Chellie Pingree never anticipated a life in politics. Living on the offshore island of North Haven, Maine, she raised her kids and ran a small business. She served on the school board and as the local tax assessor, a job no one else in town wanted. But in 1991, when she was approached about running for State Senate, she jumped at the chance.
She scored a remarkable upset, defeating a popular Republican, and went on to serve four terms in the Maine Senate. But throughout her political career, from Augusta to Washington and beyond, the lessons she learned on North Haven have always been her guide: Be accountable to your neighbors, and always use your common sense.
Ever since being elected to Congress, I've been proud to advocate for the best shipbuilders in the world at Bath Iron Works and to keep them working--first as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and now as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. What they say is absolutely true: "Bath Built Is Best Built."
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are dangerous man-made “forever chemicals” that pose serious risks to every Mainer, appearing at our former military installations, farms, and water systems. This is an urgent public health and environmental threat, and it’s growing at an alarming rate—in Maine, there have been more than 30,000 records of PFAS at close to 250 sites across the state, including the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, the former Loring Air Force Base in Aroostook County, and the Kennebunkport, Kennebunk, and Wells Water District.
PFAS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. These chemicals have been linked to harmful human health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and weakened immune systems.
My Work to Clean Up Forever Chemicals
On the Congressional PFAS Task Force, I work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues in the House to more urgently address the public health threat of PFAS to better protect communities from the harmful effects of these dangerous chemicals.
As Chair of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I oversee the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and work to secure funding for EPA to develop regulatory standards for drinking water and site cleanups as well as conduct additional research to understand the health effects of PFAS.
As Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have worked to secure additional U.S. Department of Agriculture support for dairy farmers whose livelihoods have been jeopardized by PFAS contamination.
In July 2021, I cosponsored the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to issue and finalize a rule to ban the use of intentionally added perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances in cosmetics.
In November 2021, I was proud to vote for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which invests $55 billion in water infrastructure, including $10 billion in dedicated funding to clean up dangerous PFAS.
In December 2021, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2022 which creates a Department of Defense PFAS Task Force, provides an additional $500 million for clean-up of military communities impacted by PFAS contamination, and requires DoD to publish to the public results of drinking and ground water testing for PFAS conducted on or near military installations, formerly used defense sites, and national guard sites.
In March 2022, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Congressman Jared Golden and I urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to swiftly and fully utilize all USDA resources and authorities that can assist in responding to PFAS contamination, which is increasingly impacting Maine famers and rural communities.
In June 2022, I introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act, to provide grants for water testing and treatment technology directly to individuals, non-profits, and local governments in rural communities. Water quality improvement systems installed at the faucet or within a building can provide immediate and ongoing protections from known and emerging water contaminants, like PFAS, lead, and nitrates.
Since the beginning of my tenure in Congress, I’ve heard from countless students who feel unsafe at school, parents who fear for their children, and families who’ve suffered devastating losses due to firearms. Gun violence is preventable, and it’s shameful that Republicans in Congress have blocked any legislation that would end this uniquely American crisis.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I fought to include the first funding for CDC and NIH to research gun violence research in two decades and continue to request every year.
In the 117th Congress, these are the bills I voted to pass in the US House:
In this Congress, I have cosponsored the following commonsense gun reforms:
As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I pushed to include critical funding for gun violence prevention in the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill recently signed by President Biden. Among other provisions, the omnibus bill:
FIRST LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19: A $8.3 billion emergency coronavirus spending package was enacted into law on March 6. Maine has received $4.6 million dollars in CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness funds through this funding bill. Grantees will be eligible to apply for further assistance from the remaining $350 million designated specifically for state and local funding. More info here.
SECOND LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 (Families First): On March 14, H.R. 6201 The Families First Coronavirus Response Act overwhelmingly passed the US House with bipartisan support. President Trump signed this bill into law on March 18. This coronavirus response legislation will make coronavirus testing free for most patients, secure paid emergency leave, enhance unemployment insurance, strengthen food security initiatives, and increase federal Medicaid funding to states. The text of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201, is here. A summary of H.R. 6201 is here.
THIRD LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 (CARES Act): On March 27, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, legislation to provide economic relief to workers and small businesses across our nation. The legislation includes, among other things:
INTERIM LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19: The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act expands COVID-19 testing and deliver billions in critical aid to health care providers and small businesses. In the bill, a bipartisan agreement was reached to provide $310 billion in additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which thousands of Maine businesses have utilized. It also contains several key provisions added at the insistence of House and Senate Democrats, including:
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT: In December of 2020, Congress passed H.R. 133, an omnibus spending bill consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, coronavirus relief, and additional authorizations. Highlights of the COVID-19 relief package include:
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN: In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan historic legislation that makes investments to crush the virus, create millions of jobs, provide direct relief to working families, and help schools safely open. Highlights of this legislation include:
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The climate crisis isn’t some far off problem—it’s already at our door, rearing its ugly head. Maine has already been acutely effected by the climate crisis, and the natural resources we value are under massive threat without a global effort to change course. The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of other bodies of water on the planet. Rates of asthma and Lyme disease have grown exponentially. Acidifying waters are hurting Maine’s shellfish industry. Coastal flooding and sea level rise are increasing floods. The natural resources we’re so proud of are under massive threat. We need a whole-of-government approach to tackle this emergency head on.
We don't have to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy. We can have both, and Maine is poised to benefit from green jobs. . Here in Maine, our natural resources are closely linked to our jobs and our way of life, and prioritizing the needs of the environment and protecting these resources is essential in our future economic recovery efforts. We can drive a transformational economic investment that puts our state’s economy back on track, gets people back into the workforce, and serves as a way to usher in a sweeping green economic recovery. The result will be a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient economy for us all.
As the Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, I'm proud to be a leader in Congress' fight to ensure clean air and water, preserve our natural resources, biodiversity, and endangered species, and confront the climate crisis. I know we have the momentum to pass sweeping environmental and energy reform in the 117th Congress.
Below you will find recent news about my work to protect the environment and support policies to promote a clean energy economy.
Climate change is real, caused by human activity, and an urgent threat to our way of life. For too long, scientific warnings were ignored and now we’re at a crisis point. To avoid a major, irreversible catastrophe, we must take bold action to become carbon neutral by 2050.
This page was designed to keep you updated about the progress Congress is making to fight climate change—but this is just a starting point. Think I should add another bill to this list? Contact my office here.
Together, these bills take immediate and comprehensive action to combat and mitigate the climate crisis.
Fisheries are an incredibly important issue for Maine. From fighting to ensure our fishermen have access to working waterfronts to supporting the scientific research and stock assessments necessary to ensure the accurate setting of quotas, I am working in Maine and DC to make our fisheries and coastal communities more sustainable.
On both the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and the House Agriculture Committee, longtime organic farmer Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is fighting for a food system that works better for farmers, consumers, and the environment. Her work on the issue has earned her national praise, but the real wins have been the successful reforms she made in the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills. Stay tuned to this page for updates on all issues food and agriculture.
Innovative forest products are a critical part of the climate solution and the Maine economy. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment, I've pushed for resources and funding to support the ever-changing needs of the forest product and wood innovation industries.
Keep up to date on my efforts to protect and improve on affordable health care gains for the American people.
As immigration patterns change over time, Congress must review our immigration policies to ensure that they meet our evolving needs as a nation, allow us to regulate traffic across our borders, and add to the rich diversity of our nation.
I strongly believe we should streamline legal immigration and promote naturalization for those who qualify, including parents of U.S. citizens, young people who have been in the U.S. for at least five years, and students and entrepreneurs, while also keeping families together who have lived in the United States for years.
It is well past time that we re-examine our immigration process to ensure that those who want to immigrate legally have the opportunity to do so, while protecting the rights of American workers, defending our national security, and enforcing the laws that are already in place.
Keep posted to this page for updates on this critical issue.
Doing what I can in Congress to protect and create Maine jobs, and to support our key industries, remains a top priority. Below are just a few of the issues I've focused on in this regard.
Maine needs a strong infrastructure to compete on a national and global scale. I've been a strong supporter of fixing our infrastructure while expanding our technology, like bringing broadband Internet to rural areas of the state. I also believe we need a strong transportation network, which is why I have supported extending the Downeaster line to Brunswick and expanding options for alternative transportation.
Small businesses truly are the backbone of Maine's economy and one thing I hear most from them is the need for capital. As a small business owner myself, I couldn't agree more. That's why I've supported expanding Small Business Administration loan programs, cutting unnecessary regulations, and have worked to connect our small businesses with larger federal contractors.
The arts aren't just entertainment--they're being used in Maine to drive economic activity and bring people back into our downtowns. Learn more about my work to advocate for federal support for the arts here.
Shipbuilding is in Maine's blood, and it represents the livelihood of thousands of Mainers. Learn about my advocacy for Bath Iron Works here and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard here.
The closing of Brunswick Naval Air Station marked the end of an era. But redevelopment of the site has presented an excellent opportunity to create new jobs for the area. I helped the local redevelopment authority acquire the site for no cost from the Navy, and have been happy to see new businesses use the facilities, including Resilient Communications, Molnlycke Health Care, the Brunswick Executive Airport, and a new campus of Southern Maine Community College.
Maine is working to become a leader in clean energy, including offshore wind power and tidal power. Learn more here.
I am strong supporter of Maine's efforts to support local foods and local farms because there's no need to buy food from across the globe or country when our neighbors are already producing fresh, healthy produce. As member of the House Agriculture Committee, I'm working for federal policy that better supports creation of these local jobs. Learn more here.
Maine's 20 miles of working waterfronts support 30,000 jobs, but are vulnerable to development. Communities need more resources to protect these critical places so generations of Mainers can continue making their living from the water. Learn more here.
If we found out one thing from the financial crisis, it’s that no one was looking out to protect consumers or keep Wall Street’s irresponsible practices in check. We need to make the right changes to prevent another meltdown from happening and have someone to fight for the interests of the consumer.
With the number of cases rising steadily in recent years, Lyme disease is a growing problem in Maine and other states. As a member of the bipartisan House Lyme Disease Caucus, I'm working to educate Members of Congress about Lyme disease and to help ensure support for programs dedicated to prevention and effective treatments. I'm working to make sure we're doing everything we can to confront it on the federal level, but we all need to take steps to limit our risk.
As Maine loses one person a day on average to drug-related overdoses, I'm working to make that our state has the federal resources it needs to address the crisis.
One of my top priorities is making sure that we are doing everything we can to help and support our men and women in uniform who were sexually assaulted during their service. Below you'll find more information on the legislation and policies I'm advocating for to end military sexual assault and support survivors.
In January 2021, I was elected to serve as House Appropriations Committee Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chair. I'm honored to lead the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee at this critical moment. As Chair, I will fight to undo the harmful policies enacted by the last administration and provide the resources needed to preserve the long-term health of our environment. As a member of the Subcommittee for the past seven years, I have secured significant funding for Maine’s tribes, environmental preservation programs, our cultural economy, and our forests, and as Chair I will have the opportunity to put these priorities at the top of the Committee’s agenda.
The U.S Constitution specifies that “Congress—and in particular, the House of Representatives—is invested with the 'power of the purse,' the ability to tax and spend public money for the national government,” which falls to the Appropriations Committee. The House Appropriations Committee has jurisdiction over all discretionary spending but does not have jurisdiction over mandatory federal spending (i.e., Social Security, Medicare). The House Appropriations Committee, led by Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), is responsible for investments in families and communities across America, providing funding to create jobs, grow our economy, keep our country safe and secure, and build for the future.
A full list of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee's jurisdiction can be found below:
I'm proud to look out for Maine's interests as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Our committee writes annual legislation that allocates federal funding to government agencies, departments, and organizations.
I strongly believe that the Internet should remain a free and open exchange of information, which is what has made it such a success. That is why I have supported strong net neutrality policies and will continue to fight against efforts of big broadband providers to set up slow and fast lanes on the Internet.
I'm proud to report that the Maine Delegation's years of work has been successful in pushing through a long delayed, and much needed, expansion of the Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. This project will enable veterans in Southern Maine to access a wider range of services. Look below for details on my work and keep posted for future updates.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard performs an incredible service to our country in maintaining and upgrading the Navy's submarine fleet, while being a critical pillar to Southern Maine's economy. As a former member of the House Armed Services Committee and current member of the House Appropriations Committee, supporting this critical installation and the thousands of Maine jobs it offers will always be a top priority for me in Congress.
In Maine, we have laws that explicitly protect reproductive rights and we’re fortunate that Governor Mills is committed to upholding Roe v. Wade. But in June, a deeply partisan U.S. Supreme Court overturned nearly 50 years of an established right to body autonomy.
It's hard to imagine a place like Maine without its working waterfronts. They're not only an iconic part of our state's history and landscape, but an irreplaceable resource for 30,000 thousand Mainers who make their living from marine-related industries.
But as valuable as they are to our communities, they make up only 20 miles of our 3,300-mile coastline. That makes them extremely vulnerable, since a development here or a few condos there can swallow a large percentage of what working land remains. Other emerging threats include climate change and ocean acidification.
We need tools to protect these valuable spots and ensure that Mainers can continue to make their living from the sea.
The murder of George Floyd was not an isolated incident of police brutality against Black people. Since 2013, police officers have shot and killed nearly 1,000 people every year, and Black men are nearly three times more likely to be killed by police than their white peers. After endless reports documenting excessive use of force, it is more important now than ever for Congress to step up to condemn racial profiling and police brutality and work to dismantle unjust systems that harm and kill Black people in this country. For George Floyd and too Black Americans many before him who’ve had their lives cut short at the hands of police, I have signed onto the following legislative initiatives that would help address the well documented problem of police brutality toward Black Americans and begin to dismantle systems that contribute to racial inequities in the first place. You can read more about these pieces of legislation below.
However, the racial injustices that permeate our country aren't limited to issues of police brutality. Systemic racism has perpetuated longstanding disparities in education, employment, housing, health care, the justice system, environmental issues, and more. Below you will find a list of some of the bills I support that would help to dismantle these inequities.
The United States wastes a staggering amount of food, resulting in environmental problems, billions in economic costs, and a lost opportunity to help feed the 50 million Americans who are food insecure. In September 2015, USDA, EPA, and FDA announced the first-ever domestic goal to halve food loss and waste by 2030.
All Americans, particularly those in rural states like Maine, rely on USPS for mail and essential supplies. Since 1918, USPS has dedicated itself to deliver no matter snow nor rain nor heat.
Trump-appointed USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has used his time in the position to sabotage USPS—he has made sweeping cuts to the Post Office, including the removal and destruction of mail sorting machines in Maine and across the country. USPS has more than 600,000 career employees, including 100,000 veterans and more than 3,300 Mainers, and has 31,000 locations nationwide; however, the Postal Service receives effectively no support from the federal budget, and is subject to a cumbersome pre-funding mandate for its employee’s healthcare services.
In his brief time as Postmaster General, Mr. DeJoy has implemented policies that have slowed delivery times to unacceptable levels and resulted in undelivered mail. Since becoming Postmaster General, he has also invested tens of thousands of dollars in stock options in another USPS contractor and competitor. Both investments represent a tremendous conflict of interest.
I'm fighting to make sure the Post Office can survive and thrive in future years. I've voted three times since February 2020 to protect the Postal Service. Below you can find more information about my work to protect one of our country's essential services.
Maine faces unique challenges as the legalized recreational sale of marijuana inches closer and closer. Cannabidiol (CBD) and medical marijuana are already legal, with many businesses in the industry growing rapidly.
I'm proud to be able to advocate for Maine's citizens and businesses as a legalization state. Please follow the links below for more information on the bills I support to modernize our cannabis economy and promote the rights of citizens to use this product where it has been made legal.
Medicare and Social Security work to keep thousands of Mainers out of poverty. But they've become targets for those who'd rather cut benefits than having the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. We need to protect these critical benefits and make sure they are there for the next generation.
For 60 years, Medicare has given millions of seniors the health care they need and kept them out of poverty. It's a benefit our seniors have worked hard to earn. Still, some see it as a way to balance a deficit that our seniors to cause. I'm against any cutting for Medicare benefits and medical care for our retirees and I vow to fight any proposals to do so.
Social Security is another important benefit that seniors worked hard to earn. But some want to change the program by scaring people into thinking it won't be around for the future. That's simply not true. There are ways to strengthen Social Security without cutting benefits.
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The arts have incredible value for our state as a positive tool for economic development, education, and community building. I am proud to advocate for federal investments in the arts and humanties that support important work here in Maine in several ways--as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment (which oversees funding for the National Endowments of the Arts and Humanities), an ex-officio member of the National Council on the Arts, and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus.
As Russia continues its unprovoked attack on the people of Ukraine, I am working at home and abroad to support Ukraine and our allies through this humanitarian crisis.
I joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives on a weeklong trip to bordering allied nations to get a firsthand look at humanitarian efforts and to learn what more can be done to help the millions of refugees and what more we can do to support Ukraine in their fight against autocracy.
The bipartisan Congressional delegation, from left: Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Me, Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), and Rep. Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.). |
The terror President Putin has rained down on Ukrainians—on innocent mothers and children, on the sick and elderly—is horrifying. As President Zelenskyy said in his address to Congress last week, we must do more to help Ukrainians defend their country against Putin's unjust war.
What we've seen in Poland, Romania, and Moldova has been truly heart wrenching. Millions of Ukrainian refugees have fled to bordering Eastern European countries seeking safety and shelter in the weeks since Putin's violent invasion began.
This trip is giving us first-hand knowledge of how our efforts to support Ukraine and our NATO allies are being implemented.
See highlights from the trip here.
In Romania, Pingree Meets with Prime Minister, Ukrainian Refugees at Border Crossing
Since the beginning of the invasion, Congress has worked to provide emergency funding for security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, ban Russian energy imports to the US, and suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
Emergency Funding for Ukraine
On March 9, 2022 the House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act as part of the FY2022 omnibus appropriations legislation. This legislation provides an additional $13.6 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, including:
Legislation to Ban Russian Energy Imports
On March 9, 2022 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6968, the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act, which would ban imports of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum fuels, oils, and other energy products from Russia. It would also require the U.S. Trade Representative to condemn the aggression in Ukraine.
Legislation to Suspend Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus
On March 15, 2022 the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7108, a bill to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
Specifically, this legislation would revoke Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia and Belarus, which stops them from selling goods in the U.S. at the same preferential duty rates that Ukraine currently receives, and allows the President to raise tariffs on products from Russia and Belarus.
The bill will also take steps to review Russia’s and Belarus’ access to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and extends and strengthens the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to allow the U.S. to impose further sanctions on Russia.
Additionally, Congresswoman Pingree has called on President Biden and other Administration officials to pursue further policies to protect Ukrainians in the U.S., support Ukrainian refugee resettlement in the U.S., and ensure protections for other vulnerable populations. This includes:
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians in the U.S.
Congresswoman Pingree signed a letter calling on President Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas to designate Ukraine for TPS, which would provide protection from deportation and access to work authorization for Ukrainians already in the U.S. due to the ongoing armed conflict in their home country.
On March 3, 2022 the Department of Homeland Security announced that Ukrainians in the U.S. as of March 1, 2022 will be eligible for the maximum 18-month protection under TPS.
Support for Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement in the U.S.
Congresswoman Pingree signed a letter to President Biden urging his administration to take additional actions beyond TPS to support Ukrainian refugee resettlement in the U.S. Specifically, the letter requests that the administration:
Additional Protections for Vulnerable Populations
Congresswoman Pingree signed a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken urging them to allow Ukrainian orphans awaiting adoptions by U.S. families to return to the families who previously hosted them.
Congresswoman Pingree signed a letter to President Biden urging his administration to prioritize protections for religious minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ population who are currently in and fleeing Ukraine.
In addition to approving TPS status for Ukrainians in the U.S., the Biden administration has worked in close coordination with our allies and partners to implement a serious of unprecedented sanctions against Russia, as well as to bolster our NATO defenses, deliver critical security assistance to the Ukrainian military, and provide desperately-needed economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. Specifically:
Financial Sanctions
The U.S. and our allies have implemented a series of financial sanctions to isolate Russia from the global economy, including:
Trade Sanctions and Additional Actions
The Biden administration has also taken actions to limit trade with Russia and implement new export and import restrictions, including:
President Biden also requested that Congress pass legislation to suspend permanent normal trade relations treatment for Russia. In response, the House passed H.R. 7108, a bill to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, on March 17, 2022. The legislation is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate.
Security and Humanitarian Assistance
The Biden administration has provided over $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since taking office, with $1 billion in equipment transfers from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the Ukrainian military delivered in just the past few weeks.
This assistance includes anti-aircraft and anti-armor systems, helicopters, patrol boats, vehicles, aerial system tracking radars, munitions and ammunition, military medical equipment, demining equipment, and satellite imagery and analysis capabilities.
Since the start of the invasion, the administration has also provided over $290 million in additional humanitarian assistance to continue responding to the needs of conflict-affected populations in Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries, including through the UN World Food Programme and other humanitarian response programs.
For the most up-to-date information on U.S. humanitarian response funding and programs, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/humanitarian-assistance/ukraine.
I continue pushing Congress to take meaningful action to address the national crisis of gun violence. Watch this page for updates on my efforts.
The United States wastes a staggering amount of food, resulting in environmental problems, billions in economic costs, and a lost opportunity to help feed the 50 million Americans who are food insecure. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has now introduced two pieces of legislation to address this program--HR 4184, the Food Recovery Act, and the Food Date Labeling Act.
Welcome to my Veterans web page. Here, you will find important information regarding veterans and military related initiatives and legislation. But more importantly, I hope you understand the appreciation I have for those who have served and continue to serve this country, and the commitment I make to provide them with the dignity, respect and benefits that they have earned.
We must provide for those who willingly put themselves in harm's way in the defense of our every day freedoms. I am committed to providing our troops with the resources they need to do their jobs, during peacetime and war. To that end, I will work tirelessly on the House Armed Services Committee to make sure our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and women have what it takes to keep themselves and our nation safe.
I also believe that we have a moral obligation to our nation's veterans, whether they've served for 3 years or for 30. The Department of Veterans Affairs must be adequately funded to provide veterans with the benefits they are entitled to and we cannot let bureaucracy lead to the denial of benefits.
Keep up to date on my efforts to protect and improve on affordable health care gains for the American people.
Every time gas and oil go up by $1 dollar, Maine's economy loses a billion dollars that it will never get back. That's unsustainable for our state and our families. Maine has the natural resources to produce affordable energy here at home while producing jobs and being good for the environment.
Off the shore of Maine there is enough wind to produce several power plants worth of electricity. Moreover, we can do it while creating jobs for Mainers and exporting energy instead of having to importing. I am a strong supporter of the University of Maine's work to develop offshore wind turbines that would be made right here in Maine.
There are also some exciting developments in getting our ocean to power our state, but from the tides. Maine has some of the largest tides in the world, and one project is looking at how to harness it.
Our homes, businesses, and state have much to gain by cutting back on the energy we use. We can save millions in utilities by insulating and sealing our homes as well as using efficient appliances.