Supporting Maine Lobstermen

Says Congress has responsibility to meet country's financial obligations Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said she would vote for a so-called "clean" increase to the nation's debt ceiling when it comes up for a vote tonight. Without an increase to the debt limit, the United States would default on its debt, creating serious problems in world financial markets. "Congress has… Read more »

Beatrice Rafferty School suffering from mold, decaying walls Representatives Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud said that the "omnibus" funding bill that passed the House this afternoon includes funding to build a new K-8 school on the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Indian reservation to replace the Beatrice Rafferty School. The school is a U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded… Read more »

Bill provides funding for BIW, fisheries disaster relief, Head Start and child nutrition Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted today for a bipartisan bill that will keep the government operating through the rest of the current fiscal year. "This wasn't a perfect bill by any stretch of the imagination, but it did replace some of the… Read more »

Bill will avoid another shutdown and support important programs in Maine, like fisheries disaster funding and continued work at Bath Iron Works Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today she will vote for a bipartisan bill to fund the federal government through the end of September. The compromise bill, the product of bipartisan House and Senate negotiations over the last few weeks,… Read more »

After voting for a bill to reopen the federal government and avoid a default on the federal debt, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement: "Although I'm pleased that there was a bipartisan deal to get the government open and avoid a default on the debt, we could have voted on this same bill two weeks ago. Instead, hundreds of thousands of workers have been… Read more »

Reps. Michaud and Pingree asked Obama Administration to make sure boat ramp remains open Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that the boat launch ramp at Cobscook Bay State Park will remain open, despite the closure of the surrounding National Wildlife Refuge as a result of the federal government shutdown. "It just didn't make sense that this boat launch be closed, so… Read more »

Congress takes up reauthorization of major farm programs that expired October 1 As Congress debates measures that will end the government shutdown, the House and Senate are also negotiating a Farm Bill--a major piece of legislation that would set the nation's farm policy for the next five years. The current Farm Bill expired on October 1st and House and Senate negotiators will be… Read more »

USS Zumwalt was scheduled for christening next weekend Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said today that the Navy has informed her they are delaying the christening of the USS Zumwalt at Bath Iron Works. The christening ceremony had been scheduled for October 19. "The christeing of the Zumwalt is a big deal, but the government shutdown just made it impossible for the Navy to pull off… Read more »

Veterans likely to see delays in processing of benefits if shutdown doesn't end soon Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said this morning 9,800 workers from the Department of Veterans Affairs have been sent home as a result of the ongoing government shutdown. "The shutdown has already slowed down the claims process and these furloughs can only make things worse. For veterans who have… Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree co-sponsored bill that would employees furloughed during shutdown A bill co-sponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree that would provide back pay for federal employees furloughed during the government shutdown passed the House this morning. "There are thousands of public employees in Maine who have been furloughed because of the government shutdown. They… Read more »