Immigration

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today advanced an increase in the number of H-2B visas through an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill. The amendment would give DHS the authority to add up to 63,000 additional visas in FY2020—essentially doubling the number of H-2B visas available next year to seasonal businesses in Maine and… Read more »

 WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) helped to secure the inclusion of a bipartisan amendment to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill that is a first step toward making more H-2B visa available for seasonal businesses. The amendment would modify H-2B visa allocation to a quarterly disbursement and proportional distribution to ensure every certified… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, following a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement that it would release 30,000 additional H-2B seasonal visas fiscal year 2019, about half of the maximum amount authorized by Congress, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement: “For the last two summers, I’ve heard from seasonal business owners in… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) as well as U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-M.D.) today led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging the administration to immediately increase the statutory cap of H-2B visas for fiscal year 2019 as authorized by the… Read more »

Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Andy Harris (R-Md.) sent a letter to Congressional Leadership urging them to provide a meaningful solution for the H-2B temporary guest worker program in any government funding agreement. The letter was signed by 31 Senators, including Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), and… Read more »

“... The real crisis we need to address is one of President Trump’s own making—a government shutdown that has now finished its 18th day. We have 800,000 federal workers worried about making ends meet, families wondering whether they will get help next month to put food on the table, and an American public losing faith in whether their government will be open for business on any given day. ..." Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has submitted official comments opposing the Trump administration’s proposed public charge rule. Today is the last day to submit public comments on the proposal, which would impose new obstacles on those who wish to come to the United States legally or seek legal permanent resident, so-called “green card”,… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has cosponsored a bill introduced by Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) to block funding for implementation of the Trump Administration’s proposed public charge rule.    Released today and open to public comment for the next 60 days, the rule would impose new obstacles on those who wish to come to our country legally or seek legal… Read more »

During markup today of the FY19 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, the House Appropriations Committee passed an amendment Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) cosponsored with Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) to make more H-2B visas available, a critical source of seasonal workers in Maine. Video of Pingree speaking in support of the amendment and discussing the shortage of labor for… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Congresswoman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) today introduced legislation to narrow the broad zone of DHS authority in the vicinity of U.S. borders. Under current regulations, the Department of Homeland Security has wide latitude to conduct traffic stops and warrantless property searches within 100 miles of the U.S. border.  Two out of every three… Read more »