Jobs and Economic Development

Nearly 7,000 Maine workers have lost benefits because Congress has failed to extend program Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said a bill passed by the U.S. Senate today would retroactively restore unemployment checks for 6,880 Maine workers who have had their benefits cut off since December 28. "There are thousands of people across Maine who are still struggling to find work who have… Read more »

Joins other female Members of Congress to discuss minimum wage, paid family leave and sick leave Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was one of a dozen female members of the House and Senate to meet with President Obama in the White House today to discuss a 2014 economic agenda for women. "The economic success of women translates directly into the economic success of working families,"… Read more »

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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… Read more »