Jobs and Economic Development

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 »

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… 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… Read more »

At least 3,300 in Maine set to lose coverage statewide by end of the month Today Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released a new county-by-county breakdown of the number of people who would immediately lose all of their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28 if Congress fails to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Republicans last week blocked an effort by House Democrats… Read more »

Loss of benefits would hurt local businesses, slow economic growth Congresswoman Chellie Pingree warned Congressional leaders today that letting emergency unemployment benefits expire at the end of this month would slow the economic recovery and make it harder for workers looking for a job to get by. "If Congress doesn't act, 3,000 people in Maine will lose their unemployment… Read more »

Federal loans will allow Plant Home to new facility that will more than double capacity Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that the Plant Home in Bath will be getting $10 million in federal funding to build a new, 50,000-square-foot facility to provide assisted living facilities for seniors in the Midcoast area. "We all age and we all get older, but not everyone can stay… Read more »