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My Work as House Interior Appropriations Chair

Pingree, Merkley: EPA’s Elimination of Scientific Research Arm Threatens Clean Air and Water for All

| Posted in Press Releases

 Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are sounding the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide. In a letter to EPA…

Pingree, House Ag Committee Democrats: Trump’s Trade Policy is a Bad Deal for Farmers and a Bad Deal for Americans

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee urged Secretary of Commerce Harold Lutnick to rein in the Trump Administration’s disastrous trade policies, including its escalating trade wars with Canada and Mexico. Pingree and her colleagues underscored the immediate and long-term impacts of President Trump’s chaotic approach to…

VIDEO: Pingree Says Republicans’ Full Year Continuing Resolution is Not a Responsible Way to Govern

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, called on her colleagues to oppose Republicans’ stopgap funding bill. In remarks on the House Floor, Pingree argued that full-year continuing resolutions are not a responsible way to govern, and that Republicans should do their job and come back to the…

The president’s policies are yet another betrayal of tribal communities

| Posted in Blog Posts

More than 100 tribal representatives and organizations will testify before the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee this week, in one of the largest collective testimonies by Native communities in recent committee history. For weeks, I have been sounding the alarm on the devastating impacts that the Trump administration’s policies are having on…

Ranking Member Pingree: Reckless, Indiscriminate Purge of Public Servants Will Have Lasting Harmful Effects

| Posted in Press Releases

In letters sent today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the United States Forest Service, and Department of the Interior (DOI), which encompasses eleven bureaus, including the National Park Service, House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree…

Ranking Members Pingree, Merkley Condemn Indian Affairs Hiring Freeze, Firings as Violation of Tribal Sovereignty

| Posted in Press Releases
CP Merkley

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the Department of the Interior (DOI), demanded the Trump Administration immediately reinstate terminated Indian Affairs employees, lift the hiring freeze, and officially rescind the deferred resignation and early retirement offers. As Ranking…

Ranking Member Pingree Sounds Alarm Over Indiscriminate Firing of 3,400 Forest Service Employees

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, says the Trump Administration’s reported firing of 3,400 U.S. Forest Service (FS) employees will severely hinder the agency’s ability to fight wildfires.  In a letter to newly confirmed Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Pingree underscores that…

Ranking Member Pingree: Trump’s Park Service Hiring Freeze a Direct Hit to Acadia and the Economy

| Posted in Press Releases
Acadia entrance sign

Today, House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree warned the Trump Administration that its ill-conceived federal hiring freeze will jeopardize National Park Service (NPS) operations at national parks like Acadia. Pingree called on Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to immediately resume all seasonal hiring for the NPS and emphasized that…

Ranking Members Merkley, Pingree: Health Care in Tribal Communities in Danger Under Trump’s Hiring Freeze

| Posted in Press Releases

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), demanded urgent action from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to stop dangerous cuts to the IHS workforce, which is already facing huge challenges and staffing vacancies. As Ranking Members…

Merkley, Murray, Pingree, and DeLauro: EPA Illegal Funding Cuts Harm Public Health, Environment, and Families

| Posted in Press Releases

Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) demanded recently confirmed Environmental…

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