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.
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.