Chellie Pingree

Chellie Pingree

Chellie Pingree is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of Maine.

She was married to Donald Sussman, a hedge-fund manager who invests in Chinese companies, and a board member of the Democracy Alliance.

On June 18, 2011, Donald Sussman was remarried to Chellie Pingree, a Democratic U.S. representative from Maine, in a private ceremony on Turner Farm. On September 8, 2015, Pingree announced an "amicable and truly mutual decision" to separate from Sussman and begin divorce proceedings.The divorce was finalized in the summer of 2016.

Early Life

Chellie Pingree was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1955, the youngest of four children. Her father, Harry, worked in advertising and her mother, Dorothy, was a nurse. Chellie Pingree moved to Maine as a teenager. After college, she moved to North Haven, an island town of 350 people twelve miles off the coast of Rockland, to raise her family and make a living. She ran a small business, served on the school board and as the local tax assessor, a job no one else in town wanted. Johnson has three grown children. Her eldest, Hannah Pingree, is the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives and married to filmmaker Jason Mann. Her daughter Cecily, another filmmaker, is currently working with Penobscot Bay East Resource Center on a film about Maine's fishing industry. And her son, Asa, is a small business owner and proud father of Pingree's first grandson, Smith.

Education

She attended the University of Southern Maine, and graduated from the College of the Atlantic, in Bar Harbor.

Activism

Chellie Pingree: I was in high school during the Vietnam War, and I was engaged in the anti-war protests of my own generation, but I ended up looking to Maine and kind of stopped being quite so involved in politics. I ended up studying organic farming in college, but I got very interested in environmental issues like food security, farming, toxins and those kinds of things. I didn’t really get into politics again until 1992, when I ran for state legislature, and I was lucky enough to get elected in a kind of longshot election. I served eight years in the legislature, and I’ve been involved ever since.

Politics

Pingree was elected to the Maine State Senate in 1992, representing Knox County. In 1996, Chellie was chosen by her peers to be the Maine Senate Majority Leader. She helped lead the Senate for four more years, until leaving office due to term limits. As a Senator, she fought for economic and social justice, taking on powerful adversaries - most notably the pharmaceutical lobby. In her last session, Pingree sponsored one of the nation's first prescription drug pricing bills, MaineRX. After a legal fight that led all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the bill became law, and has since been a model for states around the country working to lower prescription drug prices.

Chellie also sponsored the successful "Parents as Scholars" program, a national model for welfare reform, which continues to help working Maine parents gain access to education to help them achieve a better life for their families. She led successful efforts to protect Maine's environment, for corporate accountability, to protect workers, to promote a women's right to choose, and in support of Maine's small businesses. As a state Senator, Chellie was also a founding member of the Maine Economic Growth Council.

Pingree's leadership in Maine politics led to numerous international appointments. She traveled to Hungary as an Eisenhower Exchange Fellow, served as a member of the White House delegation to observe elections in Bosnia, and was a member of a U.S. delegation to Northern Ireland, working with women political leaders there.

After being term-limited from the Maine Senate in 2000, Pingree challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Susan Collins in 2002. As one of the few outspoken opponents of the Iraq War running for U.S. Senate, Chellie mounted a strong, but ultimately unsuccessful campaign.At the time she was a member of UAW local 1961.

JStreet PAC endorsement

In 2024 JStreet PAC endorsed Chellie Pingree.

From 2003 until 2006, Pingree was the President and CEO of Common Cause, where she focused on promoting net neutrality, mandatory voter-verified paper ballots, and a national popular vote. Pingree is known as an advocate for diplomacy-first American foreign policy, having opposed war with Iraq as far back as 1992.

Rep. Pingree has been a JStreetPAC endorsee since 2008, her first run for Congress and JStreetPAC’s first cycle of endorsements. She has remained a champion of J Street’s issues on the Hill and consistently supports the vast majority of J Street's legislative agenda. She was an early co-sponsor of H.R. 326, which put Congress on the record reaffirming support for the two-state solution and opposing annexation and settlement expansion.

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Chellie Pingree voted "Nay".

Green New Deal Resolution

Washington (April 19, 2023) – During Earth Week and on the four-year anniversary of the Green New Deal Resolution, Representative Summer Lee (PA-12) and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) will reintroduce the resolution at a press conference at the Senate Swamp on THURSDAY, April 20th at 12:00 PM. Lee will also join Senator to announce new legislation focused on tackling the intersecting climate and public health crises.

The lawmakers will be joined by Green New Deal members of Congress and labor, health, climate, and justice advocates to celebrate the intersectional coalition’s achievement in getting the Inflation Reduction Act passed—the federal government’s largest-ever investment in climate and clean energy—while outlining the fight ahead to deliver a just, Green New Deal future that upholds the promise of the resolution and the movement that it inspired.

— Senator Ed Markey —Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez —Representative Ro Khanna —Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) —Representative Greg Casar (TX-35) —Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) —Representative Summer Lee (PA-12) —Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10) —Representative Delia Ramirez (IL-03) —Representative Robert Garcia (CA-42) —Representative Becca Balint (VT) —Kaniela Ing, National Director of the [Green New Deal Network]] —Sara Nelson, President of Association of Flight Attendants-CWA —Dr. Colleen Achong, SEIU Healthcare, Committee of Interns and Residents —Jacqui Patterson, Executive Director of the Chisholm Legacy Project and Climate Justice Alliance member

Representatives Chellie Pingree and Valerie Foushee also showed up. THURSDAY, April 20th at 12:00 PM, Senate Swamp, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Interview with a Communist

Fred Gaboury writing in the People's Weekly World:

Chellie Pingree is a former member of the Maine Senate and member of UAW Local 1961, who is the Democratic challenger to Susan Collins, the state’s first-term U.S. Senator.

Although she was active in the fight on education and environmental issues, Pingree’s crowning achievement was passage of Maine’s prescription drug law that stands as a model for policy makers across the country.

Pingree says she will pursue the same policies if Maine voters send her to Washington on Nov. 5. “We’ve seen the corporate special interests win out over the interests of hard-working families for too long,” she says.

The AFL-CIO has been encouraging trade unionists to run for elected office for one very simple reason: Who else can better represent working families in the legislative halls than men and women who have been representing workers in collective bargaining talks, contract enforcement or as lobbyists.

The campaign has scored some notable successes. As the year began, nearly 2,500 union members had been elected to public office at the state and local level. Now, the 2002 election gives the labor movement – and all working families – the opportunity to raise the ante by electing workers to national office. That effort, in turn, will help lay the basis for achieving the goal of electing 5,000 unionists to public office by the end of the 2004 election cycle.

Pingree said it as well as any when she said. “These are critical times for our country and the issues that affect working people’s lives are more important than ever. From guaranteeing a prescription drug benefit under Medicare and preserving Social Security, to making sure that all young people receive a good education, to insisting that we protect the rights of working people – we are facing some tough but important challenges. These battles are never easy but with hard work and courage, we can win!”

Humanitarian Needs in Cuba letter

December 16 2021 , House Rules Committee Chair James McGovern (D-MA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-NY), House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations Chair Barbara Lee (D-CA), and House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Energy Chair Bobby Rush (D-IL) led 114 Members of Congress in a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize the well-being of the Cuban people as they experience the worst economic and humanitarian crisis in recent history...

In the wake of this year’s protests, the members urged the administration to support the Cuban people by suspending U.S. regulations that prevent food, medicine, remittances, and other humanitarian assistance from reaching the Cuban people...

Signatories included Chellie Pingree.

Congressional Advisory Committee

Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal Congressional Advisory Committee: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)

HR 109 endorser

By February 20 2019 endorsers of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's HR 109 (Green New Deal) included Chellie Pingree.

Cuba

Center for Democracy in the Americas visited Cuba with a delegation focused on organic agricultural policy and food organized in partnership with U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-1). The 27 member delegation included leaders of major U.S. organic producers, importers, cooperatives, and retailers, as well as prominent policy experts and restaurateurs. We met with officials from several government ministries, toured cooperative and private farms, visited wholesale and retail food markets, and met with economists, agricultural experts, chefs, and others. The delegation had a spirited conversation with our Cuban counterparts about the value of protecting and building on Cuba’s achievements in agroecological and sustainable farming practices. We left the island having forged working relationships between leaders from both countries interested in keeping this conversation going. We thank Rep. Pingree for her leadership and the committed members of the delegation for a great trip and really productive exchange.

Common Cause

From 2003 to 2007, Pingree served as the National President and CEO of Common Cause, a non-partisan citizen activist group with nearly 300,000 members and 35 state chapters. Common Cause's mission is to help citizens make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest. Under Pingree's leadership, Common Cause increased its membership and diversified its agenda to include limiting media concentration and consolidation, promoting Net Neutrality, and election reform, while continuing to pursue its traditional goals of campaign finance reform and oversight of government ethics and accountability.

National Leading From the Inside Out Alum

Chellie Pingree, Common Cause, was a 2006 Rockwood Leadership Institute National Leading From the Inside Out Alum.

According to sister site Social Transformation Project, Chellie Pingree is one " 240+ leaders who have completed Rockwood’s Leading from the Inside Out (LIO) National Yearlong Fellowship..."

Take Back America Conferences

Chellie Pingree was on the list of 129 speakers at the 2003 Take Back America conference, which was organized by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future.

Pingree was on the list of 114 speakers (which included George Soros) at the 2004 Take Back America conference..

She was back in 2005, 2006.

United States House of Representatives

In 2008 Pingree was elected to Congress from Maine’s 1st Congressional District—the first woman elected to Congress from that District.

"Progressive mandate"

Twenty-six out of the 29 Democratic candidates who won seats previously held by Republicans in the House and Senate championed bold progressive economic positions, according to a new report released today by the Campaign for America's Future. The report shows that these progressive candidates’ victories represent a swing to the left of 34 votes in the House and 10 in the Senate, reflecting a clear mandate for progressive change.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., newly elected Rep.-Elect Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and AFL-CIO political director Karen Ackerman joined Campaign for America's Future co-director Robert Borosage on a conference call with reporters November 4, 2008, to discuss the report’s findings.

“This was not simply a change election. It was a sea-change election that marks the end of the conservative era that has dominated our politics over the past three decades.” said Borosage. “Democrats won because they campaigned as progressives, not as moderates or conservatives. On core economic issues, voters gave these legislators a mandate for reform.”

Rep.-Elect Pingree, who became the first woman to represent Maine’s first Congressional District after leading Republican Charlie Summers in late results, said voters in her district were yearning for bold progressive change.

“This is day one of the change that we so desperately need in this country,” said Rep.-Elect Pingree.

Northeast Action conference

The 2001 regional conference of Northeast Action on February 9-10 "brings together hundreds of progressive leaders, activists and elected officials for two days of discussions and workshops on public education, universal health care, clean elections, criminal justice reform, etc. Speakers included

• Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois)
• Chellie Pingree, the Senate Majority Leader of Maine;
• William McNary, President of USAction.

The conference took place at the Sheraton Hotel in Braintree.

Congressional Progressive Caucus

As of February 20 2009 Chellie Pingree was listed as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Blue Green Alliance

The Blue Green Alliance sponsors the annual Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference. The 2010 conference was held from May. 4-6, 2010.

Conference speakers included:

• Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy
• Hilda L. Solis, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor
• Ed Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania
• Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado
• U.S. Senator John Kerry, United States Senator of Massachusetts
• U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, United States Senator of Oregon
• U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Fifth District of Missouri
• U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison, Fifth District of Minnesota
• U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Luján, Third District of New Mexico
• U.S. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, First Congressional District of Maine

Abortion

Planned Parenthood

Peingree received $1009 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

EMILY's List

Pingree has been supported by EMILY's List during her campaigning.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Chellie Pingree in her successful 2008 House of Representatives run as candidate for Maine. She has also been previously supported by the Council.

From the Council's 2008 endorsement;

Chellie Pingree is running for an open seat in Maine's 1st Congressional District with a very impressive resume. After launching several small businesses, Pingree was elected in 1992 to the Maine State Senate. In 1996, her peers selected her as Senate Majority Leader. In this position, Pingree sponsored one of the first prescription drug pricing bills, a model for other legislation across the country.

Pingree left the Maine Senate after four terms because of state term limits. In 2002, she challenged U.S. Senator Susan Collins. She lost this race to the popular incumbent, while strongly opposing the impending invasion of Iraq, a courageous position at that time.

Pingree then moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer at the progressive advocacy group Common Cause. During the four years of her leadership, Common Cause was a leading voice for campaign finance reform among other progressive issues.

Pingree is an experienced legislator with nuanced views on national security issues:

"Too often our foreign policy and national security decisions have been motivated by ideology, and executed by private contractors who lack accountability. This has resulted in us becoming less secure, not more."

"To begin making sensible choices, we should adopt an integrated security budget that covers all of our national security efforts in the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department. For example, under our current system, the Pentagon spends tens of billions of dollars on a missile defense system of questionable value while the Department of Homeland Security struggles to find the necessary funds to adequately secure our ports. By unifying the national security budgets we can take a rational approach toward setting our priorities."

"Peace" pressure

August 12, 2009 Lisa Savage, CODEPINK Maine local coordinator, and several other peace activists visited with Rep. Chellie Pingree and her staff in Portland.

We thankedd Rep. Pingree for her “no” votes on the war supplemental bill and for co-sponsoring the McGovern amendment calling for a timetable and exit strategy for Afghanistan. The congresswoman told us she is adamantly opposed to continuing the war there, and that she has a strong commitment to conversion of Maine’s economy away from dependence on military contracting.

Veterans for Peace

Pingree met with Maine veterans August 27, 2010, with Congressman Bob Filner.

First a roundtable to discuss issues with veterans groups then speaking at the Veterans for Peace conference about why we need to bring our brave men and women home from Afghanistan

Supporting Agent Orange Bill

Chellie Pingree, Maine’s First District Representative has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act of 2011, a bill introduced by Rep Bob Filner of California. The legislation, if passed, will address ongoing health problems of United States veterans as well as Vietnamese and Vietnamese-Americans harmed by their exposure to the defoliant used by the U.S. during the Vietnam war.

Pingree’s decision to support the legislation came following a meeting with a delegation of the Maine chapter of Veterans for Peace. Led by co-presidents Peggy Akers and Clarence Smith, both of Portland, the veterans met with the Congresswoman in her Maine office. Akers, a veteran who served as a nurse in Vietnam, and Smith, a Korean War-era vet, emphasized in the meeting the lasting impact of the toxin. Bob Lezer, served on the Korean DMZ, where he was himself exposed to Agent Orange, spoke of the significance of the bill as it relates to accepting full accountability for the costs of war. Dud Hendrick was also part of the delegation.

Maine Veterans for Peace (VFP) have met with both Maine representatives, Pingree and Mike Michaud, as part of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign, a VFP project seeking support of Filner’s bill H.R. 2634. The veterans argue that the legislation offers an opportunity to heal the suffering and wounds from the Vietnam conflict. Pingree joins 11 other representatives who have co-sponsored while Rep Michaud has not yet signed on.

Introducing Barney Frank

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said June 2012 night during a talk in Portland he hopes to marry fiance and Ogunquit resident Jim Ready in Maine, calling on those in attendance to vote to legalize gay marriage at the polls in November.

“We want marriage equality not just for all LGBT people, but for ourselves,” he said. “We want to get married in Massachusetts this year, but we want to get married next year in Maine.”

Frank was one of the honorees and the keynote speaker at the Maine People’s Alliance 30th anniversary Rising Tide awards dinner, held at Woodford’s Congregational Church in Portland.

The organization also handed out awards to the Maine Education Association, the state teachers union, and state Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, for their efforts promoting progressive causes in recent years. Others given Rising Tide awards Saturday were exemplary Maine People’s Alliance volunteers from around the state: Jim Willis, Scott Murray, Heidi Brooks, Kevin Simpson, Tim Conmee, Dick Bissell, Wil Tippi and Democratic Maine House candidate Rachel Sukeforth of Litchfield.

“I want America to be the strongest country in the world,” he said of defense spending, “but we are now far stronger than we need to be.”

Frank said the United States still canfire thermonuclear warheads at the former Soviet Union three ways — by airplane, submarine and by land-based missile systems.

“It sounds like a joke, but I want to say to the Pentagon: ‘You know the three ways we have to destroy the Soviet Union? Pick two. I would feel very safe with just two ways to beat the Soviet Union.’ That’s billions of dollars [that could be saved],” said Frank, who was introduced Saturday by fellow Rep. Chellie Pingree, D Maine.

DSA connections

Addressing the climate crisis

Representative Chloe Maxmin November 30, 2018:

It was an honor to talk with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today and meet Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during a press conference about how our political system can address the climate crisis and protect Maine's past and future.

DSA discussion

Harlan Baker with Joey Brunelle and Jeremy Mele and Seth Berner. May 11, 2017 at 1:09pm

Members of the Southern Maine Democratic Socialists meet with Jesse Connolly, chief of staff for Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. Topics ranged from health care to crafting progressive messages and programs.

Union rally

August 2014, Fairpoint workers held a demonstration in Longfellow Square to protest what they consider to be union-busting tactics by the communications corporation. The workers were joined by members of other unions, who were gathered down the road at the Irish Heritage Center (State Street) celebrating Labor Day breakfast.

Fairpoint Communications claims they have reached an impasse in negotiations with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Communications Workers of America (CWA), who represent nearly 2000 workers or about two-thirds of Fairpoint’s workforce.

Speakers at the event were Chellie Pingree, Democratic Senate candidate Shenna Bellows, National AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre, and former West End News contributor and long-time labor activist Harlan Baker.

Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founders

In August 2018 Medicare For All Congressional Caucus founding members included Representative Chellie Pingree.

Medicare for All Act

In February 2019 Rep. Pramila Jayapal introduced H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. By May 29 she had 110 co-sponsors including Rep. Chellie Pingree.

Labor Day breakfast

Pingree addresses the event

A rally for better jobs, wages and health care drew a crowd of about 175 people to the September 3 2012 Labor Day breakfast sponsored by the Southern Maine Labor Council.

The gathering at the Maine Irish Heritage Center honored this year’s “working class heroes” and applauded talks by several labor activists and politicians, including 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who told listeners that “we have to put an end to the reign of power.”

The recipients of Working Class Hero awards were retired trade union activists John Newton and Wayne Poland.

“We have a lot to learn from them, and that’s why I’m here. I would like to help people organize and connect, especially the working class and poor,” said Drew Christopher Joy, a 32-year-old Gorham native who recently returned to Maine from San Francisco, where he worked for a civil rights group.

“I came because I support a future with a pension, and retirement benefits. There are no guarantees anymore that you can retire comfortably and enjoy the American dream,” said Kyle Bailey, 29, of Gorham, who works for a nonprofit.

Harlan Baker read a poem for union members at Longfellow Square after the labor breakfast.

Pingree, a Democrat seeking re-election to Congress in November, said times have never been tougher, and the country is crippled by the fact that nationally, Republicans “want total control.”

21st Century Democrats support

21st Century Democrats is a Political Action Committee that has stood for Progressive causes for over 20 years. Founded in 1986 by Institute for Policy Studies affiliate, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Democratic Socialists of America affiliates, former Texas Agriculture Secretary Jim Hightower, and former Illinois Congressman Lane Evans. Its three main goals are to help elect progressive candidates, train young people about grassroots organizing, and lastly, to continue to support our elected officials after Election Day "through our comprehensive progressive network".

Long time Board chair was Democratic Socialists of America member Jim Scheibel, a former Mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

The mission of 21st Century Democrats is to build a "farm team" of progressive populists who will be the future leaders of the Democratic Party.

In each election cycle, we endorse a diverse array of candidates who exemplify our values and show unusual promise to advance our progressive goals. We invest in some of the most competitive races as well as in some of the most challenging – those in which the candidates are outstanding but the traditional Democratic supporters are most reticent. We back candidates in primaries as well as general election races, and we focus the bulk of our resources on electing challengers and protecting vulnerable incumbents.

Chellie Pingree was one of 17 key progressives endorsed by 21st Century Democrats in the 2010 election cycle.

Pingree was also supported in 2008, and 2002.

Chellie Pingree was endorsed by 21st Century Democrats in 2016 and 2020.

J Sreet endorsement

In 2008 Pingree was one of several successful newcomers endorsed by JStreet PAC.

The socialist infiltrated, anti-Israel "two state solution" JStreet PAC endorsed Chellie Pingree in her 2014 Congressional race.

JStreet endorsed her again in 2016.

Pingree has been a strong ally of J Street throughout her time in Congress.

"Green New Deal"

From the Sunrise Movement:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has released a proposal for a Select Committee on a Green New Deal, a plan that would transform our economy and society at the scale needed to stop the climate crisis.

We have the momentum to make a Green New Deal real, but we need a critical mass of Congresspeople to support the proposal.

Take action on Dec. 10 to show Congress the Green New Deal is a top priority.

Congressional supporters by December 1 2018:

• Jared Huffman (CA-02)
• Jackie Speier (CA-14)
• Ro Khanna (CA-17)
• Mike Levin (CA-49)
• Ted Lieu (CA-33)
• John Lewis (GA-05)
• Joe Neguse (CO-02)
• Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02)
• Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
• Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
• Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)
• Rashida Tlaib (MI-13)
• Ilhan Omar (MN-05)
• Deb Haaland (NM-01)
• Carolyn Maloney (NY-12)
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
• Jose Serrano (NY-15)
• Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Leading with Love

Leading with Love was an event to celebrate 5 years of the Marxist led National Domestic Workers Alliance. It was held in Washington DC, DC, November 14, 2012.

Members of the Host Committee included Chellie Pingree.

ARA endorsement

Alliance for Retired Americans endorsed Chellie Pingree in 2012.

PDA contact

In 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and several Senators. Gil Raviv, was assigned as contact for Rep. Pingree. In June it was John Bernard.

Lifting travel ban on Cuba

A May 03, 2013 Press release from the radical controlled and Institute for Policy Studies affiliated Latin America Working Group's Cuba Team stated:

Due to your action/emails/phone calls we have 59 signatures from House representatives urging President Obama to support travel to Cuba by granting general licenses for ALL current categories of travel.

By eliminating the laborious license application process, especially for people-to-people groups, that is managed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the majority of the bureaucratic red tape that holds up licensable travel to Cuba would disappear and actually facilitate what the President wanted to see in 2011, liberalized travel regulations.

Signatories included Rep. Chellie Pingree.

Anti-Fracking legislation endorser

On March 14, 2013, Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) have introduced the Bringing Reductions to Energy’s Airborne Toxic Health Effect (BREATHE) Act, and the Focused Reduction of Effluence and Stormwater runoff through Hydraulic Environmental Regulation (FRESHER) Act, in order to ensure that the hydraulic fracking industry follows the same rules that other industries do in preserving our natural resources. This legislation is focused on ensuring the safety and the health of the communities where the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, process is already taking place.

The BREATHE Act would ensure that we close the oil and gas industry’s loophole to the Clean Air Act’s aggregation provision, in addition to adding hydrogen sulfide—a chemical associated with nausea, vomiting, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat—to the Clean Air Act’s federal list of hazardous air pollutants.

The BREATHE Act has the following original co-sponsors including: Reps. Rush Holt, Jr., Raul Grijalva, John Sarbanes, James Moran, Michael Quigley, Earl Blumenauer, Gerry Connolly,Zoe Lofgren, Michael Honda, Paul Tonko, Barbara Lee, David Price, Carolyn Maloney, Michael Capuano, Mark Pocan, Jim McDermott, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alcee Hastings, Keith Ellison, Niki Tsongas, William Keating, Adam Smith, Jim Langevin, Chellie Pingree, Judy Chu, Louise Slaughter, Jerrold Nadler, Grace Meng, Jan Schakowsky, Nita Lowey, Jared Huffman, Gary Peters and Alan Lowenthal.

The following organizations have endorsed this legislation and are actively working to garner support within Congress and throughout the country: Physicians for Social Responsibility, Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Sierra Club, Earthworks, Breast Cancer Action, Clean Water Action, Environment America, Greenpeace, Nature Abounds, Oil Change International, Citizens for a Healthy Community, Citizens for Huerfano County, Clean Water Action Colorado, Erie Rising, Grassroots Energy Activist Network, Holy Terror Farm, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, SOS Foundation, Western Colorado Congress of Mesa County, Western Slope Conservation Center and Wilderness Workshop.

Letter on Iran sanctions

The National Iranian American Council commended Rep. James Moran (D-VA) and "all twenty-one Members of Congress who sent a letter to President Obama April 4, 2014, supporting necessary action to ensure medicine and humanitarian goods are not unintentionally blocked for the Iranian people. NIAC strongly supported the letter and has consistently worked to raise awareness regarding the impact of sanctions on the Iranian people"...

The preliminary nuclear agreement brokered by the P5+1 and Iran included an agreement to establish a financial channel to facilitate humanitarian trade; however, medicine shortages have continued in part due to extensive financial sanctions on Iran and the reported unwillingness of banks to facilitate legal, humanitarian transactions.

Signers: James P. Moran (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Andre Carson (D-IN), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rush Holt, Jr. (D-NJ), Mike Honda (D-CA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Beto O'Rourke (D-TX), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).

Congressional Letter for Neutrality, 2014 Salvadoran Elections

On Monday December 16, 2014 Reps. Juan Vargas (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) sent a letter to Sec. of State John Kerry – signed by 51 Members of Congress – calling for a public statement of neutrality by the State Department before the first round of El Salvador’s presidential elections on February 2, 2014.

The letter, , highlighted several “important steps” that the current government has taken to “strengthen its democratic system and expand the right to vote to all citizens,” including those living outside of the country, who will be voting by absentee ballot for the first time in February. Since the election of Mauricio Funes, the first President from the Marxist Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) party, the government has increased the number of polling places four-fold to increase accessibility, especially in rural areas.

“We’re glad to see so many Members of Congress expressing respect for the right of the Salvadoran people to determine their own future. That’s an attitude that’s sorely lacking in much of the US’ policy in Central America, especially with regard to economic policy,” said Alexis Stoumbelis, Executive Director for the pro-communist Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), in Washington, DC, which has observed every post-war election in El Salvador, starting in 1994.

Signatories included Rep. Chellie Pingree ..

Congressmembers call on Obama to rescind Venezuela sanctions

May 15, 2015, Sixteen Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter calling on President Obama to withdraw sanctions on seven Venezuelan government officials, and also to withdraw the language of an executive order justifying the sanctions.

The sanctions to which the letter refers were based on legislation voted by Congress in December and signed by the president on Dec. 18. On Mar. 9, after the arrest of several Venezuelan political figures whom Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused of plotting a coup, President Obama issued an executive order declaring an "emergency" on the basis of a supposed "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States and its interests by Venezuela, and imposed the sanctions, mostly on mid-level security personnel.

The sanctions prevent them from traveling to the United States and freeze any assets they might have in this country.

The congresspersons who signed the letter were: Hank Johnson, John Conyers, Barbara Lee, Raul Grijalva, Keith Ellison, Jose Serrano, Sam Farr, Karen Bass, Jan Schakowsky, Jim McDermott, Bobby Rush, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Mike Capuano, Charles Rangel, Chellie Pingree, and Earl Blumenauer.

Maine Initiatives

Maine Initiatives, is "a progressive community foundation, is a network of individuals supporting greater social, economic, and environmental justice in Maine through informed, intentional, and collective philanthropy".

Advisors include Karin Anderson, Michael Barndollar, Elena Brandt, Brownie Carson, Elaine Cinciva, Chuck Collins, Al Crichton, Deborah Curtis, Joel D. Davis, Maureen Drouin, Janet Henry, Michael Herz, R. Stephen Jenks, Meredith Jones, Lincoln Ladd, Jonathan Lee, Donald G. Myer, Janet O’Toole, Chellie Pingree, Hannah Pingree, Pamela Plumb, Andy Robinson, Neil Rolde, Sharon L. Rosen, Christopher Saint John, Scott Schnapp, Janet Schrock, Bill Vandenberg, Lee Webb, Anne Zill.

COOL vote

August 2015, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson called the recent vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) a “disappointing, knee-jerk overreaction” and urged the U.S. Senate to continue its thoughtful handling of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute. Johnson also noted that NFU will work with Congress on a clear path forward that will both resolve the WTO dispute and continue to provide consumers with accurate information about the origin of their food. “The House leadership is not interested in any reasonable solutions and blocked all amendments.” Johnson noted that in past disputes, WTO members found ways to work together to arrive at a resolution that worked for all parties. “Unfortunately, today’s action by the U.S. House of Representatives does not work towards a resolution that maintains the integrity of COOL and satisfies WTO obligations. “We call upon the U.S. Senate to avoid the rush to judgment demonstrated by the House today and work with COOL supporters on a viable alternative that will finally bring this long process to closure,” he said. Johnson said family farmers and ranchers across the country appreciated the work of: Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota; Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut; Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts; Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio; Rick Nolan, D-Minnesota; Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky; Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon; Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas; and others who stood strong for COOL and the right to know the origin of our food. “We greatly appreciate their continued willingness to stand up for America’s consumers and farm families,” said Johnson.

Peace Action endorsement

September 20, 2016 — Peace Action, the nation’s largest peace organization, endorsed Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) for the House of Representatives in Maine’s 1st district.

“I am honored to be endorsed by the the largest peace organization in the nation, Peace Action. For nearly 60 years, the organization has worked to eliminate nuclear weapons and for common sense foreign policy that emphasizes diplomacy over military action. My votes to reduce the risks from nuclear weapons, to bring the troops home from Afghanistan and to oppose boots on the ground in Libya are just a few areas where we agree. Peace Action’s national work and the work by its state affiliate, Peace Action Maine, continue to make the United States safer” said Rep. Pingree of the endorsement.

“Peace Action is proud to endorse Rep. Chellie Pingree. Pingree has consistently shown wise and studied foreign policy positions such as her outspoken opposition to the disastrous Iraq war and her objection to military intervention in Syria. On the issue that Peace Action was founded on, ridding the world of nuclear weapons, Pingree has voted to reduce nuclear weapons budgets and supported the Iran nuclear agreement that has made the world and Americans safer,” commented Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action’s Senior Director, Policy and Political Affairs and who also directs Peace Action’s PAC.

Nearly 60 years ago, Peace Action was founded on abolishing nuclear weapons and is known for opposing the Iraq war, supporting diplomacy and the Iran agreement and reducing the Pentagon budget. Peace Action endorses dozens of candidates per election cycle and through Peace Action PAC raises tens of thousands of dollars for candidates and donates staff to key races.

Maine People's Alliance

Augusta meeting

Chellie Pingree addressed a Maine People's Alliance meeting in Augusta in May 2017.

Staff

The following are past and present staff:

• Christian Blake Adams
• Thomas Edward Anfinson (Ed)
• Susan Lynn Anfinson
• Thomas Elmer Anfinson (Tom)
• Avery Ash
• Nicholas Battista (Nick)
• Claire Benjamin
• Nora Bisharat
• Jolene Chonko
• Jennifer Cohan
• Andrew Colvin (Andy)
• Mary Frazee
• Elizabeth Frazier
• Megan Garratt-Reed
• Blake Gebhardt
• Ann Goodridge
• J. William Goold (Bill)
• Erik Hansen
• Kevin Ray Holmgren
• Bruce King
• Susan Mann (Cassie)
• Joseph Marro (Joe)
• Andrea Martin
• Erin McGuire
• Leslie Merrill
• Molly Murphy
• Scott Ogden
• James Pineau (Jim)
• Jacqueline Potter (Jackie)
• Lisa Prosienski
• Samuel Ricketts (Sam)
• William Ritch-Smith (Willy Ritch)
• Karin Roland
• Eve Seiler
• Heidi-Anne Loughlin Shephard (Heidi)
• Richard Shordt (Rich)
• Jennifer Taylor

External links

• Pingree's website with the House of Representatives

References

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