Press Releases

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 unfilled is not going to help, which is what makes President Trump’s hiring freezing so shortsighted," said Pingree.  "But a hiring freeze at the VA would prove downright harmful for the men and women who’ve served our country. There are already openings here in Maine that have gone unfilled for far too long.  Every day they remain vacant means veterans are not receiving the level of care they have earned.  It should also be noted that the VA is one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. I’ve signed onto this legislation so at least veterans can escape the negative effects of President Trump’s mismanagement."

The bill, H.R. 696, would exempt the Department of Veterans Affairs from the hiring freeze. Pingree also signed onto a letter directly requesting that President Trump reconsider the hiring freeze at the VA.

VA Letter: 20170127114843405.pdf

In December, Pingree joined other members of Maine’s Delegation in sending a letter asking the VA to fill vacancies at Vet Centers in Portland and Caribou.  The centers provide a range of social and psychological services to veterans.

Letter to VA: http://pingree.house.gov/sites/pingree.house.gov/files/12-09-16_Delegation_Vet_Center_Staffing_Letter_to_VA.pdf