The USDA announced it’s ending a longstanding food insecurity survey.   “These redundant, costly, extraneous studies do nothing more than fearmonger,” they said.   Fear is being a single mom worrying about how to feed your kids. Fear is having to choose between your prescription and your next meal.

This Rosh Hashanah, let us all take a moment to acknowledge the many beautiful ideas this holiday represents—reflection, renewal, togetherness, hope for a better future—that we may carry them forward. In our lives, in our communities, and with mutual respect. L’Shanah Tovah to all who celebrate!

I’m all for reducing waste. But eliminating paper checks for all federal payments—including Social Security and tax refunds—is totally shortsighted. Not only will this disproportionately affect older Mainers (and those in rural + tribal communities); it could also harm our forest products industry.

Slavery. Japanese internment. Climate change. The Trump Administration is whitewashing history. Stripping away factual, science-based, and historically accurate information is an outrageous assault on the right to learn, and prevents us from confronting the hard truths about our country.

I’m so proud that this year’s @farmaid.org has come out in support of my Agriculture Resilience Act, which would give farmers across the country the resources they need to become more resilient, more adaptable, and more dynamic. #farmaid40

“Protect free speech,” Trump said. Then he silenced Colbert and Kimmel. Banning books, removing images of slavery, “examining” Smithsonian exhibits, threatening FCC licenses… BULLSHIT. This is censorship! We won’t let him erase history, muzzle critics, or rewrite truth. We stand with Jimmy.

Once again, instead of working with Democrats on a spending bill that actually helps the American people, Republicans just jammed through a continuing resolution that: 🚨 Raises health care costs 🚨 Upholds the Admin's illegal funding cuts 🚨 Empowers Trump 
 I voted “Hell No" on this terrible bill.

54,000 Mainers on Affordable Care Act plans currently receive an enhanced premium tax credit, saving them hundreds a month.   If that credit goes away at the end of the year, many will no longer be able to afford insurance.   In some places, premiums could rise by 70% or more. This is bad news.

First Colbert. Now Kimmel. Who’s next? This is straight out of the authoritarian playbook: Go after the big voices, and hope everyone else shuts the hell up. Trump is weaponizing the government to silence dissent. For a party that talks so much about free speech, this is the height of hypocrisy.

Once upon a time, Lee Zeldin and I worked together on regulating PFAS. I reminded him of this shortly after he took over the EPA.   His response?   “Back then I represented constituents. Now I work for this Administration.”   That says it all.   The truth doesn’t matter. Only blind loyalty to Trump.

Today, members of the Sustainable Energy + Environment Coalition are joining climate advocates to oppose the EPA’s insane rollbacks. This Administration’s climate denialism is jeopardizing the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of millions of Americans. I’ll be talking about Maine impacts shortly.👇

Masked agents detained a parent during a school drop-off in Portland last week. It was incredibly traumatic for families and children who witnessed it. I'm demanding a full accounting from ICE: which agencies were involved, why a school was chosen, and what safeguards exist to protect students.

Today’s Ag Committee hearing was a chance to hear from stakeholders—and identify solutions to support our specialty crop producers. In March, the USDA cut the Local Food Purchase Assistance + Local Food for School Programs. That's $2 MILLION that would've supported Maine farms, schools + pantries.

Trump just ordered the removal of signs and exhibits on slavery from our National Parks—including one of the most searing images of the Civil War era: an enslaved man whose back is covered in scars. He's literally erasing history because the truth doesn’t fit his political narrative. Shameful.

Chemical companies shouldn’t get a free pass to put profits ahead of people’s health. Yet Republicans are trying to slip a provision into the funding bill that shields pesticide makers from accountability. Before our markup, lobbyists called nearly every committee member to protect this giveaway.

🧵 Yesterday, my office learned that the father of a student at Portland’s Talbot Community School was apprehended by a group of unidentified law enforcement officers, placed into an unmarked van, and driven away. We’re still gathering information, and certain details remain unclear. (1/4)

Republicans’ climate denialism is rooted in ignorance, hostility to science, and blind allegiance to the fossil-fuel industry. AI requires a staggering amount of energy and water. It’s already turned into a global arms race. The more it ramps up, the more it will exacerbate the climate crisis.

The idea that former Acting Commissioner Dudek was playing some kind of 4-D political chess—indulging Trump's desire to punish Maine on the one hand, while using language in an email he somehow knew would result in Maine’s Social Security contracts being reinstated—seems far-fetched to me.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science bill Republicans jammed through Appropriations yesterday includes horrendous cuts to NOAA—including the National Weather Service. Maine’s fishermen depend on reliable data from these agencies. Republicans just made their lives—and livelihoods—so much harder.

No matter how much time passes, the memories of that awful day will never fade—especially for the loved ones of the 2,977 people who lost their lives.  Today, we mourn and reflect. We hold them—and those who loved them—close to our hearts. We honor them. We remember—and promise to never forget.

Political violence has no place in our country. Not now, not ever. I’m horrified by this attack, and truly hope Charlie makes a full recovery. College campuses should be places where dialogue, debate, and mutual respect are upheld. This kind of violence must be condemned in the strongest terms.

The CJS bill we’re marking up today is another disaster. I’ll explain how they’re dismantling climate science later. But the cuts to Violence Against Women Act grants are especially enraging—especially considering ~50% of Maine’s homicides are tied to domestic violence. This is a new low. (1/2)

Don’t get me wrong, Netflix and Hulu have some great shows. But those subscriptions add up fast. What makes PBS special is it’s free—for *everyone*. Regardless of where you live. Republicans stopped my amendment to restore funding to PBS and NPR. I'll never stop fighting for these vital services.

Suicide prevention isn’t just about helping in moments of crisis. It’s about recognizing warning signs, promoting treatment + recovery, and building support networks. If you or a loved one need help, call or text 988. There's no reason too big—or small—to reach out. Together, we can save lives.

The recent cuts to the CDC have been devastating.   This Republican Labor-HHS bill will make things even worse, leaving Maine more vulnerable to disease outbreaks (like the rise in HIV cases in Bangor)—and less prepared to deal with them.   Seriously, what the hell are Republicans thinking?

There are *so* many awful things in the Republican Labor-HHS bill, from slashing $15 million in Title 1 funds for Maine to cutting vital disease research. It’s gonna be a long day. Democrats will fight this at every turn—and offer our own amendments (I have one to restore funding to NPR + PBS).

This past Sunday, I attended a celebration for Social Security’s 90th birthday at the Frances Perkins Center in Newcastle.   It was a fantastic turnout, and a wonderful tribute to the iconic Mainer who made SS possible—and improved the lives of hundreds of millions of Americans in the process.

Trump is doing everything he can to rig the midterms (and the next presidential election)—trying to stop mail-in ballots, demanding that red states gerrymander their maps.   Now, he’s directing USCIS to stop voting groups from registering new citizens at naturalization ceremonies.   It's disgusting.

For nearly 40 years, the SARE program has helped farmers across the country develop new methods and keep their farms going (and growing). It's been a game-changer for many Mainers.   Once again, Trump’s USDA is illegally withholding money already approved by Congress ($48 million worth, this time).

The Smithsonian is more than a collection of museums. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge—one that schools rely on. Trump’s propaganda campaign is already having a chilling effect. This teacher summed it up perfectly: “We don’t want partisan history. We want history produced by real historians.”

Last night, I had the honor of attending Creative Portland’s Hear Here concert at the Merrill Auditorium, alongside Gov. Mills and Mayor Dion. It was an incredible showcase of our state's diverse and dynamic talent—and a powerful reminder of how art can educate, inspire, and open hearts and minds.

ACA premiums could rise by a staggering 23.9%. Republicans have made it worse by refusing to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, which have been a lifeline for millions of Americans. I wholeheartedly support *permanently* extending them—and doing all we can to make healthcare more affordable.

🧵 There’s a reason we changed the name of the Department of War to the Department of Defense back in 1949: After losing more than 500,000 American lives—in the two most devastating catastrophes in human history—we were determined to prevent another one from happening. (1/4)

This is a huge warning sign.   Trump thinks he can make up his own facts. That’s why he fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now he’s telling us to wait a year for the “real numbers”?   His policies are tanking the economy. And no amount of mathematical gymnastics will change that.

Since 1992, the HOME program has helped build or repair 1.3 million affordable homes—including thousands in Maine. It’s strengthened communities, boosted economies, and transformed lives. In some places, it's been the only way to make more affordable housing available. Trump wants to eliminate it.

Watching Trump bully his way into controlling the Smithsonian is absolutely infuriating. Its board includes Republicans, the Chief Justice, and the VP. To think it's "woke" is laughable. I'm doing everything in my power to ensure he doesn't turn this beloved institution into a propaganda machine.

Whenever I read a story like this, I’m reminded of the incredible creativity and outside-the-box thinking happening every day in our district.   Food Fork Lab is more than just a business incubator. They’re a real community hub—one that’s empowering entrepreneurs and invigorating the local economy.

Leave it to a Mainer (who works on an oil rig!) to figure out how to build an affordable, energy-efficient house—and save lots of money in the process. Instead of helping more Americans access these game-changing tools and technologies, Republicans are trying to sabotage them.

Last night, a Republican colleague asked me, “So, are you guys going to shut down the government?” Seriously? Democrats are actually respecting the appropriations process. We’re showing up—and fighting for our constituents. They're fighting for billionaires. If there’s a shutdown, it’s on them.

The Republican bill to make the Oversight Committee’s Epstein findings public provides virtually no new information. I won’t support this political charade. It’s time to pass the Massie-Khanna bill—and ensure every last page is released. The victims deserve justice. The public deserves the truth.

I’m hardly a fan of Trump’s trade policies. But ending the de minimis loophole—used by "fast fashion" giants like Shein + Temu to flood the U.S. with low-cost, low-quality, highly toxic, and hard-to-trace clothing—is a good thing. Not just for the slow fashion movement, but for our planet as well.

Despite near-record visitors this summer, Acadia is straining under Trump’s reckless cuts. Nearly 40% of staff positions are vacant. Trail maintenance and educational programs have been slashed. Across the country, the Park Service has lost ~25% of its permanent staff. And more cuts are looming.

From trying to stop Republicans from passing a disastrous energy bill to forcing a vote on the Epstein files, our first week back in Washington is going to be a busy one.   We have our work cut out for us. But Democrats are ready for the fight. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the week!

From Portland's shipyards to the Lewiston mills, from lobstermen + loggers to cooks + housekeepers, workers have been the backbone of Maine’s economy. Today, we celebrate them—and honor the contributions so many made to improve the lives of all Americans. Let us never take these gains for granted.

🧵 The detention of David Slagger, a disabled U.S. veteran and respected Wabanaki elder—despite his presentation of valid Tribal ID—is deeply troubling. Denying him access to life-saving insulin, threatening him with force, and refusing to honor his Jay Treaty rights was totally unacceptable. (1/4)

How is the president honoring Labor Day this year? By signing an executive order stripping union rights from thousands more federal employees under the pretense of "national security concerns"

Katrina wasn’t just one of the worst natural disasters in American history. It was a human catastrophe: in lives lost, the suffering so many endured, the unfathomable destruction, and in the failure of government to protect the people.   These horrors—and these lessons—must never be forgotten.

Once again, Trump—with the help of Project 2025 architect Russ Vought—is attempting to claw back billions of dollars in funding already appropriated by Congress. This so-called "pocket rescission" is illegal, unconstitutional, and a brazen attempt by the president to further consolidate power.

It’s *finally* raining in Maine today.   Sadly, these passing showers will do little to alleviate the significant drought happening across our state.   It’s not just creating drier conditions (and sparking more wildfires). It’s hurting our farmers, putting many of their crops in jeopardy.

It’s bad enough that the Centers for Medicare + Medicaid Services want to adopt the same review process used by private insurers to deny claims. Hiring companies to make those calls using AI? That’s a massive a slippery slope. We cannot allow Medicare to become a clone of profit-driven insurers.