Press Releases

Reacting to President Trump’s FY2021 budget proposal, which was announced today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement:

“Last week, President Trump used his State of the Union address to express his support for health care access. Today, in contrast, he’s proposed a budget that would slash billions of dollars from Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Once again, it’s clear that the President’s promises can’t be trusted.

“President Trump’s budget blueprint ignores the reality of American lives by cutting critical programs from food assistance to Social Security. Right now one in three American households are considered financially fragile while 40% of Americans say they couldn’t $400 in unexpected emergency. Cruel and short-sighted attempts to eliminate safety net programs will only cause harm to Mainers when they need help most.

“Like the three budgets before this, the Trump budget request will likely face bipartisan opposition, but we can’t take anything for granted. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will fight for funding to support the long-term health and wellbeing of all Americans and reject this reckless budget from President Trump.”

The Trump FY2021 Budget would massively cut funding for student loan assistance, affordable housing, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and many EPA programs, including the total elimination of 50 programs across the government. It would also eliminate several agencies altogether, including the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pingree has served on the House Appropriations Committee since 2013. She currently sits on the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, and Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

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