I'm happy to report that many rural, nutrition, and agriculture programs important to Maine saw funding increases in the FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations legislation that was signed on March 23 and funds the federal government through September 30, 2018. Since President Trump suggested severely cutting or even eliminating funding for many of these programs in his budget proposal, it's very encouragi... Read more »
The last year has certainly been one of the most eventful—if not the most eventful—of my time in Congress. The presidency of Donald Trump has taken our country in new and frightening directions, making my work in Congress all the more important. Throughout, I've been focused on how policy decisions in Washington and events around the nation and world impact the lives of Mainers. That's led me to o... Read more »
The following is a piece distributed to local newspapers in November 2017 Earlier this month, I sat down with a group of Mainers who would be negatively impacted by the House Republicans’ tax plan. Among them were a teacher, a cancer survivor, a recent college graduate, and a dairy farmer, who all told me how the plan would hurt them and their families. It was for them—and thousands of other hard-... Read more »
"Working waterfronts are an integral part of the nation's coastal and Great Lakes economy and culture. Working waterfronts face multiple challenges, including permanent conversion to non-water-dependent uses and storm damage to already compromised waterfront infrastructure. Businesses that depend on working waterfront, from commercial fishermen to tour boat operators to waterborne trade, need solu... Read more »
During debate of a package of Appropriations Bills in the House of Representatives on July 26, 2017, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree spoke out in support of issues important to Maine. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding Waterpower and Alternative Energy Programs Ocean Planning Read more »
The following is a column distributed to Maine newspapers in July 2017. One of the most important committees in Congress is also the least understood: Appropriations. And it’s not surprising. From “302(b) allocations” to “manager’s amendments,” the workings of this committee are nearly indecipherable to anyone outside Washington. But it’s also true that the House Appropriations Committee—which I h... Read more »
The following is a press release from the IRS. Starting this month, the Internal Revenue Service will begin sending letters to a relatively small group of taxpayers whose overdue federal tax accounts are being assigned to one of four private-sector collection agencies. The new program, authorized under a federal law enacted by Congress in December 2015, enables these designated contractors to coll... Read more »
When I put out a call for people to share their stories of how the Affordable Care Act has helped people in Maine, I received over a thousand responses in just a few days. Here's just a small sample of those powerful stories. --Chellie "Under Obamacare, we now pay one-third of our old premium and have a $2,500 deductible. I had my first physical in over 20 years." - Patrick, small business owner f... Read more »
A run down of my thoughts on President-elect Trump's choices for the cabinet and other high-ranking posts. --Chellie Steve Bannon, Chief Strategist “We’ve been asked to give President-elect Trump the ‘benefit of the doubt,’ but I think this dispels any hope that he would finally distance himself from people who promote hateful, racist scapegoating. “Steve Bannon has a history of peddling conspirac... Read more »
This summer has been a busy time of meeting with my constituents and hearing their feedback on important issues. Celebrating 100 years of Acadia National Park It's been 100 years now since President Woodrow Wilson signed an order to create the Sieur de Monts National Monument (what would later become Acadia National Park). It was a privilege to help celebrate the occasion at the park with the res... Read more »
