Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced 18 Maine Community Health Centers will receive $11,171,482 from the American Rescue Plan. The Maine health centers were granted American Rescue Plan funding by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) as part of a nearly $1 billion investment by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to centers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

“I voted for this critically important funding in order to strengthen Maine’s primary health care infrastructure and modernize medical facilities that serve our state’s most vulnerable. This significant investment will go a long way to help us fight this pandemic and expand capacity to support future public health needs,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “When I voted for the American Rescue Plan last spring I did so because I knew it would make an enormous difference in the health and wellbeing of Mainers. This award is a testament to the importance of that vote last March – it was unquestionably one of the most important Congress has ever taken.”

Health centers will use this funding for COVID-19-related capital needs, constructing new facilities, renovating and expanding existing facilities to enhance response to pandemics, and purchasing new state-of-the-art equipment, including telehealth technology, mobile medical vans, and freezers to store vaccines. More than 91 percent of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and nearly 63 percent are racial/ethnic minorities.

On March 10, 2021, Pingree voted for final passage of the American Rescue Plan, historic legislation that makes investments to crush the virus, create millions of jobs, and provide direct relief to working families. 

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