Maine

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I don't like reconciliation, period. … One of my concerns, which unfortunately has been borne out, was that he would fire a lot of very capable military officials, and he has done that. He has blocked promotions for some of our most capable military officers. The number of women and Black people that had been struck from the list was awful. … He also is not the most respectful when it comes to Congress' role.

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[Bellows, who has refused to participate in the SAVE program, said the ruling will have no effect in Maine because it] does not force states to change the way we run our elections.

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Without warning or consultation, Congress just received an $810 million package of pocket rescissions from the Administration. This is the most recent attempt by this Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to undermine Congress's Constitutional power of the purse. … The independent Government Accountability Office has concluded that pocket rescissions are unlawful and not permitted by the Impoundment Control Act. Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law. … OMB is an agency of the executive branch. It does not get to decide which programs are worth funding. … I will work with my colleagues to address these illegal actions.

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We should not have a politicized process for awarding research and biomedical grants to institutions. It needs to be merit-based, and I'm glad that the White House listened to those of us who were making that argument. … What we're hearing — and I've been weighing in with the White House — is that [chief of staff] Susie Wiles is also concerned about what the impact of this would be. And I am hoping … that the executive order won't be issued.

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In 2021, the Biden Justice Department found there was no wrongdoing by anyone on my campaign staff, my office or me. This is absolutely outrageous. It's clearly a political hit job. … It's obvious if you look at ProPublica. It's obvious if you look at the tactics that Chuck Schumer always uses.

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This is corruption of the highest order. Susan Collins delivered millions in taxpayer dollars for a corrupt donor bankrolling her campaign, and then Donald Trump helped her cover it up. No wonder she voted with him 96% of the time and has rubber-stamped his agenda to hurt Maine. … We deserve answers about every contract and every conversation that Collins and her team facilitated on the backs of taxpayers. The jig is up.

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Listening to these families today was heartbreaking and infuriating. … It is a huge issue in the midterm, absolutely. And people will have high expectations if Democrats take control of the House, or the House and Senate, that we're going to do something about it.

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Any attempt to politicize grantmaking at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or any other agency, by another means — whether an Executive Order or guidance — is contrary to congressional intent. … Imposing a political review on awards that have already been selected through a rigorous scientific and merit-based process undermines the long-standing principle that the government funds awards based on scientific need and merit, rather than political ideology.

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Even changes that may appear modest from a purely military standpoint can have outsized effects on our bilateral relationships, particularly with Baltic Allies, as Russia continues to intensify its hybrid actions along NATO’s eastern flank. … U.S. Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission in affected countries have been excluded from consultations. … What we are requesting is not a departure from precedent — it is a return to longstanding practice. [We urge you to ensure] the Department of State is fully and meaningfully engaged from this point forward.

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That doesn't help rebuild the good relationship that we once had and that I want us to have again. … I believe that both Canada and the United States should return to the bargaining table. I do not support this tariff war.

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From the few details we have, it seems that the proposed $5,000 dividend would not have an income cap and would be extraordinarily costly. … Tax and spending decisions should be made based on the needs of the American people and the state of the economy, they should not appear to be tied to election results.

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I appreciate the Administration's announcement that it will exempt road salt and cement from U.S. tariffs. In my communication with Ambassador Greer and Secretary Lutnick, I focused on road salt and cement as two products crucial to Maine that would be severely affected by these tariffs. I mentioned in a letter to the Administration that Frenchville, a small Maine town on the Canadian border, would incur $10,000 in extra costs for road salt, threatening the town's ability to provide municipal services. I also shared that I had heard from Maine ready-mix cement company owners, one of whom told me his company would pay $150,000 each month because of this tariff. These additional exemptions follow Canada's announcement that it will carve out American seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list, which would have caused significant harm to Maine's lobstermen. However, significant tariffs – including those on forest products – remain in effect and will lead to higher costs for Maine families and uncertainty for businesses. I urge the Administration to continue to work to deescalate this conflict and reach a trade resolution with our Canadian partners.

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Secretary Bunch has guided the Smithsonian through a period of unprecedented political interference while remaining committed to scholarship, expertise, and the public trust.

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This bill is a big win not only for fishermen in Maine, but for bipartisanship in Congress.

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The Administration must consider the negative impact tariffs would have on Maine businesses, communities, and families and work to reach a fair agreement with our Canadian neighbors.

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Unless and until there is a change of policy and leadership, today's news simply means that there is more expensively-equipped lawlessness on our streets rather than responsible, legitimate law enforcement.

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If the president’s misguided trade war further escalates, the processed lobsters could be taxed again when they are shipped back from Canada to the United States.

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A device capable of delivering an electrical shock through direct contact with an individual presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests. The risks would be heightened without clear limits, adequate training and comprehensive oversight.

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There was a young man who had a Social Security number, he had a job, I mean, he had a life. He had a family.

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She gave them an additional $70 billion to pull this shit off. We lost a person that JD Vance seems to not give a shit about. And that should piss us all off.

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To come here and say, "Have some perspective"? You ought to have some damn perspective.

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Mail-in ballots are very important to the people of Maine. I do not support restrictions that make it more difficult for seniors to cast votes on Election Day via the mail.

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I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake.

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The President’s latest escalation of his foolish trade war with Canada will create more uncertainty for Maine businesses, push costs even higher for Maine families. … Maine has had enough of this unending trade whiplash.

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The on-again/off-again trade talks between the U.S. and Canada lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine businesses. If the Administration proceeds with these tariffs, they will increase costs for Maine families, as most businesses will have no choice but to pass on the tariffs to their customers through higher prices. Maine imports approximately $2 billion in non-petroleum products from Canada each year. Ever since the tariffs were first announced, I have heard from many businesses, farmers, and lobstermen concerned about the cost of navigating the tariffs, the lack of domestic supply chains, and the likely imposition of retaliatory tariffs by Canada. I urge both sides to return to the negotiating table. The Administration must consider the negative impact tariffs would have on Maine businesses, communities, and families and work to reach a fair agreement with our Canadian neighbors.

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The people of Maine—like people across the country—do not want to live in fear in their own communities. They do not want to see their loved ones and peace-abiding neighbors struck down by federal agents.

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If ICE cannot accurately determine a person’s immigration status or circumstance before taking enforcement action, that is a profound failure of competence and accountability that is leading to innocent people, people who are following the law and doing everything asked of them being caught in ICE’s crosshairs. The consequences, as Johan Sebastian’s family painfully knows, can be deadly.

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Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero should be alive today. His family deserves answers, and the people of Biddeford deserve to know how an ICE operation in their community ended in an innocent man’s death.

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Before one more community is robbed of its peace and security, this has to end. Before more gunshots shatter a windshield and steal another person’s life and fracture the freedom of all those who seek peace, this has to end. If ICE cannot get reined in and fundamentally reformed, then it is time to abolish it!

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After three unnecessary lapses in funding during the fiscal year 2026 cycle, putting the possibility of yet another harmful shutdown off the table should be a priority for each and every one of us.