Chellie Pingree

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. The Environmental Financial Advisory Board supports the EPA's mission to lower the cost of and increase investment in environmental and public health protection. Just to be clear about its role, here are some of the activities the board pursues: ways to lower the cost of environmental protection; remove financial and programmatic barriers that raise costs; increase public and private contributions in environmental facilities and services; and build State and local financial ability to meet environmental laws. This mission is critical if we want to ensure that the investments we need to protect our country from climate change are sound and achievable. Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, once again, I remind everyone, we are here to protect the welfare of the American public. This amendment would prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from balancing oil and gas development with protection of lands that harbor significant subsistence uses and resources throughout the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. My colleague is describing the Willow Project, an oil drilling project by ConocoPhillips that is located on the plain of the North Slope of Alaska in the National Petroleum Reserve. This amendment would prohibit the administration from stopping that project for all of the reasons we have previously discussed. My colleagues are always talking about if we don't do this drilling, if we don't do this drilling in significantly critical areas like the North Slope of Alaska, like places where climate change is already having an unreasonable impact, we will have to go to untrustworthy foreign sources. Why is it they always use that argument, that somehow we have to go to untrustworthy foreign sources? Our goal is to convert to renewable energy, to have all American energy, whether it is wind or solar or tile or so many of the other opportunities that we have out there to make sure we do invest in America and American jobs instead of misguided projects like this. This amendment also prohibits the BLM's ability to respond to changing conditions in the Arctic while providing transparency and conservation and development decisions. Mr. Chair, I oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, we oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the chair of the committee.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, we are now only 15 days away from a government shutdown, and instead of focusing on keeping the government open, we are working on a bill that is going nowhere. The draconian cuts proposed in this bill violate the agreement reached by former Speaker McCarthy and President Biden and that were memorialized in statute in Public Law 118-5, the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. We would not be teetering on the brink of a government shutdown if my Republican colleagues had held up their end of the bargain. We are here to protect the welfare of the American public, and we cannot close our eyes to the impacts of climate change, such as the drought, flooding, severe storm, and wildfire events we are experiencing. As of October 10, the United States has experienced 24 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each. This is a new record. This amendment seeks to prohibit funding for the Bureau of Land Management to finalize, implement, or enforce a Draft Resource Management Plan and draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that would remove 1.6 million acres of public lands in Colorado from future oil and gas leasing. These lands do not have high oil and gas potential, and BLM's actions would protect the important wildlife habitat, recreation areas, and water resources, as well as reduce emissions and the impacts of climate change. Not investing in strategies that minimize and prevent the acceleration of climate change and instead paying billions in disaster relief shows my Republican colleagues are not thinking about what is best for the American taxpayer. Our economy, health, livelihoods, food security, and quality of life all depend on healthy ecosystems. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and focus instead on addressing climate change and making our Nation stronger, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, this amendment would prohibit the EPA from hiring scientists using its title 42 authority. Title 42 authority is a flexible hiring mechanism that allows agencies to attract and retain staff with outstanding scientific, technical, and clinical skills. The authority is used by the EPA, CDC, NIH, and other agencies that require candidates to have specialized degrees in areas such as medicine, science, and engineering. It is not always easy for the Federal Government to attract high- level professionals who have invested many years in school and can easily make more in private practice or even in academia. That is why the Federal Government allows these agencies to provide some additional funding to retain or recruit these employees. Mr. Chair, I am dismayed that the gentleman does not believe such highly specialized employees deserve title 42 recognition. With our Nation facing crises like COVID and climate change, we should be investing in our scientists. It is a shortsighted amendment that unfairly attacks Federal employees who devote their lives to public service. Mr. Chair, I urge the defeat of this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this very shortsighted amendment. As the chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I strenuously disagree with the idea that this funding is wasteful or nonessential. Frankly, I think the amendment demonstrates a real misunderstanding about the nature of diplomacy. The Art in Embassies program was established 60 years ago by President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy knew something important: Art is a bridge. It forges connections, and it starts conversation that we may not otherwise be able to have. In addition, it is one of the best ways to reflect our American values, ideals, and our culture abroad. Over 20,000 participants globally have taken part in the program, which has presented exceptional works by American and host country artists in over 200 diplomatic properties around the world. It has also engaged over 200 American artists as cultural envoys, participating in workshops, collaborative art projects, and public events, all to strengthen ties with local communities. The program does all of this on a shoestring budget, primarily facilitating donations from artists. It is not a frivolous expense. It is a tool of diplomacy just as valid as any bilateral meeting or negotiation. It reflects our vibrant democracy. I urge Members to oppose this amendment.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Chairman, I thank my good friend from Georgia for yielding me the time. I rise in opposition to this bill. This bill will hurt our farmers, it will hurt women and children, and it will hurt rural America. It provides $17.8 billion, the lowest level of funding for 16 years. This bill hurts our ability to fight the climate crisis by limiting the flexibility of the Credit Commodity Corporation that the USDA uses to give farmers the tools they need to respond to climate change. It slashes funds for climate hubs and climate research, following the hottest months ever recorded on Earth. It strips resources for the Rural Energy for America Program, which will make electricity more expensive for over 1,600 residents in my district. It zeros out funding for the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production that handles composting and food waste. This means even more greenhouse gases will be released into our atmosphere. This bill includes language to prevent the USDA from implementing a rule to protect farmers and ranchers from anticompetitive behavior in the meat and poultry industry. Mr. Chairman, I want to be very clear about the cuts Republicans are making to WIC, the nutrition program for women, infants, and children. This bill cuts WIC by $800 million. This bill also slashes the available funds for families to buy fruits and vegetables. This bill cuts WIC fruit and vegetable benefits by 56 percent for children and up to 70 percent for women. Pregnant and postpartum participants would see their benefits drop from $44 to $13. That is $13. Anyone who has been grocery shopping in the past few months knows this is not enough--if you buy a bag of apples, some carrots, and onions, you spent your allotment for the month. Almost one-third of children in the United States don't consume enough fruit and vegetables daily, and almost half don't consume enough vegetables daily. This program is critical to address the disparities people face in assessing healthy food. At a time when food pantries in States like Maine are facing empty shelves, while they have huge increases in demand, I cannot fathom how Republicans can justify the cuts in this bill. Please vote against this bill.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate Lois Dodd's contribution to Maine's artistic record and her legacy as an acclaimed American oil painter. The painter's understated, observational scenes of farmhouses, forests, quarries and winding roads recall days spent along the coast and invoke feelings of nostalgia in anyone who has spent time in Maine. Admired for her plein-air paintings and appreciation for moments of understated importance, Dodd is credited with an alluring capacity to capture the character of her subjects. When Dodd visited Maine for the first time in 1951, she was taken with the pace of life--so different from that of her home in New York City. The dynamic landscape and, what Dodd describe as, ``American ruins''--weathered farmhouses and barns, cracked windowpanes, shingled outhouses--provided the painter with an abundance of inspiration for her work. Even her bedroom window proved to be the perfect subject. For those native to the state, her work speaks to Maine's rich architectural, agricultural, and ecological history. For those yet to know Maine, Dodd's work invites them in and inspires them to visit the state to see the painter's subjects for themselves. Among a group of avant-garde artists from New York, Dodd found creative respite along the coast in the summer months. Dodd co-owned a home in Lincolnville for many years with other New York artists. In the 1960s, she purchased her own property in Cushing. It is in this home that Dodd painted her well-known bedroom mural which provided later inspiration for pieces on view at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. The painter even found that some of her subjects became more vibrant when she was in the state. ``In Maine, the figures would be involved with something interesting--climbing a tree, using an axe, working. She is not just lolling there. It is more alive that way,'' Dodd said. Dodd is an elected member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and the National Academy of Design. Her work is included in the collections of Bowdoin College, Colby College, the Farnsworth Art Museum, the Portland Art Museum, The Museum of Modern Art and more. The painter also spent over 50 years in the classroom, lending her knowledge and talent to countless students. Dodd's work offers an impressive testimony to the rich landscape and history of Maine--cementing the state's legacy as an influential and significant contributor to the fine arts.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate a great Mainer and a longtime public servant, Leslie Merrill. Leslie is retiring this month after 22 years of dedicated constituent service to the people of Maine's First District, having served under my predecessor before joining my office. I believe that the majority of us who work in this institution do so because we want to improve the lives of those around us. Leslie has committed her career to doing just that--whether guiding asylum seekers and refugees through the immigration process, securing passports for many anxious travelers, or assisting Maine youth with the Academy nominations process so that they may pursue a career in the military. Beyond her considerable skills as a caseworker, she has been a mentor to countless staff, sharing her Rolodex, her institutional knowledge, and her relationships with those in agencies across the country, all of which have been invaluable to constituents and colleagues throughout the First District. Importantly, she has been a treasured friend to so many of us in and outside of the office. The lives of Mainers are infinitely better for Leslie having served as their advocate, friend, and neighbor. We will miss Leslie dearly. We wish her and Peter the very best in their next adventure.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, satellite images have identified a pile of discarded clothing in Chili, sent there from Europe, Asia, and America. It is so large it can be seen from space. This mountain of textile waste illustrates the environmental toll of what is called fast fashion. Unfortunately, fast fashion has become very popular with consumers, but it comes at a high cost to our planet. Fast fashion relies on cheap manufacturing, frequent consumption, and short-lived garment use. This constant cycle of production and disposal is exemplified by these mountains of discarded shirts and skirts. Textile waste has increased dramatically over the last two decades and, in the process, has become a massive environmental challenge. In 2018, 17 million tons of textiles were generated in the U.S. and 11.3 million tons were thrown into landfills. As the rate that clothing is produced and discarded increases, only 15 percent of the clothing in the U.S. is recycled or reused, with the rest either incinerated or sent to landfills for disposal. I am formally calling on the GAO to assess what actions the EPA has taken and can take to combat fast fashion waste. In Maine, we have a deeply ingrained sense that you can always get a little more use out of something. I agree. The Federal Government can and must do more to stop waste and pollution. Fast fashion should be sustainable fashion.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Michigan for both being a strong supporter of this bill and yielding me the time. I thank the gentleman from Ohio for understanding the role of the Great Lakes and how the role of ocean acidification impacts all of us. I truly appreciate his support of this bipartisan bill. I thank Chair Lucas and Ranking Member Lofgren for their work to address the impacts that climate change has had on our oceans Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 676, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act, a bipartisan bill that would direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support the current efforts of coastal communities already facing the impacts of ocean acidification, particularly underserved and rural coastal communities, and better equip them with the resources to respond. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are now higher than at any time in the last 2 million years, and about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. More carbon dioxide in our waters creates challenging growing conditions for marine organisms, especially those with calcium carbonate shells, such as clams, lobsters, and oysters. Ocean acidification threatens not only our fisheries but the entire blue economy, our marine resources, industries, and jobs, as well as coastal communities like mine that depend on them. A 2020 report found that in the United States, particularly in the waters off Maine and Massachusetts, ocean acidification hot spots could lead to economic losses of $400 million a year by 2100. In a State renowned for its lobster and shellfish--which as you know, Madam Speaker, is Maine--you can imagine we take this threat very seriously. I am proud of the efforts in Maine to tackle this challenge, such as through implementing ocean monitoring and data collection and exploring the ability of seaweed and kelp to lower acidity.

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, my bill would support these efforts and more by improving NOAA's collaboration with State, local, and Tribal Governments on community vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities related to ocean and coastal acidification. In addition, ensuring the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange will bolster data sharing on ocean acidification research, data, and monitoring efforts between Federal experts, community acidification networks, and other affected stakeholders. This legislation will address the growing and far-reaching threat of ocean acidification to help ensure our ocean industries, including fisheries, and the communities that depend on them are more resilient to our changing oceans. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 676 today.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a Mainer whose acts of kindness and love touched the lives of so many, even though most never knew his name until now. On every Valentine's Day since 1979, Kevin Fahrman of Falmouth, Maine, anonymously papered the greater Portland area with red hearts with the help of family and friends. Known as the Valentine's Day Bandit, he would blanket the city with hearts large and small in an enduring love letter to Portland, Maine. Every morning on February 14, Portland residents and visitors would wake up and walk the streets of the city covered in reminders of unconditional love handed out without any expectation of recognition or thanks. The identity of the Valentine's Day Bandit remained a mystery that confounded and delighted Mainers for decades--until now. Kevin passed away unexpectedly this past weekend, and his family decided it was finally time to unmask the man who had left an indelible mark on the city of Portland. Kevin never wanted recognition during his life, but his family wanted to honor him in his passing. I thank Kevin's family for sharing him with us for so long and for allowing us the opportunity to say thank you and honor him now in his passing. May his legacy of love transcend his life and continue to inspire us to show kindness to one another every single day of the year.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to a tireless advocate in my state who is retiring after over four decades of working to improve the lives of her fellow Mainers. Barbara Crider first came to Maine in 1981 with a career in public service in mind. She spent ten years working for local Community Action Agencies in Bangor and Sanford as an Intake Specialist and Director of Community Services before pursuing a law degree at American University. In 1994, Barbara returned to Maine permanently to found the Penquis Law Project. Barbara focused her practice on public interest family law, primarily providing invaluable representation to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. After founding a second law practice in Bangor, Barbara returned to the York County Community Action Corporation, serving first as its Deputy Director and later as its Executive Director, helping the organization to grow and diversify its program offerings. Most recently under her leadership, thousands of Mainers were able to get the assistance they needed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Maine, we pride ourselves on having a `can do' attitude and encouraging others to do the same. Perhaps that's why the term dirigo or `I lead' was selected for our State seal in 1820. Barbara has spent her life embodying the dirigo spirit and I am proud to extend my sincere congratulations to her as she begins her next chapter.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a courageous veteran, a resilient leader, and a selfless Mainer. Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans of Brunswick, Maine is one of the most decorated female veterans in American history serving in the United States Army for 27 years. Since enlisting at age 19, CSM Evans has served in tours of Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where she was responsible for more than 30,000 ground troops. Ms. Evans' honorable dedication to defending our country earned her the position of Command Sergeant Major, the highest non-commissioned officer rank in the military. In 2006, Command Sergeant Major Evans survived a barrage of mortar fire in Afghanistan which rendered her deaf and wounded. After her combat injury, she quickly found renewed vitality by learning to lip read, forging relationships with her ``hearing dogs,'' Aura and Rusty, and by proactively reaching out to fellow veterans with similar lived experience. Today, in Maine, CSM Evans continues to give back as an active fundraiser and ambassador for local nonprofits which provide support services to disabled veterans and which seek to prevent veteran experienced social isolation and depression. Additionally, CSM Evans is a distinguished public speaker who advocates for the importance of leadership, perseverance, and teamwork, as a part of ``Women Veterans Speak,'' a national speaker's bureau. When she is not inspiring others to serve, CSM Evans pursues her passion for extreme sports, running 40 marathons. CSM Evans also led UNBROKEN, the first all-mixed abilities team to complete in ``The World's Toughest Race,'' a 670-kilometer, week-long endurance race held in Fiji. This achievement recently earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2022 ESPYs, which honors individuals with both strong connections to sports and community leadership. This fall, CSM Evans will also be inducted into the U.S. Veteran's Hall of Fame in recognition for her outstanding meritorious service to our country. I thank Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, for her selfless acts of duty to keep this Nation safe. The people of Maine are incredibly lucky to have her as an advocate, a leader, and a community member. I wish her the very best and I look forward to seeing her continue to thrive.

Ms. PINGREE

Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to recognize a courageous veteran, a resilient leader, and a selfless Mainer. Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans of Brunswick, Maine is one of the most decorated female veterans in American history serving in the United States Army for 27 years. Since enlisting at age 19, CMS Evans has served in tours of Kosovo, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where she responsible for more than 30,000 ground troops. Ms. Evans' honorable dedication to defending our country earned her the position of Command Sergeant Major, the highest non-commissioned officer rank in the military. In 2006, Command Sergeant Major Evans survived a barrage of mortar fire in Afghanistan which rendered her deaf and wounded. After her combat injury, she quickly found renewed vitality by learning to lip read, forging relationships with her ``hearing dogs,'' Aura and Rusty, and by proactively reaching out to fellow veterans with similar lived experience. Today, in Maine, CMS Evans continues to give back as an active fundraiser and ambassador for local nonprofits which provide support services to disabled veterans and which seek to prevent veteran- experienced social isolation and depression. Additionally, CMS Evans is a distinguished public speaker who advocates for the importance of leadership, perseverance, and teamwork, as a part of ``Women Veterans Speak,'' a national speaker's bureau. When she is not inspiring others to serve, CMS Evans pursues her passion for extreme sports, running 40 marathons. CMS Evans also led UNBROKEN, the first all-mixed abilities team to complete in ``The World's Toughest Race,'' a 670-kilometer, week-long endurance race held in Fiji. This achievement recently earned her the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2022 ESPYs, which honors individuals with both strong connections to sports and community leadership. This fall, CMS Evans will also be inducted into the U.S. Veteran's Hall of Fame in recognition for her outstanding meritorious service to our country. I thank Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans, for her selfless acts of duty to keep this Nation safe. The people of Maine are incredibly lucky to have her as an advocate, a leader, and a community member. I wish CMS Evans the very best and I look forward to seeing her continue to thrive.