Follow @ontheissuesorg

Chellie Pingree on Foreign Policy Democratic Representative (ME-1)

Voted YES on supporting democratic institutions in Pakistan.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. IKE SKELTON (D, MO-4): Pakistan is important to the Middle East and our intentions there. Their cooperation, of course, is so very, very important. This legislation gives economic and democratic development assistance to that country.

Rep. HOWARD BERMAN (D, CA-28): We can't allow al Qaeda or any other terrorist group that threatens our national security to operate with impunity in the tribal regions or any other part of Pakistan. Nor can we permit the Pakistani state and its nuclear arsenal to be taken over by the Taliban. To help prevent this nightmare scenario, we need to forge a true strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, strengthen Pakistan's democrat government, and work to make Pakistan a source of stability in a volatile region.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R, FL-18): This bill focuses on past actions and failures attributed to the Pakistani Government, punishing the new leadership for the sins of its predecessors. While the authors of H.R. 1886 may have sought to empower our Pakistani partners to undertake the formidable task of fighting and winning against violent extremists, it does the opposite. We have gone down this road before. I recall during the Iraq debate, Members sought to prejudge the surge strategy before it could even be implemented. Let us hope that this will not be repeated with respect to Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Rated +4 by AAI, indicating pro-Arab pro-Palestine voting record.

The Arab American Institute has compiled a Scorecard to catalogue the voting record of the 112th Congress on issues of importance to the Arab American community. For the House, we included 15 items: two bills on the Arab Spring, five bills and one letter on Palestine, two bills on Lebanon, three bills and a letter regarding civil liberties, and two bills on immigration.

1. H.Res. 88 (+): supporting democratic aspirations in Egypt
2. H.R. 2643 (+): penalizing the Bahraini government for attacking medical personnel
3. H.R. 1006 (-): the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act
4. H.R. 1501 (-): withholding US contributions until the UN retracts accusations of Israeli war crimes.
5. H.Res. 268 (-): opposing any unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state
6. H.R. 2457 (-): prohibiting any US government document from referring to "Palestine"
7. H.R. 2829 (-): defunding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The bill's 141 co-sponsors receive a (-).
8. 8. (+). Rep. David Price (D-NC) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) issued a letter titled "Support Palestinian Aid and Israel's Security," in which they call upon Congress to continue aid to the Palestinian Authority.
9. H.R. 2215 (*) "to ensure that United States taxpayer dollars are not used to fund terrorist entities in Lebanon
10. H.R. 996 (+): to raise awareness of the use of cluster munitions where civilians are present
11. H.R. 140 (-): the "Birthright Citizenship Act, to eliminate "anchor babies" by changing the 14th Amendment.
12. H. Res. 283 (+): to counter violence and discrimination against Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian communities
13. H.R. 1805 (-): authorizing an extension of the USA PATRIOT Act until 2013, and amending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)
14. H.R. 1842 (+): the DREAM Act to protect undocumented minors pursuing higher education.
15. H.R. 1932 (-): the Keep our Communities Safe Act for greater power to detain undocumented immigrants.

Integrate gender into diplomatic and foreign aid processes.

Expresses the sense of Congress that:

• implementation of the US National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP) is paramount in improving the lives of women around the world and increasing global stability and prosperity;
• It is US policy to implement NAP;
• The US Agency for International Development (USAID) should integrate gender into diplomatic and strategic and planning processes;
• federal agencies shall ensure that the tenets of NAP are incorporated into programs for conflict prevention, humanitarian and disaster response, peacekeeping, and democracy promotion;
• Federal agencies facilitate partner government efforts to improve women's inclusion in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace-building and decision-making institutions in conflict-affected environments.

White House Summary of NAP, December 2011:The goal of this National Action Plan is as simple as it is profound: to empower half the world's population as equal partners in preventing conflict and building peace in countries threatened and affected by war, violence, and insecurity. Deadly conflicts can be more effectively avoided, and peace can be best forged and sustained, when women become equal partners. The National Action Plan is guided by the following five principles:

1. the engagement and protection of women as agents of peace and stability
2. building on goals for gender integration, gender equality, and women's empowerment
3. guided by the principle of inclusion, seeking out the views and participation of a wide variety of stakeholders--women and girls, men and boys, and members of marginalized groups
4. coordinate among all relevant departments and agencies of the US government, integrated into relevant United States foreign policy initiatives, and enhanced by engagement with international partners
5. be accountable for the implementation of the policies and initiatives endorsed in this Plan.

Allow travel between the United States and Cuba.

Prohibits the President from regulating or prohibiting travel to or from Cuba by U.S. citizens or legal residents or any of the transactions ordinarily incident to such travel, except in time of war or armed hostilities between the United States and Cuba, or of imminent danger to the public health or the physical safety of U.S. travelers.

Condemn Iran for state-sponsored persecution of Baha'i.

A resolution condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority in Iran and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.
• Whereas since 1982, Congress declared that it deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha'i community and would hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith;
• Whereas in November 2007, the Iranian Ministry of Information in Shiraz jailed three Baha'is for educating underprivileged children and gave them 4-year prison terms, which they are serving;
• Whereas they were targeted solely on the basis of their religion;
• Whereas, on January 23, 2008, the US Department of State released a statement urging the Iranian regime to release all individuals held without due process and a fair trial, including the 3 young Baha'is being held;
• Whereas in March 2008, Iranian intelligence officials arrested and imprisoned seven members of the coordinating group for the Baha'i community in Iran, on charges of 'espionage for Israel, insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic';Whereas these seven Baha'i leaders were targeted solely on the basis of their religion; and
• Whereas the Government of Iran is party to the International Covenants on Human Rights:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate and House of Representatives
1. condemns the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights;
2. calls on the Government of Iran to immediately release the seven leaders and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion; and
3. calls on the President and Secretary of State, in cooperation with the international community, to immediately condemn Iran's continued violation of human rights. Source: SR71&HR175 2009-SR71 on Feb 13, 2009

   Afghanistan-Pakistan study group to assess exit strategy.

   Pingree signed Letter to Pres. Obama from 11 members of Congress

   Dear Mr. President,

   As America heads inexorably towards its tenth year of war in Afghanistan, it is clear that the end of this, America’s longest war, is nowhere in sight. Consequently, we write to echo calls for the establishment of a bipartisan Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group (APSG) to conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. policy in these countries.

   Similar to the establishment of the Iraq Study Group in 2006, the formation of an APSG is not a partisan issue. Concerns and questions regarding the direction of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan have been expressed by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and an increasing majority of the American public.

   We believe a critical component of this assessment should be the development of an alternative strategy for concluding the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Serious questions pertaining to our mission and objectives, metrics and feasibility for success, and the timeline for military engagement in the region threaten responsible oversight and execution of [current] policies. The formation of a bipartisan APSG will be critical in working toward agreement on the most responsible path forward for our nation.

   Source: Letter to Pres. Obama from 11 members of Congress 2010-LT-AP on Aug 4, 2010

   Commitment to unbreakable U.S.-Israel bond.

   Pingree signed Hoyer-Cantor letter to Secy. Clinton from 327 House members

   Dear Secretary Clinton:

   We are writing to reaffirm our commitment to the unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of Israel and to express to you our deep concern over recent tension. In every important relationship, there will be occasional misunderstandings and conflicts.

   Our valuable bilateral relationship with Israel needs and deserves constant reinforcement. As the Vice-President said during his recent visit to Israel: "Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to security, none. No space." Steadfast American backing has helped lead to Israeli peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. And American involvement continues to be critical to the effort to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

   We recognize that, despite the extraordinary closeness between our country and Israel, there will be differences over issues both large and small. Our view is that such differences are best resolved quietly, in trust and confidence, as befits longstanding strategic allies. We hope and expect that, with mutual effort and good faith, the United States and Israel will move beyond this disruption quickly, to the lasting benefit of both nations.

   Source: Hoyer-Cantor letter to Secy. Clinton from 327 House members 2010-LT-UB on Mar 25, 2010

   Click here for definitions & background information on Foreign Policy. Click here for a profile of Chellie Pingree. Click here for HouseMatch answers by Chellie Pingree. Click here for a summary of Chellie Pingree's positions on all issues. Click here for issue positions of other ME politicians.
   2012 Governor, House and Senate candidates on Foreign Policy:			Chellie Pingree on other issues:
   ME Gubernatorial: Paul LePage ME Senatorial: Charlie Summers Cynthia Dill Olympia Snowe Lame-duck session 2012: KY-4: Thomas Massie(R) MI-11:Dave Curson(D) NJ-9: Donald Payne Jr.(D) WA-1: Suzan DelBene(D) Re-seated Former Reps: AZ-1: Ann Kirkpatrick(D) AZ-5: Matt Salmon(R) FL-8: Alan Grayson(D) IL-11:Bill Foster(D) NH-1: Carol Shea-Porter(D) NV-3: Dina Titus(D) NY-24:Dan Maffei(D) TX-36:Steve Stockman(R) 2013 Resignations and Replacements: IL-2:Jesse Louis Jackson(D,resigned) IL-2:Robin Kelly(D,running) MA-5:Ed Markey(D,running) MA-8:Stephen Lynch(D,running) MO-8:Jo Ann Emerson(R,resigned) SC-1:Tim Scott(R,resigned) SC-1:Mark Sanford(R,running)	Newly-elected Democrats: AZ-9: Kyrsten Sinema CA-2: Jared Huffman CA-7: Ami Bera CA-15:Eric Swalwell CA-24:Julia Brownley CA-29:Tony Cardenas CA-35:Gloria Negrete McLeod CA-36:Raul Ruiz CA-41:Mark Takano CA-47:Alan Lowenthal CA-51:Juan Vargas CA-52:Scott Peters CT-5: Elizabeth Esty FL-18:Patrick Murphy FL-22:Lois Frankel FL-26:Joe Garcia HI-2: Tulsi Gabbard IL-8: Tammy Duckworth IL-10:Brad Schneider IL-12:Bill Enyart IL-17:Cheri Bustos MD-6: John Delaney MA-4: Joe Kennedy III MI-5: Dan Kildee MN-8: Rick Nolan NV-4: Steven Horsford NH-2: Annie Kuster NM-1: Michelle Lujan-Grisham NY-5: Grace Meng NY-10:Hakeem Jeffries NY-18:Sean Maloney OH-10:Joyce Beatty PA-17:Matt Cartwright TX-16:Beto O`Rourke TX-20:Joaquin Castro TX-23:Pete Gallego TX-33:Marc Veasey TX-34:Filemon Vela WA-6: Derek Kilmer WA-10:Denny Heck WI-2: Mark Pocan	Newly-elected Republicans: AR-4: Tom Cotton CA-1: Doug LaMalfa CA-21:David Valadao CA-41:Paul Cook FL-3: Ted Yoho FL-6: Ron DeSantis FL-19:Trey Radel GA-9: Doug Collins IL-15:Rodney Davis IN-2: Jackie Walorski IN-5: Susan Brooks IN-6: Luke Messer KY-6: Andy Barr MI-11:Kerry Bentivolio MO-2: Ann Wagner MT-0: Steve Daines NY-26:Chris Collins NC-8: Richard Hudson NC-9: Robert Pittenger NC-11:Mark Meadows NC-13:George Holding ND-0: Kevin Cramer OH-2: Brad Wenstrup OH-14:Dave Joyce OK-1: Jim Bridenstine OK-2: Markwayne Mullin PA-4: Scott Perry PA-12:Keith Rothfus SC-7: Tom Rice TX-14:Randy Weber TX-25:Roger Williams UT-2: Chris Stewart	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty Main Page Profile ME politicians Contact info: Mailing Address: Longworth HOB 1037, Washington, DC 20515 Official Website

   
   Page last updated: Apr 07, 2013