Election Result: Chellie Pingree Wins U.S House District One

Election Result: Chellie Pingree has won another term in the U.S House for District 1 against Mark Holbrook.

Stay tuned for more election results...

Governor LePage Extends Meeting Invite to Pingree and Michaud on Maine National Guard

AUGUSTA, Maine - Governor Paul R. LePage has extended an invitation to meet with Representatives Chellie Pingree and Michael Michaud with regard to a request for a briefing on the Maine Army National Guard.

Governor LePage, in a letter, agreed to meet about the various proposals and ramifications of cuts, growth, and/or force restructuring in Maine. "As Commander-in-Chief of the Maine National Guard, I would be pleased to meet with you on this matter. Appropriate National Guard leadership will be present to address any technical questions," the letter states.

The federal government has ordered the State of Maine to examine possible cuts to the Maine National Guard. Earlier this week, Brigadier General James Campbell received a letter from Rep. Pingree and Rep. Michaud requesting information about the Maine National Guard as a result of that federal mandate.

New England Delegation Sends Letter to EPA Opposing Changes to Clean Air Funding

WASHINGTON, DC – All 20 of New England's Representatives in the U.S. House sent a letter to Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, expressing their concern that proposed funding changes to clean air programs would have a negative impact on the region.

"Given New England's long established history of working to provide its citizens with clean air and a healthy environment, we are concerned that the proposed changes would undermine these accomplishments," the letter reads.

In June, the EPA announced changes to the way the agency plans to distribute air quality funds. These revisions would reduce New England's funding in order to send money to other regions that have not done as much to improve air quality. If fully implemented, these changes could decrease New England's funding by 30%-40%, forcing state governments to make up the difference. In addition, other proposed changes would require more matching funds from states to support programs aimed at monitoring air quality. This would create a substantial burden on New England and could cripple the monitoring programs these states use to keep their air clean.

"We strongly encourage you to ensure that the air quality programs in New England are at least level funded by the EPA through FY 2014," the delegation wrote.

The letter was organized by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter and was signed by Representatives

Proposed cuts to food stamp program 'outrageous'

Congresswoman Pingree to oppose drastic cuts; one in five people in Maine currently getting assistance
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said September 18th that big cuts to SNAP benefits (formerly the food stamp program) would have a drastic impact on thousands of working Maine families. Pingree says she'll vote against a proposed $40 billion cut to the program later this week.

"These cuts would hurt seniors, children and working families who struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table. Already the average recipients only gets less than $1.50 per meal from SNAP—it's outrageous that the Republicans think there is some room to cut further. It just can't be done without making people go hungry," Pingree said.

Just over 250,000 people get SNAP benefits in Maine—about 1 in 5 residents. Two-thirds of the families getting benefits have children and half have at least one person working full time.

"The Republicans want to change the rules to encourages to state to kick families off food stamps—it
actually gives states a big financial incentive by telling them they can keep half of the benefits of every family they kick out of the program," Pingree said. "That's the wrong message to send to state governments."

House Republicans have introduced a bill this week to cut $40 billion in food stamp benefits, which would force 4 million people off the program next year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Traditionally the SNAP program has been part of the Farm Bill, but this year House Republicans split the Farm Bill into two pieces. The first part of the bill was passed earlier this year, but conservatives have been opposing the portion containing the SNAP program because the cuts haven't been drastic enough.

UPDATE: The house passed this bill to cut 40 billion to food stamps.

MAINE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN OVER JOBS CORPS PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, DC –   In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Maine Congressional Delegation today expressed deep concern over the budget shortfall facing the Jobs Corps program and the suspension of all new student enrollees at Job Corps centers across the country.  In the letter, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree ask Acting Secretary Seth Harris for a full explanation of the reasons for the program’s budget shortfall and for a full explanation of the decision to suspend new enrollments. 

 “The purpose of Job Corps is to provide disadvantaged youth with the skills needed to obtain and hold a job, enter the Armed Forces, or enroll in advanced training or higher education. In addition to receiving academic and employment training, youth also engage in social skills training and other services to promote their overall well-being,” the letter reads.  “As you well know, Job Corps is a vital piece of our workforce development system and is often the only option for the youth who enroll.”

 There are two Jobs Corps centers in Maine: The Loring Jobs Corps Center in Limestone and the Penobscot Job Corps Center in Bangor.

 Below is full text of the letter:

Proposed Post Office Cuts Threaten Maine's Island Communities

Island Institute News and Press Release
Proposed Post Office Cuts Threaten Maine's Island Communities
Pingree and Michaud Ask Postal Service to Grant Islands Part-Time Status

Tuesday December 18th, 2012-The island communities of Chebeague, Long and Swan's islands, the Cranberry Isles, Isleboro and North Haven are at risk of postal service cuts that will threaten their sustainability.  Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud, two of Maine's congressional representatives, have written a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe expressing their grave concern over the impact that these cuts would have on the communities' survival.  They also asked him to grant the communities part-time status, with a minimum of six hours of operation per day. 

Pingree appointed to Appropriations Committee

Only second House Member from Maine to be appointed to powerful committee since 1899, first in last 40 years

Coastal Maine - Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has been appointed to the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where spending is set for nearly all government programs. Pingree will be only the second House Member from Maine since 1899 and only the fifth Mainer in history to serve on the Committee.

"It's a great opportunity to have a significant impact on how money is spent on programs that affect Maine, like shipbuilding or agriculture," Pingree said. "I know it will be a lot of work but will be well worth it to be able to influence spending priorities in Maine and nationally."

In Congress, the Appropriations Committee is said to control the "power of the purse" and must pass virtually any bill that allows the federal government to spend money. Appropriations is divided up into various

Bath Iron Works awarded $70 million contract

Bath yard will provide services to maintain and upgrade destroyers, guided-missile frigates

Bath, Maine - Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday, December 5th that Bath Iron Works has won a $70 million contract to perform design and planning services for maintenance and upgrade to the Arleigh Burke line of destroyers and Perry class of guided missile frigates.

"BIW has built dozens of these ships and I can't think of a better place for the Navy to go to plan for the maintenance and modernization of these vessels," Pingree said. "This contract represents $70 million of work at the yard next year, which is important to help keep some of the best shipbuilders in the world on the job."

Bath Iron Works launched the Oliver Hazard Perry, the first ship in the Perry line of guided missile frigates, in 1975. BIW launched the Arleigh Burke, the lead ship in that class of guided missile destroyers, in 1989.

Pingree has continued to fight for funding to keep BIW building enough new Arleigh Burke class destroyers to maintain employment levels a the yard.

Vote 2012 Chellie Pingree Projected Winner

 Pingree projected winner in Maine District One house race!