{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"ME\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/additional-1-billion-for-liheap-signed-into-law-following-advocacy-by-collins-golden", "Additional $1 Billion for LIHEAP Signed into Law Following Advocacy by Collins, Golden", "2022-12-30", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Jared Golden announced that the government funding bill that was signed into law last night included $1 billion in supplemental appropriations for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides funding to help low-income households pay their energy bills. In total, the government funding bill included $5 billion for LIHEAP, which brings the total FY23 funding to $6.1 billion.\n\nMaine will receive an estimated $6.5 million in additional LIHEAP funding, on top of the $42.5 million the state was allocated in November through prior funding bills. Senator Collins and Congressman Golden led a push to increase funding for LIHEAP during the negotiations over the omnibus appropriations bill that funded the federal government for fiscal year 2023. The omnibus passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29 and the House by a vote of 225-201.\n\n\u201cThis additional funding for LIHEAP comes at a critical time for Maine families,\u201d said Senator Collins and Congressman Golden. \u201cWe strongly advocated for this increase for LIHEAP to help compensate for the record high fuel prices that are straining households\u2019 budgets. This much-needed funding will help to ensure that seniors on fixed incomes and other Mainers in need have the resources necessary to keep their homes warm this winter.\u201d\n\nMany Northeast residents have seen a significant increase in their utility bills this winter, with residential electricity prices in some states forecast to rise over 60 percent, propane up 40 percent, and natural gas prices up nearly 30 percent, resulting in higher home heating bills.\n\nSenator Collins and Congressman Golden already delivered $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in the short-term \u201ccontinuing resolution\u201d (CR) funding package that President Biden signed into law in September.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2023 \u2014 or until the funding is exhausted. More information on how to apply can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-secures-maine-priorities-in-omnibus-spending-bill", "Golden Secures Maine Priorities in Omnibus Spending Bill", "2022-12-26", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) successfully secured the inclusion of a wide range of priorities for Maine\u2019s Second District in the omnibus spending bill that passed Congress Friday.\n\n\u201cWorking across the aisle and with my colleagues in the Maine delegation, I\u2019ve been pushing for months to ensure that this end-of-year spending bill makes responsible investments and delivers for my constituents,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped ensure our lobstermen can keep fishing, protect good jobs at Bath Iron Works, and help Mainers keep their families warm. Importantly, we are also bringing federal funds to bear in small towns across the state, improving local infrastructure and services, strengthening Maine\u2019s heritage industries, and supporting economic growth in rural Maine.\u201d\n\nThe provisions Golden worked to secure in the final bill include:\n\nRegulatory Pause for Maine Lobstermen:\n\nWorking with his colleagues in the Maine delegation, the congressman helped secure a six year pause before new regulations are imposed on the lobster fishery, providing the time necessary to collect data and determine the best policy to protect both right whales and Maine lobstering communities. Without the provision, the regulations slated to go into effect would likely have decimated the state\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\nProtecting National Security and Shipbuilding Jobs at Bath\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Golden worked to authorize the construction of three DDG-51 destroyers in the upcoming fiscal year and a multi-year contract to produce up to 15 of the ships over the next five years. The omnibus spending bill appropriates money for the three DDG-51 destroyers, a significant win to protect shipbuilding jobs at Bath Iron Works over the next several years and bolster American naval power.\n\nInvesting in Small Towns and Maine\u2019s Heritage Industries\n\nThe congressman secured funding for each of the fifteen Community Project Funding requests he sought. Those include:\n\n$726,000 to improve health care and STEM career training by creating one new laboratory, upgrading six existing laboratories, and adding needed equipment for health science simulation spaces at Husson University.\n\n$8 million to establish three Manufacturing Training Innovation Centers across the state through the University of Maine system.\n\n$3,000,000 to provide much needed support for the Maine Veterans Homes in Caribou and Machias to prevent their closure while a long-term solution to maintain the homes is secured.\n\n$1,642,000 to renovate the paramedic station at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, ME. The hospital\u2019s PACE paramedic service provides EMS coverage to 18 local communities in the Oxford Hills region, seasonal coverage of Sunday River Ski Resort, and back-up coverage for four other communities that have services of their own.\n\n$1,774,075 to upgrade Ellsworth\u2019s High Street Pump Station to mitigate potential adverse impacts of heavy rainfall events and to ensure that the sanitary sewer system can support vital economic growth for the City of Ellsworth and Downeast region.\n\n$1,000,000 to rehabilitate wastewater collect system components on the Loring Commerce Center to help alleviate problems with the Limestone Water and Sewer District\u2019s ability to sufficiently treat wastewater at their wastewater treatment facility and help with treatment costs.\n\n$1,000,000 to contribute to immediate capital improvement needs for the Blue Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility that is located on Blue Hill Bay, a tidal arm of the Gulf of Maine.\n\n$514,400 to upgrade the only wastewater pumping station in the area, which is currently experiencing severe age-related deterioration issues that, unaddressed, could result in increased sewage treatment costs for residents and businesses in the area.\n\n$1,600,000 to construct a new hangar at Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport.\n\n$1,000,000 to improve affordable housing for the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township.\n\n$750,000 to build a paramedic garage to serve Jackman and Moose River, Maine.\n\n$1,167,036 to create a wellness and fitness space for the use of RSU16 students and staff, as well as members of the Rumford community.\n\n$2,041,160 to help construct a 336-foot multi-use bridge connecting the 14-mile long Whistle Stop Trail to the center of Farmington.\n\n$750,000 to construct a sawmill operations training facility to be located at the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest, where at least 200 students and forest professionals would train each year in support of in-demand industry workforce needs.\n\n$3,031,769 to support Maine Preservation\u2019s work to rehabilitate the Wayne Masonic Hall and the First Congregational Church of East Machias to once again serve as community hubs for economic stimulus in rural communities.\n\nHelping Mainers Heat Their Homes\n\nFollowing months of advocacy from Congressman Golden, the bill contains $5 billion in LIHEAP funding. The funding will help struggling families keep their houses warm amid high fuel costs and increased demand for LIHEAP funds.\n\nSafeguarding Access to Prescription Information and Jobs in Madawaska\n\nGolden worked to ensure a provision was included in the bill to preserve the requirement for drug manufacturers to include printed inserts containing drug information when they ship their products to pharmacies. The provision would help ensure that rural Americans, seniors, and their pharmacists have access to important information about their prescription medications and protect jobs at the Twin Rivers Paper facility in Madawaska, Maine.\n\nUnfortunately, the omnibus bill did not include a measure introduced by Congressman Golden and cosponsored by Congresswoman Pingree (ME-01) to grant the Wabanaki tribes in Maine the same access to federal laws and programs as nearly every other federally-recognized tribe in the country. The measure passed through the House after being included in its spending bills but fell out of the final bill during negotiations with the Senate. Congressman Golden released the following statement on the bill\u2019s exclusion:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m disappointed that this provision, which we passed through the House on a bipartisan basis, fell out of the omnibus funding bill during negotiations with the Senate. Ensuring the Wabanaki tribes have the same access to future beneficial federal laws and programs as nearly every other federally recognized tribe in the nation would have a meaningful impact on both tribal members and the surrounding communities in our state. This issue is not settled and I look forward to continuing to partner with the tribes to make headway on this important matter.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/3-million-for-maine-veterans-homes-secured-by-collins-and-golden-in-funding-bill", "$3 Million for Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes Secured by Collins and Golden in Funding Bill", "2022-12-24", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced that they secured $3 million for renovations and upgrades at Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes (MVH) in the Fiscal Year 2023 Health & Human Services appropriations bill.\n\nThe omnibus funding package passed the Senate by a vote of 68-29 and passed the House today by a vote of 225-201-1. It will now head to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cMaine Veterans\u2019 Homes provides compassionate, quality long-term care to the brave men and women who served our country,\u201d said Senator Collins and Congressman Golden. \u201cAt a time when there is already a severe shortage of nursing home beds, MVH\u2019s facilities in rural parts of our state fill a critical need and allow Maine veterans to remain close to their loved ones. These investments will help MVH perform necessary maintenance and upgrades to ensure that these homes remain safe for residents.\u201d\n\nThe funding will support needed renovations and life-safety upgrades at Maine Veterans Homes, such as HVAC improvements, sewer pipe installation, and fire alarm system replacements.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-3-million-for-downeast-historic-preservation-efforts", "Golden Announces $3 Million for Downeast Historic Preservation Efforts", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $3 million in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for historic preservation projects in Wayne and East Machias. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used for the restoration of the Wayne Masonic Hall and the First Congregational Church of East Machias.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to help these rural communities in Maine preserve their history and important gathering places,\u201d said Congressman Golden.\u201cFor small towns like Wayne and East Machias, it\u2019s impossible to overstate how important these buildings are to the families that live there. Delivering this investment is about maintaining the quality of life, connectedness, and the sense of community that is so important in small towns.\u201d\n\nBuilt in 1867, the Mason Hall was a key part of industry in Wayne. In the recent decades, it has fallen into disrepair. This funding will be used to make much needed repairs to the building and reoutfit it for use as a community gathering space giving a boost to Wayne\u2019s economy and available social opportunities.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to our Congressman Golden for providing catalytic investment in the adaptive re-use of two buildings listed on our annual Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2021--the First Congregational Church of East Machias and Wayne Masonic Hall,\u201d said Tara Kelly, executive director of Maine Preservation. \u201cWhen stabilized and rehabilitated, these critically imperiled structures are slated to become economic and cultural stimulators in their rural communities, providing much-needed gathering spaces, public programs, and employment opportunities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Washington County charts a course toward economic revival through amenity-based development, it is essential that the region\u2019s cultural heritage is preserved through thoughtful community planning and the preservation of our historic architecture,\u201d said Erica Famous, Preservation Project Coordinator of Friends of the First Congregational Church of East Machias. \u201cThe Friends of the First Congregational Church of East Machias is dedicated to honoring the community\u2019s rich history while providing a welcoming space for cultural enrichment and improving community resilience through the restoration of this historic landmark. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Maine Preservation on this project and we are honored by the support of Congressman Golden.\u201d\n\nThe request on behalf of the Maine Preservation was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nConstruction of the First Congregational Church in East Machias was completed in 1836 and in the nearly two centuries since, the church has fallen in need of significant repairs. The funding will be used to make substantial repairs to the church so that it can reopen as a welcoming space for all members of the Washington County community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-1-million-for-blue-hill-wastewater-treatment-facility", "Golden Delivers $1 Million for Blue Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1 million in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the Town of Blue Hill. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used to cover the cost of immediate improvement needs for the Blue Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility that is located on Blue Hill Bay, a tidal arm of the Gulf of Maine.\n\n\u201cWhen I visited Blue Hill earlier this year, I saw firsthand the need for repairs to the wastewater treatment plant.\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to secure this funding to help ensure that families and small businesses in Blue Hill can continue to rely on clean water and strong local infrastructure for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Town of Blue Hill greatly appreciates the consideration for this substantial funding for its upcoming Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade,\u201d said Travis Jones, the Assistant Operations Manager Olver Associates. \u201cThe facility has had several upgrades over the years, but is now needing substantial additional investments in order to improve climate resiliency and make updates to equipment that is now over twenty years in service. This funding is instrumental in assisting the Town in implementing improvements that were identified recently, when the Town\u2019s Engineer completed an evaluation of the facility identifying significant improvements that need to be made to protect the facility from rising tides and other aging infrastructure concerns.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlue Hill\u2019s Wastewater Treatment Plant is in need of some very significant upgrades to combat both outdated equipment and current sea level rise,\u201d said Dr. Nicholas Nadeau, the Town Administrator of Blue Hill. \u201cFunding for this project is crucial in order to keep our wastewater plant operating so any consideration aimed at assisting is greatly appreciated. The short timeframe that these upgrades have to be made, coupled with the high cost of the project, create a complicated problem for the peninsula \u2013 we appreciate any and all the support we can get to see this through completion.\u201d\n\nThe Blue Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility, located on Blue Hill Bay, opened in 1975. Recent rises in tidal levels have caused problems for the facility, and further rises in tidal levels are expected to exacerbate the problems in coming years. The facility is in need of immediate capital improvements, including funding for high-tide pumping equipment, in order to handle these impending issues.\n\nThe request on behalf of the town of Blue Hill was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nGolden met with local leaders and toured the Blue Hill facility in August.\n\nThe congressman\u2019s funding will help support improvement efforts to alleviate the effects of aging equipment and rising tides and ensure that the Blue Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility may continue to serve the Blue Hill community safely and effectively.\n\nRead more about the Community Project Funding request Rep. Golden passed through the House here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-1-million-for-loring-development-authority-wastewater-treatment", "Golden Delivers $1 Million for Loring Development Authority Wastewater Treatment", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1 million in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the Loring Development Authority Wastewater Treatment. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used to rehabilitate wastewater collect system components on the Loring Commerce Centre to help alleviate problems with the Limestone Water and Sewer District\u2019s ability to sufficiently treat wastewater at their treatment facility and address associated operation costs.\n\n\u201cThe sewer system at Loring safely treated wastewater coming from the Commerce Centre for almost a century, but it is in need of some critical repairs,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have secured funding to make these much-needed improvements to the wastewater treatment system. This funding will help protect jobs at Loring by ensuring the Mainers who work there can count on safe, reliable water and the surrounding environment is protected from damage.\u201d\n\n\u201cA Flow Study of the sewer collection system at Loring Commerce Centre has guided a multiphase plan to update the 70-year old system,\u201d said Carl Flora, President and CEO of the Loring Development Authority (LDA) in Limestone. \u201cTo date four phases have been completed. Congressional funding will allow the completion of an additional six phases, addressing areas of greatest impact. The project is critical to the environment and to new economic activity at Loring. LDA appreciates Congressman Golden\u2019s support in bringing the project closer to achieving its overall purpose in protecting the environment, and promoting jobs at Loring. One such project is a new biorefinery project to be located at Loring. An investment in sewer infrastructure will facilitate new jobs and additional investments in this new multi-billion dollar project.\u201d\n\nThe Loring Commerce Centre, where the rehabilitation project will take place, is an industrial and aviation park in northern Maine currently housing over 20 companies employing upwards of 1,300 people. It is an important economic and industrial hub for northern Maine, responsible for creating over 1,400 jobs in the area. It was built on the site of the former Loring Air Force Base and continues to operate Loring International Airport.\n\nThe request on behalf of the Loring Development Authority was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nThe wastewater collection systems for the Loring Commercial Centre have seen significant problems due to aging infrastructure and high flows, resulting in difficulties with wastewater treatment and potential damage to local ecosystems. Congressman Golden\u2019s funding will cover the cost of updating the aging infrastructure to help protect the local environment and ensure that the Loring Commerce Centre remains attractive to future business activities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-17-million-for-ellsworth-pump-station", "Golden Delivers $1.7 Million for Ellsworth Pump Station", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1.7 million in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the town of Ellsworth. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used for upgrades to the High Street Pump Station to mitigate the adverse impacts of heavy rainfall events and ensure that the sanitary sewer system can support economic growth in Ellsworth and the surrounding communities.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s cities and towns can\u2019t support their families and small businesses without local infrastructure like pump stations, but replacing or repairing these facilities is often prohibitively expensive,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis investment will help make sure the facility runs smoothly for decades to come, benefitting generations of taxpayers and businesses in Ellsworth and the surrounding area.\u201d\n\nAfter decades of use, the wastewater pump station on High Street is in need of total replacement. The improvements funded through this project will reduce the amount of infiltration/inflow into the sanitary sewer collection system that lead to sanitary sewer overflows at the Water Street Pump Station. Replacing the station without federal resources would strain local budgets and place a severe burden on Ellsworth taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThe City of Ellsworth is very thankful for the congressional support for our High Street Pump Station project \u2013 without it, this critical work would not be possible,\u201d said Glenn Moshier, Ellsworth\u2019s City Manager. \u201cThe work will not only help protect the natural resources along Card Brook and increase the City\u2019s resiliency of its vulnerable infrastructure but will continue to stimulate the growth the City is experiencing as an economic engine for the region. We very much appreciate the support of Congressman Golden for this project.\u201d\n\nGolden met with local leaders to discuss the repair project in May. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-750000-for-university-of-maine-sawing-operations-training-facility", "Golden Delivers $750,000 for University of Maine Sawing Operations Training Facility", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a significant win for the next generation of Maine loggers, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $750,000 in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the University of Maine School of Forest Resources. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used to construct a sawmill operations training facility at the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest, just north of the University of Maine campus.\n\n\u201cThis federal funding will expand the sawmill operations facility to serve hundreds of Mainers every year with a new building and equipment,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cAs I\u2019ve heard consistently in meetings with loggers across the state, providing quality training on the latest logging technology and equipment is essential for the future of the forest products industry in Maine. I\u2019m proud to partner with the forest products industry and the University of Maine to secure this funding for the next generation of Maine loggers.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy 2030, one-quarter of Maine\u2019s current forest products workforce will reach retirement age,\u201d said Keith Kanoti, manager of the University of Maine Forest. \u201cAs this industry innovates for the future through technology and processes that add value to our timber, thefederal funding secured by Rep. Golden with the support of Sens. Collins and King will allow the university to better prepare the next generation of skilled forest resource professionals who are necessary to maintain and grow Maine\u2019s leading role in the global forest economy.\u201d\n\nThe new sawmill operations training facility project will provide hands-on workforce development training and professional development of Maine\u2019s forest products industry. The congressman\u2019s funding will help build this new facility where at least 200 students and forest professionals would train each year in support of in-demand industry workforce needs.\n\nForestry is one of Maine\u2019s oldest and largest industries, contributing over $8 billion and 31,000 jobs to the Maine economy each year. To support this important Maine industry, the University of Maine School of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture runs the oldest continuously accredited professional forestry program in the United States.\n\nThe request on behalf of the University of Maine was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nGolden met with university officials, manufacturing and forest products experts, and students for a tour of the sawmill site in August.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-delivers-over-500000-for-dixfield-wastewater-treatment", "Golden Delivers Over $500,000 for Dixfield Wastewater Treatment", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $514,400 as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the Town of Dixfield. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will be used to upgrade the only wastewater pumping station in the area, which is currently experiencing severe age-related deterioration issues that could result in increased sewage treatment costs for residents and businesses in the area if unaddressed.\n\n\u201cAfter decades of serving the water and waste treatment needs of its communities, the Hall Hill Pump Station is in need of critical repairs and upgrades,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to secure this funding to get these improvements underway and reduce the cost burden on local families and businesses. This funding will go a long way towards ensuring that Dixfield residents can continue to count on strong, reliable infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Rep. Golden for helping Dixfield keep its waste water infrastructure in operation with this federal investment,\u201d said Dixfield Town Manager Alicia Conn. \u201cThe funds for the Hall Hill Pump Station that Rep. Golden's bringing back to Dixfield will have a positive impact on the community. Thank you, Rep. Golden!\u201d\n\nDixfield\u2019s current wastewater treatment infrastructure, designed for a lifespan of 25 years, is now over 40 years old. The request on behalf of the town of Dixfield was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nGolden met with local leaders and toured the sewer pump in June.\n\nDixfield\u2019s wastewater pumping station is experiencing severe age-related problems including leakages and nonfunctional equipment and is in need of urgent repairs and upgrades. The congressman\u2019s funding will help fund the necessary upgrades to the system that will help keep wastewater treatment costs low for the residents and businesses of Dixfield.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-secures-16-million-for-auburn-lewiston-airport-expansion", "Golden Secures $1.6 Million for Auburn-Lewiston Airport Expansion", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today that he has secured $1.6 million in dedicated funding as part of the 2023 appropriations government funding package for the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. The funding, which passed the Senate yesterday and is expected to head to the president\u2019s desk for his signature this week, will go towards construction of a new airplane hangar at the airport.\n\n\u201cThe Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is an economic pillar for the entire region. Investing in the airport\u2019s growth and success benefits businesses and local economies all over Lewiston-Auburn and Androscoggin County, and could set the stage for passenger service down the road\u201d said Rep. Golden. \u201cI was lucky to have a great partner in this request in Mayor Jason Levesque and I\u2019m glad we were able to deliver.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m extremely thankful for Representative Golden\u2019s advocacy for the Auburn Airport, and the incredible economic impact this project will have for the entire region,\u201d said Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque. \u201cThis type of transportation infrastructure investment will have an immediate and quantifiable impact on thousands of our residents and businesses.\u201d\n\nOpened in 1935, the Auburn-Lewiston Airport has been a hub for charter airlines for nearly a century. Construction of a new hangar would allow for bigger, company flights to land at the airport, boosting the local and regional economy.\n\nThe request on behalf of the City of Auburn was one of the congressman\u2019sCommunity Project Funding requests. Congressman Golden was the only member of the delegation whose request for funding was included in the year-end omnibus spending bill.\n\nGolden met with local leaders and toured the proposed site for the hangar in July.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-governor-mills-announce-lifeline-for-maine-s-lobster-industry-secured-in-government-funding-package", "Maine Delegation, Governor Mills Announce Lifeline for Maine\u2019s Lobster Industry Secured in Government Funding Package", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills announced that they were successful in securing a regulatory pause for Maine\u2019s lobster industry in the omnibus appropriations bill that is expected to pass the Senate and House this week.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen and women have long demonstrated their commitment to maintaining and protecting a sustainable fishery in the Gulf of Maine. They have invested in countless precautionary measures to protect right whales, including removing more than 30,000 miles of line from the water and switching to weaker rope to prevent whales from being entangled. And the fact is\u2014 there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear,\u201d said the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills. \u201cDespite our industry\u2019s good stewardship and compliance with NMFS\u2019 most recent regulations to protect right whales, our lobstermen and women are now faced with further punitive regulations that will not meaningfully protect the right whale, but will threaten the livelihoods of thousands of Maine families and small businesses.\n\n\u201cWe have always said that we will pursue any and all policy solutions to protect our hardworking lobstermen and women along Maine\u2019s coast,\u201d they continued. \u201cOur provision, which relies upon the expertise of the professionals at the Maine Department of Marine Resources, was included in the government funding bill released this morning. It will enable our lobster fishery to continue to operate while still complying with NMFS\u2019 most recent right whale rule. Without our provision, Maine\u2019s iconic industry could be facing a complete shutdown\u2014and the ripple effects across our state would have been widespread.\u201d\n\nAlthough there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear, misguided environmental groups have been seeking actions that would end lobstering in Maine, all based on the theoretical possibility that a right whale could be killed.\n\nThe provision is a simple compromise that would protect the livelihoods of the men and women who make their living from one of the best managed and sustainable fisheries on earth.\n\nSpecifically, the provision in the omnibus:\n\nDeems the current right whale rules sufficient to ensure the continued operation of the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries for six years (through December 31, 2028).\n\nProvide that new regulations for the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries would take effect in six years (by December 31, 2028).\n\nAuthorizes a new grant program that could fund innovative gear technologies and the monitoring necessary to support the dynamic management of fisheries. Fishermen and other participants within the maritime industry would be eligible for this funding.\n\nThe Maine Delegation and Governor Mills have been steadfastly opposed to undue burdens that would threaten the lobster fishery without meaningfully protecting whales. Following the release of the final rule in late August 2021, the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills issued a statement in opposition to the rule and highlighting the Maine lobster fishery\u2019s record of repeatedly making significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales. In October 2021, they wrote to Secretary Raimondo to urge her to rescind the rule, and in February 2022 called for a postponement of the rule due to difficulties lobstermen were having obtaining the necessary gear.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/as-congressional-negotiators-seek-to-finalize-fy23-funding-bill-collins-golden-reed-lead-call-for-additional-500m-for-liheap", "As Congressional Negotiators Seek to Finalize FY23 Funding Bill Collins, Golden, & Reed Lead Call for Additional $500M for LIHEAP", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 As congressional negotiators seek to finalize a bipartisan agreement on funding the federal government for fiscal year 2023, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) are leading efforts in Congress to include an extra $500 million in supplemental funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).\n\nLIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance.\n\nMany Northeast residents are projected to see a significant increase in their utility bills this winter, with residential electricity prices in some states forecast to rise over 60 percent, propane up 40 percent, and natural gas prices up nearly 30 percent, resulting in higher home heating bills. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors\u2019 Association, the average cost to heat a home is expected to increase by 17.2 percent this winterto $1,208, up from $1,031 last season.\n\nGiven elevated energy prices forecast for this winter, the lawmakers say the emergency federal LIHEAP funding is needed to assists low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter.\n\nSenators Collins and Reed and Congressman Golden, who are leading efforts to include $4 billion for LIHEAP in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations package making its way through Congress, already delivered $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in the short-term \u201ccontinuing resolution\u201d (CR) funding package that President Biden signed into law. But with many families \u2013 particularly those in the Northeast -- facing a winter heating crisis, they are working with the Biden Administration on a bipartisan effort to deliver another $500 million for LIHEAP recipients.\n\n\u201cWhile we recognize the competing priorities you must balance, the number of households eligible for LIHEAP assistance continues to exceed available funding. Meanwhile, the average cost of heating oil is nearly 70 percent higher than last year and natural gas is 20 percent higher, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As these prices go up, the purchasing power of LIHEAP\u2019s appropriations goes down. This leaves states in the position of making tough choices about the amount of assistance they will provide and the number of people they will serve with the limited funding available. Ensuring that LIHEAP is well-funded will help guarantee that the program has the resources it needs to help as many eligible, low-income households and seniors as possible,\u201d the Members of Congress wrote to the respective leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees this week.\n\nUnder the CR passed earlier this year, HHS was able to advance states funding equal to 90 percent of their FY 2022 allocation. As a result, Maine has received $42.5 million in federal LIHEAP aid to help vulnerable residents lower their home energy bills.\n\nAdditionally, Senators Collins and Reed also worked to successfully include a $500 million LIHEAP investment in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Biden signed into law last November. $100 million of this LIHEAP funding will be released annually through 2026.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.\n\nSenior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2023 \u2014 or until the funding is exhausted.\n\nClick HERE for the full text of the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-nominates-16-mainers-to-the-us-service-academies", "Golden Nominates 16 Mainers to the U.S. Service Academies", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today his office\u2019s nominees to the United States Service Academies\u2014the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. 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\n\u201cThis group represents some of Maine\u2019s most talented, skilled and accomplished students. They have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, high academic standards, and a selfless ambition to help others,\u201d said Golden. \u201cWhatever happens from here, they should all be proud of themselves. We are lucky that they have chosen to offer their talents in service to the country, and it\u2019s an honor to nominate them to our nation\u2019s service academies.\u201d\n\nThe nominees were interviewed by a panel on their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extracurricular activities, and exemplified commitment to serving their country.\n\nThe full list of nominations is below. Contact information is available upon request.\n\nUnited States Naval Academy \u2013 Annapolis\n\nAustin Sellinger: Auburn, Edward Little High School\n\nBenjamin Cloutier: Lewiston, Lewiston High School\n\nGeorge Ferland: Stockholm, Caribou High School\n\nJameson Buck: Hampden, Hampden Academy\n\nJudson Nash: Hampden, Norwich University/Hampden Academy\n\nLeonardo Mlynski: Hampden, Hampden Academy\n\nMalachi Cummings: Presque Isle, Presque Isle High School\n\nNora Spratt: Castine, George Stevens Academy\n\nSarah Neal: East Machias, Washington Academy\n\nWilliam Price: Anson, Carrabec High School\n\nUnited States Military Academy \u2013 West Point\n\nJameson Buck: Hampden, Hampden Academy\n\nNicholas Biberstein: Bangor, Bangor High School\n\nNolan Garey: Minot, Poland Regional High School\n\nSarah Neal: East Machias, Washington Academy\n\nWilliam Price: Anson, Carrabec High School\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy \u2013 Colorado Springs\n\nKatelynn Kinney: Sebec, Northwestern Preparatory School\n\nLeonardo Mlynski: Hampden, Hampden Academy\n\nNicoholas Biberstein: Bangor, Bangor High School\n\nNora Spratt: Castine, George Steves Academy\n\nRyan Cole: Woodland, Washburn District High School\n\nSarah Neal: East Machias, Washington Academy\n\nWilliam Price: Anson, Carrabec High School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy \u2013 Kings Point\n\nAmber Scholten: St. Albans, Nokomis Regional High School\n\nBenjamin Cloutier: Lewiston, Lewiston High School\n\nJameson Buck: Hampden, Hampden Academy\n\nNicholas Biberstein: Bangor, Bangor High School\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/with-authorization-for-3rd-ddg-51-destroyer-golden-secures-wins-for-bath-shipbuilders-umaine-servicemembers-and-families-in-final-defense-bill", "With Authorization for 3rd DDG-51 Destroyer, Golden Secures Wins for Bath Shipbuilders, UMaine, Servicemembers and Families in Final Defense Bill", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The conference report of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) \u2014 the final version of the legislation \u2014 passed the House yesterday. The legislation contains a number of priorities fought for and secured by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), including much of an amendment he proposed and guided through the House to authorize a $37 billion increase in defense spending on investments in our national security, our servicemembers, and shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works.\n\n\u201cI am proud to have supported a bill that fortifies our nation\u2019s security, ensures our men and women in uniform have the pay they deserve, and provides consistent work for our Navy\u2019s skilled shipbuilding workforce,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThis bill delivers authorization for a third DDG-51 destroyer, in addition to a contract for the construction of up to 15 DDGs over the next five years. The DDG is in a class of its own and so are the men and women at Bath Iron Works who make these ships.\u201d\n\nIn June, Golden introduced an amendment to increase defense spending at the NDAA markup for the House Armed Services Committee. The amendment passed out of the committee with bipartisan support and was included in the version of the NDAA the House passed in July.\n\nThe final House FY2023 NDAA contains many of the provisions Congressman Golden worked to secure on a number of priorities, including:\n\nShipbuilding:\n\nEstablishing a new multi-year contract for up to 15 DDG-51 destroyers over the next five years, many of which will be built at BIW;\n\n$250 million for infrastructure investments at large surface combatant shipyards (such as BIW);\n\nAdvanced procurement funding beyond the Administration\u2019s request for a potential, additional DDG next year;\n\nFunding to support the DDG(X) development program. The DDG(X) is the planned successor large surface combatant to the DDG-51 destroyer.\n\nResearch and Innovation in Maine:\n\nAuthorizing over $25 million for defense research programs including the University of Maine\u2019s large scale manufacturing program;\n\nSecuring $4 million Community Project Funding authorization for a joint University of Maine and Southern Maine Community College State-wide Partnership for Manufacturing Training Innovation program in Orono, Brunswick, and South Portland. These centers will help coordinate efforts and leverage resources to help Maine manufacturing businesses.\n\nME Air National Guard:\n\nProvision limiting the number of reserve and National Guard KC-135 tanker aircraft (the kind used by the ME Air National Guard\u2019s 101st Air Refueling Wing (\u201cMaineiacs\u201d) can convert from a primary to backup training and maintenance status.\n\nServicemembers:\n\nAuthorizing a 4.6% pay increase for servicemembers to deal with rising costs due to inflation.\n\nSmall Business:\n\nSecuring provision that instructs the Secretary of Defense to coordinate with an association of eligible Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) to better manage the PTAC program. PTACs assist local businesses with navigating government contracting, including at the Department of Defense.\n\nOther:\n\nAuthorizing $800 million to support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative;\n\nAuthorizing more than $6 billion for the European Defense Initiative, a Department of Defense program, to strengthen the capability of US forces, NATO allies, and our European partners to deter and, if necessary, respond to Russian aggression;\n\nAuthorizing $11.5 billion for the Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a Department of Defense program, to strengthen deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific in response to Chinese coercion.\n\nFor a summary of the final bill, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-natural-disaster-relief-for-rural-small-businesses-passes-house", "Golden Bipartisan Bill to Improve Natural Disaster Relief for Rural Small Businesses Passes House", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted to pass the Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act today. Golden introduced the bill alongside the late Representative Jim Hagedorn (MN-01) in May 2021. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.\n\nThe Disaster Assistance for Rural Communities Act would help ensure that small businesses in rural parts of the country, including those in Maine, can more easily access relief from the Small Business Administration (SBA) following a natural disaster. The legislation would waive burdensome restrictions that keep businesses in rural areas with low population densities from applying for federal disaster relief.\n\n\u201cWhen a natural disaster strikes, making sure small businesses can get back up and running is essential for a community to recover,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cFor the rural communities that are especially vulnerable in these times of emergency, federal assistance plays a big role in helping our friends and neighbors get back on their feet. I am pleased to see Congress move in a bipartisan way on our bill to eliminate unnecessary red tape and get disaster relief and resources into the hands of those that really need it.\u201d\n\nMaine has had multiple federal disaster declarations in the past two decades, including declarations for floods, winter storms, and Tropical Storm Irene. The legislation would remove a potential roadblock for small businesses in rural Maine to access emergency relief the next time there is a natural disaster.\n\nThe second district has more than 14,000 small businesses, according to the SBA\u2019s 2021 Small Business Profile, which employ more than 125,000 people.\n\nYou can read the bill text here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-turner-press-congressional-negotiators-to-make-health-coverage-tax-credit-permanent-0", "Golden, Turner Press Congressional Negotiators to Make Health Coverage Tax Credit Permanent", "2022-12-06", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Mike Turner (OH-10) sent a bipartisan letter this week to urge congressional leadership to include a reauthorization of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) in any end of year tax extenders legislation. A Golden-backed provision to make the program permanent was included in the House-passed version of America COMPETES Act, but was stripped during conference negotiations with the Senate. Reps. Dan Kildee (MI-05) and Victoria Spartz (IL-05) joined Golden and Turner to send the letter.\n\nThe HCTC helps dozens of Maine retirees, including retired millworkers from Twin Rivers Paper in Madawaska, afford health insurance. Golden secured one-year extensions of the HCTC for 2020 and 2021, but the credit lapsed at the end of 2021 as congressional leaders\u2019 negotiations over omnibus appropriations and tax legislation stalled.\n\n\u201cWe represent working people who have been left without affordable health insurance since Congress allowed the program to expire at the beginning of the year,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe HCTC provides refundable tax credits to retirees whose pensions have been taken over by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) as a result of their previous employer\u2019s financial instability. It also assists workers who have lost their jobs due to outsourcing, as well as their families. Especially in a time of record inflation and economic uncertainty, these constituents deserve access to affordable health care through this credit.\u201d\n\nThe HCTC provides refundable tax credits to cover more than 70 percent of the cost of health insurance premiums for two kinds of workers: those who have been certified to have lost their jobs due to outsourcing, and eligible retirees whose pensions have been taken over by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as a result of the financial instability of a previous employer.\n\n\u201cSince its inception in 2002, this program has been reauthorized seven times \u2013 providing much-needed benefits to workers in such positions,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cThese people worked hard their whole lives and don\u2019t deserve the uncertainty and stress of relying on a program that could expire every year or two. That\u2019s why we must ensure that a permanent reauthorization is included in any end-of-year tax extenders legislation.\u201d\n\nGolden has been a long-time advocate for the HCTC. The need for HCTC extension was first brought to Golden\u2019s attention by Twin Rivers Paper Mill workers when the Congressman met with them in Madawaska in February 2019. The Congressman then helped lead the bipartisan Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2019 with Republican Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), and he won one-year extensions of the HCTC for 2020 and 2021. He and Turner reintroduced bipartisan Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization of 2021 earlier this year.\n\nThe letter text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-welcomes-5-million-to-aid-passamaquoddy-impacted-by-climate-change", "Maine Delegation Welcomes $5 Million to Aid Passamaquoddy Impacted by Climate Change", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden welcomed a $5 million planning grant for the Passamaquoddy Tribe to respond to climate-related environmental threats. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of the Interior\u2019s newly announced Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation program and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cFrom rising sea levels to warming waters, the impacts of climate change are already threatening communities across Maine. This federal program, one of the first of its kind, will help the Passamaquoddy Tribe prepare for climate change with long-term resilience measures,\u201d the Maine Delegation said. \u201cAs proud supporters of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we\u2019re thrilled to see its investments are working to protect tribal communities in Maine and across the nation.\u201d\n\nThe Passamaquoddy Tribe is one of eight Tribal communities nationwide receiving a total of $40 million for planning grants.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s funding announcement was made during the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, which provides an opportunity for the Administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes to discuss ways the federal government can invest in and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships as well as ensure that progress in Indian Country endures for years to come.\n\nAlaska Native villages and Tribal communities in the contiguous 48 states are at risk of severe infrastructure damage due to climate-related environmental impacts, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events threats, and threats from flooding, drought, and wildland fire. A 2020 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) study estimated that up to $5 billion will be needed over the next 50 years to address Tribal relocation infrastructure needs in response to climate change impacts.\n\nThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a total of $466 million to the BIA over five years, including $216 million for climate resilience programs, provided as $43.2 million annually for five years. Of that funding, $130 million is provided for community relocation and $86 million is provided for Tribal climate resilience and adaptation projects. The Inflation Reduction Act provides BIA with an additional $220 million for climate adaptation and resilience, of which the Department anticipates spending $40 million to support Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation efforts, with the remainder supporting broader Tribal climate resilience activities.\n\nSenator Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was part of the core group of 10 Senators who negotiated the text of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Senators Collins and King both worked to negotiate and pass this legislation in the Senate. Signed into law last November by President Biden with the support of Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation, the law offers a historic opportunity to invest in Maine\u2019s roads and bridges, expand broadband and public transportation systems, improve climate resilience, build a clean energy future, ensure clean drinking water, and grow Maine's economy through sustained investment and good-paying jobs. The law is expected to deliver approximately $2.5 billion to Maine over the next five years for critical transportation, broadband, energy, and environmental projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-continues-to-push-biden-administration-for-concrete-plan-to-keep-maine-homes-heated", "Golden Continues to Push Biden Administration for Concrete Plan to Keep Maine Homes Heated", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Today Congressman Jared Golden (ME-01) joined Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) in sending a letter to President Biden and the U.S. Department of Energy urging them to work with Congress to proactively address natural gas and diesel supply shortages in the Northeast and rising energy costs and develop a plan to prevent rolling blackouts should the region experience frigid temperatures this winter.\n\n\"Widespread reporting indicates that the Northeast may not have sufficient fuel supply in the event of severe cold weather this winter, and if last week\u2019s frigid temperatures and major snowstorms are any indication, it will be a long, cold winter resulting in rolling blackouts across the region, leaving millions of families in the dark and cold,\" the Members wrote.\"It is imperative that your Administration is working proactively with Congress to ensure that winter electricity reliability in the most densely populated area of the United States is available to meet the power demand necessary to avoid devastating consequences for the people and businesses across the region.\"\n\nHeating oil prices across the Northeast are at historical highs, exceeding $5 per gallon in Maine. Additionally, the lack of pipeline infrastructure in the Northeast region, limited shipments of foreign sourced LNG resulting from the war in Ukraine, the closure of coal, oil, and natural gas refineries, and the looming rail strike could lead to dire circumstances in the event of extreme weather.\n\nThe Members continued: \"We are requesting that your Administration, led by the Secretary of Energy, present Congress with a comprehensive plan so we may ensure our constituents that concrete solutions are in place, and they will not be left in the dark this winter...To be effective, these actions will require complex planning and far-reaching communication efforts involving all relevant federal agencies and state and local parties should they be put into place\u2026 At a minimum, we ask that you and the Secretary of Energy ensure any Northeast fuel reserves released remain in the region and not be shipped overseas to the highest bidder. We understand the importance of assisting our allies in Europe; however, we must prioritize the well-being of our constituents given the realities we face at home.\"\n\nGolden has also been working to lower oil and gas prices since fall 2021 and has consistently led his colleagues in Congress to push back against the administration and call on the White House to take more aggressive action to increase domestic energy production. In July, he and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) led a bipartisan, bicameral push to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps over 5.3 million households nationwide afford their energy bills. He introduced bipartisan legislation to increase funding for the program by $4 billionthis fiscal year. In September, Golden helped secure $1 billion in supplemental appropriations for the program in a short term government funding bill.\n\nHe has also pressed the administration to adopt his bipartisan, multi-pronged proposal to boost energy production and boost supply, called for the suspension of the federal gas tax to help consumers save at the pump, and advocated for opening or expediting approval pipelines like Keystone, Dakota Access, and Mountain Valley.\n\nRead the letter HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-house-votes-regarding-rail-labor-dispute", "Golden Statement on House Votes Regarding Rail Labor Dispute", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released a statement today following his vote against H. Res. 100 and his vote for H. Con. Res. 119. H. Res. 100 would force a labor agreement on rail unions that have not yet ratified it. H. Con. Res. 119, would provide for seven paid sick days for affected rail workers.\n\n\u201cIn prematurely rushing this legislation through the House, Congress undermines the fundamental bargaining power of workers and unions across the country. The right to bargain for fair wages and humane working conditions is a bright red line for me. While the stakes are high with these particular negotiations, in the end, nothing is better for our long-term economic security than a strong and resilient workforce.\n\n\u201cA congressional intervention of this scale has not taken place in 30 years. Rather than weigh the gravity of such a move and pursue other viable steps that would have continued to respect the bargaining process, today the House opted for the option of last resort. I was glad to vote to support the unions\u2019 efforts to make sure workers have seven sick days per year, and I will continue to stand up for their right to push for a better deal for workers and their families.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-4-million-in-usda-loans-and-grants-for-blue-hill-treatment-plant", "Golden Announces $4 Million in USDA Loans and Grants for Blue Hill Treatment Plant", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today shared that USDA Rural Development awarded a loan of $2,750,000 and a grant of $1,250,000 million to the town of Blue Hill for upgrades and repairs to their wastewater treatment plant. The funding would go towards much-needed repairs to the facility that the congressman has been working with local leaders to secure for the past year. The total budget for upgrades at the 47-year-old facility exceeds $5 million.\n\n\u201cAs I saw in my visit to the plant in August, the last few years of rising tides in Blue Hill Harbor have left the plant in need of some upgrades and repairs,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cToday\u2019s USDA funding will go a long way to ensuring that the families and businesses in Blue Hill can continue to count on safe water.\u201d\n\nGolden met with local leaders and toured the Blue Hill facility in August.\n\nOpen since 1975 and last upgraded in 2000, Blue Hill\u2019s Wastewater Treatment Facility is showing its age and has been impacted by rising tide levels from the surrounding waters. Earlier this year, Golden passed $1 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) for the facility through the House, although it remains unclear whether the Senate will act on the House-passed legislation.\n\nRead more about the USDA\u2019s grant and loan announcement here.\n\nRead more about the Community Project Funding request Rep. Golden passed through the House here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-and-governor-mills-voice-disappointment-urge-national-retailers-to-continue-selling-maine-lobster", "Maine Delegation and Governor Mills Voice Disappointment, Urge National Retailers to Continue Selling Maine Lobster", "2022-11-22", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, MAINE\u2014Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills today released the following statement after Whole Foods Market said it would stop selling Maine lobster nationwide:\n\n\u201cWe are disappointed by Whole Foods\u2019 decision and deeply frustrated that the Marine Stewardship Council\u2019s suspension of the lobster industry\u2019s certificate of sustainability continues to harm the livelihoods of hardworking men and women up and down Maine\u2019s coast. In an appeal to retailers just weeks ago, we outlined the facts: there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear; Maine lobstermen have a 150-year history of sustainability; and Maine\u2019s lobstering community has consistently demonstrated their commitment to protecting right whales. Despite this, the Marine Stewardship Council, with retailers following suit, wrongly and blindly decided to follow the recommendations of misguided environmental groups rather than science. We strongly urge the Marine Stewardship Council and retailers to reconsider their potentially devastating decisions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-and-governor-mills-respond-to-suspension-of-lobster-fishery-certification-by-marine-stewardship-council", "Maine Delegation and Governor Mills Respond to Suspension of Lobster Fishery Certification by Marine Stewardship Council", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills today released the following statement after the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced plans to temporarily suspend their certification of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. In their decision, MSC acknowledges that while the Maine fishery meets standards for sustainability and environmental impact and is unlikely to cause harm to right whales, it is unable to certify any fishery that is not in compliance with federal regulations \u2013 a standard MSC believes the fishery does not meet due to the ongoing litigation in CBD v. Ross.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Marine Stewardship Council to temporarily suspend certification of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery is the result of a years-long campaign from misguided environmentalist groups who seem to be hellbent on putting a proud, sustainable industry out of business without regard to the consequences of their actions. While the Maine industry met the highest standards for environmental sustainability and impact, the current pending CBD v. Ross court case led by the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States made certification impossible. This litigation is based more on activism than evidence and is putting livelihoods in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cTo be clear, this decision is not a reflection on the Maine lobster industry. As the MSC clearly states, \u2018there is no recent evidence that the Maine lobster fishery is responsible for entanglements or interactions with right whales.\u2019 The temporary suspension is purely because activists with an axe to grind have weaponized the court system and the Endangered Species Act to target the livelihoods of thousands of Maine lobstermen, their families, and the communities who work responsibly to maintain the delicate balance in Maine\u2019s waters. The Maine lobster fishery has always complied with National Marine Fisheries Service regulations, and had the agency issued valid regulations, Maine\u2019s lobster fishery would not have been in a position to lose its certification. It\u2019s extraordinarily frustrating and incredibly unjust.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply disappointed by this action, and hope that the MSC will reconsider the decision as litigation is ongoing in the matter. Any companies purchasing Maine lobster, or people deciding to enjoy a lobster roll, should view MSC\u2019s decision purely as a result of a continuing legal process that is no fault of the fishery or lobstermen. MSC\u2019s own independent review found the industry to be operating sustainably. In the meantime, we will continue doing everything in our power to support the iconic Maine industry and ensure that they have the resources they need to continue complying with any federal regulations.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-blasts-inconsistencies-of-noaa-s-vessel-strike-rule-that-treats-lobster-industry-unequally", "Maine Delegation Blasts Inconsistencies of NOAA\u2019s Vessel Strike Rule that Treats Lobster Industry Unequally", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014In response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) favoring the shipping industry over the lobster industry in its attempts to reduce the risk of right whale deaths, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to express their opposition to imposing stricter regulations on fishermen compared to other groups.\n\nSince 2019, there were six documented right whale deaths due to vessel strikes. NOAA recently proposed expanding the current mandatory seasonal vessel speed restrictions of 10 knots or fewer in designated ocean areas, which would reduce the risk of vessel strikes by only 27.5 percent. By contrast, NOAA is moving forward with implementing an onerous and unnecessary lobster gear rule that would purportedly reduce the risk of right whale mortalities by nearly 90 percent, even though there has never been a single right whale death or serious injury attributed to Maine\u2019s lobster industry.\n\n\u201c[T]this rule imposes different requirements on vessel traffic than it does commercial fisheries,\u201d the Maine Delegation wrote. \u201cThrough this proposed rule, it is clear that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is holding Maine\u2019s lobster industry to a much more stringent standard than other sectors\u2026We encourage NMFS to take a hard look at the disparate regulatory treatment of vessel traffic and commercial fisheries before moving forward with additional rules for both sectors.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the Maine Delegation outlined the numerous steps that Maine lobstermen have taken to reduce risks to right whales, and they renewed their push for NOAA to work with its Canadian counterpart to protect this fragile population. They also pointed out a number of contradictions of the new rule. For instance, unlike the lobster gear rule, which is based on estimated rather than confirmed deaths caused by entanglements, the vessel speed rule is confined to documented mortalities caused by ship strikes. Moreover, the vessel speed rule will not apply to the Gulf of Maine. Ironically, this amounts to a tacit admission that Maine waters pose a low risk to right whales.\n\nThe Maine Delegation also asked NOAA several pointed questions to explain these discrepancies.\n\nClick HERE to read the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-gimenez-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-reauthorize-essential-firefighter-programs", "Golden, Gim\u00e9nez Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Essential Firefighter Programs", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME), Carlos Gim\u00e9nez (R-FL), Dan Kildee (D-MI), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) announced last Friday the introduction of the Fire Grants and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and increase federal resources for local fire departments across the nation. The legislation would boost critical federal funds for local fire departments to address staffing shortages, purchase new equipment, and improve training and emergency services. Fire departments across Maine, particularly in rural areas, are experiencing significant losses in staffing and slowing interest in the volunteer fire fighting work that is critical to smaller communities [source, source].\n\n\u201cThe Mainers who make up our fire departments put their lives on the line to protect their neighbors,\u201d said Congressman Golden.\u201cThe federal government has a responsibility to ensure they have what they need to do their job and do it well. Increasing access to these resources \u2013 especially at a time of staff shortages throughout Maine \u2013 is just common sense. I\u2019m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to help advance this funding for departments in the Second District and across the country.\u201d\n\nThe Fire Grants and Safety Act would reauthorize funding for three key initiatives: the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. Since 2021, Maine fire departments have been awarded over $4 million in SAFER grants to assist in hiring new staff and more than $14 million in AFG grants. Without Congressional intervention, all three programs are set to expire starting in 2023 \u2013 endangering future recruitment, training, retention, and outfitting efforts. The bill is companion legislation to a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH).\n\n\u201cAs a former fire fighter and Chief of the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department, I know firsthand how crucial these vital programs and resources are to adequately prepare firefighters to respond to emergencies and protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Gim\u00e9nez. \u201cIn the past, both Monroe County and Miami-Dade County have benefited immensely from such initiatives. In Congress, it is our responsibility to support firemen as they make every effort to keep communities in South Florida and across the country safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur fire fighters keep us safe, and we must ensure they have the resources necessary to protect our communities,\u201d said Congressman Kildee.\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m working with Republicans and Democrats to provide critical federal funding for local fire departments. This bipartisan legislation will support mid-Michigan fire departments and fire fighters so they can be ready when our community needs them.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommunities across our country rely on local fire departments to keep residents safe in the event of a life-threatening crisis,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick.\u201cI am proud to co-lead bipartisan legislation that will support volunteer fire departments and assist with volunteer recruitment and retention.\u201d\n\nAdvocates and members of the national and Maine firefighting community voiced their support for the bill:\n\n\u201cFire fighters across the State of Maine rely on the AFG and SAFER programs to ensure they have the staffing and tools to safely and effectively respond to emergencies,\u201d said Michael Crouse, President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine.\u201cWe appreciate Rep. Golden\u2019s consistent support of firefighters and his leadership in advancing legislation to reauthorize these critical programs. The Fire Grants and Safety Act also allows the US Fire Administration to continue accomplishing its important mission of educating the fire service and representing fire departments\u2019 needs at the highest levels of government. The PFFM applauds Rep. Golden for his dedication to fire fighters and encourages Congress to reauthorize these programs this year.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn a big state like Maine, volunteer fire fighters are invaluable.\u201d said Ken Desmond, President of the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters.\u201cThe funding that Representative Golden is working to secure will go a long way to making sure that our communities all across Maine are served by brigades, both professional and volunteer, with the best equipment, staffing, and training possible. The Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters is proud to support this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany fire departments across the State of Maine and our Nation are struggling to maintain basic response capabilities,\u201d wrote Darrell White, President of the Maine Fire Chiefs Association, in a letter of support. \u201cThis program has been extremely beneficial to many communities here in Maine who have received grants for much needed equipment, apparatus, staffing and training that would not have been possible without the AFG funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese grants are critical to public safety agencies across the country,\u201d said Darren Woods Director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management and Fire Chief of the North Lakes Fire and Rescue.\u201cThese programs have done a lot of good in ensuring that public safety officials have the proper equipment to protect citizens at the community level across the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cI thank Representatives Golden and Gim\u00e9nez for introducing the Fire Grants and Safety Act,\u201d said Chief Donna Black, the President and Board Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.\u201cThis bill is a companion to Senate legislation, which we hope will pass this year. The Assistance to Firefighters and SAFER grant programs provide peer-reviewed matching grants directly to local fire departments. They help fund critical training, equipment, and staffing to ensure the safety of our fire and EMS personnel and our citizens. The bill also would authorize more funding for the U.S. Fire Administration, empowering it to better serve the needs of local fire chiefs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe IAFF is grateful to Representatives Golden, Kildee, Gimenez, and Fitzpatrick for introducing the Fire Grants and Safety Act, legislation that would reauthorize the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA),\u201d said International Association of Fire Fighters General President Edward Kelly.\u201cThese programs are vital to ensuring fire departments are fully staffed by trained and equipped firefighters to respond to any emergency that threatens our communities. Studies and our own experiences have proven that proper staffing levels are key to safe and effective emergency responses. \"The IAFF also applauds these members of Congress for advancing legislation that would strengthen the USFA\u2019s role in educating the fire service and gathering the data we need to better protect our communities. The IAFF urges Congress to pass this critical legislation at the first opportunity.\"\n\n\u201cNFPA is pleased to support the bipartisan efforts to reauthorize the U.S. Fire Administration as well as the AFG and SAFER grant programs that are so critical to first responders across our country,\u201d said Jim Pauley, President and CEO of the National Fire Protection Association.\n\n\u201cFSI thanks Representatives Golden, Gimenez, Kildee, and Fitzpatrick for introducing the House companion to the Fire Grants and Safety Act and we look forward to working with them to reauthorize AFG, SAFER, and USFA this Congress,\u201d said Bill Webb, Executive Director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute.\u201cAFG and SAFER are vital to America\u2019s fire and emergency services and help to support proper staffing, training, and equipping of fire and EMS personnel. In addition, the U.S. Fire Administration is an essential voice of the fire and emergency services at the federal level, working every day to provide data, research, education, and training to the fire and emergency services and the general public.\u201d\n\nIn May, Golden voted to pass theFederal Firefighters Fairness Act, which would address the unjust burden of proof firefighters face when applying for disability retirement. Since joining Congress, he has also voted to pass thePFAS Action Act \u2013 bipartisan legislation that would help protect firefighters from exposure to dangerous \"forever chemicals\" \u2013 and joined Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) to introduce bipartisan legislation to help improve infrastructure at America's fire stations. Golden is a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-joins-maine-state-chamber-and-us-chamber-of-commerce-at-lewiston-manufacturing-facility", "Golden Joins Maine State Chamber and U.S. Chamber of Commerce at Lewiston Manufacturing Facility", "2022-10-26", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LEWISTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) joined leaders from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at Elmet Technologies, a local metal manufacturing facility in Lewiston yesterday. During the visit, the group toured Elmet\u2019s facilities and spoke with Elmet employees, and the U.S. Chamber recognized the congressman for his work on behalf of Maine small businesses with the \u201cAdvocate for American Business\u201d award.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve been proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the Chamber of Commerce at the local, state, and national level to put party labels aside, work together, and get things done for small businesses in Maine,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI\u2019ve valued working with the chamber to get the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed, to help bring manufacturing back to America, and to help small businesses in our state grow and hire. I\u2019m honored to receive the U.S. Chamber\u2019s Advocate for American Business Award and look forward to continuing to work together on behalf of small businesses throughout the Second District.\u201d\n\nThe Advocate for American Business award is given to honor those who work on a bipartisan basis to support pro-growth and pro-business legislation aimed to strengthen businesses across the country. Presenting the award, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Eastern Region Vice President Stephen McCallister noted Golden\u2019s work to push the bipartisan infrastructure law over the finish line last year and highlighted that legislation\u2019s benefits for businesses large and small.\n\nRepresentatives at yesterday\u2019s event include Stephen McCallister from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Dana Connors from the Maine State Chamber, Shanna Cox from the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, and Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline. The group was hosted at Elmet Technologies by Peter Anania, the company\u2019s Chief Executive Officer.\n\nCongressman Golden has worked to promote Maine manufacturing and jobs, including those at Elmet, during his time serving in the House of Representatives. In July, the House passed the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which included a Golden-led push to authorize more funding for the Defense Department\u2019s Weapons and Munitions Product Improvement Program. This program will boost the development of high-temperature and leading-edge materials like the ones made at Elmet for use in next-generation weapons development.\n\nAs a member of the House Small Business Committee Golden has been a champion of small business owners and entrepreneurs. He currently chairs the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee, and he has used that role to consistently advocate for resources and support for small businesses. In April, the House of Representatives passed Golden\u2019s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-introduces-bill-to-support-farmers-affected-by-pfas", "Maine Delegation Introduces Bill to Support Farmers Affected by PFAS", "2022-10-21", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by PFAS, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden introduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. The legislation, which was also co-sponsored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monitoring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate.\n\nPFAS are man-made \u201cforever\u201d chemicals that are used in industry and consumer products and can lead to serious health effects. PFAS contamination has prevented some Maine farms from selling their products, creating financial hardship for many family farmers. In 2016, a dairy farmer in Arundel discovered that the milk produced on his farm contained some of the highest levels ever reported for a PFAS contaminant. In 2020, a dairy farm in Fairfield found PFAS levels in its milk were 153 times higher than the Maine standard. An organic vegetable farm in Unity uncovered PFAS contamination last year, and the couple who farmed the land have higher PFAS levels in their blood than chemical plant workers who manufactured PFAS for decades. Numerous other Maine farmers have had their livelihoods disrupted due to PFAS contamination, which originated in wastewater sludge that was spread as fertilizer by farmers who were told by the government that it was safe to use.\n\n\u201cUSDA needs to step up and provide support to farmers, who at no fault of their own, are at risk of losing their livelihoods,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis is not just a problem in Maine\u2014PFAS contamination has been discovered on farms in New Mexico and Michigan, and this problem will only become more evident as testing becomes more readily available. Thus far, the federal government\u2019s response has failed to keep pace with this growing problem. I have repeatedly urged USDA Secretary Vilsack to come to the aid of these affected farmers, and the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act would finally activate the Department to help where it is needed most.\n\n\u201cThe threat of PFAS is not a hypothetical \u2013 Maine farmers are already losing crops, land, and livestock to contaminants, and if we don\u2019t act quick, the crisis\u2019 human health risks will escalate,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act is a crucial step to assist farmers combatting the spread of PFAS and provide already-impacted farms with needed relief. The monitoring, testing, and remediation provisions in the bill will help the state study PFAS threats, clean up contaminated areas, and prevent further communities from facing the economic and health devastation of these contaminants. I hope this bipartisan, bicameral legislation can get broad support across Congress and give Maine farmers the help they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe more we learn about forever chemicals, the more urgent addressing widespread contamination across the nation becomes. Our farmers\u2019 livelihoods are in jeopardy, and we must do everything we can to support them through this crisis,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cThe Relief for Famers Impacted by PFAS Act establishes a federal program to help farmers in Maine and across the country address PFAS contamination\u2014through testing and medical treatment, compensating farmers for contaminated land, implementing remediation strategies and more. Our bill is an important step forward in mobilizing whole-of-government action on the PFAS crisis that\u2019s impacting our food supply chain, economy, and way of life.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt great costs to themselves, Maine farmers have gone above and beyond to protect consumers and mitigate the impacts of PFAS contamination,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cFarms are facing deep financial hardship over a growing problem they did nothing to create. Keeping our communities and environment healthy requires a collaborative approach and this bill is a critical step toward increased partnerships to address this growing issue.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the state level, including:\n\nMore capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources;\n\nBlood monitoring for individuals to make informed decisions about their health;\n\nEquipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination;\n\nRelocation of a commercial farm if the land is no longer viable;\n\nAlternative cropping systems or remediation strategies;\n\nEducational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and\n\nResearch on soil and water remediation systems, and the viability of those systems for farms.\n\nThe bill would also create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity. This would help bring even more resources to farmers through existing programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to states to help them coordinate their responses effectively.\n\n\"Maine is leading the nation in cleaning up forever chemicals and supporting our farmers whose lands have been impacted, but we can do more,\" said Governor Janet Mills. \"This funding championed by the Congressional Delegation will help Maine and other states take even more aggressive action to identify and address PFAS contamination statewide, preserving the health of our people and the health of our farmland.\"\n\nThe legislation has been endorsed by Maine Farmland Trust, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the Organic Farmers Association, and Defend Our Health. Click HERE to read their statements in support of the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-bipartisan-veterans-calling-for-timely-construction-of-global-war-on-terrorism-memorial", "Golden Leads Bipartisan Veterans Calling for Timely Construction of Global War on Terrorism Memorial", "2022-10-17", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jared Golden (ME-02) led a bipartisan group of military veterans in calling for the thoughtful and timely construction of a Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial located on the National Mall. The letter comes ahead of the GWOT Memorial Foundation\u2019s site selection review tomorrow, Tuesday, October 18th before the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC). The review is a crucial step in determining the specific location of the GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. The Memorial will honor the veterans and their families who served and sacrificed during America\u2019s Global War on Terror.\n\n\u201cFor many Americans, the wounds of war \u2013 literal and otherwise \u2013 are still fresh,\u201d the bipartisan group of members wrote. \u201cMany Gold Star families, veterans, and others who supported America\u2019s post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts need a national place of healing, empowerment, and unity. All Americans deserve a place to honor those who have served our country in different capacities. The Memorial will also help educate a generation of Americans too young to remember the 9/11 attacks and subsequent valorous efforts to keep our country safe.\"\n\n\u201cPerhaps most importantly, the Memorial must be built while the generation of warfighters who gave so much in places like Afghanistan and Iraq are still alive. Our veterans and others should not be forced to repeat the experience of our World War II veterans, who waited nearly 59 years from the end of World War II to see the inauguration of a Memorial in 2004.\u201d\n\nAs co-Chair of the For Country Caucus, Representative Golden helped lead the effort to secure the passage of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2021. The legislation was the final step needed to authorize the GWOT Memorial on the National Mall. The GWOT Memorial Foundation is now working to secure approval on specific location and design for a Memorial on the Reserve Area of the National Mall.\n\nThe National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (NCMAC) advises the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the General Services Administration on proposals to establish commemorative works in Washington, D.C. and the National Capital Region. The Commission examines memorial proposals for conformance to the Commemorative Works Act, receives public comment, and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator and to Members of Congress.\n\nRepresentative Golden led the letter with Representatives Jim Baird (IN-04), Jason Crow (CO-06), and Mike Gallagher (WI-08). Also signing the letter were Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02), Brian Mast (FL-18), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-02), Mike Waltz (FL-06), Scott Franklin (FL-15), and Peter Meijer (MI-03).\n\nThe cosigners are all members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans who are committed to strengthening U.S. national security, supporting veterans, and building a more productive government.\n\nFull text of the letter is below and can also be found HERE.\n\n+++\n\nOctober 17, 2022\n\nNational Capital Memorial Advisory Commission\n\nInterior Region 1 \u2013 National Capital Area\n\n1100 Ohio Drive, S.W.\n\nWashington, DC 20242\n\nDear Commission Members:\n\nWe write in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation\u2019s efforts to thoughtfully and expediently identify a site location on the National Mall for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. As you know, last year Congress passed the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which specifically authorized a site in the Reserve area of the National Mall as the Memorial\u2019s future home. As a bipartisan group of veterans, we were proud to lead this effort, which marked an historic step toward honoring all who have served and sacrificed in the Global War on Terrorism.\n\nWe are glad that you will soon be meeting with GWOT Memorial Foundation representatives to discuss potential sites for the Memorial. We understand that site selection is a complicated process with many considerations at play, and therefore requires a collaborative, constructive dialogue to determine the best possible location. The foundation has been thorough and professional in their site analysis, and we appreciate you receiving them with a spirit of cooperation that reflects the honor and solemnity this project deserves.\n\nIn addition to the importance of the Memorial\u2019s ultimate location, it is also imperative that it be built as quickly as is practical. For many Americans, the wounds of war \u2013 literal and otherwise \u2013 are still fresh. Many Gold Star families, veterans, and others who supported America\u2019s post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts need a national place of healing, empowerment, and unity. All Americans deserve a place to honor those who have served our country in different capacities. The Memorial will also help educate a generation of Americans too young to remember the 9/11 attacks and subsequent valorous efforts to keep our country safe.\n\nPerhaps most importantly, the Memorial must be built while the generation of warfighters who gave so much in places like Afghanistan and Iraq are still alive. Our veterans and others should not be forced to repeat the experience of our World War II veterans, who waited nearly 59 years from the end of World War II to see the inauguration of a Memorial in 2004.\n\nThank you for your very good work to commemorate a key chapter in American history, and to honor all who helped write it. We know we speak for the people of our districts in expressing our desire for the Memorial to come to life as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-joins-local-law-enforcement-leaders-and-veterans-at-operation-reboot-outdoors-in-byron", "Golden Joins Local Law Enforcement Leaders and Veterans at Operation Reboot Outdoors in Byron", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BYRON\u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was in Byron yesterday to tour the site of Operation Reboot Outdoors, a camp dedicated to giving veterans the opportunity to get into nature. The congressman was joined for the tour by camp founders Dan and Nicole Waite, Oxford County Sheriff Chris Wainwright, and Androscoggin County Deputy Attorney General Neil McLain. Following the tour, the group discussed opportunities to expand the group's operations, including building an ADA-compliant cabin and facilities on the site.\n\n\u201cI know firsthand how important it is to have a support system when veterans return to civilian life,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThe work being done at Operation Reboot Outdoors offers a safe, healing environment for veterans making the transition back to life at home. It was great to hear from the Waites about the program and from some of our veteran leaders on the ground in Oxford county about ways our office can help them support veterans during their adjustment period.\u201d\n\nOperation Reboot Outdoors is an organization that provides local veterans, regardless of ability, with the opportunity to reset in nature through hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreational activities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-governor-call-on-noaa-to-hold-additional-scoping-meetings-for-lobstermen-in-downeast-maine", "Maine Delegation, Governor Call on NOAA to Hold Additional Scoping Meetings for Lobstermen in Downeast Maine", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Governor Janet Mills sent a letter today to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging them to hold at least one additional in-person scoping hearing in Downeast Maine as the agency initiates Phase 2 of its heavily criticized Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and corresponding regulations. The letter was sent following Wednesday evening\u2019s widely attended public scoping meeting held by NOAA in Portland to gather community input to develop modifications to the ALWTRP.\n\n\u201cAs we have previously expressed to you, if implemented, the 90 percent risk reduction target NOAA Fisheries is pursuing in just two years would be a death knell for our nation\u2019s lobster industry,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\u201cIt would close off thousands of miles of prime fishing areas and require lobstermen and women to make significant changes to how they harvest the resource, including the use of \u2018ropeless\u2019 fishing gear when it is not technologically or economically viable. Given these possible outcomes, it is unacceptable that your agency is only holding one in-person meeting hours away from some of our state\u2019s largest lobster ports, forcing lobstermen to spend time off the water, which is their primary if not only source of income. This decision to knowingly limit opportunities to directly engage with the lobstermen and our coastal communities speaks volumes about your concern for their future.\u201d\n\nAs the lawmakers wrote in their letter, the site of Wednesday evening\u2019s scoping meeting was hours away from some of the state\u2019s most heavily trafficked lobster ports, the largest of which is in Stonington, a community over three hours away. The meeting was so highly attended that many of those present were not afforded the opportunity to speak in the time allotted for the meeting.\n\n\u201cThere is still time for NOAA officials to demonstrate their commitment to engaging with the people they are supposed to serve,\u201dthe lawmakers continued.\u201cWe implore you to schedule an additional in-person hearing so that the voices of all of those impacted by these new regulations can be heard.\u201d\n\nThis action by the Maine congressional delegation and the governor is a continuation of their persistent efforts to support Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. Members of the delegation, the governor, and their staff were present at Wednesday evening\u2019s scoping meeting in Portland. Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d the delegation introduced and the governor backed a bill that would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As NOAA has worked to roll out their Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), the congressional delegation has continually urged the organization to create regulations that are based on the best available evidence and don\u2019t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, the delegation has also backed legislation that would offset costs and worked to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill.\n\nThe text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-of-attending-noaa-scoping-meeting-golden-calls-on-biden-to-uphold-promise-to-protect-maine-lobster-fishery", "Ahead of Attending NOAA Scoping Meeting, Golden Calls on Biden to Uphold Promise to Protect Maine Lobster Fishery", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) sent a letter today to President Biden detailing the repercussions of his failure to protect Maine lobsterman as promised and urging him to oppose the right whale conservation measures currently proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA). The letter was sent in advance of Golden attending this evening\u2019s public scoping meeting held by NOAA in Portland to gather community input to develop modifications to their heavily criticized Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and its corresponding regulations.\n\n\u201cGiven what we know \u2014 and what the data clearly demonstrates \u2014 about the low risk of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery relative to other activities in right whale habitat, I cannot comprehend how you can stand idly by and not oppose in the strongest terms a proposal that has the potential to destroy thousands of livelihoods, hundreds of coastal communities, and the economic backbone of our state and the New England region,\u201d wrote Golden in the letter. \u201cYour complicity thus far is a slap in the face to thousands of working people who are confronting the uncertainty of whether or not they can continue to provide for their families, that their communities will survive, and that their children will be able to continue Maine\u2019s long-standing lobstering heritage.\u201d\n\nIn 2020, while running for president, Biden pledged \u201cI will work to protect the livelihood and safety of the fishing community\u201d in reference to lobstermen. He has yet to take a single action to make good on that pledge.\n\n\u201cYou cannot espouse being a president for working people while simultaneously overseeing the destruction of an entire blue-collar fishery and its community\u2019s heritage and way of life,\u201d Golden continued. \u201cI implore you to recognize and oppose these proposed right whale conservation measures and to meet with Maine\u2019s congressional delegation as well as leaders of the lobster community to find common sense solutions to ensure that Maine\u2019s lobster and fishing industries and the right whales will survive for generations.\u201d\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery. Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d Golden and Senator King introduced a bill would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In the wake of new proposed regulations that would threaten the livelihoods of Maine lobstermen, Golden introduced a bold amendment to block the regulations until the underlying data had undergone a scientific peer review process. He has worked closely with the lobstering community to ensure that they have a voice in the process and that regulations are based on the best available evidence and don\u2019t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, Golden introduced legislation that would offset costs and worked with members of the Maine Delegation to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill. He also led the delegation to urge the president to intervene directly.\n\nThe text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-king-to-introduce-bill-that-blocks-federal-funding-for-monterey-bay-aquarium-seafood-watch", "Golden, King to Introduce Bill that Blocks Federal Funding for Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Senator Angus King (I-ME) today announced that they will be introducing the Red Listing Monterey Bay Aquarium Act in the House and Senate. This bill would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which has received nearly $197 million in federal taxpayer dollars since 2001, and demonstrated a lack of adherence to transparency and basic scientific methods [source, source].\n\nSenator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) will sign on as cosponsors of the legislation.\n\n\u201cInstitutions like Monterey Bay Aquarium that claim to be scientific but openly flout available evidence and data should not receive taxpayer funds. It\u2019s that simple,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis organization\u2019s red list designation of American lobster could have a serious impact on the livelihoods of thousands of hard-working lobstermen, and I believe Congress must do something about it. There has never been a serious injury or death of the endangered North Atlantic right whale attributed to the Maine lobster fishery and to make recommendations or regulations in spite of that fact is a slap in the face to lobstermen and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Monterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s \u2018Red Listing\u2019 of Maine lobster is a baseless attack on a proud, sustainable fishery and a clear attempt to put thousands of Maine people out of work. By refusing to provide any evidence supporting their harmful decision and ignoring facts that undercut their conclusion, the Aquarium has made it clear that they are not a serious scientific organization, and certainly not one that deserves taxpayer funding,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Red Listing Monterey Bay Aquarium Act would ensure that Maine people\u2019s hard-earned tax dollars aren\u2019t funding the Aquarium\u2019s pseudoscientific assault on our lobstering communities. It sends a clear message that we will not stand for this outrageous approach to scientific research.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur lobstermen are incredible conservation leaders, and our iconic Maine lobster industry is sustainable,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThere is zero evidence to justify this absurd decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. Taxpayer dollars shouldn\u2019t be funding this kind of activism, which aims to deter restaurants and retailers from selling Maine lobster, threatening the livelihoods of hardworking men and women across the state of Maine.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobster industry is sustainable, period. Our lobstermen have been outstanding stewards who have complied with every single regulation thrown their way,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cMonterey Bay\u2019s Seafood Watch program\u2019s unscientific \u2018red list\u2019 decision is not rooted in facts or data. That\u2019s why I have urged them to revoke this harmful mischaracterization of our gold standard lobster industry.\u201d\n\nAdvocates and members of the Maine lobster fishery voiced their support for the bill.\n\n\u201cLobster is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world due to the effective stewardship practices handed down through generations of lobstermen. These include strict protections for both the lobster resource and right whales. Decisions not based in sound science have the potential to seriously harm the men and women who work so hard to make our industry thrive. It defies logic that a group claiming to care about conservation and sustainability would give a poor rating to a fishery that has led the way in innovating safer gear and has not had a documented interaction with a right whale in nearly 20 years,\u201d said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association.\n\n\u201cMaine lobstermen have led the fishing industry in sustainability for more than 150 years, working together to keep lobster stock and the marine environment healthy through strict take and gear regulations. Now an organization thousands of miles away with no real understanding of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery or evidence to justify their decisions is condemning our fishermen. Monterey Bay Aquarium's actions are an insult that is not grounded in science and should not be supported by the American taxpayer. The Maine Lobstering Union strongly supports this legislation from Congressman Golden and Senator King,\u201d said Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and Director of the Maine Lobstering Union.\n\nThere hasn\u2019t been a whale entanglement attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and no documented right whale death has ever been attributed to Maine lobster gear. The majority of right whale deaths since 2017 have been due to vessel strikes in Canada, and of the 33 right whale mortalities occurring between 2017 and 2020, 24 of those whales were confirmed to be attributed to entanglements in Canadian fishing gear and vessel strikes in Canadian waters.\n\nGolden, King, Senator Collins, Congresswoman Pingree, and Governor Janet Mills wrote to the Monterey Bay Aquarium shortly after the red listing decision was made public to call on the organization to immediately reverse the decision and to remedy the significant harm they have already caused the iconic industry. The Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills also published an open letter to retailers setting the facts straight and urging them to continue selling lobster. Senator King continued these calls in a press conference he held shortly after the Red Listing decision.\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery. In the wake of new proposed regulations that would threaten the livelihoods of Maine lobstermen, Golden introduced a bold amendment to block the regulations until the underlying data had undergone a scientific peer review process. He has worked closely with the lobstering community to ensure that they have a voice in the process and has joined the Maine Delegation in urging NOAA to create regulations that are based on the best available evidence and don\u2019t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, Golden introduced legislation that would offset costs and worked with Senator King and members of the Maine Delegation to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill. He also led the Delegation to urge the president to intervene directly.\n\nThe bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/1-billion-for-liheap-advances-following-advocacy-by-collins-golden-reed-welch-and-garbarino", "$1 Billion for LIHEAP Advances Following Advocacy by Collins, Golden, Reed, Welch and Garbarino", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, by a vote of 72-25, the Senate passed a short-term government spending bill to fund the federal government through December 16th and provide emergency funding for critical needs\u2014including $1 billion in supplemental appropriations for LIHEAP.\n\nMaine will receive an estimated $8 million in additional LIHEAP funding, a roughly 20 percent increase above the state\u2019s allotment in a typical year. The bill is expected to be voted on by the House of Representatives shortly before it is sent to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\nSenator Susan Collins (R-ME), Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) secured this historic increase in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP, a vital source of financial support for families struggling with high utility bills. LIHEAP helps low-income families meet their home energy needs by providing energy bill assistance.\n\n\u201cIn Maine, the average cost of home heating is expected to surge by more than 17 percent compared to last winter, and households will be paying the highest prices in more than a decade to keep their homes warm,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cTo help alleviate this tremendous hardship, I strongly advocated for this substantial increase for LIHEAP to help compensate for record high fuel prices. These additional funds will help prevent low-income families and seniors from having to make the impossible choice between paying for heat and paying for food or medicine. Congress should pass and the Administration should distribute this relief expeditiously as the cold winter months approach.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith home heating costs still way too high across the country and temperatures dropping, we cannot leave our most vulnerable community members out in the cold,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis much-needed funding will help to ensure that our seniors, friends and neighbors on fixed incomes, and other Mainers in need have the resources necessary to keep their homes warm in the coming months. I plan to continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the House and the Senate to secure additional resources to offer the same security to more Mainers in an end-of-year funding bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cHeating oil and utility costs are going through the roof. One way we can help seniors and families who are struggling to pay these costs is to increase assistance through LIHEAP. I am pleased we were able to convince our colleagues to include an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for LIHEAP in this short-term funding bill,\u201d said Senator Reed. \u201cThis funding, combined with regular LIHEAP dollars, will make a huge difference for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo family should ever have to choose between heating their home and paying for groceries,\u201d said Congressman Welch. \u201cFor Vermonters who are struggling to do both, LIHEAP steps in to fill that need and help families make ends meet. With this injection of new funding, more Vermont families will be able to benefit from this critical program. I look forward to getting this across the finish line this week to bring immediate assistance to Vermonters in need.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies are bearing the brunt of sky-high energy costs and record inflation across the board,\u201d said Congressman Garbarino. \u201cAt a time when many are finding it difficult to make ends meet, LIHEAP provides critical relief to help Long Islanders worried about how they will heat their homes this winter. I\u2019m pleased to see this forthcoming supplemental funding increase that will ensure even more families can benefit from this essential program.\u201d\n\nThe legislators called for increased LIHEAP funding last month in a letter to appropriators, which is being fulfilled in this short-term funding bill.\n\nSince 1981, LIHEAP has helped working families keep cool in summer and warm in winter, without breaking the bank. The program is particularly important this year as families across the United States face high energy costs and record inflation. New supplemental funding will help more families in New England cope with higher costs, pay their bills, and keep their families safe and healthy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-recognized-by-committee-for-a-responsible-budget-as-2022-fiscal-hero", "Golden Recognized by Committee for a Responsible Budget as 2022 \u2018Fiscal Hero\u2019", "2022-09-26", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014The Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan group affiliated with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, has announced that Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has been named a 2022 Fiscal Hero. The Fiscal Heroes Award is awarded to the Members of Congress who set themselves apart by working on a bipartisan basis to introduce and advocate for financially responsible legislation.\n\n\u201cIn Congress, we have to work together to ensure that we are using taxpayer dollars carefully and responsibly,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI have a responsibility to my constituents to work with whoever I can to pass fiscally responsible legislation and to keep the Mainers in my district informed about the impact our nation\u2019s finances have on their lives and their futures. I am proud to have been named a 2022 Fiscal Hero, and I\u2019ll continue to push for fiscal responsibility with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith inflation at a 40-year high, the national debt reaching near-record levels, and our major trust funds facing looming insolvency over the next decade, our country faces daunting fiscal challenges,\u201d said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. \u201cAddressing our fiscal challenges requires policymakers in Washington who distinguish themselves by their leadership and political courage, and Congressman Golden doing just that. We applaud Mr. Golden and the other Fiscal Heroes in Congress for their commitment to getting our nation on a more sustainable fiscal path.\u201d\n\nThe Campaign to Fix the Debt defines a Fiscal Hero as a Member of Congress who has consistently worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce and vote for responsible legislation that improves the nation\u2019s finances and brings down the national debt.\n\nSince being elected to Congress, Golden has prioritized common-sense solutions that seek to use taxpayer money effectively and efficiently in part to avoid adding to our national debt. Last year, Golden pushed House leadership to oppose efforts to add a State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction that would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy Americans to reconciliation legislation. Golden also pushed leadership to address the half-measures and budget gimmicks in the Build Back Better Act. Between his votes on the American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better Act, Golden has voted against adding a combined $2.1 trillion dollars to the deficit.\n\nRead about Rep. Golden and other Fiscal Heroes here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-armed-services-chairman-adam-smith-visit-biw-in-advance-of-end-of-year-defense-bill-negotiations", "Golden, Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith Visit BIW in Advance of End-of-Year Defense Bill Negotiations", "2022-09-23", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Vice-Chair of the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, hosted House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (WA-09) today at Bath Iron Works (BIW). The two committee members spoke with shipbuilders and the BIW leadership team, viewed ongoing structural fabrication, went aboard DDG-120, and toured the training center.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve worked with Chairman Smith to deliver for our national security and American shipbuilders throughout my time in Congress,\u201d said Golden. \u201cUnder his leadership, we were able to secure important wins for Bath shipbuilders and American servicemembers in this year\u2019s defense funding bill, including three DDG-51 destroyers and a significant investment in shipyard infrastructure. Bringing the chairman here today to see the work being done and hear from the shipbuilders themselves arms the chairman and myself with the tools we need to push for BIW priorities as we negotiate with the Senate in the coming months.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Golden has brought valuable expertise to the House Armed Services Committee for years, including insight from his experiences as a veteran alongside other members of the Committee who have served in our armed forces,\u201d said Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. \u201cI was pleased to visit Bath Iron Works today with him to meet with members of the shipbuilding community for whom he has advocated strongly since coming to Congress. I have said often that people play the most important role in strengthening our country's national security, and I have appreciated the chance to meet with so many people here -- those who wear the uniform, the workers who drive our defense industrial base forward, and more -- who all do so much to help keep our country safe.\u201d\n\nChairman Smith\u2019s visit follows House passage of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, including an amendment proposed by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to authorize a $37 billion increase in defense spending, including funding for the construction of a third DDG-51 destroyer, $250 million in shipyard infrastructure, pay bonuses for servicemembers, and a new multi-year contract for up to 15 DDG-51 destroyers over the next five years, many of which will be built at BIW, among other investments. Bath Iron Works (BIW) is one of two shipyards in the country that build the DDG-51 destroyers. The Senate has yet to pass their version of the NDAA, and negotiations will likely be necessary between the two chambers to pass legislation before the end of the year.\n\nToday\u2019s visit from Chairman Smith is only the latest step in Congressman Golden\u2019s work to support Maine shipbuilders. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and vice chair of the panel's Seapower Subcommittee, Golden has consistently gone to bat for the shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works. Last year, Golden and the rest of the Maine congressional delegation worked to sound the alarm and fought back against cuts to DDG-51 shipbuilding proposed by the Biden Administration. Thanks in part to consistent advocacy from Golden, the cuts were reversed in a bill signed into law this March.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-golden-backed-invest-to-protect-act-to-dramatically-increase-federal-funding-for-small-police-departments", "House Passes Golden-Backed Invest to Protect Act to Dramatically Increase Federal Funding for Small Police Departments", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House of Representatives passed the Invest to Protect Act today, a bill for which Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is an original cosponsor, to establish $300 million in federal grant funding through the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program specifically for small police departments like the vast majority of those in Maine.\n\n\u201cIn small towns across America, our police departments are finding themselves without the personnel and resources they need to protect and serve their communities,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI\u2019ve heard it from officers across our state: this is a serious problem in Maine. With much-needed funding for recruitment of new officers, equipment and resources, and training specifically for smaller law enforcement departments, I\u2019ve backed this bipartisan bill since the day it was introduced. I\u2019m proud to vote for this bill and I\u2019m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to bring this funding back home to small-town police departments in Maine.\u201d\n\nLaw enforcement leaders from Maine praised the bill\u2019s passage:\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Representative Golden for the leadership he\u2019s taken to support law enforcement in rural Maine, in particular helping to pass the Invest to Protect Act today. In a state where the vast majority of police departments would qualify for the grants included in this bill, this legislation will go a long way towards making sure our rural sheriffs and police departments have the resources they need to protect their communities with a well-trained, full-staffed police force.\u201d - Mike Edes, Executive Director, Maine Fraternal Order of Police\n\nThis legislation is also supported by the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Troopers Coalition, and the National Sheriffs\u2019 Association.\n\nThe Invest to Protect Act contains important provisions that prioritize the needs of local police departments with fewer than 125 officers by providing $300 million over 5 years to help recruit, retain, and train officers.\n\nGolden has been a consistent champion for law enforcement officials in Maine and across the country, particularly in rural areas. In March, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. He was one of just two Democrats to vote against a sweeping police reform measure last year, in part because of its impact on qualified immunity protections for police officers. This past January, Golden introduced the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act of 2021. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-veterans-call-for-long-term-security-assistance-mou-with-ukraine", "Bipartisan Veterans Call for Long-Term Security Assistance MOU with Ukraine", "2022-09-19", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 A bipartisan group of military veterans today called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to formalize a security assistance memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ukraine.\n\n\u201cThe war in Ukraine is now entering its seventh month and could soon turn into a war of attrition, which may move the conflict in Russia\u2019s favor despite impressive resistance from the Ukrainian armed forces and the successful use of U.S. and NATO defense equipment,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cUp to now, military assistance from NATO member countries has given Ukraine the tools necessary to resist Russian aggression. We must keep this momentum in Ukraine\u2019s favor. That is why an MOU between the United States and Ukraine could prove critical in this current phase of the conflict \u2013 President Vladimir Putin must understand the full extent of U.S. support for Ukraine. A long-term security commitment would make clear that we are ready and willing to provide Ukraine with the capacity it needs to defend itself, impede Russian advances in this war, and deter the threat of a potential Russian invasion in the coming years.\u201d\n\nMemoranda of Understanding are non-binding political agreements subject to congressional appropriations. An MOU\u2013modeled after the 2016 U.S.-Israel security agreement\u2013would provide Ukraine with stable and predictable funding to successfully protect its sovereignty now and into the future.\n\nThe letter was signed by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Jim Baird (R-Ind.), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-Iowa), Conor Lamb (D-Penn.), Peter Meijer, (R-Mich.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.).\n\nThe cosigners are members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans who are committed to strengthening U.S. national security, supporting veterans, and building a more productive government.\n\nFull text of the letter is below and can also be found HERE.\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Antony Blinken\n\nUnited States Secretary of State\n\n2201 C Street NW\n\nWashington, DC 20520\n\nDear Secretary Blinken,\n\nWe, as a bipartisan group of military veterans, write in support of a security assistance memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ukraine. We urge you to work expeditiously with the Ukrainian government to draft and finalize any such agreement to signal to Ukraine, our allies and partners, and Russia that the United States supports the long-term interests of Ukraine and its people. While the coming weeks and months will be critical to Ukraine\u2019s success, so too will its ability to defend its sovereignty into the future. Therefore, we believe an MOU will demonstrate the United States\u2019 steadfast commitment to Ukraine, advance U.S. national security priorities, and bolster the security and morale of the Ukrainian people.\n\nThe war in Ukraine is now entering its seventh month and could soon turn into a war of attrition, which may move the conflict in Russia\u2019s favor despite impressive resistance from the Ukrainian armed forces and the successful use of U.S. and NATO defense equipment. Up to now, military assistance from NATO member countries has given Ukraine the tools necessary to resist Russian aggression. We must keep this momentum in Ukraine\u2019s favor. That is why an MOU between the United States and Ukraine could prove critical in this current phase of the conflict \u2013 President Vladimir Putin must understand the full extent of U.S. support for Ukraine. A long-term security commitment would make clear that we are ready and willing to provide Ukraine with the capacity it needs to defend itself, impede Russian advances in this war, and deter the threat of a potential Russian invasion in the coming years.\n\nAlthough the State Department\u2014in concert with the White House and Department of Defense\u2014should have the latitude to negotiate the scope of the MOU, we encourage you to secure long-term defense commitments with Ukraine that include agreements on surface-to-air missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, anti-ship missiles, M777 howitzers, and training on, and transfer of, appropriate fighter aircraft. We have seen many of these weapons systems pay dividends in the war thus far\u2014they have crippled Russia\u2019s efforts to gain air superiority, halted Russian offensives, and allowed Ukrainians to strike vital logistics lines. Continuing to build and expand on these clear successes should be a top priority.\n\nIt is for these reasons that an MOU with Ukraine is vital. If the people of Ukraine are to be freed from the shadow of Russian oppression, they must have long-term security guarantees. And if the United States is to uphold its promises to our allies and the world that we will stand up to tyranny and defend liberty, then we must continue to back up those words with deeds.\n\nWe appreciate the State Department\u2019s dedicated work in support of Ukraine since this unprovoked war began. As we have seen from the global repercussions of this conflict, Ukraine is critical to U.S. and European security. We ask that you consider this effort to ensure that the United States maintains its status as a beacon of hope for the oppressed peoples of the world. We look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nCC:\n\nThe Honorable Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-gottheimer-lead-group-to-press-white-house-to-continue-releasing-oil-from-national-reserves-past-planned-october-end-date", "Golden, Gottheimer Lead Group to Press White House to Continue Releasing Oil from National Reserves Past Planned October End Date", "2022-09-16", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 With the costs of gas and heating oil still too high despite falling prices, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) led a group of six House lawmakers today to urge President Biden to take further action to lower domestic energy prices heading into the colder months. Golden called on the president to continue to release inventory from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) beyond October of this year, when the current release plan is slated to end, and to commit to purchases to backfill the reserve.\n\nJoining Golden and Gottheimer on the letter were Reps. Kim Schrier (WA-08), Tom O\u2019Halleran (AZ-01), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Dina Titus (NV-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Susan Wild (PA-07).\n\n\u201cWe urge your administration to commit to releasing additional barrels of oil from the SPR through the end of this year, at a minimum,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cThe continued volatility of the global and domestic markets merits this approach in order to provide stability and to ensure that gasoline and oil prices continue their downward trajectory at a time when households, particularly in the Northeast, require more energy to stay warm during the fall and winter. Turning off supply from the SPR at the end of October could be harmful to my constituents and working-class families across the country should there be a sudden increase in the cost of gasoline and heating oil during the coldest months of the year\n\nAccording to the Treasury Department, releases from the SPR contribute up to a 31 cent per gallon decrease in price for consumers at the pump.\n\n\u201cTo provide assurances to domestic oil and gas producers, your administration should commit to purchasing barrels to backfill the SPR,\u201d the letter continued. \u201cAs of July, there was $121 million in the SPR Fund that could be used for this purpose and would make clear that the federal government is serious about making long-term investments in domestic energy to reduce costs for consumers and protect producers in an uncertain global market. Moreover, purchasing more barrels for the SPR will safeguard supply both now and in the future should domestic or international conditions cause a severe energy supply interruption that requires you to draw down and sell barrels.\u201d\n\nEstablished in 1975, the SPR currently holds more than 430 million barrels of oil. By law, the President is authorized to draw down and sell oil from the SPR in the event of a severe supply interruption and a resulting severe price increase. Presidents from both parties have ordered SPR drawdowns and sales in 1991, 2005, and 2011.\n\nAlthough the price of oil has gradually declined over the course of the summer, Maine is still seeing prices that exceed the national average and prices remain much higher than they were a year ago.\n\nGolden has been pressing for additional action to lower oil and gas prices since fall 2021 and has consistently been one of the leading voices in Congress pushing back against the administration and calling on the White House to take more aggressive action to increase domestic energy production. In March, he urged the administration to adopt his bipartisan, multi-pronged proposal to boost energy production and boost supply, called for the suspension of the federal gas tax to help consumers save at the pump, and advocated for opening or expediting approval pipelineslike Keystone, Dakota Access, and Mountain Valley. Last month, he and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) led a bipartisan, bicameral push to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps over 5.3 million households nationwide afford their energy bills. He also introduced bipartisan legislation to increase funding for the program by $4 billion this fiscal year.\n\nRead a copy of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-aroostook-county-farmer-push-congressional-action-on-right-to-repair-in-small-business-committee-hearing", "Golden, Aroostook County Farmer Push Congressional Action on Right to Repair in Small Business Committee Hearing", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) used his position as chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Development today to push Congress to address restrictions from manufacturers that impair small businesses\u2019 ability to fix their own equipment and machinery.\n\nHe was joined at the hearing by Jim Gerritsen, a farmer at Wood Prairie Family Farm in Bridgewater, Maine who offered testimony on the impact the repair restrictions were having on his family\u2019s business.\n\n\u201cFor generations, small farmers have been able to make repairs on the spot and continue working when a tractor or other piece of equipment breaks down, but today a malfunction in just one part of a tractor can cause an entire machine to stop working and force a farmer to stop their harvest to haul equipment to a dealership or wait for a field technician,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThese burdensome delays can cost small farms days in wasted productivity and thousands of dollars in revenue. And these restrictions don\u2019t just impact entrepreneurs that use machinery; they also hurt the many independent businesses that work to repair these products. Independent repair shops frequently offer lower prices and better service than large manufacturers. These are just two pieces of decades of evidence that repair restrictions raise costs, hurt small businesses, and encourage waste.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe would never choose to place ourselves in the vulnerable position of being at the mercy of malfunctioning electronic sensors, then being involuntarily forced into \u2018limp mode,\u2019 and becoming locked out from using equipment we \u2018own\u2019 until an expensive dealer mechanic arrives at their convenience with their rescuing computer software,\u201d said Jim Gerritsen from Wood Prairie Family Farm. \u201cWhen a problem as common and as minor as water condensation in a diesel tank can cause a sudden \u2018limp mode\u2019 restriction during peak planting or harvest, not only is an individual farmer placed at risk, but extrapolating the system vulnerability, so is our nation\u2019s food security.\u201d\n\nIn 2021, the Federal Trade Commission identified ways that manufacturers have taken advantage of technologically advanced business-critical products by restricting access to the proprietary tools necessary to maintain and repair their products. This makes it difficult for small businesses to operate cost-effectively because they are often forced to use only manufacturer-approved repair services, or even to pay to fully replace malfunctioning devices because repairs are unavailable.\n\nYou can view the full hearing here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-presses-fisheries-agency-for-fair-treatment-of-maine-lobster-fishery", "Maine Delegation Presses Fisheries Agency for Fair Treatment of Maine Lobster Fishery", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 After the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) gave lobster industry participants just two business days to submit proposals for a new risk reduction plan to protect right whales and denied lobstermen and their allies access to a key data tool, Maine\u2019s congressional delegation pushed back today against these decisions by the agency.\n\nIn their letter to NMFS, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) called out the agency for drastically accelerating the timeline for proposals in the aftermath of a recent decision by the U.S. District Court invalidating a biological opinion for the North Atlantic Right Whale.\n\n\u201cNMFS should not prioritize expediency when doing so compromises the very survival of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. This approach will also undermine stakeholder faith in the process and may ultimately yield a new regulatory framework that does not provide additional protections for right whales while potentially shutting down the entire lobster industry,\u201d wrote the members of Congress.\n\nThe Maine delegation also urged NMFS to provide immediate access to the Decision Support Tool (DST), a data model used by the agency to determine how much risk is associated with a specific state or fishery, to state fisheries regulators and industry members.\n\n\u201cGiven the DST will be used to determine future regulatory actions by your agency on the lobster fishery,\u201d continued the Members of Congress. \u201cWe strongly urge you to make it available to stakeholders immediately or change the timeline of the scoping period to ensure that state fisheries regulators and industry have had time to contemplate measures using the DST to identify proposals that protect right whales and preserve the lobster fishery.\u201d\n\nRead a copy of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-21st-anniversary-of-911-attacks", "Golden Statement on 21st Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks", "2022-09-11", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement to mark the 21st anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.\n\n\u201cToday, on the 21st anniversary of the September 11th attacks, I join Americans across the country to solemnly remember the thousands of men and women who lost their lives those 21 years ago. We pay tribute to the thousands of brave souls who answered the call to protect and serve that day and in the years that followed, whether they were police officers, first responders, or members of our military. Many of them gave their lives. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.\n\n\u201cWe also hold in our hearts the many Americans whose lives were forever changed by the loss of a loved one on 9/11. For so many, those wounds remain fresh, and we grieve with you.\n\n\u201cOur country remains resolute in the face of those who seek to use terror and hate as a weapon against us. The anniversary of 9/11 is a powerful reminder that no matter the divisions in this nation, we are always stronger united than divided.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-peters-lead-group-urging-biden-to-prevent-rise-in-prescription-drug-costs-lower-the-deficit", "Golden, Peters Lead Group Urging Biden to Prevent Rise in Prescription Drug Costs, Lower the Deficit", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Scott Peters (CA-52) led a group of nine House members today to send a letter urging the Biden Administration to permanently repeal a 2019 drug rebate rule. In addition to protecting Americans from rising health care costs, permanent repeal of the rule would save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. The rule was delayed in the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act, but is set to be implemented in 2032.\n\n\u201cThe original Inflation Reduction Act would have permanently prohibited implementation of the Rule Relating to Eliminating the Anti-Kick-Back Statute Safe Harbor Protection for Prescription Drug Rebates,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThis provision would have saved $122 billion through 2031 and, according to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, more than $500 billion over two decades.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continue, \u201cWhile delaying implementation of the rule provides significant savings, long-term deficit reduction is substantially reduced absent full repeal. Your administration has the authority to fix this problem and achieve the full amount of long-term deficit reduction intended in the Inflation Reduction Act.\u201d\n\nAlthough the original rule was intended to decrease drug costs by eliminating rebates negotiated between drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or health plan sponsors in Medicare, a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services showed that the rule instead would raise drug premiums for seniors by 19 percent.\n\nSince being elected to Congress, Golden has prioritized common-sense solutions that seek to lower costs for hard-working Americans without adding to our national debt. This year, he voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and was recognized by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan organization of leading budget policy experts, for his role in bringing about the legislation. Last year, Golden pushed House leadership to oppose efforts to add a State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction that would overwhelmingly benefit wealthy Americans to reconciliation legislation. Golden also pushed leadership to address the half-measures and budget gimmicks in the Build Back Better Act. Between his votes on the American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better Act, Golden has voted against adding a combined $2.2 trillion dollars to the deficit.\n\nSigning onto Rep. Golden and Rep. Peters\u2019 letter was Reps. Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), and Chris Pappas (NH-01).\n\nThe letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-district-court-decision-against-lobstermen-s-lawsuit-to-block-new-regulations", "Golden Statement on District Court Decision Against Lobstermen\u2019s Lawsuit to Block New Regulations", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released a statement following U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg\u2019s decision to reject a lawsuit from lobstermen\u2019s groups that sought to block new federal regulations on Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\n\u201cThis ruling by Judge Boasberg is the latest in a long line of decisions made without a common sense evaluation of the evidence or a regard for the damage done to the lobster industry and lobstering communities from these regulations. Not only does Judge Boasberg ignore the most important data point \u2014 that Maine lobster gear has not been definitively linked to a single right whale fatality \u2014 he sets a dangerous precedent that could further open the floodgates for environmental groups seeking to continue to abuse the court system to put fishermen out of business. This ruling is wrong on principle and wrong on the merits.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-congressional-delegation-and-governor-mills-call-on-seafood-watch-to-immediately-reverse-lobster-red-list-designation-or-provide-evidence-to-back-claims", "Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills Call on Seafood Watch to Immediately Reverse Lobster Red List Designation or Provide Evidence to Back Claims", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LEWISTON, ME\u2013 Senator Angus King, Governor Janet Mills, Senator Susan Collins, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are calling on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to immediately reverse the controversial listing of Maine lobster on theirseafood \u201cRed List\u201d and to remedy the significant harm they have already caused the iconic industry. In a letter to the Aquarium\u2019s board, the Maine leaders highlight the significant factual omissions of Seafood Watch\u2019s lobster report, criticize the organization for holding the Maine lobster industry to an impossible \u201cguilty until proven innocent\u201d standard, and call for answers on several key questions.\n\n\u201cThe recent decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to \u201cRed List\u201d Maine lobster with scant evidence of impacts on right whales is a reckless piece of activism that will inflict substantial negative real-world consequences on an important and iconic industry in Maine,\u201d write the Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills. \u201cIn a courtroom, we require evidence before convicting someone of a crime; but you are seeking to sentence Maine\u2019s lobstermen with conjecture, assumptions, and guesswork instead of hard facts. If anything, the publicly available facts rebut this aggressive action that will impact the livelihoods of thousands of people in Maine, and make it clear that you should immediately reverse the irresponsible designation.\u201d\n\nThe Maine leaders then lay out three key facts left out of Seafood Watch\u2019s \u201cRed List\u201d assessment:\n\nThere has not been a right whale entanglement with Maine lobster gear since 2004, and right whale deaths or serious injury have never been attributed to Maine lobster gear.\n\nThe majority of right whale deaths since 2017 have been due to vessel strikes in Canada. In fact, 23 of the 30 whales that died between 2017-2019 were found in Canadian waters or were a result of entanglement in Canadian fishing gear.\n\nThe Maine lobstering community has taken many measures, including eliminating all floating rope (the type of rope most likely to entangle whales) and removed more than 30,000 miles of line from the water, facts your report conveniently ignores.\n\n\u201cBy ignoring these clear facts, Seafood Watch isn\u2019t encouraging safe fishing; instead, you are damaging the reputation of your certification process by misleading consumers. There\u2019s an easy way to fix this \u2013 now that you\u2019ve seen the facts, reverse your decision and take lobster off the \u2018Red List,\u2019\u201d continued the Maine leaders.\n\nIf the decision is not reversed, the leaders call for answers on five key questions:\n\nHow does harming an already challenged lobstering community with little to no evidence of right whale entanglements promote the safety of right whales?\n\nMonterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s Seafood Watch listed Maine Lobster as a \u201cGood Alternative\u201d in 2014. Since then, the Maine Lobster fishery has implemented even more changes to protect right whales. Why does the new report fail to take these actions into consideration?\n\nClaiming that any fishery with rope in the water as an equal threat to right whales undermines efforts by Maine lobstermen to make gear safer, as well as Seafood Watch\u2019s purpose to distinguish between fisheries working to improve sustainability measures and those that aren\u2019t. Why does Seafood Watch use a blanket assessment rather than putting in the effort to be specific and accurate?\n\nIn presenting its pseudoscientific claims, why did Seafood Watch omit objective facts that would present a more comprehensive view of the reality?\n\nWhat steps is Seafood Watch prepared to take to remedy the significant harm they have already inflicted on the Maine lobster industry?\n\n\u201cIn any fair system of justice or public proceeding, it\u2019s required to provide evidence of wrongdoing before a verdict can be rendered \u2013 innocent until proven guilty. The process you have undertaken turns this principle on its head. How would you like to be the defendant in a process where the standard is guilty until proven innocent?\u201d the Maine leaders conclude. \u201cYou have appointed yourself Judge, Jury, and Executioner of the Maine lobster industry \u2013 ignoring clear facts, and not meeting even the most basic burden of proof before coming to a conclusion.\u201d\n\nYou can read the full letter HERE and below.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-urges-timely-federal-review-of-shawmut-dam-to-protect-hundreds-of-jobs-at-sappi", "Golden Urges Timely Federal Review of Shawmut Dam to Protect Hundreds of Jobs at Sappi", "2022-09-07", "2022", "2022-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) sent a letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) today pressing them to complete their review of Brookfield Renewable\u2019s Shawmut Hydroelectric Dam on the Kennebec River. Absent timely action by NMFS, the dam may not receive the state and federal authorizations it needs to continue operations, which could threaten the future of Skowhegan\u2019s Sappi Paper Mill, which relies on the dam for power.\n\n\u201cGiven the significance of the Shawmut Hydroelectric Project to my constituents, including the more than 700 workers employed at the Sappi Paper Mill in Skowhegan that would be impacted by the loss of the dam, I have been closely monitoring agency review for several months,\u201d wrote Golden.\u201cAs you are aware, the extension of time granted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, dated August 8, 2022, allows NMFS to extend its review of the Shawmut Hydroelectric Project until October 13, 2022. While I appreciate the need for a thorough and comprehensive review, I am urging the completion of the formal consultation process without additional extension beyond the current period.\u201d\n\nBrookfield Renewable, the current operator of the dam, has been entangled in an unusually lengthy Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) relicensing process because of the facility\u2019s potential impact on endangered Atlantic salmon populations. At present, Brookfield is waiting on approval for a water quality certification (WQC) application it submitted to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) last October. At the end of July, DEP issued a Draft Order denying the application citing its expectation that changes to Brookfield\u2019s fish passage proposals would result from the ongoing federal agency review and indicating that recent delays in the federal process would not make that information available until as late as mid-October. Under federal law, DEP must take action on the Brookfield WQC application by October 18, 2022 or else approval of the dam\u2019s operations could be delayed for at least another year.\n\nTo better facilitate upstream fish passage for the endangered Atlantic salmon and other species, Brookfield plans to build a new upstream fish lift and flume. After their first proposal was rejected by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, which subsequently recommended the dam for closure and removal, Brookfield submitted a second, modified proposal. NMFS has requested an extension from FERC in order to review Brookfield\u2019s new proposal and to develop its Biological Opinion, required by federal law, analyzing the impacts of the dam on Atlantic salmon. According to Sappi, removing the dam would drop the water levels in the Kennebec River from 20 feet to 4 or 6 feet and decrease the width of the river by several hundred feet. This would leave the mill\u2019s water infrastructure above the water and could result in the mill\u2019s closure.\n\nThe letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cloud-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-ban-stock-trading-by-senior-executive-branch", "Golden, Cloud Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ban Stock Trading by Senior Executive Branch", "2022-08-31", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) introduced the Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts Act (DIVEST Act) yesterday. The bill would prohibit the president, vice president, and other senior executive branch officials, their spouses, and dependent children from owning or trading stocks while the official is in office, except through a qualified blind trust.\n\n\u201cNo matter what party is in power, we should have no doubt that our government officials are working for the American people, not trying to make a quick buck for themselves. I\u2019m glad to work with Congressman Cloud to lead the bipartisan DIVEST Act, which would explicitly ban the president, vice president, and other senior federal officials from trading stocks while in office,\u201d said Rep. Golden. \u201cWhile we continue to push for a ban on Members of Congress trading stocks, we also need legislation like the DIVEST Act to address the potential for corruption in the executive branch.\u201d\n\n\u201cA great disservice is done to our nation when public servants are able to profit off access to sensitive information while working on behalf of the American people,\u201d said Rep. Cloud. \u201cWe must do all we can to ensure government officials are serving Americans, not their own stock portfolio. I\u2019m delighted to work with Congressman Golden in leading the DIVEST Act to raise the standard of service and accountability from our executive branch.\u201d\n\nGolden\u2019s proposed legislation would apply to the spouses and dependent children of presidents, vice presidents, and senior executive service political appointees. The officials or their family members could divest any prohibited interest by converting the interest to cash or another investment, or by placing it into a blind trust. Covered individuals would have six months to divest after the official takes office.\n\nSince being elected to Congress, Golden has worked to ensure that public officials act in the public interest, not for their portfolios. Last year, Golden reintroduced his Stop Foreign Payoffs Act, which would bar government officials and their families from receiving a salary from or holding an investment in a foreign business. He has long been a leader in the push to ban members of Congress from owning or trading stocks.\n\nEarlier this summer, Golden introduced the bipartisan Fighting Foreign Influence Act, comprehensive legislation to crack down on foreign influence seeking to corrupt U.S. elections, government officials, and think tanks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-meets-with-waldo-county-brewers-to-cut-red-tape-collect-feedback-on-small-business-regulations", "Golden Meets with Waldo County Brewers to Cut Red Tape, Collect Feedback on Small Business Regulations", "2022-08-26", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BELFAST \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was in Waldo County today to meet with local brewery owners to discuss ways to cut red tape for Maine\u2019s burgeoning craft brewing industry and collect feedback on how existing small business regulations are affecting brewers in the state. The congressman was joined on his tour by Louie Luchini, the New England Region Advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration.\n\n\u201cAcross Maine, breweries are helping many rural communities revitalize downtowns, create jobs, and provide community gathering places, in addition to an impact of hundreds of millions of dollars on Maine\u2019s economy,\u201d said Golden. \u201cBut like many industries in our state, federal regulations and bureaucracy are too often holding them back from reaching their full potential. I was happy to sit down with Waldo County brewers and SBA Region 1 Advocate Luchini to discuss ways we can work with them to cut red tape and make agencies more responsive to their needs.\u201d\n\nThe congressman met with owners of breweries in Belfast and Liberty. As SBA Region 1 Advocate, Luchini collects feedback from and advocates on behalf of small businesses in New England before the federal government.\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a champion of rural small business owners and brewers. In 2019, he cosponsored the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2019 which would permanently lower the excise tax rates on craft brewers and distillers. Language from this bill was ultimately passed as part of the COVID relief package passed in December 2020. As the Chairman of the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee, Golden has consistently advocated for resources and support for small businesses. In April, the House of Representatives passed Golden\u2019s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/on-blue-hill-peninsula-golden-working-to-secure-funds-to-upgrade-wastewater-treatment-facility", "On Blue Hill Peninsula, Golden Working to Secure Funds to Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Facility", "2022-08-25", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BLUE HILL\u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) headed to the Blue Hill Peninsula yesterday as part of his work to bring in federal funding to upgrade the town of Blue Hill\u2019s aging wastewater facility. Golden passed $1 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) through the House to make much-needed repairs to the 47-year-old facility and is working to get the request signed into law.\n\n\u201cAfter nearly a half century of wear-and-tear from the waters of the Blue Hill Harbor, Blue Hill\u2019s wastewater treatment facility is in need of upgrades and repairs to improve reliability for families and businesses in the area,\u201d said Golden.\u201cI joined local officials at the plant yesterdayto see firsthand. I\u2019m grateful to the community leaders on the Peninsula for their partnership in submitting this request and I\u2019m working to secure the funding needed to help ensure that the communities on the Peninsula have consistent clean water and strong local infrastructure.\u201d\n\nOpen since 1975, Blue Hill\u2019s Wastewater Treatment Facility is showing its age and has been impacted by rising tide levels from the surrounding waters. The $1,000,000 in funding requested by the congressman for the facility will be used to make repairs to the plant and upgrades that prevent further degradation from the rising water levels.\n\nDuring his visit to Blue Hill, Golden also met with representatives from Peninsula Tomorrow, a newly re-formed group to coordinate among the towns on the Blue Hill Peninsula to address coastal resilience and help the region plan for climate change and the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-opposition-to-biden-administration-move-to-forgive-student-debt-for-borrowers-making-up-to-125000", "Golden Announces Opposition to Biden Administration Move to Forgive Student Debt for Borrowers Making up to $125,000", "2022-08-24", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released a statement today opposing action by the Biden Administration to cancel $10,000 of student debt for borrowers who make up to $125,000 a year.\n\n\u201cThis decision by the president is out of touch with what the majority of the American people want from the White House, which is leadership to address the most immediate challenges the country is facing. The president should be taking action to reduce inflationary pressures; with this move, he potentially makes them worse. It is out of step with the needs and values of working class Americans, and I do not support the president\u2019s decision.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-support-for-inflation-reduction-act", "Golden Announces Support for Inflation Reduction Act", "2022-08-12", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a Medium post addressed to his constituents, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced that he will vote to pass the Inflation Reduction Act later today. The congressman\u2019s vote today follows his votes against both previous Biden Administration budget bills, the American Rescue Plan and the Build Back Better Act.\n\n\u201cOver the past 18 months, the Biden Administration has sought to use the reconciliation process to advance massive, deficit-financed spending packages, from the American Rescue Plan to the extended debate around and ultimate failure to pass the Build Back Better (BBB) Act.\n\n\u201cIn considering each of those proposals, I hewed to a set of principles that guided my decision-making. Absent an emergency, like we experienced in early 2020 with the emergence of COVID-19, any major budget legislation should be targeted both in its scope and in its design, focusing on doing a few things well and ensuring that the individual policies are focused on those most in need. It should be fiscally responsible and, whenever possible, aim to reduce our national debt, particularly in the midst of an inflationary environment caused in part by the first of these reconciliation bills. In addition, it should focus any changes to the tax code on the corporate giants who for years have exploited loopholes to pay little or no taxes while passing on massive windfalls to shareholders. And it should finally deliver on key priorities lawmakers have been promising to seniors for years \u2013 namely, lowering prescription drug costs.\n\n\u201cTime and again, reconciliation legislation that has come before the House has failed to meet many if not most of these conditions. As a result, I have voted not once, not twice, but three times against massive reconciliation packages designed by the Biden Administration. I have taken those positions not out of reflexive opposition but to consistently deliver the kind of representation to my constituents that I pledged I would bring to Congress: to stand up to anyone, regardless of party, in order to defend their interests and what\u2019s best for the country.\n\n\u201cAfter many fits and starts, and due to the willingness of a few Democrats in Congress, like Senator Joe Manchin, to stand against the poorly-targeted and fiscally irresponsible agenda put forward by the Biden Administration, Build Back Better and its many iterations are dead. What has emerged, the Inflation Reduction Act, is an entirely different approach that is focused on making hard choices, doing a few things well, and investing in the long-term health of our economy and the predictability of the policies that help shape it.\n\n\u201cToday I am announcing my support for this common-sense legislation. It is fiscally responsible and is targeted on four key priorities: reducing the national debt and putting our country back on a fiscally responsible path, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and making health care more affordable, investing in an all-of-the-above energy strategy to significantly increase oil, gas, and renewable energy production to lower energy costs for Americans, and cracking down on the tax avoidance of billion-dollar multinational corporations.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)\n\nThe Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan organization of leading budget policy experts, recognized Congressman Golden for his role in bringing about the legislation:\n\n\u201cThe Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget recognizes and appreciates Representative Golden\u2019s contribution to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Rep. Golden deserves credit for his commitment to pushing for deficit reduction and keeping out fiscally irresponsible and regressive SALT provisions. This bill reduces the deficit more than any law in over ten years. In addition, it benefits the people of Maine by helping the Federal Reserve to tamp down inflation. We applaud Representative Golden for supporting this important legislation.\u201d - Maya MacGuineas, President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.\n\nYou can read the congressman\u2019s message to his constituents in its entirety on his Medium page here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/in-oxford-county-golden-meets-with-local-leaders-on-rural-healthcare-workforce-training", "In Oxford County, Golden Meets with Local Leaders on Rural Healthcare, Workforce Training", "2022-08-09", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWAY\u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) was in Oxford County today to hear from local health care and education leaders and discuss the impact of $1.6 million in federal funds he is working to secure for emergency services in the region.\n\nThe congressman joined a roundtable with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals at Stephens Memorial Hospital to discuss challenges facing the hospital and about the Community Project Funding (CPF) the congressman is working to bring to the hospital\u2019s paramedic station. The funds would be used to renovate the existing station, which is showing its age and becoming unsafe. The station serves 9 towns around Norway and responded to over 4,300 calls last year alone. Golden met with paramedics and was given a tour of the station.\n\nFollowing his time in Norway, the congressman made his way to South Paris, where he took part in a tour of the Oxford County Technical School (OCTS) and in a discussion with administrators at the school. The conversation focused on ways to bolster and improve the workforce training programs offered at the school, in particular the forestry and electrical programs, and continued the congressman\u2019s work with Maine\u2019s adult education system to help create pathways to good, stable jobs in rural communities across the state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-and-garbarino-introduce-bill-to-help-struggling-families-heat-their-homes-this-winter", "Golden and Garbarino Introduce Bill to Help Struggling Families Heat Their Homes this Winter", "2022-08-05", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) this week introduced the Home Heating Emergency Funding Act of 2022. The bipartisan legislation would provide $4 billion in emergency funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help struggling families across the country afford to heat their homes this winter amidst rising fuel costs. Golden also joined with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) this week to press congressional appropriations leaders to make emergency supplemental funding available for LIHEAP.\n\nThe bill would appropriate approximately $40 million in funding for Maine families, roughly doubling the assistance that is allocated to the state under the LIHEAP formula. The emergency funding is expected to allow MaineHousing to assist roughly 40,000 families purchase an average 1.5 tanks of oil this winter amidst record heating oil prices. Without the emergency funding, the benefit available to the average family would shrink significantly.\n\n\u201cEven if sky-high heating oil prices come down between now and November, it\u2019s going to be a tough winter for many families in Maine,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cWhile I\u2019ve been pushing for months for the U.S. to expand domestic oil and gas production and open pipelines to increase energy supply and lower prices, these measures are unlikely to impact Mainers filling their oil tanks this winter. That\u2019s why the bipartisan bill I\u2019m introducing today is so important. Our bill will respond to this crisis by temporarily doubling the funding that goes to LIHEAP, the program that helps families with their heating bills. For thousands of Maine residents this funding could be a crucial lifeline to get them through the winter this year.\u201d\n\n\u201cLong Islanders and Americans across the country are dealing with astronomical energy prices on top of rising costs for basic necessities across the board,\u201d said Rep. Garbarino. \u201cThis legislation will provide much needed relief to some of the most vulnerable families in our community and help ensure they are able to heat their homes this winter.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaineHousing is grateful for this bipartisan effort in Congress and the leadership being shown by Congressman Golden. This critical funding boost will help offset the crushing vise skyrocketing oil prices have placed on the budgets of our state\u2019s most vulnerable households,\u201d said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. \u201cThis funding will allow us to provide a meaningful and more robust heating benefit and will truly help to keep thousands of Maine kids, the disabled and our oldest residents warm in the coming winter.\u201d\n\nGolden has been working to lower oil and gas prices since fall 2021 and has consistently been one of the leading voices in Congress pushing back against the administration and calling on the White House to take more aggressive action to increase domestic energy production. He has pressed the administration to adopt his bipartisan, multi-pronged proposal to boost energy production and boost supply, called for the suspension of the federal gas tax to help consumers save at the pump, and advocated for opening or expediting approval pipelines like Keystone, Dakota Access, and Mountain Valley.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-visits-university-of-maine-compotech-to-make-the-case-for-advanced-workforce-training-centers", "Golden Visits University of Maine, Compotech to Make the Case for Advanced Workforce Training Centers", "2022-08-05", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ORONO\u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) headed to the Bangor area today to meet with university officials, manufacturing and forest products experts, business owners, and students today for tours of two innovative UMaine programs focused on helping Maine help build the advanced workforce necessary to lead in today\u2019s economy and one of several local small businesses who benefits from the workforce training programs.\n\nGolden has successfully passed two Community Project Funding (CPF) requests through the House to bolster the two programs \u2014 the UMaine Sawing Operations Training Facility and the UMaine Advanced Manufacturing Center \u2014 and is working to get both requests signed into law.\n\n\u200b\u200b\u201cThe innovative training being done at the Advanced Manufacturing Center and at the Sawing Operations Training Center, in concert with our community college system, are essential for developing and growing Maine\u2019s workforce,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m fighting for funding to bring the training available at the manufacturing center to more students around the state and to expand the sawing operations center. The future is bright for both these programs and I\u2019m grateful to all at UMaine for their partnership.\u201d\n\n\u201cBy 2030, one-quarter of Maine\u2019s current forest products workforce will reach retirement age,\u201d explained Keith Kanoti, manager of the University of Maine Forest where the facility will be located if ultimately funded. \u201cAs this industry innovates for the future through technology and processes that add value to our timber, the community project funding requested by Congressman Golden will allow the university to better prepare the next generation of skilled forest resource professionals who are necessary to maintain and grow Maine\u2019s leading role in the global forest economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur state is a leader in the aerospace and defense manufacturing industry with a reputation for unmatched quality, but it needs an agile, well-trained workforce to stay competitive for federal contracts and to continue providing good-paying careers to Mainers,\u201d said John Belding, director of the University of Maine Advanced Manufacturing Center. \u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Congressman Golden for championing this funding that would allow us to partner with Southern Maine Community College to stand up manufacturing training innovation centers across the state that provide talent pipelines in direct support of local workers, Maine industry and our nation's security.\u201d\n\nThe $750,000 in funding requested by the congressman for the UMaine Sawmill Facility will be used to construct a sawmill operations training facility to be located at the Dwight B. Demeritt Forest. The $7 million in funding he requested for the Advanced Manufacturing Center at UMaine will be used to establish three Manufacturing Training Innovation Centers in partnership with Southern Maine Community College to be located at Orono, ME, Brunswick, ME, and South Portland, ME.\n\nThe Congressman also visited Compotech, a defense company based in Brewer, that partners with the Advanced Manufacturing Center and will benefit from the federal funding he is working to secure.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/with-home-heating-bills-forecasted-to-surge-this-winter-collins-golden-lead-56-colleagues-to-urge-emergency-supplemental-funding-for-liheap", "With Home Heating Bills Forecasted to Surge This Winter, Collins, Golden Lead 56 Colleagues to Urge Emergency Supplemental Funding for LIHEAP", "2022-08-05", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 As the price of home heating oil hovers at a record high, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representative Jared Golden (D-ME) are leading a bipartisan, bicameral push to increase funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps over 5.3 million households nationwide afford their energy bills.\n\nSenators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) and Representatives Golden, Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), and Peter Welch (D-VT) spearheaded the efforts in their respective chambers to urge the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to address the expected surge in home energy prices with emergency supplemental funding for LIHEAP. Their letter was signed by a total of 58 Members of Congress, including Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME).\n\n\u201cIn light of skyrocketing home energy bills and additional increases expected for this winter, we urge the Committee to provide emergency supplemental funding for this critical program,\u201d the 58 members of Congress wrote.\n\nAnnual federal funding levels are currently set to reach about $4 billion in fiscal year 2023. However, more is needed as cost increases have diminished the purchasing power of LIHEAP dollars. The price of home heating oil nearly doubled in the past year, and electricity and natural gas prices are projected to rise significantly.\n\n\u201cThe Committee\u2019s efforts to increase the annual appropriation for LIHEAP for Fiscal Year 2023 represents an important commitment to restoring funding to the levels reached over a decade ago. However, because of the run-up in natural gas, heating oil, and electricity prices, we are deeply concerned that we will not meet the needs of low-income families this winter,\u201d the U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives continued. \u201cThe Bureau of Labor Statistics\u2019 Consumer Price Index recently reported alarming increases across all sources of home energy fuel over the past 12 months. Natural gas is up 38.4 percent from this time last year \u2013 the largest such increase since the period ending in October 2005. Electricity is up 13.7 percent \u2013 the largest such increase since the period ending in April 2006 \u2013 and heating oil is up 98.5 percent.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn a normal year, LIHEAP plays a critical role in offsetting burdensome heating and cooling costs that strain the budgets of financially vulnerable Americans. However, this winter, LIHEAP will be more important than ever in helping families afford their energy bills. We urge you to help states prepare for a particularly tough winter ahead by appropriating emergency supplemental funding for this critical program,\u201d the letter concluded.\n\nAs a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has long led efforts to fully fund the LIHEAP program. She also led the successful push to include $500 million in LIHEAP funding in the bipartisan infrastructure law. Congressman Golden has consistently advocated for LIHEAP funding throughout his time in Congress and has introduced legislation to increase federal resources for the program this winter.\n\nLIHEAP aid delivered more than $90 million to Maine last year to help residents save on their home energy bills. In Maine, 42,500 households benefitted from LIHEAP last season, with the average annual benefit covering $722 in home heating costs. About 6,400 Maine households also received LIHEAP crisis grants, with the average benefit of $739.\n\nLIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources.\n\nClick here for the full text of the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-meets-with-local-leaders-and-small-business-owners-in-skowhegan", "Golden Meets with Local Leaders and Small Business Owners in Skowhegan", "2022-08-04", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SKOWHEGAN\u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) headed to Skowhegan today to hear from local leaders and small business owners in downtown Skowhegan about the community\u2019s opportunities and challenges as its economy changes and grows. The congressman held a roundtable with downtown small businesses and toured several sites that are being redeveloped in the coming years.\n\n\u201cThanks to the work of local leaders and the small business community, Skowhegan is doing the work to create opportunities for growth,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing, but economic development and transition always bring challenges as well, like workforce needs, strain on infrastructure and social services, and other issues. It was important to sit down with some of the small business leaders driving investment in this community to understand their needs for the future and identify ways our office can be supportive. Thanks to Main Street Skowhegan and the Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce for having me and to all the small business owners who offered their perspectives today.\u201d\n\nGolden was hosted by Kristina Cannon, Executive Director of Main Street Skowhegan, and Sam Hight, the acting Director of the Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce. Main Street Skowhegan is a nonprofit organization focused on the revitalization of downtown Skowhegan. The Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce is a network of business support resources.\n\nAmong those who participated in the roundtable with Golden were representatives of local schools and adult education programs, health care providers, banking and lending institutions, restaurant owners, brewers, insurance providers, and others.\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a champion of rural small business owners and entrepreneurs. As the Chairman of the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee, Golden has consistently advocated for resources and support for small businesses. In April, the House of Representatives passed Golden\u2019s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-joins-local-county-law-enforcement-officers-in-lisbon", "Golden Joins Local, County Law Enforcement Officers in Lisbon", "2022-08-03", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LISBON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) met with local and state law enforcement officials in Lisbon yesterday to hear from the officers about the challenges they face as they protect communities in Maine and discuss what Congress can do to help. Joining the congressman were Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee, Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson, Sabattus Police Chief Erik Baker, and other officers. Following the discussion, the congressman rode along with Chief McGee on a patrol of the area.\n\n\u201cMembers of Congress have a responsibility to hear directly from the men and women charged with keeping the communities they represent safe,\u201d said Golden. \u201cI appreciated the opportunity to sit down with these local police chiefs, sheriffs, and officers to talk about how Congress can best support the important work they do. We identified some important areas to collaborate on, including bringing federal funding in to help purchase equipment like body cameras, for recruiting and retention, and fighting the devastating impact of fentanyl and other drugs in rural Maine and I look forward to working with these officers to deliver for their agencies and law enforcement throughout our state. \u201d\n\nGolden has been a consistent champion for law enforcement officials in Maine and across the country, particularly in rural areas. In March, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. He was one of just two Democrats to vote against a sweeping police reform measure last year, in part because of its impact on qualified immunity protections for police officers. This past January, Golden introduced the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act of 2021. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine\u2019s Second District.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-bolster-american-manufacturing-improve-supply-chains-and-decrease-reliance-on-china", "Golden Votes to Bolster American Manufacturing, Improve Supply Chains, and Decrease Reliance on China", "2022-07-28", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today to pass the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act through the House of Representatives. The bill aims to improve supply chains, create jobs by bringing production back home, and reduce our reliance on foreign manufacturers in unfriendly countries like China.\n\n\u201cOver the last two years, we\u2019ve learned in real time the true costs of companies moving their manufacturing overseas,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just the loss of American jobs, it also created a fragile supply chain that leaves us at the whims of China and other countries often hostile to American interests. This legislation will help ensure that the crucial components important to our lives are made in America by Americans, minimizing disruptions from abroad and helping to lower and stabilize prices in the long run for consumers. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bolster our economy and build things in America again.\u201d\n\nThe bill is in part designed to improve American competitiveness with China, which has invested heavily in a wide range of research and technology development areas, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and telecommunications for a number of years. Semiconductors are critical to American daily life given the wide range of products, from microwaves to phones, that need them to function. Currently, only 15 percent of semiconductors are produced domestically, leaving American supply chains vulnerable to international conflicts and disruptions.\n\nThe legislation contains important provisions that prioritize American manufacturing, help create jobs in our country, and boost scientific innovation by:\n\nAuthorizing $2 billion for a CHIPS for America Defense Fund, a national network for the onshore development of semiconductor technologies;\n\nAuthorizing $200 million to kick start development of the domestic semiconductor workforce;\n\nAuthorizing $81 billion total over five years for the National Science Foundation to establish research opportunities, build the STEM workforce, and address inequities faced by rural students that make it harder to access quality STEM education;\n\nAuthorizing additional funding for the expansion of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which works to track and address supply chain disruptions; and\n\nAuthorizing additional funding for a series of programs to enhance the commercialization of clean energy technologies across the nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-helps-secure-amendment-to-defund-commission-that-could-close-rural-va-facilities-in-maine", "Golden Helps Secure Amendment to Defund Commission that Could Close Rural VA Facilities in Maine", "2022-07-20", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Following remarks on the House floor today by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02), the House voted to adopt an amendment cosponsored by the congressman that would help prevent the closure of a number of rural VA facilities, including those in Maine, by defunding the Asset and Infrastructure (AIR) Commission. The AIR Commission was created by Congress in 2018 and is charged with reviewing and processing VA recommendations.\n\nThe funding previously designated for the AIR Commission would be reallocated to the VA\u2019s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program, rendering the Commission unable to function for the upcoming fiscal year.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s Second District is the largest district East of the Mississippi, the second most rural district in the country, and the home to more than 53,000 veterans,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThe VA facilities many of these veterans rely on \u2014 the clinics in Houlton, Fort Kent, and Rumford \u2014 are at risk of being shut down if we don\u2019t permanently end the Asset and Infrastructure, or AIR Commission. Our VA hospital at Togus would be downsized, with the remaining services moved to Portland, a long distance from most of the rural communities that I represent. I am proud to help introduce this amendment to defund the commission and transfer the money to the VA\u2019s Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program, a far better use of the money. It\u2019s an important step towards ending the AIR Commission once and for all, before it can begin trying to implement these closures.\u201d\n\nThe VA recommendations to the AIR Commission included:\n\nClosure of the Houlton Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)\n\nClosure of the Fort Kent CBOC\n\nClosure of the Rumford CBOC\n\nRelocating Community and Residential Care from Togus VA to Portland\n\nEnding emergency department services at Togus VA\n\nConsolidating the services offered at the closed facilities into facilities that would remain open, like those at Togus, or into facilities that have yet to be built.\n\nThe MISSION Act of 2018 mandated the formation of the AIR Commission and required the Secretary of the VA to submit to this Commission recommendations for the modernization and realignment of VA medical facilities. To staff the Commission, the President nominated eight individuals in March 2022, with the ninth nominee still forthcoming. The eight nominees that have been nominated thus far have no experience providing healthcare for rural veterans.\n\nThis amendment is the latest action Golden has taken to prevent the closure of veterans health care facilities in Maine. Earlier this month, Golden and Congressman David McKinley (WV-01) introduced a bipartisan bill designed to prevent the closures by eliminating the AIR Commission entirely. Language similar to Golden\u2019s provision was also included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House last week. In February, Golden joined the Maine Delegation in a letter to the Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes (MVH) board opposing recently announced plans to close MVH homes in Machias and Caribou. The plans to immediately shutter the homes were ultimately reversed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-defense-bill-with-golden-amendment-to-boost-ddg-51-shipbuilding-and-increase-defense-budget", "House Passes Defense Bill with Golden Amendment to Boost DDG-51 Shipbuilding and Increase Defense Budget", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House of Representatives passed the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act last night, including an amendment proposed by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to authorize a $37 billion increase in defense spending, including funding for the construction of a 3rd DDG-51 destroyer, $250 million in shipyard infrastructure, and pay bonuses for servicemembers, among other investments.\n\n\u201cAfter months of negotiation, the legislation we passed in the House this week brings us one step closer to delivering stronger national security, more support for our men and women in uniform, and good investments in our Navy,\u201d said Golden. \u201cFrom increasing our investment in national defense and providing a raise for our military, to securing authorization for a 3rd DDG-51 destroyer this year and up to 15 over the next five years, this bill is important for our country\u2019s defense and the many Mainers who contribute towards it, including those at BIW and PNSY. I was proud to help pass this bill through the House and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to send this bill to the president\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nGolden introduced his amendment to increase defense spending at the NDAA markup for the House Armed Services Committee. The amendment passed out of the committee with bipartisan support.\n\nThe final House FY2023 NDAA contains provisions Congressman Golden worked to secure on a number of priorities, including:\n\nShipbuilding:\n\nEstablishing a new multi-year contract for up to 15 DDG-51 destroyers over the next five years, many of which will be built at BIW;\n\nAuthorizing $1.2 billion for a third DDG in the next fiscal year;\n\nAuthorizing $250 million in shipyard infrastructure for Bath Iron Works and Ingalls, the two shipyards that build destroyers;\n\nAuthorizing $618 million for Advanced Procurement (AP) DDG-51 funding to help ensure long-term stability at BIW; and\n\nPreparing for the next generation of Bath-built destroyer with $75.3 million in funding for research, development, testing, and evaluation of the DDG(X) destroyer.\n\nResearch and Innovation in Maine:\n\nFunding $4 million for University of Maine defense research programs; and\n\nCreating a pilot program that would use mass-timber construction for certain military buildings.\n\nServicemembers and Veterans:\n\nAuthorizing a 4.6% pay increase for servicemembers, as well as $1.4 billion in personnel bonuses to help address the effects of inflation;\n\nEliminating the VA\u2019s Asset and Infrastructure (AIR) Commission, which was tasked with considering recommendations to close a number of VA facilities in rural America, including those in Fort Kent, Houlton, and Rumford. The provision mirrors legislation introduced by Congressman Golden; and\n\nSecuring additional mental health support and benefits for servicemembers who served at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the evacuation of Afghanistan in August 2021.\n\nOther:\n\nProviding Wabanaki tribes in Maine with the same access to future federal programs and benefits as nearly every other federally recognized tribe;\n\nAuthorizing $1 billion to support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative; and\n\nPreventing the Air Force from diverting training and maintenance funds from National Guard refueling tankers like the KC-135 used in Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-golden-bill-to-ensure-wabanaki-nations-equal-access-to-future-beneficial-federal-laws-and-programs", "House Passes Golden Bill to Ensure Wabanaki Nations\u2019 Equal Access to Future Beneficial Federal Laws and Programs", "2022-07-15", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House last night passed H.R. 6707, the Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act, with bipartisan support. The bill, introduced earlier this year by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and cosponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) would update federal law to give Wabanaki tribes the same access to future beneficial federal laws as nearly every other federally recognized tribe in America. The bill passed as part of the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nThe bill has received broad bipartisan support from legislators in the Maine State House of Representatives, the Maine State Senate, and from members of Maine\u2019s forest products industry.\n\n\u201cThe Penobscot Nation appreciates that the U.S. House of Representatives agrees with us that it is time to make some incremental change to the 1980 Federal settlement act. The Tribal communities in Maine have been left out of the Federal benefits available to the other 570 Tribal governments for far too long. We thank Representatives Golden and Pingree for their leadership on this matter, and we also thank the people of Maine for their overwhelming support of the Wabanaki Nations. We look forward to working with our senators on getting final passage through Congress this year,\u201d said Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation.\n\n\u201cWe deeply appreciate Congressman Golden\u2019s and Congresswoman Pingree\u2019s leadership in building a better and healthier future for the Wabanaki Nations. After forty years, it is well past time for Congress to alter the Settlement Act to ensure that our people receive equal treatment under federal law as other Native people, \u201d said Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Chief Clarissa Sabattis.\n\n\u201cThe Passamaquoddy Tribe thanks Congressman Golden for supporting Wabanaki efforts to have equal access to federal laws passed in the future for the benefit of Indian country. The Congressman\u2019s leadership on this issue has been tremendous and we are grateful for his support,\u201d said Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk Chief William Nicholas, Sr.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act has held the Passamaquoddy People back for too long. I thank Congressman Golden for recognizing the need to modernize this decades old law for the benefit of our future generations,\u201d said Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik Chief Maggie Dana.\n\nThe bill was introduced by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and is cosponsored by Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03), Chuy Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Darren Soto (FL-09), Jim Costa (CA-16), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ed Case (HI-01), and Lori Trahan (MA-03).\n\nIt has also been endorsed by the Native American Rights Fund, the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and the National Congress of American Indians. The U.S. Department of the Interior also supports the bill. Four chiefs of Wabanaki tribes in Maine appeared before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples to testify on behalf of the bill in April, and the House Natural Resources Committee passed the bill on a bipartisan vote in June.\n\nThe bill passed the House on a 329-101 vote. Golden\u2019s legislation was added to the NDAA bill in a package of amendments by a wide bipartisan margin of 277-150.\n\n\u201cThanks to the hard work and perseverance of the Wabanaki tribes, bipartisan backing both in Congress and in Maine, and broad support across a range of communities, we have passed the Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act through the House of Representatives,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cWhat these tribes want is what all communities in my district want: economic opportunity for their families and safer, healthier communities. We have a long way to go until this bill reaches the president\u2019s desk, but I have been honored to work with Wabanaki tribal leaders and my colleagues to advance this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince my earliest days in Congress, I\u2019ve worked to advance the Maine Wabanaki tribes\u2019 goal of having access to federal resources and programs, just as 570 other federally recognized tribes in this country do. I applaud Congressman Golden\u2019s shared commitment to getting this legislation through Congress and for including it in this year\u2019s defense bill. I\u2019m proud to join him in fixing the disparity that has uniquely challenged Maine\u2019s tribes for decades,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree.\n\nCurrently, the Wabanaki tribes in Maine are excluded from many beneficial federal laws that apply to nearly every other federally recognized tribe in the country. Examples of laws that MICSA has prevented from applying to the Wabanaki tribes in the past include the Violence Against Women Act, which allows tribes to prosecute non-Indian defendants for domestic violence crimes against tribal members; the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which allows tribes to employ much-needed medical professionals who are licensed in another state; and the Stafford Act, which allows tribes to directly seek federal disaster relief and emergency assistance.\n\nH.R. 6707 would address this exclusion by amending the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) to ensure that all future federal laws enacted to benefit Indian tribes apply to the tribes in Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-mckinley-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-va-closures-in-rural-maine-and-across-the-country", "Golden, McKinley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent VA Closures in Rural Maine and across the Country", "2022-07-12", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and David McKinley (WV-01) today introduced a bipartisan bill designed to prevent the closure of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in rural communities across the country, including in Houlton, Fort Kent, and Rumford. The bill would eliminate the Asset and Infrastructure (AIR) Commission, which was created by Congress in 2018 and is charged with reviewing and processing VA recommendations that seek to close the three VA facilities listed above and reduce healthcare services available at Togus.\n\n\u201cCongress created the AIR Commission in 2018, and as a result, VA officials in Washington have quietly recommended closing VA facilities across rural Maine,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cClosing these facilities would put health care further out of reach for Maine veterans, forcing them to drive even further than they already do for VA care. I know that Mainers are dedicated to supporting our veterans and that they do not want Congress to reduce access to healthcare for veterans. Congress should not have created this commission in the first place and my bipartisan bill would eliminate the AIR Commission before it has the chance to act on these misguided recommendations to close VA healthcare facilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VA study recommending hospital closures would severely limit access to the specialized medical care that veterans in rural areas earned by serving their country,\u201d said Congressman McKinley. \u201cWe will continue to work to ensure these closures don't happen and that our veterans continue to have access to quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe support the 2018 VA MISSION Act goal of streamlining VA services to provide better care for veterans, but it\u2019s clear that the AIR Commission is not the right way to accomplish that goal. We can\u2019t support a process that will lead to closures of VA facilities in many of the rural communities where Maine veterans need them the most and limit the services our veterans can get close to home. As a top priority of The American Legion Department of Maine, we strongly support and applaud Congressman Golden for his work to protect Maine veterans\u2019 access to the health care benefits they\u2019ve earned.\u201d \u2013 The American Legion, Department of Maine\n\n\u201cThe veterans of northern Maine deserve access to quality care close to their homes. We\u2019ve earned it through our service and the sacrifices of the many who never made it home,\u2019\u2019 said Roger Felix, Commander of the Caribou VFW. \u201cThe VA\u2019s recommendations through the AIR commission would be just another hit to our veterans and communities throughout our great state. Actions like these, done in the shadows without input from the very veterans it serves, will only drive a wedge between the VA and our veterans. Congressman Golden is right to be doing everything he can to shut this commission down. I am glad he\u2019s continuing to lead the way in advocating for veterans in towns like Caribou to make sure that medical care is never compromised for those who gave up many of their best days so we can enjoy a better way of life\u201d\n\nThe VA recommendations to the AIR Commission included:\n\nClosure of the Houlton Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)\n\nClosure of the Ft. Kent CBOC\n\nClosure of the Rumford CBOC\n\nRelocating Community and Residential Care from Togus VA to Portland\n\nEnding emergency department services at Togus VA\n\nConsolidating the services offered at the closed facilities into facilities that would remain open, like those at Togus, or into facilities that have yet to be built.\n\nThe MISSION Act of 2018 mandated the formation of the AIR Commission and required the Secretary of the VA to submit to this Commission recommendations for the modernization and realignment of VA medical facilities. To staff the Commission, the President nominated eight individuals in March 2022, with the ninth nominee still forthcoming. The eight nominees that have been nominated thus far have no experience providing healthcare for rural veterans.\n\nGolden\u2019s bill is similar to legislation offered by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and John Tester (D-MT) in the U.S. Senate. While several senators have exercised their nomination authority to hold up the nomination process to fill the ninth seat on the Commission, neither the House nor the Senate have taken the legislative action necessary to permanently eliminate the commission and prevent the recommended closures.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-new-court-ruling-on-lobstermen-regulations", "Golden Statement on New Court Ruling on Lobstermen Regulations", "2022-07-09", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Following a new ruling from the DC Circuit Court in Center for Biological Diversity v. Raimondo & Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) made the following statement.\n\n\u201cJudge Boasberg\u2019s ruling is the latest in what has been an unrelenting and groundless campaign against Maine lobstermen by elite, out-of-touch conservation groups and their city-dwelling, silver spoon donors and lobbyists. The Maine lobster community is working to understand the full implications of the ruling and determine next steps, and I will continue to fight alongside Maine lobstermen against yet another effort by special interests and unelected officials to ignore scientific data as they try to put lobstermen out of business.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:25Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-supreme-court-decision-overturning-roe-vs-wade-decision", "Golden Statement on Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe vs. Wade Decision", "2022-06-24", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s announcement today of its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The court has effectively reversed the Roe and Casey decisions, overturning decades of settled law that gave Americans the right to access abortion care.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Supreme Court is a grave mistake. The majority opinion is wrong on principle and it is wrong on the merits, tossing aside decades of established precedent. In many parts of the country, there will be serious and harmful consequences for millions of women.\n\n\u201cHere in Maine, the reproductive healthcare decisions of women remain protected under current state law. Today\u2019s decision should remind us just how important it is to fight for state legislative majorities that will safeguard the right of a woman to make private decisions about her body. And while the odds of success may be long, I believe Congress should work to find ways to protect women\u2019s rights to the greatest extent possible by codifying as much of the Roe and Casey frameworks as possible within the constraints of our narrow majorities, even if we are unable to preserve the entire pre-Dobbs status quo.\u201d \u2013 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-bipartisan-safer-communities-act", "Golden Statement on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act", "2022-06-23", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 After reviewing the legislative text of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement.\n\n\u201cA few weeks ago, in response to the Uvalde school massacre, I called on Congress to focus on a bipartisan process that could deliver meaningful results rather than repeating yet another cycle of partisan debate and advocacy for proposals that do not have sufficient support to become law. Time and again, that partisan approach has resulted in nothing getting done. This week, despite the doubts of many, the Senate has led the way toward common sense solutions that have both broad support across the country and will save lives.\n\n\u201cAssuming the Senate passes the legislation in its current form, I look forward to supporting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act when it comes up for a vote in the House of Representatives. This legislation strikes the right balance between getting firearms out of the hands of violent offenders and those who have become a danger to themselves or others and protecting the Second Amendment and due process rights of law-abiding American citizens.\n\n\u201cI am proud of the leadership that Senator Susan Collins provided in negotiating the bill. And I am very appreciative of the principled and thoughtful role that David Trahan and the Sportsman\u2019s Alliance of Maine (SAM) board has taken in working with me on the recent proposals before the House as well as with Senator Collins as she worked on this legislation in the Senate. SAM sets an example in Maine, and for the nation, of how a responsible organization of strong Second Amendment supporters and sportsman enthusiasts can help lead our communities to find workable solutions that make our communities safer and keep our constitutional rights intact. This bill isn\u2019t perfect, but it is one that I am proud to support.\u201d \u2013 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-amendment-to-boost-defense-budget-by-37-billion-passed-by-armed-services-committee", "Golden Amendment to Boost Defense Budget by $37 Billion Passed by Armed Services Committee", "2022-06-22", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House Armed Services Committee approved a bipartisan amendment to this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) proposed by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02). The legislation amends the NDAA to authorize a $37 billion increase in defense spending, including funding for the construction of a 3rd DDG-51 destroyer, $250 million in shipyard infrastructure, and funding to improve servicemember quality of life, among other investments.\n\n\u201cWe need only look to world events in Ukraine, read reports regarding China\u2019s plans and actions in the South China Sea, or simply read the latest headlines about Iranian nuclear ambitions and North Korean missile tests, as well as ongoing terrorist threats, in order to see why this additional funding is necessary to meet the security challenges of our time,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis amendment would authorize funding for one additional DDG-51 destroyer, make necessary investments in shipyard infrastructure, and provide further military aid for Ukraine, among many other critical provisions. We were able to pass this amendment today because of thoughtful negotiations that included the feedback of many members of this committee both Democrat and Republican.\u201d\n\nThe amendment was adopted on a strong bipartisan vote of 42-17. The House Armed Services Committee is expected to vote on the full NDAA in the early morning hours on Thursday.\n\nIn addition to $1.2 billion for DDG-51 construction and $250 million for shipyard infrastructure upgrades, Golden\u2019s amendment includes:\n\n$1.4 billion in bonuses and other support to help servicemembers cope with rising prices;\n\n$660 million for eight additional F/A-18s;\n\n$550 million in assistance to Ukraine through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative bringing total security assistance in the bill to $1 billion;\n\n$3.5 billion to cover military construction inflation costs, $2.5 billion to offset the costs of fuel prices;\n\n$1.7 billion to improve servicemember quality of life improvements, such as facilities and building renovations.\n\nGolden has been a strong advocate for American national security and a strong navy throughout his time in Congress. In 2021, Golden led efforts in the House to successfully push back against the Biden Administration\u2019s plan to cut DDG-51 shipbuilding by securing funding for two DDG-51 Destroyers.\n\nA summary of the amendment is available here and the full text of the amendment is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-sponsors-amendment-to-counter-growing-global-threats-with-37b-increase-in-defense-funding", "Golden Sponsors Amendment to Counter Growing Global Threats with $37B Increase in Defense Funding", "2022-06-21", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today filed an amendment to increase the discretionary topline for the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by $37 billion. The amendment will garner bipartisan support during the NDAA markup.\n\nThe amendment is targeted to address the most pressing needs for American national security, including funding to address rising costs for all branches of the military, to increase funding for vital ships and aircraft, and to send additional military assistance to Ukraine.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Defense today must counter growing threats the world over, and those threats are only becoming more complex,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis amendment provides the additional resources required to confront these challenges and to address rising costs due to the inflation being felt across the armed forces. The amendment reflects responsible proposals from committee members on both sides of the aisle to ensure that the national security needs of our country are met and that our servicemembers have the support they need.\u201d\n\nIf adopted, the amendment would raise the level of defense spending in the House bill by $37 billion over the president\u2019s budget request and include proposals from members of both parties and from the service and the combatant command unfunded requirements lists.\n\nThis amendment is just the latest action in Golden\u2019s years-long work to advocate for Navy shipbuilding and a strong national defense, including leading the effort in the House to successfully push back against the Biden administration\u2019s plans to cut shipbuilding for the DDG-51 destroyer program last year.\n\nA summary of the amendment is available here and the full text of the amendment is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-combat-foreign-influence-in-washington", "Golden, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Foreign Influence in Washington", "2022-06-16", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Katie Porter (CA-45), and Paul Gosar (AZ-04) introduced the bipartisan Fighting Foreign Influence Act, comprehensive legislation to crack down on foreign influence seeking to corrupt U.S. elections, government officials, and think tanks.\n\nThe legislation is a package of several common-sense provisions from both sides of the aisle:\n\nTitle I, the Think Tank and Non-Profit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act, would require tax-exempt organizations, including think tanks, to publicly disclose any high-dollar gifts from foreign governments or foreign political parties. It then directs the Treasury Department to publish the total amount of such contributions from each foreign government and each foreign political party.\n\nTitle II, the Congressional and Executive Foreign Lobbying Ban Act, would impose a lifetime ban on former senior U.S. military officers, presidents, vice presidents, other senior executive branch officials, and members of Congress from ever lobbying for a foreign principal.\n\nTitle III, the Stop Foreign Donations Affecting Our Elections Act, would require political campaigns to verify that anyone making an online contribution has a valid US address (using credit cards\u2019 three-digit CVV code) or are otherwise legally eligible to make a campaign contribution. This title would also prohibit foreign agents from fundraising for political campaigns.\n\n\u201cOne of the biggest problems with our political system today is how corruption is either completely legal or punished with slaps on the wrist. Right now, foreign governments are able to secretly fund think tanks to push their own agendas, hire former public officials and military officers to lobby for their interests, and have their agents raise millions of dollars for political campaigns. For the good of the country, that needs to end immediately.\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation would help close each of these loopholes. Fighting foreign influence isn\u2019t a partisan issue\u2014it\u2019s an American issue. It\u2019s time for Congress to act.\u201d\n\n\u201cNon-profit organizations and partisan think tanks play an outsized role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions in the United States,\" said Congressman Gooden. \"We must understand where these groups get their funding, who influences their agenda, and if adversarial nations are using non-profit groups to undermine the United States. The Fighting Foreign Influence Act would ensure there is finally transparency and accountability in the non-profit sector.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans distrust government no matter which party is in power,\u201d said Congresswoman Porter. \u201cBy cracking down on foreign gifts, donations, and lobbying, we can begin the hard work of earning back the people\u2019s trust. I am proud to join Democrats and Republicans to help introduce the Fighting Foreign Influence Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cCurrent disclosure requirements for online donations make it easy for bad actors to violate federal contribution limits, or worse, for foreign money to influence U.S. elections. As technology advances, we must continue to stay ahead of the curve in thwarting those who wish to inappropriately influence our political processes,\u201d said Congressman Gosar. \u201cFull disclosure of online contributions will ensure that the American people know the sources of campaign money and will greatly assist with maintaining a system of free and fair elections.\u201d\n\nEach of these provisions responds to a serious vulnerability to foreign influence and corruption in U.S. policymaking and elections:\n\nA 2020 study found that between 2014 and 2018, the top 50 U.S. think tanks received at least $174 million from foreign powers. A significant amount of foreign funding at U.S. think tanks comes from corrupt and authoritarian regimes.\n\nThere is currently no requirement that political campaigns use industry-standard verification of online contributions, and experts across the political spectrum have drawn attention to this problem and called for the law to change. And foreign lobbyists bundled millions of dollars in donations to influence the 2020 presidential election.\n\nThis bipartisan legislation is endorsed by Transparency International U.S., a leading anti-corruption watchdog.\n\n\u201cCorrupt governments have devoted hundreds of millions of dollars to influencing and undermining democracies around the world\u2014including here in the United States. They hope that their efforts will divide our people, and inject doubt into the integrity of our government, our elections, and our politics,\u201d said Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy at Transparency International U.S. \u201cToday\u2019s proposal says enough is enough, and provides a bipartisan path forward for curbing this foreign corruptive influence once and for all.\"\n\nThe bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-advances-golden-bill-to-give-wabanaki-nations-equal-access-to-future-beneficial-federal-laws-and-programs", "House Committee Advances Golden Bill to Give Wabanaki Nations Equal Access to Future Beneficial Federal Laws and Programs", "2022-06-15", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House Natural Resources Committee today advanced H.R. 6707, the Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act, with bipartisan support. The bill, introduced earlier this year by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and cosponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), would update federal law to give Wabanaki tribes the same access to future beneficial federal laws as nearly every other federally recognized tribe in America.\n\n\u201cThis legislation allows the Maine tribes to be treated the same as the other 570 federally recognized tribes across the country under any future laws passed by Congress. It is a forward thinking bill that has bipartisan support in Maine. We thank Representatives Golden and Pingree for leading the effort, and Chairman Grijalva for bringing the bill up for a vote, and hope to have a vote by the full House of Representatives soon,\u201d said Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis.\n\n\u201cThe experimental policy known as the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 is a failed one. We have forty-two years of litigation, policy failures, and transgressions against the tribes to prove it\u2019s time to move forward,\u201d said Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk Chief William Nicholas.\n\n\u201cWe thank Congressman Golden for his willingness to place legislation in front of Congress to alter the Settlement Act federally for the first time in over forty years. His willingness to engage and advocate for the tribes in Maine is deeply appreciated, \u201d said Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Chief Clarissa Sabattis\n\n\u201cWe thank Congressman Golden for leading on tribal issues not just in Maine but nationally. He understands that when tribes prosper, Maine and the United States prosper. We are stronger supporting one another than dividing one another,\u201d said Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik Chief Maggie Dana.\n\n\u201cCongressman Golden understands the importance of fairness and fighting for those to have a seat at the table. That is who he is and how he has governed. Today he is pulling up a chair for the tribes at the decision-making table and we thank him for his support,\u201d said Mi\u2019kmaq Nation Chief Edward Peter Paul.\n\nThe bill was introduced by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and is cosponsored by Representatives Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03), Chuy Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Darren Soto (FL-09), Jim Costa (CA-16), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Ed Case (HI-01), and Lori Trahan (MA-03). It has been endorsed by the Native American Rights Fund, the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and the National Congress of American Indians. The U.S. Department of the Interior also supports the bill. Four chiefs of Wabanaki tribes in Maine appeared before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples to testify on behalf of the bill in March. In today\u2019s markup, the bill was supported by a bipartisan majority of House Natural Resources Committee members.\n\n\u201cAfter months of close collaboration with Wabanaki tribal leaders, we are a big step closer to better economic opportunity and basic fairness for the Wabanaki nations in Maine,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThis bill will grant Wabanaki tribes the same access to crucial future federal support and protections as every other federally-recognized tribe, and I\u2019m honored to work with the tribes to push for it to become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cSecuring approval from the House Natural Resources Committee today is a promising step towards fixing the disparity that has uniquely challenged Maine\u2019s tribes for decades,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cOnce our Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act is passed into law, Maine\u2019s Wabanaki tribes will finally gain access to future federal programs that the other 570 federally recognized tribes in this country benefit from. Simply put, it\u2019s a matter of fairness.\u201d\n\nCurrently, the Wabanaki tribes in Maine are excluded from many beneficial federal laws that apply to nearly every other federally recognized tribe in the country. Examples of laws that the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) has prevented from applying to the Wabanaki tribes in the past include the Violence Against Women Act, which allows tribes to prosecute non-Indian defendants for domestic violence crimes against tribal members; the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which allows tribes to employ much-needed medical professionals who are licensed in another state; and the Stafford Act, which allows tribes to directly seek federal disaster relief and emergency assistance.\n\nH.R. 6707 would address this exclusion by amending MICSA to allow the Wabanaki tribes to benefit from future laws enacted to benefit Indian tribes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-house-firearms-legislation-negotiations-in-the-senate", "Golden Statement on House Firearms Legislation, Negotiations in the Senate", "2022-06-08", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released a statement this evening on his votes on two packages of firearms legislation before the House of Representatives. The bills, which stand no chance of becoming law in the current Congress, were pushed by House leadership despite promising bipartisan negotiations to address gun safety in the Senate.\n\n\u201cFor far too many years, in the wake of tragic violent mass shootings, both Congress and the public have reacted with the same cycle of partisan debate and advocacy for proposals that do not have sufficient support to become law. Time and again, this cycle has resulted in nothing getting done.\n\n\u201cThere is, however, reason to be encouraged by the momentum behind bipartisan talks underway in the U.S. Senate. We should all appreciate the example set by leaders like Senator Murphy and Senator Collins who are working hard to reach an agreement that can deliver progress where there has been so little in the past.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, House leadership has taken a different approach this week, hastily bringing to the floor two partisan legislative packages that stand no chance of becoming law. While a handful of the individual provisions in the two bills before us have the potential to garner bipartisan support, taken as a whole, the bills are too sweeping in their design and fall far short of the support necessary to become law and save lives. I regret that the House did not follow the Senate\u2019s lead and engage in a substantive, bipartisan process that could positively contribute to a final agreement.\n\n\u201cNow is not a time for bills we all know will fail. Congress should not simply focus on \u201cdoing something\u201d but rather on doing something of substance that can pass into law and will advance the effort to prevent those with violent intent from obtaining or possessing weapons. We do not need to take sometypes of firearms away from all Americans, but instead we should work to keep all firearms out of the hands of felons and those who have demonstrated that they are at serious risk of committing harm to themselves or others.\n\n\u201cFor the past several weeks, my team and I have been engaged in helpful talks with the Sportsman Alliance of Maine (SAM), an organization that has played a positive role in the recent work agreed to in the Maine Legislature. I appreciate David Trahan and members of SAM\u2019s board for taking the time to identify acceptable firearm safety solutions that work for our state. We have also valued the conversations we\u2019ve had with the Maine Gun Safety Coalition. While we might not always agree, I have been heartened to see that their organization shares in our focus on getting beyond bills that can\u2019t pass this Congress to making progress with substantive legislation that can.\n\n\u201cI am hopeful that the Senate negotiations will result in a bipartisan package that strengthens penalties for illegal straw purchases, makes targeted improvements to the National Instant Background Check System (NICS), and provides federal resources for states to invest in community and school mental health services, safe storage programs, and to implement emergency protection orders similar to Maine\u2019s so-called \u2018yellow flag\u2019 law. We have the chance to come together and deliver solutions on firearm safety that have eluded Congress for decades \u2014much in the way the Maine Legislature has recently. I hope we are able to do so.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)\n\nCongressman Golden and his team have engaged in talks with leaders of both the Sportsman\u2019s Alliance of Maine and the Maine Gun Safety Coalition to identify the path forward to address gun safety. Both organizations agree that now is the time to focus on serious proposals that can become law.\n\n\u201cAs Executive Director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM), I have been working directly with both Senator Collins and Congressman Golden in the effort to advance firearms safety. While the Senate is taking a thoughtful and bipartisan approach, the House has decided to take a more divisive partisan course and put forth a bill that has no chance of becoming law. Congressman Golden's focus on addressing illegal straw purchases, funding mental health services in schools, safe storage of firearms, and federal resources for initiatives similar to Maine's bipartisan protective custody law have the best chance of gaining the widespread support needed to pass in the Congress. His vote today was the correct position.\u201d - Dave Trahan, Executive Director, Sportsman\u2019s Alliance of Maine\n\n\u201cThe Maine Gun Safety Coalition has worked for over 20 years to support common sense, life-saving gun safety measures at the state and federal level. Despite a seemingly unending tide of gun-involved massacres and losing over 40,000 Americans to gun violence annually, elected officials at the federal level have refused to act. We now have, in these bipartisan Senate negotiations, a very real opportunity to get some of the most important and universally supported gun safety policies into law, and the focus of Congress should be squarely on those provisions. Expanding background checks to cover juvenile history at the federal level will help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people here in Maine. Expanding access to and resources for red flag laws and similar emergency provisions will save lives and prevent suicides and mass shootings. Safe storage laws will do the same. We support every and all efforts that will become law and will save lives. We commend those lawmakers, including Representative Golden, for working towards that goal and doing so in a pragmatic and effective manner.\u201d - Geoff Bickford, Executive Director, Maine Gun Safety Coalition\n\nThe congressman has written a Medium post for his constituents explaining his position on H.R. 2377 and each title of H.R. 7910 here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:39:01Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/for-country-caucus-members-introduce-bill-to-exact-penalties-on-businesses-still-operating-in-russia", "For Country Caucus Members Introduce Bill to Exact Penalties on Businesses Still Operating in Russia", "2022-06-01", "2022", "2022-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Jim Baird (R-Ind.), and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) joined Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would deny Foreign Tax Credits and other tax benefits to companies that pay taxes to Russia and Belarus. The Support Ukraine Through Our Tax Code Act aims to hold accountable corporations, trusts, partnerships, estates, and people who continue to do business in Russia, and therefore contribute to its war effort through tax payments. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden and Finance Committee member Rob Portman introduced bipartisan companion legislation in the Senate last month.\n\n\u201cRussia\u2019s unprovoked war and indiscriminate attacks on civilians cannot and must not be supported with taxes paid by U.S. companies,\u201dthe Representatives said in a joint statement. \u201cWith our bipartisan legislation, American businesses are further disincentivized from operating in Russia. It\u2019s common sense policy: if you choose to do business in Russia\u2013and by extension contribute taxes to its war machine\u2013the American people should not help foot the bill.\u201d\n\nThe Support Ukraine Through Our Tax Code Act would add Russia and Belarus to the list of existing countries ineligible for the Foreign Tax Credit, joining North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba.\n\nRepresentatives Golden, Baird, Carbajal, Bacon, and Kinzinger are all members of the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of military veterans committed to working together to strengthen the country, bolster U.S. national security, and support U.S. veterans and their families.\n\nA summary of the legislation is available HERE and bill text is available HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:13:54Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-texas-school-shooting", "Golden Statement on Texas School Shooting", "2022-05-25", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement following the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.\n\n\u201cYesterday\u2019s shooting in Texas is heartbreaking. It\u2019s incomprehensible that anyone would do something like this, but to do it to children is truly a special kind of sickness, one I can only describe as purely evil.\n\n\u201cRight now there are many elected officials pointing fingers and making recriminations against one another. I won\u2019t be joining in that behavior as I don\u2019t believe it does anything to bring about any kind of change, nor can it heal the pain of the families of these children.\n\n\u201cIn the days ahead, as more information about this shooting becomes clear, I will be talking with my colleagues and with my constituents about what could have been done to stop it and what realistic policies could be considered to help prevent another senseless act of violence like this from happening again in the future.\u201d - Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-group-renews-call-on-biden-administration-to-leave-title-42-in-place-bring-golden-s-bill-up-for-a-vote", "Bipartisan Group Renews Call on Biden Administration to Leave Title 42 in Place, Bring Golden\u2019s Bill Up for a Vote", "2022-05-19", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), joined by Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), and 18 bipartisan members of Congress, put new pressure on the Biden Administration today to reverse its decision to lift the Title 42 public health order and to help bring Golden\u2019s Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022 to the House and Senate Floor for a vote.\n\n\u201cUntil the Administration undertakes further consultation, we believe it is premature to consider changes to Title 42 authorities,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThere are too many unanswered questions related to DHS having a sufficient plan to maintain a humane and orderly process, adequately protect the health of our families and communities, and ensure those providing services to migrants have the capacity to assist. We urge postponing the cancellation of Title 42 until affected federal agencies and NGOs are ready to execute and coordinate a comprehensive plan that ensures a secure, orderly, and humane process at the border.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan bill that Golden introduced would prevent President Biden from lifting existing Title 42 immigration restrictions without a plan in place from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the expected surge of migrants at the Southern border. This bipartisan legislation was endorsed by the 58-member Problem Solvers Caucus and companion legislation was introduced by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in the Senate last month.\n\n\u201cWe urge Congressional leadership to bring the Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022 to the House and Senate floor for a vote,\u201d Golden and his colleagues continued. \u201cThis legislation would improve coordination between Congress and the Executive Branch as both work in tandem to manage the transition to a post-Title 42 border environment. It is critical that intergovernmental transparency exists between lawmakers and the Administration on Title 42 planning. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation has been endorsed by the Problem Solvers - a process that requires a minimum of 75% approval by the entire caucus.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers note that CBP can safely handle 3,500 daily border crossings, stretching to 5,000 encounters per day if the agency is at maximum capacity. However, the agency is currently recording more than 7,000 encounters daily and is bracing for as many as 18,000 daily encounters if Title 42 is rescinded.\n\nGolden has remained at the forefront of the fight to keep our border secure and the immigration process safe for all those involved. Last month, he introduced the bipartisan DHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022, a bill to help address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel shortages in rural areas ahead of the surge. In March, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House and signed into law by the president at the end of the month. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine\u2019s Second District.\n\nThe letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-over-2-million-dollars-in-infrastructure-funding-for-airports-in-second-district", "Golden Announces Over 2 Million Dollars in Infrastructure Funding for Airports in Second District", "2022-05-18", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) today shared that the Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded over 2.6 million dollars in infrastructure funding for six airports in Maine\u2019s Second District. The congressman helped pass the funding through the House earlier this year through the omnibus spending bill and it was signed into law in March.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m happy to see Maine airports getting the funding they need to make safety upgrades and important improvements in infrastructure,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cCrucially, these grants aren\u2019t just going to larger airports like Bangor and Presque Isle, but also smaller municipal facilities serving very rural areas, like Princeton and Eastport. We need to see more investments like these in rural communities across our state.\u201d\n\nAmong the airports receiving funding were:\n\n$136,375 for Eastport Municipal Airport for a runway vertical/visual guidance system;\n\n$298,000 for Presque Isle International Airport for runway repairs;\n\n$673,752 for Presque Isle International Airport for aircraft rescue and fire fighting safety equipment, the construction of a taxi lane, and the reconstruction of perimeter fencing;\n\n$300,000 for Bangor International Airport for runway rehabilitation;\n\n$650,000 for Hancock County/Bar Harbor Airport for improvements to drainage systems and erosion control; and\n\n$60,000 for Princeton Municipal Airport for paving.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-provide-war-reparations-to-ukraine", "Golden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Provide War Reparations to Ukraine", "2022-05-17", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Jared Golden, along with Reps. Joe Morelle (NY-25), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) announced the introduction of the Reparations for Ukraine through Sovereign Nation Support and Integration (RUSSIA) Act. The legislation will allow for frozen assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to be sold and used to help pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not enough to cut Russian banks and oligarchs off from their assets,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cWe should use the Russian assets we have seized to begin to rebuild Ukraine and help the brave Ukrainian people dig out of the unprovoked death and destruction that Putin has unleashed on their country. As a leader in the international response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, the U.S. should continue to find new ways to apply economic pressure to Putin and to provide support to the Ukrainian people. This bill accomplishes both goals, and I\u2019m proud to work with both parties to introduce it in the House.\u201d\n\n\u201cCountries around the world\u2014including the United States\u2014currently hold billions of dollars in frozen assets from Russia\u2019s Central Bank, all of which can and should be used to benefit the Ukrainian community during their time of need,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this common-sense legislation that will provide critical resources for the people of Ukraine and make Russia foot the bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this legislation and continue to demonstrate our staunch commitment to supporting Ukraine.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to assist the people of Ukraine in rebuilding their homes and infrastructure,\u201d said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. \u201cRussia has caused immeasurable pain and destruction to Ukraine. Using the funding from Russian frozen assets for reconstruction will allow Ukrainians the opportunity to heal and rebuild. This is a small step towards securing justice for Ukraine.\u201d\n\nThe RUSSIA Act instructs the Biden Administration to form an agreement between the U.S. and other countries with frozen assets belonging to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. The agreement would require these countries to determine the total cost of damages resulting from Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, consolidate these frozen assets into a single account, and use the funds to reconstruct Ukraine following the conclusion of hostilities.\n\nThis legislation builds on previous steps Congress has taken to support Ukraine, including providing military, economic, and humanitarian aid and imposing severe sanctions on Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Russian oligarchs.\n\nYou can find more information on the RUSSIA Act here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-congressional-delegation-accepting-military-academy-nomination-applications", "Maine Congressional Delegation Accepting Military Academy Nomination Applications", "2022-05-16", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announced that they are now accepting nomination applications from Maine high school students for appointments to the U.S. service academies operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Marine. No nomination is required to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.\n\nStudents should apply for a nomination in the spring and summer of their junior year. Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden will begin accepting nomination applications today, May 16, 2022, from students for admission to the academies in the summer of 2023.\n\nFor more information please contact:\n\nSenator Susan Collins\n\nContact: Karen Staples\n\n207-784-6969\n\nwww.collins.senate.gov\n\nSenator Angus King, Jr.\n\nContact: Katie Fellows\n\n207-352-5216\n\nwww.king.senate.gov\n\nCongresswoman Chellie Pingree\n\nContact: Leslie Merrill\n\n207-774-5019\n\nwww.pingree.house.gov\n\nCongressman Jared Golden\n\nContact: Kim Rohn\n\n207-492-6009\n\nwww.golden.house.gov\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-questions-navy-on-new-multiyear-procurement-contract-for-destroyers-built-at-biw", "Golden Questions Navy on New Multiyear Procurement Contract for Destroyers Built at BIW", "2022-05-12", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a hearing this week before the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) urged Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday to provide consistency regarding the Navy\u2019s production goals for the DDG-51 and questioned whether their proposed procurement strategy would produce a shipbuilding workforce capable of meeting the Navy\u2019s needs as it continues to build DDG-51 ships and eventually transition to the next-generation DDG(X) destroyer.\n\nThe administration has proposed a new multiyear procurement contract for construction of 9 to 10 ships over the next several years before eventually transitioning to DDG(X). That plan does not provide for a sufficient number of ships to maintain the shipbuilding industrial base. Golden has consistently pushed the administration to set more aggressive goals for DDG-51 production, in part to ensure the workforce is prepared to start building the DDG(X).\n\n\u201cIt's critical for our national security that these yards make this investment in the workforce that will build the DDG(X). My opinion is that these yards need to see a positive signal from Congress and the Navy and a 10 ship multiyear with a five ship option demonstrates stability at one ship a year while greenlighting an effort to get to that 1.5 ships a year over time,\u201d said Golden.\n\nBath Iron Works (BIW) is one of two shipyards that build the DDG-51 destroyers. Earlier last month, Admiral Gilday joined Golden and Senator Susan Collins at BIW on a tour to showcase the skill and dedication of the shipbuilders there and the importance to our national security of maintaining the defense industrial base.\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee and vice chair of the panel's Seapower Subcommittee, Golden has consistently gone to bat for the shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works. Last year, Golden and the rest of the Maine congressional delegation worked to sound the alarm and fought back against cuts to DDG-51 shipbuilding proposed by the Biden Administration. Thanks in part to consistent advocacy from Golden, the cuts were reversed in a bill signed into law this March.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-helps-pass-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-firefighters-who-develop-injuries-or-illnesses-on-the-job", "Golden Helps Pass Bipartisan Legislation to Help Firefighters Who Develop Injuries or Illnesses on the Job", "2022-05-11", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) voted today to pass the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act. This bipartisan legislation, which was cosponsored by Golden, would ensure that federally-employed firefighters receive the same access to job-related disability and retirement benefits as their peers who are state, county, or municipal firefighters.\n\n\u201cFirefighting is a dangerous job and a career of public service, no matter what department they work for,\u201d said Golden. \u201cWhen firefighters develop long-term illnesses from their work, we should have their backs. If we can pass this bipartisan bill into law, it will ensure that more firefighters can access affordable care and other resources to address injuries and illnesses they picked up while protecting their fellow citizens and their homes. I am proud to stand with firefighters across Maine in support of this legislation.\u201d\n\nCurrently, to qualify for disability retirement, federal firefighters who suffer from an occupational illness must specify the precise exposure that caused their illness. This burden of proof is extraordinarily difficult for firefighters to meet given the wide variety of conditions and environments in which they work. This bill would create the presumption that federal firefighters who become disabled by certain serious diseases, such as heart disease, lung disease, certain cancers, and other infectious diseases, contracted the illness on the job, allowing firefighters to qualify for disability retirement.\n\nThe bill is supported by Professional Firefighters of Maine, the International Association of Federal Firefighters (IAFF) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)\n\nLast year, Golden voted today to pass the PFAS Action Act, bipartisan legislation that would help protect firefighters from exposure to dangerous \"forever chemicals,\" or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In 2019, Golden joined Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) to introduce bipartisan legislation to help improve infrastructure at America's fire stations. Golden is a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-ranked-among-top-ten-most-bipartisan-members-of-congress", "Golden Ranked Among Top Ten Most Bipartisan Members of Congress", "2022-05-06", "2022", "2022-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014The Lugar Center and Georgetown University\u2019s McCourt School of Public Policy announced this week that Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has earned a ranking of 7th out of 435 members on their Bipartisan Index for the 117th Congress (2021-2022). The Bipartisan Index is a non-partisan measurement of how often members of congress work across party lines.\n\n\u201cI know Democrats don\u2019t have all the answers. Neither do Republicans. That\u2019s why we have to work together. My constituents expect me to get things done for them and that requires putting the needs of the country and my district ahead of a political party,\u201d said Golden. \u201cFrom passing the bipartisan infrastructure law to my bill expanding small businesses development centers, we\u2019ve shown this Congress that working across the aisle is still the best way to get things done, even in a deeply broken Washington. I am proud to be among the most bipartisan lawmakers in Congress according to this nonpartisan analysis, and I\u2019ll continue to put country above party as long as I\u2019m in Congress.\u201d\n\n\"Representative Golden's number 7 ranking in the House in 2021 places him among the bipartisan elite,\" said Dan Diller, Policy Director of the Lugar Center. \"Over the years, the Bipartisan Index has repeatedly confirmed Maine's reputation as a bipartisan state. After strong bipartisan performances in both his first and second terms, Jared Golden is adding to Maine's high standard of leadership in Congress.\"\n\nSince the 117th Congress began in January of 2021, Golden has sponsored 8 bipartisan bills and cosponsored 126 bills, over 80 percent of which were bipartisan. Golden\u2019s biggest bipartisan accomplishments from this Congress aim to address concerns of both Mainers in the Second District and Americans across the country.\n\nGolden\u2019s list of bipartisan accomplishments is substantial. He passed bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. He also has been a leading voice in the fight to uphold Title 42 until the Biden Administration can properly address an influx of migrants at the Southern Border, sponsoring two bipartisan bills on border security. Golden also led his colleagues across the aisle in pushing for a ban on stock trading for members of Congress.\n\nGolden was at the forefront of efforts to get the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed through the House. The bipartisan infrastructure framework he and his colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus developed was the basis of the blueprint agreed to by the White House and Senate negotiators two weeks later and passed through the Senate.\n\nGolden is also a co-chair of the For Country Caucus alongside Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02), a bipartisan group of military veterans dedicated to working across party lines for the good of the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:29:07Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-lawmakers-urge-leadership-against-linking-ukraine-aid-covid-supplemental", "Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Leadership Against Linking Ukraine Aid, COVID Supplemental", "2022-04-29", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 A bipartisan group of military veterans today called on the House leadership to ensure passage of a comprehensive aid package to Ukraine. In the letter, the lawmakers urged leadership not to combine Ukraine aid and COVID-19 relief funding.\n\n\u201cWe believe it is not in the best interests of U.S. national security to link further foreign and military aid to Ukraine to unrelated COVID-19 supplemental funding legislation,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cUkrainians on the front lines of the war against Russia are counting on expedient, reliable assistance from the U.S. Indeed, timely delivery of weapons and supplies has been essential for Ukrainian success thus far in the war. Attaching unrelated COVID-19 legislation\u2014 legislation that is currently tied up in a debate about related public health policies\u2014adds uncertainty and precious time to the process of passing this crucial aid. Those debates should happen on their own merits, not with Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainian lives hanging in the balance.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Jimmy Panetta (D-California), and Kaiali\u02bbi Kahele (D-Hawaii).\n\nFull text of the letter is below and can also be found HERE.\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy\n\nU.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives\n\nH-232, U.S. Capitol H-204, U.S. Capitol\n\nWashington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515\n\nDear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy,\n\nWe write you as a bipartisan group of military veterans in Congress determined to help the Ukrainian people successfully defend their country against Russia\u2019s invasion. With delivery of the nearly $14 billion aid package approved by Congress in March close to complete, we are heartened that the administration has quickly begun preparing a request to Congress for additional military assistance.\n\nWe are concerned, however, about both the substance and process of the proposal currently under consideration. We urge you to consider funding for Ukraine in two important respects.\n\nFirst, we believe that the administration must significantly ramp up the size and scope of U.S. assistance to Ukraine. We have strongly supported previous aid packages and applauded the administration\u2019s decisions to increase Ukrainian artillery and missile defense capabilities, among other items. Russia, however, is employing significant firepower in eastern Ukraine and will continue to indiscriminately level cities throughout the country unless the U.S. and NATO become more serious about the military aid we are willing to provide\u2013to include more offensive equipment that can target Russian artillery positions. With this in mind, we must provide a comprehensive aid package of military supplies, economic assistance, and traditional foreign aid that is intended to demonstrate our sustained commitment to Ukraine, rather than funding assistance in a piecemeal approach every several weeks. We need to show Vladimir Putin that the United States and our allies are willing and able to support the Ukrainians for the duration of the conflict. Russia should be under no illusions that they can wait out the U.S. and our allies to prevail in this conflict.\n\nSecond, we believe it is not in the best interests of U.S. national security to link further foreign and military aid to Ukraine to unrelated COVID-19 supplemental funding legislation. Ukrainians on the front lines of the war against Russia are counting on expedient, reliable assistance from the U.S. Indeed, timely delivery of weapons and supplies has been essential for Ukrainian success thus far in the war. Attaching unrelated COVID-19 legislation \u2014 legislation that is currently tied up in a debate about related public health policies \u2014 adds uncertainty and precious time to the process of passing this crucial aid. Those debates should happen on their own merits, not with Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and tens of thousands of innocent Ukrainian lives hanging in the balance.\n\nWe stand ready to work with you to develop this package and to help pass it through the House. The support of Congress and the American people for Ukrainians\u2019 fight for freedom shows that politics can stop at the water\u2019s edge and that the American people can still come together to confront evils of aggression and authoritarianism. As Americans who have served in the armed forces and defended our own country, we share a deep conviction that we must now help Ukrainians defend theirs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-golden-bill-to-expand-and-reauthorize-small-business-development-center-program", "House Passes Golden Bill to Expand and Reauthorize Small Business Development Center Program", "2022-04-27", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Last night, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Jared Golden\u2019s (ME-02) bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2022 would help strengthen the SBDC network \u2014 including the 22 SBDCs located throughout Maine \u2014 by authorizing an increase of $40 million in annual funding for the program over the next four years and allowing SBDCs to proactively market their programs and services.\n\n\u201cSmall Business Development Centers have been a crucial resource for thousands and thousands of small business owners and entrepreneurs here in Maine,\u201d said Golden. \u201cComing from a small business family, I know how important it can be to have access to the kinds of free services SBDCs provide. This bipartisan bill will bring SBDC training, counseling, and other services to more businesses across the state and I am grateful to my colleagues in both parties for coming together to pass this important legislation.\u201d\n\nThe largest Resource Partner within the Small Business Administration\u2019s entrepreneurial development ecosystem, SBDCs help small businesses get off the ground and expand their capacity through low- or no-cost business training and advising in areas like business plan development, marketing and sales, e-commerce, and small business strategic planning. Maine has a lead SBDC located at the University of Southern Maine, which operates eleven outreach locations in Maine\u2019s Second District.\n\n\u201cReauthorizing and strengthening the SBDC program, as Congressman Golden\u2019s bill does, is critical to providing support for new and existing small businesses across Maine and the country,\u201d said Maine SBDC State Director Mark Delisle. \u201cOur advisors helped almost 3,000 Mainers start, grow, or pivot their small businesses last year and created or saved nearly 1,000 jobs, but this legislation will allow us to have an even greater impact. We thank Congressman Golden for his work on behalf of SBDCs and Maine\u2019s small businesses.\u201d\n\nA copy of the bill can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-turner-press-congressional-negotiators-to-make-health-coverage-tax-credit-permanent", "Golden, Turner Press Congressional Negotiators To Make Health Coverage Tax Credit Permanent", "2022-04-26", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) and Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) sent a bipartisan letter to Ways & Means Committee leaders urging them to permanently extend the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) in the America COMPETES Act as they negotiate the final version of the bill with the Senate. A Golden-backed provision to make the program permanent was included in the House-passed version of the legislation.\n\nThe HCTC helps dozens of Maine retirees, including retired millworkers from Twin Rivers Paper in Madawaska, afford health insurance. Golden secured one-year extensions of the HCTC for 2020 and 2021, but the credit lapsed at the end of 2021 as congressional leaders\u2019 negotiations over omnibus appropriations and tax legislation stalled.\n\n\u201cRetirees in Madawaska, and the many other Americans who have relied on the Health Coverage Tax Credit, have been left without affordable health insurance since Congress allowed the program to expire at the beginning of the year,\u201d said Golden. \u201cThese people worked hard their whole lives and they don\u2019t deserve the uncertainty and stress of relying on a program that could expire every year or two. That\u2019s why we passed a permanent solution in the House as part of the America COMPETES Act. Congressman Turner, Ryan, and I are urging our House committee leaders to fight for this provision as they negotiate with the Senate and make the HCTC permanent once and for all.\u201d\n\nThe HCTC provides refundable tax credits to cover more than 70% of the cost of health insurance premiums for two kinds of workers: those who have been certified to have lost their jobs due to outsourcing, and eligible retirees whose pensions have been taken over by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as a result of the financial instability of a previous employer.\n\n\u201cThis program has been reauthorized seven times since its inception in 2002, benefitting thousands of American workers and their families,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cExtending the HCTC is also the disposition of our bipartisan legislation, H.R. 6339, the Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2021, which reauthorizes the tax credit through 2025. We again urge you to retain section 101601 of the House-passed America COMPETES Act and permanently extend this integral tax credit.\"\n\nGolden has been a long-time advocate for the HCTC. The need for HCTC extension was first brought to Golden\u2019s attention by Twin Rivers Paper Mill workers when the Congressman met with them in Madawaska in February 2019. The Congressman then helped lead the bipartisan Health Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization Act of 2019 with Republican Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10), and he won one-year extensions of the HCTC for 2020 and 2021. He and Turner reintroduced bipartisanHealth Coverage Tax Credit Reauthorization of 2021 earlier this year.\n\nThe letter text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-momentum-builds-for-golden-led-bill-to-prevent-administration-from-lifting-immigration-restrictions-without-a-plan-to-handle-surge-at-border", "ICYMI: Momentum Builds for Golden-Led Bill to Prevent Administration from Lifting Immigration Restrictions without a Plan to Handle Surge at Border", "2022-04-25", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Following the introduction of the bipartisan Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022 by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Anthony Gonzales (TX-23), the 58-member House Problem Solvers Caucus last week announced their endorsement of the bill. Golden and Gonzales\u2019 legislation would prevent President Biden from lifting existing Title 42 immigration restrictions without a plan from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the expected surge in border crossings.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been working hard to build support for my and Rep. Gonzales\u2019 bipartisan bill to stop the White House from rolling back Title 42 immigration restrictions without a comprehensive plan to address the resulting surge in migration over the Southern border,\u201d said Congressman Golden.\u201cThe bottom line is that the administration is unprepared for a drastic increase in border crossings, which could create crisis conditions that are dangerous for everyone. I\u2019m grateful to my Problem Solvers Caucus colleagues for their willingness to take action on this critical issue.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that, effective May 23, 2022, it would be ending the Title 42 public health order that has been enforced at our nation\u2019s border since March 2020. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have used Title 42 authorities of the U.S. Code to enable immigration officials to rapidly expel certain categories of undocumented migrants to Mexico, or their countries of origin, to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, such as COVID-19.\n\nGolden\u2019s legislation establishes agency oversight by Congress and increases intergovernmental transparency to deal with a post-Title 42 border environment. It delays the Administration from ending the Title 42 emergency authority until at least 60 days after ending the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and impacted stakeholders, to within 30 days following the announcement of the intent to terminate the health declaration, to provide Congress a comprehensive plan to address the expected surge of migrants at the Southern border.\n\nIf a plan is not submitted to Congress within the 30-day window, the lifting of Title 42 would be delayed until 30 days after a report is submitted.\n\nThis month, Golden introduced thebipartisanDHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022, a bill to help address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel shortages in rural areas ahead of the surge. Last month, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House and signed into law by the president at the end of the month.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-auburn-bangor-harrington-lewiston-and-rangeley-students-as-congressional-art-competition-winners", "Golden Announces Auburn, Bangor, Harrington, Lewiston, and Rangeley Students as Congressional Art Competition Winners", "2022-04-20", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This week, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) revealed the winners of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition for Maine\u2019s Second District. Students from Auburn, Bangor, Harrington, Lewiston, and Rangeley were all selected to be honored, with first place going to Hannah Wojdakowski from Bangor High School.\n\n\u2018Inside,\u2019 submitted by Wojdakowski, will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building alongside winning artists from districts across the country.\n\nImage\n\n\u201cIt is always a pleasure to see the creativity that students across the district display in their Congressional Art Competition submissions,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cWe are lucky to have such talented and dedicated students in Maine and I look forward to seeing the winning piece in the halls of the Capitol.\u201d\n\nCompetition judges Sam E. Cote and Mary McManus selected the winners.\n\n\u201cI love this piece because I recognize the balance between freedom and strategy of the overall composition,\u201d said Cote of Wojdakowski\u2019s piece. \u201cEvery brush stroke seems thoughtfully placed, but freely painted. The artist successfully pulls you through the entire piece just based on the color, flow and movement of the brush strokes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis piece instantly drew me in based on its vibrant colors and line work,\u201d said McManus of \u2018Inside.\u2019 \u201cThe composition has such great movement and does not have one true resting point for the viewer's eye. The horizontal lines act almost as stairs that help wind the flow throughout the image. I am really caught by the way this piece is balanced despite its high energy with the moving lines and the bright colors. There is this bold star in the upper half of the image that pulls you in and provides a sense of grounding. This piece has a wonderful flow and almost dance to it.\u201d\n\nAva Blanchette, from Lewiston High School, came in second place with \u2018Eyes on You.\u2019\n\nImage\n\nElla Shaffer, from Rangeley Lakes Regional School, entered \u2018The Look\u2019 and was third place.\n\nImage\n\nAhmednur Isaaq, from Lewiston High School, received an honorable mention for \u2018Window of Color.\u2019\n\nImage\n\nErik Carson, from Edward Little High School, also received an honorable mention for \u2018Sunshine.\u2019\n\nImage\n\nThe final honorable mention went to Kaycee McGuire, also from Narraguagus High School, with \u2018Rainy Day.\u2019\n\nImage\n\nThe Maine College of Art and Maine Arts Commission, as well as the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, partner each year to choose the winning submissions for the Congressional Art Competition. The Competition began in 1982 to help Members of Congress support young artists from the districts.\n\nYou can see the winning entries from last year here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/following-hearing-on-congressional-stock-trading-ban-golden-spanberger-lead-bipartisan-group-urging-house-committee-to-take-action", "Following Hearing on Congressional Stock Trading Ban, Golden, Spanberger Lead Bipartisan Group Urging House Committee to Take Action", "2022-04-13", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congresswoman Abigail D. Spanberger (VA-07) led a bipartisan group of 19 of their House colleagues to call on House Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren and Ranking Member Rodney Davis to take action to advance legislation to ban members of Congress from trading or selling individual stocks. Their letter comes after a hearing last week in which the committee heard strong testimony in support of a stock trading ban for members of Congress and their immediate families.\n\n\"We write today to urge your committee to advance strong legislation to ban members of Congress from directly owning or trading stocks while in office,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"While we are encouraged that the Committee on House Administration has held a hearing on this issue, we urge you to swiftly follow up on this hearing with a markup to advance bipartisan legislation, such as the TRUST in Congress Act or the Ban Conflicted Trading Act.\"\n\nIn addition to calling for a markup of the bipartisan legislation to ban members from trading or selling individual stocks, the group laid out several core provisions needed to keep such legislation strong and effective:\n\nA ban on direct ownership and trading of individual stocks by members' spouses and dependent children.\n\nNo exceptions for stocks acquired prior to entering Congress.\n\nEffective enforcement of these rules with heavy fines.\n\nJoining Golden and Spanberger to push for the legislation were Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Marie Newman (IL-03), Greg Stanton (AZ-09), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Susan Wild (PA-07), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Angie Craig (MN-02), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Jason Crow (CO-06), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Darren Soto (FL-09).\n\n\"Americans across the political spectrum support banning members of Congress from trading stocks,\" the lawmakers wrote. \"If we seek to write off their concerns with a toothless gimmick, they will see through it and continue to mistrust their elected officials. We stand ready to work with you on a bipartisan proposal as it moves through the legislative process.\"\n\nRead a copy of Golden, Spanberger, and their colleagues' letter to House committee leaders here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/support-builds-for-golden-led-bipartisan-bill-to-help-rural-law-enforcement-hire-more-officers", "Support Builds for Golden-led Bipartisan Bill to Help Rural Law Enforcement Hire More Officers", "2022-04-08", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Following the introduction of the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act by Congressman Jared Golden and three of his House colleagues, the 56-member House Problem Solvers Caucus endorsed the bill this week. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities.\n\n\"We're seeing law enforcement agencies stretched thin across Maine right now, and I know our state isn't the only one. Congress has a significant role to play to help states, towns, and counties address this issue and I'm glad to see growing support from both parties for strengthening the COPS grant program and focusing it on rural areas. I thank the Problem Solvers Caucus for its support and we'll continue to push this bill forward.\"\n\nSince the program's establishment in 1994, the COPS Grant Program has awarded more than $14 billion to local law enforcement agencies to hire and train officers for community policing. However, funding for the program has been cut significantly since 2011. Golden's bill would reauthorize the program with $7 billion in new funding for the next decade.\n\nThis legislation is also supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, National Organization of Police Officers, National Sheriffs Association, and Sergeants Benevolent Association.\n\nGolden joined Reps. Tom Rice (SC-07), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Jaime Herrera-Beutler (WA-03) to introduce the bill earlier this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-biden-administration-from-lifting-immigration-restrictions-without-a-plan-to-handle-surge-at-border", "Golden Leads Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Biden Administration from Lifting Immigration Restrictions without a Plan to Handle Surge at Border", "2022-04-07", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), joined by Reps. Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), August Pfluger (TX-07), Stephanie Murphy (FL- 07), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), Greg Stanton (AZ-09), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced today the Public Health and Border Security Act of 2022. The bipartisan bill would prevent President Biden from lifting existing Title 42 immigration restrictions without a plan in place from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the expected surge of migrants at the Southern border.\n\nSenators James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced similar bipartisan legislation in the Senate earlier today.\n\n\"The Biden Administration is not currently prepared for a large increase in border crossings,\" said Congressman Golden. \"Ending these Title 42 authorities without a plan in place to manage the resulting influx of migrants is irresponsible and could create crisis conditions that would be dangerous for both migrants coming to America and Americans themselves. Title 42 cannot remain in place permanently, but President Biden must ensure that DHS and its personnel, facilities, and processes are ready before rolling it back. This bipartisan legislation would ensure he does so.\"\n\n\"By simply doing away with Title 42, this Administration is pulling the rug out from under our Border Patrol agents and the communities they work to protect,\" said Congressman Gonzales. \"We are seeing thousands of migrants who are waiting to cross the border once Title 42 is rolled back. This massive number of expected crossings \u2013 on top of already historic apprehensions \u2013 will further strain the limited resources of our local communities, law enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). To ensure a proper roll-back of Title 42, it's crucial that this White House works hand-in-hand with local, state, and federal stakeholders to establish an orderly process at our southern border.\"\n\n\"I have long called for comprehensive immigration reform\u2014investments in 21st century border technology, protections for DREAMers, and policies that ensure the safety of families on both sides of our southern border,\" said Congressman O'Halleran. \"That is why I'm joining a bipartisan group to introduce a bill that prevents the Biden Administration from rolling back Title 42 until a concrete plan to deal with the consequences to border communities is proposed and approved. Any changes to the current system must be robustly detailed and developed in consultation with local leaders, community advocates, and governmental entities in border states like Arizona. In requiring this concrete plan, we're working to create a transparent process that will better ensure the health, safety, and humane treatment of kids and families on both sides of our southern border.\"\n\n\"President Biden has botched the border crisis our country faces,\" said Congressman Pfluger. \"Now, his administration is rescinding Title 42\u2014one of the few effective policies that allowed Border Patrol officers to turn illegal migrants away during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Incentivizing an unmanageable surge of illegal migration to our southern border while our Border Patrol officers and border states lack adequate resources is unacceptable. I am proud to join this bipartisan, bicameral effort to block the President from rescinding Title 42.\"\n\n\"Public health and public safety, not politics, should drive the federal government's decision on when to end Title 42,\" said Congresswoman Murphy. \"As an immigrant and refugee who empathizes with individuals and families seeking protection in America from persecution in their native country, I believe Title 42 should only be lifted once we have a comprehensive and properly-resourced plan in place that treats asylum seekers with decency and humanity, protects our communities, is consistent with American values, and does not compromise our national security.\"\n\n\"It is increasingly apparent that the Administration's decision to end Title 42 without replacing it with a comprehensive plan to secure our southern border will only put further strain on our broken immigration system,\" said Congressman Fitzpatrick. \"I've witnessed firsthand the threats our nation faces from a porous border and a fragmented immigration system, and that's why we must demand accountability from the Administration with respect to implementing a workable plan that will ensure the humane treatment of migrants and keep our border and neighboring communities safe and secure.\"\n\n\"The administration should not revoke Title 42 without developing the plans needed to protect the health and safety of the American people,\" said Congressman Chris Pappas. \"The administration should be taking into account all possible impacts as they review their policies, and they should also provide Congress with a more definitive plan for how any changes will be implemented after the public health emergency and the national emergency are formally rescinded. This bipartisan legislation insists on a stronger, more workable approach to the situation at our border, and I appreciate that a growing number of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are focusing on this critical issue.\"\n\n\"This is a bipartisan, common-sense solution to protect our border and keep communities safe while there is an emergency health declaration,\" said Congressman Bacon, retired Air Force Brigadier General. \"When COVID-19 hit, Title 42 was intended to help control the spread of the virus. It is only logical that we keep it until the end of the pandemic. Further, we have seen the worst border crisis in 20 years, and rescinding Title 42 will exacerbate the current situation.\"\n\n\"This Administration has yet to put forth a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to secure our border and ensure an efficient, humane immigration process,\" said Congressman Stanton. \"Lifting Title 42 without a plan in place risks the health and safety of both Arizona communities and migrants. Our bill will ensure that the federal government has time to prepare in consultation with impacted Arizona communities, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations.\"\n\n\"We are a nation of laws and that must also include enforcing smart and effective border and immigration policies,\" said Congresswoman Salazar. \"I am glad to join this bipartisan group of legislators who understand that we must prioritize safety and order to avoid more chaos on our border by having a serious plan in place if we remove Title 42.\"\n\nThe bill would prohibit the Biden Administration from ending Title 42 until 60 days after formally ending the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration. Within 30 days of ending the public health emergency, the President must submit a plan to process the migrant surge to Congress.\n\nTitle 42 is a provision of the Public Health Service Act of 1944. In March 2020, the Trump Administration invoked Title 42 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, preventing migrants presenting themselves at the border for asylum from remaining in the country while their cases were processed. The Biden Administration had largely continued the Trump Administration's policy, but announced that it will begin rolling back the policy next month.\n\nThis week, Golden introduced the bipartisan DHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022, a bill to help address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel shortages in rural areas ahead of the surge. Last month, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House and signed into law by the president at the end of the month. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine's Second District.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pfluger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-hire-and-retain-more-rural-border-security-personnel", "Golden, Pfluger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Hire and Retain More Rural Border Security Personnel", "2022-04-07", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced today the DHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022. The bipartisan bill would help address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel shortages in rural areas. Absent a meaningful strategy and progress by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire and retain more border patrol agents, immigrations and customs enforcement officials, and other border security officers, DHS will likely need to reallocate personnel from other areas in order to address potential migration surges on the Southern Border in the coming months.\n\nGolden and Plfuger's bill would mandate CBP identify and begin to implement changes to increase hiring and improve retention for CBP officers, Border Patrol agents, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents specifically in rural or remote areas.\n\n\"In northern Maine and rural areas across the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel are too often shorthanded, which affects their ability to protect our borders and communities,\" said Golden. \"Whether in New Mexico or Maine, the federal government needs a strategy to recruit and retain rural border patrol agents, CBP officers, and ICE agents so that we have the personnel needed to fight illicit drug trafficking, enforce immigration laws, and patrol thousands of miles of border. I look forward to working with Rep. Pfluger and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill passed.\"\n\n\"I am proud to partner in introducing this legislation that will support our U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies in rural Texas and all across America,\" said Pfluger. \"Currently, our nation is facing a crisis as deadly drugs like fentanyl pour across the border and devastate our communities. We must ensure our border patrol has the resources they need to successfully combat this crisis. This bill is just one more step in the ongoing fight to protect our homeland.\"\n\nThe bill outlines initiatives that could be included in the plan, including changes to financial incentives and compensation for agents, officers, and their families, enhanced recruitment outreach to higher education institutions, veterans organizations, and job placement programs, and the creation of pilot programs to address hiring and recruitment challenges.\n\n\"I want to thank Congressmen Golden and Pfluger for introducing this important piece of legislation to require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a strategy for hiring more Border Patrol Agents. There is a crisis now at the border and last month we apprehended 200,000 illegal immigrants trying to enter our country. Against this backdrop, Border Patrol for the first time in 5 years will not meet its hiring targets. The result is that we do not have enough manpower to handle the crisis and are robbing Peter to pay Paul but redeploying agents from other sectors to fill the gaps. This includes Northern Border Agents in Maine where we are already thinly staffed and in Texas. Border Patrol needs a plan and they need it now,\" - Brandon Judd, National President, National Border Patrol Council and former Maine Border Patrol Agent stationed in Maine\n\n\"NTEU Chapter 141, representing Customs and Border Protection employees at ports of entry in Maine, New Hampshire and Halifax, Canada, strongly supports the DHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022, introduced by Rep. Jared Golden. Through NTEU's legislative conferences and meetings in Maine, members and leaders of Chapter 141 have talked regularly with Rep. Golden about the difficulties in recruiting and retaining CBP employees at remote ports, and we appreciate the Congressman's willingness to hear directly from frontline employees who have first-hand knowledge of the problem and his receptiveness on this issue. Here in Maine, many of our ports lose quality candidates to Boston, where federal employees earn more through locality pay. NTEU looks forward to working with Rep. Golden to pass this legislation and develop a strategy for making CBP's Office of Field Operations a more attractive employer in remote but essential port locations.\" - Doug Stubbs, President, NTEU Chapter 141\n\n\"The DHS Rural and Remote Hiring and Retention Strategy Act of 2022 is a commonsense approach to a problem that is plaguing rural and remote ports of entry staffed by Customs and Border Protection employees that we represent. We thank Rep. Jared Golden for introducing this legislation and shining a light on the recruiting and retention difficulties at ports that may be hundreds of miles from a city, hospital, affordable housing, higher education or other amenities that are important to CBP employees and their families. Our nation's 328 air, land and sea ports are understaffed and NTEU supports efforts to make CBP more competitive in the job market, including higher pay, retention bonuses and other benefits.\" - Tony Reardon, President, NTEU\n\nLast month, Golden voted to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House and signed into law by the president at the end of the month. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine's Second District.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-urge-further-action-to-support-ukraine", "Golden, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge Further Action to Support Ukraine", "2022-04-05", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 A bipartisan group of seven Democrats and 10 Republicans are calling on the Biden Administration to increase and expedite the transfer of defense equipment to Ukraine. In a letter to President Biden, the lawmakers called on the administration to help finalize the transfer of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, provide increased radar capabilities to protect Ukrainian air space, and help supply anti-ship missiles to defend the Ukrainian coastline.\n\n\"As Ukraine continues to defend its nation from Russia's unprovoked invasion, the U.S. and our allies must provide further support and assistance to ensure that the Ukrainian armed forces can protect innocent civilians and uphold the sovereignty of their nation\u2026As we have seen with the devastation inflicted by Russian forces on the port city of Mariupol, however, it is critical that we do more to protect Ukraine and its people from Russia's indiscriminate attacks,\" the lawmakers wrote. \"...We firmly believe these actions are not only in the interest of Ukraine and its people, but also in the interest of U.S. national security and the security of our NATO and European allies.\"\n\nThe letter was led by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), and Jim Baird (R-Ind.), and was signed by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/advancing-equality-wabanaki-nations-act-receives-hearing-house-indigenous", "Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act Receives Hearing Before House Indigenous Peoples Subcommittee", "2022-04-01", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Four chiefs of Wabanaki tribes in Maine appeared today before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples to testify on behalf of H.R. 6707, the Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act. The bill would update federal law to give Wabanaki tribes the same access to future beneficial federal laws as nearly every other federally recognized tribe in America.\n\n\"H.R. 6707 would ensure that our Nations receive equal treatment \u2013 with more than 550 other federally recognized tribes nationwide \u2013 under future laws passed by Congress for the benefit of Indians. This is a small request, but it is an incredibly important one\u2026 Each year Congress enacts legislation that gives tribal governments new tools to protect our citizens, create jobs and economic opportunities, and provide health care, housing, and other essential services to our tribal communities and non-Indian neighbors,\" said Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Chief Clarissa Sabattis. \"We are only asking for the same equal access to these future programs as the other 570 federally recognized tribes have, so that we can continue to rebuild our Wabanaki communities, preserve our unique culture and traditions, and protect our natural resources.\"\n\n\"Since 1970, the federal government's policy with respect to Indian affairs has been focused on self-determination,\" said Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis. \"The continued passage of federal laws to benefit Indian Country shows that the policy of self-determination is working; it is working for tribal nations but also for those surrounding communities. The Wabanaki Nations only seek through H.R. 6707 the opportunity to benefit from any future federal laws intended to benefit Indian country.\n\n\"For the first time since 1980\u2026 we would be able to benefit from laws passed by Congress on equal footing with other tribes,\" said Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk Chief William Nicholas. \"In this era of tribal self-determination, one can only hope that future legislation will aim to improve the wellbeing of Tribal Nations, their lands, and their citizens. There is no reason why the Wabanaki Nations and their citizens should not benefit from those laws. Please support H.R. 6707 and support equality for the Wabanaki Nations.\"\n\n\"For the last 30 years, we are the only federally recognized tribe in the State of Maine that continues to be fully subject to state law,\" said Mi'kmaq Nation Chief Edward Peter Paul.\"For 30 years, we have not been able to build our legal infrastructure (police department, court system, etc.). This current bill, H.R. 6707, if enacted, marks the first time that our Nation would be able to assume jurisdiction over our most precious resource, our children.\"\n\nThe bill was introduced by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and is cosponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Congressional Native American Caucus Co-Chair Sharice Davids (KS-03). It has also been endorsed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association.\n\n\"This bill will cut through unnecessary red tape and bureaucratic efforts to block the Wabanaki tribes from benefiting from federal laws passed for their benefit and create future opportunities for improved standards of living and economic growth,\" said Golden.\"What these tribes want is what all communities in my district want \u2013 economic opportunity for their families and safer and healthier communities.\"\n\n\"It's long overdue for Maine's Tribes to have the same access to federal programs and protections as every other federally recognized tribe in the nation. This bill will ensure that Tribal nations covered under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act will be included in future beneficial laws passed by Congress. Just recently, I advocated for special provisions in the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization to specifically include Maine tribes \u2013 a fight that won't be necessary in future legislation under this bill,\" said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01). \"Quite simply, it's a matter of fairness. I'm proud to work alongside Congressman Jared Golden on this important effort to finally fix a 40-year-old disparity in the law.\"\n\nCurrently, the Wabanaki tribes in Maine are excluded from many beneficial federal laws that apply to nearly every other federally recognized tribe in the country. Examples of laws that MICSA has prevented from applying to the Wabanaki tribes in the past include the Violence Against Women Act, which allows tribes to prosecute non-Indian defendants for domestic violence crimes against tribal members; the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which allows tribes to employ much-needed medical professionals who are licensed in another state; and the Stafford Act, which allows tribes to directly seek federal disaster relief and emergency assistance.\n\nH.R. 6707 would address this exclusion by amending the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act (MICSA) to allow the Wabanaki tribes to benefit from future laws enacted to benefit Indian tribes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/king-golden-lead-maine-delegation-in-introducing-bill-to-designate-a-downeast-heritage-area", "King, Golden Lead Maine Delegation in Introducing Bill to Designate a Downeast Heritage Area", "2022-04-01", "2022", "2022-04", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King, Chairman of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, and Representative Jared Golden are introducing a bipartisan, bicameral bill to designate a Downeast Maine National Heritage Area. The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree, would designate all of Hancock and Washington counties as an area with national importance, qualifying the region for additional federal investment and helping to drive economic activity to the rural Maine region. The bill specifically recognizes the contributions of Downeast Maine's agriculture industry \u2013 including wild blueberry growers \u2013 as well as the impacts of heritage fishing and forestry.\n\n\"For much of the year, the rocky coasts of Downeast Maine greet the first rays of sunshine to reach the United States,\" said Senator King. \"The region literally starts America's day, and its rugged coastline, rolling mountains and lush forests are a fundamental part of the American identity. Designating Hancock and Washington counties as a National Heritage Area will open the door for critical federal funding, spur increased tourism, and drive important economic activity to support Downeast communities and the hardworking, resilient people who call these counties home. I hope our House and Senate colleagues will recognize the incredible assets of this region and pass this bill.\"\n\n\"Washington and Hancock counties are home to proud traditions in Maine's heritage industries, from growing blueberries, to lobstering, to logging,\" said Rep. Golden. \"Designating these counties as National Heritage Areas would honor these traditions and help bolster the economy in these rural communities, create jobs, and bring more investment to the region. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to celebrate and support this historic region.\"\n\n\"From the majestic splendor of Acadia National Park\u2014one of the crown jewels of the National Park System that showcases the stunning beauty of our rugged coastline\u2014to the picturesque blueberry barrens, lakes, woods, and streams that define the landscape, Downeast Maine is a truly special part of the world. For generations, hardworking Mainers have been a part of the fabric of the region and have contributed to Maine's economy and heritage through the lobster, agriculture, and logging industries,\" said Senator Collins. \"This legislation will help preserve the unique character of Eastern Maine while also helping to attract investments and create new job opportunities in Hancock and Washington counties.\"\n\n\"It's hard to believe that one of the most scenic and nature-friendly states in the country doesn't have a National Heritage Area designated by Congress. It's past time to change that,\" said Rep. Pingree. \"Downeast Maine is a gorgeous, coastal area that's rich in maritime history and is a haven for Mainers and visiting nature lovers. As a National Heritage Area, Washington and Hancock counties would be federally recognized as land that is culturally, environmentally, and historically important, ensuring conservation with federal resources. This designation will only further Downeast Maine's vital role in our state's tourism economy, support the Downeast communities, and most importantly, protect this special piece of Maine.\"\n\n\"The people of Downeast Maine are fiercely proud of their heritage, motivated to strengthen their economy, and are committed to developing quality opportunities that highlight local history and enable communities to build upon it,\" said Crystal Hitchings, Director of Community Infrastructure at Sunrise County Economic Council. \"Designation as a National Heritage Area will provide more resources to support coordinated efforts in heritage preservation, tourism, and economic initiatives that matter locally. If passed, this will give organizations and communities more tools to proactively support development that reflects our important Downeast values and way of life.\"\n\nNational Heritage Areas are designations from Congress where historic, cultural, and natural resources combine to form cohesive, nationally important landscapes. Unlike national parks, National Heritage Areas are large lived-in landscapes where communities collaborate with the National Park Service to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and economies. These areas qualify for additional federal funding, and work through public-private partnerships to support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, new and traditional industries, and educational projects. Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, these partnerships foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship. There are currently 55 National Heritage Areas across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:19:30Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-governor-mills-renew-call-for-biden-administration-to-extend-lobster-gear-deadline", "Maine Delegation, Governor Mills Renew Call for Biden Administration to Extend Lobster Gear Deadline", "2022-03-30", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 With new federal regulations fast approaching and supply chain challenges delaying access to key materials, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills are urging the Biden administration to give Maine lobstermen and women more time to comply with updated gear rules. In a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the Maine lawmakers request a delay in the implementation of part of the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) new Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) rule that requires weak points in lobster lines, highlight the supply chain and availability issues facing lobstermen who are trying to acquire the required gear, and stress that the current deadline puts the lobster industry in what the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy described as an \"impossible scenario.\"\n\nThe letter calls for the implementation date for gear conversion to be postponed two months from May 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022. According to NMFS' own data, changing the compliance date to July 1 would result in a potential increase in risk to whales of just 0.9 percent. On the other hand, failure to delay the rule will cost Maine's lobstermen $7.3 million, which could pose a significant economic threat to the small businesses that power this industry.\n\n\"We are providing an update on the supply chain and availability issues related to the requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) new Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) rule and requesting that you reconsider a modest delay in implementation of a component of this rule,\" said the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills. \"The continued scarcity of required gear is making it increasingly unlikely that fishermen, despite their best efforts and those of suppliers, will be able to achieve timely compliance.\"\n\n\"In good faith, lobstermen have been seeking out the necessary supplies required to modify their gear by the May 1st deadline, and suppliers have been hard at work trying to meet the demand,\" the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills continued. \"Once again, we ask you to urge NMFS to extend the compliance date to July 1, 2022 in light of the operational realities of the supply chain and with less than six weeks from the implementation date.\"\n\n\"This reasonable request is supported by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, which asserted in a March 3 letter to you that the agency was putting fishermen \u2018in an impossible scenario', and \u2018if they are not granted a short delay of the compliance deadline, they may stand to lose significant amounts of revenue, or in some instances their entire business,'\" the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills concluded. \"We could not agree more with the objective assessment.\"\n\nThe Maine Delegation and Governor Mills have been steadfastly opposed to undue burdens that would threaten the lobster fishery without meaningfully protecting whales. Following the release of the final rule in late August 2021, the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills issued a statement in opposition to the rule and highlighting the Maine lobster fishery's record of repeatedly making significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales. In October 2021, they wrote to Secretary Raimondo to urge her to rescind the rule, and in February 2022 called for a postponement of the rule due to difficulties lobstermen were having obtaining the necessary gear.\n\nThe full letter can be read HERE or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Raimondo:\n\nWe are providing an update on the supply chain and availability issues related to the requirements of the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) new Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) rule and requesting that you reconsider a modest delay in implementation of a component of this rule. The continued scarcity of required gear is making it increasingly unlikely that fishermen, despite their best efforts and those of suppliers, will be able to achieve timely compliance.\n\nIn good faith, lobstermen have been seeking out the necessary supplies required to modify their gear by the May 1st deadline, and suppliers have been hard at work trying to meet the demand. Fishermen have sought to purchase weak links being manufactured by several gear suppliers in the region. Many have been advised that they can place an order but receive no estimate or certainty on when they might take delivery. Fishermen and regulators alike had expected Brooks Trap Mill to provide high volume production of a manufactured weak link which was critical to meeting Maine's demand. Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, Brooks has faced challenges with its mold and has no clear timeline for resolution. What is clear is that production will not be beginning as soon as anticipated. Another weak link that had been widely available, made by Plantes Lobster Vents, Inc., was just recalled due to a batch failure that could not be isolated. Unfortunately, this required the removal of all available product from the shelves. A number of fishermen who have already installed these weak links may now have to remove and replace them with an alternative product, if they are able to obtain it.\n\nNMFS has compounded these challenges by refusing, without any scientific basis, to approve the use of knots as weak links despite demonstrable evidence that knots in certain diameter ropes can provide the necessary breaking-strength in vertical lines.\n\nOnce again, we ask you to urge NMFS to extend the compliance date to July 1, 2022 in light of the operational realities of the supply chain and with less than six weeks from the implementation date.\n\nThis reasonable request is supported by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy, which asserted in a March 3 letter to you that the agency was putting fishermen \"in an impossible scenario\" and \"if they are not granted a short delay of the compliance deadline, they may stand to lose significant amounts of revenue, or in some instances their entire business.\" We could not agree more with the objective assessment.\n\nWe thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/to-help-bring-infrastructure-investments-to-maine-towns-golden-releases-toolkit-for-local-officials", "To Help Bring Infrastructure Investments to Maine Towns, Golden Releases Toolkit for Local Officials", "2022-03-23", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released this week his \u2018Toolkit for Town Managers' to help local officials across Maine's Second Congressional District take advantage of federal resources like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make infrastructure investments in their communities. The toolkit provides guidance on how officials can apply for funding to address specific needs in their towns, from new roads and bridges, to broadband infrastructure, school busses, municipal building repairs, and more.\n\n\"I've talked for a long time about the impact the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill we got signed into law last year could have on our state, and now it's time to put this law into action.\" said Golden, \"It is my priority to help as many towns as possible take full advantage of these funding opportunities. I encourage every Mainer in the Second District to make sure their town manager has this toolkit so our staff can work with them to create jobs and make long-awaited improvements to their communities.\"\n\nThe toolkit focuses on the resources available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and also provides information on other timely federal funding opportunities. Golden was at the forefront of efforts last year to get the BIL passed through the House. Last summer, Congressman Golden and his colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus unveiled a bipartisan infrastructure framework. Their framework was the basis of the blueprint agreed to by the White House and Senate negotiators two weeks later and passed through the Senate. The BIL was signed into law in November 2021.\n\nThe Toolkit for Town Managers can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-presses-feds-for-more-maine-lobstermen-representation-on-regulation-advisory-panel", "Golden Presses Feds for More Maine Lobstermen Representation on Regulation Advisory Panel", "2022-03-18", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) called on the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) today to expand representation of lobstermen on its Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) by including members of the Maine Lobstering Union Local 207 (MLU).\n\nThe ALWTRT is a council of stakeholders charged with making recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for addressing rising North Atlantic right whale (NARW) mortalities, or takes. However, only four of the members of the 60-person ALWTRT are Maine lobstermen, the workforce whose livelihoods would be most impacted by the group's recommendations.\n\n\"As the only industry organization comprised exclusively of lobstermen with active commercial lobster and crab fishing licenses, the MLU would bring an essential perspective to the ALWTRT,\" said Golden. \"For nearly a decade, the MLU has engaged with local, state and federal officials as well as the scientific community on various projects to improve our understanding of the distribution of right whales and their potential interactions with certain gear types and fishing effort. They are currently working on new data collection models utilizing fishermen and their fishing gear to obtain vital information about right whale habitat in the Gulf of Maine. This data, if brought to bear, would prove invaluable to the ALWTRT as they continue to assess the underlying causes of right whale serious injury and mortality.\"\n\n\"The MLU greatly appreciates Congressman Golden's support in seeking additional Maine seats on the ALWTRT for Local 207,\" said MLU Secretary Virginia Olsen. \"These are very uncertain times for Maine lobstermen and securing union seats to bring new science forward is vital in protecting our heritage fishery. As new technologies come available, we need to work with fishermen who are on the water day in and day out to be a part of this process, not only conceptually but in data collection too.\"\n\nUnder the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), take reduction teams like ALWTRT must be inclusive of \"all commercial and recreational fisheries groups and gear types which incidentally take the species or stock.\" The MMPA also authorizes NMFS to appoint additional members to a take reduction team if a particular constituency is not adequately represented.\n\n\"In order to ensure that the ALWTRT is indeed representative of all commercial fisheries groups, I strongly urge you to appoint representatives from the MLU,\" Golden continued. \"Their unique makeup as an entirely fishermen-member enterprise that participates in every aspect of the industry make them an indispensable industry participant whose voice deserves to have a seat at the table.\"\n\nMaine lobstermen have a history of environmental stewardship and continued commitment to protecting the North Atlantic right whale. Beginning in 1997, Maine lobstermen have implemented costly and labor-intensive gear modifications to protect the NARW. Since then, NARW population growth has doubled. Recent right whale mortalities have been definitively linked to ship strikes and entanglements in Canadian waters with no entanglements affirmatively linked to Maine's lobster fishery since 2004.\n\nYou can read a copy of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-hails-reauthorization-violence-against-women-act-including-provision", "Golden Hails Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act, Including Provision for Wabanaki Tribes", "2022-03-17", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) hailed the signing of legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act (VAWA) into law this week. The bipartisan legislation was included in the omnibus Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill passed last week, and has now been signed by the president.\n\nOf particular importance in Maine, the legislation includes language to extend special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction (SDVCJ) to tribes in Maine. The reauthorization also contains provisions that would expand protections and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, provide more resources and training programs for law enforcement, and more.\n\n\"Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act is years overdue, and I'm glad that we could get it done in a bipartisan way. In addition to helping us fight domestic violence and abuse across the country, this reauthorization will have a unique impact in Maine. In our state, the bill will fix a longstanding carveout in federal law that limited the authority of tribes in Maine to try domestic violence cases committed against a tribal member on tribal land,\" said Golden. \"Ensuring the Wabanaki tribes in Maine fully have this authority, similar to many other tribes in the U.S., will improve public safety on tribal lands and deliver justice for domestic abuse victims in our state.\"\n\nIn general, Indian tribes do not have jurisdiction over non-Indian defendants for crimes committed on tribal lands against Indians. This enforcement gap has contributed to alarming rates of violence against Native women, and enforcement issues have persisted in Maine. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 restored SDVCJ to tribes across the rest of the country for domestic violence and other related crimes by all defendants\u2014Indian and non-Indian\u2014if the crime is committed against Indian victims on tribal lands. To participate in SDVCJ, a tribe's court system must meet certain standards.\n\nHowever, tribes in Maine have not been able to fully exercise SDVCJ due to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which blocks beneficial federal Indian laws from applying in Maine if the federal law would affect the application of state law, unless the federal law is specifically made applicable in Maine.\n\nAmong other amendments to the SDVJC law, VAWA 2022 specifically extends SDVCJ to participating tribes in Maine. This is the first time since the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act was enacted more than forty years ago that a federal law that benefits Indian tribes has been made specifically applicable to tribes in Maine.\n\nCongressman Golden has consistently supported restoring SDVCJ to participating tribes in Maine. He spoke out in favor of it in 2019, and voted for VAWA reauthorizations with this provision in 2019 and 2021.\n\nIn addition to the legislation's tribal provisions, VAWA 2022 authorizes and updates several other important programs, including grants to support law enforcement and victim services for domestic violence and sexual assault cases; grants to implement programs in rural areas to address these crimes; and housing assistance for victims of domestic violence.\n\n\"The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence joins our member programs in applauding the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and the increases in funding for the Family Violence Prevention & Services Act,\" said Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence Education and Communications Director Regina Rooney. \"Together, VAWA and FVPSA form the foundation for Maine's response to domestic abuse and violence; without them, the services, resources and protections available to survivors and their children would be critically undermined. We are deeply grateful for Congressman Golden's steadfast support for this important work.\"\n\n\"Safe Voices is grateful for Congressman Golden's support and advocacy of the Violence Against Women Act. This legislation expands crucial resources throughout Maine,\" said Safe Voices Executive Director Elise Johansen. \"VAWA and FVPSA funding allows Safe Voices to support survivors of domestic abuse and human sex trafficking with all the resources our friends and neighbors deserve when seeking safety within the communities we call home.\"\n\nA section-by-section summary of the legislation can be found here.\n\nIf you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or abuse, Maine has a free and confidential 24-hour helpline at 1-866-834-HELP (4357). More information on the statewide Domestic Violence Helpline helpline can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-increase-funding-for-law-enforcement-and-border-security", "Golden Votes to Increase Funding for Law Enforcement and Border Security", "2022-03-17", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Following his introduction of standalone legislation to increase federal funding for law enforcement, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted recently to substantially increase funding for local law enforcement and border patrol officers as part of the omnibus government funding bill. The bill was passed by the House last week and signed into law by the president this week.\n\n\"As we continue to ask more and more of our law enforcement and border patrol officers, it's essential that we give them the resources and support they need to protect us,\" said Golden. \"Providing more funding to law enforcement and to the border patrol across the country will go a long way towards keeping our communities safe and strengthening our borders.\n\nThe funding bill includes $3.9 billion for state and local law enforcement, a $506.4 million increase over FY 2021. That includes $512 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, a 31 percent increase over the previous year. Golden has advocated for more resources for COPS grants and other federal programs that support local and rural law enforcement\n\nIn addition to support for local law enforcement, the spending bill offers significant funding to strengthen border security. The bill provides $14.8 billion in funding for the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. This funding is $25.7 million above the President's Budget request and includes $256 million for border technology. The bill also includes $8.26 billion in funds for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $284.7 million above the FY2021 enacted level. $25 million of this funding will go towards improvements on safety of ICE and Border Patrol agents.\n\nThis past January, Golden introduced the bipartisan COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act of 2021. The legislation would nearly triple available funding for the COPS program to over $1 billion in FY2022, reauthorize the program for ten years, and specifically expand access to the grants for rural communities. In 2021, Golden voted to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which included significant funding for border stations across the country, including five land ports of entry in Maine's Second District.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/king-risch-lead-bipartisan-call-to-support-american-potato-growers", "King, Risch Lead Bipartisan Call to Support American Potato Growers", "2022-03-17", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and James Risch (R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers in calling on the Biden administration to resolve a trade dispute blocking fresh potato exports to Mexico. In a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, the lawmakers \u2013 including Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-Maine) \u2013 urged the USDA to press its counter-agency in Mexico to honor and expedite the U.S.-Mexico trade deal that would resume U.S. fresh potato exports to Mexico, restoring $150 million in annual revenue for U.S. potato farmers. The letter comes after the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) acquiesced to new demands by the Mexican government that will significantly delay and limit U.S. potato exports to Mexico, despite a Mexican Supreme Court ruling in favor of U.S. potato producers and the completion of successful site visits made by Mexican authorities to U.S. potato plants in Colorado.\n\n\"We write today out of deep concern for the ongoing dispute regarding U.S. fresh potato access to Mexico. It appears that Mexico is continuing to delay restoring this access that was blocked due to legal proceedings initiated by the Mexican potato industry over seven years ago. The cost of this inaction is estimated to be $150 million to U.S. growers on an annual basis,\" said the lawmakers. \"We request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to work with their counterparts in Mexico to ensure that the trade deal is honored by expeditiously reinstating access for U.S. fresh potatoes and to express that any Mexican request for enhanced agricultural access to the U.S. should not be granted until this access is restored.\"\n\n\"On Wednesday, February 16th, 2022, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) jointly announced with their Mexican counterparts, SENASICA, that fresh table stock potato access would be substantially delayed well into 2022. That statement was made due to Mexico's later demands for additional site visits in 2022 as a prerequisite to opening the market,\" continued the lawmakers. \"Neither of these requirements exist within the U.S.-Mexico work plan that was concluded at the end of last year. As you will recall, the process that the U.S. is supposed to be pursuing is one to restore, not establish, access for these potatoes. The U.S. had previously negotiated market access and was shipping potatoes to Mexico in 2014 until the Mexican industry filed suit in an effort to avoid competition with U.S. growers.\"\n\n\"Given that Mexico appears to be continuing to avoid its responsibilities to restore this access, we request that APHIS explain its decision-making process to agree to these unscientific and inconsistent demands,\" the lawmakers concluded. \"We respectfully request that USDA reconsider the statements announced at the end of February, as they are not stipulated in the work plan. The U.S. continues to honor our side of this trade deal, and it is imperative USDA ensure that Mexico do the same.\"\n\nThe full letter can be read HERE or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack:\n\nWe write today out of deep concern for the ongoing dispute regarding U.S. fresh potato access to Mexico. It appears that Mexico is continuing to delay restoring this access that was blocked due to legal proceedings initiated by the Mexican potato industry over seven years ago. The cost of this inaction is estimated to be $150 million to U.S. growers on an annual basis. We request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to work with their counterparts in Mexico to ensure that the trade deal is honored by expeditiously reinstating access for U.S. fresh potatoes and to express that any Mexican request for enhanced agricultural access to the U.S. should not be granted until this access is restored.\n\nIn December of 2021, Mexican officials toured U.S. potato operations in Colorado as the final step in restoring this access. That site visit came after the Mexican Supreme Court unanimously ruled in April 2021 against the Mexican potato industry's legal claims. At the conclusion of the visit, Mexico indicated their satisfaction to USDA and further stated that market access should be complete by early February 2022.\n\nHowever, on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) jointly announced with their Mexican counterparts, SENASICA, that fresh table stock potato access would be substantially delayed well into 2022. That statement was made due to Mexico's later demands for additional site visits in 2022 as a prerequisite to opening the market. Additionally, it was announced that processing potato access to Mexico would be arbitrarily limited to only two companies for 2022.\n\nNeither of these requirements exist within the U.S.-Mexico work plan that was concluded at the end of last year. As you will recall, the process that the U.S. is supposed to be pursuing is one to restore, not establish, access for these potatoes. The U.S. had previously negotiated market access and was shipping potatoes to Mexico in 2014 until the Mexican industry filed suit in an effort to avoid competition with U.S. growers.\n\nGiven that Mexico appears to be continuing to avoid its responsibilities to restore this access, we request that APHIS explain its decision-making process to agree to these unscientific and inconsistent demands. Additionally, we are extremely concerned that APHIS came to this agreement with SENASICA without consulting the domestic industry and that this may be indicative of the process that USDA is undertaking to restore fresh access.\n\nWe respectfully request that USDA reconsider the statements announced at the end of February, as they are not stipulated in the work plan. The U.S. continues to honor our side of this trade deal, and it is imperative USDA ensure that Mexico do the same.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/funding-for-two-ddg-51-destroyers-including-one-to-be-built-at-biw-signed-into-law", "Funding for Two DDG-51 Destroyers, Including One to Be Built at BIW, Signed into Law", "2022-03-15", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill signed into law today included a provision Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) fought for to fund two DDG-51 destroyers. The inclusion of the funding in the spending bill finalizes the reversal of the Biden Administration's proposal to cut production of DDG-51 destroyers \u2014 the ships built at Bath Iron Works \u2014 down to only a single ship this year. Maine's congressional delegation has resisted the shipbuilding reduction since it was announced early last year.\n\n\"American servicemembers all over the world rely on the DDG-51s built by the skilled Maine shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works. These ships are the workhorses of our Navy, key to our national security and to our defense industrial base,\" said Golden. \"After a year of work with my colleagues in the Maine delegation, we are proud to have successfully beat back the administration's misguided proposal to cut DDG-51 shipbuilding. Instead, we've delivered funding to build two destroyers, guaranteeing one that will be built at Bath.\"\n\nThis funding is the final stage in the delegation's work to reverse the Biden Administration's original proposal to cut DDG-51 construction to just one ship in FY2022. Golden and the rest of the Maine congressional delegation worked to sound the alarm on the impacts of this proposed cut on national security and the shipbuilding workforce and led the effort to restore authorization and funding for a second ship. Due to their efforts, funding for a second ship has been in Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations legislation since the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee released its original bill last June.\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee and vice chair of the panel's Seapower Subcommittee, Golden secured authorization last July for a second ship in the Seapower Subcommittee's base text of its portion of the FY 2022 NDAA. Then, in the full Armed Services Committee markup of the NDAA last September, Golden cosponsored a bipartisan amendment that added authorization for a third ship. That authorization for three DDG-51s was then passed by the House Armed Services Committee and passed by the House later in September. A bicameral compromise NDAA package was then passed in December.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/1-million-for-biodigester-at-forest-products-hub-in-madison-secured-by-collins-king-golden", "$1 Million for Biodigester at Forest Products Hub in Madison Secured by Collins, King, Golden", "2022-03-11", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Jared Golden announced today that they secured $1,000,000 in the Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation and Housing Appropriations bill to construct an anaerobic biodigester at the Forest Products Hub in Madison. As the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins co-authored this funding bill.\n\nThe omnibus funding package passed the House and the Senate and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"The creation of the Forest Products Hub at the former paper mill site in Madison has created new employment opportunities and spurred the development of innovative uses for forest products,\" said Senator Collins. \"This investment in a waste-to-energy biodigester will supply the Forest Products Hub with clean, renewable energy. I strongly advocated for this funding, which will help to further strengthen Maine's forest products industry and encourage additional economic development in Madison.\"\n\n\"The forest products sector is one of Maine's oldest and most important industries \u2013 creating countless jobs across many generations,\" said Senator King. \"Madison has long been at the heart of this industry, and the new $1 million investment for the Forest Products Hub to construct a biodigester will help the town lead the way with the forest products and energy of the future. I'm grateful for this Congressional action to support Madison and our iconic forest product industry.\"\n\n\"The Madison mill site has so much potential, and the funding we are delivering to build a biomass waste-to-energy converter will play a key role in its revitalization. This project will support good jobs, eliminate wood fiber waste from the GO Lab factory and organic waste from nearby farms, and generate carbon-neutral energy for the mill site,\" said Congressman Golden. \"This biomass waste-to-energy converter is a win for Madison, a win for clean air, and a win for energy consumers, and I'm proud to help deliver the funding for it. Thank you to the Town of Madison for their partnership and advocacy to make this project a reality.\"\n\nThe Town of Madison will use this funding Senators Collins and King and Representative Golden secured to construct an anaerobic digester that will convert organic feed stock into renewable biogas at the site of the former UPM paper mill. The digester has committed partnerships and momentum to provide a solution to several needs: on-site renewable energy, reducing waste in landfills, and reducing the carbon footprint of a long-time industrial site. This project is located in an Opportunity Zone, a program created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to help revitalize and encourage long-term investments in underdeveloped communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/1-million-new-rumford-fire-station-secured-collins-king-golden", "$1 Million for New Rumford Fire Station Secured by Collins, King, Golden", "2022-03-11", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Jared Golden announced today that $1 million in funding they requested for the construction of a new Rumford Fire Station was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. As the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins co-authored this bill.\n\nThe omnibus funding package passed the House and the Senate and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"The construction of a new Rumford Fire Station will help ensure the brave firemen and women can continue to protect families in area communities,\" said Senator Collins. \"The current fire station is nearly a century old and has significant structural deficiencies that pose safety concerns. As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I strongly advocated on behalf of Rumford Fire Department to include this critical project in the funding bill.\"\n\n\"Across our state, Maine fire departments save lives, create good-paying jobs, and are cornerstones of our communities,\" said Senator King.\"Modern, efficient fire stations are essential to this mission, and with federal support for a brand new station, the hardworking men and women Rumford Fire Department will have a facility that allows them to better serve the people in the area, while keeping themselves safe.\"\n\n\"I am proud to help deliver this funding for a long-overdue fire station for Rumford. For over a hundred years, Rumford's firefighters have put their lives on the line to protect their community,\" said Congressman Golden. \"Times have changed, but their fire station hasn't. Construction of a new fire station in Rumford will help these first responders do their jobs and keep them and the Rumford community safe. Thank you to the Town of Rumford for being such a great partner and advocate in securing this funding.\"\n\n\"The Town of Rumford is deeply grateful for the hard work of our Congressional delegation, Senator Collins, Senator King and Representative Golden. The delegation's tireless efforts on behalf of the new Rumford Fire Station project were essential to the overwhelming approval by local voters at the Special Town Meeting in January,\" said Rumford Town Manager Stacy Carter. \" The new Rumford Fire Station will assure our firefighters of a safe building, free of concerns regarding structural collapse, and capable of housing our largest apparatus. This critical funding gave the people of Rumford confidence in making the commitments necessary to authorize the project which had been under serious consideration since 1989. The project has previously seen three separate proposals over the past 33 years all of which were rejected due to concerns about cost and the future of the local economy.\"\n\nThe current Central Fire Station in Rumford, built in 1923, is not well suited to house modern firefighting equipment. Additionally, the building has deep cracks in its concrete floor, foundation, and load-bearing walls, putting it at risk of structural failure.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/17-million-livermore-falls-jay-wastewater-treatment-facility-secured-collins", "$1.7 Million for Livermore Falls & Jay Wastewater Treatment Facility Secured by Collins, King, Golden", "2022-03-11", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Jared Golden announced today that they secured $1,700,000 for the wastewater treatment facility that serves the towns of Livermore Falls and Jay in the Fiscal Year 2022 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. Senator Collins is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.\n\nThe omnibus funding package passed the House and the Senate and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"Maintaining and upgrading wastewater systems is vital to ensuring the economic and environmental health of the community,\" said Senator Collins. \"I strongly advocated for these significant investments at the Livermore Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will help improve this essential infrastructure for residents and businesses in Livermore Falls and Jay as well as protect local water supplies.\"\n\n\"Modern wastewater systems are absolutely essential for healthy, successful communities,\" said Senator King. \"The $1.7 million investment in the Livermore Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant is an important step to improve the effectiveness of these systems for the Livermore Falls area and ensure the safety of local water supplies. I look forward to seeing the significant improvements that will be made with these funds.\"\n\n\"For decades, the Livermore Falls Wastewater Treatment Facility has helped protect the health of communities and support local economies along the Androscoggin River with cleaner water.\" said Congressman Golden. \"However, this half century-old facility needs upgrades and repairs and I'm proud to help deliver funding to make those investments. This investment will make sure the facility runs smoothly for decades to come, benefitting the next generation of taxpayers and businesses in Jay and Livermore Falls.\"\n\n\"As we continue to move forward with the construction phase of the $14 million upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Facility that serves the Towns of Livermore Falls and Jay, the $1.7 million CDS Grant will be a great asset to help reduce the financial burden our ratepayers and citizens will be facing,\" said Mark Holt, Superintendent of the Livermore Falls & Jay Sewer Department. \"We are very appreciative of the work that Senator Collins, Senator King, and Congressman Golden have put forth to secure this CDS Grant funding for our communities. It's good to know they are in Washington looking out for the interests and needs of Maine's citizens.\"\n\nThe funding secured by Senators Collins and King and Representative Golden will be used for upgrades to the Livermore Falls wastewater treatment facility. The project will address structural deficiencies with the primary clarifiers, chlorine contact chambers, and sludge holding tanks as well as improve safety.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-lawmakers-call-administration-help-protect-ukrainian-airspace", "Bipartisan Lawmakers Call on Administration to Help Protect Ukrainian Airspace with Weapons Systems, Planes", "2022-03-11", "2022", "2022-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 A bipartisan group of 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats today called on the Biden Administration to ramp up the transfer of further defense materiel to Ukraine, strengthen sanctions, and bolster humanitarian aid. The representatives specifically called on the Administration to work with NATO allies to provide the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, an air defense system both Ukraine and some NATO allies have in their inventory. The letter represents the first bipartisan call for such action from the House.\n\n\"Despite heroic and skillful resistance by Ukrainian forces, Russia currently retains air superiority over Ukraine. Russia's advantage in this domain could soon develop into air dominance if the Ukrainians do not receive necessary military aid,\" the lawmakers wrote. \"We believe that Stinger missiles will continue to be critical in combating Russia's superiority in the air. With Russia's alarming disregard for Ukrainian civilian casualties, the U.S. must also help supply more comprehensive air defense systems to defend Ukraine and its people. Specifically, the U.S. must work with our NATO allies who possess the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to facilitate and expedite the transfer of these systems to Ukraine. Providing Soviet-era platforms that Ukrainian servicemembers have previously operated and maintained will be essential to their success on the battlefield and will also protect U.S. defense technology from falling into the hands of the Russians.\"\n\nThe letter also calls on the administration to help facilitate the transfer of MiG-29s from Poland to Ukraine and to consider strategies to provide Su-25s and further drone capabilities to Ukraine. The lawmakers also request further sanctions on third parties that do business with Russian entities and individuals, and request that the administration ensures a continued multilateral response to provide humanitarian aid to vulnerable Ukrainian people.\n\nThe letter was led by Representatives Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and signed by Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), James Baird (R-Ind.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), Michael Waltz (R-Fla.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Kaiali\u02bbi Kahele (D-Hawaii), and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.).\n\nFull text of the letter is below and can also be found HERE.\n\n+++\n\nMarch 11, 2022\n\nPresident Joseph R. Biden\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear Mr. President,\n\nWe, as a bipartisan group of 15 representatives, write to urge continued U.S. commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the freedom of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia's ongoing invasion. As the Administration considers next steps to support the Ukrainian government and to counter Russian aggression, we strongly believe that the U.S. must provide additional defense materiel to Ukrainians protecting their nation, strengthen economic sanctions directed at Russia, and increase urgently needed humanitarian aid to Ukraine. With this in mind, we respectfully request that you implement the following policies:\n\n1. Support Air Defense Capabilities: Despite heroic and skillful resistance by Ukrainian forces, Russia currently retains air superiority over Ukraine. Russia's advantage in this domain could soon develop into air dominance if the Ukrainians do not receive necessary military aid. We believe that Stinger missiles will continue to be critical in combating Russia's superiority in the air. With Russia's alarming disregard for Ukrainian civilian casualties, the U.S. must also help supply more comprehensive air defense systems to defend Ukraine and its people. Specifically, the U.S. must work with our NATO allies who possess the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to facilitate and expedite the transfer of these systems to Ukraine. Providing Soviet-era platforms that Ukrainian servicemembers have previously operated and maintained will be essential to their success on the battlefield and will also protect U.S. defense technology from falling into the hands of the Russians.\n\n2. Facilitate the transfer of manned and unmanned aircraft: We also understand that conversations are ongoing between the U.S., Poland, and other Eastern European allies regarding the transfer of aircraft to Ukraine. We commend the Polish government for taking proactive steps to deliver MiG-29 jets to the Ukrainian Air Force. We urge you to help facilitate this deal, commit to replenishing our allies' fleets with American-made aircraft, and help advance the transfer of Su-25 aircraft to Ukraine as well. Similar to an S-300 transfer, this is a pragmatic solution to expeditiously provide the Ukrainians with aircraft which Ukrainian pilots have flown and their servicemembers can maintain. We also believe that the U.S. should seriously consider strategies to provide further drone capability to the Ukrainians, as they have already used Bayraktar TB2 drones with success on the battlefield. Unmanned platforms\u2013to include both intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike capabilities\u2013could prove critical to Ukrainian efforts to combat Russia's advances.\n\n3. Strengthen Economic Sanctions: Sanctions against third parties that do business with Russian entities and individuals are necessary to deter those who would otherwise be willing to support Moscow's economic interests. If necessary, secondary sanctions should be levied against Chinese banks and businesses that do business with Russia, in order to best ensure that Russia is unable to find a means of offsetting its exclusion from U.S. and European markets and banking systems.\n\n4. Bolster Humanitarian Aid: Russia's invasion has resulted in more than 2 million refugees, 1 million of whom are children, fleeing their homes in search of safety, and the indiscriminate nature of its assaults risks the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. Aid to Ukraine, including the provision of food, clothing, medical supplies, and shelters is urgently required to address the harm Russia has inflicted upon millions of people through its unprovoked aggression. With Congress set to appropriate emergency aid funding to Ukraine as soon as this week, it is essential that our allies and partners are similarly committed to robust aid packages. We urge you to communicate the necessity of multilateral humanitarian assistance to our allies and partners around the world. A coordinated effort is essential to helping vulnerable Ukrainian civilians.\n\nThe U.S. must act decisively to support Ukraine. We must urge our allies and partners to do the same. Thank you for your attention to these critical issues.\n\nSincerely,\n\nCC:\n\nThe Honorable Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense\n\nThe Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:06:17Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 130, "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": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2022-03-11,https~3A~2F~2Fgolden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fbipartisan-lawmakers-call-administration-help-protect-ukrainian-airspace", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2022&_next=2022-03-11%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fgolden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fbipartisan-lawmakers-call-administration-help-protect-ukrainian-airspace&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 219.20378901995718, "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"}