{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"ME\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bipartisan-permitting-reform-bill-passes-house", "Golden\u2019s bipartisan permitting reform bill passes House", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "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) today celebrated the House\u2019s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The bill, which he first introduced with Republican House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July, would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects.\n\nThe SPEED Act passed 221-196. It is endorsed by more than 300 local, state, and national organizations, including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast. The City of Bangor previously submitted a letter of support to the House Natural Resources Committee to describe the bill\u2019s benefits to airport operations at Bangor International Airport.\n\n\u201cThe simplest way to make energy, housing, and other essentials more affordable is to make it possible to actually produce enough of it at a reasonable cost. America\u2019s broken permitting system is standing in the way,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe SPEED Act has united workers, businesses, and political forces who usually oppose each other because scarcity hurts everyone, and these reforms represent the lowest hanging fruit in a permitting reform debate that\u2019s been happening for years. I\u2019m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his good-faith partnership throughout this process, and today\u2019s vote sends a clear message to the Senate: The window is finally open to fix our permitting process, so let\u2019s meet the moment.\u201d\n\nThe legislation includes a Golden amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of \u2014 even those in the final stages of completion. His amendment followed feedback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, which helped boost the bill\u2019s bipartisan support.\n\nGolden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America\u2019s broken permitting system, including during the bill\u2019s initial hearing in September.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill \u2014 as well as a recent history of permitting reform \u2014 from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years.\n\nAccording to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-collective-bargaining-rights-passes-house-in-bipartisan-231-195-vote", "Golden\u2019s bill to restore federal workers\u2019 collective bargaining rights passes House in bipartisan 231-195\u00a0vote", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 231-195 to pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers.\n\nTwenty Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill\u2019s final passage. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate in September with bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cFederal workers show up on the job every day to do the people\u2019s work, and their limited collective bargaining rights are critical to protecting them from unfair treatment and political interference,\u201d Golden said after the bill\u2019s passage. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the strong, bipartisan coalition that came together to pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act in the House, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up this bill and join us in standing up for workers.\u201d\n\n(Click here for video of Golden\u2019s remarks on the floor during initial debate on Wednesday)\n\n\u201cToday, the House took an important bipartisan step on behalf of America\u2019s workers. The right to be heard in one\u2019s workplace may appear basic, but it carries great weight \u2014 it ensures that the people who serve our nation have a seat at the table when decisions shape their work and their mission,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cThis bill moves us closer to restoring that fundamental protection for nearly one million federal employees, many of them veterans. I will always fight for our workers, and I call on the Senate to help ensure these protections are fully reinstated.\u201d\n\nGolden and Fitzpatrick introduced PAWA in April. After months of inaction by House majority leadership, they shepherded the bill\u2019s passage via discharge petition \u2014 a legislative maneuver that allows members to bring popular bills to the House floor when House leadership refuses to schedule a vote. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nWhile successful discharge petitions are historically rare, members of the House are increasingly turning to them to call up legislation.\n\nLast year, discharge petitions on disaster relief and the Social Security Fairness Act led to successful passage of both by the House. Earlier this year, a bill to compel release of the Epstein files was brought to the floor and passed via discharge. This week, Golden and Fitzpatrick initiated a discharge petition to force the House to take action on expiring ACA tax credits \u2014 an issue that Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to address.\n\n\u201cRight now, leadership \u2014 no matter who they are in both parties, House and Senate \u2014 should pay attention to what\u2019s going on with the discharge petitions,\u201d Golden said Wednesday. \u201cIf you\u2019re not going to open up the process, if you\u2019re not going to give people the opportunity to at least take a vote one way or the other on where they stand on issues \u2026 then increasingly I think you\u2019re going to see rank-and-file members taking matters into their own hands.\u201d\n\nUnion leaders praised passage of the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump betrayed workers when he tried to rip away our collective bargaining rights. In these increasingly polarized times, working people delivered a rare bipartisan majority to stop the administration\u2019s unprecedented attacks on our freedoms,\u201d said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \u201cWe commend the Republicans and Democrats who stood with workers and voted to reverse the single largest act of union-busting in American history. Americans trust unions more than either political party. As we turn to the Senate \u2014 where the bill already has bipartisan support \u2014 working people are calling on the politicians we elected to stand with us, even if it means standing up to the union-busting boss in the White House.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote marks an historic achievement for the House\u2019s bipartisan pro-labor majority, courageously led by Rep. Jared Golden of Maine,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cWe need to build on today\u2019s seismic victory in the House and get immediate action in the Senate \u2014 and also ensure that any future budget bills similarly protect collective bargaining rights for the largely unseen men and women who keep our government running for the American people.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-fitzpatrick-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-clears-key-house-hurdle-teeing-up-final-votes-tomorrow", "Golden-Fitzpatrick bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights clears key House hurdle, teeing up final votes tomorrow", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-200 tonight to approve an effort by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), his bipartisan bill to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers.\n\nThe House began debate tonight following the vote on Golden\u2019s Motion to Discharge the bill. A vote on the final passage of PAWA is expected to take place tomorrow.\n\nTonight\u2019s vote is the culmination of months of work with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), the bill\u2019s lead GOP cosponsor. Together, they garnered 226 cosponsors for PAWA and assembled a majority of Members to sign a discharge petition forcing floor action.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans. These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers, but this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voices,\u201d Golden said. \u201c... If the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers' rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people\u2019s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America\u2019s security and respecting America\u2019s workers are not competing priorities \u2014 they are inseparable,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cFederal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When they have a voice in the decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Congressman Golden in leading this bipartisan effort. Tomorrow, let\u2019s carry this unity across the finish line, and restore the rights that keep our federal workforce \u2014 and the nation they serve \u2014 strong.\u201d\n\nGolden and Fitzpatrick introduced PAWA in April. After months of inaction on the floor, in July they initiated a discharge petition and set to work building support to force a vote in the House. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nSignatories to the discharge petition included nearly the entire Democratic caucus and five Republicans who cosponsored the bill: Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17). Four additional Republicans did not sign the discharge petition but are cosponsors of PAWA: Reps. Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cTime and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-support-servicemembers-shipbuilding-by-passing-national-defense-authorization-act-ndaa", "Golden votes to support servicemembers, shipbuilding by passing National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "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) today voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House in a 312-112 vote.\n\nIn addition to providing authorization for funds necessary to protect America and provide for our troops, the bill increases troop pay and includes funding for the construction of destroyers built at Bath Iron Works.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s heartening to see Congress support not only our troops, but American shipbuilding and the critical role it plays in our national security,\u201d Golden said. \u201cOur service members deserve salaries that let them keep up with the cost of living. And when Maine shipbuilders are awarded work, they can ensure the Navy gets more of the best ships on the planet. Now that the House has passed this critical legislation, I hope the Senate moves quickly and sends it to the president.\u201d\n\nThe bill provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members and increases the additional pay they receive when separated from their families by deployment. It also includes a $1.4 billion increase for new construction of barracks and family housing, and increases access to specialty medical care by lowering the threshold for travel reimbursement from 100 miles to 75 miles.\n\nIt also includes multiple wins for Maine that Golden secured in the waning hours of committee negotiations last month, such as funding for two DDG-51 destroyers that are typically built by Bath Iron Works (BIW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-moves-to-force-vote-this-week-on-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights", "Golden moves to force vote this week on bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "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) took the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide notice to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of his intent to force a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), his bipartisan bill to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from federal workers.\n\n\u201cThis bill\u2019s cosponsors, Democrats and Republicans alike, know that collective bargaining brings fairness, dignity and respect to the workplace. They also know that without these rights, federal workers are more vulnerable to unfair treatment and political interference,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m calling on Speaker Johnson to hold a clean, up-or-down vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act, so that Congress can show workers that we\u2019ve got their backs.\u201d\n\nGolden introduced PAWA in April, with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) as the lead GOP cosponsor. After months of inaction on the floor, in July Golden and Fitzpatrick initiated a discharge petition and set to work building support to force a vote in the House. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nThe Speaker now has two legislative days to hold a vote on the motion to discharge PAWA. If that motion is successful, the House will consider the bill.\n\nSignatories to the discharge petition included nearly the entire Democratic caucus and five Republicans who cosponsored the bill: Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17).\n\nFour additional Republicans did not sign the discharge petition but are cosponsors of PAWA: Reps. Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods. Now it\u2019s time for a clean, standalone vote so the House of Representatives can show the country it will defend workers' fundamental rights on the job.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cTime and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-maine-fishermen-push-trade-commission-for-fair-fishing-rules-in-gray-zone", "Golden, Maine fishermen push trade commission for fair fishing rules in Gray Zone", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Ahead of two Maine fishermen\u2019s testimonies to the International Trade Commission (ITC) today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) submitted a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling for fairer fishing rules between Maine and Canadian fishermen in the Gray Zone \u2014 a 277 square-mile area of ocean near Machias Seal Island that is fished by both countries and remains one of America\u2019s only contested maritime borders.\n\nThe push comes as the ITC gathers stakeholder input from across industries to inform the White House and Congress on potential changes needed to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade deal, set to expire in 2036, requires the countries to explore a potential 16-year extension to preserve the arrangement until 2052. This review is mandated for July 2026. Golden voted against the USMCA in 2019, and is pushing for more parity between American and Canadian fishing regulations in the Gray Zone as a condition of any extension.\n\n\u201cThe United States government should do everything in its power to ensure that our fishermen are not at a competitive disadvantage and deprived of economic opportunity,\u201d Golden wrote in his letter to Greer. \u201cMaine\u2019s seafood harvesters have been awaiting a resolution to the Gray Zone for too long and at great consequence to their safety, their businesses, and the natural resources they depend on.\u201d\n\nGolden has previously written to President Trump about the steeper regulations Maine fishermen face compared to their Canadian competitors in the Gray Zone. Some of these rule disparities include the lack of a maximum size limit for catchable lobster for Canadians; Canada\u2019s refusal to follow Mainers\u2019 practice of marking egg-bearing females as off-limits; the American-only requirement to use expensive, weaker fishing gear to prevent right-whale entanglements; and a months-longer season for scallop harvesting for Canadians.\n\nGolden submitted his letter along with testimony from Virginia Olsen and Dustin Delano, two Maine harvesters who serve as the Political Director of the Maine Lobstering Union (MLU) and Chief Strategist of Policy and Operations for the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), respectively.\n\nOlsen and Swan\u2019s Island fisherman and NEFSA board member Jason Joyce spoke today before the ITC, regarding the ways Canada\u2019s less sustainable harvesting practices have harmed the fishery and Maine\u2019s working waterfront.\n\n\u201cAmerican fishermen have sacrificed more than most people will ever understand. They\u2019ve rebuilt stocks, innovated gear, protected habitat, and carried the weight of conservation on their backs\u2026.\u201d Joyce told the commission. \u201c...We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fair rules, equal competition, and respect for the sacrifices American fishermen have made to protect this shared ocean. The Gray Zone can no longer remain a gray area.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe MLU believes that a bilateral committee is needed to discuss the ongoing issues between both countries about the Gray Zone, conservation, seasons, and enforcement \u2026\u201d Olsen said. \u201c... I feel we need to bridge the gap between what harvesters are seeing daily on the water to the observations by scientists. Until we do, the lack of trust will continue.\u201d\n\nThe ITC is an independent, nonpartisan federal government agency. The commission oversees a wide range of trade-related mandates and provides analysis of international trade issues to the president and Congress. The ITC is led by a group of commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to nine-year terms.\n\nGolden, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, has fought fiercely on behalf of Maine\u2019s fishing industry throughout his career. Last year he was the only representative from New England to join the effort to overturn a U.S.-only increase to the minimum catchable size of lobster. He also helped pass a six-year pause on new lobster gear regulations in 2022 \u2014 a moratorium he submitted legislative language to extend in July. He has submitted bipartisan legislation, the Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act, which would prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in the critical, highly productive Maine fishing grounds of Lobster Management Area 1.\n\nGolden\u2019s full letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Jamieson Greer\n\nUnited States Trade Representative\n\nOffice of the United States Trade Representative\n\n600 17th Street NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nRE: Request for Public Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Relating to the Operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada\n\nDear Ambassador Greer:\n\nThe Office of Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) submits the following public comment on behalf of various constituents in the Maine lobster industry: Virginia Olsen, the political director of the Maine Lobstering Union, and Dustin Delano, Chief Strategist of Policy and Operations for the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). These leaders in the Maine lobstering community view the potential renewal of the United States \u2013 Mexico \u2013 Canada Agreement (USMCA) as an appropriate venue to implement co-management fisheries practices with Canada around the Gray Zone, a 277 square mile maritime area in the Bay of Fundy over which both the United States and Canada claim sovereignty. Doing so would strengthen the economic well being of American fishermen by both preserving the sustainability of integral Gulf of Maine fish stocks, while also ensuring that they are not at a competitive disadvantage compared to their Canadian counterparts.\n\nThe Gray Zone has been claimed by both the United States and Canada since the Revolutionary War. For centuries, the lobstermen and fishermen of Downeast Maine have relied on this marine area to harvest lobster, scallops, and halibut, often competing with the Canadians who utilize these same fishing grounds. Frustratingly, while the long-term viability of these stocks are essential to the economic success of both American and Canadian harvesters, it is our fishermen and lobstermen who are required to adhere to the highest standards of conservation. Maine lobstermen abide by a maximum size limit for harvesting lobster and Halibut; Canadian lobstermen do not. Maine lobstermen mark the tails of egg-bearing females with a v-notch and toss them back so they can spawn; Canadian lobstermen do not. Maine fishermen use less durable gear with weak links to reduce lethal entanglements with endangered North Atlantic right whales; Canadian lobstermen do not.\n\nPast attempts to resolve this territorial dispute to support the competitiveness of U.S. fishermen have been ineffective. A 2023 U.S. Department of State Report written for Congress titled \u201cProgress Toward an Agreement with Canadian Officials Addressing Territorial Disputes and Collecting Fisheries Management Measures in the Gulf of Maine\u201d incorrectly states:\n\n\u201cThe status quo benefits the United States by keeping the Gray Zone aligned with the more favorable measures applicable to the broader U.S. lobster management area within which it sits. Current cooperation has proved effective in managing the area. Negotiations to resolve the dispute would require significant dedicated resources. In the absence of a resolution of the territorial dispute, an agreement to resolve differing fisheries management measures in the Gray Zone could impact U.S. claims to sovereignty by creating regulations that differ from those applicable to the broader Gulf of Maine jurisdiction in which the Gray Zone lies.\u201d\n\nIn reality, as management currently exists, there is no cooperation in managing this area.\n\nThis report \u2013 and past U.S. federal government assessments of the Gray Zone \u2013 are misleading, and the fishermen I represent have told me repeatedly that the current regulatory framework in the area does not benefit American fishermen; it hurts them.\n\nThe implementation of a co-management practice in a renewed USMCA would address this harmful, unfair regulatory disparity. That is why the renewal of the USMCA provides a reasonable forum to discuss and potentially implement a co-management agreement, which should include Canadian and American fishermen working together to determine and follow the same regulations.\n\nThe United States government should do everything in its power to ensure that our fishermen are not at a competitive disadvantage and deprived of economic opportunity. Maine\u2019s seafood harvesters have been awaiting a resolution to the Gray Zone for too long and at great consequence to their safety, their businesses, and the natural resources they depend on.\n\nThese constituents are prepared to provide testimony at the International Trade Commission on November 17th on the merits of a co-management practice in a renewed USMCA agreement.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-introduces-bill-to-support-farmers-affected-by-pfas-0", "Maine Delegation introduces bill to support farmers affected by PFAS", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by toxic \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) reintroduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. The legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monitoring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-Maine) are original cosponsors of the legislation.\n\nPFAS are man-made chemicals that are used in industry and consumer products and can lead to serious health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and weakened immune systems. In Maine, there have been more than 30,000 records of PFAS at close to 250 sites across the state. Maine farmers have had their livelihoods disrupted due to PFAS contamination, which originated in sludge that was spread as fertilizer by farmers who were told by the government that it was safe to use.\n\n\u201cUSDA must provide support to our nation\u2019s farmers, who through no fault of their own are at risk of losing their livelihoods,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cIn the past, the federal government\u2019s response has failed to keep pace with this growing problem. Our bipartisan legislation would direct USDA to help by providing financial assistance and expanding PFAS monitoring and testing where it is needed most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe PFAS crisis isn\u2019t some theoretical or distant problem. It\u2019s here, it\u2019s growing, and it\u2019s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country,\u201d said Pingree, a longtime farmer and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. \u201cFor farmers already navigating thin margins, discovering \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 on their land can mean lost income, unusable land, and questions about the safety of their crops and livestock. They deserve federal support that matches the scale of the crisis. Our Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act creates a dedicated USDA program to test for contamination, compensate affected farmers, and advance the research and remediation strategies we need to protect our food supply and rural economies. This bill is a critical step in giving farmers the tools to safeguard their operations while federal and state agencies work to fully confront PFAS.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s hardworking farmers are losing crops, land, and their livelihoods to \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 at an alarming rate,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act is a crucial step towards creating a federal safety net that provides impacted farms with financial relief. The monitoring, testing, and remediation provisions would be a gamechanger in our work to protect Maine\u2019s agricultural communities from PFAS contamination. The state of Maine has been on the forefront of these efforts, but additional federal investments are vitally needed. I hope this bipartisan, bicameral legislation receives broad support across Congress to protect the future of Maine farming.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs awareness of PFAS contamination has increased, Maine farmers have borne heavy costs to protect consumers from harmful chemicals,\u201d Golden said. \"The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act will provide local farmers with the support they need to keep their lights on while continuing to mitigate risk and protect the public from a health issue that isn\u2019t farmers\u2019 fault.\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\nProviding financial assistance to affected farmers;\n\nBuilding capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources;\n\nMonitoring blood for individuals to make informed decisions about their health;\n\nUpgrading or purchasing equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination;\n\nDeveloping alternative production systems or remediation strategies;\n\nDeveloping educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and\n\nResearching 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\u201cMaine farmers, residents and policymakers are leading the country on tackling PFAS contamination in our food and water,\u201d said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). \u201cMaine has created essential policies to help farmers who have suffered consequences of forever chemicals through no fault of their own. Senator Collins\u2019 and Congresswoman Pingree's bill signals a critical opportunity for the federal government to coordinate a response so that farmers across the country will have the support they need to address PFAS contamination.\u201d\n\n\u201cPFAS contamination of agricultural land is a nationwide challenge that has been met with an inconsistent patchwork of policy and program responses to date. What is needed in response to the challenge of PFAS contamination of agricultural land is dependable and comprehensive support so that farm families, the agricultural sector, and our food system are not in jeopardy. This bill seeks to do just that. Maine Farmland Trust is grateful for the introduction of the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act and the strong federal safety net of support that it would provide. Maine farmers stand with farmers nationwide who deserve comprehensive support and solutions,\u201d said Shelley Megquier, Policy and Research Director of Maine Farmland Trust.\n\n\u201cAmerican Farmland Trust (AFT) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Farmers Hit with PFAS Act,\u201d said Tim Fink, Vice President of Policy for AFT. \u201cThe discovery of PFAS contamination can be devastating for farms, farmers, and their families \u2013 all through no fault of their own. However, the experience of the Maine relief program has shown that with the right financial and technical support, most farms can return safely to operation. It\u2019s time that this essential financial, technical, healthcare, and research support be available to impacted farmers across the nation.\u201d\n\n\"PFAS contamination poses a significant threat to our farms, wildlife, and food,\" said Rebecca Meuninck, Ph.D., Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. \"Farmers are being put out of business because they unknowingly spread biosolids containing PFAS on their land or had their water contaminated from neighboring military or industrial sites. The reintroduction of this legislation is a big step forward in supporting farmers and ensuring their resilience against the impacts of PFAS.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-push-for-faster-release-of-liheap-funds", "Golden, bipartisan group of lawmakers push for faster release of LIHEAP funds", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "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), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan group of 44 lawmakers calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to distribute Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to states by November 30, 2025.\n\nStates typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. However, the recent government shutdown delayed disbursement of these critical funds that help roughly 6 million Americans \u2014 including 45,000 Mainers \u2014 heat their homes.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the agency\u2019s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cIt is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cGiven that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste\u2026 The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.\u201d\n\nGolden has pushed back against Secretary Kennedy repeatedly this year for his management of LIHEAP, particularly regarding his decision to fire the program\u2019s entire staff this spring. He helped lead a letter with more than 80 colleagues calling for the protection of LIHEAP and the rehiring of the staff who manage it.\n\nIn light of concerns about LIHEAP\u2019s ability to operate without dedicated staff, the lawmakers wrote, \u201cIf disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.\u201d\n\nGolden has successfully led several efforts to increase Mainers\u2019 access to heating assistance throughout his time in Congress. He helped secure $6.1 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2023, and worked with the rest of Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation to win an additional $38 million for Mainers in fiscal year 2024 \u2014 including $1.4 million for Maine\u2019s tribes.\n\nThe full letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy,\n\nAs the federal government resumes the administration of essential programs, we write to you regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We appreciate the agency\u2019s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing. It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.\n\nAs you know, states typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. This four-week delay between appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and disbursement to states is usually attributed to the amount of time it takes HHS to calculate each state\u2019s apportionment of LIHEAP funding. Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste. If the HHS does not marshal all available resources to get LIHEAP funds out the door, it risks putting households across the U.S. in jeopardy of not receiving heating assistance in time.\n\nThe risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.\n\nIn the agency\u2019s notification to LIHEAP Grant recipients and stakeholders, HHS noted that the Office of Community Services\u2019 (OCS) would use special authority to release the funds. Should the agency require additional action from Congress to ensure these funds are disbursed expeditiously, we request that you notify us without delay.\n\nAdditionally, we request that HHS take the following actions:\n\nContinue to carry out all necessary steps to accelerate the typical four-week timeline for LIHEAP disbursement.\n\nTap additional staff as needed to ensure that funds are disbursed rapidly.\n\nMaintain regular contact with LIHEAP recipients about expected timelines for release of funds and any estimated delays as soon as possible.\n\nIf disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.\n\nWe continue to have serious concerns about the LIHEAP program\u2019s capacity to operate effectively without dedicated staff. We urge you to ensure that necessary personnel and resources are in place to support LIHEAP's continued success.\n\nWe urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families without delay. With home heating costs expected to rise faster than inflation this winter , families should not have to choose between staying warm and other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bipartisan-permitting-reform-bill-passes-house-natural-resources-committee", "Golden\u2019s bipartisan permitting reform bill passes House Natural Resources Committee", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "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 celebrated the House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which he first introduced with Republican Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July.\n\nThe bill, which would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects, was approved with bipartisan support by a vote of 25-18.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s broken permitting system is delaying investments in the basics we need \u2014 energy, transportation and housing. These delays keep costs high and hold back America\u2019s economy,\u201d Golden said. \u201cBoth parties have agreed on this problem for years, and today\u2019s support from the Committee gives me hope that Congress is finally ready to take the win. I\u2019m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his commitment to earning bipartisan support for our bill, and I\u2019m ready to get this passed on the House floor.\u201d\n\nIn an effort to create certainty for all forms of energy production, Golden also submitted an amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of \u2014 even if the projects are in the final stages of completion. His amendment passed the Committee unanimously.\n\nBefore the vote, the City of Bangor submitted a letter of support to the Committee, describing how many of the bill\u2019s provisions would benefit airport operations around the country, including at Bangor International Airport (BGR):\n\n\u201cThese reforms would directly support airports such as BGR by enabling timely progress on projects ranging from traditional safety-and capacity-driven infrastructure to energy-resilience initiatives such as our planned on-airport solar farm,\u201d wrote Airport Director Jose Saavedra, C.M. \u201cStreamlining NEPA requirements, while preserving necessary environmental protections, will help ensure that airports can advance essential improvements that support safe operations, economic competitiveness, and the aviation needs of the communities we serve.\u201d\n\nGolden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America\u2019s broken permitting system, including during the bill\u2019s initial hearing in September.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill \u2014 as well as a recent history of permitting reform \u2014 from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years.\n\nAccording to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-release-epstein-files", "Golden votes to release Epstein files", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "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) voted today for H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified materials from its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. The bill passed the House by a vote of 427-1.\n\nToday\u2019s vote was forced by a discharge petition signed by Golden and a majority of the House after months of resistance from President Trump and House Republican leaders.\n\n\u201cThese files should obviously be released. And it never should have been this hard,\u201d Golden said.\n\nThe Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Department of Justice to publish a searchable, downloadable compilation of all its files on Epstein within 30 days. Within 15 days, the Department must report to Congress on any information redacted to protect victims\u2019 personal information and active federal investigations.\n\nGolden has long called for the release of the Epstein files as a means of transparency and accountability. He praised a subpoena against the Department of Justice by a House Oversight subcommittee this summer, and later reiterated the need for a public release while questioning the Trump Administration\u2019s resistance to doing so.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-clears-threshold-to-force-house-action", "Golden\u2019s bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights clears threshold to force House action", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 A bipartisan bill by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to repeal an executive order that stripped federal workers\u2019 union rights is on track for a vote in the House after months of delay by Speaker Mike Johnson.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act of 2025, which has enough cosponsors to indicate it would easily pass a floor vote, has languished since Golden introduced it with Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) in April. In June, Golden launched a discharge petition for the bill, which allows a majority of the House to force a vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of Congress signs it.\n\nToday, GOP Congressmen Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) signed the petition, bringing the total number of signatures to 218 \u2014 the number required to force House action.\n\n\u201cAmerica never voted to eliminate workers\u2019 union rights, and the strong bipartisan support for my bill shows that Congress will not stand idly by while President Trump nullifies federal workers\u2019 collective bargaining agreements and rolls back generations of labor law,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Reps. LaLota and Lawler for bringing this discharge petition over the finish line, and I\u2019m calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a clean, up-or-down vote on this bill.\u201d\n\nThe bill would nullify President Trump\u2019s March 27th Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for roughly 1 million unionized federal employees across several agencies. Since Golden introduced the bipartisan bill in April, it has garnered bipartisan support from 222 members of Congress, including seven Republicans. Five of those Republicans \u2014 Reps. Fitzpatrick, LaLota, Lawler, Don Bacon (NE-02) and Robert Bresnahan (PA-08) \u2014 crossed the aisle to join House Democrats in signing the discharge petition.\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms. We commend every Democrat and Republican who signed the discharge petition to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to a vote, but the fight isn\u2019t over,\u201d said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \u201cIt\u2019s time to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to a vote and restore federal workers\u2019 right to collectively bargain and have a voice on the job.\u201d\n\n\"It is unconscionable that the Trump administration has illegally stripped thousands of federal employees of their right to bargain for fair wages and safe working conditions. The President's executive order is a lawless attack on federal public servants providing crucial services to our nation, from servicing Navy submarines and caring for our veterans to providing Social Security benefits to older Mainers, surviving families and people with disabilities,\u201d said Cynthia Phinney, President of the Maine AFL-CIO. \u201cWe are thrilled that Congressman Jared Golden has been able to collect enough signatures to force a vote on this critical workers\u2019 rights legislation. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership on this issue and thank him for continuing to fight for Maine workers and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE expresses its profound thanks to Rep. Golden for his herculean efforts to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to the floor for a vote,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 federal employees. \u201cThis bill has been called labor\u2019s top priority in Congress and for good reason \u2013 it seeks to undo the largest loss of collective bargaining rights in U.S. history. The right to speak out in the workplace and have concerns fairly addressed is a human right and a democratic cornerstone. We urge the House to pass the Golden-Fitzpatrick bill without delay.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-reopen-government-continue-bipartisan-negotiations-on-renewing-aca-tax-credits", "Golden votes to reopen government, continue bipartisan negotiations on renewing ACA tax credits", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "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) voted today for the bipartisan Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government. The legislation passed in the House 222-209.\n\nGolden\u2019s vote supported the reopening of the federal government, and once again gets critical food and heating assistance funds flowing to Mainers who rely on them. Now, with the shutdown ended, Golden called on Congress to take immediate action to extend expiring ACA premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cCongress still has a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend the ACA premium tax credits,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIn September, I joined a bipartisan coalition in the House to put forth legislation to extend the credits for one year and now, with the shutdown now over, I urge members of both parties who care about affordable health care to come back to the table so we can get the job done.\u201d\n\nIn addition to extending President Biden\u2019s last budget through January 30, 2026, the legislation also passes three of the 12 Fiscal Year (FY26) appropriations bills for the full fiscal year: Agriculture, Legislative Branch; and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.\n\nThe spending package includes several of Golden\u2019s priorities, including the funding of SNAP through the entirety of FY26, the reversal of the Trump administration\u2019s mass firing of thousands of federal employees during the shutdown, and Golden\u2019s Community Project Funding Requests for the towns of Holden and Surry.\n\n\u201cThe Town of Holden extends its sincere gratitude to our congressional and senatorial leadership for their dedication and bipartisan effort in moving the ball forward to reopen the federal government and ensure the wheels of progress continue to turn for communities across our nation. Their commitment to supporting local governments and investing in infrastructure directly benefits small towns like Holden. We are especially thankful for the funding directed toward constructing a new garage for the Holden Police Department and making vital infrastructure upgrades that will strengthen our community for years to come,\u201d said Benjamin R.K. Breadmore, Town Manager of Holden. \u201cOn behalf of our residents, staff, and Town Council, we thank you for recognizing the importance of investing in public safety and local infrastructure \u2014 key components that keep towns like Holden safe, resilient, and ready for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cSurry is a small town with a large land mass. Wildfires pose a significant risk in our area, especially in dry periods. This new truck is replacing a 40-year-old vehicle. We will soon be able to fight fires more effectively and efficiently,\u201d said Mary Allen, Chair of the Surry Select Board. \u201cRep. Golden and his staff have been concerned with our outdated trucks and agreed to support our efforts to modernize our fire department. The Town of Surry is grateful to Rep. Golden and his staff for their work on our behalf.\u201d\n\nThe House vote follows the Senate\u2019s 60-40 passage of the measure on Monday. Once signed into law by President Trump, it will end the longest federal government shutdown in American history.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nCongressman Golden is an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act. The bill would extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits for one year, creating time for negotiation over a permanent solution to reduce the cost of premiums on the individual marketplace.\n\nGiven the makeup of the Senate, where Republicans need Democratic votes to pass legislation through regular order, bipartisanship is the only path forward to address the looming price spikes on the individual marketplace. Golden\u2019s bill was introduced in September by a coalition that spans members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, the Republican Main Street Caucus, and the bipartisan Problem Solvers\u2019 Caucus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-government-shutdown", "Golden statement on government shutdown", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "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) released the following statement regarding the government shutdown, which began at 12:01 a.m. today because of Congress\u2019 failure to enact legislation funding continued government operations:\n\n\u201cThis government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president. This fight is ostensibly about health care, so let me be clear: I opposed the GOP\u2019s Medicaid cuts and I want to extend the ACA tax credits. But some of my colleagues in the majority party have reasonable concerns about tax credits going to high-income households. There\u2019s room and time to negotiate. But normal policy disagreements are no reason to subject our constituents to the continued harm of this shutdown.\u201d\n\nCongressman Golden has published an FAQ on his website with information regarding the effects of the government shutdown on Mainers. The FAQ will be updated as more information becomes available on how President Trump is implementing the lapse in government funding across federal agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-urges-department-of-education-to-continue-funding-usm-umf-upward-bound-programs", "Maine Delegation Urges Department of Education to Continue Funding USM, UMF Upward Bound Programs", "2025-09-26", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging her to reverse the Department of Education\u2019s decision to terminate funding for two federally funded TRIO Upward Bound programs in Maine: the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the River Valley Upward Bound Program at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). The TRIO Upward Bound program helps prepare low-income and first-generation students for success in higher education by providing academic support, mentoring, and other college readiness services. Both the USM and UMF programs were awarded five-year TRIO grants in 2022 and expected funding to continue through 2027, but the Department recently notified them that funding would end prematurely on September 30, 2025. Both programs have filed formal requests for reconsideration.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s decision to terminate funding for these Upward Bound programs is deeply upsetting, and the negative impact on the students enrolled in these two programs cannot be overstated,\u201d the Delegation wrote.\n\n\u201cUpward Bound has proven its effectiveness in the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students who often face barriers to accessing a college education,\u201d they continued. \u201cWe have seen the lives of many young people changed by the TRIO program. In fact, some of our own staff members went through TRIO and tell us that they would not have pursued higher education but for the support and opportunities it provided.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than terminate funding after the third year of this five-year grant, we urge you to use all available authorities to work with these programs and allow them to operate with continued funding in full compliance with the current Administration\u2019s priorities. Given the importance of these TRIO programs to the students they serve, we are hopeful you will work with them achieve this outcome,\u201d the Delegation concluded.\n\nThe Veterans Upward Bound Program at USM currently serves 125 veterans and has a waitlist of additional veterans seeking services. Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the nation. The River Valley Upward Bound Program at UMF serves roughly 60 students in Oxford County and, together with a partner program, supports 139 students across 14 high schools in Maine.\n\nThere are six other Upward Bound programs in the university system that have already received their continuation awards.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-urges-regulators-to-drop-unnecessary-new-ropeless-lobster-gear-proposal", "Golden urges regulators to drop unnecessary new ropeless lobster gear proposal", "2025-09-23", "2025", "2025-09", "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) is urging the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) to abandon a proposed regulatory framework that would push Maine lobstermen toward using costly, unproven ropeless or on-demand gear.\n\nThe framework, independent of ongoing work authorized by Congress to study the necessity and viability of such gear, would greenlight its use in some or all federal waters off the coast of New England. The NEFMC will consider it at its upcoming meeting on September 25.\n\nIn a Monday letter to NEFMC\u2019s executive Director, Dr. Cate O\u2019Keefe, Golden called the proposal \u201cpremature and unnecessary\u201d and noted that it flies in the face of Congress\u2019s clear intent in pausing these kinds of regulatory changes until 2028.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen are facing tremendous uncertainty, with various agencies operating in parallel considering new regulations that would fundamentally alter what it looks like to haul traps off the coast of Maine,\u201d Golden said. \u201cCongress enacted a moratorium on requiring this kind of gear, and that moratorium is still in effect while more data is gathered and studied. This framework, if adopted, would muddy the waters about what is required of Maine\u2019s harvesters, and there\u2019s no need for it.\u201d\n\nCongress\u2019 2023 budget included a provision championed by Golden and the rest of Maine\u2019s federal delegation that paused the development of new gear requirements until 2028. The law also empowered the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) by giving it more time to determine what new regulations \u2014 if any \u2014 are needed. Work is already underway at the federal and state levels to compile and assess relevant data and craft solutions.\n\n\u201cIf adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress,\u201d Golden wrote in his letter.\n\nMaine fishermen have consistently raised concerns about the viability of ropeless and on-demand gear, including a lack of reliable testing, the lack of interoperability between various manufacturers of ropeless systems, and the high cost it would require of the small, independent businesses that make up Maine\u2019s lobster industry.\n\n\u201cForcing unproven ropeless gear onto our industry without reliable testing, interoperability or regard for safety would devastate small operators and coastal communities,\u201d said Dustin Delano, chief strategist of policy and operations at the New England Fisheries Stewardship Association. \u201cNEFSA stands with Congressman Golden in calling on the Council to respect congressional intent and reject this framework. Our fishermen deserve regulations rooted in sound science and practical realities, not politically driven experiments that threaten the survival of America\u2019s historic fisheries.\u201d\n\nThe Maine Lobstering Union Local 207 also opposed the NEFMC's proposed framework.\n\n\"There are still so many questions about this technology, but there's one thing we know for sure: If we had to adopt it today, it would put Maine fishermen out of business,\" said Ginny Olsen, executive liaison and political director of the Maine Lobstering Union.\n\nGolden\u2019s letter is included in full below, and can also be found here.\n\n###\n\nDr. Cate O\u2019Keefe\n\nExecutive Director\n\nNew England Fisheries Management Council\n\n50 Water Street, Mill 2\n\nNewburyport, MA 01950\n\nDear Dr. O\u2019Keefe,\n\nI am writing to share my strong opposition to the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework (Framework) that will be considered by the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) at its September 25th meeting. This premature and unnecessary proposal ignores congressional intent and could adversely impact the livelihoods of thousands of Maine fishermen that I represent.\n\nAs you are aware, Congress, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328), paused the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) until December 31, 2028. This provision was included out of the dire need to preserve the existence of our nation\u2019s lobster fishery and to provide both state and federal regulators with more time to improve the data that informs the future management of this resource. In response to this congressional directive, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) delayed its own process until 2026, with no new rulemaking expected before 2028 in order to fully incorporate additional science and analyses. If adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress.\n\nAdditionally, it appears to me that this Framework pushes the lobster fishery into utilizing ropeless or on-demand fishing gear despite the lack of reliable testing of this technology and potential risks to crew safety. There are also numerous outstanding issues raised by fishermen regarding gear reliability and the potential for conflicts between the lobster industry and other fisheries that will not use this same gear but occupy the same waters. The technology does not yet exist to enable interoperability between the various manufacturers of these ropeless systems, and the excessive replacement costs that small operators would incur to replace lost equipment have yet to be addressed. In an industry already struggling with narrow financial margins and regulatory uncertainty, these are not trivial concerns. Absent more robust testing and input from fishing stakeholders, adopting the Framework could put thousands of fishermen out of business and destroy the communities along Maine\u2019s coast whose economies depend on a viable fishery.\n\nFor these reasons, I urge you to reject the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework and instead adopt Alternative 1A. Doing so will ensure that the NEFMC is adhering to congressional intent and reassure the fishing industry that you will pursue an approach that is grounded in sound science and the lived realities of those whose livelihoods would be most impacted.\n\nI appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-avoid-harmful-government-shutdown-pledges-continued-work-to-prevent-health-care-price-spikes", "Golden votes to avoid harmful government shutdown, pledges continued work to prevent health care price spikes", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "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) today voted in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep government funded until November 21, preventing a government shutdown on October 1, when the current funding law expires.\n\nUnlike many previous stopgap funding bills, the CR contains no major changes to federal policies, programs or current spending levels. The bill passed the House 217-212.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of important work to be done in Congress, none of which will be any easier if Mainers are suffering the harms of a government shutdown,\u201d Golden said. \u201cAt the top of my mind are critical conversations around the need to prevent health care price spikes and lost coverage for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cWith the Republican trifecta, there's no path forward on health care without GOP support. That\u2019s why I remain focused on my bipartisan effort to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that make coverage affordable for Mainers,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis clean, short-term CR will keep the lights on and give us more time to set policies and funding levels for the future.\u201d\n\nA federal government shutdown would have immediate effects on Mainers, particularly the more than 11,000 federal employees who would be either furloughed or forced to work without pay. Acadia National Park would likely be forced to close, jeopardizing the shoulder season for small businesses and workers, while federal food assistance, housing assistance, small business support and other programs could be paused.\n\nA shutdown also would give President Donald Trump and the executive branch extraordinary leeway in determining which aspects of government are \u201cessential,\u201d and which can be shuttered.\n\nMeanwhile, Mainers are facing massive health care cuts as a result of the partisan reconciliation bill enacted by Republicans this summer. The most immediate concern is spiking premiums on track to hit tens of thousands of Mainers who buy health insurance on the state\u2019s individual marketplace, coverME.gov, when enhanced premium tax credits expire in January.\n\nRoughly 85 percent of Mainers who buy coverage on the marketplace use tax credits to help afford their coverage. If Congress does not act, those Mainers face a $180 average monthly premium increase in January, with rural Mainers aged 60-64 facing the sharpest increase.\n\nGolden is leading efforts to extend the tax credits through 2026.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-permitting-reform-bill-gets-first-hearing-before-house-natural-resources-committee", "Golden\u2019s permitting reform bill gets first hearing before House Natural Resources Committee", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "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 (HNRC) today held an initial hearing on the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and HNRC Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) that would reduce red tape and put the United States back in the business of building.\n\nThe SPEED Act would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose as a procedural statute for assessing the environmental impact of federal actions.\n\n\u201cOur country needs modern infrastructure to keep our people and our economy moving. We need robust power production and transmission to achieve energy dominance and lower costs. We need housing for families. But NEPA has been warped over time to become a law that allows endless lawsuits and bureaucracy that make it harder to build the things we need at the pace we need them,\u201d Golden said. \u201cBy reforming NEPA while standing firm in our commitments through the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, we can be good stewards of our environment while ending a permitting status quo that is onerous, overly complex and ripe for litigation abuse.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Golden spoke about the ways the bill would retain the ability of any interested party to weigh in on proposed projects, and about the delays NEPA has allowed for the development of all types of energy production \u2014 including clean energy.\n\n\u201cThe problems with the NEPA process are energy-neutral,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThey can be detrimental to both fossil fuel and renewable energy projects. \u2026 These problems with NEPA can cut both ways and so too should the solutions. This is a pro-energy bill that takes an all-of-the-above, technology-neutral approach.\u201d\n\nIn response to questions from Golden, Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath \u2014 a nonprofit working to reduce global energy emissions \u2014 said America\u2019s broken permitting system is \u201cthe single largest barrier to deploying new clean energy in this country.\u201d Harrell pointed to the fact that solar energy projects face the highest rate of NEPA litigation of any energy source in the country.\n\nWHAT\u2019S IN THE BILL:\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. It will:\n\nensure environmental reviews focus on direct, significant impacts rather than hypothetical or tenuously connected effects;\n\ncreate reasonable timelines for agency decisionmaking while protecting public comment and thorough environmental review;\n\nstreamline judicial review to create more certainty for those working to build and to reduce opportunities for frivolous litigation; and\n\nimprove efficiency and ease burden on agencies, including by clarifying when NEPA is triggered by refining the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action\u201d \u2014 a category that has grown so broad that nearly any federal action or funding can trigger a lengthy, complex review.\n\nAn independent review of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-effort-to-extend-aca-marketplace-tax-credits", "Golden leads effort to extend ACA marketplace tax credits", "2025-09-05", "2025", "2025-09", "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) is leading a bipartisan effort to protect Maine families, seniors and small business owners from massive health care premium price spikes by extending tax credits that help individuals afford health insurance plans on the state\u2019s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, CoverME.gov.\n\n\u201cLetting the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expire would raise costs on Maine families. That\u2019s simply not an option,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMainers who buy private insurance on the ACA marketplace are staring down an average $180 monthly premium increase in January if Congress doesn\u2019t extend these credits, with rural Mainers aged 60-64 facing the steepest increase. Many are likely to lose coverage in the face of this price spike.\u201d\n\nGolden is an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, introduced last night by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02). Under current law, the enhanced Premium Tax Credit \u2014 established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanded during COVID under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and later extended through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) \u2014 is set to expire at the end of this year. The bill would extend the credit through 2026.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve always said I\u2019ll work with anyone \u2014 Democrat or Republican \u2014 to serve my constituents. I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Kiggans and this bipartisan coalition to protect Mainers from increased health care costs,\u201d Golden said.\n\nBecause of this income-based premium tax credit, a record 24.2 million people signed up for coverage during open enrollment in 2025. In fact, middle-income enrollees increased from 140,000 in 2021 to 900,000 in 2024. Without this extension, millions of self-employed workers and small business owners will see their premiums increase by more than $11,000 a year.\n\nAccording to CoverME.gov, 85 percent of people purchasing plans through Maine\u2019s ACA marketplace receive financial savings through the ACA Premium Tax Credits, and \u201cnearly all CoverME.gov consumers will likely see higher monthly premiums if Congress does not take action to extend, or make permanent, the enhanced tax credits.\u201d\n\nOther original cosponsors include: Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Don Davis (NC-01) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Thomas Kean (NJ-07), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27). The group spans members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, the Republican Main Street Caucus, and the Bipartisan Problem Solvers\u2019 Caucus \u2014 all of which are dedicated to pragmatic legislating and bipartisanship.\n\nFull bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-patient-access-to-drug-information", "Golden, bipartisan colleagues introduce bill to protect patient access to drug information", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "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 Cliff Bentz (OR-02) today introduced the Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act \u2014 legislation designed to block recent efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to stop including hard copies of medical information with prescription drugs.\n\nDetailed labels of a drug\u2019s appropriate dosage, possible side-effects, and other necessary details are commonly included when a patient receives their prescription from a pharmacist. However, this printed information is not legally required, and the pharmaceutical industry has pushed to replace hard copies with digital landing pages to reduce expenses and boost profits \u2014 despite barriers it would create for patients, including those with limited internet access.\n\n\u201cMainers shouldn\u2019t have to go out of their way to get the information they need about how their medicine works,\u201d Golden said. \u201cRequiring hard copies of instructions to be included with medicine is a no-brainer to make prescription drugs safer, make treatment easier for families and their pharmacists, and prevent large pharmaceutical corporations from cutting corners at the expense of quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn rural Oregon, access to reliable internet or to a pharmacist is not always guaranteed. But what should be guaranteed are clear, printed instructions on how to take your medication safely,\u201d Bentz said. \u201cIf enacted, this bill will provide patients with accurate, FDA-approved information. This would ensure fewer mistakes, fewer expensive hospital trips, and less strain on families and our small, local pharmacies. Additionally, this is at no cost to the government or to the rural pharmacies. It is a practical improvement that will help rural communities.\u201d\n\nThe Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act would mandate drug manufacturers to provide printed, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved information about medicine to all patients picking up a prescription. These hard copies would be limited to a one-page standardized format, and required to be updated as new information becomes available.\n\nTwin Rivers Paper in Madawaska, which employs more than 500 people in northern Mainers, is a leading manufacturer of the paper that medical information is printed on.\n\n\u201cWe fully support the Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act to help safeguard prescription medicine safety for patients and pharmacists,\u201d Twin Rivers Paper CEO Tyler Rajeski said. \u201cAll of us at Twin Rivers greatly appreciate Congressman Golden's continued leadership and support on this important issue.\u201d\n\nGolden has repeatedly stepped up to defend Maine manufacturing jobs in the forest products industry. In 2021, Golden successfully worked to defeat a pharmaceutical industry-backed amendment to the FDA appropriations bill that would have required prescription medicine information to be distributed electronically instead of physically.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/office-of-congressman-golden-to-hold-constituent-services-office-hours-in-winthrop", "Office of Congressman Golden to hold Constituent Services Office Hours in Winthrop", "2025-08-26", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Staff from the Office of Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) will host Constituent Services Office Hours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, September 18, at Winthrop Town Hall.\n\nAppointments are required to meet with a constituent services caseworker. To register for an appointment, click here.\n\nThe congressional staffers are available to help answer questions, provide resources, and help constituents resolve issues or challenges with federal agencies and programs, such as Medicare, Social Security payments and SSI/SSDI issues, tax filing, veterans benefits and more. They are also able to provide information to small-business owners about government grants and programs.\n\nWHAT: Constituent Services Office Hours\n\nWHO: Caseworkers from the Office of Congressman Jared Golden\n\nWHERE: Winthrop Town Hall, 17 Highland Ave., Winthrop, ME 04364\n\nWHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, September 18, 2025\n\nNo paperwork or other materials are required to speak with a caseworker. This is a nonpolitical Congressional outreach event, not affiliated with any campaign. Congressman Golden will not be present.\n\nFor more information or to speak with one of Congressman Golden\u2019s caseworkers, please visit golden.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-steube-introduce-bipartisan-secure-trade-act", "Golden, Steube introduce bipartisan Secure Trade Act", "2025-08-15", "2025", "2025-08", "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) today introduced the Secure Trade Act, legislation that would assert Congress\u2019 role in crafting trade policy and target countries of concern to improve the United States\u2019 economic security.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time that Congress got some skin in the game in setting our nation\u2019s trade and tariff policies,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe free trade status quo has cost Americans jobs and left us reliant on other nations for strategic goods critical for our nation\u2019s safety and prosperity. The Secure Trade Act incentivizes the production and purchase of domestic goods, increases our economic security and makes clear that U.S. trade policy will be used to advance our interests, not those of our competitors.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan legislation is co-led by Republican Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tariff and trade policy.\n\n\u201cAmerican workers have the right to compete on a level playing field,\" Steube said.\u201cIf foreign governments insist on tariffing our exports, then American industries deserve the same protections to remain competitive. This bill holds serial trade manipulators like China accountable, reduces the offshoring of manufacturing jobs and secures America's long-term economic and national security for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Secure Trade Act includes several provisions, including:\n\nBaseline tariff rate: The Act codifies the 10 percent tariff baseline on all imported goods.\n\nNew treatment of Chinese imports: The Act revises the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to create a separate category of tariffs for the People\u2019s Republic of China, including a 35 percent tariff on nonstrategic goods and a 100 percent tariff on strategic goods, both phased in over five years. Strategic goods include items such as jet engine parts, microdrones used for agricultural and military purposes, and freeze dryers used to preserve sensitive medications. The Act would allow the president to modify these rates by certifying to Congress that a modification is in the national interest. The Act would also require goods imported from China to be appraised based on their U.S. value. These provisions would support a gradual reduction of our reliance on China for strategic goods. The U.S. has a trade deficit with China of $295 billion. More than 12,000 jobs were lost or displaced in Maine between 2001 and 2018 as a result of this trade deficit.\n\nExpansion of federal authority over foreign investment: The Act expands the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), empowering it to block foreign investments from entities connected to Countries of Concern in both new and existing facilities or businesses. This provision could be used to block foreign investments such as those that have led to the establishment of illegal cannabis grow houses in Maine.\n\nAt the time of introduction, the bill has been endorsed by American Compass and the Coalition for a Prosperous America:\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Secure Trade Act is a crucial step toward rebalancing global trade, restoring American industrial strength, and reducing our reliance on adversarial supply chains,\u201d said Mark DiPlacido, policy advisor at American Compass. \u201cThe bill\u2019s 10 percent global minimum tariff will help lower the U.S. trade deficit, raise revenue and level the playing field for American workers and manufacturers. The legislation\u2019s provisions to create a separate tariff schedule for China are long overdue to address China\u2019s abusive economic practices, including intellectual property theft, suppressed wages and predatory industrial subsidies. The bill also strengthens domestic investment screening to ensure the United States isn\u2019t selling its assets to those who don\u2019t share our interests. Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Greg Steube (R-FL) deserve tremendous credit for this bold and necessary effort to reassert U.S. economic independence, stabilize our trade balance and protect our long-term national interests.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur country needs tariffs, both to protect industries and as a preferred funding source for the government,\" said John Toomey, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). \"This bill codifies the 10 percent Universal Tariff that President Trump campaigned on, bringing in much needed revenue, as well as updates the U.S. tariff system with a China-specific tariff schedule that reflects their clear record of abusive economic practices. CPA salutes Representatives Golden and Steube for putting America first.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cosponsors-bill-to-reduce-financial-burden-on-eastport-port-authority-maintain-border-security", "Golden cosponsors bill to reduce financial burden on Eastport Port Authority, maintain border security", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "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) is supporting the Securing Ports and America\u2019s Commerce and Economy (CBP SPACE) Act, which would prevent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from offloading additional costs and responsibilities onto local ports while threatening closure for noncompliance.\n\nEastport Port Authority, which is already shouldering many costs offloaded by CBP, is one of many ports across the country being strained by the agency\u2019s moves.\n\nCBP recently indicated that it may halt operations at local ports unless seaports cover the costs of screening equipment \u2014 expensive technology that has historically been the responsibility of the federal government to fund. Shifting the burden onto local budgets would squeeze already-strained local budgets. Moreover, limiting CBP operations at local ports could jeopardize national security.\n\n\u201cPorts such as Eastport\u2019s are critical infrastructure for rural economies and dumping the federal government\u2019s financial burden on their laps is a recipe for disaster,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join the bipartisan group of lawmakers cosponsoring legislation to ensure local budgets and national security aren\u2019t caught in the crossfire of administrative spats \u2014 especially with the increased funding CBP has received in recent years.\u201d\n\nThe CBP Space Act also seeks to improve the relationship between CBP and local ports. Currently, CBP officers at many seaports face challenges operating in temporary or makeshift facilities due to outdated legal constraints that prevent the agency from securing long-term leases. The CBP SPACE Act resolves this issue by granting CBP the authority to directly lease necessary space from port authorities or private entities. This would allow officers to be properly stationed at vital locations and ensure consistent enforcement of customs and immigration laws.The legislation also improves coordination with port authorities to strengthen U.S. supply chain security.\n\nThe bipartisan bill, originally introduced by Congresswomen Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), is also backed by Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Troy Carter (LA-02).\n\nPort operators across the country, such as the American Association of Port Authorities, and local leadership in Eastport also support the legislation:\n\n\u201cMaintaining safe and efficient seaports is a tall order, and especially for rural communities like Eastport. At the local level, CBP has always been a great partner in that effort, but now administratively, the agency has repeatedly moved to seemingly shift every possible cost onto small municipalities like ours.\u201d said Chris Gardner, Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority. \u201cThis approach has only added challenges from a government agency that is meant to facilitate commerce, not burden it. In rural economies, this can make all the difference. The Port Authority is very appreciative of Congressman Golden joining this bipartisan effort to see CBP properly funded, thus helping it serve not just Eastport, but coastal communities just like ours across the country.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-permitting-reform-bill-with-natural-resources-committee-chairman-westerman", "Golden introduces permitting reform bill with Natural Resources Committee Chairman Westerman", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "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) today introduced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, a bill to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose as a procedural statute for assessing the environmental impact of federal actions.\n\nGolden is the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, which was submitted today by the House Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Republican Bruce Westerman (AR-04).\n\n\u201cBeing a good steward of our environment doesn\u2019t mean we must tolerate a yearslong permitting process that is onerous, overly complex and ripe for litigation abuse,\u201d Golden said. \u201cAmerica must get back into the business of building. We need modern infrastructure. We need robust power production that does not discriminate between energy sources. These investments will create jobs, support our economy, keep prices down and help us maintain energy independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cA country as advanced as the United States must be nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it. I'm proud to partner with Chairman Westerman on reforms that protect our environment while delivering the investments Americans need today, not years from now,\u201d Golden said.\n\n\u201cAmerica's model of successful environmental stewardship alongside strong economic growth is being hobbled by a more than half-century old permitting process that is overdue for a tune-up. Although well-intentioned, the National Environmental Policy Act has not kept up with the times, which is bad for both our environment and our economy,\u201d Westerman said. \u201cWith commonsense upgrades, we can cut red tape and enable the United States to build once again while setting the standard for environmental stewardship. The SPEED Act will help launch America into a future where we can effectively innovate and implement to revitalize our infrastructure, meet skyrocketing energy demands, lead the world in the AI race and work in harmony with our natural environment. America must lead by setting an example for the rest of the world on how to steward the environment, strengthen the economy and create the best place to live and work. The bipartisan SPEED Act is a big step in the right direction. I'd like to thank my colleague Congressman Golden for co-leading this bill, and I look forward to working with him to get it signed into law.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cline-introduces-bipartisan-fiscal-contingency-preparedness-act", "Golden, Cline introduces bipartisan Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 With the national debt topping $36 trillion and interest payments now exceeding spending on Medicare and national defense, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has signed on as the lead Democratic cosponsor of the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act, introduced today by Congressmen Ben Cline (VA-06).\n\nThis bipartisan bill would require the federal government to assess and report its ability to respond to major national emergencies like economic downturns, energy crises and national security threats. The bill was also sponsored by Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).\n\nThe legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to produce an annual report measuring the government\u2019s fiscal strength and readiness. After this report is released, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would conduct its own independent review and publish its findings to ensure accuracy and transparency.\n\n\u201cOne of the many lessons the Marine Corps taught me was to have a plan for the worst-case scenario,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would force Washington to be clear-eyed about our fiscal outlook in potential national emergencies, which is the necessary first step for responsible planning to keep America stable and secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith our debt piling up and interest payments skyrocketing, we cannot afford to be caught flat-footed when the next emergency hits,\" Cline said. \"Just like households plan ahead for tough times, the federal government must do the same. Americans deserve a clear picture of how much room we actually have to respond to future crises. Congress must face the facts and make responsible decisions now, before an emergency strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe know that when a crisis hits, preparation makes all the difference,\" Bergman said. \"The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act is a commonsense step to ensure we\u2019re ready to respond to whatever comes our way - whether it\u2019s an economic downturn, a natural disaster, or a national security threat. If we\u2019re serious about keeping our Nation strong and secure, we need to start planning ahead and making our decisions based on reality - not scrambling to prepare after the fact.\"\n\n\u201cAs a small business owner, I know how important it is to plan for a rainy day \u2014 and hardworking families in Southwest Washington know it too,\u201d Gluesenkamp Perez said. \u201cOur federal government should hold itself to the same standard and be ready to weather any crisis that comes its way. Our bipartisan legislation would require annual assessments of our national fiscal strength when faced with different crises \u2014 so we can better prepare our economy to work for the American people under any circumstances.\u201d\n\nAccording to the Congressional Budget Office, interest payments on the national debt will permanently exceed defense spending. By 2050, interest costs are expected to double the size of the defense budget. Gross federal debt is projected to hit 123% of GDP by September 2025, surpassing the previous World War II-era high of 119%.\n\n\u201cOur national debt is not just a number,\" said the Hon. Joe Manchin, former Senator from West Virginia. \"It is a real and rising threat to our way of life. It impacts our economy, our national security, and our ability to respond in times of crisis. I am proud to see Representatives Cline and Golden take up the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act. This is a commonsense measure. Just like American families must prepare for emergencies, so should our government.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-collins-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-create-disaster-relief-fund-for-loggers", "Golden, Collins introduce bipartisan legislation to create disaster relief fund for loggers", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "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) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would establish a new program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support loggers who have lost income due to natural disasters.\n\nSenator Angus King (I-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) are original cosponsors of the legislation, while Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) is the lead cosponsor in the House.\n\nCurrent law excludes loggers from the kinds of disaster relief and assistance available to other industries, including fishermen and farmers, when natural disasters strike. Under the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, a disaster declaration from the president or governor would unlock federal assistance eligibility for logging businesses with at least a 10 percent loss in revenue or volume compared to the prior year. Covered damage would include high winds, fire, flooding, insect infestation and drought.\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t write the story of Maine without loggers. Our forest products industry has provided for generations of Mainers and continues to be the economic bedrock of many rural communities. There must be a safety net to ensure one particularly bad season cannot uproot logging families and communities\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud of our loggers, and I\u2019m proud of the rock-solid coalition we\u2019re building to support them. \u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s forest products industry has long supported good\u2011paying jobs and helped grow local economies across our state. Loggers are at the heart of that industry, but devastating storms in recent years have severely impacted the ability of logging businesses to operate at full capacity,\u201d Senator Collins said. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would provide targeted financial assistance to help loggers recover from federally declared disasters, so that they can continue their important work, sustain rural communities, and contribute to our state\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Minnesota\u2019s Eighth Congressional District, our forest products industry has created good paying jobs and driven our local economies,\u201d Stauber said. \u201cUnfortunately, this crucial industry is currently facing a wide variety of threats, from wildfires and drought to insect infestation. Minnesota\u2019s loggers have supported our communities for generations, and it is now our turn to support them. That\u2019s why I am proud to introduce legislation with my friend, Congressman Jared Golden, to establish a new program through the USDA that will provide financial assistance to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have seen their bottom line impacted by natural disasters. I look forward to seeing this legislation help ensure Minnesota\u2019s forest products industry remains strong and resilient.\u201d\n\nIn December 2023, Maine\u2019s logging industry lost $2.6 million after just one particularly severe storm \u2014 with a survey released by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast later finding that more than 90 percent of the industry\u2019s businesses suffered damage to equipment or logistics. In total, Maine\u2019s economy lost $5.5 million due to the loss in logging revenue and productivity that winter.\n\n\u201cGenerations of loggers have spent their lifetimes powering our state\u2019s economy while providing for their families, which is why it is so important to protect and sustain this historic industry,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAs natural disasters across Maine increase, the bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act will help establish a new program within the USDA to support loggers who need assistance to overcome damage and lost income. The logging industry has supported rural Maine families and communities for hundreds of years, and it\u2019s imperative that investments in our foresting community evolve for today\u2019s challenges as we protect it for a sturdy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Maine experiences more extreme weather events and natural disasters, it\u2019s imperative that we protect our state\u2019s loggers from potentially devastating financial impacts\u2014just as we\u2019ve long done for our fishermen and farmers,\u201d Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said.\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen the harmful impacts climate change has created for our forest products industry, from delayed harvests to damaged equipment and infrastructure. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation will provide real relief to the families and communities that rely on Maine\u2019s forests for their livelihoods and wellbeing.\u201d\n\nLogging industry leaders praised the bipartisan legislation:\n\nDana Doran, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast: \u201cFor too long, logging and forest trucking contractors in the Northeast have been left out of federal relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, despite suffering losses as severe as those in other industries like fishing and farming that have received aid. The extreme weather our region has experienced in recent years has idled harvest operations for long periods, destroyed logging and timber hauling infrastructure, and driven up costs at a time when the logging industry is already grappling with unprecedented challenges and can least afford it. We are grateful to Congressmen Golden and the rest of Maine\u2019s delegation for their leadership in this effort to secure fair treatment for these hard-working small family businesses, and we encourage swift passage of the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act to provide the aid the industry deserves.\u201d\n\nChuck Ames, president of SDR Logging, Sebec, ME: \u201cI talk to loggers every day and most are struggling, but all they ask for is a level playing field with other industries. I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction toward treating loggers the same as farmers and fishermen. We are all harvesting natural resources, and are all impacted by natural disasters. I appreciate the efforts of Congressman Golden and the rest of Maine's congressional delegation to recognize that and pass this bill on our behalf.\u201d\n\nMarc Greaney, president of Western Maine Timberlands, Fryeburg, ME: \u201cI have been logging for decades in Western Maine, and in recent years have seen severe weather limit my company's ability to harvest and truck wood for longer periods of time than ever before. When we can't cut and move wood we don't get paid, and this is happening at the same time that operating costs are continuing to rise, so I am grateful to Congressman Golden and the other members of Maine's congressional delegation for attempting to provide disaster relief to loggers in the same way it has been provided to other industries in the past.\u201d\n\nScott Dane, executive director of the American Loggers Council: \u201cThe timber industry invests in public and private stumpage (timber) years in advance. A multiyear timber portfolio is necessary to adjust for market and weather conditions. This is an essential element for a logger\u2019s business plan. When unforeseen natural disasters such as drought, wildfire, winds, and invasive species infestations occur, the timber is lost. There are limited options, if any, to replace that timber with new tracts in a timely manner. These losses are extremely disruptive to a logger\u2019s harvest plan and create a significant revenue loss. Congressman Golden\u2019s Loggers Assistance and Relief Act is necessary to support the timber industry, similar to assistance programs for other natural resource and agricultural sectors. The American Loggers Council appreciates the Maine Congressional Delegation, and other sponsors, for this Bill and the security it will provide to logging and trucking businesses\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pushes-for-extension-of-moratorium-on-right-whale-lobster-regulations-until-2035", "Golden pushes for extension of moratorium on right whale, lobster regulations until 2035", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "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) is urging the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) to protect Maine\u2019s lobstermen from new regulations related to the protection of the North Atlantic right whale until 2035.\n\nGolden worked with the Maine delegation and Governor Janet Mills to enact a moratorium on such regulations starting in 2023, but it is scheduled to expire in 2028. The HNRC Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries met today to discuss a draft amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which would extend the moratorium for seven more years.\n\n\u201cIt was only three years ago that Maine\u2019s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale,\u201d Golden said. \u201c[This amendment] would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations.\u201d\n\nGolden also introduced into the record a letter in support of the amendment from Maine stakeholders, including the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen\u2019s Association. (See here)\n\nThe Congressman\u2019s full remarks, as drafted, are included below:\n\n\u201cThank you, Madam Chair.\n\n\u201cThe Marine Mammal Protection Act has a tremendous impact on the lives and livelihoods of the thousands of Maine lobstermen and fishermen I have the privilege to represent. So, I am grateful to you and the Ranking Member for having this hearing to discuss potential changes to the law.\n\n\u201cI have serious concerns with the MMPA and I believe that changes need to be made to the law to ensure that it cannot be used to shut down entire fisheries and the communities they support. Simply put, the federal government should not be in the business of destroying the lives of hardworking Americans and thousands of small family-owned businesses based on assumptions that are not grounded in sound data.\n\n\u201cThis is particularly true when it comes to regulations seeking to protect the North Atlantic right whale. It was only three years ago that Maine\u2019s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale.\n\n\u201cThat is why one of my proudest accomplishments in Congress was the successful effort in 2022 \u2014 working with the entire Maine delegation and our governor, on a bipartisan basis \u2014 to enact a moratorium on these regulations until 2028, coupled with additional funding to support right whale research.\n\n\u201cHowever, based on my conversations with fishermen, more time is needed to incorporate the research and data collected during the pause into future right whale regulations. I am grateful to Congressman Begich of Alaska for working with me on this Discussion Draft and for including a much-needed extension of the regulatory pause until 2035 to ensure that any future actions taken to protect right whales are informed by a greater volume of data.\n\n\u201cI know that some of my colleagues, in the interest of protecting the right whale, have concerns with this Discussion Draft. So, let me share with you some facts:\n\n\u201cFirst, and perhaps most importantly: It remains the case that Maine lobstermen do not pose an existential threat to the North Atlantic right whale. In the decades since we began tracking the cause of marine mammal serious injury and mortality, there has been only one instance where Maine lobster gear has been attributed to a right whale death \u2014 though even that linkage is tenuous at best. Maine lobstermen have a proven track record of leading the way when it comes to ocean resource conservation and mitigating the risk of whale entanglements, including the adoption of weak links and gear marking.\n\n\u201cSecond: The premise behind the original regulations has since been struck down by the courts. In 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service had distorted the science and relied on egregiously wrong interpretations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in crafting its proposed rules. The Court admonished the agency for basing its edicts on arbitrary, worst-case scenarios that were \u2018very likely wrong.\u2019\n\n\u201cThird: Fishermen need more time. In part because the court order forced regulators to go back to the drawing board, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team won\u2019t hold its first meeting on new regulations until 2026. If the moratorium expires in 2028, lobstermen will have insufficient time to plan for new regulations and may well find themselves unable to comply and forced to stop fishing entirely.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobster fishery has most recently been valued at more than half a billion dollars \u2014 and that\u2019s just the value of the catch. It also supports tens of thousands of jobs. It is an iconic part of our state\u2019s economy, heritage and appeal to visitors. As the largest source of lobster in the country, this fishery is an integral part of domestic and international supply chains.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s fishermen are responsible stewards of our marine resources. No one is more invested than they are in ensuring a healthy ocean ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations.\n\n\u201cTo close Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to submit into the record a letter from fishermen on both coasts in support of the MMPA Discussion Draft. Signatories on the letter include my constituents in the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen\u2019s Association.\n\n\u201cThank you and I yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-wins-funding-in-defense-bills-to-support-jobs-in-maine-shipbuilding-manufacturing", "Golden wins funding in defense bills to support jobs in Maine shipbuilding, manufacturing", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "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), a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), successfully secured several provisions in the House\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act that would steer billions of federal dollars to support Maine manufacturing.\n\nMajor wins for Maine secured in these bills \u2014 including funding for two of the DDG-51 destroyers, ships typically built by Bath Iron Works (BIW) and a requirement that military footwear be sourced from domestic producers, such as the New Balance factory in Skowhegan \u2014 were last-minute inclusions following weeks of advocacy by Golden.\n\nWithout Golden\u2019s amendments specifically addressing shipbuilding, the House was set to break years of precedent by not ordering new destroyers in the NDAA. Golden grilled the Secretary of the Navy about the omission during a hearing last month.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA is one of Congress\u2019 most powerful tools to jumpstart America\u2019s production economy, and in today\u2019s uncertain world, the wins included in this bill are as important as ever,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThese amendments represent years of job opportunities for Mainers that will make the country more safe \u2014 something I\u2019ll continue pressing my colleagues on in the months ahead.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA was passed out of the Armed Services Committee with near unanimous bipartisan support and must now pass the full House and Senate before becoming law.\n\n\u201cThis important investment in America\u2019s defense recognizes the critical role Arleigh Burke-class destroyers play in safeguarding our families, our country and our national interests,\u201d said Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. \u201cWe appreciate Congressman Golden\u2019s continuing leadership regarding the shipbuilding industrial base. As the budget process moves forward, this commitment offers clear support to shipbuilders as we work to get more Flight III capability to the fleet.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe IAM Union applauds Congressman Jared Golden for his steadfast work on behalf of workers at Bath Iron Works and across the state of Maine,\u201d said Brian Bryant, international president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, which represents shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works. \u201cNow that the House Armed Services Committee has finalized their Fiscal Year 2026 defense legislation, Rep. Golden\u2019s tireless work to ensure appropriate funding for the DDG Destroyer program will help secure Machinists Union jobs at BIW and improve National Security for all Americans\u201d\n\nThe NDAA also includes Golden\u2019s bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act, which would require the military\u2019s combat footwear to be manufactured in the U.S. with entirely domestic materials. A report commissioned by DoD Logistics Agency found that America\u2019s current clothing and textile supply chain would be unable to meet demand in the event of a major conflict. By investing in American production, the BOOTs Act will help ensure that it can.\n\nCurrently, the DoD allows servicemembers to purchase foreign-made boots that mimic the appearance of regulation boots but fall far short in quality and durability. Beyond increasing the risk of injury to servicemembers, this practice undermines America\u2019s domestic defense supply chain by allowing a surge of foreign footwear that lowers demand from U.S. companies, which in turn, reduces domestic manufacturing capabilities.\n\nGolden\u2019s bill is backed by numerous textile manufacturers and trade organizations, including New Balance, which employs more than 600 workers across Maine:\n\n\u201cThe BOOTS Act is a major victory for all American footwear manufacturers and suppliers as well as our associates in Central Maine where Berry Amendment compliant combat boots and other military athletic footwear will be made for years to come,\u201d said Amy Dow, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Government Affairs at New Balance. \u201cAs a Marine and a Mainer, Congressman Golden\u2019s leadership and faith in American craftsmanship will provide our servicemembers with the best U.S.-made boots and we applaud his work to ensure the BOOTS Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act.\u201d\n\nThe BOOTS Act is also endorsed by A&E, Belleville Boot Co., Emtex Global, G-FORM, Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics, Grassland Stamping, Hope Global Manufacturing, ISA TanTec, McRae Footwear, Meramec, Milliken, PolyLabs, SX Industries, Vibram Corporation, W.L. Gore and Associates, Worthen Industries, YKK USA, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA), and the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC).\n\nThe bills considered this week total more than $880 billion in spending, which also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, $600 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $13 billion in shipbuilding funding.\n\nApex Accelerators \u2014 a program designed to counsel businesses through the process of winning government contracts \u2014 would receive $70 million in funding under the bills. More than 760 Maine businesses received assistance from Maine APEX in FY24, winning 2,291 contract awards worth more than $2.5 billion cumulatively.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-jeffries-join-federal-unions-in-urging-congress-to-force-vote-to-overturn-trump-s-anti-union-executive-order", "Golden, Jeffries join federal unions in urging Congress to force vote to overturn Trump\u2019s anti-union executive order", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "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) today was joined by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and other federal union leaders and Members of Congress to push for a vote on H.R. 2550, the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act of 2025.\n\n(VIDEO: Watch the press conference)\n\nThe bill, sponsored by Golden, would nullify President Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for roughly 1 million unionized federal employees across several agencies. Golden is spearheading a discharge petition for the bill, which allows a majority of the House to force an up-or-down vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of members of Congress sign on.\n\nSince Golden introduced the bipartisan bill in April, it has garnered bipartisan support from 222 members of Congress \u2014 including seven Republicans \u2014 exceeding the threshold necessary to pass the bill if it were brought to the floor for a vote. To date, the GOP majority has made no effort to call the vote.\n\n\u201cI know that everyone who cosponsored this legislation, no matter their party, did so because they know workers' rights are worth defending,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThey know that when workers collectively bargain, the result is a fairer workplace with dignity and respect. They know the president\u2019s executive order undermines core American values and leaves workers open to unfair treatment and political interference. I\u2019m standing with my colleagues and union leaders representing hundreds of thousands of workers to deliver a simple message: It's time to let us vote.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn this country, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to have a good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, a good education for your children and a good retirement. That's the American dream. No one has done more to deliver that American dream than organized labor. But organized labor is facing an unprecedented assault right now as a result of Donald Trump and his administration targeting unions and federal government employees. This legislation should be fully aired in a debate on the Floor of the House of Representatives and must pass to protect the right to organize,\u201d Leader Jeffries said. \u201cI'm thankful for the incredible leadership of Congressman Jared Golden, who fights hard for the people of the great state of Maine, everyday Americans and the union movement all across the country.\u201d\n\n\"President Trump's executive order launched the single biggest act of union-busting in our history, ripping the right to collectively bargain away from hundreds of thousands of federal workers and endangering the contracts of millions more,\u201d Shuler said. \u201cWe already have the votes in Congress to overturn that order with the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act: simple bipartisan legislation that restores the rights of those who care for our veterans, ensure our food is safe to eat, and protect our health and safety on the job. Today, we\u2019re calling on every House member to stand with working people by bringing legislation to the floor for a vote.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time of the executive order.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nWhat They\u2019re Saying:\n\nGrant Provost, Vice President, Maine AFL-CIO, and Business Agent, Ironworkers Local 7:\u201cWith this legislation, Congressman Golden shows his firm commitment to ensuring that federal employees across the nation have the legal authority to organize and bargain collectively \u2014 protecting not only their interests, but the integrity and efficiency of government operations. In essence, strong collective bargaining protections align with democratic values, strengthen trust in public institutions, and enhance government performance for the benefit of all Americans.\u201d\n\nAlana Schaeffer, President, Portsmouth Metal Trades Union: \u201cCongress approved the right for federal workers to collectively bargain more than 60 years ago. As the elected representative of approximately 3,600 federal blue-collar workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, I know firsthand how important that right has been. The Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act reaffirms the essential role federal unions have played for decades: fostering safe, stable, and accountable workplaces that are vital not just to worker wellbeing, but to national security itself.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Co-Chair, Congressional Labor Caucus: \u201cFederal employees are absolutely essential to keeping our country safe and strong. Congress granted collective bargaining rights for federal employees decades ago, and they have been upheld for years by the administrations of both parties. Now more than a million workers have had those rights taken away. We agree on a bipartisan basis that we must reject any attempt to roll back federal employees\u2019 rights to collectively bargain. I\u2019m calling on all my Republican colleagues to join us now to protect workers across America.\u201d\n\nCongressman Greg Casar (TX-35), Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus: \u201cWhether you identify as a progressive or a conservative, collective bargaining protects you and your family. A majority of members of the House of Representatives say they support restoring these rights. Now the question is: Will our Republican colleagues actually stand with working people and make these rights a reality again?\u201d\n\nAFGE National President Everett Kelley: \u201cFederal workers, nearly a third of whom are veterans, dedicate their lives to serving our nation every day with honor and pride. Stripping these patriotic citizens of their union rights weakens workplace safety, morale, and effectiveness and harms the public by degrading government services. AFGE members are grateful to this bipartisan group of lawmakers for standing up for our unions, public service, and American values.\u201d\n\nNFFE National President Randy Erwin: \u201cEvery single Member of Congress depends on hardworking federal employees to deliver critical services to their constituents on a daily basis. Not only is the right to form and join a union protected by the Constitution, but lawmakers from both parties also agree that this attack on working people is reckless and unwarranted. With 222 cosponsors, this bill is a bipartisan path forward to stop the most egregious attack on working people this country has ever seen. The House must approve the discharge petition and pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to uphold an essential right of federal workers.\u201d\n\nIFPTE President Matthew Biggs: \u201cIFPTE thanks Congressman Golden for championing the bipartisan Protecting America\u2019s Workforce Act, legislation that has procured the bipartisan support of 222 House members and will overturn President Trump\u2019s destructive, union-busting executive order. We urge all House lawmakers to join both Representative Golden, and Republican co-author, Congressman Fitzpatrick, to sign the petition and send a clear message to Speaker Johnson and the Trump Administration that union-busting in our federal sector, and in our nation, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by Congress.\u201d\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act has also been endorsed by the following unions representing federal employees: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bacon-introduce-back-the-blue-act-to-protect-federal-law-enforcement-judges-public-safety-officers", "Golden, Bacon introduce Back the Blue Act to protect federal law enforcement, judges, public safety officers", "2025-07-10", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced bipartisan legislation today to ensure those who risk their lives to protect others are afforded greater protections.\n\nThe Back the Blue Act creates new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or attempting or conspiring to kill, federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges and federally funded public safety officers. It also opens new streams of federal funding to strengthen the relationship between police and communities.\n\n\u201cAt a time when violence against law enforcement is trending upward, we must do more to protect the protectors,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis bill takes a strategic two-pronged approach: First, it makes clear with new criminal provisions that violence against federal law enforcement officers, judges and other federally funded public safety officers will not be tolerated. Second, it opens new federal funds to strengthen the relationship between officers and the communities they serve and protect. It\u2019s a tough, smart bill to ensure those who attack or kill officers pay a steep price, and to help reduce violence against officers before it happens.\u201d\n\n\u201cThose who protect our communities \u2013 whether it\u2019s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR \u2013 deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cThe anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now. I am looking forward to working with Rep. Golden to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.\u201d\n\nThe bill earned the support of Maine State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Maine Fraternal Order of Police, we would like to thank Congressman Golden for being the lead sponsor of the Back the Blue Act,\u201d said Michael Edes, executive director of the Maine FOP. \u201cThis bill creates new criminal provisions that focus on protecting the dedicated men and women that, every day, stand the thin blue line between good and evil. Congressman Golden has consistently had the backs of Maine\u2019s law enforcement officers, and we appreciate his ongoing efforts to protect the protectors.\u201d\n\nOther federally funded public safety officers covered by the legislation include firefighters, chaplains, and members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, among others. The bill would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if a death occurs, and the offender would be subject to the death penalty. Otherwise, the offender would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\nIn addition, the legislation creates a new federal crime with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. An offender who attempted to flee from justice to avoid prosecution would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.\n\nFinally, it creates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions and expands self-defense and Second Amendment rights for law enforcement officers.\n\nThe full text of the Back the Blue Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/king-collins-golden-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-our-troops-and-strengthen-domestic-manufacturing", "King, Collins, Golden Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Our Troops and Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing", "2025-07-08", "2025", "2025-07", "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-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to ensure our troops are wearing high quality, safe and reliable footwear as part of their uniforms. The Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTS) Act would expand current uniform regulations to ensure the combat boots worn by our servicemembers are entirely manufactured in America and made with U.S.-sourced materials thus strengthening our national security and creating good-paying jobs.\n\nU.S. Representative Jared Golden (D-ME-02), a Marine Corps. combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), is an original sponsor of companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cOur military depends on the availability, accessibility, safety and quality of the uniforms worn by our servicemembers,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bipartisan BOOTS Act will ensure that all combat boots and parts worn by the American military are made in the USA\u2014both boosting our domestic economy and ensuring the safety of the boots supply chain. Thank you to my colleagues for putting our servicemembers first.\u201d\n\n\u201cRequiring our servicemembers\u2019 combat boots to be produced in the United States with American materials improves military readiness and strengthens our defense industrial base,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would help avoid supply disruptions in times of crisis, create more jobs and investment domestically, and better outfit our nation\u2019s troops.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican warfighters should be supplied American gear, including footwear,\u201d said Representative Golden. \u201cEnsuring domestic suppliers are first in line to provide equipment to our service members is good for troops, good for the jobs, and good for domestic manufacturing. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the BOOTs Act to provide American-made footwear to the men and women who volunteer to defend America.\u201d\n\nThe BOOTS Act would mandate that all optional combat boots worn by U.S. military servicemembers are Berry Amendment-compliant, or 100 percent made in the United States with U.S.-sourced materials. The current loophole has allowed for a major increase in low quality, foreign-made boots and has led to a significant decline in demand from American companies, which in turn reduces domestic manufacturing capabilities and undermines the domestic defense supply chain. In the event of a major conflict, the current clothing and textile supply chain would be too fragile to meet demand.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by A&E, American Sole, Belleville Boot Co., Draper Knitting, Emtex Global, G-Form, Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics, Grassland Stamping, Hope Global Manufacturing, Mississippi TanTec, McRae Footwear, Meramec, Meridian, Milliken, New Balance Athletics, PolyLabs, Rubberlite, Signet Mills, SX Industries, Thorogood, Unifi, Vibram Corporation, W.L. Gore and Associates, Worthen Industries, YKK USA, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) and Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC).\n\n\u201cThe BOOTs Act closes a gap in the Berry Amendment by requiring all military footwear sold through Department of Defense exchanges to be domestically sourced. Currently, foreign-made boots undermine military readiness and disadvantage American manufacturers, weakening the U.S. supply chain. This commonsense change ensures uniform consistency, reduces confusion for servicemembers, and supports the domestic industrial base as manufacturers rebuild capacity,\u201d said Bill McCann, Executive Director of the United States Footwear Manufactures Association.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-passage-of-gop-s-partisan-reconciliation-bill", "Golden statement on passage of GOP\u2019s partisan reconciliation bill", "2025-07-03", "2025", "2025-07", "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) released the following statement after the House GOP gave final passage to H.R. 1, their reconciliation budget bill, in a party-line 218-214 vote.\n\nGolden voted against the bill.\n\n\u201cThis year, we had a real opportunity to pass a budget that put the middle class first. The reality of slim majorities in both chambers of Congress should have created an incentive to work across the aisle. The parties could have worked together to extend middle-class tax cuts without giveaways to corporations and the wealthy. We could have built on the success of $35 insulin and Medicare drug price negotiations to make health care more affordable. We could have reduced the deficit \u2014 something both parties agree should be a priority.\n\n\u201cInstead, from the very beginning, this GOP majority has used a broken, partisan process where the only choices put on the floor seemed to be \u2018bad\u2019 or \u2018worse.\u2019\n\n\u201cAs a result, we have a law that will take health care away from tens of thousands of Mainers, close rural hospitals across the country, and blow up the national debt \u2014 all to pay for tax cuts that mostly benefit those at the top. While I am proud to join the entire Maine delegation in voting against this bill, the truth is Mainers will suffer because of this partisan, harmful budget.\u201d\n\nBackground on H.R. 1, the so-called \u201cBig Beautiful Bill Act\u201d:\n\nLost Coverage, Increased Health Care Costs: The bill cuts Medicaid by $930 billion, and eliminates tax credits that help individuals afford insurance on the ACA marketplace (coverME.gov in Maine). Estimates on the impact on coverage rates vary, but Maine DHHS says as many as 31,000 Mainers will lose MaineCare coverage in the first year. Mainers who buy insurance plans on the marketplace will see premiums rise by $1,280 on average, and tens of thousands are expected to lose coverage in the face of those steep premium increases.\n\nRural Hospitals to Close: Medicaid cuts and other provisions that target support for rural health care will put the squeeze on hospitals in places like Maine, many of which are already facing a budget crisis. One study found that two hospitals in ME-02 \u2014 one in Ellsworth and another in Presque Isle \u2014 are among the more than 300 rural hospitals nationwide most at risk of closure because of the cuts.\n\nA System Rigged for the Top: The bill extends the lopsided tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among other tax provisions.That includes nearly $1 trillion in tax cuts for the top 1 percent, while cuts for health care and food assistance mean the bottom 20 percent will see their after-tax income decrease.\n\nExploding National Debt: The bill will add up to $3.9 trillion to the debt through Fiscal Year 2034. In 10 years, the bill could see the national debt climb to 130 percent of GDP \u2014 a new record high. Payments on the debt are already the third-highest line item in the federal budget, behind only Medicare and Social Security.\n\nA Precedent for Dishonest Accounting: The bill uses an accounting trick known as the \u201ccurrent policy baseline\u201d to artificially reduce the legislation\u2019s cost in Congress\u2019 accounting of revenues and expenditures. This never-before used gimmick sets a dangerous precedent by which majority parties can enact costly agendas without a fair and honest accounting of the price.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/reminder-maine-congressional-delegation-accepting-military-academy-nomination-applications", "Reminder: Maine Congressional Delegation Accepting Military Academy Nomination Applications", "2025-07-01", "2025", "2025-07", "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, Jr., and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announced that they are accepting nomination applications from Maine high school students for appointments to the United States service academies operated by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Merchant Marine. No nomination is required to apply to the United States 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 began accepting nomination applications as of May 15, 2025, from students for admission to the academies in the summer of 2026.\n\nFor more information please contact:\n\nSenator Susan Collins\n\nContact: Karen Staples\n\n207-784-6969\n\ncollins.senate.gov\n\nSenator Angus King, Jr.\n\nContact: Katie Fellows\n\n207-352-5216\n\nking.senate.gov\n\nRepresentative Chellie Pingree\n\nContact: Dorian Cole\n\n207-774-5019\n\npingree.house.gov\n\nRepresentative Jared Golden", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-presses-labor-secretary-to-reopen-job-corps-centers", "Maine Delegation Presses Labor Secretary to Reopen Job Corps Centers", "2025-06-27", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Maine\u2019s Congressional delegation opposed the agency\u2019s attempt to bypass Congress and close Job Corps centers nationwide. The move, which DOL calls a \u201cphased pause in operations,\u201d comes just months after officials froze enrollment at the Loring and Penobscot Job Corps Centers \u2014 exacerbating rural workforce shortages in central and northern Maine.\n\n\u201cBy calling this plan a pause, the DOL is closing Job Corps centers without Congressional approval\u2026\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe agency\u2019s decision, which has been temporarily paused by the courts, to dismantle a widely popular, successful program has put hundreds of low-income Mainers at risk.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also wrote that as Job Corps staff in Maine have tried to meet the DOL\u2019s timeline to close the Penobscot and Loring facilities, \u201ccomplications are impacting students and staff alike. Some students at both Job Corps Centers in Maine are not able to return home and are facing a risk of homelessness, and while organizations around these communities are helping, their resources are limited.\u201d\n\nMaine\u2019s Job Corps is among the agency\u2019s most successful and productive programs, with the Penobscot Center ranking fourth in the most recent national Job Corps Report Card. This report measures how efficiently students at each center attain trade credentials and improve other skills like math and reading.\n\nLoring\u2019s Job Corps Center currently has 129 staff members and is one of the largest employers in rural northern Maine. It currently enrolls 228 students and opened in 1997 \u2014 just a few years after the closure of the Loring Air Force Base devastated the region.\n\nThe Penobscot Job Corps has 223 students enrolled, and 65 students have graduated since July 2024. Of those graduates, 58 students have been verified as placements into employment, the military, or higher education, and five have transferred to other centers for advanced training opportunities. Penobscot is home to the only Advanced Marine Pipefitting training program in Job Corps, which is a feeder program for future BIW and PNSY employees.\n\nYesterday, a federal judge temporarily extended a block on the administration\u2019s Job Corps plan while a lawsuit over the move remains ongoing.\n\nA copy of the delegation\u2019s letter can be found here, and is included in full below:\n\n+++\n\nJune 26, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Lori Chavez-DeRemer\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Labor\n\n200 Constitution Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20210\n\nDear Secretary Chavez-DeRemer,\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the sudden announcement by the Department of Labor (DOL) to begin a phased pause in operations at Job Corps Centers nationwide. This follows an earlier decision to halt enrollments at centers in Maine with which we also disagree. Given the immediate and significant impact these decisions will have on hundreds of young Mainers currently enrolled at or interested in the Loring Job Corps Center and the Penobscot Job Corps Center, as well as the economic repercussions to the surrounding communities that need a skilled workforce, we urge you to retract this announcement.\n\nSince its inception in 1964, Job Corps has been a vital program for countless young Americans across the country. In Maine, we have seen firsthand the benefits that the Job Corps has both on young students and their communities. The program has provided countless opportunities for low-income students to tap into their true potential and secure good-paying jobs. The job placement rate for the Maine centers is well above the national average, placing students in local healthcare settings, masonry, welding and beyond. Students from the Maine centers have gone on to work within Maine\u2019s storied shipbuilding industry, join the Armed Forces, and work at Maine\u2019s Community Colleges. Employers across the State that hire Job Corps graduates have developed long-standing relationships with the centers, finding that the students have been well-prepared to join the workforce.\n\nBy calling this plan a pause, the DOL is closing Job Corps centers without Congressional approval. Since the DOL\u2019s announcement, we have heard from students, parents, local employers, and community officials about the devastating consequences that closing the Maine centers will have on some of our most disadvantaged young people. It bears emphasizing that as small and rural communities in Maine and across the country struggle with labor shortages, Job Corps provides businesses with a reliable source of workers armed with the necessary skills to productively contribute to our local economy.\n\nThe agency\u2019s decision, which has been paused by the courts, to dismantle a widely popular, successful program has put hundreds of low-income Mainers at risk. Additionally, the Maine centers provide stable employment for residents of its closest communities. The Loring Job Corps Center is one of the largest employers in Aroostook County, employing nearly 130 Mainers. The DOL\u2019s plan would prevent around 260 highly skilled employees from sharing their knowledge and expertise with Maine\u2019s next generation of students living in small and rural communities.\n\nIn Maine, while dedicated Job Corps staff at Loring Job Corps Center and the Penobscot Job Corps Center are working around the clock to comply with DOL\u2019s decision and expedited timeline, complications are impacting students and staff alike. Some students at both Job Corps Centers in Maine are not able to return home and are facing a risk of homelessness, and while organizations around these communities are helping, their resources are limited. There are additional hurdles in securing transportation for students in these rural communities and ensuring that every student\u2019s documents are in order.\n\nWe urge the Department of Labor to reopen Job Corps centers in Maine and across the country, and work with Congress to seek a path that can build on the successes of the program. We appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-the-third-anniversary-of-dobbs-v-jackson-s-women-s-health-organization", "Golden statement on the third anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson\u2019s Women\u2019s Health Organization", "2025-06-24", "2025", "2025-06", "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 the following statement on the third anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization, the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing individual states to outlaw abortion services:\n\n\u201cEach day that passes without the federal protections enshrined by Roe v. Wade is an affront to women\u2019s freedom,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMillions of women have lost autonomy over their own bodies, and millions more would be harmed by the extreme anti-choice agenda being driven across the country. I reject those efforts, and will continue to support efforts to restore reproductive freedom to every single American woman.\u201d\n\nGolden has been a champion of reproductive freedom throughout his time in Congress, and is an original cosponsor of two new bills that were reintroduced today. The Women\u2019s Health Protection Act would enshrine abortion rights for patients and providers and create a federal prohibition against medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion, while the Ensuring Women\u2019s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act would outlaw any restrictions on women traveling across state lines to access abortion services. Golden also helped introduce the Right to Contraception Act earlier this year to establish statutory protections for contraceptives.\n\nWhen the Dobbs decision was released by the Supreme Court, Golden called it a \u201cgrave mistake\u201d and added that Congress should codify the Roe and Casey v. Planned Parenthood frameworks into federal statute.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-bombing-of-iran-s-nuclear-facilities", "Golden statement on bombing of Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities", "2025-06-23", "2025", "2025-06", "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 released the following statement regarding the United States\u2019 bombing of Iran\u2019s nuclear facilities on Saturday and Iran\u2019s retaliatory strikes targeting American bases in the Middle East today:\n\n\u201cIran is governed by a regime that is hostile to the United States and allied with others that seek the destruction of America. They sponsor terrorist organizations that have killed American troops and citizens and are a source of chaos and bloodshed in the region. The IAEA determined the regime had been dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. Based on what I know so far, I believe the president was right to launch limited strikes to deter that outcome.\n\n\u201cIt is important now that the country learns what information helped inform the president\u2019s decision and the timing of these strikes, and that we learn more about whether we were successful in destroying Iran\u2019s nuclear program. I look forward to Congress receiving a full briefing. But what matters most now is what happens next: Just today, Iran launched missiles at American bases in Iraq and Qatar. The top priority for the president and his administration, as well as for Congress, must be to use every tool at our disposal to defend Americans and deter further escalation by Tehran.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-calls-for-renewed-investment-in-american-shipyards-at-boston-ship-repair", "Golden calls for renewed investment in American shipyards at Boston Ship Repair", "2025-06-18", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "BOSTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) joined other members of Congress and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) Tuesday at Boston Ship Repair to call for the revitalization of America\u2019s shipbuilding industry.\n\nGolden, a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) was joined by fellow committee member Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) at the invitation of Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08). The trio of lawmakers met with management from Boston Ship Repair and Machinists who work at the shipyard.\n\n\u201cAmerica needs strong shipyards. On the defense front, we are lagging in the production of American warships necessary to meet current and future force needs. We also lack the commercial vessels we need to compete in the global economy,\u201d Rep. Golden said. \u201cThe reality is simple: If we aren\u2019t giving work to the men and women who power America\u2019s shipyards, they will find new jobs and we will fall further behind. Congress needs to keep up demand for warships to sustain the world\u2019s greatest Navy and we need to pass the SHIPS Act to strengthen our shipyards, our commercial fleet and our supply chains. Our future demands it.\u201d\n\nCurrently, about 80 U.S.-flagged ships are engaged in international commerce compared to over 5,500 China-flagged vessels. China recently overtook the U.S. in Navy fleet size.\n\nDuring HASC hearings last week, Golden questioned the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense (video) about the potential lapse in destroyer procurement in the FY26 Presidential budget request, and the risk it posed to Bath Iron Works, Maine\u2019s shipbuilders, and the national defense.\n\nThe group has backed the U.S. Trade Representative penalties on Chinese ships and steps to incentivize the production and purchase of U.S.-built vessels. They are also championing the bipartisan SHIPS for America Act, which would rebuild the U.S. shipyard base and invest in recruitment and training of shipyard workers and mariners. The coalition is highlighting the need to efficiently utilize and grow domestic shipbuilding and repair capacity to increase the workforce at Boston Ship Repair and across the country.\n\n\u201cOur shipbuilding and ship-repair industries have a tremendous impact on our national security and our ability to maintain freedom of navigation for all nations,\u201d said Rep. Lynch. \u201cToday we are facing a critical shortage among our U.S. shipbuilding and repair capacity, and we are falling behind in production and upkeep of both our commercial and naval vessels. We must continue to make substantial federal investments in our shipyards and ship-repair facilities in order to maintain our position in the world. I am grateful to my congressional colleagues, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and Jared Golden for traveling to Boston Ship Repair in South Boston today to join me to show support for our shipbuilding and ship-repair industry. My thanks as well to International Machinists Union VP David Sullivan, BSR owner Jon Cronin, CEO Ed Snyder, and IAM Local President Andre Lavertue and all the union members of the IAM for their continued support of our regional ship-repair industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cRevitalizing American shipbuilding is critical to our national and economic security. It\u2019s a bipartisan goal in Washington, and we need to use all of our available shipyard capacity to get the job done if we're going to deliver on it,\u201d said Rep. Courtney. \u201cWe must provide American shipyards and shipbuilders, like Boston Ship Repair, with the demand they need to make investments in their future and the future of our domestic shipbuilding industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican national and economic security depends on urgent and long overdue investments in our shipbuilding and repair industry,\u201d said IAM Union Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. \u201cThat\u2019s why the IAM Union has led the way toward tougher trade rules on China, much-needed investments in U.S. shipyard workers, and a strong call for the efficient use of our existing shipyards, like Boston Ship Repair. We\u2019re incredibly grateful for our champions in this fight, including Congressmen Lynch, Courtney and Golden.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve invested in Boston Ship Repair because we believe in its potential\u2014not just as a business, but as a critical national asset,\u201d said Boston Ship Repair Owner Jon Cronin. \u201cWith a highly skilled union workforce, proven infrastructure, and the experience to deliver, BSR stands ready to be part of the solution to America\u2019s shipyard capacity crisis. But we can\u2019t do it alone. Without consistent work and federal investment, this vital facility \u2014 and the hundreds of jobs it sustains \u2014 are at risk. We\u2019re calling on Congress and the Navy to recognize BSR not just as a shipyard, but as a strategic pillar of the defense industrial base. With immediate support, we can expand our capacity, modernize our infrastructure, and begin reducing the Navy\u2019s repair backlog today \u2014 while preserving American maritime strength for generations to come.\u201d\n\nBoston Ship Repair is one of the largest docks on the Eastern and Gulf Coasts and can handle vessels up to 1,000 feet with a 105-foot beam. It provides vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services for domestic, international and government customers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-no-on-president-s-recission-package", "Golden votes \u2018no\u2019 on president\u2019s recission package", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today against the Recissions Act of 2025, a proposal by President Donald Trump to claw back $9.4 billion in congressionally approved spending on foreign aid and the Corporations for Public Broadcasting (CPB).\n\n\u201cZeroing out CPB funding would undermine or even shut down independent, nonpartisan rural public television and radio networks such as Maine Public, which provides educational programming for children and critical public services such as the life-saving emergency alert system,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis bill also would gut the President\u2019s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program founded by a Republican president with bipartisan support that has saved more than 25 million lives in an effort to stop the spread of AIDS.\u201d\n\nThe Recissions Act of 2025 proposed the elimination of $8.3 billion in funding from foreign aid programs within the U.S. State Department, primarily from the U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID), and $1.1 billion \u2014 the entire federal appropriation \u2014 for CPB.\n\nThe bill forced an up-or-down vote on the entire slate of clawbacks, preventing the ability of members to approve or reject individual recissions. It passed with only GOP support in a 214-212 vote.\n\n\u201cWhile I won\u2019t support a proposal that cuts funding that supports PBS KIDS educational programming and worthwhile public health initiatives, there are undoubtedly initiatives in the State Department \u2014 including some included in this package \u2014 where cuts are justified,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWhile this bill selects some of the wrong targets, it is the correct way for the administration to seek these kinds of savings. I remain open to other, better-targeted recissions proposals.\u201d\n\nBackground: The 1974 Impoundment Control Act establishes a formal procedure for Congress to consider rescissions requests submitted by the president. The law gives Congress 45 days to act on the request. During that 45-day window, the White House may withhold the covered funds. The measure can pass by a simple majority in the Senate and cannot be filibustered.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-golden-grills-navy-secretary-over-potential-lapse-in-destroyer-procurement-that-could-cost-jobs-at-biw", "ICYMI: Golden grills Navy Secretary over potential lapse in destroyer procurement that could cost jobs at BIW", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "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 questioned the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations on the lack of procurement funding for DDG-51 destroyers in their FY26 budget request. These ships are built at Bath Iron Works, and a lack of procurement would harm domestic shipbuilding capacity and national defense.\n\nGolden addressed the top Navy officials during a full hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cWhat we are asking for is simply consistency,\u201d Golden said while questioning Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. \u201cIt\u2019s just as important as how big the Navy you want to have, and how quickly you want to get there. You\u2019re not going to maintain the best shipbuilders in the world if they don\u2019t think it\u2019s a consistent career. And you need their skills and assets. I would ask for you to give that some deep thought.\u201d\n\nDDG-51 destroyers, known as the \u201cbackbone of the Navy\u2019s surface fleet,\u201d are highly versatile warships capable of both anti-air defense and striking targets like submarines, land-based threats, and other warships. Two shipyards in the United States produce DDG-51s: Bath Iron Works in Maine, and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi.\n\nDuring the hearing, Acting Chief of Naval Operations James Kilby indicated that DDG class destroyers are a critical element to the Navy\u2019s fleet. But the Trump Administration has released limited details about its upcoming FY2026 budget request, and current records show no plans to fund new DDG procurement in the upcoming year.\n\nIn addition to Phelan and Kilby, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith also testified on Wednesday. Golden\u2019s full questioning can be watched here. A partial transcription is provided below:\n\n+++\n\nCONGRESSMAN JARED GOLDEN (ME-02), HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: The navy\u2019s shipbuilding plan envisions 23 [DDG] Flight III ships. You currently have one in the fleet. Correct?\n\nADMIRAL JAMES W. KILBY, ACTING CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS: Well, yes, sir. One is about ready to deliver.\n\nGOLDEN: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, the pending reconciliation bill includes two DDG Flight IIIs. Congressional intent was pretty clear that these would result in a three-ship cadence in FY26 and FY27. I\u2019m now hearing behind the scenes that the plan that we don\u2019t have yet \u2014 the complete plan from you \u2014 is going to goose-egg the DDG program in your request for FY26. So I\u2019ve been on the committee for six years and I\u2019ve heard from the Navy consistently a desire that the two DDG yards [each] achieve a 1.5-ship per-year rate of production. But here you\u2019re signaling demand that would not support that rate of production. So, do you envision paying these yards to build ships \u2014 well, I\u2019m sorry I\u2019ll rephrase that \u2014 to not build ships? Or do you expect these yards to achieve a 1.5-ship production rate only to then turn around and lay shipbuilders off?\n\nTHE HON. JOHN C. PHELAN, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: Thank you for the question, Congressman. The president and I are committed to national defense and are committed to shipbuilding. As it relates to the budget, you know, we are working very closely with the OSD and the OMB on this as we speak, basically daily. And so we have a good idea of what we need and don\u2019t need, and I don\u2019t want to get in front of the president on that. He\u2019ll be coming out with a budget soon. But I think shipbuilding will fare quite well in that budget.\n\nGOLDEN: Shipbuilding, yes, but I\u2019m talking about destroyers.\n\nPHELAN: Yeah, I can\u2019t go into specifics with you right now Congressman, but I understand the question. I think that we are at the end of the line on the current destroyers, on the DDG (X) as I\u2019ve said before, we\u2019re looking at the whole force and trying to understand what the whole force posture should be, in terms of what we\u2019re learning and what\u2019s going on, and how it should be structured, in effect. And destroyers are an important component of that.\n\nGOLDEN: Yes. You know, across the country we have skilled shipbuilders, but they are aging. And every yard is trying to bring in new shipbuilders, to train them up, to have the skills that they need to build the best, most quality, most lethal Navy that this country needs. On this committee, we have found through studies, which we partnered with the Navy to do, that it takes on average seven years to develop a high-asset, fully skilled Navy shipbuilder. So this rate, this signal, the consistency of the signaled demand from the Navy, and then to actually deliver on acquiring at that rate, is key to not only developing that workforce \u2014 taking seven years to get them there \u2014 but maintaining them. You cannot build a future DDG (X) without shipbuilders.\n\nPHELAN: I agree with you and I have more ships than our shipyards can handle for the next 10 years. Whether it\u2019s a destroyer, whether it\u2019s a tanker, whether it\u2019s an oiler, whether it is a submarine. So I am not worried about the demand signal we have. It is getting those workers and getting them trained. It is there, and I think it is incenting the private sector to help us as well. So this is a, as I\u2019ve said, It\u2019s really going to be a whole of government approach. I think the demand signal, you know, as Congressman Courtney mentioned, which we recently did \u2026\n\nGOLDEN: I hear you. What I\u2019m asking to is a consistent concern that has been raised that these two yards [Ingalls and BIW] get to a 1.5-ship per year production rate, and you\u2019re not actually then demanding that rate \u2014 which will inevitably lead to ups and downs, to bathtubs in the workforce, where you are hiring people, training people, and then laying people off. What we are asking for is simply consistency. It\u2019s just as important as how big the Navy you want to have, and how quickly you want to get there. You\u2019re not going to maintain the best shipbuilders in the world if they don\u2019t think it\u2019s a consistent career. And you need their skills and assets. I would ask for you to give that some deep thought.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-make-childbirth-free-for-parents", "Golden introduces bipartisan bill to make childbirth free for parents", "2025-06-05", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Young Kim (CA-40), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and David Valadao (CA-22) today introduced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, which would require private health insurance companies to fully cover the costs of childbirth and related maternity care.\n\nThe Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would amend the list of Essential Health Benefits under the Affordable Care Act to include detailed minimum services for prenatal, labor and delivery, perinatal, and postpartum care for up to one year after a child\u2019s birth and would require private insurers to cover those services without cost-sharing.\n\n\u201cPregnancy and childbirth are a normal part of family life, so insurance companies should treat it like the routine care it is and cover the cost,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t cost thousands of dollars to give birth at the hospital, and other necessary maternity services shouldn\u2019t be a luxury. This is simple, commonsense reform and will make it easier for Mainers to start and grow families on their own terms without a huge hospital bill.\u201d\n\nMainers pay 19 percent more than the national average for childbirth, according to the Health Care Costs Institute, with an average out-of-pocket cost of roughly $2,400. That figure includes delivery only; Other costs associated with prenatal and postnatal care, and the high cost of NICU services for the nearly one in 10 babies who need it, can quickly add up for new parents.\n\n\u201cAmericans shouldn\u2019t have to choose between starting a family and being strapped in debt. Unfortunately, rising living costs on top of excessive hospital and health care fees after giving birth deter individuals from becoming parents,\u201d Kim said. \u201cWe should do what we can to make life more affordable, which is why I\u2019m proud to help lead the charge to cut childbirth cost-sharing fees and ensure women, babies and families receive the care they deserve without astronomical costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen my daughter was born by emergency C-section nine weeks early, I wanted to focus all my attention on my recovery and her well-being for the six weeks she was in the NICU, not our medical bills,\u201d McClellan said. \u201cThe Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act will provide more pregnant and postpartum patients the peace of mind that they can access care without worrying about how to pay for it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe cost of maternal care is already expensive, and too often, families with private insurance are hit with surprise medical bills they didn\u2019t see coming,\u201d Valadao said. \"Building a family already comes with so much uncertainty, but designating maternal care as an Essential Health Benefit and eliminating cost-sharing will give parents some peace of mind during one of life's most important moments. I'm proud to join my colleagues in supporting this practical, bipartisan solution that puts families first.\"\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).\n\nFull text of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act can be found here, and a one-pager can be found here.\n\nWHAT THEY\u2019RE SAYING\n\n\u201cThe Maine Hospital Association strongly supports this vital legislation to eliminate cost-sharing for prenatal, labor and postpartum care. In a rural state like Maine, where many communities face significant barriers to accessing maternity care and OB units have closed due to workforce and financial pressures, this bill offers critical support,\u201d said Jeffrey Austin, vice president of government affairs and communications for the Maine Hospital Association. \u201cBy removing financial burdens on patients, we can strengthen the sustainability of rural obstetric services, improve maternal health outcomes, and ensure that every family \u2014 regardless of ZIP code \u2014 has access to the care they need during pregnancy and childbirth.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs physicians and advocates for the health of all Mainers, we commend Rep. Golden for his leadership in prioritizing maternal and infant health,\u201d said R. Scott Hanson, MD, MPH, FACP, president of the Maine Medical Association. \u201cThis bill is a vital tool for closing gaps in care and supporting families during one of the most critical times in their lives. We know firsthand that extending the coverage to one year postpartum will save lives. We look forward to supporting Rep. Golden on the bill to strengthen critical programs, improve care coordination and help ensure that every mother and child can access the care they need to thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnything policymakers can do to reduce health care costs, including out-of-pocket costs, for example deductibles and coinsurance, will help consumers who are struggling with high health care costs and medical debt,\u201d said Ann Woloson, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. \u201cThis bill does just that \u2014 adding maternity care to the list of essential health benefits and requiring private insurers to cover the cost of maternity care without cost-sharing will provide some very much needed relief from rising health care costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo one should go into debt because they have a baby or experience a reproductive health emergency,\u201d said Alex Carter, policy advocate at Maine Equal Justice. \u201cAs a legal aid provider, medical debt is among the top concerns for our low-income clients. For people who are just over the income limit for Medicaid or who have high-deductible insurance plans, an expensive hospital bill can change the economic trajectory of a family, diverting resources away from their basic needs and discouraging people from seeking follow-up care. We support Rep. Golden\u2019s bill to ensure everyone can grow their families and access the maternal health care they need without the fear of crushing medical bills.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, many new parents in Maine are burdened with medical debt the moment their child is born \u2014 debt that weighs down their finances for years and blocks economic opportunity,\u201d said James Myall, policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy. \u201cThe Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would end this cycle, making sure no parent starts or grows their family under a mountain of bills.\u201d\n\nThe bill also has been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; the American Medical Association; the American Hospital Association; the American Society for Reproductive Medicine; the Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs; March of Dimes; and the National Partnership for Women & Families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-courts-rulings-over-trump-tariffs", "Golden statement on courts\u2019 rulings over Trump tariffs", "2025-05-29", "2025", "2025-05", "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 in response to court rulings today regarding emergency tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act:\n\n\u201cWhile the executive and judicial branches debate the limits of executive authority, one thing is clear: The decades-old free-trade consensus is a failure. It has been great for Wall Street and multinational corporations, but a disaster for American workers, American industry and manufacturing communities across our country. We traded good jobs and an ability to make things ourselves for foreign investment and cheap goods produced overseas.\n\n\u201cThere is no question that Congress has the authority to step in and start to reverse the damage. First, we should pass the BUILT USA Act, my bill to rebalance trade and reinvigorate American manufacturing with a 10 percent global tariff \u2014 the foundation of the president\u2019s tariff agenda. Then, we can turn our attention to rewriting the deeply flawed U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) and renegotiating our trade relationship with China, which has consistently undermined our workers and our nation\u2019s economic strength with unfair trade practices.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s time for Congress to do its job.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/in-face-of-layoffs-golden-co-sponsors-protect-our-parks-act-of-2025", "In face of layoffs, Golden co-sponsors\u00a0Protect our Parks Act of 2025", "2025-05-29", "2025", "2025-05", "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) this week announced the introduction of H.R. 3555, the Protect our Parks Act of 2025, to ensure the country\u2019s 63 national parks and hundreds of other sites managed by the National Park Service (NPS) are adequately staffed.\n\n\u201cIf there\u2019s one thing Mainers know, it\u2019s the value of the great outdoors. As we approach the busy summer season, Congress must act to ensure our treasured national parks have the resources they need to meet their mission,\u201d Golden said. \u201cPrior generations ensured the federal lands managed by the National Park Service were protected for us. Now it\u2019s our turn to step up and guarantee their future for our grandchildren.\u201d\n\nGolden is an original co-sponsor of the bill, which directs the Secretary of the Interior to ensure adequate staffing within the NPS for the overall safety and wellbeing of visitor safety and natural and cultural resource protection.\n\nIt orders the reinstatement of any individuals terminated as part of the Administration\u2019s mass firings, beginning on January 20, 2025, providing staffing levels necessary to keep critical federal projects moving \u2014 including those funded by the Great American Outdoors Act; Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; Inflation Reduction Act; and Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.\n\nGolden is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. In a May committee vote, he opposed the House GOP\u2019s plan to slash $279 million from the NPS. He has a long track record of support for America\u2019s parks system.\n\n\u201cOur national parks are invaluable treasures, preserving America\u2019s natural and cultural heritage,\u201d said Eric Stiles, president and CEO of Friends of Acadia. \u201cEnsuring national parks are fully staffed is crucial for conservation, the visitor experience, and the success of vital projects. The Protect Our Parks Act calls for the reinstatement of dedicated personnel and safeguards key investments like the Great American Outdoors Act. Friends of Acadia applauds Congressman Jared Golden\u2019s leadership in co-sponsoring this bill, ensuring these cherished places remain protected and accessible for future generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cFriends of Katahdin Woods & Waters thanks Congressman Golden for cosponsoring the Protect Our Parks Act,\u201d said Brian Hinrichs, executive director of Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters. \u201cAt this critical time, we value his leadership in voicing the need for the National Park Service to be fully staffed and funded. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument not only protects a treasured landscape, but serves as an economic driver in the community, especially when full hiring is permitted and critical projects can move forward.\u201d\n\nMaine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District is home to Acadia National Park \u2014 one of the ten most visited national parks in the United States \u2014 and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. With annual visitation numbers continuing to increase, these public lands need significant infrastructure investments. In the 118th Congress, Golden helped pass the Great American Outdoors Act to address maintenance backlogs at places such as Acadia and to establish permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-gop-s-reckless-budget-bill", "Golden votes against GOP\u2019s reckless budget bill", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "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) this morning voted against the GOP\u2019s budget reconciliation bill, which would take health care away from millions of Americans, further rig the tax code in favor of the wealthiest households and corporations and add $3.1 trillion to the national debt by 2034.\n\nThe bill passed along party lines in a 215-214 vote.\n\n\u201cThe House GOP had every opportunity to work across the aisle to write a budget that put middle-class families first. Instead, they\u2019re ramming through an extreme agenda that takes health care away from the working poor and borrows trillions of dollars to fund a package of tax cuts tilted in favor of those at the top,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMainers want more health care, not less. They want a tax code where everyone pays their fair share. And they want Congress to get its fiscal house in order. This bill fails on each of those fronts, so this is one of the easiest \u2018no\u2019 votes I\u2019ve ever taken.\u201d\n\nThe budget bill \u2014 crafted under reconciliation rules that will allow it to pass with a simple majority in the Senate \u2014 would cut $800 billion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).\n\nMedicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 \u2014 more than one-third of the population \u2014 according to KFF, while roughly 50,000 Mainers qualify for health insurance tax credits on the state\u2019s ACA marketplace, coverME.gov. The bill\u2019s elimination of enhanced ACA tax credits will increase health care costs by an average of $180 per month for tens of thousands of Mainers.\n\nThe bill\u2019s cuts to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program \u2014 which helps 1 in 8 Mainers get the food they need \u2014 will put more than 18 million kids nationally at risk of losing school meals.\n\nThe bill uses those savings to partially cover the cost of roughly $5 trillion in tax cuts, with most of the benefit going to the wealthiest households through provisions such as tax breaks for millionaire heirs and deductions for high-income households in high-income states. \u201cIn 2027 it gives households earning more than $1 million a year an annual tax cut of roughly $90,000, while low-income households receive an average of just $90 from the tax cuts \u2014 the same households who will then bear the brunt of cuts to Medicaid and SNAP,\u201d according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.\n\nIn a last-minute amendment to the bill, House GOP Leadership added language that bans insurance plans sold on the ACA marketplace from covering abortion care \u2014 an attack on women\u2019s reproductive freedom made under cover of darkness.\n\nFinally, the bill continues Congress\u2019s bad habit of using deficit spending to finance federal expenditures, running up a national debt that threatens the future of critical programs such as Medicare and Social Security. The reconciliation bill would add $3.1 trillion to the national debt, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. This comes at a time when interest on the debt costs the federal government more every year than on national defense or Medicare and second only to Social Security as an annual line item in the federal budget\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-on-admin-to-release-rural-connectivity-funds", "Maine Delegation calls on Admin. to release rural connectivity funds", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a letter to the Commerce Department leadership, Maine\u2019s Congressional delegation last night urged the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to freeze nearly $35 million of federal funds designed to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities in the state.\n\n\u201cAs one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy,\u201d the delegation wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Acting Administrator Adam Cassady.\n\nThe funding, part of the Digital Equity Act program, was approved by Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Maine was set to receive $35 million through the program for digital skills training, workforce development and expanded telehealth and educational services through libraries, educational institutions and community organizations.\n\nPresident Trump announced earlier this month via social media that he was \u201cending\u201d the program, even as Maine awaited the vast majority of its approved funds.\n\nTerminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world,\u201d the delegation wrote.\u201cWe urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found below.\n\n+++\n\nWednesday, May 21, 2025\n\nDear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Cassady:\n\nWe write to share our opposition to the recent announcement to terminate Digital Equity Act grant programs. As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy.\n\nPassed by Congress and signed into law under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the grants provide a one-time infusion of $2.75 billion to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities, support telemedicine and education programs, strengthen connections between loved ones, and allow people to participate in the digital world regardless of their ZIP Code. This funding is essential in our state, where more than half of older residents, small businesses, veterans, low-income households, tribal communities, and students are in rural areas.\n\nThis funding would serve more than 40,000 Mainers throughout the state who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity. With the administration\u2019s termination announcement, Maine expects to lose the majority of the $35 million it had been awarded to support digital skills and cybersecurity training, expand workforce development, and increase the capacity of the state\u2019s libraries and other community organizations to provide telehealth and educational services.\n\nThe funding is a smart investment that provides safe internet access for rural Mainers. Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world. We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-fitzpatrick-reintroduce-bill-to-ban-foreign-donations-in-state-local-referendums", "Golden, Fitzpatrick reintroduce bill to ban foreign donations in state, local referendums", "2025-05-21", "2025", "2025-05", "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) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today reintroduced the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, which would ban foreign nationals from making political contributions in state and local ballot initiatives and recall elections.\n\n\u201cForeign nationals should never be able to buy influence in state and local elections, but that\u2019s exactly what current campaign finance laws allow,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019ve long been proud to partner with Rep. Fitzpatrick on making America\u2019s political process cleaner and fairer, and this bipartisan bill would nationalize another one of Maine\u2019s important reforms: banning foreign contributions in all elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican people. Foreign nationals have no place influencing our laws, our ballots, or our future. Whether it\u2019s a presidential race or a local referendum, every taxpayer-funded election must be protected from foreign interference. This bipartisan legislation closes a dangerous loophole and sends a clear message: our democracy is not for sale,\u201d Fitzpatrick said.\n\nWhile the Federal Election Campaign Act bars foreign donations in federal, state and local elections, the Federal Elections Commission and Supreme Court have interpreted that the term \u201celection\u201d in the law only applies to candidate campaigns \u2014 not ballot initiatives, recall referendums or other forms of lobbying and issue advocacy.\n\nMaine is one of only 15 states to pass its own law banning foreign contributions in ballot initiatives.\n\nGolden has fought to limit foreign influence in American elections during his time in Congress. Last year, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act was part of Golden\u2019s Government Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan, a set of 14 bills designed to prevent political leaders from leveraging their position for profit, increase transparency and reduce the influence of dark money and foreign interference in American democracy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-luttrell-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-eliminate-statute-of-limitations-for-gold-star-survivor-benefits", "Golden, Luttrell introduce bipartisan bill to eliminate statute of limitations for Gold Star survivor benefits", "2025-05-21", "2025", "2025-05", "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 Morgan Luttrell (TX-08) today introduced the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act, which would eliminate the six-year statute of limitations on survivor benefits for Gold Star spouses.\n\nGolden began work on the bill following outreach from a constituent whose husband passed away while on active duty in 2012, who said she was not informed of her eligibility for a portion of survivor benefits until more than a decade later. The constituent applied for the benefits owed, but was denied by the Department of Defense, which said her eligibility window had expired.\n\n\u201cGold Star families should never lose out on survivor benefits because of arbitrary red tape,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis is a serious problem that\u2019s hurting people who\u2019ve already lost so much. Getting them the resources they\u2019re entitled to is a basic responsibility of our government, and I\u2019m glad to work across the aisle to remove barriers that prevent it from happening.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur commitment to Gold Star families shouldn\u2019t expire on a timeline, especially when some families don\u2019t even know they\u2019re eligible until it\u2019s too late,\u201d Luttrell said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act to ensure surviving spouses of those killed after 9/11 can claim the benefits they\u2019re owed no matter when they apply.\u201d\n\nUnder the current Barring Act, any claims against the federal government \u2014 including those by military spouses to receive survivor benefits \u2014 must be made within six years. If that statute of limitations passes without a claim being completed, agencies no longer have jurisdiction to process it. While a waiver system for extenuating circumstances does exist, veterans service organizations have told Golden that successful waivers are extremely rare \u2014 a reality which has denied Gold Star families of the benefits they\u2019d otherwise receive.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and Disabled American Veterans.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\nWHAT THEY\u2019RE SAYING:\n\n\u201cThe Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars is proud to support this bill which will remove the six year statute on these claims,\u201d Steven SanPedro, state commander of the Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars said. \u201cWe feel that a surviving spouse deserves all benefits to include monetary for the sacrifice their loved ones gave to their country. By passing this, the country will be \u201cHonoring Their Contract\u201d to our veterans, our military, and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere shouldn\u2019t be a time limit for families to access the survivor benefits they\u2019re entitled to after the loss of a loved one. But the current law prevents many spouses from ever being able to do so,\u201d Maine Legionnaire Matthew Jabaut said. \u201cMaking survivor benefits payable, no matter when claims are made, is the right thing to do \u2014 plain and simple. I\u2019m appreciative to Congressman Golden for leading the charge on fixing this real problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) greatly appreciates Congressman Jared Golden and Morgan Luttrell, Chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee for introducing the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act,\u201d Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of TAPS said. \u201cThis important legislation will allow military surviving families more time to file a claim for survivor benefits, by removing the six-year statute of limitations on line of duty deaths. Ensuring our surviving families the support and benefits they deserve is our nation\u2019s sacred obligation and we urge swift passage of this critical legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies of fallen service members should never be burdened with unnecessary legal obstacles and arbitrary timeframes to receive the benefits they rightfully deserve,\u201d Joy J. Ilem, national legislative director of Disabled American Veterans said. \u201cBy eliminating restrictive statutes of limitations, the Supporting our Surviving Spouses Act acknowledges the lasting impact of service and sacrifice, reinforcing our nation\u2019s unwavering commitment to those who bear the ultimate burden. DAV applauds Rep. Golden for introducing and championing this critical legislation.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-submits-amendment-to-ensure-accountability-for-harm-to-rural-americans-from-proposed-health-care-cuts", "Golden submits amendment to ensure accountability for harm to rural Americans from proposed health care cuts", "2025-05-20", "2025", "2025-05", "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) has submitted an amendment to the House GOP\u2019s budget reconciliation bill to create accountability for proposed health care cuts, should they be passed into law.\n\n\u201cThe health care cuts Congress is considering would be devastating, particularly in rural districts like mine,\u201d Golden said. \u201cShould the GOP succeed in taking health care away from millions of Americans, they should have to reckon with the harm they cause. Accountability requires data, so my amendment will ensure we have hard figures on how many Americans have lost coverage, seen health outcomes decline, or even died as a result of these cuts.\u201d\n\nThe amendment would require the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) to conduct a study one year after enactment, and annually thereafter, on the effect on rates of uninsurance, health outcomes and deaths among residents of rural areas.\n\nResidents of rural America are more likely to use Medicaid/CHIP for health care than those who live in urban areas, according to a study from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Rural hospitals are particularly dependent on payments from Medicaid/CHIP,\n\n\u201cMedicaid plays a significant role in sustaining the viability of rural healthcare systems, including hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and long-term care,\u201d said National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan in February. \u201cA strong relationship exists between Medicaid coverage levels and the financial viability of rural hospitals, of which about half are currently operating on negative margins and cannot sustain further cuts. Reductions in Medicaid funding will force rural providers to reduce or eliminate essential services or close their doors, limiting access to care for rural residents.\"\n\nMedicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 \u2014 more than one-third of the population \u2014 according to KFF.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-announces-release-of-16-million-in-federal-funds-for-auburn-lewiston-airport-upgrades", "Golden announces release of $1.6 million in federal funds for Auburn-Lewiston airport upgrades", "2025-05-16", "2025", "2025-05", "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) today announced the release of $1.6 million in previously frozen funds for airport terminal upgrades previously awarded to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport.\n\n\u201cThis project will support the growth and success of Androscoggin County,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe release of these funds will allow for the construction of the new hangar and related upgrades to proceed as planned \u2014 improving the airport experience for those who already use it and paving the way for passenger air service in the future. I\u2019m proud to have worked with the Airport\u2019s leadership and the administration to get these funds flowing.\u201d\n\nThe funds were originally secured by Golden as part of the FY2023 Appropriations Process. The Airport sought to draw down the approved funds in January and reached out to Golden two months later when the funds were still not made available. Golden\u2019s office contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Airport\u2019s behalf, and learned the grants were frozen pending review for compliance with executive orders.\n\nThe lack of funding meant the airport was at risk of missing a critical mid-May contractor payment deadline, jeopardizing the project\u2019s future. Over several months, Golden\u2019s office worked with Airport Director Jonathan LaBont\u00e9 to stress the importance of the project and the looming deadline to the FAA and secure the funds\u2019 release.\n\nOn Thursday, the FAA announced the funds would be released.\n\n\"As we position the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to be the preferred general aviation airport in southern and western Maine, we've quickly run out of space for the pilots wishing to base their aircraft here,\u201d LaBont\u00e9 said. \u201cWith the support of Congressman Golden, additional federal investment will be paired with local and state dollars to construct a 10-unit T-hangar to welcome even more aviators here. In the last two years, we've grown to host a flight school, three aircraft maintenance businesses and dozens more aircraft, in addition to our role hosting a base for LifeFlight of Maine. This new federal investment continues that momentum.\"\n\nOpened in 1935, the Auburn-Lewiston Airport has been a hub for corporate, charter, cargo and recreational aviators for nearly a century.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pushes-house-for-up-or-down-vote-on-medicaid-cuts", "Golden pushes House for up-or-down vote on Medicaid cuts", "2025-05-08", "2025", "2025-05", "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) has signed a discharge petition that, if successful, would force an up-or-down vote in the House to protect Medicaid and food assistance from budget cuts in the reconciliation process.\n\n\u201cWhile they debate the specifics, there\u2019s no question the GOP plans to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars,\u201d Golden said. \u201cHundreds of thousands of my constituents use Medicaid for health care, while roughly one in six households use SNAP to help put food on the table. I oppose efforts to take their coverage away or make it harder to afford groceries.\u201d\n\nA discharge petition allows members of the House to force an up-or-down vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of members of Congress sign on. The underlying bill in this discharge petition, the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025, would prohibit Congress from using the reconciliation process to cut benefits or remove individuals from Medicaid and SNAP.\n\nThe budget reconciliation instructions approved by the House and Senate require the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in spending \u2014 a target that will be impossible to reach without hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).\n\nOn Wednesday, the CBO found that the several proposals for cutting Medicaid would result in millions of Americans losing health coverage. Cuts to Medicaid would hurt families in the 2nd Congressional District. Medicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 \u2014 more than one-third of the population \u2014 according to KFF.\n\nThe Medicaid cuts are part of the GOP\u2019s plan to slash health care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy while adding more than $ 7 trillion in new debt over the next decade.\n\nCongressman Golden voted against the GOP\u2019s reconciliation plan in February and again in April, and has been critical of efforts to undermine working families and the fiscal stability of the nation to extend tax cuts for the wealthy.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-cutting-funds-that-support-maine-s-marine-resources-acadia-national-park", "Golden votes against cutting funds that support Maine\u2019s marine resources, Acadia National Park", "2025-05-07", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In an early morning vote today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) opposed the House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s (HNRC) portion of the GOP\u2019s reconciliation budget.\n\nThe final package proposes $1 billion in federal spending cuts, including cuts targeting several programs that support Maine\u2019s marine resources economy, coastal communities and Acadia National Park. The committee advanced the package in a 26-17 vote.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s way of life and economy are inextricably tied to our lands and waters. When I joined this committee this year, I pledged to advocate for Maine\u2019s natural resources and to use my position to champion investment and stewardship to support our state,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis proposal would undermine investments in our marine resources and Acadia National Park. I could not, in good conscience, support it.\u201d\n\nThe package proposes $100 million in cuts for Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Affected funding streams support fisheries, marine and coastal habitats, and stock assessments. They have supported projects in Maine including fish passage restoration for Atlantic salmon and other migratory species; rebuilding salt marshes to reduce roadway flooding hazards in communities Downeast; and an initiative to recover, recycle and refabricate marine debris material in the Gulf of Maine, such as ghost lobster traps and derelict aquaculture gear.\n\n\u201cI have gone toe to toe with NOAA to oppose regulatory proposals that could harm Maine\u2019s fishing communities, and to demand regulators give Maine lobstermen and fishermen a seat at the table,\u201d Golden said. \u201cBut the funding streams targeted for cuts in this bill support worthy conservation, restoration, and infrastructure efforts that have helped protect Maine\u2019s natural resources and make our communities more resilient. There\u2019s no reason to put them on the chopping block.\u201d\n\nThe package advanced out of committee also would slash $279 million from the National Park Service, threatening funding streams that have supported resiliency, habitat restoration and jobs at Acadia National Park.\n\nHouse and Senate Republicans sent reconciliation instructions to all House Committees on April 10. Those instructions required the Natural Resources Committee to cut funding by $1 billion \u2014 part of the GOP\u2019s plan to slash health care and cut taxes for the wealthy while adding more than $ 7 trillion in new debt over the next decade.\n\nCongressman Golden voted against the GOP\u2019s reckless reconciliation plan in February and again in April, and has been critical of efforts to undermine working families and the fiscal stability of the nation while padding giveaways to the wealthy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-president-trump-s-budget-proposal", "Golden statement on President Trump\u2019s budget proposal", "2025-05-02", "2025", "2025-05", "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 today following the release of President Donald Trump\u2019s FY 2026 budget proposal:\n\n\u201cRight now, my focus is on opposing the GOP\u2019s reconciliation plan to fund tax cuts for the wealthy by slashing health care for my constituents and running up the deficit.\n\n\u201cLooking ahead to the president\u2019s FY 2026 budget request, I can\u2019t co-sign a plan to eliminate LIHEAP, which would leave tens of thousands of Maine households in the cold. However, there are other areas where we may be aligned; For example, I support in principle the president\u2019s proposals to increase funding for law enforcement at our border and in our international trade. These are policy priorities I could support.\n\n\u201cMy staff and I will continue to review the details of the president\u2019s budget request, while remaining focused on protecting health care this year.\u201d\n\nThis year, GOP majorities in Congress have pushed ahead with a budget reconciliation plan that would gut health care programs to fund the renewal of tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest households. The plan would add trillions of dollars to the national deficit.\n\nGolden voted against the reconciliation plan that set Congress down this reckless path in February and again in April.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-roll-back-california-ev-mandates-that-could-take-options-away-from-mainers", "Golden votes to roll back California EV mandates that could take options away from Mainers", "2025-05-01", "2025", "2025-05", "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) voted this week to roll back several waivers from the Environmental Protection Agency that allowed California to set aggressive, unrealistic new electric vehicle (EV) standards that would effectively ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles in several states across the country, potentially including Maine.\n\n\u201cMaine families and small businesses should be able to buy vehicles that meet their needs, whether that\u2019s a diesel truck or an EV,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe EV market is growing steadily and will continue to grow without new regulations that take options away from people looking to purchase their next vehicle.\u201d\n\nGolden voted today in favor of three resolutions under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn federal agency rules. Each resolution involved EPA waivers approved by the Biden Administration under the Clean Air Act (CAA), which allows California to adopt more aggressive emissions reduction standards than the floor set by federal law.\n\nThe CAA permits other states to adopt California\u2019s emissions rules, thereby allowing California to set new standards for the rest of the country. Currently, there are 17 other states (including Maine) that have historically sought to adhere to California\u2019s emissions standards.\n\nThe resolutions included:\n\nH.J.Res. 88, voted on today, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to require all new passenger vehicles sold to be zero emissions by 2035. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 246-164.\n\nH.J.Res. 87, voted on yesterday, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to require manufacturers to produce and sell increasing percentages of zero-emission trucks by 2035. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 231-191.\n\nH.J.Res. 89, voted on yesterday, which would revoke an EPA waiver allowing California to reduce the permissible nitrogen oxide emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The bill passed in a bipartisan vote of 225-196.\n\nEach resolution will have to pass the Senate and be signed by the president to repeal the respective waivers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-praises-president-trump-s-fishing-executive-order-urges-action-on-unfair-canadian-trade-and-regulatory-practices", "Golden praises President Trump\u2019s fishing executive order, urges action on unfair Canadian trade and regulatory practices", "2025-04-18", "2025", "2025-04", "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) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump highlighting the unfair trade practices and regulatory disparity Canada uses to benefit its lobster industry at the expense of American lobstermen. Golden\u2019s letter follows yesterday\u2019s executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to address regulatory mismanagement informed by scientific uncertainty \u2014 a task Golden requested of the administration in a letter just last week and praised last night.\n\n\u201cThroughout my time in the Maine State Legislature and Congress, I have heard from Maine\u2019s seafood harvesters, processors, and those involved in the ocean economy that they cannot make the necessary investments to grow due to overregulation, arbitrary and capricious management, inconsistent policies from various federal agencies, and unfair trade action from Canada,\u201d Golden wrote in his letter today. \u201cWithout your intervention, projections indicate that many commercial fishing operations in New England will become economically unviable within the next 30 years. This would lead to the collapse of a historic food production industry, the loss of thousands of jobs, the devastation of coastal communities that have shaped American maritime heritage for centuries, and an increased reliance on foreign food.\u201d\n\nDiscussing the unequal regulatory burden between the U.S. and Canada, Golden explained that Canadian lobstermen are not required to follow the same conservation measures, like releasing lobsters over a maximum size, that American lobstermen must. He also cited extensive regulations on American fishing gear and environmental practices that are absent in Canada; this burden is especially visible in the Gray Zone \u2014 277 square miles fished by both Mainers and Canadians that remains one of America\u2019s only contested maritime borders.\n\nGolden equally criticized market manipulation by Canadian seafood processors and expansive subsidies from the Canadian government to undercut the cost of competing American labor.\n\nWhat they\u2019re saying\n\n\u201cThe New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) commends Congressman Jared Golden for highlighting the significant disparities faced by American lobstermen compared to their Canadian counterparts in his recent letter to the President. NEFSA has made it a top priority to raise awareness of the longstanding territorial dispute in the Gray Zone and the resulting economic and environmental consequences. Unbalanced regulatory frameworks between the United States and Canada continue to place American fishermen at a disadvantage\u2014both in terms of access to seafood stocks and financial sustainability. We are encouraged by Congressman Golden\u2019s advocacy and remain committed to working collaboratively with him, the White House, and NOAA to address these challenges and secure a fair and equitable future for American fishing communities,\u201d saidDustin Delano, former lobstermen and chief operating officer of the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Lobstering Union is thrilled President Trump is looking into imbalances in the US fisheries. Maine fishermen have been supporting Maine's economy for generations. We continue to raise concerns that Canadian trade practices, unequal conservation, and regulations are hurting Maine families, and it is rewarding to see some of that noise is making its way to President Trump. We commend Representative Golden for working across the aisle. Representative Golden continues to deliver on his promise to put Mainers first. Families in Maine are struggling, and putting our state's needs above all else is very refreshing,\u201d said Virginia Olsen, lobstermen and director of the Maine Lobstering Union.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association (MLA) is grateful to President Trump for his commitment to making U.S. fisheries great again by allowing us to do what we do best \u2014 go fishing! The MLA has been fighting government over-regulation for years and won a historic court case that challenged draconian whale rules taking a big step forward in ending this abuse of power. The President\u2019s executive order recognizes the challenges our fishing families and communities face and we appreciate the commitment to reduce burdensome regulations and strengthen the competitiveness of American seafood. We especially appreciate the Administration\u2019s commitment to protecting the Maine lobster industry which is vital to the economy of our state and our coastal economies,\u201d saidPatrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nGolden, who recently secured a seat on the House Natural Resources Committee, has fought fiercely on behalf of Maine\u2019s fishing industry throughout his career as a lawmaker. In addition to his letter last week, he has pressed multiple administrations on the unequal regulations and unfair trade practices harming Maine lobstermen.\n\nOver the last year he has been the only representative from New England to join the effort to overturn a U.S.-only increase to the minimum catchable size of lobster, and helped pass a 6-year pause on new gear regulations in 2022. His bipartisan Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act would also prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in the critical, highly productive Maine fishing grounds of Lobster Management Area 1 \u2014 an issue he has been consistently outspoken on.\n\nGolden\u2019s letter can be found here and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nApril 18, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident of the United States\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nIn your executive order on \u201cRestoring American Seafood Competitiveness,\u201d you directed the Secretary of Commerce to consider suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that overly burden America\u2019s commercial fishing industries and the United States Trade Representative to examine other nations\u2019 trade practices. As part of those investigations, I write in support of swift and decisive action to address the unequal regulatory burden between Maine and Canadian lobstermen and the unfair trade practices used by Canada and its lobster industry at the expense of the American lobster industry.\n\nThroughout my time in the Maine State Legislature and Congress, I have heard from Maine\u2019s seafood harvesters, processors, and those involved in the ocean economy that they cannot make the necessary investments to grow due to overregulation, arbitrary and capricious management, inconsistent policies from various federal agencies, and unfair trade action from Canada. Action to address the unequal regulatory burden between American and Canadian lobstermen and end Canada\u2019s unfair trade practices in the lobster industry is squarely in line with your fisheries executive order and your administration\u2019s \u201cAmerica First Trade Policy.\u201d Any ensuing changes should be made in consultation with those who know the industry best, the harvesters themselves.\n\nThe American lobster fishery extends from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In 2022, commercial landings of American lobster totaled 119 million pounds, valued at $515 million, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. Maine has been at the forefront of American lobster landings for over three decades, and 93 percent of the coast-wide landings come from the Gulf of Maine lobster stock.\n\nWhile I have written to your administration and previous administrations extensively about each issue, I want to highlight the following issues:\n\nUnequal Regulatory Burden Between the U.S. and Canada:\n\nRegulations are frustratingly inconsistent between the U.S. and Canada, significantly benefiting Canadian fishermen and actively harming U.S. fishermen. While the long-term viability of lobster stocks is essential for the economic success of American and Canadian harvesters, it is American fishermen and lobstermen who are required to adhere to the strictest conservation standards, whereas Canadian fishermen are not. Below is a list of the top issues causing an uneven regulatory playing field:\n\nMaximum Size Limit: American lobstermen are required to follow a maximum size limit for harvesting lobster, and Canadian lobstermen do not.\n\nWhale Regulations: Since 2001, U.S. lobstermen have been required to comply with whale regulations, including new requirements for gear marking, breakaways, weak ropes, and inserts, as well as changes to trawl length due to the NOAA Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. This plan was developed and implemented in response to the Marine Mammal Protection Act despite limited evidence linking Maine fishermen to whale deaths.\n\nThese requirements increased costs and safety risks for U.S. fishermen. Canadian lobstermen do not face these same restrictions. For instance, U.S. fishermen must use whale-safe gear, which incurs additional costs, to protect whales that frequently transit through Canadian and American waters. Meanwhile, Canadian fishermen continue to fish with floating rope, which costs nearly 50% less than traditional methods.\n\nIf pending federal rules regulating even more restrictive gear requirements are implemented, American fishermen will face an even more significant competitive disadvantage. They would be forced to use untested, less efficient, more expensive equipment, while Canada\u2019s gear would be untouched.\n\nGray Zone: The 277 square miles of ocean between the U.S. and Canada \u2013 commonly referred to as the Gray Zone \u2013 have been claimed by both countries since the Revolutionary War. For centuries, the lobstermen and fishermen of Downeast Maine have relied on the Gray Zone to harvest lobster, scallop, and halibut, often competing with their Canadian counterparts who utilize these same fishing grounds.\n\nThe disparity between the United States and Canadian fishing regulations in the Gray Zone not only escalates tensions among fishermen but also poses a serious threat to the future of an industry that has supported Maine families for generations. These concerning trends would only worsen if our federal regulators approved a new minimum allowable catch size for lobster starting in July 2025, without comparable restrictions for Canadian lobstermen enforced by their government.\n\nMaine\u2019s seafood harvesters have been waiting too long for a resolution to the Gray Zone, with significant consequences for their safety, businesses, and the natural resources they depend on.\n\nA 2023 Department of State Report written for Congress titled \u201cProgress Toward an Agreement with Canadian Officials Addressing Territorial Disputes and Collecting Fisheries Management Measures in the Gulf of Maine\u201d incorrectly states:\n\n\u201cThe status quo benefits the United States by keeping the Gray Zone aligned with the more favorable measures applicable to the broader U.S. lobster management area within which it sits. Current cooperation has proved effective in managing the area. Negotiations to resolve the dispute would require significant dedicated resources. In the absence of a resolution of the territorial dispute, an agreement to resolve differing fisheries management measures in the Gray Zone could impact U.S. claims to sovereignty by creating regulations that differ from those applicable to the broader Gulf of Maine jurisdiction in which the Gray Zone lies.\u201d\n\nThe truth is that, as management currently exists, there is no cooperation in managing this area. This report is misleading, and American fishermen fishing in the Gray Zone will tell you that the uneven regulatory burden in the area does not benefit American fishermen; it hurts them.\n\nEnvironmental Regulations: Canada has considerably fewer environmental regulations compared to U.S. processors. For example, Canadian processors can directly discharge wastewater into the ocean and spread shells in fields. In the U.S., processors must pay thousands of dollars to local municipalities for wastewater user fees and waste disposal.\n\nUnfair Trade Practices Utilized by the Canadian Lobster Industry at the Expense of the American Lobster Industry:\n\nCanadian Subsidies: The Canadian Government uses labor and business subsidies to boost their lobster industry at the expense of the American lobster industry.\n\nSince 1984, the Canada Health Act (CHA) gives all Canadians publicly funded single-payer healthcare insurance. This program gives all Canadian residents reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services without paying out-of-pocket. To highlight the disparity, U.S. fishermen who buy a health insurance plan on HealthCare.gov would pay, on average, $456 per month more for insurance premiums, which is $5,472 per year more than Canadian fishermen.\n\nCanadian single-payer healthcare insurance also creates an impact on unemployment premiums. Under the Canadian system, workers' compensation largely drives costs through lost earnings and wage-loss benefits. This causes U.S. fishermen to pay higher unemployment premiums. This distinction comes from their healthcare system, which incurs fewer administrative expenses and lower healthcare costs that affect an employer\u2019s experience rating.\n\nThe Canadian lobster industry also has access to unlimited foreign labor and, as a result, low-wage workers. They provide salary subsidies covering up to 60% of the salary for immigrants or visible minority hires, up to a maximum equivalent to the current minimum wage of 40 hours per week. The Canadian government also makes major investments in training programs for the workforce and worker subsidy initiatives. For instance, their Summer Jobs wage subsidy offers financial support for summer employment and visas for foreign workers through the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP) allows Canadian processors to bring unlimited overseas workers during peak seasons to fill labor shortages.\n\nCanada also utilizes infrastructure, innovation, and business operation subsidies to boost their lobster industry at the expense of the American industry. Through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund (AFF) and Quebec Fisheries Fund (QFF), Canadian fisheries receive substantial subsidies to support their infrastructure, innovation, and business operations. The AFF and QFF are financed 70% by the federal government and 30% by the provincial governments. They are managed by the Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), which aims to enhance opportunities and market value for sustainably sourced, high-quality fish and seafood products from Atlantic Canada. A recent announcement from the Canadian DFO indicated that it will invest over $400 million over seven years to support Canada\u2019s fish and seafood sector. In the US, industry-based and driven science partnerships are limited and frequently funded by the industry.\n\nMarket manipulation: Canadian processors are engaging in currency arbitrage and exploiting market conditions. For instance, in the U.S., we pay roughly $20 per hour at our processing plants. Canada pays the same $20 per hour. Canadian processors factor the hourly wage into the production of processed lobster. They produce the product in Canada and then sell it back to the U.S. The exchange rate does not favor U.S. processors because of the strength of the U.S. dollar, which makes imports to the U.S. cheaper and exports more expensive.\n\nWithout your intervention, projections indicate that many commercial fishing operations in New England will become economically unviable within the next 30 years. This would lead to the collapse of a historic food production industry, the loss of thousands of jobs, the devastation of coastal communities that have shaped American maritime heritage for centuries, and an increased reliance on foreign food. Addressing the unequal regulatory burden and unfair Canadian fishing and trade practices aligns strongly with your executive order on restoring America\u2019s seafood competitiveness and America First Trade Policy and would ensure that American workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field.\n\nThe United States should take all necessary steps to ensure that our fishermen and processors do not face a competitive disadvantage or miss out on economic opportunities because of unequal regulatory burden and unfair fishing and trade practices by Canada. I urge you to investigate Canada\u2019s unfair trade and fishing practices and work with the American lobster industry to intervene with solutions to level the playing field.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-reckless-deficit-funded-gop-budget-resolution", "Golden votes against reckless, deficit-funded GOP budget resolution", "2025-04-10", "2025", "2025-04", "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) voted today against the Senate Amendment to H. Con. Res. 14 \u2014 a compromise budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2025.\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t build a good house with rotten wood. This compromise combines the House GOP\u2019s plan to cut health care to pay for millionaires\u2019 tax cuts with a Senate GOP plan to explode the deficit and enshrine accounting gimmicks that set a new low for fiscal instability. I see no way that combining these two bad plans will somehow yield a good one through the reconciliation process,\u201d Golden said.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a better way forward: Congress could target tax cuts to working families, paid for by allowing the expiration of tax cuts for the very wealthy. We don\u2019t need to take away anyone\u2019s health care or pass trillions in new deficit spending to pass a budget that puts the middle class first,\u201d Golden said.\n\nThe proposal on the floor today was a Senate amendment to the GOP budget resolution adopted by the House in February. As amended, the plan:\n\nallows for roughly $5.3 trillion in deficit-financed tax cuts, including $3.8 trillion to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which disproportionately benefitted the wealthy;\n\nuses an accounting gimmick known as the \u201ccurrent policy baseline\u201d to artificially reduce the legislation\u2019s price tag;\n\ninstructions for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in spending \u2014 a target that will be impossible to reach without hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.\n\na $5 trillion debt limit increase; and\n\nmore than $7 trillion in new debt, in total, over the next decade.\n\nThe elements of the House-Senate compromise budget resolution are stacked against working families: Roughly half the benefit of extending the full 2017 tax package would go to households with annual income over $450,000. The Treasury Department found that the plan would give an average annual tax break of more than $32,000 for those in the top 1 percent, while working families will only get a few hundred dollars in tax cuts per year.\n\nCuts to Medicaid would hurt families in the 2nd Congressional District. Medicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 \u2014 more than one-third of the population \u2014 according to KFF.\n\nThe national debt is currently roughly $29 trillion. Interest on the debt costs the federal government more every year than on national defense or Medicare. It is second only to Social Security as an annual line item in the federal budget.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-pass-bipartisan-save-act", "Golden votes to pass bipartisan SAVE Act", "2025-04-10", "2025", "2025-04", "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) today voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The bill passed the House 220- 208, with four Democrats voting in favor.\n\n\u201cThe right to vote in American elections should be exclusive to American citizens. Requiring people to prove citizenship when registering to vote is a simple way to ensure that\u2019s happening across the country,\u201d Golden said.\n\nWhile noncitizens are ineligible to vote in federal elections, there is no federal law prohibiting them from voting in state or local elections. Currently, municipalities in three states and the District of Columbia allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.\n\nThe SAVE Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. Critics of the bill have argued that the proof of citizenship requirement would prevent people whose names differ from those on their birth certificate from registering to vote. However, the bill contains several provisions to accommodate those whose names have changed since their birth, including accepting several different forms of identification that establish citizenship, as well as a requirement that states establish a process to allow citizens to register when there are discrepancies between an individual\u2019s current and documented name \u2014 such as a name change after a marriage or divorce.\n\n\u201cLife changes like marriage should never affect someone\u2019s eligibility to vote, so the SAVE Act requires states to have a plan for accommodating people whose current name differs from their birth name,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMaine\u2019s leaders work hard to keep our elections fair and I\u2019m confident in their ability to continue doing so.\u201d\n\nThe bill would require states to remove any noncitizens from their voter registration rolls. Additionally, it penalizes officials who knowingly and willfully register noncitizens to vote in the future. The SAVE Act does not change registration exemptions for Americans serving or living abroad, meaning that those citizens would still be eligible to register and vote by mail.\n\nGolden also voted for the SAVE Act last September when it passed the 118th Congress by a bipartisan vote of 221-198.\n\nGolden has been a champion for clean and fair elections throughout his time in Congress. He is an original cosponsor of the Let America Vote Act, which would allow independents to vote in primaries for federal office while barring noncitizens from voting in state and local elections \u2014 rules that are inconsistent across state lines. Last Congress he also introduced his Government Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan to reduce foreign influence and dark money in campaigns.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-resolution-to-weaken-protections-against-overdraft-fees", "Golden votes against resolution to weaken protections against overdraft fees", "2025-04-09", "2025", "2025-04", "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) today voted against a resolution to weaken overdraft fee regulations on large banks and credit unions.\n\nIn December 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized a rule that required financial institutions with more than $10 billion to institute greater transparency policies regarding overdraft fees, or to cap such a fee at $5. Today\u2019s resolution sought to repeal the rule.\n\n\u201cThere should be rules against lenders who use unreasonable overdraft fees to make money off families,\u201d Golden said. \u201cCFPB was right to crack down on the most predatory practices, and rolling back these changes will only benefit the executives trying to make a bigger profit off working Americans.\u201d\n\nFinancial institutions charge customers overdraft fees when there is not enough money in their checking account to cover a transaction. In return for temporarily paying the difference rather than simply declining the charge, the lender charges customers a fee \u2014 roughly $35 on average.\n\nThese fees stack for each overdrafted charge, which can quickly dwarf the amount of money that an account was actually short. Limited disclosure laws can also leave customers unaware of their lender\u2019s overdraft program until fees have already been charged. Overdraft fees are a significant revenue generator for financial institutions, totaling more than $5.8 billion in 2023 alone.\n\nCFPB\u2019s recent rule requires large financial institutions to follow transparency laws similar to those for credit cards before being allowed to charge current overdraft fee rates. For lenders uninterested in complying, the rule also allows them to simply cap overdraft fees at $5 instead.\n\nThe resolution to overturn this rule was submitted under the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to override administrative rulemaking with a majority in both chambers and the president\u2019s signature. Having passed the House and Senate, it now heads to the president\u2019s desk.\n\nGolden also voted against a separate resolution to limit federal oversight of nonbank digital payment systems such as Apple Wallet, Google Pay, PayPal and Venmo.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-announces-maine-veterans-home-receives-reimbursement-for-domiciliary-care", "Maine Delegation Announces Maine Veterans Home Receives Reimbursement for Domiciliary Care", "2025-04-08", "2025", "2025-04", "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 and Angus King, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden today announced that Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes (MVH) has received full reimbursement due to them from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for domiciliary care provided to veterans since 2021. In 2020, Congress passed legislation authorizing the VA to cover the costs of nursing home care provided by state veterans\u2019 homes for veterans with early-stage dementia after it abruptly stopped covering these payments in 2019. Unfortunately, the VA delayed the required rulemaking by more than two years. This lag forced MVH to pay out-of-pocket for the care costing approximately $130,000 per month and over $3 million since 2019.\n\n\u201cFor decades, Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes (MVH) has provided quality care to Maine veterans; working hard to make good on our nation\u2019s promise to give back to those who served,\u201d said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden. \u201cHowever, for years, MVH has faced financial strain due to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) delay in reimbursing it for nursing home care for veterans battling dementia, putting additional burdens on Maine veterans and their families. We are excited to share that MVH has finally received full reimbursement from the VA for this care \u2014 an important step that will ensure its doors can stay open, and our veterans can continue to access important care and support.\u201d\n\nDomiciliary care was established by the VA after the Civil War as a type of assisted living that is provided to older veterans who are independently mobile, or semi-mobile and incapable of living alone. Over 115 MVH residents receive domiciliary care, 80 percent of whom are on Medicaid.\n\nThe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law on January 5, 2021, authorized the VA to resume reimbursements for domiciliary care at state homes like MVH. Since then, the Maine Congressional delegation has continuously pushed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes. In spring of 2023, the delegation introduced the Reimburse Veterans for Domiciliary Care Act, which would require the VA to restart payments for current care as mandated by law and retroactively provide MVH with the reimbursements for past care. Months later, the delegation received news the VA had agreed to resume reimbursing Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes (MVH) for domiciliary care, but did not follow through on delivering the funds. After pressure from the Maine delegation, in September 2023 the VA announced a proposed rule that would retroactively reimburse MVH for the care they\u2019ve provided back to January 2020. Last spring, the delegation wrote a letter to the former Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough requested an update on the rule and in October 2024, the VA announced the finalized rule that would provide retroactive reimbursement for MVH.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-slams-gop-budget-priorities-as-fiscally-irresponsible-plan-to-juice-elites-at-expense-of-working-families", "Golden slams GOP budget priorities as fiscally irresponsible plan to juice elites at expense of working families", "2025-04-04", "2025", "2025-04", "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) released the following statement regarding the House and Senate GOP\u2019s budget plans, following a vote Thursday to advance a harmful budget resolution through the Senate:\n\n\u201cAmericans should be furious that the Senate GOP has picked up where their House counterparts left off, pushing a budget designed to slash taxes for the wealthy and corporations, paid for by cutting Americans\u2019 health care and blowing up the deficit. Rather than pushing back against the many flaws in the House GOP budget resolution, Senate leaders are seeking simply to hide the cost of this plan from the American people with new budgeting gimmicks that, if successful, will set a dangerous precedent for future Congresses to ratchet up spending again and again without ever paying for it.\n\n\u201cWe can do so much better than this naked attempt to further tilt the system against the many in favor of the few at the top. If we ask the wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share, we could cut taxes for the middle class and reduce the deficit without harmful cuts to health care. The GOP\u2019s majority is slim, and I know that some of my colleagues on that side of the aisle oppose this irresponsible, harmful approach to government. I am ready to work with them, and anyone else, to pass a responsible budget that puts middle class families first.\u201d\n\nThe House-passed budget resolution called for $4.8 trillion in deficit increases. Nearly all of that spending would fund extension of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, which disproportionately benefited the wealthiest households and corporations. The House plan offsets the cost with just $2 trillion in spending cuts, for a total $3.4 trillion increase to the national debt, including estimated interest payments.\n\nThe Senate plan attempts to hide the cost of extending the Trump Tax Cuts by using an accounting trick known as the \u201ccurrent policy baseline.\u201d (\u201cIt\u2019s like taking an expensive week-long vacation and then assuming you can spend an extra $1,000 per day forever since you are no longer staying at the Plaza,\u201d said Marc Goldwein, senior vice president and senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, in an interview with the New York Times.)\n\nAn honest accounting of the Senate\u2019s budget resolution shows that it includes $5.8 trillion in new borrowing \u2014 twice as much as the House plan and three times as much as the American Rescue Plan \u2014 while adding as much as $6.9 trillion to the national debt, including estimated interest payments.\n\nThe Senate resolution also retains language from the House bill instructing the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in spending, a sum impossible to achieve without substantial cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in Maine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District \u2014 more than one-third of the population \u2014 according to KFF.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-speaks-out-against-shuttering-of-agency-supporting-maine-libraries-museums", "Golden speaks out against shuttering of agency supporting Maine libraries, museums", "2025-04-02", "2025", "2025-04", "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) today joined more than 100 lawmakers urging President Donald Trump to restore the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the support for Maine museums and libraries that it provides.\n\n\u201cFrom early literacy programs and STEM education initiatives to high-speed internet access and job training resources, funding for the IMLS enables libraries and museums to provide critical services to millions of Americans,\u201d Golden and the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the President. \u201cThe loss of this funding would be particularly devastating for rural, tribal, and other underserved communities that rely heavily on these institutions for access to learning resources, workforce development, and technological infrastructure.\u201d\n\nPresident Trump named IMLS as one of seven agencies slated to be dismantled in a March 14 executive order. On Monday, the president put the agency\u2019s entire staff on administrative leave.According to the American Federation of Government Employees union, \u201cwithout staff to administer the programs, it is likely that most [IMLS] grants will be terminated.\u201d\n\nThe IMLS provides more than $1.8 million in discretionary and nondiscretionary funding to Maine organizations focused on education and workforce development, including the Maine State Library, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Children\u2019s Museum and Theatre of Maine, and Maine Maritime Academy. It is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting library and museum services.\n\n\u201cIMLS grants are an integral part of our services to rural Mainers. Specifically, they help smaller communities have access to information and resources that they otherwise would not have access to. I support Congressman Golden's efforts to fight for these resources,\u201d said Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher.\n\nCongress established the IMLS in 1996 to consolidate the operations of multiple government agencies into a single, streamlined office. Its most recent reauthorization came in 2018 during the first Trump administration.\n\nThe letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nApril 2, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Donald J. Trump\n\nPresident\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear President Trump,\n\nWe write to express our deep concern over the proposed elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the devastating impact such cuts would have on communities throughout the country.\n\nThe IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting America\u2019s museums and libraries. Operating in all 50 states and U.S. territories, it plays a vital role in strengthening these institutions which serve as essential educational, cultural, and economic pillars in our communities. From early literacy programs and STEM education initiatives to high-speed internet access and job training resources, funding for the IMLS enables libraries and museums to provide critical services to millions of Americans. The loss of this funding would be particularly devastating for rural, tribal, and other underserved communities that rely heavily on these institutions for access to learning resources, workforce development, and technological infrastructure.\n\nBeyond their valuable contributions to education and social development, museums and libraries also serve as significant economic drivers. The American Alliance of Museums reports that museums alone contribute more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year and support over 726,000 jobs. Museums have immense power to draw tourism and foot traffic to other local businesses and revitalize communities. For every $1 that museums and other nonprofit cultural organizations receive in government funding, they return more than $5 in tax revenue. They also have broad public support, with 96% of Americans wanting to maintain or increase federal funding for museums. Libraries similarly generate economic returns through workforce training\n\nprograms, small business support, and research services. Nearly all of the approximately 17,000 public libraries across the nation offer Wi-Fi access at no charge, and in 2019, Americans accessed the Internet using library computers close to 224 million times. This includes millions of students who lack adequate broadband access at home and rely on libraries to complete their homework. Despite this, IMLS funding accounts for a mere 0.0046% of the federal budget, an incredibly modest investment relative to the immense benefits these institutions provide.\n\nEliminating the IMLS would not only jeopardize these essential services but also dismiss the everyday needs of millions of Americans who rely on libraries and museums for learning, job opportunities, and community engagement. We urge the Administration to reconsider this decision and recognize the far-reaching impact of IMLS funding. Maintaining and strengthening federal support for museums and libraries is not just an investment in cultural preservation, it is an investment in education, innovation, and economic growth.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure that America\u2019s libraries and museums continue to thrive and serve the public.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-president-trump-s-tariffs-announcements", "Golden statement on President Trump\u2019s tariffs announcements", "2025-04-02", "2025", "2025-04", "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) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump\u2019s announcement of a series of new tariff policies during a news conference in the White House Rose Garden:\n\n\"President Trump has introduced a number of new tariff policies, and I and my team are already digging into the details. I\u2019ll have more to say on the specifics in the next few days.\n\n\u201cWhat I can say now is I\u2019m pleased the president is building his tariff agenda on the foundation of a universal 10 percent tariff like the one I proposed in the BUILT USA Act. This ring fence around the American economy is a good start to erasing our unsustainable trade deficits.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m eager to work with the president to fix the broken \u2018free trade\u2019 system that made multinational corporations rich but ruined manufacturing communities across the country. But tariffs must be paired with policies that prioritize American families\u2019 prosperity. We need to make sure that the new approach benefits working people \u2014 that means supporting unions, the trades and apprenticeship programs, cutting regulations that hold back production, unleashing American energy and using tariff revenue to support domestic manufacturers that create good-paying jobs for Americans.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s also time to renegotiate trade deals like the USMCA to support the Americans who are ready to ramp up production and support the rebuilding of our middle class \u2014 like the sawmills, processing plants, fishermen and farmers in the communities I represent.\n\n\u201cTariffs are a first step in rewriting a rigged trade system, but they cannot be the last one.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-repeal-president-trump-s-order-restricting-collective-bargaining-for-federal-workers", "Golden, Fitzpatrick introduce bipartisan bill to repeal President Trump\u2019s order restricting collective bargaining for federal workers", "2025-04-01", "2025", "2025-04", "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 Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) today introduced the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation to nullify President Trump\u2019s March 27 executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees across several agencies.\n\n\u201cIn his order, President Trump said that federal workers\u2019 rights are incompatible with national security. He is wrong. Union workers make America stronger every single day, including the more than 6,000 federal workers in Maine,\u201d Rep. Golden said. \u201cThroughout our history, unions have ensured workers got a fair shake in the workplace. Unions built our middle class and are key to strengthening its future. We cannot have a government that undermines workers\u2019 rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving government efficiency is essential \u2014 but sweeping exclusions from collective bargaining are a blunt instrument that risk weakening the very stability and performance we aim to strengthen,\u201d Rep. Fitzpatrick said. \u201cThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Actrestores a balanced, targeted approach \u2014 protecting bargaining rights where they pose no threat to national security and reinforcing their proven role in supporting morale, accountability and effective governance. We can defend our national security without silencing those who serve it. Efficiency and fairness are not mutually exclusive \u2014 and this legislation ensures we uphold both.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Golden, a Democrat, and Fitzpatrick, a Republican, the bill was sponsored by Democratic Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Republican Reps. Nick LaLota (NY-01), Mike Turner (OH-10) and Mike Lawler (NY-17).\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is trying to end collective bargaining for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, silencing their voices and ripping up their contracts. This order would strike a blow to every American\u2019s fundamental right of freedom of speech and association,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"More than 70 percent of Americans and nearly 9 in 10 young people support unions \u2014 no one voted to attack the freedom to organize with our co-workers for a better life. We commend the leadership of Reps. Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick for using Congress\u2019 power to reverse this executive order. The labor movement is 100 percent behind this bill, and we call on every member of Congress, Democrat and Republican, to take a stand in support of our fundamental rights by backing this critical legislation.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO, the bill has the support of unions representing federal employees, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). It is also endorsed by the United Steelworkers.\n\nThe bill nullifies President Trump\u2019s March 27 executive order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d which sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The employees covered by the order account for 67 percent of the federal workforce, according to independent news reports.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-decries-trump-order-restricting-collective-bargaining-will-introduce-legislation-to-reverse-it", "Golden decries Trump order restricting collective bargaining, will introduce legislation to reverse it", "2025-03-28", "2025", "2025-03", "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 the following statement today regarding President Trump\u2019s executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees across several agencies:\n\n\u201cThe right for workers to collectively bargain is sacrosanct and any claim that it is incompatible with national security is bogus,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI oppose the president\u2019s order and stand in solidarity with the workers affected \u2014 including a state workforce of likely more than 6,000 hardworking Mainers at places like VA Togus Medical Center, Bath Iron Works, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other worksites across our state. This order cannot stand, and I will introduce legislation to repeal it.\u201d\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s order seeks to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The employees covered by the order account for 67 percent of the federal workforce, according to independent news reports.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nGolden is a longtime proponent of unions and their role in creating a strong middle class. He has been vocal in opposing President Trump\u2019s anti-worker actions, such as the firing earlier this year of NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, who was later reinstated by a court order.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-calls-on-house-armed-services-chairman-rogers-to-bring-defense-secretary-hegseth-before-committee-for-questioning", "Golden calls on House Armed Services Chairman Rogers to bring Defense Secretary Hegseth before committee for questioning", "2025-03-26", "2025", "2025-03", "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), member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), today called on HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (AL-03) to bring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before the committee to answer questions about the leak of detailed military strike plans via group chat on a nonsecure commercial messaging app.\n\n\u201cWe believe there is a pronounced urgency to the situation given the gravity of the questions raised by the reported events,\u201d wrote Golden in a letter to Rogers signed by every Democrat on the committee. \u201cTherefore, we ask that you schedule this hearing as soon as possible during the upcoming three-week congressional work period.\u201d\n\nHegseth discussed pending plans for military strikes against Iran-backed militants in Yemen over the messaging app Signal. The group chat was first reported by The Atlantic, whose editor-in-chief was added to the group, which also included the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the CIA Director, the Director of National Intelligence and a member of the National Security Council, among others.\n\n\u201cDiscussing such sensitive, and potentially classified, information on a messaging application that is not approved for the transmission of classified information could have jeopardized the safety of servicemembers and compromised the military operation,\u201d the members wrote. \u201cFurthermore, the use of this messaging application may have violated federal laws regarding the proper handling of classified information and federal record keeping laws.\u201d\n\nAs the committee of jurisdiction, HASC has the power to investigate, supervise and review the activities of Defense Department officials and employees and to hold them accountable to the law and the American people. Golden has served on HASC since he joined Congress in 2019.\n\nThe full letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-co-leads-labor-caucus-in-calling-for-strong-action-to-protect-american-shipbuilding", "Golden co-leads Labor Caucus in calling for strong action to protect American shipbuilding", "2025-03-25", "2025", "2025-03", "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) is co-leading an effort, with more than 60 of his colleagues in the Congressional Labor Caucus, to urge U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to take strong action in its ongoing investigation into China\u2019s unfair trade practices in the commercial shipbuilding sector.\n\n\u201cWe write in support of swift and decisive action to address unfair and predatory practices by the Chinese government in the shipbuilding, maritime, and logistics sectors that jeopardize the United States\u2019 national security and defense industrial base,\u201d the members wrote in a letter to Greer last night. \u201cChina\u2019s discriminatory practices and cheating have forced U.S. shipbuilders, their suppliers, and workers to compete on an uneven playing field and have contributed to the decline of the U.S. shipbuilding industry.\u201d\n\nIn 2024, USTR accepted a petition filed by a coalition of five labor unions and initiated a Section 301 investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China relating to competition in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. In January 2025, USTR concluded that China\u2019s targeting for dominance in the shipbuilding sector is unreasonable, and the agency is currently soliciting comments on its proposals to address China\u2019s actions.\n\n\u201cWe strongly urge USTR to actively pursue strong actions in a swift and decisive manner. Action should also be durable to provide shipbuilders, shipyards, suppliers, and workers the confidence to invest in capacity, skills, and the future. \u2026 A bold response from the United States to China\u2019s unfair dominance in the shipbuilding sector will send a clear signal: the United States will not stand for discriminatory trade and economic practices, particularly when they harm U.S. workers, businesses, and our national and economic security,\u201d concluded the lawmakers in Monday\u2019s letter.\n\nThe union representing union workers at Bath Iron Works applauded Golden\u2019s effort on behalf of American shipbuilders.\n\n\u201cAs a Maine IAM Local S6 ship pipefitter by trade, I know firsthand that America\u2019s shipbuilding workers are the most dedicated, experienced and talented in the world,\u201d said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. \u201cThe time is now to invest in our shipbuilding workforce and push back against China's predatory trade practices that have attempted to dominate this critical industry. Alongside champions like Congressman Golden, the IAM Union and our generational workforce stand ready to begin the next great chapter of U.S. shipbuilding.\u201d\n\nMonday\u2019s letter was led by Golden and Labor Caucus Vice-Chairs Reps. Chris Deluzio (PA-17), John Garamendi (CA-08) and Val Hoyle (OR-04); Caucus members Reps. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Joe Courtney (CT-02); and Co-Chairs Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Steven Horsford (NV-04), and Mark Pocan (WI-02).\n\nGolden and the Labor Caucus have been at the forefront of efforts to ensure strong action to support American shipbuilding in the face of unfair competition from China. He co-led an initial letter in April 2024 urging USTR to accept the initial petition urging USTR to investigate China\u2019s shipbuilding practices. In October 2024, he co-led another effort of more than 70 members supporting the investigation and urging USTR to implement strong remedies to protect American workers from China\u2019s unfair practices in the shipbuilding industry.\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-reintroduces-bill-to-designate-bradley-museum-as-national-museum-of-forestry-and-logging-history", "Golden reintroduces bill to designate Bradley museum as National Museum of Forestry and Logging History", "2025-03-24", "2025", "2025-03", "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) on Friday reintroduced his bill to designate Bradley\u2019s Maine Forest and Logging Museum (MFLM), located at the site of Leonard\u2019s Mills along Blackman Stream, as the National Museum of Forestry and Logging History.\n\n\u201cHonoring our heritage isn\u2019t just about reminiscing: It\u2019s about using the knowledge passed down over centuries to inspire future generations,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe story told at Leonard\u2019s Mills about Maine\u2019s forest products industry is as valuable as it is engaging. It deserves this national recognition for the role it has played, and will continue to play, in connecting the past, present, and future of forestry and logging in our country.\u201d\n\nMFLM was incorporated in 1960 to celebrate Maine\u2019s forest heritage. Originally envisioned to preserve forest industry artifacts and documents, plans evolved into the creation of a living history site complete with working machinery and a community of volunteer reenactors. Today, MFLM owns more than 450 acres around Blackman Stream in Bradley and frequently hosts school groups, visitors and interactive public programs.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard\u2019s Mills is more than a museum. It\u2019s a living, breathing experience that fully immerses visitors in one of our state\u2019s richest traditions,\u201d said Mike Wetherbee, president of the Maine Forest and Logging Museum\u2019s board of directors. \u201cWhether it\u2019s inspiring young Mainers with their local heritage or educating people from away on the importance of Maine\u2019s historical forestry and logging industry, everyone who walks these grounds leaves with a greater understanding of what makes our home special. Many thanks to Congressman Golden for working to secure this prestigious status and share Leonard\u2019s Mills with even more people.\u201d\n\nMaine\u2019s forest economy employs more than 14,000 Mainers and generates more than $5 billion in sales. Maine\u2019s 17.7 million acres of forest covers 89% of the state \u2014 the highest percentage in the country.\n\nIndustry leaders praised the bill when Golden introduced it last Congress:\n\n\u201cThe Maine Forest and Logging Museum is so important to Maine's rich history of forestry and logging,\u201d said Shawn Bugbee, Roads and Infrastructure Manager for Seven Islands Land Company. \u201cThrough the preservation and restoration of tools combined with the knowledge the volunteers bring to the Museum, those who visit get an authentic understanding of how forestry and logging was done by our ancestors. One of the most awe-inspiring things I have ever witnessed has been watching the steam powered Lombard Log Hauler operate in person \u2014 and this move will help more people get that same experience.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Maine Forest and Logging Museum is a testament to the resourcefulness and ingenuity of people involved in Maine's rich timber industry,\u201d said Keith Kanoti, forest manager for the University of Maine. \u201cThe combination of working equipment, infrastructure and the natural beauty of the museum grounds site is unsurpassed and truly deserving of national status.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a strong connection between the forest products industry and our modern society, and the Maine Forest and Logging Museum helps us all celebrate it,\u201d said Joe Phaneuf, executive director and publisher of the Northeastern Loggers Association. \u201cThe story of the forest products is one worth telling, and this national designation will strengthen that mission.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis museum doesn't just honor Maine's past: It stands as a national treasure,\u201d said Breanna Wing, director and producer of Axe Women: The Modern Lumberjill. \u201cAt a time when our landscapes are rapidly developing, the Museum is a haven that keeps important history alive \u2014 teaching future generations about the resilience of our ancestors, whose grit and innovation through harsh winters built for the growth we see today. This national designation will amplify the importance of understanding and protecting the natural world, for both our material and spiritual well-being.\u201d\n\nFull text of Golden\u2019s legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-security-breach-by-national-security-leaders", "Golden statement on security breach by national security leaders", "2025-03-24", "2025", "2025-03", "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), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement regarding confirmed reporting that several high-level administration officials shared details about planned military strikes with a journalist via group chat over a commercial messaging app:\n\n\u201cThis is a clear failure of information security that could have had grave consequences for the United States, our men and women in uniform, and our allies,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWe\u2019re lucky the journalist involved acted responsibly, but this incident raises questions about communications practices at the highest levels of the national security apparatus. If a service member acted this carelessly with such sensitive information they would face serious consequences, including the potential loss of security clearance, court martial or discharge. These officials should be held to the same high standard.\u201d\n\nThe group chat was first reported by The Atlantic, whose editor-in-chief was added to a group chat that included the Vice President, the Secretaries of Defense and State, the CIA Director, the Director of National Intelligence, and a member of the National Security Council, among others. In the chat, the officials discussed upcoming plans for military strikes against Iran-backed militants in Yemen.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-bill-to-limit-rural-postal-facility-closures-increase-postal-service-transparency", "Golden introduces bill to limit rural postal facility closures, increase Postal Service transparency", "2025-03-14", "2025", "2025-03", "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) today introduced the bipartisan Protecting Postal Performance Act to prevent the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from downsizing facilities in underserved areas, provide more oversight over modifications to delivery schedules, and increase public transparency on proposed changes.\n\n\u201cFor years, Postal Service leadership has made explicit choices to lengthen delivery times, abruptly close rural post offices, and ignore inquiries from concerned citizens and lawmakers. Congress must act to hold the agency accountable,\u201d Golden said. \u201cOur bill is a collection of simple, realistic reforms to make future decision making more transparent and ensure the Postal Service no longer neglects rural America. I\u2019m proud to help lead this important mission with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and Maine\u2019s dedicated postal employees.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is co-led by Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01).\n\n\u201cPassage of this bill would be a great step forward in protecting the Postal Service and ensuring prompt, reliable, and efficient mail service to the American public,\u201d Scott Adams, Secretary of the American Postal Workers Union of Maine said. \u201cRestricting \u2018transportation optimization\u2019 will help prevent built-in delays that would otherwise go into effect.\u201d\n\nThe Protect Postal Performance Act is endorsed by the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA).\n\n\u201cUPMA is grateful for the bipartisan efforts of Rep. Budzinski, Rep. Hageman, Rep. Golden, Rep. Bergman and Rep. Pappas in Congress to protect the workers of the postal service from service cuts that would negatively impact the quality of mail delivery received by the American people. The Protecting Postal Performance Act will help ensure evidence, data, and sound management practices lead the USPS\u2019s strategy going forward and will ensure that any changes to retail and postal facilities in the future are fully vetted. Sound financial management of the Postal Service means a sustainable postal service \u2013 and UPMA will be a partner in ensuring that the organization follows the data to be the best service provider to the American people,\u201d Tony Leonardi, National President United Postmasters and Managers of America said.\n\nGolden has championed holding USPS leadership accountable to Mainers throughout his time in Congress. Following his outreach to Postmaster General DeJoy in 2023, USPS reopened its Etna facility that had been closed for more than two years. Last year, USPS also announced that it was postponing plans to consolidate the Eastern Maine Processing & Distribution Facility in Hampden after bipartisan efforts led by Golden and other members of Congress. In a February 2025 letter to Postmaster General DeJoy, he demanded answers over the agency\u2019s delay in reopening the West Paris Post Office \u2014 which has been closed for nearly four years \u2014 despite having signed a new lease last August.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-for-continuing-resolution-to-avoid-government-shutdown", "Golden votes for Continuing Resolution to avoid government shutdown", "2025-03-11", "2025", "2025-03", "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) voted today in favor of a seven-month Continuing Resolution, or \u201cCR,\u201d to fund the government and avoid a harmful government shutdown.\n\nWithout a new spending agreement in place, government funding is scheduled to lapse on March 14. In a shutdown, the president would have broad discretion to halt government services and furlough federal employees.\n\n\u201cThis CR is not perfect, but a shutdown would be worse,\u201d Golden said. \u201cEven a brief shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it. Funding the government is our most basic obligation as members of Congress. My vote today reflects my commitment to making tough choices and doing my job for the people of Maine.\u201d\n\nThe CR includes several defense-related provisions Golden fought for on the House Armed Services Committee, such as $7.951 billion for DDG-51 funding, which accommodates a third ship in FY25, slated to be built at Bath Iron Works; $83.2 million in advance procurement funding for DDG-51s in FY26; and funding to provide junior enlisted members of the Armed Services their biggest pay raise in 40 years.\n\nThe CR also includes:\n\nincreased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Transportation Security Administration;\n\nincreased funding for disaster relief;\n\nincreased funding for operational expenses at national parks, including Acadia;\n\nextended telehealth flexibility for Medicare; and\n\nadvance funding for state Medicaid grants and Aging and Disability Services Programs.\n\nOverall, the CR increases overall defense spending by $6 billion while cutting nondefense spending by $13 billion, relative to current spending levels.\n\nGolden also pushed back against Democratic Party messaging gimmicks related to the CR, particularly the claim by some Democrats that the CR cut funding for veterans, based on the CR not including advance funding for the next fiscal year.\n\n\u201cThere are no cuts to veterans care in the period covered by this bill, and we have six months to ensure funding continues into the next fiscal year,\u201d Golden said. \u201cTo say this bill contains cuts is, at best, a misreading that creates unnecessary fear among veterans. At worst, it\u2019s the adoption of the same cynical GOP political tactics that Democrats have rightfully denounced \u2014 using misdirection to justify a vote. This may seem politically expedient, but it only lowers us to a level we shouldn\u2019t accept.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-reintroduces-pro-act-to-protect-workers-right-to-organize", "Golden reintroduces PRO Act to protect workers\u2019 right to organize", "2025-03-06", "2025", "2025-03", "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) last night reintroduced H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a comprehensive proposal to protect workers\u2019 right to bargain collectively for higher wages, better benefits and safer workplaces.\n\nThe American people\u2019s support for unions is surging. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, 70 percent of Americans approve of labor unions \u2014 remaining at near record highs. Despite growing support for unions, coordinated attacks on workers\u2019 unions and labor laws have eroded union density and made it harder for workers to organize. The share of American workers who are union members has fallen from roughly one in three workers in 1956 to a new low of 9.9 percent in 2024. The PRO Act restores fairness to the economy by strengthening the federal law that protects workers\u2019 right to join a union and collectively bargain.\n\n\u201cStrong unions make for a strong middle class,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWhen workers come together in a union to collectively bargain, they get a voice on the job to fight for fair wages and benefits and safer working conditions. The PRO Act restores democracy on the job by strengthening workers\u2019 rights and clamping down on union-busting tactics so that those who want to form a union can do so and get to the business of securing better conditions in the workplace.\u201d\n\n\u201cLabor unions are extremely popular with Americans because they know being part of a union is the most effective way to gain better wages, health insurance, retirement security and a dignified life,\u201d said Cynthia Phinney, president of the Maine AFL-CIO. \u201cBut for too long, anti-worker policies and bad legal decisions have made it too easy for employers to crack down on our rights and retaliate against working people forming unions because the penalties for breaking labor laws are just absorbed as a cost of doing business. The PRO Act would level the playing field and allow workers to freely choose to join a union and bargain for a better life. We applaud Congressman Jared Golden for his consistent support for this critical reform that will hold union-busting corporations accountable, repeal anti-worker laws, and remove barriers to organizing and bargaining.\u201d\n\n\"Unions are essential for a fairer economy. Unions don\u2019t just help their own members \u2014 They also push wages and benefits higher for everyone,\u201d said Arthur Phillips, economic policy analyst at the Maine Center for Economic Policy. \u201cThis helps close pay gaps, so people are treated more fairly at work. But federal labor law today falls woefully short in effectively enabling workers to organize and bargain union contracts, as shown by the wide gap between the number of workers who would vote to join a union and the number who are represented by one. The PRO Act would help close this gap. In the end, strong unions mean better pay, fairer workplaces and an economy that works for everyone \u2014 not just those at the top.\"\n\nLarge corporations and the wealthy continue to capture the rewards of a growing economy while working families and middle-class Americans are left behind. From 1979 to 2023, annual wages for the bottom 90 percent of households increased just 44 percent, while average incomes for the wealthiest 1 percent increased more than 180 percent.\n\nUnions are critical to increasing wages and creating a strong economy that rewards working people. Through the power of bargaining, the typical union worker earns 16 percent more than the typical non-union worker.\n\nThe PRO Act protects the basic right to join a union by:\n\nHolds employers accountable for violating workers\u2019 rights by authorizing meaningful penalties, facilitating initial collective bargaining agreements, and closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors.\n\nEmpowers workers to exercise their right to organize by strengthening support for workers who suffer retaliation for exercising their rights, protecting workers\u2019 right to support secondary boycotts, ensuring workers\u2019 unions can collect \u201cfair share\u201d fees, and authorizing a private right of action for violation of workers\u2019 rights.\n\nSecures free, fair, and safe union elections by preventing employers from interfering in union elections, prohibiting captive audience meetings, and requiring employers to be transparent with their workers.\n\nGolden has been a cosponsor of the PRO Act in every Congress since he was first elected in 2018. He helped bring the bill to the House floor in 2020 and 2021, when it passed with bipartisan support. The bill has never received a vote in the Senate.\n\nGolden continues to stand in support of workers\u2019 rights and encourages both chambers to pass the PRO Act this Congress.\n\nFor the bill text of the PRO Act, click here.\n\nFor a fact sheet on the PRO Act, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-hospice-recertification-flexibility-act", "Golden, colleagues introduce bipartisan Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act", "2025-03-05", "2025", "2025-03", "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) announced today the introduction of the bipartisan Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act, which allows hospice providers to use telehealth to conduct the face-to-face visit required for terminally ill patients to continue receiving hospice services after 180 days of hospice care. This provision complies with existing hospice telehealth rules and makes sure that patients can continue receiving the care they need at the end of their lives.\n\nJoining Golden in introducing the bill are Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Don Davis (D-NC), Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Joe Morelle (D-NY).\n\n\u201cHospice care exists to provide comfort and compassion during what can be a heartbreaking time. Virtual visits make those services accessible for more people, especially those in rural communities, for whom the nearest hospice facility may be far from home,\" Congressman Golden said. \u201cThis is important, bipartisan work on behalf of families with more than enough on their plates, and I\u2019m determined to see these telehealth provisions extended.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been a distinct pleasure to work with Rep. Golden on this important bipartisan legislation. The use of technology to facilitate timely access to health care has become an important aspect of delivering health care in America. This is especially true for patients and families living in rural and frontier communities, where telehealth has become vitally important to access quality health care, including hospice. While technology will never replace the value of in-person health care interactions, I am grateful that Rep. Golden is taking the lead in Congress to make sure that telehealth technology remains an important and additional tool to help Maine patients and providers,\u201d said Ken Albert, President and Chief Executive Officer of Andwell Health Partners, which provides hospice care in Maine, and chairman of the board for the National Alliance for Care at Home, the largest trade association and advocacy organization for home health and hospice.\n\n\u201cAs patients enter into hospice care, it\u2019s important they can remain in the comfort of their own home as they receive treatment. That\u2019s why I am reintroducing the Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act to allow hospice providers to use telehealth to conduct the face-to-face visits required for hospice recertification. This bill will make it easier for hospice providers by extending access to telehealth as a way for them to continue offering critical care and to monitor the health of their patients,\u201d Congresswoman Miller said.\n\n\u201cTelehealth flexibilities are essential for hospice providers to deliver the highest quality care to patients in the comfort of their homes,\u201d said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home. \u201cThe Alliance extends its gratitude to Reps. Miller and Golden for their leadership on this critical issue. Their thoughtful legislation not only ensures continued access to care for vulnerable patients, but also, through effective guardrails, supports program integrity and stops bad actors attempting to abuse the Medicare Hospice Benefit.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) is pleased to offer our strong support of the Hospice Recertification Flexibility Act,\u201d said Masako Mayahara, PhD, RN, FAAN, CHPN, FPCN, President of HPNA, and Ginger Marshall MSN, ACNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, and CEO of HPNA. \u201cWe commend Reps. Miller and Golden for their leadership on this legislation to extend telehealth flexibilities for hospice and look forward to working together to advance this issue that directly impacts our nearly 8,000 members and the patients they serve across the country.\u201d\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-colleagues-introduce-john-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act", "Golden, colleagues introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act", "2025-03-05", "2025", "2025-03", "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) today reintroduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act along with other lawmakers in the House. The bill would protect the right to vote by preventing discriminatory or overly restrictive voting laws at the state level.\n\n\u201cJohn Lewis once said that the right to vote is the most powerful instrument in democratic society. I remain committed to defending it,\u201d Golden said. \u201cNo matter who you are, what you look like or where you live, this bill solidifies protections that ensure you\u2019ll get fair access to the ballot box \u2014 as well as the awesome power that provides.\u201d\n\nWith its 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, the Supreme Court repealed core provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, including the formula used to determine which states and jurisdictions were required to preclear new voting laws with the Department of Justice (DOJ) or a federal court. Since then, state legislatures across the country have considered thousands \u2014 and passed numerous \u2014 restrictions to voting access that would have previously required federal approval, such as polling place reductions and curbs to early voting.\n\nThe John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would require states with a recent history of discriminatory, restrictive voting laws to preclear proposed changes to election practices with the DOJ or U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Governments conducting elections where minority groups meet certain thresholds would also be mandated to preclear new election laws and redistricting efforts.\n\nIn addition, governments would be required to provide public notices of changes in elections practices \u2014 such as relocation of polling places or redistricting \u2014 by varying deadlines depending on the change.\n\nGolden has championed reforms to make U.S. elections more clean, fair, and equal throughout his time in Congress. He cosponsored the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in previous terms, and introduced legislation in January to establish a bipartisan electoral reform select committee tasked with, among other goals, exploring efforts to expand voting rights for voters who don\u2019t identify a political party.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-king-denounce-mass-layoffs-at-va-demand-answers-on-plan-for-veterans-care", "Golden, King Denounce Mass Layoffs at VA, Demand Answers on Plan for Veterans\u2019 Care", "2025-03-04", "2025", "2025-03", "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) and Senator Angus King (I-ME) today sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Douglas Collins demanding accountability for recent mass layoffs at the agency and calling on the administration to uphold its commitment to veterans\u2019 health and well-being.\n\nA recent series of indiscriminate VA layoffs \u201cwill harm our nation\u2019s veterans\u2026\u201d Golden and King wrote. \u201c... Across-the-board layoffs exacerbate an already tenuous workforce shortage where employees are being asked to work overtime to cover unfilled positions.\u201d\n\nOver the last month, 2,400 VA employees \u2014 many veterans themselves \u2014 have been abruptly laid off across the country. The latest round of firings last week included seven employees at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta.\n\nWhile termination emails commonly explained that the decision was due to the employee\u2019s \u201cpoor performance,\u201d often these same individuals consistently received exemplary reviews throughout their careers at the VA.\n\nIn their letter, Golden and King specifically called on the VA to explain what steps were taken to ensure layoffs would not impact veterans\u2019 care, what processes were used to determine \u201cpoor performance\u201d after positive internal reviews, and whether additional layoffs are expected.\n\nAs members of the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees, respectively, Golden and King will continue advocating for the critical care America\u2019s veterans earned through their service.\n\nA copy of the lawmakers\u2019 letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nMarch 4, 2025\n\nThe Honorable Douglas Collins\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Veterans Affairs\n\n810 Vermont Ave, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20420\n\nDear Secretary Collins\n\nWe write with the utmost concern regarding a series of directives being carried out by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government E\ufb03ciency (DOGE) that will harm our nation\u2019s veterans.\n\nIn early February, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) laid off 1,000 employees in positions that were deemed \u201cnon-mission critical.\u201d Recently, the VA laid off another 1,400 employees on similar grounds. Across-the-board layoffs exacerbate an already tenuous workforce shortage where employees are being asked to work overtime to cover unfilled positions.\n\nThe VA has fired qualified employees who provide essential services to veterans for alleged \u201cpoor performance\u201d yet, many of the fired employees were described as meeting and exceeding the duties of their job description in their reviews. Additionally, many of the employees who have been fired are veterans themselves.\n\nWith regard to those concerns, we ask you to provide us with answers to the following questions by March 7:\n\n1. The VA has publicly stated that the recent layoffs will have no effect on veterans\u2019 healthcare. What steps has the agency taken to determine that these actions will have no adverse impact?\n\n2. Poor performance has been commonly used as the reasoning for the firings. What processes are used to reconcile differing performance opinions between the DOGE and the VA\u2019s supervisors?\n\n3. Does the VA plan to terminate additional employees within the next 90 days? If so, what criteria will be used and how many employees are at risk of being terminated?\n\nWe expect the Trump Administration and the DOGE to uphold its commitment and continue to prioritize the health and well-being of our veterans.\n\nWe appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-rutherford-reintroduce-the-bipartisan-ffl-protection-act", "Golden, Rutherford, reintroduce the bipartisan FFL Protection Act", "2025-03-04", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and John H. Rutherford (FL-05) reintroduced H.R. 1773, the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, to increase penalties for robbing or burglarizing Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) dealers. They were joined by 42 additional cosponsors in the House.\n\nAccording to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there were over 361 burglaries and robberies of FFL dealers in 2023. During this period, 4,802 firearms were stolen, an 11% increase over 2022. Many of these firearms later show up at crime scenes.\n\n\u201cOur gun laws should protect law-abiding citizens exercising their 2nd Amendment rights, but throw the book at violent criminals and illegal firearm traffickers,\u201d said Golden. \u201cBy increasing penalties on those who steal guns from licensed sellers, the bipartisan Federal Firearms Licensee Protection Act will deter gun thieves and clamp down on the black market. That\u2019s bad news for criminals, and good news for upstanding American gun owners.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs crime rises across the nation, additional steps must be taken to prevent criminals from stealing and trafficking firearms,\u201d said Rutherford. \u201cCriminals who burglarize FFL dealers then traffic those stolen firearms and use them to commit crimes. As a former sheriff and lifelong member of law enforcement, I know the threat these stolen firearms pose to the safety and security of our communities. That\u2019s why I am proud to reintroduce the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act to ensure those who rob and burglarize federally licensed gun dealers face harsher penalties for committing these crimes.\u201d\n\n\"This bipartisan legislation is what true gun safety looks like. Congress is sending a clear message that the safety of our communities is nonnegotiable and targeting firearm retailers to steal guns in order to commit further crimes is intolerable,\" said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF. \"The firearm industry is grateful to Congressmen John Rutherford and Jared Golden for reaching across the aisle to provide those firearm retailers who follow the law the protection they deserve. This legislation assigns the responsibility for crime where it belongs - with the criminal. These are real solutions that make our communities safer.\"\n\nPenalties would include a minimum sentence of three years in prison for burglary and five years in prison for robbery. Additionally, this legislation would double the statutory maximum penalty for stealing a firearm from a FFL\u2019s inventory from 10 to 20 years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-ongoing-war-in-ukraine", "Golden statement on ongoing war in Ukraine", "2025-03-04", "2025", "2025-03", "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 the following statement regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine:\n\n\u201cUkrainians have fought bravely against Russian aggression, but a protracted war of attrition is likely to make the ultimate outcome for Ukraine worse, not better. If the Ukrainians still have the will to fight, no one will be able to force a peace deal on them that they don\u2019t like. But if peace is on the table, as President Zelenskyy indicated just today, then he should do what it takes to strengthen his hand in negotiating a deal his people can accept. One way to do that is to call and win a new election \u2014 to show the world he has the mandate to negotiate on behalf of his people. Pushing for peace is appropriate for President Trump, but whatever he does to help bring an end to this war should keep in mind the truth that Russia has been, and continues to be, a threat to America.\u201d\n\nCongressman Golden shared his thoughts in greater detail today on his Substack, Dear Mainer.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-to-welcome-retired-lewiston-police-corporal-as-guest-to-trump-s-address-at-joint-session-of-congress", "Golden to welcome retired Lewiston Police corporal as guest to Trump\u2019s address at joint session of Congress", "2025-03-04", "2025", "2025-03", "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) will welcome retired Lewiston Police corporal Jeffrey Baril to Washington, D.C., Tuesday as his guest to President Donald Trump\u2019s address to a joint session of Congress.\n\n\u201cPublic service like that provided by Cpl. Baril transcends partisanship and politics,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWhether he was responding to violent crime or inspecting abandoned, derelict apartment buildings to help prevent fires like those that devastated our city in 2013, Baril dedicated himself to the people of Lewiston over his long career with the Lewiston Police Department and Code Enforcement office. I\u2019m proud to welcome him as my guest to the first presidential address to Congress of President Trump\u2019s second term.\u201d\n\nBaril, like Golden, is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the Marines after high school and served two years of active duty before going on active reserve. He joined the Lewiston Police Department in 1989 but was called back to active duty during the first Gulf War in 1991. After serving in Kuwait, he returned to the Lewiston PD, where he eventually obtained the rank of corporal and retired in 2014.\n\nBaril is a resident of Sabattus, where he raised three children who have continued his tradition of service as a registered nurse, a teacher, and a mental health technician.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cloud-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-ban-stock-trading-by-senior-executive-branch-officials", "Golden, Cloud introduce bipartisan bill to ban stock trading by senior executive branch officials", "2025-03-03", "2025", "2025-03", "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) and Michael Cloud (TX-27) recently introduced the Dismantling Investments in Violation of Ethical Standards through Trusts (DIVEST) Act. The bipartisan bill would prohibit senior executive branch employees and their immediate families from trading individual stocks while serving in government \u2014 a push that builds on Golden\u2019s existing efforts to ban stock trading by members of Congress.\n\nSpecifically, the DIVEST Act would force the president, vice president and other senior executive branch officials \u2014 as well as their spouses and dependent children \u2014 to place qualified investments such as stocks into a blind trust within 180 days of taking office. The bill includes fines for noncompliance.\n\n\u201cPublic service means putting the common good before personal gain. Senior executive officials have access to information that most Americans do not. Trading on that information is wrong, and even the appearance of insider trading undermines peoples\u2019 faith that their government actually works for them,\u201d Congressman Golden said. \u201cWhile we continue to push for a ban on individual stock trading for Members of Congress, it\u2019s beyond time to hold executive branch leaders accountable to their duty and I\u2019m proud to help lead the bipartisan effort to do so with Congressman Cloud.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic servants should serve the people \u2014 not their stock portfolios,\u201d Congressman Cloud said. \u201cAmericans deserve to know that the officials regulating industries and setting policies aren\u2019t making decisions based on personal financial gain.\u201d\n\nThroughout his time in Congress, Golden has championed reducing corruption and ensuring that public officials act in the public interest. In addition to leading both the DIVEST Act and legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress last session, he introduced the Stop Foreign Payoffs Act \u2014 which would ban leaders in the legislative and executive branches from the widespread practice of earning a salary or holding investments in foreign businesses while in office.\n\nHis comprehensive Government Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan also includes new guardrails for government officials, efforts to reign in foreign influence and increase transparency in elections, and steps to reduce power of money in politics. Readouts of each bill and a detailed one-pager can be found on his website.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is included here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-against-house-gop-plan-to-gut-health-care-blow-up-deficit-to-fund-tax-cuts-for-the-rich", "Golden votes against House GOP plan to gut health care, blow up deficit to fund tax cuts for the rich", "2025-02-25", "2025", "2025-02", "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 tonight against a budget resolution introduced by House Republicans that set the stage for harmful health care cuts, more deficit spending and tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.\n\n\u201cMore than 160,000 working-class Mainers in the 2nd Congressional District rely on the ACA and Medicaid, and this budget resolution puts their health care on the chopping block to fund tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy and corporations,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWhat\u2019s more, this bill adds trillions to the federal debt, which is already threatening to crowd out critical programs like Medicare and Social Security. Americans deserve and Congress can do better than harmful cuts, irresponsible deficit spending and unnecessary tax cuts for those at the top.\u201d\n\nThe bill narrowly passed the house in a 217-215 vote.\n\nThe House GOP has made extending tax cuts enacted in 2017 its top priority in the reconciliation process this year. While Golden supports extending tax benefits for working families, extending the full 2017 tax package will cost $4.5 trillion, with roughly half the benefit going to households with annual income over $450,000. The Treasury Department found that extending the tax cuts would give an average annual tax cut of more than $32,000 for those in the top 1 percent, while working families will only get a few hundred dollars in tax cuts per year.\n\nThe budget resolution passed by the House would pay for those tax cuts, in part, with $2 trillion in spending cuts. The largest share of the cuts would be determined by the committee that oversees health care spending, and a menu of proposed cuts circulated by GOP leaders targeted Medicaid and ACA premium tax credits, which make marketplace plans affordable for Mainers.\n\nThe resolution also queues up $2.8 trillion in deficit spending, which is estimated to require an additional $600 billion in debt servicing costs. Interest on the debt costs the federal government more every year than on national defense or Medicare. It is second only to Social Security as an annual line item in the federal budget.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-golden-warns-against-politicization-of-the-us-armed-forces", "Rep. Golden warns against politicization of the U.S. Armed Forces", "2025-02-21", "2025", "2025-02", "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 joined a bipartisan group of House military veterans demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about reports that the Trump administration is currently circulating a list of names of General and Flag Officers from the United States Armed Forces that are under consideration for dismissal.\n\nThe letter was sent this morning by U.S. Reps. Golden, Seth Moulton (D-MA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jason Crow (D-CO), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ). Each served in the military and sits alongside Golden on the House Armed Services Committee.\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow the politicization of the U.S. military,\u201d Golden said. \u201cEvery man and woman in uniform takes an oath to the U.S. Constitution. A strict dedication to that oath is endangered if we allow their continued service to be subjected to tests of political loyalty. These General and Flag officers have been confirmed by the Senate and served admirably under administrations from both parties. Every member of the armed service, and the American people, deserve assurances that the most lethal and most ethical military the world has ever known will continue to perform its duties without regard for politics.\u201d\n\nFlag Officers are the most senior officers of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. General Officers are the most senior officers in the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. The letter requests detailed responses on the specifics of the dismissal evaluation process, how these decisions are being made and under what authority, who is choosing the names on this list, and how the officers are being notified of their dismissal.\n\nThe veteran lawmakers conclude their letter with a warning: \u201cAn apolitical military is an essential component of our democracy and our national security.\u201d\n\nThe full letter is pasted below:\n\nFebruary 21, 2025\n\nPeter B. Hegseth\n\nSecretary of Defense\n\n1000 Defense Pentagon\n\nWashington, DC 20301\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth,\n\nWe write regarding recent reporting from numerous sources that your Administration is currently circulating a list of names of General and Flag Officers from the United States Armed Forces that are under consideration for dismissal.\n\nWe recognize that commissioned military officers serve at the pleasure of the President, and that the President retains the authority to dismiss them. This authority is a fundamental component of civilian control of the military, which is essential to democracy and the rule of law.\n\nWe also recognize that all military servicemembers at every level swear an oath to the Constitution of the United States, not to any one person or institution. This oath is sacred and apolitical.\n\nThe General and Flag Officers of this country are patriots who have dedicated their lives to the defense of the United States. Most, if not all, of the current three- and four-star General and Flag officers were General or Flag Officers under the first Trump administration and all have served honorably under many administrations of both parties. They are capable, competent, and deeply professional individuals. They take seriously their charge to carry out the political will of the people, and to provide their best professional military advice in furtherance of those objectives in accordance with the laws of armed conflict. Each of them has been confirmed by the United States Senate repeatedly over the course of their careers.\n\nAs your administration contemplates removing numerous General and Flag Officers, it is vital that we have transparency on the criteria and process used to evaluate these officers. There are valid reasons to remove a General or Flag Officer, but there must be clear, transparent, and apolitical criteria and processes associated with any such dismissal.\n\nAs such, we request answers to the following questions before your administration dismisses any General or Flag Officer:\n\nDescribe in detail the process by which General and Flag Officers are being evaluated for dismissal, including if all General and Flag Officers will be reviewed, how General and Flag Officers were nominated for review, which elements of an Officer\u2019s written record will be reviewed, if Officers will be interviewed, and by whom.\n\nWho has the authority to recommend names to the president for dismissal? List, by name and position, all individuals involved in making recommendations to the President on Officers to be dismissed.\n\nList any and all factors that would lead the officials named in response to (2) to recommend dismissal.\n\nDescribe the process by which the justification for dismissal is communicated to the General or Flag Officer, and any forms of redress available to them should that include factually incorrect information.\n\nAn apolitical military is an essential component of our democracy and our national security. We appreciate your prompt reply.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-bill-to-replace-child-tax-credit-with-larger-monthly-payments-to-support-families-with-children", "Golden introduces bill to replace Child Tax Credit with larger, monthly payments to support families with children", "2025-02-13", "2025", "2025-02", "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 introduced legislation to create a new social insurance program for families with children, providing monthly per-child payments to help families afford the costs associated with raising kids and empower Americans to start and grow families how and when they want.\n\nThe bill, the Family Income Supplemental Credit (FISC) Act, would replace the poorly targeted Child Tax Credit (CTC) with a new, more impactful program. Roughly 95 percent of families \u2014 all but the very wealthiest \u2014 would receive as much or more under FISC than they currently receive under the CTC.\n\n\u201cFamily is the backbone of society. But stagnant wages make it hard to support kids, and a lack of economic stability prevents some couples from even trying to have the children they want. For instance, it\u2019s common for most or even all of one parent\u2019s income to go toward the cost of child care,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe current approach is poorly targeted and poorly timed. It gives too much to wealthy families and not enough to working class people, and it\u2019s distributed as a lump sum through the tax code once a year, even as families have to meet a budget every month.\n\n\u201cIn the richest country in the world, people should be able to have kids without fear of going broke,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIt\u2019s time we fundamentally rethink our approach to supporting families. My legislation will give Americans the tools they need to start or grow their families on their own terms \u2014 no one else\u2019s.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrong and thriving families are the most important bedrock of American prosperity and liberty. Good leaders understand that,\u201d Oren Cass, chief economist for American Compass said. \u201cThey also understand that starting and raising a family has become unaffordable for too many people, and that most parenting-age Americans want their elected leaders to do something about it. The FISC Act is a tremendous step forward in Washington, where a long-overdue bipartisan consensus is finally emerging: working families with children need help, and our national policy should deliver it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupporting parents in their work of raising children is an essential function of our federal tax code, and Congressman Golden\u2019s new bill is an exciting and innovative entry into the conversation around how best to advance a pro-family policy agenda,\u201d Patrick T. Brown, fellow for the Ethics and Public Policy Center said.\n\nThe FISC would provide a monthly per-child benefit to mothers and parents from the fifth month of pregnancy until the child\u2019s 18th birthday. Monthly payments would be processed by the Social Security Administration. Per-child monthly payments would be largest during pregnancy and taper as the child grows older \u2014 $800 for expecting mothers from the fifth month of pregnancy, $400 from birth to age 6, and $250 from age 6 to 18.\n\nA single parent of a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old, earning the median Maine income, would receive up to $650 monthly through the FISC \u2014 a total benefit more than twice what the CTC delivers. Click here for additional family scenarios.\n\nUnder Golden\u2019s proposal, benefits are capped at the filer's annual income. If a parent loses their job, they remain eligible for benefits for up to a year \u2014 preventing the loss of benefits when their household needs help the most, and giving families a cushion while they find a new job. The FISC is also targeted at low- and middle-income families, with a rapid phase out starting at $125,000 in annual income for single filers and $250,000 for couples. The CTC currently does not begin to phase out until $400,000 of income. Married households that file jointly are eligible for a 20 percent bonus.\n\nFor more information, including full legislative text, family scenarios, and a detailed policy summary, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-inform-act-to-improve-postal-service-transparency", "Golden introduces INFORM Act to improve Postal Service transparency", "2025-02-12", "2025", "2025-02", "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), alongside Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), this week introduced the Instituting Notification Formalities on Reorganizing Mail (INFORM) Act of 2025 to improve transparency and accountability within USPS.\n\nThis bill responds to USPS\u2019s failure to properly notify customers about significant reforms under its Delivering for America (DFA) Plan, which has exacerbated delays and increased costs, particularly in rural areas. The INFORM Act enhances transparency by requiring USPS to post physical notices in affected post offices when requesting an advisory opinion from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), ensuring the public is informed about proposed changes, impacts, timelines, and opportunities for input.\n\n\u201cOver several years, Mainers have been blindsided by proposed changes to postal operations that would undermine service and delivery times, particularly in rural Maine,\u201d said Rep. Golden. \u201cUSPS is slow to respond to questions from the public, routinely refuses to share information, and gives short notice of new proposals or public comment deadlines. Mainers, through great effort, have nonetheless successfully fought off closures and consolidation, but it shouldn\u2019t be this hard. I am happy to work with Rep. Hageman on the INFORM Act, to bring greater transparency and give the pubic more opportunities to speak up and be heard.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have heard from USPS employees and customers in Wyoming frustrated by postal service disruptions with no clear resolution in sight,\u201d said Rep. Hageman. \u201cThe Postal Regulatory Commission found that the Delivering for America plan would negatively impact Wyoming and other rural states, yet USPS continues to pursue these changes without properly informing the public. One glaring example from the Advisory Opinion reveals that mail sent from central to western Wyoming would be diverted through four processing facilities in three different states, causing substantial delays. When mail service is disrupted, USPS customers\u2014who rely on it for everything from prescription medications to business operations\u2014deserve clear and timely notice. This bill helps protect Americans from being blindsided by future reforms.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-blue-dogs-push-house-gop-leaders-to-prioritize-fiscal-sustainability-not-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy", "Golden, Blue Dogs push House GOP leaders to prioritize fiscal sustainability, not tax cuts for the wealthy", "2025-02-11", "2025", "2025-02", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 With many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire this year, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and the House Blue Dog Coalition are urging House GOP leaders to reject deficit funding, prioritize targeted tax benefits to working- and middle-class families, and let costly tax cuts for the wealthy expire.\n\nIn a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, the Blue Dogs advocated against a blanket extension of TCJA and pushed for robust, bipartisan, and common-sense negotiations ahead of the budget reconciliation process.\n\n\u201cWe spent more on interest payments than on education, veterans, and transportation combined,\u201d the Blue Dogs wrote. \u201cExtending the TCJA would add over $600 billion in additional debt-servicing costs over the next decade, adding to the already unsustainable fiscal situation.\u201d\n\nRecently, the Congressional Budget Office found that fully extending the TCJA would add $4.6 trillion to the federal deficit over ten years, after accounting for interest. The Treasury Department also found that a blanket extension would disproportionately benefit the top 0.1 percent of earners (those earning more than $3.5 million), saving them over $300,000 in tax bills every year, compared to the benefit for the average household of $2,000.\n\n\u201cInstead of adding to the national debt and exacerbating Congress\u2019 unsustainable budgeting issues while mostly helping the wealthiest people in the country, we believe that the expiration of the TCJA presents an opportunity to pursue a bipartisan, budget-neutral solution that supports everyday people,\u201d the Blue Dogs continued. \u201cThis can be achieved by a targeted extension of the TCJA tax benefits for the working and middle class\u2014Americans who need them the most. These tax cuts should be offset by a mix of spending cuts and increased revenue to make sure everyone pays their fair share.\u201d\n\nYou can read the full text of the letter HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/king-golden-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-develop-future-workforce-in-maine-s-forest-products-industry", "King, Golden introduce bipartisan, bicameral bill to develop future workforce in Maine\u2019s forest products industry", "2025-02-11", "2025", "2025-02", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today reintroduced the Future Logging Careers Act, which would develop the next generation of Maine\u2019s forest products workforce by allowing young Mainers to safely train in their family\u2019s logging business. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) are original cosponsors of the bill.\n\n\u201cFor centuries, logging has been synonymous with the success of Maine \u2014 creating good jobs, supporting proud, hard-working families and boosting local rural economies,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAs we prepare for the next generation of Maine loggers, we should provide opportunities for young people to explore this exciting field in a safe and supervised way. The bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act would give aspiring, young loggers the option to jumpstart their career, get valuable hands-on experience, and begin critical training by logging with their parents or grandparents. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in working to expand good job opportunities and further build upon our state\u2019s rich forest heritage.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s working forests are a distinct part of our identity, thanks to the passionate work of generations today and past,\u201d Congressman Golden said. \u201cTo carry on that proud tradition, young Mainers need the personal investment that comes only from experiencing something with your own two hands \u2014 an opportunity that this bipartisan legislation would finally create.\u201d\n\nMaine\u2019s 16.3 million acres of contiguous, privately-owned working forest is the largest such in the United States. Its forest products industry \u2014 which includes both logging and downstream manufacturing, such as pulp and paper production \u2014 generates $8.5 billion in annual economic activity and employs more than 30,000 people according to the most recently available data.\n\nHowever, the industry faces questions about its future because of its older workforce. Within the next ten years, an estimated 20-40 percent of forest product workers will reach retirement age \u2014 a trend that requires experienced young Mainers who can step into those roles.\n\nThe Future Careers in Logging Act will jumpstart that professional development and protect small businesses long-term by allowing 16-year-olds to work in their family\u2019s logging business under parental supervision \u2014 something already possible on farms but illegal in the logging industry. It would also ensure that use of the most dangerous equipment, such as manual chainsaws, is still prohibited until the age of 18.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s logging industry is an integral part of our economy and continues to be the primary economic driver of many rural communities throughout our state. The industry relies on mechanized equipment, and it can take a year or more of training before an operator is able to operate these machines. To alleviate the worker shortage, provide good jobs, and keep the forest products industry strong, it is essential that the next generation be prepared for the logging profession,\u201d Senator Collins said. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation would help parents who own logging businesses to pass down their skills to their children and teach them how to safely harvest timber.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the most forested state in the nation, the logging industry has long been key to generations of rural Maine families. Maine has a history of family-run, small logging operations that rely on their children and grandchildren to keep their businesses alive,\u201d Congresswoman Pingree said. \u201cWe must allow young people across Maine to safely learn the craft from their family members as they prepare for good paying jobs in the forest products industry. The Future Logging Careers Act will encourage young Mainers to begin their careers in a heritage Maine industry and help grow the workforce as many loggers reach retirement age.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe logging and forest trucking industry has a proud history in Maine and the rest of the Northeast but faces an uncertain future without common-sense Congressional action on issues like this one\u201d Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) said.\u201cSmall family businesses that have been passed down from generation to generation are the bedrock of this industry, providing jobs and opportunity to thousands of citizens while contributing to rural economies. The Future Logging Careers Act will ensure that these businesses can sustain themselves for the long term and we commend Representative Golden and Senator King for their leadership and persistence in reintroducing this legislation and continuing to fight for the industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe timber industry is traditionally a multi-generational business where the skills and knowledge are passed on from one generation to the next. This succession process is critical to ensuring that the timber industry infrastructure remains viable to support public and private healthy forest management, rural jobs, wildfire mitigation, and U.S. made forest products,\u201d Scott Dane, Executive Director of the American Loggers Council said. \u201cThe Future Logging Careers Act will afford the timber industry sector of the agricultural economy the same opportunities and benefits currently extended to the family farm. Workforce development is critical to maintaining the resources necessary to provide the forest management services required to meet the U.S. sustainable healthy forests objectives for today and the future. The American Loggers Council appreciates the bipartisan/bicameral sponsorship of Senator Risch (ID) and Senator King (ME), and Representative Golden (ME) and Representative Thompson (PA), of the Future Logging Careers Act and their continued support of the American timber industry.\u201d\n\nThe group has led the Future Logging Careers Act in each of the last three Congresses. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Congressman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA) also helped introduce the legislation.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-celebrates-repeal-of-lobster-gauge-increase", "Golden celebrates repeal of lobster gauge increase", "2025-02-04", "2025", "2025-02", "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 today regarding the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission\u2019s (ASMFC) vote today to repeal a proposed increase in the minimum size requirement for lobster caught in the Gulf of Maine:\n\n\u201cAny day regulators listen to the lobstermen is a good day for Maine,\u201d Golden said. \u201cToday\u2019s decision by ASMFC is a direct result of Maine harvesters\u2019 leadership in pushing back against this drastic and unnecessary rule change. I\u2019m proud to have stood with those Mainers to advocate for their industry and will continue to stand with them to ensure they have a seat at the table in assessing stock data and deciding what regulations \u2014 if any \u2014 are needed in the Gulf of Maine. No one is more invested in the future of our fishery than they are.\u201d\n\nThe ASMFC vote today comes roughly one month after Maine\u2019s Department of Marine Resources (DMR), facing sustained pressure from Maine\u2019s lobster industry, announced it would not implementthe new gauge increase. New Hampshire quickly followed suit.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nLobstermen use a gauge to measure each lobster\u2019s carapace from eye socket to tail. Under current rules, those that are smaller than the minimum gauge size of 3.25 inches must be put back in the water so they can grow, protecting the lobster population for the future.\n\nIn 2024, data from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) indicated lobster stock had declined by more than 35 percent in Lobster Management Area 1, the largest management area in the Maine fishery, triggering the need for new conservation measures. DMR proposed a gauge increase of one-sixteenth of one inch \u2014 two times larger than the last gauge increase 30 years ago.\n\nMaine fishermen have questioned the data used to justify these changes, including concerns that ASMFC stock data is out of date. In addition to questions about the reliability of the data, Golden and Maine fishermen have raised concerns about how an increased minimum size requirement would put Maine lobstermen at a competitive disadvantage with Canadian harvesters.\n\nGolden is the only House member from the New England states to take up the lobstermen\u2019s cause regarding the proposed gauge increase. Working with lobstermen, he sent several letters to ASMFC urging the commission to block or delay the rule change, and drafted legislation in the last Congressto halt the increase pending newer, more reliable stock data.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-renews-push-to-secure-reopening-of-west-paris-post-office", "Golden renews push to secure reopening of West Paris Post Office", "2025-02-04", "2025", "2025-02", "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 demanded answers from U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over the agency\u2019s delay in reopening the West Paris Post Office \u2014 which has been closed for nearly four years \u2014 despite having signed a new lease last August.\n\n\u201cI continue to hear almost daily from constituents whose lives are made harder by the lack of a post office in West Paris,\" Golden said. \u201cAt bare minimum, residents deserve to know how much longer they have to wait for the return of basic mail services in their own community. With the Postal Service having already signed a new lease \u2014 the originally stated reason for the closure \u2014 it\u2019s beyond time for the agency to show some real progress.\u201d\n\nIn his letter, Golden called on DeJoy to stop dodging questions and provide information and updates about the process for reestablishing services in West Paris.\n\nThe USPS closed the former post office in 2021 while the agency negotiated a new lease for the property. Golden, joined by postal workers and customers, repeatedly urged Postmaster General DeJoy to assure a new site would be secured due to local uncertainty it would ever return. They also demanded clear, transparent updates about the process. The USPS often ignored requests for information for months, and provided vague and noncommittal answers when they did respond.\n\nUSPS released its original timeline of a May 2024 reopening after Golden\u2019s inquiries, and he again contacted Postmaster General DeJoy directly when that deadline passed. Two months later, the agency announced that it had signed a lease to reopen the West Paris post office at the site of the former Ledgeview Living Center on 141 Bethel Road.\n\n\u201cThe long\u2010term disruption of service, of over 2.5 years, in this rural community of West Paris is unacceptable. The Postal Service has an obligation to provide service to everyone. The APWU of Maine applauds Congressman Jared Golden\u2019s advocacy for this community through persistent nquiries directed at Postmaster Louis Dejoy,\" said Selena Garside and Jennifer Garland, president and executive vice president, respectively, of the American Postal Workers Union of Maine. \u201cResidents of West Paris must travel 30 minutes or more, round trip, in the wintertime to access their P.O. Box mail, parcels and medications, purchase money orders and pay their bills. Rural small businesses, senior citizens, veterans and the entire community are suffering an extended and undue hardship, with increased cost of fuel and potential health risks of not receiving medication in a timely manner. Small Post Offices are an integral community resource. The West Paris community deserves expediency and transparency in getting this Post Office re\u2010opened.\u201d\n\nIn the face of efforts to diminish service and close rural post offices, Golden has worked to protect postal service for rural Mainers throughout his time in Congress. Following his outreach to Postmaster General DeJoy in 2023, USPS reopened its Etna facility that had been closed for more than two years. Last year, USPS announced that it was postponing plans to consolidate the Eastern Maine Processing & Distribution Facility in Hampden after bipartisan efforts led by Golden and other members of Congress.\n\nGolden\u2019s letter can be found here and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nFebruary 4, 2025\n\nMr. Louis DeJoy\n\nPostmaster General\n\nUnited States Postal Service\n\n75 L \u2019Enfant Plaza SW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20260-1000\n\nDear Postmaster General DeJoy:\n\nI am writing to you again to request a complete and thorough update on the construction and reopening of the West Paris Post Office, as well as to express my continued disappointment in the lack of transparency by the United States Postal Service (USPS). I continue to hear almost daily from my constituents who continue to be adversely impacted by the lack of an operating USPS facility in West Paris.\n\nAfter three years of uncertainty for West Paris and its surrounding communities, and following repeated outreach from me and my office, the USPS executed a lease for a new post office in West Paris on August 5th, 2024. At that time, your agency assured both me and my constituents that the renovations required to convert the building into a new post office \u2013 constructing a new lobby area and installing retail counters specific to the facility would take two hundred and seventy-five days. Following this stage of renovations, the USPS must then install equipment necessary for the daily operation of the facility that takes an unspecified amount of time. Yet, when pressed for further information to better understand how long installation of this equipment at similar projects has taken, the USPS was less than forthcoming, putting any indication of an on-time reopening into question.\n\nSince those inquiries, my team and I continue to experience the same lack of transparency and an\n\nunwillingness to share minor details that my constituents have become accustomed to when attempting to gather information from the USPS. That is why I am once again reaching out to you in the hopes of providing communities I represent with much-needed clarity as to when they can expect postal services to be accessible to them at the West Paris facility.\n\nTo that end, I ask the following:\n\nWhat is the average amount of time it takes for USPS to renovate, install, and reopen a post office building?\n\nWhat factors have inhibited the Postal Service from being able to provide substantive updates of the progress of an ongoing renovation and installation process?\n\nGiven the USPS operated a post office in West Paris previously, where did the Postal Service relocate the equipment from the previous office during the three years it has been closed?\n\nWhat is the current status of the West Paris Post Office? Has USPS finished renovating the building? Has USPS started installing the necessary equipment?\n\nWhat Congressional action is necessary to assist the Postal Service in its process to reopen a facility?\n\nI sincerely hope that the town of West Paris can celebrate the reopening of its post office before we recognize the fourth anniversary of its closure. The Town\u2019s residents and those in the surrounding communities deserve timely and efficient service from the United States Postal Service.\n\nI appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:42:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-president-trump-s-new-tariffs", "Golden statement on President Trump\u2019s new tariffs", "2025-02-01", "2025", "2025-02", "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 regarding President Trump\u2019s imposition of new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump campaigned on tariffs as a tool to level the playing field between American workers and industries and our foreign competitors,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI don\u2019t agree with Trump on everything, but he\u2019s right that the old deal stinks, and we need a new one.\u201d\n\n\u201cTariffs push back against decades of free trade and globalization that prioritized low prices above all else. It was a race to the bottom that left America deep in trade debt and dependent on foreign nations and gutted our manufacturing sector, domestic supply chains, and entire middle-class communities.\n\n\u201cBy privileging our own production and industries \u2014 something other countries already do \u2014 tariffs can help us rewire our economy for production, not just consumption. We can incentivize job creation and manufacturing while leveling the playing field and rebalancing our trade. These tariffs are also a leveraging tool to help crack down on the deadly flow of fentanyl into our country.\n\n\u201cReversing the damage of decades of globalization will take time. In the meanwhile, every dollar raised in tariff revenue should be used to offset costs for Americans or invest in and protect American jobs and industries. Paired with increased energy production, support for unions, regulatory reform, and infrastructure investment, tariffs are one piece of the puzzle for building a strong, production-based economy that works for working families.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:38:04Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/in-lewiston-golden-lauds-school-districts-efforts-to-integrate-locally-produced-foods-into-school-lunch-offerings", "In Lewiston, Golden lauds school districts\u2019 efforts to integrate locally produced foods into school lunch offerings", "2025-01-30", "2025", "2025-01", "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) met at Edward Little High School yesterday with staff from the Lewiston, Auburn and Lisbon school districts, as well as nonprofits Full Plates Full Potential and Maine Equal Justice, to discuss the districts\u2019 effort to integrate more locally grown and harvested foods into school food programs.\n\n\u201cKids in these schools are eating Maine potatoes and haddock, thanks to the creative work of these three school districts and their efforts to create a school-based local food production hub,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThese outside-the-box efforts are strengthening local supply chains, supporting local producers and getting nutritious food onto students\u2019 plates. I applaud all those involved.\u201d\n\nFull Plates Full Potential is leading the local effort to improve school nutrition by opening shared food processing centers in Maine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is supporting their work with a $7.4 million School Food System Innovation Grant.\n\nGolden also discussed the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in ensuring Maine children have access to adequate, nutritious food. One in five Maine childrenexperience hunger, which is linked to worsened academic performance, increased health problems, and stunted development.\n\nGolden has been committed to tackling childhood food insecurity throughout his time in Congress. During his first term, he helped lead a bipartisan push to cut red tape that made it harder for schools to prepare and deliver food during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also part of the successful effort to increase SNAP benefits by 15 percent during the first year of the pandemic.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-appointed-to-house-natural-resources-subcommittees-on-fisheries-energy-federal-lands", "Golden appointed to House Natural Resources subcommittees on fisheries, energy, federal lands", "2025-01-24", "2025", "2025-01", "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) has been appointed to serve on three subcommittees of the House Natural Resources Committee \u2014 the subcommittees on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries; Energy and Mineral Resources; and Federal Lands.\n\n\u201cMy position on these subcommittees gives me pole position to dig in and shape policies that affect Maine workers, consumers and visitors to our great state,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIn these roles, I will prioritize our heritage fisheries, champion domestic energy production while minimizing the risk of harm to Maine\u2019s natural resources and economy, and advocate for funding and regulations that promote public recreation and economic development on federally owned lands.\u201d\n\nThe Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries is responsible for matters concerning America\u2019s fisheries management, water resources, federal irrigation projects and generation of electric power from federal water projects.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources oversees American energy production and mining on federal lands \u2013 both onshore and offshore.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Federal Lands is responsible for all matters related to the National Park System, U.S. Forests, federal lands and national monuments.\n\nGolden was appointed to serve his first term on the House Committee on Natural Resources earlier this month. He also continues to serve on the House Armed Services Committee and its Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces and Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-van-drew-introduce-bill-to-guarantee-critical-gulf-of-maine-fishing-waters-are-protected-from-offshore-wind-development", "Golden, Van Drew introduce bill to guarantee critical Gulf of Maine fishing waters are protected from offshore wind development", "2025-01-23", "2025", "2025-01", "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 Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) today introduced the bipartisan Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025. The bill would prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA1), which includes nearly 14,000 square miles of nearshore fishing waters from the U.S.-Canada maritime border to the north shore of Cape Cod in Massachusetts.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s fishermen deserve to know that waters critical to our historic, high-value industry are protected \u2014 not by promises, but by federal law,\u201d Golden said. \u201cProtecting the bountiful natural resources of LMA1 from development will preserve our way of life, local economies and communities. President Trump\u2019s recent Executive Order provides some measure of reprieve, but we need a more permanent solution.\u201d\n\nEarlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting all leasing of federal waters for offshore wind development \u2014 a reversal of former President Joseph Biden\u2019s pro-offshore wind regime. The Northern Heritage Fisheries Protection Act of 2025 would take protections for Maine\u2019s fisheries out of the discretion of the chief executive and codify it into law.\n\n\u201cOffshore wind projects are a direct threat to our fisheries, marine ecosystems, and coastal communities,\u201d said Van Drew, the lead Republican co-sponsor of the bill. \u201cThey are expensive, destructive and outright unwanted. I am proud to be a co-lead on this bill to permanently protect these vital waters and ensure they are never sacrificed to these reckless developments.\u201d\n\nNearly 83 percent of lobster harvested in the Gulf of Maine is hauled by Maine lobstermen. In addition to lobster, LMA1 is a critical and highly productive fishing ground for halibut, tuna, flounder, redfish, black sea bass, monkfish, mackerel, rock and sand grab, mussels, hardshell and softshell clams, oysters, scallops, conchs and squid.\n\nWhile the Maine Legislature has enacted a ban on offshore wind development in state-controlled waters, Mainers harvest more than 20 million pounds of lobster from federal waters each year \u2014 a haul that could be threatened by the development of windfarms in LMA1.\n\n\"Since its inception, NEFSA has maintained steadfast opposition to offshore wind development, citing significant concerns regarding its potential adverse impacts on the ocean ecosystem,\u201d said Dustin Delano, a former lobsterman and chief executive officer of the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). \u201cWe commend Representative Golden for his efforts to reintroduce a ban on offshore wind projects in Lobster Management Area 1. Initiatives that prioritize the protection of fishermen and the preservation of the fishing grounds that sustain them are deeply appreciated.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am confident in the overwhelming coastal community support for Congressman Golden\u2019s bill to protect Lobster Management Area 1 from the destructive effects of offshore wind development,\u201d said Jason Joyce of Swan\u2019s Island, lobsterman and member of the Lobster Advisory Council.\n\n\u201cOffshore wind does not belong in the middle of our fishing grounds,\u201d said Virginia Olsen of Deer Isle, lobsterman and director of the Maine Lobstering Union. \u201cThe Maine Lobstering Union is grateful that Congressman Golden has our back.\u201d\n\n\"The Maine Lobstermen's Association applauds Congressman Golden for his leadership in reintroducing legislation aimed at protecting Maine's lobster fishery from the threat of large-scale offshore wind farms,\u201d said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association. \u201cFor more than a century, these waters have supported thousands of Maine families, and the industrialization of these waters would disrupt vital fishing grounds and harm the generations-old tradition of lobstering. Congressional action is crucial to ensure that the fragile Gulf of Maine ecosystem, and its wildlife, habitat and commercial fisheries are protected.\u201d\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery.\n\nGolden worked alongside the Maine Delegation and Governor to secure millions of dollars to help lobstermen comply with costly new gear regulations associated with regulators\u2019 efforts to protect right whales, and successfully secure a six-year regulatory pause on new regulations in 2022.\n\nLast year, Golden passed a bill to expand mental health and safety resources for fishermen and led the charge to oppose an increase in the minimum allowable harvest size for lobster in the Gulf of Maine, which would have reduced landings and put Mainers at a competitive disadvantage with Canadian fishermen.\n\nText of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-no-on-bill-that-threatened-abortion-providers-with-prison-time", "Golden votes \u2018no\u2019 on bill that threatened abortion providers with prison time", "2025-01-23", "2025", "2025-01", "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 voted \u201cno\u201d on HR 21, legislation to politicize women\u2019s health care, interfere with family-provider medical decisions and threaten doctors and nurses for providing life-saving legal reproductive health care.\n\n\u201cThis bill is not based in reality. It is a solution in search of a problem,\u201d Golden said. \u201cWhat\u2019s worse, it threatened to send medical professionals to prison for exercising their medical judgment, even to save a woman\u2019s life. This bill targets doctors and nurses providing care during one of the most complex and heartbreaking scenarios a pregnant woman could encounter: the choice of having to end care when life-threatening and dangerous complications arise in a pregnancy. The House should not be in the business of threatening doctors and nurses or substituting extreme anti-choice ideology for qualified medical decision-making.\u201d\n\nHR 21 would require medical practitioners to provide \u201cthe same degree of professional skill, care and diligence\u201d for a living child delivered during an attempted abortion \u2014 just as they would during normal childbirth. It threatened providers with stiff fines and up to five years in prison if they were found to have violated its myriad and untenable requirements.\n\nInfanticide is already illegal in the United States, and providers are already required to provide care in the extremely rare case that a child is born alive during an attempted abortion.\n\nWhen the House passed the bill last year, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called it \u201canother cruel and misguided attempt to interfere with evidence-based medical decision making between patients and their physicians. \u2026 Laws that ban or criminalize evidence-based care and rely on medically unsupported theories and misinformation are dangerous to families and their clinicians. This bill negatively affects all obstetric and gynecologic care.\u201d\n\nIn opposition to the bill, the American Civil Liberties Union wrote: \u201cThis bill imposes a rigid set of requirements on health care providers that entirely disregards providers\u2019 professional training and judgment, as well as patient preferences and established medical standards. \u2026 One provision is so vaguely worded that it is unclear what it actually requires of providers \u2014 and yet, these requirements are coupled with the threat of serious criminal penalties, including up to five years in prison, for those who do not comply. \u2026 H.R. 21 would substitute a physician\u2019s best judgment with that of politicians, interfering with physicians\u2019 ability to provide appropriate, compassionate, evidence- based care. It must be rejected.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pflugar-introduce-bill-to-protect-americans-right-to-silence", "Golden, Pflugar introduce bill to protect Americans' right to silence", "2025-01-22", "2025", "2025-01", "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 August Pfluger introduced the bipartisan Protecting Americans' Right to Silence (PARTS) Act to ensure that the rights' of American gun owners are protected. Specifically, this legislation would amend the statutory definitions of firearm silencers and mufflers to eliminate the potential misinterpretation that could lead to the criminalization of these lawful firearm accessories.\n\nUnder current law, the definition of a silencer has caused confusion and concern among both law-abiding citizens and manufacturers alike. The definition needs to be amended and clarified to avoid mistakenly categorizing individual components as silencers themselves, which would lead to the criminalization of these accessories.\n\n\u201cUnclear rules make it harder for responsible gun owners to accurately follow the law,\u201d Congressman Golden said. \u201cThat\u2019s an unfair burden for Americans, and it doesn\u2019t make anyone safer. This is necessary work to clarify the ATF\u2019s poorly-written suppressor rule and reaffirm Mainers\u2019 Second Amendment rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cSilencers and mufflers are utilized by our military personnel, law enforcement, and recreational shooters to make using firearms safer,\u201d Congressman Pfluger said. \u201cUnfortunately, unclear rules have made it easier for ATF to try and criminalize these tools used by law abiding gun owners in America. This bipartisan legislation is critical to clarify these rules to prevent blatant overreach and protect the Second Amendment for Texans and all Americans alike.\n\nGolden and Pfluger's bill is co-sponsored by Ben Cline (VA-06), Michael Rulli (OH-33), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Brian Babin (TX-36), Riley Moore (WV-02), and Mike Collins (GA-10).\n\nText of this legislation is available here.\n\nThe bill is supported by Silencer Shop, American Suppressor Association, Congressional Sportsman Caucus, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-the-52nd-anniversary-of-roe-v-wade", "Golden statement on the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade", "2025-01-22", "2025", "2025-01", "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 released the following statement on the 52nd anniversary of the Supreme Court\u2019s Roe v. Wade decision:\n\n\u201cAn essential part of freedom is control over your own body, and women's reproductive rights are inseparable from that,\u201d Golden said. \u201cRoe v. Wade\u2019s affirmation of those freedoms in our Constitution was not only the correct legal decision but one that upheld the moral dignity of personal autonomy. The American people \u2014 and Congress itself \u2014 cannot stop until that basic human right is restored.\u201d\n\nGolden has been a strong advocate for women\u2019s reproductive freedom throughout his time in public office. Today he announced he will vote against H.R. 21 later this week \u2014 vague legislation designed to intimidate doctors in places where abortion is still legal.\n\nGolden will also be an original cosponsor of both the Right to Contraception Act and Women\u2019s Health Protection Act upon their introduction this Congress \u2014 the latter of which would enshrine abortion rights for patients and providers and create federal protection against medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion. In 2022 he cosponsored the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, which would prohibit restrictions on traveling out-of-state to receive an abortion or ordering drugs approved for terminating a pregnancy through the mail.\n\nIn the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, Golden called the decision a \u201cgrave mistake\u201d and added that Congress should codify the Roe and Casey v. Planned Parenthood frameworks into federal statute.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-election-reform-and-integrity-legislation", "ICYMI: Golden, bipartisan colleagues introduce election reform and integrity legislation", "2025-01-22", "2025", "2025-01", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This month, Reps. Jared Golden (ME-02), Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) introduced the bipartisan Let America Vote Act.\n\nThe legislation addresses two key principles in the continued fight for election reform and integrity:\n\nThe right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any taxpayer-funded election for public office shall not be denied or abridged on the grounds of political party affiliation or lack thereof.\n\nRequires States to permit access to unaffiliated voters to vote in primary elections for Federal Office.\n\nWithholds Federal Funds if a State does not permit access to unaffiliated voters to vote in primary elections for State and Local Office.\n\nProvides additional Federal Funds for States to transition to access to primary elections for unaffiliated voters.\n\nProtects the information and independence of unaffiliated voters by restricting the use of their voter data.\n\nNo person who is not a citizen shall be permitted or granted the right to vote in any taxpayer-funded election for public office held by or in the United States or any State.\n\nProhibits States from permitting non-citizens to vote in elections for Federal office.\n\nWithholds Federal funds if a State permits non-citizens to vote in elections for State and local office.\n\n\u201cParticipating in our democracy is a central right of citizens, and voters unaffiliated with any political party deserve to have their voices heard throughout the entire political process,\u201d Golden said. \u201cLast year, Maine opened our primaries to unenrolled voters for the first time. The Let America Vote Act will bring this victory for democracy to the entire country. Across the world, the awesome and exclusive rights of citizens are intrinsically linked to equally awesome and exclusive responsibilities. You cannot have one without the other. So, this bill also affirms that no matter where you live in our country, the right to vote in the United States is a right reserved for citizens alone.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Southwest Washington, we value our independence, know that our beliefs don\u2019t always fit neatly into one box, and recognize there\u2019s not a political party that cares about our community like we do. Good ideas come from both sides of the aisle, and they originate on the ground in our communities, so Americans shouldn\u2019t be denied the right to vote for the candidate of their choosing because they aren\u2019t affiliated with a national political party,\u201d Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez said. \u201cA healthy, functioning democracy also depends on free, fair, and secure elections. We need to uphold the constitutional ideal that decisions made for our country are made by citizens of our country \u2013 and our bipartisan legislation will protect the integrity of Americans\u2019 choices at the ballot box.\u201d\n\n\"The opportunity to vote is a sacred right of all American citizens. Regrettably, Independent Americans, who by many measures make up more than 40% of the population, are disenfranchised in many state primaries. This is especially true today due to gerrymandering of safe electoral districts by self-interested politicians. This bill ensures these tens of millions of Americans are able to vote in primaries and brings more competition to our elections,\" Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action said. \"This is great for democracy irrespective of one\u2019s political party. With Honor Action fully endorses it and applauds Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and former FBI agent, and Rep. Jared Golden, a U.S. Marine veteran and former Co-Chair of the For Country Caucus, for leading this Act. Let\u2019s get it passed.\"\n\n\u201cThe Let America Vote Act is a critical piece of legislation to ensure that all Americans have access to safe and secure elections. In particular, with estimates that over 50% of military veterans identify as registered independents, this legislation ensures that those who have given the most in service to this country, have the basic right to vote in the taxpayer funded elections we have fought to protect,\u201d Todd Connor, Co-Founder of Veterans for All Voters said. \u201cForcing voters to join a private political party in order to vote in primary elections, which are overwhelmingly the election of consequence across this nation, is un-American and contributes to the polarization that plagues our political system. Veterans across the country applaud the bills co-sponsors and encourage other members to join this common sense legislation.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers previously introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-relocate-federal-agencies-to-the-communities-they-serve", "Golden introduces bipartisan legislation to relocate federal agencies to the communities they serve", "2025-01-21", "2025", "2025-01", "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 introduced the Strategic Withdrawal of Agencies for Meaningful Placement Act, or SWAMP Act, to require federal agencies to be relocated out of Washington, D.C., and sited closer to the communities they serve.\n\nGolden is co-leading the bipartisan bill, along with Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02).\n\n\u201cNo one knows better than fishermen what it takes to make a living on the water, or the threat that new regulations from far away can pose not only to their livelihoods but to their entire community or region,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThat lived expertise about how we work and live can be found in every corner of America, but federal regulatory authority \u2014 and the good-paying jobs that come with it \u2014 reside largely in and around Washington, D.C. Redistributing federal agencies and jobs around the country would bring the government closer to the people, ensure regulators are embedded in the communities that thrive or struggle based on their rulings and bring good-paying jobs out of the beltway and into communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cMoving federal agencies out of Washington and closer to the people most impacted will ensure that federal bureaucrats who have never left DC aren\u2019t issuing out of touch mandates that disproportionately harm working families, small businesses, and our farmers who feed and fuel the world,\u201d Hinson said. \u201cThere's no valid reason why the Department of Agriculture should operate from D.C. when it could be situated in an agricultural state like Iowa. The American people simply want to drain the swamp, and this bipartisan bill will finally hold government accountable, save taxpayer dollars, and uphold the principles of public service.\u201d\n\nRoughly half of good-paying federal agency jobs are held by employees in D.C., Maryland, or Virginia. While some federal employees liaise routinely with the White House, Congress and other executive agencies, a majority of those employees deal mainly with research and government contracts \u2014 none of which require a physical location in the D.C. metropolitan area.\n\nThe bill, H.R. 514, prohibits new constructions, major renovations, leases, or renewal of leases of non-national security-related agencies\u2019 headquarters located in the greater D.C. area. It also establishes competitive bidding processes to move such agency headquarters out of D.C.\n\nSenator Joni Ernst of Iowa has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Full bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-reintroduces-legislation-making-federal-infrastructure-funding-more-accessible-for-rural-communities", "Golden reintroduces legislation making federal infrastructure funding more accessible for rural communities", "2025-01-21", "2025", "2025-01", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) introduced the Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act, legislation that would make funding under the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program -- also known as the Rural Grant Program -- more accessible for rural communities by removing barriers that currently put rural America at a disadvantage.\n\n\u201cCities ten times the size of Bangor have no business competing with Maine\u2019s smallest towns for rural infrastructure grants,\u201d Rep. Golden said. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that changes are needed to make sure this program is actually helping remote communities and this bipartisan bill will make it right.\u201d\n\n\u201cRoads, highways, and bridges are vital for the survival of rural communities and the efficient transportation of goods,\u201d said Rep. Finstad. \u201cIt is unacceptable that small communities across Minnesota and around the country are forced to compete with big cities for the critical resources they need to maintain their infrastructure. It is time for the Department of Transportation to stop overlooking rural America. This legislation will empower rural communities to remain resilient, keeping their roads safe and bolstering their economies. I appreciate Congressman Golden for helping me lead this effort to ensure the Rural Grant Program serves those who need it most.\u201d\n\nOriginal cosponsors include: Representatives Tracey Mann (KS-01), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), John Moolenaar (MI-02), and Pete Stauber (MN-08).\n\nThe Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act is endorsed by the National Association of Counties.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s counties own and operate more roads and bridges than any other level of government, and the vast majority of our nation\u2019s public road miles are located in rural counties,\u201d said National Association of Counties CEO and Executive Director Matthew Chase. \u201cThe Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act will build on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by expanding access for counties to the Rural Surface Transportation Block Grant Program. We thank Representative Finstad for his leadership and look forward to working with our bipartisan congressional partners to ensure passage of this important legislation.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Protecting Infrastructure Investments for Rural America Act would remove barriers that force rural communities to compete with larger towns for federal infrastructure funding. Specifically, the legislation would:\n\nLower the definition of \u201crural area\u201d from 200,000 in population to 30,000 to be in line with definitions used by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development;\n\nClarify that the goal of the Rural Grant Program is to promote economic development in rural areas, as well as improve the quality of life for citizens who live in them;\n\nAllow the grant to be used for common road, bridge, highway, or tunnel projects, expanding the eligibility for more projects in rural areas;\n\nStrike the minimum project amount of $25M, considering that most projects in rural areas are under this amount;\n\nLower the cost-share burden for communities with populations less than 5,000, increasing the likelihood projects in these communities can be completed in a timely manner; and\n\nEstablish a set-aside of at least 5% of funding under the program to go to communities of less than 5,000 in population, ensuring these communities receive federal assistance for their infrastructure needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-president-trump-s-inauguration", "Golden statement on President Trump\u2019s inauguration", "2025-01-20", "2025", "2025-01", "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 today regarding President Donald J. Trump\u2019s inauguration:\n\n\u201cNo matter who you are, where you live or what political views you hold, all Americans should be rooting for our country\u2019s success,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI congratulate President Trump on his inauguration and look forward to working with him when I can \u2014 as I would work with anyone \u2014 to improve Mainers\u2019 lives.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-labor-caucus-applaud-ustr-investigation-into-china-s-unfair-shipbuilding-practices-call-for-swift-action-to-protect-us-workers", "Golden, Labor Caucus applaud USTR investigation into China\u2019s unfair shipbuilding practices, call for swift action to protect US workers", "2025-01-17", "2025", "2025-01", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and the Congressional Labor Caucus released the following statement regarding the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative\u2019s (USTR) Section 301 investigation into China\u2019s trade practices in the commercial shipbuilding sector:\n\n\u201cThe results of the Biden Administration\u2019s shipbuilding investigation confirm that, for too long, China has been using tactics like state-sponsored subsidies and anti-competitive practices to cheat and undercut American shipbuilding. It\u2019s time for bold action to address China\u2019s unfair practices and rebuild our shipbuilding industry\u2014not only to create good-paying jobs but also to bolster our national security and supply chains. We urge the incoming Administration to heed the results of this investigation and to implement the strongest possible measures to level the playing field for American shipbuilding workers.\u201d\n\nLast April, Rep. Golden signed a letter with 37 other Members of Congress in support of a petition filed by a coalition of five labor unions urging USTR to initiate a Section 301 investigation into the acts, policies, and practices of China relating to competition in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors. USTR subsequently announced that it would accept the petition.\n\nIn October, Reps. Golden, DeLauro, Golden, Courtney, and Hoyle led 70 Members of Congress in a letter supporting the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s efforts to protect American workers from China\u2019s unfair practices in the shipbuilding industry.\n\nA full copy of the investigation findings can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T23:38:47Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-legislation-to-establish-universal-10-percent-tariff", "Golden introduces legislation to establish universal 10 percent tariff", "2025-01-16", "2025", "2025-01", "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 introduced the BUILT USA Act to incentivize American manufacturing, tackle the trade deficit and create jobs by establishing a 10 percent tariff on all imports.\n\n\u201cAfter decades of failed free trade agreements, the hollowing out of American industry and stagnating wages, we owe it to ourselves to ask real questions about what we prioritize in our economy,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe universal tariff \u2014 along with other policies to support domestic energy production, unions and manufacturing \u2014 is designed to reorient our economy from one focused on cheap goods and consumption to one centered on production and innovation.\u201d\n\nAccording to an analysis last month by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a universal 10 percent tariff would raise $2.2 trillion in revenue through 2034 \u2014 funds Golden advocates be used to reduce the deficit, subsidize American-made products and/or put money in middle-class families\u2019 pockets by extending tax cuts set to expire this year.\n\nAmerica was once the net exporter in the global market, but the era of free trade reversed the trend. The trade balance \u2014 the difference between U.S. exports and U.S. imports \u2014 has been in deficit since the mid-70s and in recent years, the trade deficit has reached nearly $1 trillion.\n\nUpon enactment, the BUILT USA Act (formally the Balance Unequal International Labor and Trade for the United States of America Act) would assess a 10 percent tariff to all goods and services imported into the United States. Each subsequent calendar year, this duty would increase or decrease by 5 percent depending on whether America maintains a trade deficit or surplus, respectively.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s ever-expanding trade deficit is a clear sign that the current global trade regime is stacked against U.S. workers, industries, and communities,\u201d said Oren Cass, founder and chief economist of American Compass. \u201cRep. Golden\u2019s BUILT USA ACT will address this global trade imbalance head-on, reassert U.S. economic interests, and help reestablish the industrial base that made America the most innovative, prosperous and resilient nation in the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill represents a vital step toward generating revenue, driving economic growth and revitalizing America\u2019s domestic industries,\u201d said Zach Mottl, Chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. \u201cThe heart of the American system of economics lies in empowering the middle class and fostering economic growth by supporting demand for U.S.-made goods. Millions of hardworking Americans have seen their wage growth stymied by imports and they deserve a system that ensures their wages rise faster than their costs. By tackling the trade deficit directly, this bill offers a pathway to strengthening U.S. industries and significantly reducing the debt burden. Tariffs proposed in this legislation are an essential tool to ensure the U.S. economy works for American workers and producers, not foreign competitors.\u201d\n\nThe recent CBO analysis also found that while the 10 percent universal tariff could spur a short-term increase in prices of some foreign goods and services, it would likely reduce the cost of other goods and services, spur income growth in domestic industries and have no long-term effect on inflation.\n\nBackground:\n\nSeventy years ago, employment in manufacturing made up more than 40 percent of nonfarm jobs in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Labor. Today, it\u2019s less than 10 percent. The losses accelerated in the 1990s with the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), after which Maine lost one in three manufacturing jobs \u2014 with 25,000 lost to outsourcing alone. Forty percent of those who lost jobs had to take new ones with lower pay.\n\nGolden has been a leading voice for reconfiguring U.S. trade policy in favor of American industry and workers. He also released the BUILT USA Act during the 118th Congress and introduced legislation that would raise tariffs on Chinese imports of automobiles and energy components. He published an essay the same month on the importance of a robust production economy for national security and middle-class prosperity.\n\nIn 2019, he was one of only 41 House members to vote against the United States-Mexico -Canada Agreement, which he called \u201ca missed opportunity to deliver real and lasting change\u201d to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).\n\nFull text of the BUILT USA Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-golden-moolenaar-lahood-sen-scott-reintroduce-no-gotion-act-to-end-taxpayer-support-of-ccp-companies", "Reps. Golden, Moolenaar, LaHood, Sen. Scott Reintroduce NO GOTION Act to End Taxpayer Support of CCP Companies", "2025-01-16", "2025", "2025-01", "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-02), along with John Moolenaar (MI-02), Darin LaHood (IL-16), reintroduced the bipartisan No Official Giveaways Of Taxpayers\u2019 Income to Oppressive Nations (NO GOTION) Act in the House of Representatives. The bill will also be introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). The legislation would prohibit companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from qualifying for green energy production tax credits implemented by the Biden administration through the Inflation Reduction Act. If signed into law, the bill would prevent any company based in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea, and the subsidiaries of those companies from benefiting from these tax credits.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s push for domestic manufacturing should not be exploited for our adversaries\u2019 gain,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThese manufacturing credits are designed to strengthen our economy, and closing a loophole that allows them to be used to benefit China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is a goal that all of us should be able to share. I\u2019m proud to join a bipartisan coalition to fix this problem and ensure federal dollars aren\u2019t being spent to enrich those who would undermine America.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe NO GOTION Act is a commonsense, bipartisan measure that prohibits our adversaries from benefitting from the tax dollars of hardworking American families, and right now there is a loophole that allows IRA tax credits to go to Chinese companies. This legislation closes that loophole and makes sure CCP-affiliated companies will not be able to receive tax credits. The United States is in competition with the CCP and under no circumstance should we be giving taxpayer money to Chinese companies,\u201d said Moolenaar.\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party is working to replace the United States every day and as we continue to find ways to better protect U.S. businesses and workers from that effort, the least we can do in the short term is ensure we aren\u2019t allowing CCP-affiliated competitors to benefit from our federal tax incentives,\u201d said LaHood. \u201cAs a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Select Committee China, I will not allow hard-working American taxpayers to fund the CCP\u2019s development of energy and critical technologies that will be used to harm the United States. The NO GOTION Act will ensure that companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, Iran, and North Korea cannot, in any way, benefit from the energy incentives in our tax code. I look forward to working alongside President Trump and my colleagues in Congress to promote pro-growth tax policy that supports American businesses, protect our national security, and cement U.S. leadership on the world stage.\u201d\n\nSenator Rick Scott said, \u201cU.S. adversaries shouldn\u2019t be allowed to benefit off American taxpayer dollars with incentives meant to build American businesses. Americans elected us to represent their best interests, and I\u2019m proud to do that with our NO GOTION Act to crack down on companies owned by our adversaries attempting to take advantage of U.S. tax subsidies.\u201d\n\nThe legislation comes as a response to Gotion, a CCP-affiliated company, claiming it was reviewing and assessing how it can utilize the green energy production tax credits. Gotion is currently planning to build factories in Green Charter Township, and Kankakee, Illinois. In June 2024, investigations led by Moolenaar and the House Select Committee on the CCP uncovered Gotion\u2019s close ties to the CCP, including its reliance on forced labor in Xinjiang Province.\n\nIn federal filings Gotion has admitted it is \u201cwholly owned and controlled\u201d by its China-based parent company, Gotion High-Tech, and it is subsidized by the Chinese government. According to Gotion High-Tech\u2019s by-laws it is required to \u201ccarry out Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the [Chinese Communist Party].\u201d\n\nThe text of the NO GOTION Act can be found here. The legislation is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Jack Bergman (R-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), John James (R-MI), Tom Barrett (R-MI), Mike Bost (R-IL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Ben Cline (R-VA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), David Rouzer (R-NC), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rick Allen (R-GA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Gary Palmer (R-AL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Greg Murphy (R-NC), and Neal Dunn (R-FL) .\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-israel-hamas-ceasefire-and-hostage-deal", "Golden statement on Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal", "2025-01-15", "2025", "2025-01", "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 released the following statement in response to the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal:\n\n\u201cFor more than a year since the horrific October 7th terrorist attacks, innocent Americans and Israelis have been held hostage by Hamas,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe first stage of this agreement calls for an immediate ceasefire, a surge of aid into Gaza, and the release of 33 women, children, and elderly currently held hostage by Hamas \u2014 each good first steps. I look forward to the implementation of a final agreement that ensures that all remaining hostages are returned home to their families and that Hamas lays down the weapons it took up when it started this conflict. If Hamas abides by the terms of such an agreement, I believe there can be a path towards a more lasting peace in the region.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-appointed-to-house-committee-on-natural-resources", "Golden appointed to House Committee on Natural Resources", "2025-01-14", "2025", "2025-01", "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 was appointed to the House Natural Resources Committee, giving him a prime position to advocate for critical and cherished state industries, protect Mainers\u2019 quality of life and fight side-by-side with Maine\u2019s indigenous communities to champion equal rights for the Wabanaki peoples.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s culture and economy are inextricably linked to our abundance of natural resources,\u201dGolden said. \u201cFamilies in our state hunt and fish in our lands and waters, harvest timber in the Maine woods and create outdoor recreation opportunities for each other and visitors alike \u2014 all while serving as thoughtful stewards of our environment. I am honored to serve on this committee, where I can advocate for Mainers and our way of life, whether that\u2019s defending our lobstermen from onerous and unnecessary regulations, backing the Wabanaki peoples in their fight for tribal sovereignty or supporting policies to ensure America\u2019s energy independence.\u201d\n\nThe House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s jurisdiction includes fisheries and wildlife regulations, public lands, domestic energy production, mineral lands and mining, and Native American issues.\n\nOn the Committee, Golden will be a key player in policy debates over regulations affecting Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. Maine\u2019s lobster industry generates $1.4 billion annually and is the lifeblood of communities up and down the Maine coast. During his time in Congress, Golden has been a fierce advocate for lobstermen, from passing a moratorium on burdensome right whale regulations that threatened to take fishermen off the water for good to opposing the development of wind farms in critical Maine fishing waters.\n\nGolden has also stood side-by-side with the Wabanaki Alliance, which represents Maine\u2019s four Native American tribes, in their fight for self-determination. In 2022, the House passed Golden\u2019s \u201cAdvancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act,\u201d a bill to correct a longstanding injustice that prevents the Mi\u2019kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation from exercising the same right to self-governance afforded to tribes in other states. The bill was later killed in the Senate; Golden has pledged to continue working with the Wabanaki Nations on their priorities.\n\nMaine\u2019s 2nd Congressional District is home to Acadia National Park \u2014 one of the ten most visited national parks in the United States \u2014 and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. With annual visitation numbers continuing to increase, these public lands need significant infrastructure investments. In the 118th Congress, Golden passed the \u201cGreat American Outdoors Act,\u201d to address maintenance backlogs at places such as Acadia and to establish permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.\n\nWhat they\u2019re saying:\n\nDustin Delano, chief operating officer, New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA): \u201cNEFSA would like to congratulate Congressman Golden on his appointment to the House Committee on Natural Resources. The congressman has proven to be a one-of-a-kind advocate for commercial fishermen, and we look forward to having our voices further represented.\u201d\n\nVirginia Olsen, lobsterman and director of Maine Lobstering Union, Local 207: \u201cOur union is thrilled to learn Rep. Golden will serve on the Natural Resources Committee. We look forward to his continued work on behalf of Maine lobstermen in the face of regulatory changes in Washington, D.C. His efforts to support our industry and promote economic development resonate strongly with the working men and women who prioritize their heritage, sustainable practices and community well-being.\u201d\n\nMaulian Bryant, executive director, Wabanaki Alliance: \u201cRep. Jared Golden serving on the Natural Resources Committee is great news for all people of Maine, including the Wabanaki nations. The Wabanaki Alliance continues to be deeply honored by the commitment and genuine dedication the congressman has shown with his efforts to restore important tribal sovereignty and self-determination rights to our nations. We look forward to any future collaborations we have with Rep. Golden, and we know that his work with Wabanaki people will serve him well and inform his work on this critically important committee. We are grateful to Rep. Golden for being a true champion for the Wabanaki, especially on issues related to a sacred priority for all of us, the health and wellbeing of Mother Earth.\u201d\n\nEric Stiles, president and CEO, Friends of Acadia: \u201cCongressman Jared Golden\u2019s appointment to the House Natural Resources Committee is a tremendous win for Maine\u2019s people, visitors and treasured landscapes. As a steadfast advocate for outdoor recreation and our National Parks, the Congressman understands the critical role Acadia National Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument play in our economy, generating over $680 million annually and supporting over 6,500 jobs across the state. We thank Congressman Golden for championing common-sense conservation efforts that ensure Maine\u2019s natural wonders remain a source of inspiration, recreation and economic vitality for generations to come.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, Golden will continue to serve on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), on which he has served since 2019. On HASC, Golden will continue to advocate for service members, veterans, and their families, and to support the ongoing production of American warships at Bath Iron Works.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-celebrates-25-million-for-rural-development-across-maine-s-second-district", "Golden celebrates $2.5 million for rural development across Maine\u2019s second district", "2025-01-14", "2025", "2025-01", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Community projects including the construction of new child care and fire department facilities in the 2nd Congressional District will receive millions of dollars in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants announced today.\n\nCongressman Jared Golden (ME-02) celebrated the announcement of the latest round of funding through the Community Development Block Grant, which he has long supported throughout the appropriations process.\n\n\u201cDirectly investing in rural America is one of the most impactful ways Congress can keep small communities safe and prosperous,\u201d Golden said. \u201cEach of these projects will make a meaningful difference for Maine families and I\u2019m glad they\u2019re getting the resources needed to break ground.\u201d\n\nAccording to the USDA, the projects will serve more than 70,000 Mainers in total. The funding breakdown for the four projects is as follows:\n\n$750,000 to the Beth Brunswick Memorial Fund for Children to construct a 5,000 square foot child care facility in Rangeley;\n\n$1,567,000 to the Town of Hancock to replace the Cemetery Road fire station with modernized two-story, 6,500+ square foot facility;\n\n$115,000 to the Millinocket Memorial Library to complete essential accessibility improvements, including a modernized elevator and new basement ramp;\n\n$100,000 to Responsible Pet Care to construct and expand pet shelter and adoption operations in Norway.\n\nThe Community Facilities Grant program provides competitive loan and grant opportunities to municipalities, tribes, and community-based nonprofits in rural areas. In addition to child care and public safety, past funding has helped improve education, recreational opportunities, and health care in rural Maine.\n\nMore information about each of the newly funded projects can be found on the USDA\u2019s website.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T17:10:36Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 105, "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": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-01-14,https~3A~2F~2Fgolden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fgolden-celebrates-25-million-for-rural-development-across-maine-s-second-district", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=ME&year=2025&_next=2025-01-14%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fgolden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fgolden-celebrates-25-million-for-rural-development-across-maine-s-second-district&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 131.32565305568278, "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"}