Press Releases

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie, urging him to continue to prioritize providing additional testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) at the VA Maine Healthcare System and across the entire Veterans Health Administration. “The staff and… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), co-chair of the bipartisan Small Business Caucus, today joined 104 of her House colleagues in asking the Small Business Administration (SBA) to accept new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applicants and provide current applicants with an update on their loan status. “Maine’s small businesses are the economic backbone of our state, and they… Read more »

In a letter to President Donald Trump today highlighting the financial strain Maine’s state and local governments are experiencing as a direct result of COVID-19, Maine’s Congressional Delegation advocated for providing additional federal assistance to states and municipalities that have lost substantial revenue resulting from the current public health and economic crisis.… Read more »

Today, US Reps. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Annie Kuster (NH-02), and Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) introduced legislation that waives matching fund requirements for agriculture businesses who receive funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (FMPP and LFPP) and Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG). “In bringing the farm to… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today cosponsored the Restore America’s Main Street Act, legislation to support small businesses by providing them with unrestricted direct cash relief to keep their businesses in operation. H.R. 6619 would create the first-ever small business rebate check to pay employees, rent, and other general businesses expenses. “96 percent of Maine’s… Read more »

All four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers representing Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York in a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the inclusion of dedicated funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation. The letter, signed by U.S. Senators Susan… Read more »

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of aquaculture farmers’ eligibility for direct relief from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). “Maine’s aquaculture industry has undergone significant… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today cosponsored H.R. 6592, a bill that would allocate $500 billion to state and local governments based on population size and give state officials flexibility to disburse the funds. The Coronavirus Relief for States Act aims to deliver much-needed relief to states which have worked aggressively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced Limington Lumber in East Baldwin, Maine has been awarded a grant of $346,894 and $722,850 in matching funds to generate electricity and heat for sawmills. This grant comes from the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Forest Service. “As a member of the House… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the State of Maine will receive $43.79 million in grant funding from the Department of Education. The funding, which was allocated through the CARES Act, will support distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic. “No matter the circumstances, we must meet students where they’re at and make sure they continue to receive the… Read more »