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Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement honoring the life and legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

Order addresses projected revenue shortfall while avoiding deep programmatic cuts & layoffs and preserving critical public health, safety, and education funding for now

Governor Janet Mills directed that the United States and State of Maine flags be lowered statewide tomorrow Wednesday, September 16, 2020 in recognition of the one year anniversary of the explosion in Farmington, which claimed the life of Farmington Fire Department Captain Michael Bell and injured several others.

In accordance with a directive of the President, Governor Janet Mills directed that the United States and State of Maine flags be lowered to half-staff today statewide in honor of the victims and survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and issued the following statement:

New England border state governors warn of harm to American manufacturers
 
Maine Governor Janet Mills, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and Vermont Governor Phil Scott are calling on President Donald Trump to reverse the re-imposition of a 10% tariff on imports of non-alloyed unwrought aluminum from Canada, citing the negative impact on manufacturers and supply chain businesses in northern New England.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement reminding Maine small businesses and non-profits to apply for the State’s $200 million Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program ahead of the application deadline. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST tomorrow, September 9, 2020.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in honor of Labor Day:

The Maine Principals’ Association, the Maine School Boards Association, the Maine School Superintendents Association, and the Mills Administration released the following statements today on interscholastic fall sports in Maine:

Governor Mills today extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) for thirty days through October 1, 2020. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation which have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association.

Governor Janet Mills announced today she has signed an Executive Order to protect the health and safety of Maine voters, poll workers, and election officials and to facilitate access to safe in-person and absentee voting in the November general election amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Janet Mills today announced the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program to support Maine businesses and nonprofits as they continue to grapple with economic hardships caused by COVID-19.

DHHS also announces Promerica Health mobile testing site to launch in Kittery on Tuesday

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and MaineHealth announced today the launch of five new "swab and send" COVID-19 testing sites, further expanding access to reliable and timely testing for Maine people and visitors.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment: 

“Both of my grandmothers voted for the first time in the presidential election of 1920 and, within a few short years, each was elected to the school boards of their respective towns, Farmington and Ashland, Maine.

“I like to think that they would be proud that, within a hundred years of being able to vote for the first time, their granddaughter would be the first woman governor of Maine. 

DEP Commissioner Jerry Reid to replace Langhauser as Chief Legal Counsel

Governor Janet Mills today thanked Chief Legal Counsel Derek Langhauser for his service to the State of Maine. Langhauser, who has served as the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel since she assumed office in January of 2019, will leave his position on August 31, 2020.

In a letter to the USDA in June, the Delegation requested that maple syrup be included in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
 
Washington, D.C. — Following a push by Maine’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Janet Mills, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that producers of maple sap used to make maple syrup are now eligible for direct financial relief to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19.

Governor purchases fire detection meters for 20 Maine fire departments in wake of Farmington explosion that revealed insufficient gas detection infrastructure

$4 million supports more than 80 Maine municipalities and Tribal governments as they take action to protect Maine people and visitors from COVID-19

The Mills Administration announced today that it has approved an additional $4 million in awards to more than 80 municipalities and Tribal governments across the state under a second round of Keep Maine Healthy funding to support local COVID-19 public health, education, and prevention efforts.

Governor Janet Mills and Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman issued the following statements in response to the President’s Executive Orders over the weekend:

Governor Mills today extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) for thirty days through September 3, 2020. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation, which also have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association.

The Mills Administration announced today an investment of $1 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to significantly and quickly expand services to help reduce the disproportionately large racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 in Maine.

Governor Janet Mills announced today that MaineHousing will double its rental assistance from $500 to $1,000 through the COVID-19 Rental Relief Program beginning next Monday, August 3rd. The Governor, who established the program with MaineHousing in April, is dedicating an initial $5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to support the expansion. The Governor today also signed an Executive Order continuing expanded timeframe protections for renters in the evictions process.

Today, the Revenue Forecasting Committee (RFC) projected that State General Fund revenues will decrease by $524 million in Fiscal Year 2021, $434 million in Fiscal Year 2022, and $449 in Fiscal Year 2023 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Mills issued the following statement in response: 

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement on Legislative Republicans' continued effort to jeopardize Maine's public health measures:

"For the life of me, I cannot understand why Republicans care more about Massachusetts money than the life of a Maine person.

Department also awards $1 million to boost rural hospital lab capacity and opens second round of Keep Maine Healthy grants for municipalities

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today four additional COVID-19 “swab and send” testing sites, the award of $1 million in federal funding to rural hospitals to increase their labs’ capacity to process COVID-19 tests, and a second round of grants to municipalities under the Keep Maine Healthy Plan to support local COVID-19 public health, education, and prevention efforts.

Governor Janet Mills announced today a series of steps her Administration is taking to assist and support school systems across Maine as they consider whether and how to return to in-classroom instruction this fall. Each of these actions aims to provide essential support to promote a safe return for children, teachers, and school staff.