Jobs and Economic Development

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement on President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget, released today: The President has proposed a budget that has the right priorities—tax breaks for working families trying to get ahead to help them pay for college, daycare and save for retirement. And at the same time it closes unfair tax breaks for the wealthy and tax loopholes that encoura... Read more »

Money to help fishermen affected by decline of groundfish Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that $32.8 million infederal disaster relief funding has been allocated to help fishermen in NewEngland impacted by the decline of groundfish in the region. "Maine fishermen have been hit hard by groundfish closures and drastically reduced quotas," Pingree said. "If this money is spent wisely, it co... Read more »

Thousands of Mainers have lost coverage since emergency benefits expired December 28 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today criticized Senate Republicans for blocking an extension of the emergency unemployment insurance program, which expired December 28 and has now cut off unemployment benefits to 1.7 million Americans, including about 4,700 people in Maine. "The situation just keeps getting worse ... Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama's State of the Union speech tonight. The President laid out concrete proposals that will benefit average, hard working families, like raising the minimum wage. Increasing the minimum wage will mean more money in the pockets of families across Maine, money that will then be spent at local businesses, creati... Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued the following statement in advance of President Obama's State of the Union speech tonight. "Although the economy has been improving over the last year, it's been growing too slowly and leaving too many Americans behind. I expect the President to lay out specific proposals tonight that would benefit average, working families. I hope Members of Congress listen a... Read more »

New report shows 1.6 million nationwide have lost coverage since emergency benefits expired December 28 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree says the number of Maine people who have lost unemployment benefits has risen to 4,669 since emergency benefits expired on December 28. "In the middle of one of the coldest winters we've had in a long time, thousands of families around the state have lost this crit... Read more »

Bill introduced today would let bad trade deals speed through Congress Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said a bill introduced today would make it too easy to push through trade agreements that hurt workers and threaten the environment. The bill—the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014—creates "fast track authority" for trade agreements that would make it harder to debate or amend t... Read more »

Loss hurts families, local businesses when they can least afford it Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today nearly $1 million is being lost to the Maine economy every week due to the expiration of emergency unemployment benefits last month. Over 3,300 Maine people were getting an average benefit of about $285 a week, which ended suddenly on December 28 when Congress failed to extend the program.... Read more »

4 out of 5 unemployed Mainers not getting benefits Congresswoman Chellie Pingree called again today on Congressional leaders to hold a vote on extending unemployment benefits, citing new statistics that show a record number of unemployed people in Maine and around the country are now going without benefits. According to a new report, after emergency unemployment benefits expired on December 28, o... Read more »

Maine Reps tell Congressional leaders funding will help keep workers on the job at BIW Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud are pushing Congressional leaders to make sure a spending bill that Congress will soon take up will include funding for shipbuilding at Bath Iron Works. After Congress passed an overall budget bill last month, Congressional leaders are now deciding exactly how th... Read more »