Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the looming Republican government shutdown: 

Just days ago, we had a bipartisan deal that would have kept the government running for three months—and delivered more than $325 in funding for Maine. From aid for farmers and telehealth investments to disaster relief for communities impacted by last winter’s storms, the positive impacts would have been enormous. And that’s before we get to the provisions that would’ve helped all Americans: a ban on junk fees, new protections for our water systems, funding for pediatric-cancer research. Despite my misgivings about certain aspects of the bill, I was ready to support it. But House Republicans killed it.

And then last night, after hours of chaos and uncertainty, Republicans tried to pass a new Continuing Resolution that was significantly pared down. And while I was glad to see that disaster relief and farm aid had been retained, it was clear that Speaker Johnson was trying to cut as many benefits as possible. Just to appease Donald Trump and Elon Musk. When they tried to include a pre-approved debt-ceiling increase—at Trump’s request, all to clear the runway for massive tax cuts for the wealthy—Democrats and dozens of House Republicans revolted, citing long-term concerns about the national debt. That’s what killed Speaker Johnson’s amended bill. 

Now, we’re just hours away from the government shutting down, less than a week before Christmas. Millions of people will be impacted by this Republican dysfunction and chaos. Families will struggle. Communities will suffer. All because Elon Musk—whose personal wealth has gone from $250 billion to $468 billion just since the election—decided he wasn’t rich enough.

This a terrible precedent for the future of the democratic process, and I sincerely hope that my Republican colleagues come to their senses and vote on a funding bill that both parties can support—and that millions of Americans will benefit from. 

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