Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on President Trump’s actions today to reverse President Obama’s denials of the Dakota Access Pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline.

"It’s disappointing that one of President Trump’s first actions in office is choosing to resurrect these controversial projects. In doing so, he makes the country further dependent on harmful energy sources of the past and takes sides with massive fuel companies over the legitimate concerns of the American people.  

"The Standing Rock Sioux were tear-gassed and hosed in freezing conditions while protecting their cultural sites and water supply from the ill-placed Dakota Access Pipeline.  President Obama absolutely did the right thing in recognizing their tribal authority and denying a permit for that project, just as he made the right decision in turning down the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline for its acceleration of climate change. 

"I will be working with my Democratic colleagues to do whatever I can to oppose these moves to undermine tribal rights and further jeopardize our climate."  

In Congress, Pingree worked with her colleagues to push the Army Corps of Engineers to have greater consultation with the Standing Rock Sioux and, when protesters were faced with violence, asked the Department of Justice to step in to deescalate the situation.