Veterans Issues

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree joined colleagues in sending a letter yesterday to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin voicing opposition to a proposal in President Trump’s budget that eliminates Individual Unemployability benefits for severely disabled, retirement-age veterans. Some veterans could see a 64 percent cut in benefits. “By no means were… Read more »

   Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement today in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 29:   “I hope we can all take a moment this Memorial Day to think about and honor those who have given their lives to defend this country. Throughout our nation’s history, Mainers have been among the first to answer the call to… Read more »

Bipartisan, bicameral letter underscores how new facilities – including a Portland-based CBOC – will improve veterans’ access to vital health care services Read more »

Today, the Department of Defense announced the loss of U.S. Navy Sailor and Falmouth native, Kyle Milliken, who was killed during a Somali National Army-led operation with U.S. Africa Command. In response, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) released the following statement: “Today our hearts are heavy with the loss of U.S. Navy SEAL Kyle Milliken—a local hero who died… Read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin are warning Maine veterans to beware of a scam where imposters attempt to imitate the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) phone line. Read more »

Amid reports that nude photos of dozens of female service members were shared online without their consent, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is joining Senators Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in introducing a bill (H.R. 1954) to ensure that veterans who have been the victims of sexual harassment online have access to counseling and benefits.   Building on… Read more »

  Maine veteran Peggy Dunlap earned several medals for her distinguished service in the Army from 1977 to 1987, but unlike the Vietnam War veterans before her and the Iraq War veterans after her, there’s currently no medal to recognize the war in which she and many others served: the Cold War.   Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is working to remedy that lack of recognition… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has cosponsored legislation in the House to halt a hiring freeze at the Department of Veterans Affairs initiated by President Trump during his first days in office. "From receiving Social Security checks to getting a passport, Maine people depend on efficient interactions with federal agencies.  Allowing open positions at those agencies to go… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree sent a later today urging the U.S. Air Force to help address a REAL ID issue that could prevent hundreds of Maine veterans from continuing to receive their health care at a Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic on Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, New Hampshire.  Pingree was joined on the letter by Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster of New… Read more »

Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin joined Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA) in introducing a bill last night to force the approval of a lease for a major expansion of the Portland VA health clinic, as well as leases for 23 other VA facilities around the country. Because of technicalities in the way the leases are approved, work on the expansion in Portland has been delayed. Read more »