and cohesive communities of interest, in favor of pure partisan gain, the brief explains, that \u201ccore principle\u201d is violated.  \n\t\u00a0  To read the full brief, click here.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe full list of signers to the amicus brief:\u00a0  \n\tRep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.)  \n\tRep. Don Beyer (D-Va.)  \n\tRep. Rod Blum (R-Iowa)  \n\tRep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)  \n\tRep. Brendan Boyle (D-Penn.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Rod Chandler (R-Wash.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. William Clinger (R-Penn.)  \n\tRep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.)  \n\tRep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.)  \n\tRep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.)  \n\tRep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.)  \n\tRep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.)  \n\tRep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.)  \n\tRep. Raul M. Grijalva (D. Az.)  \n\tRep. Andy Harris (R-Md.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. David Jolly (R-Fla.)  \n\tRep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.)  \n\tRep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio)  \n\tRep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.)  \n\tRep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.)  \n\tRep. John Larson (D-Conn.)  \n\tRep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Cal.)  \n\tRep. Beto O\u2019Rourke (D-Tex.)  \n\tRep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.)  \n\tRep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.)  \n\tRep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)  \n\tRep. David Price (D-N.C.)  \n\tRep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)  \n\tRep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Claudine Schneider (R-R.I.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)  \n\tRep. Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.)  \n\tRep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.)  \n\tFmr. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.)", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-votes-provide-aid-victims-hurricane-harvey", "Pingree Votes to Provide Aid to Victims of Hurricane Harvey", "2017-09-06", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted in support of a $7.8 billion supplemental appropriations bill which will provide disaster relief to devastated areas in Texas and Louisiana. Under the FY17 Supplemental Appropriations bill approved by the House, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will receive $7.4 Billion and the Small Business Administration will receive $450 million to support residents impacted by last week\u2019s hurricane.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cOver the past week, strangers have stepped up to help one another in the face of this natural disaster, and I am grateful that today the House has put politics aside to do the same. This spending allocation marks the beginning of a long road to recovery for residents of Texas and Louisiana,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. \u201cCongress must continue to monitor the needs of the people impacted by Hurricane Harvey and work to ease the burden of rebuilding their communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/portland-shipyard-receives-nearly-1-million-federal-grant-replace-aging", "Portland Shipyard Receives Nearly $1 Million Federal Grant to Replace Aging Boat Lift", "2017-09-06", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) announced today that Portland Ship Yard would receive a $990,500 federal Small Shipyard Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Funds will be used to replace an aging boat lift that has hindered the shipyard\u2019s ability to serve Casco Bay\u2019s commercial fleet.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAnyone who makes their living on the water knows that a day without an operational boat means a day of losing money. With so many commercial vessels in Casco Bay, the local economy depends on having a place like Portland Ship Yard to get boats back on the water as quickly as possible,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cWith frequent needs for repairs, the shipyard\u2019s aging lift created many delays and other challenges. This federal investment will enable Portland Shipyard to replace a piece of equipment that is essential to keeping our commercial fleet up and running.\u201d\nAccording to the U.S. DOT\u2019s Maritime Administration, the Small Shipyard Grant Program provides grants for capital and related improvements to qualified shipyard facilities to fostering efficiency, competitive operations, and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPortland Shipyard serves a bustling port with a healthy commercial fishing fleet, public agency vessels, such as fireboats and pilot boats, and ferries serving rural islands throughout Casco Bay. Its aging mobile boat hoist, however, has challenged operations. Portland Shipyard\u2019s current mobile boat hoist has sustained down time on at least 225 days since the beginning of 2014. Safety concerns also have made the current lift practically unusable for all but the lightest vessels, as heavier vessels challenge the limits of the aging machine\u2019s capabilities.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe grant will replace the lift with a new 330-ton mobile boat hoist.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-trump-administrations-decision-end-deferred-action-childhood", "Statement on Trump Administration's Decision to End Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) Program", "2017-09-05", "2017", "2017-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program within six months:\n\u201cYet again President Trump has created a crisis that Congress must solve. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker Ryan, urged the President not to walk away from our promise to DREAMers, and now we must work together in order to clean up the mess he\u2019s made. Putting the futures of 800,000 young people enrolled in DACA into limbo is irresponsible and inhumane. Nearly one hundred Maine residents will be immediately impacted by President Trump\u2019s decision to deport young people who grew up here and are contributing members of our communities, and countless more minors will be forced into the shadows because DHS will no longer accept new DACA applications. Not only is it cruel to deport people to a country they wouldn\u2019t even recognize, it would be a major disruption to our economy. I hope the House will act swiftly to pass legislation to give DREAMers a pathway to remain in the only country they\u2019ve ever known.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/secretary-zinke-s-decides-preserve-katahdin-woods-waters-monument", "Secretary Zinkes Decides to Preserve Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument", "2017-08-24", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE \u2013 Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement in response to Secretary Zinke\u2019s executive summary report recommending that Maine\u2019s Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument be protected:\n\u201cWhile I look forward to reviewing the full details of Secretary Zinke's report and assessing its impact on Maine, I am encouraged that he has recommended Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument be preserved.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"One year ago this week, Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument welcomed its first visitors. Within twelve months, these visitors have breathed new life into the region. Businesses have grown, tourism has prospered, and people have experienced even more of Maine\u2019s natural, uninterrupted beauty. When President Trump tasked Secretary Zinke with reviewing Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument, I invited him to visit the site and see for himself how it has transformed the area. He took a canoe ride and met with locals. He heard for himself how many hours of public deliberation went into the establishment of the Monument and how important it had become to the local community. I applaud Secretary Zinke\u2019s deliberative study of the Monument, his recommendation to protect it, and look forward to learning more of the details of his report. I hope President Trump will act on Secretary Zinke\u2019s recommendation to protect all of our beautiful national monuments.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-new-england-congressional-leaders-call-usda-provide-relief-dairy", "Pingree, New England Congressional Leaders Call on USDA to Provide Relief to Dairy Farmers", "2017-08-23", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and more than two dozen federal lawmakers from across New England sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting that dairy milk be designated as an agricultural commodity eligible for Federal Crop Insurance and that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to develop additional insurance products for dairy farmers. \u00a0\nFarm milk prices have dropped almost 40% in the last few years, and dairy farmers in New England are struggling to bring in the revenues they need to stay afloat. Pingree has been outspoken in urging the USDA to provide emergency assistance to dairy farmers and to take greater action to support New England dairy producers.\nThe New England Congressional leaders\u2014including Maine\u2019s entire federal delegation\u2014wrote:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDear Secretary Perdue:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe write today to urge the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use its existing authority to provide relief to dairy farmers in New England and across the country. Specifically, we request you take necessary steps to make milk an agricultural commodity eligible for Federal Crop Insurance and ask that you work with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to develop additional insurance products for dairy farmers.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhile New England dairy farms tend to be smaller, our dairy community is doing its best to run productive operations that turn a profit. New England\u2019s nearly 1,500 dairy farms are almost all family owned and operated. These dairy farms produced 4.25 billion pounds of milk in 2016, an increase of 68 million pounds from 2014. \u00a0Despite this growth and efficiency, dairy farmers have had to cope with double-digit price declines year over year since 2014. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThese struggles are amplified by ongoing difficulties with the Margin Protection Program (MPP) and a lack of other risk management options. In 2015, over 700 New England farms enrolled in MPP buy-up coverage. The program\u2019s failure contributed to its dramatic decline in participation. In 2017, enrollment in this buy-up coverage plummeted by 96 percent, with fewer than 30 New England farms purchasing buy-up coverage. Low signup is clear evidence that MPP isn\u2019t providing farmers the needed risk protection. As Congress begins work to reauthorize the Farm Bill, we intend to make necessary reforms to this program.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn the meantime, we believe it\u2019s imperative that the USDA take action to address issues created by MPP\u2019s failure. We urge you to utilize existing authorities to expand and enhance insurance products for dairy farmers. Milk, a commodity by any measure, must be eligible for a range of policies through the Federal Crop Insurance Program.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tExisting statute defines the term \u2018livestock\u2019 as the actual animal and not the product produced. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 included report language clarifying that Congress did not intend for livestock products to fall under the limitation of livestock insurance policies. Both existing statute and follow-on clarification illustrates USDA has the authority to determine livestock and livestock products are distinct commodities. We request that RMA work with the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to determine milk as a distinct agricultural commodity eligible for Federal Crop Insurance coverage. Additionally, we would urge the RMA to use existing authorities to develop additional dairy insurance products.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThank you for considering these concerns, and we look forward to working with you in your new role.\n BACKGROUND\u00a0 \nIn Congress, Congresswoman Pingree has been an outspoken advocate for Maine\u2019s struggling dairy farmers. Last December, Pingree convened a roundtable for farmers to directly relay their concerns to a key USDA Farm Service Agency official who oversaw the nation\u2019s Dairy Margin Protection Program.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhile still a major contributor to the state\u2019s agriculture economy, the number of Maine dairy farms has severely declined in recent years\u2014there are currently fewer than 300. \u00a0A number of factors converged to make the last few months especially changing for those farms that remain. Milk prices have sharply dropped\u2014triggering a price protection program for the first time in Maine\u2014and a drought in New England limited the amount of hay that farmers could cut for the coming winter, forcing them to purchase feed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-regarding-repair-contract-award-uss-fitzgerald", "Statement Regarding Repair Contract Award for USS Fitzgerald", "2017-08-23", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement regarding the Navy\u2019s decision not to award the USS Fitzgerald repair contract to Bath Iron Works:\n\"I am extremely disappointed that the skilled men and women at Bath Iron Works were not selected to rebuild the USS Fitzgerald. I\u2019ve made it known to the Secretary of the Navy that I am displeased with the lack of transparency in the process of selecting a yard for this repair and will urge him to have a more open process for future repairs.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-president-trump-s-plan-send-more-troops-afghanistan", "Pingree Statement on President Trumps Plan to Send More Troops to Afghanistan", "2017-08-21", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s plan to raise troop levels in Afghanistan:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI was disappointed to hear President Trump take pride in repealing Obama-era rules on civilian casualties which were put in place to reduce resentment among the population and decrease terrorism. His plan for Afghanistan is over-reliant on military action and, in removing all timetables, there is no end in sight for our nation\u2019s longest war. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI\u2019ve long-opposed the war in Afghanistan and advocated for another Authorization for Military Force (AUMF) to be voted on in Congress. Since the war in Afghanistan began, thousands of Americans have lost their lives, while more than 20,000 have been wounded. Congress must have a long overdue debate about the merits of this war and revoke the President\u2019s blank check to declare it. Committing more troops and resources to this conflict makes our exit strategy even more uncertain and it should not be done using an AUMF from nearly two decades ago.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-has-signed-resolution-censure-president-trump-charlottesville", "Pingree has signed onto resolution to censure President Trump for Charlottesville response", "2017-08-17", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today signed on to a resolution that will censure President Trump for failing to immediately and specifically name and condemn the white supremacist groups responsible for actions of domestic terrorism in Charlottesville, Virginia and employing people in the White House with ties to white nationalist movements. The resolution also calls for the President to fire any and all advisors who have urged him to cater to white supremacist groups in the United States. The resolution introduced by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-New York) is still open to House cosponsors.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFrom the White House to the State House, elected leaders must acknowledge and denounce the violence in Charlottesville as an act of domestic terrorism by white nationalists. To call it anything else is an injustice to those who confront bigotry every day and those who lost their lives in Virginia last weekend,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201dThousands of Mainers have called, written, or commented online saying they are disgusted that President Trump is unwilling to disavow white nationalists. I share their views and believe that there must be consequences for this type of reckless rhetoric from elected officials.\u201d\n Resolution Text \nCensuring and condemning President Donald Trump.\n115th CONGRESS  \n\t1st Session  \n\tAugust 18, 2017\nIN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nMr. NADLER, Ms. WATSON COLEMAN, and Ms. PRAMILA JAYAPAL submitted the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on _______;\nRESOLUTION\nCensuring and condemning President Donald Trump.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas on August 11, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, a gathering of white supremacists, including neo-Nazis, Klu Klux Klan (KKK) members, and other alt-Right, white nationalist groups, marched through the streets with torches as part of a coordinated \u2018Unite the Right\u2019 rally spewing racism, anti-Semitism, bigotry and hatred;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas on August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, a car driven by James Alex Fields, Jr. rammed into a crowd of counter-protestors, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 20 others;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas President Donald Trump\u2019s immediate public comments rebuked \u201cmany sides\u201d for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and failed to specifically condemn the \u2018Unite the Right\u2019 rally or cite the white supremacist, neo-Nazi gathering as responsible for actions of domestic terrorism;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas on August 15, 2017 President Donald Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower where he re-asserted that \u201cboth sides\u201d were to blame for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attempted to create a moral equivalency between white supremacist, KKK, neo-Nazi groups and those counter-protesting the \u2018Unite the Right\u2019 rally;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas President Donald Trump has surrounded himself with, and cultivated the influence of, senior advisors and spokespeople who have long histories of promoting white nationalist, alt-Right, racist and anti-Semitic principles and policies within the country;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas President Donald Trump has provided tacit encouragement and little to no denunciation of white supremacist groups and individuals who promote their bigoted, nationalist ideology and policies;  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWhereas President Donald Trump has failed to provide adequate condemnation and assure the American people of his resolve to opposing domestic terrorism: Now, therefore, be it  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tResolved, That the House of Representatives\u2014\n does hereby censure and condemn President Donald Trump for his inadequate response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017, his failure to immediately and specifically name and condemn the white supremacist groups responsible for actions of domestic terrorism, for re-asserting that \u201cboth sides\u201d were to blame and excusing the violent behavior of participants in the \u2018Unite the Right\u2019 rally, and for employing people with ties to white supremacist movements in the White House, such as Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka; and\n\tdoes hereby urge President Donald Trump to fire any and all White House advisors who have urged him to cater to the alt-Right movement in the United States.\n  Background \nAs the events in Charlottesville unfolded last Saturday, Congresswoman Pingree tweeted out a condemnation of the white supremacists engaged in domestic terrorism in Virginia and called on President Trump to do the same.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  On Sunday, Pingree issued another statement and posted a message on social media along with a video. Her statement read:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tShortly after President Trump's inauguration, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) circulated fliers throughout Maine in order to recruit members and intimidate our communities. The KKK, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists have been emboldened by political rhetoric that harkens back to an America where minorities, women, gay people, and the poor did not have rights or a seat at the table. The horrific resurgence of hate in Charlottesville over the weekend feels like 1968, not 2017. Today, three people are dead and more than a dozen are injured for upholding the values of America in the 21st Century\u2014where equality is our common goal and hate has no place.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI am sorry that I cannot be a part of the vigils happening across Maine tonight because I am traveling with Congressional colleagues overseas. However, I am so grateful to Mainers, from Portland to Bangor, who are coming together in the face of this horrible act this evening. Elected leaders must call the violence in Virginia what it is: domestic terrorism by white nationalists. To call it anything else is an injustice to those who lost their lives yesterday and those who confront bigotry every single day. The fight for equality isn\u2019t over, and we cannot go backward. Thank you all for organizing peacefully tonight. I wish I was able to be there with you.  \n\t\u00a0  On Monday, after President Trump stated the violence in Charlottesville was the fault of white supremacists, Pingree tweeted:\nLeadership is not only saying the right thing but at the right time. \u202a@potus statement on \u202a#charlottesville welcome but too late.\nOn Tuesday night, following a demoralizing press conference by President Trump wherein he equated activists standing up to racism with members of the KKK, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists, Pingree issued this statement:\nJust days after violence in Charlottesville sent shockwaves throughout our country and inspired vigils across Maine, the President went on TV and defended neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan. His statements today aren't just words, they are tacit statements of support. This type of speech incites hate and all too often leads to violence. It generates a fear that extends to our streets, our homes, our families, and to our future. It's reckless for him to fan the flames of violent hate groups. With nine more rallies planned by white supremacists this weekend, President Trump must denounce these groups and the hate they are trying to spread across our nation.\nYesterday, Pingree also signed on to a resolution with 31 other House members condemning the bigotry in Charlottesville and calling on President Trump to fire the white supremacists in the White House.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-praises-signing-law-expanding-gi-bill-benefits-more-veterans", "Pingree Praises Signing of Law Expanding GI Bill Benefits to More Veterans", "2017-08-17", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today praised the signing of the Forever GI Bill, which expands educational assistance benefits to veterans who had been denied because of technicalities. The legislation is similar to a bill she has introduced, the Chris Kotch Act, named for a disabled Maine veteran who was denied his full GI benefits because of a loophole.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s terrible to hear stories of veterans, like Chris Kotch, who made incredible sacrifices for our country, but can\u2019t receive the full GI Bill benefit they\u2019ve earned because of technicalities. The Forever GI Bill is a big step in the right direction in making Purple Heart recipients like Chris eligible,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cI\u2019m so grateful that many more veterans will finally receive the full benefits they have earned, but we must continue working to ensure that no obstacles are left to stand in their way.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt was a pretty discouraging and degrading experience to have to fight for a benefit that should have been a given; to call agency after agency only to be told that there was nothing they could do. The issue didn\u2019t stop me from pursuing my education, but it did mean that I had to take out loans when I shouldn\u2019t have had to,\u201d said Kotch, who recently graduated with a master\u2019s in social work. \u201cI appreciate that veterans in my kind of situation will no longer have to fight for their education.\u201d \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCurrently, to be eligible for full GI Bill benefits\u2014which cover in-state tuition, a housing allowance, and stipend\u2014a veteran must have had at least 3 years of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001, or were discharged for a service-connected disability after at least 30 days. Service members who were on active duty for at least 90 days but less than 3 years are eligible for reduced benefits.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also called the Forever GI Bill, made a change to allow those who have been awarded the Purple Heart for service occurring on or after September 11, 2001, to access the Post-9/11 GI Bill Educational Assistance Program. \u00a0Pingree cosponsored a bill introduced by Representative Scott Peters to make this change, which was included in the final bill.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAs a recipient of the Purple Heart, Kotch would now be eligible for the full benefit.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSince hearing the Brunswick native\u2019s story in 2013, Pingree has worked tirelessly on the issue.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tA member of the Army Reserve, Kotch served on active duty for five months in Iraq before being seriously injured by an IED in 2003. He was sent to Walter Reed Hospital but was not officially discharged until he reported back to his Reserve unit. \u00a0While Kotch was medically retired as a result of his combat injuries\u2014which should have made him eligible for the full benefit\u2014his discharge paperwork says he simply finished his active duty obligation.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tBecause of that wording\u2014because Kotch was temporarily transferred from active duty service back to the Reserves before being discharged\u2014the Department of Veterans Affairs said Kotch wasn\u2019t eligible for the full benefit and instead would only receive a portion.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe bill Pingree introduced in the previous two Congresses would have changed the language to ensure that anyone medically separated or medically retired from the Armed Forces would be eligible for the full benefit.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/charlottesville", "Pingree Calls on President Trump to Fire White Supremacist Supporters in White House", "2017-08-16", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has cosponsored a Congressional resolution condemning the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville and calling on President Trump to disavow the support he has received from hate groups like the neo-Nazis and the KKK, and to terminate the employment of any of these groups\u2019 supporters in the White House.\u00a0\n\u201cI never thought Congress would have to take the step of explicitly condemning white supremacists and asking the White House to do the same. But after President Trump doubled-down to defend and legitimize these groups\u2014emboldening them and inspiring more violence\u2014that\u2019s where we are. It\u2019s sickening,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cMy office\u2019s phone is ringing off the hook today with constituents who are incensed with his statements and others who fear for their families\u2019 safety because of them. It\u2019s important to show them that\u2014unlike the President\u2014Congress believes there\u2019s no place for hate groups in the White House.\u00a0It\u2019s long past time for bigoted, white supremacist sympathizers like Steve Bannon, Sebastian Gorka, and Stephen Miller to go.\u201d\nIntroduced by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the resolution:\u00a0\n Condemns the white supremacist violence that occurred in Charlottesville\u00a0\n\tDenounces the increase in organizing by hate groups like the KKK and neo-Nazis\n\tOffers condolences to the families of Heather Heyer, who was killed in an act of white supremacist terrorism, and of the two State Troopers who lost their lives in the line of duty, Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot, Berke M.M. Bates\u00a0\n\tStrongly urges President Trump to disavow the support he has received from white supremacist, neo-Nazi, KKK and other hate groups\n\tTerminate employment and prohibit the hiring of individuals in the Trump Administration and White House who have supported or encouraged support for white supremacists.\n The full resolution can be viewed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-trump-signs-legislation-paving-way-expanded-portland-veterans", "President Trump Signs Legislation Paving Way for Expanded Portland Veterans Clinic", "2017-08-15", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND,ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement today on President Trump signing veterans\u2019 legislation over the weekend that approved leases for expanded VA clinics across the country, including one in Portland.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe much-needed expansion of the Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic is something Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation has been pushing for a long time now. It\u2019s very exciting to see that our efforts will pay off so Maine veterans can get improved access to the care they have earned and deserve.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFrom bureaucratic hurdles to Congressional holdups, the frustrating delay of this expansion was classic Washington. It was terrible that political debates were coming before our veterans. I\u2019m proud to have had a role in pushing through a legislative fix and ensuring that the Administration knew it was a priority for Maine.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m eager to see this project move forward in the months ahead and know our veterans are as well. \u00a0Seeing the first veterans go through the doors of the new clinic will certainly be cause for celebration.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree worked for over a year to have the leases approved in Congress\u2014which had been held up because of the way they are accounted for in the budget.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tShe led a letter to the leadership of the House Veterans Committee in July 2016 to authorize the leases. She then joined Maine Rep. Bruce Poliquin to introduce legislation to do so and to have its provisions included in legislation to extend the VA Choice Program. The House passed that bill on July 28. Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King led similar efforts in the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-urges-restraint-and-diplomacy-administration-s-dealings-north", "Pingree Urges Restraint and Diplomacy in Administrations Dealings with North Korea", "2017-08-14", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined more than 60 colleagues late last week in sending a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to urge restraint and diplomacy when addressing rising tensions with North Korea.\u00a0\n\u201cFrom \u2018fire and fury\u2019 to \u2018locked and loaded,\u2019 President Trump\u2019s rash comments are only serving to further inflame an already tense situation with North Korea. I\u2019m relieved that the State Department is taking a more measured and diplomatic approach, but the President undercuts those efforts with every Tweet,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cWe want to send the message to Secretary of State Tillerson to maintain diplomacy and rein in unproductive comments from the rest of the Administration while also stressing that any military action whatsoever requires Congress\u2019 consent.\u201d\u00a0\nThe letter was signed by over 60 members of Congress. Full text is available here and also below.\u00a0\nDear Secretary Tillerson,  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe write to express our profound concern over the statements made by President Trump that dramatically increased tensions with North Korea and raised the specter of nuclear war. \u00a0These statements are irresponsible and dangerous, and also senselessly provide a boon to domestic North Korean propaganda which has long sought to portray the United States as a threat to their people.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAccordingly, we respectfully but firmly urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that President Trump and other Administration officials understand the importance of speaking and acting with the utmost caution and restraint on this delicate issue. \u00a0Congress and the American public will hold President Trump responsible if a careless or ill-advised miscalculation results in conflict that endangers our servicemembers and regional allies. To allay these concerns, the Trump Administration should publicly declare its agreement with the constitutional requirement that any preemptive attack on North Korea must be debated and authorized by Congress.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAs 64 Members of Congress wrote in May, \u201cMilitary action against North Korea was considered by the Obama, Bush and Clinton Administrations, but all ultimately determined there was no military option that would not run the unacceptable risk of a counter-reaction from Pyongyang [that] could immediately threaten the lives of as many as a third of the South Korean population, put nearly 30,000 U.S. service members and over 100,000 other U.S. citizens residing in South Korea in grave danger, and also threaten other regional allies such as Japan.\u201d Simply put, there is no military solution to this problem.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe strongly support your recent statements calling for direct talks with North Korea and offering assurances that our country is not their enemy and does not seek war or regime change. \u00a0This accords with the approach that 64 Members of Congress urged in the letter to President Trump, and is also backed by leading experts on US-North Korea policy, including former Secretary of Defense William Perry, former Secretary of State George Schultz and former Senator Richard Lugar who have stated that our country \u201cshould make clear that the United States does not have hostile intentions toward North Korea.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAn approach that includes these elements has shown promise in the past. \u00a0In 1994, after North Korea\u2019s announced their intent to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the United States and North Korea engaged in direct diplomacy, resulting in the Agreed Framework. Under the pact, \u00a0Pyongyang agreed to freeze its nuclear program, while U.S. committed to provide fuel for electricity to offset the power lost from shutting down their plutonium reactor. \u00a0Despite allegations from both sides of non-compliance with the agreement, North Korea did not reopen their plutonium reactor, and in October 2000, the two countries pledged in writing that neither would have \u201chostile intent\u201d towards the other. This progress was regrettably and unnecessarily halted after the Bush Administration took office, as then-Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton publicly admitted that he was \u201clooking for [a hammer] to shatter the Agreed Framework.\u201d We are grateful that you understand the urgent need to make a good faith effort to replicate these successes and we urge you to minimize preconditions in order to bring the North Koreans to the table and commence dialogue at the earliest possible date.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFinally, we respectfully request your assistance in receiving a response to our initial inquiry in our May letter. \u00a0Kindly provide us information about the specific steps your Administration is taking to advance the prospects for direct negotiations that could lower the potential for catastrophic war and ultimately lead to the denuclearization of the peninsula. We also request any plans you may have to address important humanitarian issues of mutual concern such as the reunification of Korean and Korean-American families as well as the repatriation of the remains of US servicemen left in North Korea following the War, including whether these or other humanitarian efforts will be impeded by your newly announced travel ban.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe look forward to working with you to support crucial diplomatic initiatives and avoid catastrophic war.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/video-pingree-statement-advance-vigils-charlottesville-victims-be-held", "VIDEO: Pingree Statement in Advance of Vigils for Charlottesville Victims to be Held Throughout Maine", "2017-08-13", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 Following acts of domestic terrorism incited by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) issued a video message and statement to Mainers who are attending vigils for victims in Charlottesville this evening.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  Pingree also released the following written statement:\n\u201cJust one week after President Trump was sworn in as President, the KKK circulated fliers throughout Maine in order to recruit members and intimidate our communities1. The KKK, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists have been emboldened by political rhetoric that harkens back to an America where minorities, women, gay people, and the poor did not have rights or a seat at the table. The horrific resurgence of hate in Charlottesville over the weekend feels like 1968, not 2017. Today, three people are dead and more than a dozen are injured for upholding the values of America in the 21st Century\u2014where equality is our common goal and hate has no place.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"I am sorry that I cannot be a part of the vigils happening across Maine tonight because I am traveling with Congressional colleagues overseas. However, I am so grateful to Mainers, from Portland to Bangor, who are coming together in the face of this horrible act tonight.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"Elected leaders must call the violence in Virginia what it is: domestic terrorism by white nationalists. To call it anything else is an injustice to those who lost their lives yesterday and those who confront bigotry every single day.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"The fight for equality isn\u2019t over, and we cannot go backward. Thank you all for organizing peacefully tonight. I wish I was able to be with you.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-president-trump-s-national-emergency-declaration", "Pingree Statement on President Trumps National Emergency Declaration for Opioid Epidemic", "2017-08-11", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a national emergency:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m glad the President has finally taken the much-needed step of declaring the opioid epidemic a national emergency. As Maine and other states suffer horrific losses in our families and communities, we need to acknowledge the incredible severity and direness of the situation.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cBut a declaration will do nothing on its own. The President needs to follow it with concrete action. Namely, he should call on Congress to provide emergency appropriations to increase resources for treatment and recovery services and ceasing his efforts to take health-care coverage away from millions of Americans, including those seeking help for substance use.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEarlier this week, Pingree joined a group of colleagues in urging President Trump to take bipartisan action to address the national crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-president-trumps-comments-north-korea", "Statement on President Trump's comments on North Korea", "2017-08-09", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on President Trump's dangerous rhetoric on North Korea\n\"President Trump\u2019s threats of \"fire and fury\u201d toward North Korea\u00a0endanger Americans at home and abroad, including nearly 30,000 soldiers currently stationed in South Korea, and could provoke an unprecedented military conflict. Diplomacy is the most effective option to address concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons program. President Trump must work with intelligence officials and experienced\u00a0military officers to map out a viable strategy for containing North Korea\u2019s nuclear arsenal instead of making extreme threats on television or Twitter, which make us all feel less safe.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/trump-s-plan-address-opioid-epidemic-does-not-go-far-enough-support", "Trumps Plan to Address Opioid Epidemic Does Not Go Far Enough to Support Struggling Mainers", "2017-08-08", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and several of her House colleagues have sent a letter to President Trump calling on him to address the opioid epidemic raging in their states. The letter comes after the President\u2019s Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis missed two self-imposed deadlines then finally released its initial findings. The letter, signed by Representatives Chellie Pingree, Annie Kuster (NH-02), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Tim Ryan (OH-13), Tom O\u2019Halleran (AZ-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Seth Moulton (MA-06), and Marcia Fudge (OH-11), outlines the need to increase funding for treatment and recovery services, as well as cease efforts to roll back access to health insurance.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cNot enough Mainers are getting the treatment they need. Over the last year, one person a day has died in Maine from a drug-related overdose,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree said of the letter. \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, block grant Medicaid, and cut public health funding would worsen, not improve, the state of substance use disorder in Maine.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Members wrote in their letter to the President, \u201cWhile we appreciate that the Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis led by Governor Chris Christie finally released its interim report on July 31st, we remain concerned that the Trump Administration has not done enough to prioritize the opioid epidemic.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201c\u2026we request that you immediately call on Congress to provide emergency appropriations to combat the opioid epidemic and to cease their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act,\u201d the Members continued. \u201cWithout addressing these two areas of concern, an effective response to this 21st Century public health emergency will be inadequate.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cWe are all concerned by the impact of this epidemic on our communities across the country and across all demographics. We are prepared to work with you to help fulfill your campaign promise to \u2018end the opioid epidemic in America.\u2019 Without bipartisan legislative action, the recommendations outlined by your Commission\u2019s interim report will remain unfulfilled.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  The full text of the letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/650000-federal-infrastructure-grants-coming-winslow-and-rockland", "$650,000 in federal infrastructure grants coming to Winslow and Rockland", "2017-08-04", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that Winslow and Rockland will receive $650,000 in federal infrastructure investments from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), a program she has advocated for in Congress.\u00a0\n\u201cThe investments being made today will directly support and create jobs for our state by making economic growth possible. In Rockland, an aging fish pier that\u2019s vital to the working waterfront will get a much-needed upgrade. Funding will also allow businesses at the Winslow Business Park to expand and create new jobs,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cThe Northern Border Regional Commission continues to be a critical source of economic development and infrastructure funding in Maine, which is why I am helping lead efforts in Congress to reauthorize this program.\u201d\u00a0\nCreated by Congress in 2008, the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a Federal-State partnership whose mission is to help alleviate economic distress throughout the northern counties of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York.\u00a0\nPingree is a lead cosponsor of a bill recently introduced by New Hampshire Congresswoman Annie Kuster to extend the NBRC\u2019s authorization by five years.\n Local Grant Details \nWinslow\u2014$300,000  \n\tA 1,500-foot left turning lane to the Winslow Business Park will be constructed.  \n\tThis lane is required by Maine Department of Transportation before two  \n\tcompanies in Business Park, which plan to create a total of 110 new  \n\tpositions, are allowed to expand.\nRockland\u2014$350,000  \n\tThe city\u2019s fish pier will be renovated to better serve current fishing activities  \n\tand boat pier will be expanded to serve the growing cruise ship activity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-bipartisan-russia-sanctions-bill-signed-president", "President Trump Signs Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill Signed By President Trump", "2017-08-02", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after President Trump signed the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill recently approved by Congress:\n\u201cLast week, Republicans and Democrats in Congress overwhelmingly voted to put sanctions on Russia because of their undeniable interference in the 2016 Presidential election and annexation of Crimea. At a time when his son, son-in-law, and campaign advisors are at the center of an investigation into their ties to Russia, it is especially significant that President Trump has signed this bipartisan bill.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"Russia is not our military, economic, or humanitarian ally. Russia undermined our democracy by meddling in our free elections and violated Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty with their actions in Crimea. America should not work with Vladimir Putin or any other despot who tortures journalists, gay people, or civil dissidents and does not believe in the fundamental importance of democracy. These are not our values and these sanctions are needed immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-says-coast-guard-tall-ship-cutter-eagle-visit-portland-weekend", "Pingree Says Coast Guard Tall Ship Cutter Eagle to Visit Portland This Weekend", "2017-08-01", "2017", "2017-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, MAINE \u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced that the United States Coast Guard's Cutter Eagle will be arriving in Portland Friday morning on Coast Guard Day, the anniversary of the formation of the service in 1790. The Eagle, called \u201cAmerica\u2019s Tall Ship\u201d will be joined by the 200-foot sail training tall ship Oliver Hazard Perry for free tours Saturday and Sunday.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMaine has one of the oldest seafaring traditions in the country. We have depended on the Coast Guard for hundreds of years to protect our coast and the men and women who go to sea, so we are especially proud to welcome the Eagle back to Portland on Coast Guard Day,\u201d said Pingree.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Eagle is a 295-foot tall ship used as a training vessel for cadets from the US Coast Guard Academy and is the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American Military Service.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Eagle and Perry are part of Tall Ships Weekend organized by Tall Ships Portland, a local non-profit committed to sailing education for Maine teens.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Eagle will tie up at 10am Friday and the Perry will arrive early Saturday morning. \u00a0Both vessels will be open for free tours between 10:00am and 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday at Portland Ocean Terminal, next to Casco Bay Lines.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-pingree-intorduces-bicameral-food-recovery-act", "Congresswoman Pingree introduces bicameral Food Recovery Act", "2017-07-31", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "[WASHINGTON, DC] \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced H.R. 3444, the Food Recovery Act, comprehensive bicameral legislation to reduce food waste in stores and restaurants, schools and institutions, on farms, and in American homes.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEvery year in the United States, 40 percent of food produced domestically goes uneaten \u2013 meanwhile, domestic food production accounts for 50 percent of United States land use, 80 percent of fresh water consumption and 10 percent of the total energy budget. Food waste in landfills further harms the environment by contributing dramatically to the production of methane and other harmful gases. The Food Recovery Act takes a top to bottom approach to plugging the stream of food waste across all industries and demographics.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThis bill would address inefficiencies that lead to waste across all aspects of the food supply chain \u2013 curbing the 62 million tons of food thrown out each year in the United States,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cSimplifying food date labeling and diverting healthy, wholesome food from landfills won\u2019t just benefit the environment \u2013 it will help alleviate food insecurity and save consumers and businesses money. I urge my colleagues to join us and tackle the challenge of food waste with the multifaceted response it demands.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"Food waste in America is a growing problem, but it is also an opportunity,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cWe can save money for consumers, create economic opportunity, and feed those in need while keeping perfectly good food out of landfills. I'm proud to introduce the Food Recovery Act with Senator Blumenthal to support and build on efforts already going on in our communities to ensure that more of our food is put to use rather than going to waste.\u201d\u00a0\n H.R. 3444, the Food Recovery Act will: \n Reduce food waste at the consumer level through the inclusion of the Food Date Labeling Act to standardize confusing food date labels;\n\tReduce food wasted in schools by encouraging cafeteria\u2019s to purchase lower-price \u201cugly\u201d fruits and vegetables, and by extending grant programs that educate students about food waste and recovery;\n\tReduce wasted food throughout the federal government through the establishment of a Food Recovery Liaison at USDA to coordinate federal efforts, and by requiring companies that contract with the federal government to donate surplus food to organizations such as food banks and soup kitchens;\n\tReduce wasted food going to landfills by encouraging composting as a conservation practice eligible for support under USDA\u2019s conservation programs; and\n\tReduce wasted food through research by directing the USDA to develop new technologies to increase the shelf life of fresh food, and by requiring the USDA to establish a standard for how to estimate the amount of wasted food at the farm level.\u00a0\n Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz, (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are original cosponsors of the Food Recovery Act.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe legislation is supported by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, the American Biogas Council, Recology, Hungry Harvest, National Farmers Union, National Consumers League, Food Policy Action, the National Resources Defense Council, and FoodCorps. It has also been praised by advocates in Maine.\n Statements of Support \n\u201cCongresswoman Pingree's efforts to help reduce the amount of food we waste are incredibly important for people and our environment. Even as food waste trends upward, so too does the number of Mainers suffering from food insecurity. This legislation will help redirect the 40% of our food supply currently ending up in landfills, to where it belongs--people's bellies,\u201d said Sarah Lakeman, Sustainable Maine Project Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"An important Maine ethic is 'Use what you have'. Congresswoman Pingree\u2019s bill aligns with our community-based efforts to make the best use of nutritious food that would otherwise not be eaten,\u201d said Jim Hanna,\n\tExecutive Director of the Cumberland County Food Security Council.\n\"Wasting food is bad for the economy, bad for the environment and bad for American families, businesses and farmers,\" said Tom Colicchio, FPA co-founder, chef and good food advocate. \u201cWe are tremendously grateful to Senator Blumenthal and Congresswoman Pingree for introducing the Food Recovery Act today and leading the charge to take on this huge issue of wasted food. This is a truly important bipartisan issue. Reducing food waste today can make a huge positive difference for our food system tomorrow.\u201d\n\"I'm thrilled to support Representative Pingree and Senator Blumenthal\u2019s Food Recovery Act, a comprehensive response to the 40% of food wasted each year in our country,\u201d said Emily Broad Leib, Director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic. \u201cThis effort takes a keen eye towards the food waste problems of today, and anticipates the food recovery solutions of tomorrow. Reducing food waste has triple-bottom line impacts: it creates jobs, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and generates financial gains. In our work, we've seen first-hand the systemic barriers standing in the way of reducing food waste, and the introduction of the Food Recovery Act represents a pivotal moment in our effort to solve these challenges.\"  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAfter feeding hungry people and animals and reducing food waste, the next step for any business or home should always be to make sure food scraps get recycled. This bill will address all of those priorities and help create new food recycling infrastructure, such as biogas systems, which will better manage our waste, catalyze new capital investments and generate good paying middle class jobs,\u201d said Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council.\n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"I believe that in this country, 20 billion pounds of produce should not go to waste while nearly 49 million Americans are food insecure. This bill helps businesses, non-profits, farmers, and schools come together to use one problem to solve the other. Schools will be encouraged to purchase off-grade produce because of the FRA, which means millions of children will now have more accessibility to eating healthy during the school day. I, as Evan Lutz, and we, as Hungry Harvest, fully support the Food Recovery Act of 2017,\" said Evan Lutz, CEO and Co-Founder of Hungry Harvest.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"Recology strongly supports the Food Recovery Act, introduced by Rep. Pingree and Sen. Blumenthal. As a waste management company, our mission is to waste zero and create a shift from landfills to recovery. Our employee-owners work every day to develop and discover sustainable resource recovery practices to create a world without waste. The Food Recovery Act, from beginning to end, has the potential to radically reduce the amount of food wasted across the country, furthering goals Recology has long sought,\u201d said Eric Potashner, Vice President & Senior Director Strategic Affairs at Recology.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/house-appropriations-debate", "House Appropriations Debate", "2017-07-28", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "During debate of a package of Appropriations Bills in the House of Representatives on July 26, 2017, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke out in support of issues important to Maine.\u00a0\n Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding \n Waterpower and Alternative Energy Programs \n Ocean Planning", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-poliquin-insert-provision-veterans-choice-bill-authorize-lease", "Pingree, Poliquin Insert Provision to Veterans CHOICE Bill to Authorize Lease for Portland VA Health Clinic", "2017-07-28", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02), a member of the House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, have inserted a provision to a bill to extend funding for the rural Veterans CHOICE program for six months that passed the House today, to authorize the lease for the new Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), as well as several other VA facilities around the country. Because of technicalities in the way the leases are approved, work on the expansion in Portland has been delayed, impacting Veterans\u2019 care.\nBoth Maine representatives spoke on the House Floor today in support of the legislation.\u00a0\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the House has approved the much-needed and long-delayed expansion of the Portland Community Based Outpatient Clinic and others across the country. It will allow Southern Maine veterans to access a wider array of services without having to drive an hour or more to get them,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. \u201cMaine\u2019s Delegation has been united in its efforts to authorize these leases and I\u2019m hopeful that our goal is finally in sight.\u201d\u00a0\n\u201cAny hurdle getting in the way of our Veterans receiving the best and most timely care possible is unacceptable,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cOur provision will give our Maine Veterans a new Community Based Outreach Center where they will be able to seek medical and mental health care and allow them to receive better care, closer to home. I\u2019m very pleased and proud to work with my colleague Chellie Pingree in securing this language to help ensure our Maine Veterans are not left without the support they deserve.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tAt issue is the lease for a 50,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility for a CBOC in Portland. Under current law, Congress must authorize VA medical facility leases with average annual rental payments in excess of $1 million. Beginning in 2012, the Congressional Budget Office began assessing the cost of all VA clinics based on the total obligation for the life of the lease rather than the annual payment. \u00a0This makes the leases appear much more expensive than they really are and has delayed their authorization.\nLast Congress, the Maine representatives introduced legislation to direct the approval of the lease for the Portland VA health clinic, as well as leases at 23 other VA facilities around the country.\nVIDEO: View Congressman Poliquin\u2019s remarks here: http://bit.ly/2u5kPgr", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-us-senate-s-rejection-trumpcare", "Statement on U.S. Senates Rejection of Trumpcare", "2017-07-28", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to reject Trumpcare:\u00a0\n\u201cOver the past eight months, I\u2019ve had the privilege to hear from Mainers of all sorts about their experiences with the Affordable Care Act\u2014from patients and their families, to providers and advocates and teachers. The rejection of Trumpcare in the Senate is a testament to their dedication and courage. I\u2019m grateful to both of Maine\u2019s Senators for their solidarity in rejecting this effort which would have harmed individuals and communities across our state.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tI won\u2019t stop fighting to preserve the Affordable Care Act\u2019s fundamental consumer protections. But I also continue to recognize that the law can and should be improved. We must push toward a more accessible and affordable health care system.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tWe won\u2019t solve this until Congress can sit down and have a constructive, bipartisan conversation about a path forward. There are substantive and serious disagreements. I\u2019m a longtime advocate for a single-payer system\u2014others would prefer to deregulate the system entirely. But we need to move beyond political gamesmanship and reform our health care system to serve the needs of our constituents, not just the wealthiest Americans or big pharma\u2014everyone.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-poliquin-invite-maine-students-participate-congressional-app", "Pingree, Poliquin invite Maine students to participate in Congressional App Challenge", "2017-07-26", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Maine Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today invited Maine students to participate in the 2017 Congressional App Challenge. Students have until November 1, 2017, to develop and submit their own desktop, web-based or mobile app\u2014a winning app from each of Maine\u2019s Congressional Districts will be chosen to receive national recognition.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI applaud how Maine schools are using STEM education to prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow. \u00a0This competition is an exciting opportunity to put those skills to the test while learning how to develop the smartphone apps we use every day,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cI hope students give it a shot\u2014I can\u2019t wait to see what they come up with.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0\u201cNever has it been more important for our students to have the practical experience to use and master digital technologies,\u201d said Poliquin. \u00a0\u201cThis program will give students across Maine the unique opportunity to broaden their skills and learn in a fun and competitive environment.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tStudents can participate as individuals or in a team of up to four. \u00a0The apps can cover any topic. In addition to the app, students must submit a 1-3 minute video explaining their app and how it works.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSubmissions will be judged on 1) the creativity and originality of the app idea; 2) user experience and design of the idea\u2019s implementation; and 3) quality of coding and programming.  \n\t\u00a0  The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2017. Students can register for the competition here.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Congressional App Challenge is happening in Congressional Districts nationwide\u2014Members of Congress must choose to participate for students in their District to be eligible. Winning apps from each District will be displayed and recognized at an event in Washington, D.C. \u00a0The Internet Education Foundation coordinates the competition.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tMore information on the competition, as well as resources for teachers and students, can be found at www.congressionalappchallenge.us.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-president-trump-s-plan-ban-transgender-people-serving-their", "Statement on President Trumps Plan to Ban Transgender People from Serving Their Country in Uniform", "2017-07-26", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2013In response to President Trump\u2019s tweets indicating he will ban transgender Americans from serving their country in the U.S. Military, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement:\n\"Our all-volunteer military should not turn away Americans willing to risk their lives for our safety, especially as we face new threats around globe. President Trump's statement on transgender patriots is bigoted and wrong. We are grateful to all Americans willing to serve our nation in harm\u2019s way.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIf President Trump acts on his tweets, 15,000 transgender people now serving openly in the military will be pushed out. Taking this action would undermine our contract with these dedicated service members and hurt our ability to recruit others.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-senate-vote-will-endanger-wellbeing-millions-americans", "Pingree: Senate Vote Will Endanger Wellbeing of Millions of Americans", "2017-07-25", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after Senate Republicans passed a motion to proceed with debate on the House-passed Trumpcare bill:\n\u201cWithout a single public hearing, the Senate has passed the Motion to Proceed, which advances a health care agenda that will endanger the wellbeing of millions of Americans. Today\u2019s vote was an act of cowardice by Republican leadership, many of whom have refused to address to concerns of their constituents\u2014the people who will feel the consequences of this bill in the most personal of ways.\n\"It doesn\u2019t matter how you slice it. Whether the Senate takes up repeal and delay or its own version of Trumpcare, today\u2019s vote brings millions of Americans closer to losing their insurance coverage and, for millions more, skyrocketing premiums. If the Senate does move forward with a bill, I will fight it tooth and nail in the House as so many Mainers have asked me to do.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/why-congressional-appropriations-matter-maine", "Why Congressional Appropriations Matter for Maine", "2017-07-24", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The following is a column distributed to Maine newspapers in July 2017.\nOne of the most important committees in Congress is also the least understood: Appropriations. And it\u2019s not surprising. From \u201c302(b) allocations\u201d to \u201cmanager\u2019s amendments,\u201d the workings of this committee are nearly indecipherable to anyone outside Washington.\nBut it\u2019s also true that the House Appropriations Committee\u2014which I have had the privilege of serving on since 2013\u2014is incredibly powerful. While Congress may create federal programs by authorizing or reauthorizing them, the appropriations committees in the House and Senate decide what gets funded and at what levels. In short, they hold Congress\u2019 \u201cpower of the purse.\u201d\u00a0\nWe\u2019re in the thick of the appropriations process right now. I thought this might be a good time to cut through the policy weeds to explain how the committee works and also give an update on what I\u2019m doing to advocate for programs that are important to Maine.\u00a0\nFirst, here\u2019s a bit of a primer. The House Appropriations Committee doesn\u2019t have authority over all federal spending, but quite a bit of it. A large amount of the federal budget is made up of \u201cmandatory\u201d spending\u2014like Social Security and Medicare\u2014that doesn\u2019t fall under the committee. But \u201cdiscretionary\u201d spending has to be approved by the committee in the form of annual appropriations bills.\u00a0\nThe committee writes those bills with the input of Congress\u2019 budget resolution\u2014which sets amounts for large categories of federal spending\u2014as well as the President\u2019s budget request. Twelve Appropriations subcommittees receive a certain amount of funding and have to decide how to divide that sum across the federal programs and agencies in their jurisdiction. I sit on two subcommittees. One oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; the other determines spending at the Department of Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and some smaller agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts.\u00a0\nEach subcommittee writes its own appropriations bill. \u00a0This is where members can have a great deal of influence. I\u2019m in constant contact with Maine stakeholders to find out what federal spending programs are most important to our communities. I then work to get those priorities included in the bills so our state can access an adequate amount of resources.\u00a0\nThe committee can also use its spending authority to influence federal agencies in other ways. For instance, it can pass \u201criders\u201d that keep an agency from doing a particular action by withholding funding for it. Or the committee can include \u201creport language\u201d in their bills urging the agency to take a specific action.\u00a0\nAfter holding hearings where we can question the heads of federal agencies, each subcommittee debates, amends and votes on their appropriations bills\u2014a process called \u201cmarkup.\u201d Then, all those bills go through another markup by the full Appropriations Committee. \u00a0If it gets through the committee, it goes on to a vote by the full House.\u00a0\nThe idea is that the Senate will pass its own appropriations bills and that both bodies will eventually hold a conference committee to come to agreement on a unified version. Washington being Washington, though, this hasn\u2019t happened in quite a while. Instead, Congress has waited until its spending authority is about to expire, forcing us to pass shorter-term measures like continuing resolutions or a patchwork of bills called an \u201comnibus.\u201d \u00a0\nRight now, the full Appropriations Committee is debating and voting on the subcommittee-passed bills. I\u2019m glad to report that, on the whole, the Republicans in the majority have not accepted the extreme level of cuts proposed by President Trump.\u00a0\nStill, they are pushing many deep cuts that are harmful, shortsighted, and would not be good for Maine. Throughout the markup process, I\u2019ve focused my efforts on advocating for the programs that are most important for our state, either by supporting amendments to restore funding or offering my own.\u00a0\nAmong the programs I\u2019ve stood up to defend so far are Community Development Block Grants that our municipalities rely on for vital infrastructure improvements, TIGER Grants that have helped replace several Maine bridges, assistance to develop affordable housing, support for local manufacturing programs, and renewable energy grants for rural businesses. I have also spoken up against policy riders that would attack EPA ozone rules that protect public health and block ocean planning and coordination.\nLooks like it\u2019s time for me to get back to committee. We just finished one markup and I\u2019m headed to another. Appropriations may not be the easiest job in Congress to explain, but for all the ways it impacts Mainers, I\u2019m honored to do it.\u00a0\nCongresswoman Chellie Pingree represents Maine\u2019s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. You can contact her office at (207) 774-5019 or www.pingree.house.gov/contact-chellie.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/acadia-national-park-wins-competitive-federal-funding-trail-maintenance", "Acadia National Park wins competitive federal funding for trail maintenance", "2017-07-24", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Maine's Congressional Delegation at a celebration of Acadia National Park's centennial last summer.PORTLAND, ME \u2014 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced today that Acadia National Park will receive $192,286 in federal funding to perform deferred trail maintenance. Awarded through the National Park Service\u2019s Centennial Challenge program, the funding has been matched by $259,112 privately raised by Friends of Acadia.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m thrilled that Acadia National Park will receive funds to improve its incredible network of trails that draws millions of people to our state every year,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cMy thanks to Friends of Acadia for their steadfast support of this Maine gem and their work to meet and exceed this grant\u2019s private match requirement.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the National Park Service.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThere were 3.3 million visits to the park last year. According to a National Park Service report, Acadia National Park contributed $274.2 million to the state\u2019s economy in 2016 and supported 4,195 full and part-time jobs.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFriends of Acadia is proud to be part of this strong partnership with the Park Service that saw four projects from Acadia successfully compete nationally for Centennial Challenge grant awards. \u00a0These funds will allow critical work on Acadia\u2019s trails and carriage roads to move forward at a time when these invaluable resources are seeing more interest and more use by the public than ever before,\u201d said Friends of Acadia President David MacDonald. \u201cFriends of Acadia is deeply grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Pingree and the entire Maine Congressional Delegation for their unified support for re-authorizing the Centennial Challenge legislation last year. \u00a0Programs like this that allow Congressionally-appropriated funds to match and leverage our privately-raised dollars fit perfectly with the long tradition of public-private partnerships here at Acadia.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFriends of Acadia is a membership-supported organization that preserves, protects and promotes stewardship of the natural beauty, ecological vitality, and cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/appropriations-debate-pingree-advocates-programs-vital-maine", "In Appropriations Debate, Pingree Advocates for Programs Vital to Maine", "2017-07-18", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014During last night\u2019s full committee markup of the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development FY 2018 Appropriations Bill, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree fought against cuts to programs that are vital to Maine\u2014including Community Development Block Grants and Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMaine\u2019s bridges received a C-minus grade and roads a D grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers\u2014taking away TIGER grants is not the right thing to do at this time,\u201d Pingree said in support of an amendment to restore funding for vital transportation infrastructure grants as well as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). \u00a0\u201cAlthough it didn\u2019t cut CDBG grants fully, I\u2019m sorry to see there\u2019s 100 million cut in there. The flexibility of the CDBG program makes it a priority for all of our states.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n  Congresswoman Pingree's remarks start\u00a0at 38 minutes  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tDuring debate, she spoke out in support of other members\u2019 amendments that would undo:\u00a0\n\u2022 A proposed elimination of the TIGER Grant program, which has funded numerous infrastructure replacements and improvements to support Maine\u2019s economy  \n\t\u2022 A $100 million cut to the Community Development Block Grant program\u2014used widely by Maine municipalities  \n\t\u2022 A $100 million cut to the HOME Investments Partnership Program, which has helped build many units of affordable family and elderly housing units in the state.\u00a0  \n\t\u2022 The sunsetting of the US Interagency Council on Homelessness, which ensures states share information and best practices to end homelessness.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree also offered an amendment to increase funding for Housing Choice Voucher Program by $1.2 billion to a total of $19.9 billion. If the House bill funding is maintained at $18.7 billion, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that 140,000 vouchers currently used by individuals and families would not receive renewal funding next year. The amendment did not pass.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-frustrated-dhs-delayed-h-2b-visa-decision-new-regulations-put", "Pingree Frustrated with DHS Delayed H-2B Visa Decision, New Regulations Put on Maine Small Business Owners", "2017-07-17", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement in response to the the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)\u2019s decision to issue only 15,000 H-2B visas and new regulations for small business owners to hire seasonal workers:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"I am grateful that DHS has finally approved some additional H-2B visas for this season, but it\u2019s clear the Trump Administration did not consider the economic impact of its delayed decision. Many seasonal business owners in Maine had to scale back operations this year simply because they did not have the staff necessary keep up with demand,\u201d said Pingree. \"It\u2019s extremely frustrating that these small business owners will now be forced to compete for far fewer H-2B visas than were authorized by Congress and have to cut through unnecessary red tape in order to fill their open positions in the middle of their busiest season. I hope a permanent solution can be reached in order to support small business owners and address the ongoing seasonal worker shortage facing states like Maine.\"\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn May, an Omnibus bill passed Congress giving DHS the authority to increase the number of H-2B visas from 66,000 up to approximately 129,000\u2014an increase of \u00a0approximately 63,000 for the 2017 season. In June, Congresswoman Pingree authored a letter urging DHS to swiftly raise the cap on available visas for the current fiscal year. The letter may be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/poliquin-pingree-secure-amendment-defense-bill-ensure-biw-remains-track", "Poliquin, Pingree Secure Amendment in Defense Bill to Ensure BIW Remains On Track to Build Two DDG-51 Ships, After a Provision Had Threated to Derail Them", "2017-07-14", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) have successfully secured an amendment to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure that Bath Iron Works (BIW) can remain in contract negotiations and on track to construct a second Fiscal Year 2016 DDG-51 destroyer and a Fiscal Year 2017 DDG-51 destroyer, after a provision had been added in committee that threatened this important shipyard workload.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Poliquin Amendment ensures that an additional DDG-51 destroyer that was authorized in the previous FY16 NDAA stays on track for construction at BIW. The amendment blocks a provision that would have established new requirements for the already-authorized ships, which could have obstructed or at least delayed the potential contracts.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cBath Iron Works, employing thousands of hardworking Mainers, plays an essential role in ensuring our Nation\u2019s defense and strength,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cIt is critical we support these shipbuilders, who provide for our safety at home and abroad. America\u2019s might around the world depends on these Maine workers at BIW, and I am proud to make sure they can continue their mission.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cCongress shouldn\u2019t be inserting itself into complex contract negotiations like this, especially once they\u2019re underway\u2014doing so unnecessarily threatens the job security of hundreds of hard-working Mainers at Bath Iron Works,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \"I\u2019m proud to support this amendment to block these retroactive changes and protect the flow of work at BIW, whose level of shipbuilding is an incredible asset to our national security and our state\u2019s economy.\u201d \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tIn the FY16 NDAA, three DDG-51 ships were authorized. One of those FY16 ships is already under contract to BIW, while the additional FY16 ship due BIW remains in contract negotiations with the Navy. \u00a0The FY17 NDAA authorized two DDG-51 ships\u2014one of which is in contract negotiations with the Navy. However, a provision was added to the House FY18 NDAA that would have retroactively imposed new statutory requirements\u2014including a new radar system (AMDR)\u2014on ships authorized and appropriated in prior fiscal years.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThis provision would have interjected Congress into sensitive, ongoing shipbuilding contract negotiations. Historically, Congress has sought to avoid affecting ongoing contract negotiations. This provision would have established a troublesome precedent for future acquisition programs and contract negotiations.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe Poliquin Amendment excludes the authorized FY16 DDG-51 ships from provisions that would have imposed retroactive requirements and would make it clear that Congress intends that the Navy should bear the contractual burden for the majority of risk on FY17 DDG-51 ship construction slated to incorporate the major AMDR change.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westbrook-raymond-fire-departments-receive-federal-assistance-staff-and", "Westbrook, Raymond fire departments to receive federal assistance for staff and equipment needs", "2017-07-13", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced that Maine fire departments in Westbrook and Raymond will receive federal assistance to fill staffing and equipment needs.\n\u201cIn an era of tight municipal budgets, Maine fire departments are having a tough time keeping their life-saving equipment up to date and their staffing at needed levels. The federal Assistance to Firefighters and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant programs have been very successful in helping communities throughout Maine fill that gap, which is why I\u2019ve been proud to advocate for them in Congress,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m very glad that Westbrook will receive funding to make new hires and boost its emergency coverage, and that Raymond will be able to purchase critical equipment. These competitive grants are a benefit to public safety and local taxpayers.\u201d\u00a0\nThe Westbrook Fire Department will receive a $962,000 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire eight new firefighters. With the extra firefighters, the currently understaffed department will be able to increase coverage on its engines and free up staff for safety inspections and fire prevention efforts.\nThe Raymond Fire Department will receive a $261,905 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for a new pumper-tanker truck. \u00a0The truck will replace an aging tractor-trailer that was converted for the department in the \u201990s.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/national-day-action-pingree-calls-protection-net-neutrality-rules", "On National Day of Action, Pingree Calls for Protection of Net Neutrality Rules", "2017-07-12", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014As 80,000 websites today protest the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)\u2019s proposal to reverse net neutrality regulations, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined the call to preserve protections for a free and open Internet.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFrom its inception, the public has always picked what succeeds and what doesn\u2019t on the Internet and it should stay that way. Reversing net neutrality protections is nothing more than a handout to huge Internet service providers who would seek to pad their profits by turning the Internet into an unfair playing field. Net neutrality regulations have overwhelming support from the public and the FCC should listen before going through with this reckless proposal.\u201d \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe public has until August 17 to comment on the FCC\u2019s proposal to reverse net neutrality regulations created in 2015. Comments can be made on the FCC\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-committee-passage-fy18-agriculture-appropriations-bill", "Statement on Committee passage of FY18 Agriculture Appropriations Bill", "2017-07-12", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, released the following statement on the FY18 Agriculture Appropriations bill. \u00a0The House Appropriations Committee passed the bill today.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cWhile I would like to have seen more funding for certain programs in this bill, I\u2019m glad that the funding levels generally did not fall in line with the Trump Administration\u2019s request for drastic cuts to programs that are vital to farmers, rural business owners, and consumers.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIn particular, I\u2019m relieved to see funding preserved for the National Organic Program and Organic Transition Program, technical assistance programs for farmers, and rural housing and infrastructure investments. This bill is also largely free of damaging riders that have delayed the implementation of key regulations in the past, such as the Farmer Fair Practices and Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cSeveral of my priorities have been included in the bill. The bill provides $1 million to research new varieties of hops, which could benefit local growers who are hoping to supply the craft brewing industry in Maine. There is also strong language to ensure that the USDA reports on investigations into allegations of fraud in the organic industry, an issue I raised with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue directly when he came before the Subcommittee.\u201d \u00a0\nPingree recently penned an op-ed in Civil Eats on the urgency of protecting integrity of the organic label.\nDuring today\u2019s Committee markup, Pingree was also successful in getting two provisions passed as part of the manager\u2019s amendment. The first provision provides a $200 million increase to the Farm Service Agency program providing guaranteed loans to support farm operations. The second is report language that directs USDA to complete a study on food waste at the farm level, in hopes of identifying new market opportunities for farmers to recover food.\u00a0\nPingree also spoke in opposition to a $8 million mandatory cut to the Rural Energy for America Program\u2014which has been enormously successful in helping farms and rural businesses cut energy costs and adopt sustainable energy sources\u2014and expressed the need to restore funding for FSA direct farm operating loans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/environment-maine-recognizes-congresswoman-pingree-environmental", "Environment Maine recognizes Congresswoman Pingree for environmental advocacy", "2017-07-10", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today received the first-ever Environmental Champion Award from Environment Maine for her \u201cconsistent, strong, and effective leadership\u201d in protecting public health and the environment in Congress.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to receive the Environmental Champion Award from Environment Maine, a group doing important work to steer our state toward a healthier, more sustainable future. It\u2019s a critical time in Washington to fight for addressing the environmental challenges our communities face,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThe Trump Administration has acted very quickly to give more power to corporate polluters, make our country more dependent on dirty fossil fuels, and ignore the crisis of climate change. These decisions have real consequences for a state like Maine that breathes the air polluted by other states, depends on healthy natural resources for the economy, and whose communities are already feeling the impact of a changing climate. I will continue to keep up my fight in Congress for the health and wellbeing of my constituents.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tPingree is a longtime vice-chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC).  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tShe is also a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, in which she recently had the chance to question EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about damaging budget cuts to environmental enforcement and weakening of climate change programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/marinas-rockland-south-portland-receive-18-million-federal-investment", "Marinas in Rockland, South Portland receive $1.8 million federal investment", "2017-07-10", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, Maine\u2014Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today welcomed news that marinas in Rockland and South Portland will receive over $1.8 million in federal Boating Infrastructure Grants to expand docking space and serve more vessels traveling along the Maine coast. Maine will also receive over $400,000 in Clean Vessel Act funds to improve its system of boat wastewater pumpout stations.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cMaine marinas are a critical part of our state\u2019s working waterfront. \u00a0In serving vessels that are traveling along the coast, they directly support hundreds of jobs and help connect thousands of customers to local economies,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m glad marinas in Rockland and South Portland will be able to use these federal investments to grow the number of vessels they can serve. Clean Vessel Act funds will also enable the State to grow and maintain vital pumpout stations that keep waste out of Maine waters.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFunded through taxes and fees on motorboat fuel and related equipment, the grants are administered by the National Park Service (NPS).\u00a0\n Boating Infrastructure Grants \nSpring Point Marina, South Portland, Maine  \n\tThe Maine Department of Transportation proposes to work with Port Harbor Marine to construct 916 linear feet of berthing space dedicated specifically to eligible transient boaters and provide 15 new power pedestals providing shore power and potable water for up to thirty transient vessels.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFederal Funds Requested: $843,405; Non-Fed Match: $877,830; Total: $1,721,235  \n\t\u00a0  Yachting Solutions, Rockland, Maine  \n\tThe Maine Department of Transportation proposes to work with Yachting Solutions, LLC on expansions to the Yachting Solutions Boat Basin. This will provide 2,200 linear feet of new dockage at the facility, which will be dedicated solely to eligible transient vessels. Also included are the installation of 100 amp and 480V 3-phase power, in-slip fueling, and the conversion of an existing upland gazebo structure into a well-appointed transient boater's lounge.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tFederal Funds Requested: $1,046,760; Non-Fed Match: $737,941; Total: $1,784,701\u00a0\n Clean Vessel Act Grant \nMaine \u2013 Coastal $405,280 - The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Resource Regulation, plans to use grant funds to install or upgrade 10 pumpout stations and provide operation and maintenance stipends to pumpout boats and stationary facilities. They also propose to review and update their Education and Outreach Plan as well as develop/distribute educational materials to boaters and boating facilities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-calls-state-government-shutdown-harmful-maine-s-working-families", "Pingree Calls State Government Shutdown Harmful to Maines Working Families", "2017-07-01", "2017", "2017-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PORTLAND, ME\u2014 Congresswoman Pingree (D-Maine) today issued the following statement in response to Maine\u2019s state government shutdown:\n\u201cAs families gather together to celebrate Independence Day, thousands of state employees across Maine are filled with anxiety and worry that they will not be able to make ends meet because obstructionist politics have prevented a common sense budget to pass in Augusta. It\u2019s harmful to working families in Maine to put their livelihoods in jeopardy with no end game in sight. In the interest of the people of Maine, I urge lawmakers to find common ground and put them selves in the shoes of the state workers who keep our state running.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-applauds-house-appropriations-committee-s-bipartisan-vote-repeal", "Pingree Applauds House Appropriations Committees Bipartisan Vote to Repeal Post-9/11 Authorization for War", "2017-06-29", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today joined her Republican and Democratic colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee in approving an amendment that will repeal the Authorization for Military Force (AUMF) passed by Congress following the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America and force a floor vote on a new AUMF.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe national security threats America faced 16 years ago are different than the threats we face today. Three Presidents have used the post-9/11 Authorization for Military Force to circumvent Congress\u2019s constitutional power to declare war and I think my colleagues on both sides of the aisle finally said enough is enough,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. \u201cIt\u2019s overdue and necessary that the U.S. House have an open and detailed debate about America\u2019s evolving war on terrorism.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe amendment passed with near unanimous support and was introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, who was the only member of Congress to vote against the initial AUMF in 2001. Lee\u2019s amendment would revoke the 2001 AUMF, effective 240 days after the bill is signed into law, forcing Congress to vote on a new AUMF in the interim.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSince her election in 2008, Pingree has signed numerous letters to House leadership urging them to hold a vote on legislation to replace the outdated 2001 AUMF. In the House Appropriations Committee and in floor votes, Pingree has been a persistent and outspoken proponent of revoking the President\u2019s blank check to use military force without Congressional approval.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/after-cbo-releases-score-republican-health-care-bill-pingree-says", "After CBO Releases Score of Republican Health Care Bill, Pingree says 'Mainers Deserve Better'", "2017-06-27", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined that 22 Million Americans will lose health care coverage under the Republican health care bill currently before in the U.S. Senate:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\"If Republicans pass a bill that they know will prevent millions of Americans from accessing or affording necessary care, they\u2019ve proven that getting elected means more than the lives of their constituents. From rising out of pocket costs to devastating Medicaid cuts, this CBO score makes clear that the Republican health care bill will have implications for the physical and financial health of our state for decades to come. Mainers deserve better. I strongly urge the Senate to put their constituents before politics and vote against this reckless proposal.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-encourages-farmers-register-upcoming-usda-census-agriculture", "Pingree encourages farmers to register for upcoming USDA Census of Agriculture", "2017-06-27", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With three days left until the registration deadline, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is encouraging farmers to sign up for the USDA\u2019s 2017 Census of Agriculture and make sure they\u2019re counted.\n\u201cThe USDA Census of Agriculture collects important information every five years about the state of farming in America and how it\u2019s changing. In Congress, the data is key to shaping good policy decisions that reflect where we\u2019re headed rather than where we\u2019ve been,\u201d said Pingree. \u00a0\u201cThe greater the number and diversity of farmers we have represented in the Census, the more accurate it is. I know it\u2019s a busy time on farms right now, but I encourage any farmer who hasn\u2019t participated in the Census before to register\u2014it\u2019s well worth the time.\u201d\nThe deadline to be registered for counting in the Census is June 30\u2014materials will be mailed out in December. To sign up, go to: https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/\nTaken in 2012, the last Census of Agriculture found that Maine had bucked national trends in several areas \u00a0The number of farmers aged 34 and younger had grown nearly 40 percent in the previous five years, the value of Maine products had increased by 24 percent, and the amount of land in cultivation had increased 8 percent.\nPingree has led efforts in Congress to continue that growth, ensuring that a number of reforms to support small- and medium-size farms were passed in the last Farm Bill. She is introducing several more ahead of the next reauthorization. A longtime farmer herself, Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/during-ptsd-awareness-month-pingree-recognizes-maine-veterans-group", "During PTSD Awareness Month, Pingree recognizes Maine veterans group on House floor", "2017-06-23", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 In recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) took to the House floor yesterday to recognize the work of K9s on the Front Line, an innovative organization based in Maine that helps veterans with PTSD train their own service dogs.\nBecause June is PTSD Awareness Month, I rise today to recognize an organization in my district that is making an extraordinary impact on the lives of Maine veterans managing this challenging condition.\n\t\u00a0\n\tThroughout my time in Congress, I\u2019ve paid close attention to effective alternative therapies for the symptoms of PTSD\u2014from service dogs to equine therapy, from book and writing groups to yoga and acupuncture.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tA group in my home state of Maine, K9s on the Front Line, has created an extraordinary model. At no cost to the veteran, volunteer police dog handlers teach participants to train their own dogs\u2014or dogs selected from shelters\u2014to be PTSD service dogs.\n\t\u00a0\n\tMany of these veterans have had years of therapy or drug treatment with limited success. Yet, in so many instances, the impact of these service dogs on both veterans and their families has been nothing short of miraculous.\n\t\u00a0\n\tI am proud to honor my constituents at K-9s on the Front Line for improving the lives of Maine veterans with PTSD.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-announces-over-23-million-federal-funding-maine-airport-safety", "Pingree announces over $2.3 million in federal funding for Maine airport safety improvements", "2017-06-23", "2017", "2017-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Chellie Pingree", "P000597", "pingree.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that airports in Augusta, Brunswick, and Portland will receive a total of over $2.3 million in Federal Aviation Administration grants for safety improvement projects.\u00a0\n\u201cMaine\u2019s airports perform an essential service by connecting our state to the rest of the country. \u00a0They are vital hubs of our nation\u2019s transportation infrastructure and important contributors to local economies,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cThe responsibility of maintaining them shouldn\u2019t fall on local municipalities alone, so I\u2019m glad these Maine airports are receiving federal funding to make needed improvements to ensure their safe operation.\u201d\nDetails and amounts for the grants below:\nPortland Jetport: $2,119,527  \n\tTo fund the installation of a runway lighting system for Runway 18/36, construction of taxiway shoulders on 4,100 feet of Taxiway C, and the reconstruction of 581,175 square yards of aging terminal apron pavement.\nBrunswick Executive Airport: $117,964  \n\tTo fund rehabilitation of 38,500 square yards of the existing apron to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.\nAugusta State Airport: $82,581  \n\tTo fund the installation of a 3,200-foot perimeter fence, remove vegetative obstructions in the Runway 26 approach surface, and seal cracks throughout the existing apron pavement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 211, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "ME", "p2": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 211, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 211, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 211, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 211, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-06-23,https~3A~2F~2Fpingree~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fpingree-announces-over-23-million-federal-funding-maine-airport-safety", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2017&_next=2017-06-23%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fpingree~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fpingree-announces-over-23-million-federal-funding-maine-airport-safety&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 223.52963592857122, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}