Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

Representing the 1st District of Maine

Issues

Issues Text

This is just a sampling of my thoughts on some of the most important issues facing Maine and the country.  If you have questions about my stance on another issue or specific bill, please contact me. 

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Appropriations & Budget

I'm proud to be able to look out for Maine's interests as a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Jobs and Economic Development

Washington actions should benefits Maine's economy by investing in our infrastructure, helping small business, and supporting innovation.

BIW

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."

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

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.

Supporting the Arts


Health Care

Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care.

Maine's Opioid Epidemic

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.

Food & Agriculture

Unlike the rest of the country, the number of farms in Maine is increasing and the age of our farmers decreasing. More and more families are turning to local producers for healthy, sustainable foods. We need federal policy to support this trend, which is healthy for our bodies and our economy.

Reducing Food Waste

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. I am leading efforts in Congress to address this problem.

Veterans Issues

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.

Military Sexual Trauma

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. Please check this page periodically for updates on Resources, Legislation, and Policy Updates.

Immigration

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.

Supporting Seniors

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.

Energy and Environment

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.

Protecting Working Waterfronts

Maine's working waterfronts support 30,000 jobs but are incredibly vulnerable to development. Our communities need more resources to protect this critical resource.

Fisheries

The fishing industry is incredibly important to Maine. I'm working in Washington and here at home for fair regulations, better science, and more resources for all types of Maine fishermen.

Gun Violence

Congress needs to take meaningful action to address the national crisis of gun violence. Watch this page for updates on my efforts.

Net Neutrality

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.

Lyme Disease

With the number of cases rising steadily in recent years, Lyme disease is a growing problem in Maine and other states. Congresswoman Pingree is working to make sure we're doing everything we can to confront it on the federal level.

Looking out for consumers

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.