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Cleaning Up Forever Chemicals

Pingree Votes to Advance 3 Bath Iron Works-Built Arleigh Burke Destroyers in House-Passed Annual Defense Bill

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, authorizing three Bath Iron Works-built Arleigh Burke destroyers. The defense bill requires the Department of Defense to study and reduce the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), makes substantial investments in clean energy and…

Following Push from Pingree, $5 Million to Assist Farmers Impacted by PFAS Included in FY23 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

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Funding to mitigate impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is included in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee funding bill for Fiscal Year 2023, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced on Thursday. Pingree, a longtime organic farmer and a member of the House Committee on Agriculture,…

Pingree Legislation Aims to Ensure Safe Drinking Water as Mainers Grapple with Widespread PFAS Contamination

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Today, U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and David Rouzer (R-N.C.) introduced The Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act, to provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals, non-profits, and local governments in rural communities. Water quality improvement systems installed at the faucet or within…

Pingree to USDA Sec. Vilsack: Meet with Maine Farmers Affected by PFAS Contamination

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WASHINGTON, DC—In a House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee budget hearing today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) underscored the widespread per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination affecting Maine farms and families, and questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on what resources and funding the Department needs to address the…

VIDEO: Pingree Presses VA Secretary on Military Sexual Trauma Claims Processing, Clean-up of Forever Chemicals at Military Installations

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WASHINGTON, DC—In a House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittee hearing today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) questioned Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis R. McDonough on how the Department is working to improve Military Sexual Trauma claims processing, as well as the VA’s efforts to improve communication with veterans who may have…

Maine Delegation Urges More USDA Aid for PFAS Crisis

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WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to swiftly and fully utilize all USDA resources and authorities that can assist in responding to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)…

Pingree Votes to Clean Up Forever Chemicals

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A longtime champion of cleaning up PFAS chemicals, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today cast a vote to pass the PFAS Action Act—comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to protect all Americans and the environment from the harms of forever chemicals (PFAS). The bill will establish a national drinking water standard for select PFAS chemicals, designate two types…

In House-Passed INVEST in America Act, Pingree Secures Additional $19.8 Million in Local Infrastructure Project Funding for Maine

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today voted for the INVEST in America Act, legislation that would infuse $715 billion dollars into essential surface transportation and water infrastructure programs nationwide, laying the groundwork for President Biden’s broader infrastructure goals. The bill, which passed the House 221 to 201, would…

Senator Collins, Representative Pingree Urge EPA to Prioritize PFAS Issues in Maine

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U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Acting Regional Administrator Deborah Szaro, who has recently been appointed to lead the agency’s new Council on PFAS.  In the letter, they highlighted Maine’s extensive and unfortunate history with PFAS issues and urged the Council to work…

Video Recap: Chair Pingree Asks Administrator Regan How EPA Will Curb PFAS Contamination

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As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan on his agency’s plans to respond the growing issue of PFAS, or forever chemicals.  PFAS chemicals are man-made chemicals that have so far been found…