Press Releases

ROMANIA—Following a two-day trip to Poland, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and a bipartisan group of six U.S. Representatives continued their fact-finding mission in Romania, a close ally of the U.S. Over two days, the group met with U.S. and NATO forces, including servicemembers from Maine, at an airbase near the border, and met with the Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Ciucă, to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The group will visit additional European countries through Thursday.

“Every day, it becomes clearer that more humanitarian aid and military assistance is needed for Ukraine,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “Whether we’re at bordercrossings and shelters, where millions of Ukrainian families carrying nothing but what they can fit into small bags are seeking safety, or at airbases and embassies, where our forces and allies are doing everything they can to support the humanitarian effort, the impact of President Putin’s violence can be felt. And we’ve barely scratched the surface of his destruction."

“I’m glad we had an opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Ciucă, who for more than an hour spoke with us about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. It’s reassuring to know we have a strong ally like Romania supporting innocent Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s violence,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “I look forward to learning even more over the next few days about the most effective ways that we can support our allies, provide assistance to Ukraine, and hold Russia accountable through additional meetings and visits.”

Click here for photos of the group’s stop in Romania.

Over the weekend, Pingree and the Congressional delegation visited Poland. Click here for photos. 

Due to security concerns, further details about the trip cannot be released at this time. 

The Congressional delegation includes:

• Chairman Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Subcommittee on National Security, Committee on Oversight and Reform
• Representative Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Committee on Energy and Commerce
• Representative Mark Green (R-Tenn.), House Armed Services Committee
• Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), House Appropriations Committee
• Representative Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Committee on Oversight and Reform
• Representative Pat Fallon (R-Texas), Committee on Oversight and Reform
• Representative Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Committee on Oversight and Reform

The Biden Administration has now committed $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since taking office. Over the past two weeks alone, the United States has delivered more than $1 billion in direct equipment transfers from the Department of Defense to the Ukrainian military. 

Pingree voted with the House to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations package, which included $13.6 billion in humanitarian and security aid to Ukraine. This included $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and $300 million for allies and partners in the region, as well as $6.8 billion in humanitarian, economic, and security assistance for Ukrainians.

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