Veterans Issues

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) and Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, have inserted a provision to a bill to extend funding for the rural Veterans CHOICE program for six months that passed the House today, to authorize the lease for the new Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), as well as several other VA… Read more »

In recognition of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) took to the House floor yesterday to recognize the work of K9s on the Front Line, an innovative organization based in Maine that helps veterans with PTSD train their own service dogs. Because June is PTSD Awareness Month, I rise today to recognize an organization in my… Read more »

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 »