Veterans Issues

I had the pleasure of attending a number of events this spring and summer to meet veterans and hear directly about the concerns--a few snapshots are below.   --Chellie Moving Wall in Thomaston Maine VFW Convention American Legion state meeting Awarding medals to Afghanistan veteran Read more »

Congresswoman Pingree at the opening of the VA Clinic in Portland in 2011.   Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is leading a bipartisan effort to expedite the approval of a lease to significantly expand a VA outpatient clinic in Portland.    The leases in Portland and at 17 other VA facilities around the country need Congressional approval, but bureaucratic rules about how… Read more »

"Today we remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in the defense of our country, our values and our freedoms.  We will never forget that they fought and died to protect our freedoms, our values and us.  Unfortunately, even though Americans always will remember these sacrifices, our government has not always lived up to our solemn commitment to the veterans… Read more »

On the heels of a Human Rights Watch report that documents and draws attention to the experience of survivors of military sexual trauma, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) wrote Secretary of Defense Ash Carter urging the Pentagon to reform their procedures for reviewing the cases of veterans… Read more »

At a press conference in Washington today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree called on the Department of Defense to change practices that have led tens of thousands of veterans to be improperly discharged from the military.  A report out today by Human Rights Watch documents how many survivors of military sexual assault suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) improperly… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree told a top VA official today that the independent contractor running the Veterans Choice program isn't meeting the needs of veterans and should be replaced.  In a phone call with Dr. David Shulkin, Under Secretary for Health at the VA, Pingree said veterans are waiting too long for appointments, doctors are waiting too long for payments and that Health… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree used her position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to get numerous provisions into a defense bill that will help veterans, including those seeking care in the VA, homeless female veterans, veterans who need service dogs and the families of veterans.  Pingree also was able to insure that the bill contains $75 million in funding to maintain… Read more »

Program allows veterans in rural areas to get care closer to home Representative Bruce Poliquin introduced legislation in the House that will extend the ARCH (Access Received Closer to Home) Program and its services in Maine for five years.  Representative Chellie Pingree is the lead Democratic cosponsor.   “It is so important our veterans receive the health care and… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree introduced legislation today to fix a loophole in the Post 9-11 GI Bill that has prevented some injured Reservists—including at least one from Maine—from getting the full benefits they have earned.   “Thousands of Guardsmen and Reservists from Maine and across the country have served our country overseas and many were injured. The… Read more »

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree was able to insert provisions into a spending bill that is working its way through Congress that will improve healthcare for veterans and do more to focus on the problems of homelessness and suicide among vets.   Pingree added language that will require the Veterans Administration (VA) to provide gender-appropriate prosthetics.  She says she has… Read more »