WHEREAS, the Maine Agricultural Trades Show is the state’s largest farmer-focused business, offering the finest commercial and technical guidance and educational experiences; and

WHEREAS, the Maine Agricultural Trades Show draws more than 1,000 people a year and over 100 ag-related exhibits and is an 80-plus year tradition celebrated during the second week of each January; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, each year in the United States approximately 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed and approximately 4,000 women die of this cancer; and

WHEREAS, this year in Maine an estimated 39 women will be diagnosed with this disease; and

WHEREAS, regular screening to detect the disease early when treatment can be most successful saves lives; and

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

This past Wednesday, it was my profound honor to take the oath prescribed by the Maine Constitution to begin my second term as your governor.

When I was first inaugurated as in 2019, I promised the people of Maine that I would work for a healthier, more vibrant, more welcoming state. Well, who could have known then that Maine, the nation, and the world would be facing a deadly pandemic that would threaten our safety, and reinvent how we learn, work, and live?

It was during the pandemic that I heard from thousands of Maine people, including children like 10-year-old Savannah who wrote me and said “Dear Governor Mills, I hope this COVID doesn’t affect our hearts being isolated from one another.” Well, Savannah, we know now that neither a worldwide pandemic, nor any other thing will ever isolate our hearts from one another. Because here in Maine, we are like family. We care for each other.

Well, we came through that horrific time better than nearly every other state in the country. National experts say that both our public health response and our economic recovery have been among the best in the country. And since that time, we haven’t just helped our state to recover – we’ve made real progress for Maine people, and we continue to listen to you.

You said you wanted a government that paid teachers better, that funded public schools, schools where children learned on a full stomach, a government that made the dream of higher education attainable for more people. So, we fully funded the state’s share of public education for the first time in history. We funded universal free meals in the public schools. We provided free community college to recent high school grads and we enacted one of the most generous student loan forgiveness programs in the country.

You said you wanted health insurance for more people, so we expanded MaineCare to more than 100,000 people, as the voters of Maine told us to do – and we’ve reduced the uninsured rate more than any state in the country. And we listened to the small businesses drowning in health insurance costs, and we’ve lowered their premiums for the first time in decades.

You said you wanted action on climate change, and so we have put Maine on a path toward carbon neutrality with a plan to protect our farms, shorelands, and towns across the state from the ravages of climate change.

From expanding broadband – to protecting Maine’s iconic lobster industry and conserving more of our state’s wild places for future generations – we have made real progress on the issues you asked us to address.

But our job is far from finished.

We have a workforce shortage that undermines our economy, a housing crunch, an opioid epidemic that robs us of loved ones, we have too many allegations of child abuse and neglect – so we have serious challenges to address.

Over the next four years we will attack these issues head-on, continuing the march of progress we began four years ago, being prepared for challenges not yet known.

In doing so, we envision Maine as a place where quality healthcare is unquestioned; where good education, from pre-K through graduate school, is available and affordable; where good-paying jobs are offered in every corner of the state; where children are safe and secure in their homes; and where anyone of us can go online from any place in Maine to shop, to attend a class, to conduct business, to get medical help or to simply send a message to a friend.

It is the highest privilege of my life to serve as your Governor, during hard times and good, stormy seas and calmer waters, as we weather the best and the worst of times together, tackling extraordinary problems, through extraordinary times, alongside you, the extraordinary people of Maine.

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

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

Well, this weekend, we close the books on another year – and what a year it’s been. This Sunday, people across Maine and across the world will welcome the arrival of 2023. 

But before that famous Times Square Ball, and the Kennebunk Wild Blueberry, and the Bangor Beach Ball drop to ring-in the new year, it’s worth reflecting on all that we’ve accomplished together and what we’ve seen this past year.

After two long, difficult, and uncertain years, Maine people largely returned to a much-deserved sense of normalcy following the worst days of the pandemic and the Omicron surge a year ago. 

Our state has continued to welcome tourists back in big numbers and we became the new home for thousands of families who recognized that Maine is the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.

Our economy has continued to recover, with low unemployment, more jobs than before the pandemic, and one of the highest rates of economic growth among the 50 states. That’s all great news.  

This year was not without challenges either, as global inflation continued to make the price of everything – everyday goods and services – more expensive.  

To help, I proposed -- and Republicans, Democrats, and Independents came together to enact – the strongest inflation relief measure in the nation, sending $850 checks directly to Maine people to deal with these increased costs.

And with the winter upon us, I’m also hoping that when the Legislature returns next week, they will pass my Winter Energy Relief Plan, to send more direct financial assistance to Maine people, so they can stay safe, secure, and warm through this winter.

In all this year, Maine not only cemented our recovery from the pandemic – but we also built a foundation for success in 2023 and beyond. 

This spring, the Legislature passed my supplemental budget proposal with bipartisan support – fully funding universal free meals in our public schools for the first time ever, providing one of the nation’s leading student debt relief programs, and providing free community college for young people who were most impacted by pandemic disruptions.

Investments from my Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan continue to build an economy poised for future prosperity, improving the lives of Maine people and families and helping small businesses, creating good paying jobs. 

We provided direct economic relief to nearly 1,000 small businesses in every county, we created workforce opportunities for more than 22,000 Maine people, and we invested in the infrastructure we need – from drinking water and wastewater enhancement to affordable housing, childcare, climate adaptation, and energy efficiency.

And through deliberate financial management, we have built up the Rainy-Day Fund to its highest level ever – ensuring that our state is prepared to withstand uncertain any economic times ahead. 

Recent years have been turbulent because of many forces outside our control, but our state has a strong foundation for 2023 and the years ahead – and we have the people to make it successful. 

As I’ve traveled the state this year, I’ve been continually reminded of the strength and the resilience of Maine people. 

From the laundromat owner in the St. John Valley, to the loggers of western and northern Maine, the shipbuilders and boatbuilders of the coast, the greenhouse entrepreneur in Lisbon, the lobstermen who, in the face of high costs and burdensome Federal regulations, continue to set out from the Maine coast before dawn – this year, I have once again been inspired by the grit and determination of the people of Maine. 

Every day, you make me proud to serve as your Governor and I thank you for that honor. 

I extend to each of you my warmest wishes for health and happiness in the New Year.

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

For generations, Maine lobstermen and women have made their livelihoods from our coastal waters.

But over the past several years, our hardworking fishing families have been the victims of unfair attacks and draconian regulations that would ruin their lives and put an end to the lobster fishery as we know it.

Well, my administration and Maine’s Congressional Delegation worked together to fight back.

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

Look, Maine lobster fishermen are committed to protecting the endangered right whale.

In fact, our lobstermen and women helped develop measures to protect right whales, and they have complied with difficult and onerous Federal regulations, removing as many as 30,000 miles of line from the water and spending tens of thousands of dollars out of their own pockets – at a huge expense – to modify or outright change up their gear to protect right whales.

Despite this fact, the Federal government, going back to the previous administration – pushed by extremist organizations who got the ear of a Federal Court judge in Washington – has been moving ahead with new regulations that would put an end to Maine’s lobster industry and hurt thousands of hardworking Maine people.

They are doing this based not on solid data, but on speculation, estimates, surmise – on the theoretical possibility that a right whale could be injured or killed.

They have done this even when there has never been a single right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve worked very closely with all members of our Congressional Delegation to draft and secure passage of a provision in an end-of-year federal spending bill that keeps Maine’s lobster fishery in operation.

This provision is a straightforward, commonsense compromise that will place a six year pause on new regulations, and that will allow our lobstermen to continue to operate while still complying with the most recent right whale rule.

It also creates a new grant program that may fund innovative gear technologies and the monitoring that will help the Maine Department of Marine Resources manage the fishery.

Although there is still work ahead, this provision offers a lifeline to Maine lobstermen and the industry at large. Without it, it’s no exaggeration to say that Maine’s lobster industry could be facing a complete shutdown—and the effects of that across our state would not only be profound; they would be absolutely devastating.

Look, our lobster fishermen, who set out from our docks before dawn, and who haul traps in all kinds of weather, who feed their families and their neighbors and our state’s economy with their catch – they are truly at the heart of Maine.

And as someone with deep roots in Stonington, where my ancestors fished and risked their lives, Maine fishermen have my deepest respect and my strongest support. I will continue to fight with everything I have to protect them and their families.

I want to personally thank Senator Susan Collins, Senator Angus King, Representatives Pingree and Golden, for their deep collaboration and great bipartisan teamwork.

I hope by the time you hear this message, that our measure will have become law and that our fishermen up the coast of Maine will all have a good holiday to celebrate this weekend.

And this weekend, remember those in need, those who are unhoused, those who are hungry – and I want to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to the Maine Legislature and to the ad hoc Appropriations Committee, who voted unanimously to support our emergency housing and heating fuel assistance bill. It is so needed, and I look forward to a positive vote by the full Maine Legislature in the coming weeks.

Remember the needy, the disadvantaged, the hungry, and unhoused this holiday weekend. Please, stay safe.

This is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.

Well, it’s here – the holiday season is upon us. As families across Maine put up trees, and wreaths, and lights, and as, this very weekend, our Jewish friends light the first candle on the menorah to mark the beginning of Hanukkah, we know that we are in the full swing of holiday season. 

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Thankfully, this holiday season is looking to be a full return to the traditions we celebrated before the pandemic. And I know Maine people are looking forward to enjoying this time of year with friends and family. I am, too. 

But, hey, if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, or if you are a bit of a last-minute shopper as I am, I wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you and all Maine people to shop local this holiday season.

You know, Maine is home to more than 150,000 small businesses – that’s 99 percent of all businesses in our state and many of them are retail businesses selling local products. These businesses are the cornerstones of our downtowns, the employers of our friends and family members, and they are a big driver of our economy.

I guarantee you this – no matter who you’re shopping for, you can find a special gift made here in Maine and sold right here in Maine. If you need a little inspiration, our state’s “Maine Made” program is a great place to start.

From specialty soaps handcrafted in Fort Kent to surfboards made with Maine wood in York, guitars made in Lewiston, the guide is a great resource for local products made and sold all across our state. 

All you got to do is visit mainemade.com. That’s mainemade.com.

M-a-i-n-e M-a-d-e dot com. Check it out. You’ll find some pretty great things.

When you buy local, you’ll not only make a loved one feel special with a great gift, but you’ll be supporting Maine small businesses and the good people they employ, and our economy in the process.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting Maine small businesses this year, and, as always, be sure to check-in on your neighbors and be kind to one another – this season, and every season.

This is Governor Janet Mills wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season – and thank you for listening.

Like many of you, I am deeply concerned about the impact that high energy prices – from home heating oil to electricity – are having on Maine families.

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

With the help of the Legislature, my Administration has already taken steps to help low and middle-income families, and older Maine people, and small businesses with the rising costs of energy. 

And this week, I’ve proposed an emergency winter energy relief plan to send more help to Maine people who need it the most this winter.

Here’s what’s in the emergency winter energy relief plan:

• First, a Winter Energy Relief Payment of $450 to about 880,000 Maine people, or about $900 for the average Maine family. You will be eligible if you make less than $100,000 and file your taxes single or married and filing separately; of if you make less than $150,000 if you file as head of household; or if you make less than $200,000 if you file jointly; 
• Secondly, there’s a $40 million fund to supplement the Home Energy Assistance Program to help recipients receive a financial benefit equal to last year’s, that’s LIHEAP;
• Thirdly, $10 million to Maine Community Action Partnerships to help them deliver emergency fuel assistance to prevent people from running out of heating fuel and experiencing a heating crisis;
• Fourthly, $21 million for the Emergency Housing Relief Fund. The Legislature and I created that fund earlier this year to support emergency housing and emergency shelters to keep people from experiencing homelessness this winter. 

This plan in total incorporates the feedback of both Republican and Democratic leadership in the Legislature. It also builds on the nation-leading inflation relief measures we delivered earlier this year and it is the fastest, most direct way to get help directly to Maine people as we work to bring down energy costs over the long-term.

We’ve got to ease the burden on Maine people by putting money back into their pockets so they can afford these energy costs and ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are able to stay warm this winter.

I ask the Legislature to pass this plan with the support needed to enact it as an emergency measure so we can this relief into the hands of Maine people without delay.

In the meantime, I am taking some executive action to distribute additional heating aid to low-income older Maine people. During the week of December 12, the Department of Health and Human Services will provide one-time payments of $500 to about 13,000 households which include low-income Maine people 65 or older to help them pay their heating costs.

With colder weather around the corner, please be sure to check-in on your neighbors and those who might be at risk. If you or someone you know needs resources to stay warm this winter, please look at our Winter Heating Guide. It’s found at maine.gov/energy/winter-heating-resources. 

This is Governor Janet Mills. Please stay warm and thank you for listening.

Like many Maine people, I remain deeply concerned about the impact that high energy prices – from home heating oil to electricity – are having on Maine people.

This week, we got a bit of helpful news and I think it will help us finish up an emergency winter energy relief plan for the Legislature to consider.

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

The State of Maine budget continues to be in the black as a result of Federal support and the good fiscal management of my Administration and the Legislature.

Earlier this week, Maine’s nonpartisan Revenue Forecasting Committee upgraded the State’s General Fund revenue forecast by an additional $282 million for the current biennium, which ends June 2023.

These anticipated revenues will help us address Maine’s most pressing needs – like the need for emergency heating assistance for Maine families this winter.

With the help of the Legislature, my Administration has already taken direct action to help Maine people with the rising costs of energy. These acts include:

• Returning more than half of the state’s budget surplus last spring to Maine people through $850 inflation relief checks as well as
• successfully pressuring the Congress for increased funding for Federal heating assistance programs and
• securing a one-time bill credit of $90 for tens of thousands of low-income customers of Central Maine Power and Versant.
• Also, we provided $800 in heating cost relief to nearly 13,000 low-income households to help pay for high energy costs.
• And we provided up to $1,400 in tax relief for eligible low- and middle-income families and seniors and;
• We provided a tiered credit of up to $3,000 a piece to Maine small businesses to offset their increased electricity costs.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be working closely with the Maine Legislature to provide more financial relief – particularly for middle-class and low-income people whose incomes are stretched thin right now – and help them remain safe and secure in their homes this winter.

If you or someone you know needs resources to stay warm this winter, please take a look at our Winter Heating Guide at maine.gov/energy/winter-heating-resources. Help is available and more help is on the way.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Thanksgiving is a time for Maine people to gather with family and friends and loved ones, to appreciate life’s blessings, and to welcome others to our tables, to our homes, and into our hearts.

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

This holiday season, I am so looking forward to playing with the grandchildren, cooking turkey and pies and green bean casserole, sharing time with my daughters and their children, and pausing at the very end of a very busy year to rest and reflect on the things for which I am most grateful.

A famous, ancient philosopher once said “gratitude is the highest virtue.” It is gratitude that should be in our hearts this weekend and every weekend.

And I am grateful that our state is blessed with people who value one another. People who extend a helping hand when neighbors need it most. People in Maine are independent and we are resilient, but we know we can rely on each other. 

So this Thanksgiving, let’s remember to take stock of life’s blessings, to share in love and laughter with our families and friends, and to reach out to those who are struggling this holiday season. 

As Governor I’ll continue to do all I can to address the challenges we face and to celebrate what makes our state the very best place to live and work and raise a family.

I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, recycling enjoys the support of the vast majority of the people of Maine who now have the opportunity to participate in recycling programs; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine recognizes that “closing the loop” and buying products with sustainable/recycled content is essential to the success of recycling and practices this principle in its purchases; and

WHEREAS, for over three decades, the State of Maine has made the commitment to the waste management strategy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; and