WHEREAS, the State of Maine has long been shaped by the proud and enduring traditions of our working waterfronts, where generations have built their lives and livelihoods on the sea; and

WHEREAS, commercial fishing remains one of Maine’s most iconic and economically vital industries, supporting thousands of hardworking men and women and contributing significantly to coastal communities and the state’s heritage, economy, and way of life; and

WHEREAS, Maine has provided inspiration for much of the body of work produced by the Wyeth family starting in 1930, when N.C. Wyeth purchased a summer home in Port Clyde and he built a small studio; and

WHEREAS, while N.C. Wyeth was best known for his illustrations, many of which were derived from his Maine-based knowledge of coastal and maritime life, he was also an acclaimed painter; and

WHEREAS, Acadian culture holds great significance in the Saint John Valley and throughout the State of Maine; and

WHEREAS, in 1604, French settlers established the first European settlement in Maine on St. Croix Island; and

WHEREAS, these settlers were adaptable and resilient, turning hardy wilderness into fertile farmland using nutrients from the sea; and

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening and Happy Holidays to all.

The Declaration of Independence, President John F. Kennedy once reflected, was, "Above all else, a document not of rhetoric, but of bold decision." An "irrevocable" decision, he said, that every signer made to "assert the independence of free states in place of colonies, and to commit to that goal, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor."

President Kennedy delivered those remarks from the steps of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4th, 1962, to a gathering of the nation's governors, echoing the trumpet call for freedom, which had reverberated from that hall throughout American history.

The men who declared our self-governance by signing the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia nearly 250 years ago were not infallible. As Benjamin Franklin later remarked with his typical frankness at the close of the Constitutional Convention in In 1787, "When you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their self-views. From such an assembly, can a perfect production be expected?" he asked.

But he was astonished to find, as he put it, "this system approaching so near to perfection as it does."

Well, our democracy, designed to balance the power of a mighty government with the rights of individuals and the people, has never been, and will never be perfect. But since the Declaration of Independence was passed down to us on July 4th, 1776, generations of Americans have committed "their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor," so that our country may live up to its ideals. The unshakable belief that such a country is possible to create for ourselves sets America apart.

That hope, that "sweetest bird" that "never stops at all," as the poet Emily Dickinson called it, can be hard to hear over the gale of national events these days. Democracy is not always easy to fight for, and it's not always easy to see the end of that fight, but our democracy is not lost to us. Let us remember on this holiday, those diverse assemblies of men and women who voted, and organized, and marched to make real the dream of a country where peaceful dissent is patriotic, and where expressing love for our nation means always striving to make it better.

Let us remember the dream of a country where people from Machias, Maine, to Detroit, Michigan to Memphis, Tennessee have the same chance to build a life for their children that is better than the life they had for themselves. The dream of a country that believes who you are in your heart and soul matters much more than where you came from.

When President Kennedy stood on the steps of Independence Hall, he noted that then-President-elect Lincoln had spoken from the same "birthplace of America" 101 years before. And when Lincoln said, "I've often inquired of myself what great principle or idea it was that kept this Confederacy so long together. It was not the mere matter of the separation of the colonies from the motherland," he said, "but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence, which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but I hope," Lincoln said, "to the world for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men."

This July Fourth, as we reflect on the birth of our nation, we remember the spirit that keeps us together, the sentiment sustained by the hope that we can create a better future. And we recommit to protecting the freedom of all who call America home.

So I wish you and your loved ones, your friends and neighbors and family, a safe and Happy Fourth of July.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, Cooper Flagg, a Maine native, has demonstrated extraordinary talent and dedication to the sport of basketball, earning national recognition as one of the most promising players of his generation, and serving as a source of pride and inspiration for youth and all people of Maine; and

The 132d Legislature of the State of Maine   State House   Augusta, Maine

Dear Honorable Members of the 132d Legislature:

By the Authority conferred by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, I am hereby vetoing L.D. 1802, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services to Clarify When an Indigent Criminal Defendant Is Entitled to Counsel at State Expense.

The 132nd Legislature of the State of Maine   State House   Augusta, Maine

Dear Honorable Members of the 132nd Legislature:

By the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Maine, 1 am hereby vetoing L.D. 588, An Act to Enact the Agricultural Employees Concerted Activity Protection Act. L.D. 588 is substantively identical to L.D. 525 in the 131s Legislature, a bill of the same name that was enacted and that I vetoed. Because the bill is unchanged, so too is my veto letter:

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

You know, in 1999, a helicopter hoisted a six-ton steel frame with a new three-sided sign onto one of the tallest buildings in Portland. When its hundreds of light bulbs were illuminated again, the historic sign spelled out a simple message that folks could see as far as Peaks Island. It said simply: "I AM BACK."

That sign above the Time and Temperature Building in Portland has been an iconic part of the skyline since it was first installed in 1964. The building itself, originally named the Chapman Building, dates back even further to 1924. While it once housed Maine's first indoor shopping center, the Time and Temperature building was eventually left vacant. But thanks to significant housing investments by my administration, I'm proud to say we're bringing tenants back to that historic landmark.

This week, Maine Housing awarded $13.4 million to developers to create 129 new apartments in Portland and Lewiston. In Portland, developers will create 41 affordable apartments for seniors in the Time and Temperature building. In Lewiston, developers will create a total of 88 affordable apartments -- 44 at the former Martel School location, and 44 at a site at the corner of Ash and Bates Streets downtown.

These new apartments in Lewiston and Portland are just the latest of those being built because of our work with the Legislature to address Maine's housing needs. Since I took office as your governor in 2019, we've authorized almost $315 million for the construction of more apartments and homes. These state and federal funds and tax credits have resulted in more than 1,500 new units so far, with more than 1,400 under construction and more than 2,200 units in the pipeline for construction -- the most ever in Maine Housing's history.

Just this year, in April, I was proud to announce that MaineHousing awarded $23.5 million to developers to build 137 apartments in communities across the state in Madison, Winslow, Rockland, Poland, Yarmouth and Rangeley. And in May, MaineHousing awarded $9.3 million to developers to construct 169 new single-family homes in communities like Sanford, Rumford, Waterville, Monmouth and Bangor. And earlier this year, I was pleased to join the people of downtown Skowhegan to celebrate the revitalized Spinning Mill building, a long-vacant industrial site that's now been transformed into a vibrant residential and commercial center with 41 new apartments plus a restaurant and other amenities.

Whether you're retired or you're working full time, or you're looking to rent an apartment in a rural community, or looking to buy a first home in a city, there should be a place for everyone in Maine. While the need for housing in our state is still significant, as it is in most states, I'm proud of the buildings that we've revived, restored, and reimagined for Maine families, buildings that many of which now say in their own way, "I AM BACK."

May these homes be a lasting sign to Maine people that there is a place for them here, now, and for generations to come.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

When Patricia Henderson first attended the J. Franklin Witter Center in Old Town as a student in the fall of 2012, she thought she was going to become a veterinarian. Instead, after working for a few years as a dairy consultant and falling in love with the dairy industry, she found her way back to Witter to become its superintendent. Patricia is just one example of the many students who have learned about animal sciences and sustainable agriculture at the Witter Farm. There, the next generation of Maine Dairy farmers are taught how to responsibly care for countless herds and to sustainably manage hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland so they can grow what their animals need to eat and stay healthy.

That's no easy task, requiring dairy farmers to use cutting-edge technology to monitor everything from milk quality to animal wellness to soil health. But the new robotic milking barn at Witter farm--the third of its kind in Maine--exemplifies that innovation. As cows choose when to be milked, a process that will improve their milk production, the machine also measures critical aspects of their health. Annie Lahey, a zoology student at the University of Maine, said that the automated machine helps her spend more time focusing on the well-being of the cows instead of simply taking care of the barn. With labor shortages and rising costs--including the president's new tariffs--and market pressures all hitting the dairy industry, that technology could make the difference between a dairy farm staying open or closing. We want them all to stay open.

Dairy farms are at the heart of Maine's agricultural industry and our rural communities and our economy as a whole. You know, award winning cheese and yogurt and ice cream and butter, all made with Maine milk, are sold at restaurants and schools and grocery stores, cafes and shops worldwide. Farm and feed supply stores, trucking and transportation companies, veterinarians and other small businesses also rely on the success of our dairy farms.

My administration deeply appreciates Maine's dairy farms and dairy products, and we're committed to working with the legislature to examine the recommendations of the Maine Dairy Task Force and support the long term success of the dairy industry in Maine.

Maine people can show their appreciation by making sure the milk you buy at the grocery store is produced in Maine. You can check that the milk you're buying is from Maine by looking at the code on the top of the carton or jug. The code for Maine produced milk will always start with the number 23. For example, Oakhurst Dairy in Portland has the code 23-01.

Let's all support the long term success of Maine's dairy industry by buying milk and milk products that come from Maine.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Well, earlier this week, I was pleased to meet with the Honorable Bernadette Jordan, Consul General of Canada in Boston, at an event in Portland that was focused on Maine's relationship with nations in the Arctic Circle, which certainly includes Canada. Maine deeply values our partnership with Canada, and I told Consul General Jordan that I want to make sure our historic friendship and deeply intertwined economies last for generations to come. It's not just our economies – we are connected so deeply by mutual economic advantages and on centuries-old familial, cuisine, language, and cultural bonds that far supersede politics.

Canada is our closest and most important trading partner. We share a 611-mile long border with Quebec and New Brunswick. Last year alone, we traded more than $6 billion worth of goods and materials between our countries, nearly $5 billion of which came from Canada into Maine. But recently, I met with some small businesses who told me that the uncertainty around the president's roller coaster tariffs is making them question their future. These businesses in Maine told me that the hostile rhetoric from the president is making our Canadian neighbors feel unwelcome in the United States in general, and hesitant about visiting the State of Maine.

Last year, nearly 800,000 people, or about 5% of our visitors, were from Canada, spending nearly half a billion dollars here. But this year, from February to April alone, 166,000 fewer Canadians traveled by land to Maine. That's 26% less than the same period last year, a big drop in visitors. So we're doing what we can to market Maine as a destination for Canadian travelers.

So, for example, this coming Monday, along with other Northeastern governors, I'll be meeting with Canadian premiers in Boston. I was proud to work with Governor Healey of Massachusetts to organize this summit to reaffirm the strong cross-border relationship between our region and the Canadian provinces. I look forward to that meeting.

And in the meantime, I had the Department of Transportation place new signs at all our border crossings with Canada and near popular destinations - signs that welcome Canadian travelers to our state. The signs are bilingual. They say “Bienvenue Canadien” or “Welcome Canadians”, and we're providing signs to many businesses all up and down the state to put in their windows to also make sure Canadians feel welcome there.

Look, I know signs alone can't fix this economic uncertainty, but it can convey to our neighbors that they are welcome here and we do value their presence in our state. We're not hostile towards our Canadian friends and government and neighbors.

We may have seen a decline in Canadian tourism so far this year, but we can market Maine as a premier destination for visitors on both sides of the border. I'm planning to take my own road trip into Canada soon, and I hope you'll consider doing that as well with your family.

Let's make sure they know we're still friends.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.