In the News

Hoping some of the money might find its way to Maine, 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden recently persuaded colleagues to back $5 million in additional funding for long-term mental care for veterans.

Ensuring mental health care for veterans is personal for Golden, a first-term Democrat from Lewiston who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in combat as a U.S. Marine.

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden chaired a meeting of the House Small Business Committee, where he heard an earful of complaints about federal policies affecting business. One is a transportation rule affecting young truck drivers.

The Committee heard from several business owners, including Jason Brochu, president of the Pleasant River Paper located in Maine. He told lawmakers that his company has been hurt by trade and federal regulatory policies and urged lawmakers to address policies that hurt small business.

Maine Congressman Jared Golden and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree are trying to block funding for federal rules that would force Maine lobstermen to take half of their gear-rope out of the water. The issue is part of the debate over how best to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale against potentially deadly entanglement.

With Pingree's support, Golden is introducing an amendment to an appropriations bill that would block federal regulators from moving forward with new rules on fishing gear that poses a risk to the roughly 415 whales left on the planet.

Rep. Jared Golden wants to withhold federal funding for the implementation of lobster fishing rules intended to protect the endangered right whale, claiming the government is basing the regulations on an untested scientific tool.

Maine's 2nd District congressman, a Democrat, introduced an amendment to a pending appropriations bill that would effectively block controversial right whale regulations requiring Maine's $485 million a year industry to cut the number of buoy lines in the Gulf of Maine by 50 percent to prevent fatal fishing gear entanglements.

OAKLAND — A visit to Oakland reaffirmed what U.S. Rep. Jared Golden said were already "appropriate priorities" for him in Washington: rural broadband access and bettering the economic climate for small businesses.

TURNER - MSAD 52 Adult Education celebrated the graduation of 20 students on May 31, in a ceremony at Leavitt Area High School. Adult learners completed either the High School Equivalency Tests (HiSET, formerly GED) or the MSAD 52 district diploma during the 2018-19 academic year.

Director Razell Ward led the celebration, followed by opening remarks from graduate Spencer Roy. The commencement address was given by Congressman Jared Golden speaking on the lessons he learned in life. He said "always be open to new opportunities" and to "Never let fear stop you."

House votes on rules to begin debate on legislation are typically party-line tests. But when nine Democrats voted Tuesday against the rule for an immigration bill, it was a high-water mark for Democratic defections this year.

Still, Democrats are more unified on such votes than the House majority party has been in all but two years of the last decade.

Maine's congressional delegation issued a letter this week to NOAA's acting director in an effort to clarify the agency's mission and goals for right whale protections.