This week I was pleased to announce that I am dedicating $3.5 million in my forthcoming budget changes to keep the Maine Veterans’ Homes in Caribou and Machias open and ensure that our veterans continue to get the care they’ve earned and the care they deserve in the communities they love, near the families that they are close to, in their own hometowns.

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

I’ve talked about my father from time to time. I’ve mentioned that he served bravely during World War II in the Pacific Theater. My uncles did as well. My father survived the biggest naval battle of World War II history, the Battle of Leyte Gulf. My brother later served three tours of duty in Vietnam.

So I deeply appreciate the service and the sacrifice of all Maine veterans and their loved ones. Our state has always contributed more than our share to the military, to the armed services during periods of combat in every war — from the 20^th Maine in the Civil War, and before that the Revolutionary War, and World War I, World War II, and every significant period of combat and conflict since then. My Administration has been working hard to improve the services for veterans all across the state.

We can never repay our veterans.

And so I was very deeply concerned when the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans’ Homes informed me that it had voted to close the veterans’ homes in Caribou and Machias because of a projected decrease in the number of veterans in the coming years and, like much of the state and nation, a shortage of qualified health care staff.

Well, I recognize the challenges these homes may be confronting, as are many other nursing homes, but the drastic move to close these veterans’ homes will displace more than 70 veterans and veterans’ spouses, many widows, and it will result in the loss of jobs for the people who care for them.

These closures would also significantly reduce the footprint of veterans’ homes across the state of Maine, and leave no facilities Downeast, none north of Bangor, and they would diminish the long-term care options for veterans in rural Maine generally. 

Well, I’m from rural Maine and this comes close to my heart.

The impact of these closures of these two homes on our veterans, and on their families, and the employees, and the regions that they serve cannot be overstated.

So as soon as I learned of that vote, I wrote immediately to the Board of Trustees of the Maine Veterans’ Homes and I urged them to reconsider their decision. Come talk to us, talk to my department heads, find a solution, let’s solve the problem. Then I met with the Board President and the Director in person and I urged them again to postpone any closure for two years so that we can work together and chart another path forward to better serve these veterans in rural areas.   

I appreciate also the Maine Congressional Delegation — all of four of them have supported our approach. They too were taken by surprise by this vote to close the homes. As well as Senate President Troy Jackson, and his bill, in part, would authorize a financial boost to keep these particular veterans’ homes open. Now funded by my proposed budget changes. That budget bill and the changes I’m proposing continue to move through the legislative process with significant public support.   

Here’s the bottom-line: I want these homes to remain open, remain where they are. The veterans who live there, the families of those veterans, their spouses, and the staff of those homes all deserve it. Our promise to veterans is that we will stand by them, just as they stood by us in their service to our state and our nation – these two homes are a small step towards fulfilling that promise.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Honoring Maine’s Veterans: The daughter and sister of Maine veterans, Governor Mills recognizes the service and sacrifice of those who wore the uniform and is fighting to ensure that her Administration is standing by them.

Providing stability and security for Maine’s working men and women: Governor Mills is committed to working with labor unions to make progress on behalf of workers across the State of Maine.

Making Maine Children a Priority: As someone who raised five daughters, and as the grandmother of five children herself, Governor Mills believes that all Maine children should have the same shot at success, no matter which zip code they grow up in.

Spearheading unprecedented efforts to expand broadband: In today’s world, access to affordable, high-speed internet is as fundamental as electricity, heat, and water. If we want a strong economy and thriving state, we’ve simply got to have it. That’s why Governor Mills has focused on expanding affordable, high-speed broadband across the state, especially in rural areas.

Spearheading Maine’s Economic Recovery and Building a Stronger Economy: Governor Mills is focused on ensuring that Maine has a strong economic recovery from the pandemic. She has prioritized getting Maine people back to work and building an innovative, forward-looking economy with good-paying jobs across Maine.

Rebuilding the State of Maine and Tribes’ Relationship: Governor Mills is committed to healing the divisions of the past and to forging a new relationship built on mutual trust and respect.

Ensuring that families in Maine have a home to call their own: A home is more than brick and beams. Home is where we raise our kids, where we sit at the kitchen table paying bills and helping with homework, where we sleep safely every night. Governor Mills is committed to ensuring that every person in Maine has a home to call their own.

Improving Health Care for Maine People and Small Businesses: Expanding access to health care and making it more affordable for Maine people and small businesses is a priority for Governor Mills.

Modernizing Maine’s Infrastructure:

The success of Maine’s middle class depends on investing in the things they need every day, like reliable and safe transportation, accessible child care, and affordable high-speed internet. Governor Mills is committed to modernizing Maine’s outdated infrastructure to better serve both residents and visitors. Since taking office she has made historic investments in: