WHEREAS, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children and is detected in more than 15,000 of our country's sons and daughters every year; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has one of the highest rates of childhood cancer in the nation, with 60 Maine children diagnosed with cancer annually; and

WHEREAS, thanks to ongoing advances in research and treatment, the five-year survival rate for all childhood cancers has climbed from less than 50 percent to 80 percent over the last several decades; and

WHEREAS, the American Red Cross aspires to turn compassion into action, and Mainers – American Red Cross volunteers – help each other when we are in need; and

WHEREAS, in supporting the American Red Cross, Maine people have helped our neighbors get back on their feet after devastating mass casualty events, record-breaking storms and home fires; and

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

There are a lot of things on people's minds these days. One of those things is health care in general, but let's talk about oral health care in particular today. We know that that is so important, so key to our ability to do many important things.

It's important to eating, and drinking, and talking. Anybody who's had persistent dental issues knows that pain and discomfort can really affect your self-esteem, your ability to work or go to school, to study, and just your overall health and well-being.

But despite how important dental care is, many people still don't have access to affordable dental care. That includes some of our veterans. I've heard many stories. One Maine veteran had been wearing the same set of dentures since 1973, and they were completely worn out. Another Maine veteran was in severe pain from an abscessed tooth but just couldn't afford to go to the dentist.

As someone who grew up in a military family, I want to make sure that those who served us in uniform have access to health care they need -- the health care they deserve. So that's why in 2021, my administration launched the Maine Veterans Dental Network. We did this in partnership with Northeast Delta Dental and other dental and medical clinics around the state to provide dental services to Maine veterans who could not otherwise afford them.

In three years -- 2022, 2023, 2024 -- Northeast Delta Dental extended the program with grants, $600,000 in total. And then the Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation also became a generous supporter, contributing more than $37,000 in grants over the last couple of years.

I'm proud that thanks to all those organizations and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services, our Veterans Dental Network has provided dental care for nearly 1,500 veterans, including the two I just mentioned, as well as many other veterans who were able to see a dentist or dental hygienist for the first time since they left military service.

One Vietnam War veteran told our staff that the care he received "went above and beyond expectations," and that he "never would have been able to afford the services they provided without the grant."

This year, thanks to another generous $300,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental, the Maine Veterans Dental Network will keep providing services for veterans in need. This new funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis for any Maine resident who is a veteran and who lacks dental insurance and can't afford to pay for dental care out of pocket.

The Veterans Dental Network has 23 different locations from Portland to Patten, places where veterans can get care. You may apply online by visiting maine.gov/governor/mills/veteransdental. That's maine.gov/governor/mills/veteransdental.

If you don't have access to the internet or if you know someone -- a veteran -- who doesn't have access to the internet, please call 207-287-6836. That's 287-6836, during normal business hours.

We're committed to making sure that every person in Maine can access health care services they need, and oral health care in particular. If you're a veteran, please visit our website or call that number to see if you're eligible for services through the Veterans Dental Network.

And I want to thank Northeast Delta Dental and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services and the many participating clinics across the state who keep making this nationally recognized program possible. It's catching on across the country. And I thank again all Maine veterans for their service on behalf of our state and on behalf of our nation.

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

WHEREAS, invasive species can destroy Maine’s lakes and rivers, native trees, forests, plants, and crops, impact the economy, pose risks to human health, impair infrastructure and impede transportation, water delivery systems, and energy production; and

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

Well, the cost of living in much of America and here in Maine is just too high. The price of fuel, the cost of supplies, utilities, and labor have driven up expenses for Maine families and families across the country, and have driven up the budgets of just about every state in the country. 

The new president, as you remember, campaigned on bringing down the price of eggs, bread, heat, housing, and cars, something that I support doing. But I believe his decision to impose tariffs on our major trading partners will do just the opposite. It will drive up the cost of everyday goods that Maine people rely on, and drive up the costs of small businesses. 

On February 1st, the new president signed executive orders to impose a new 25% tariff on most imports from Canada and a 10% tariff on Canadian energy. You know, we have a 600-mile boundary with Canada, and it's our largest trading partner, and our economies are deeply intertwined. Last year alone, we traded more than $6 billion worth of goods and materials with Canada, most of that coming from Canada into Maine. And that trade helps many small businesses across Maine that produce things like potatoes, blueberries, lobsters, forest products, aircraft parts, housing, machinery. Businesses like Wyman's, Ready Seafood, Twin Rivers, Eimskip, for example, are all deeply connected to Canada. 

Maine businesses and Maine people rely on Canada also as a major source of energy, from heating fuel, to gasoline, to natural gas, and electricity; more than 80% of Maine's heating fuel and gasoline is imported from Canada. And of course, we have no fossil fuel reserves of our own. Irving Oil from New Brunswick warned customers across New England this week that if the president's tariffs on Canada are enacted, they will increase prices. Maine's economy is most deeply intertwined with Canada's, but will also be significantly impacted by tariffs on China and Mexico because Maine trades more than $315 million worth of goods and materials with China and more than $165 million worth of goods and materials with Mexico each year. 

The President has claimed these other countries will somehow pay these new tariffs, but the reality is that the increased costs will be paid by Maine people. When Maine businesses have to pay higher tariffs to import materials, they need, or building supplies, or to export their finished products, they will be forced to pass those costs along to Maine consumers at a time when we can least afford it. The president's new import tariffs could clearly result in higher prices on everything from fruits and vegetables, to flat screen TVs, to auto parts. And it will cause an estimated loss of more than $1,200 dollars annually in purchase power for the typical United States household. 

The day the president's tariffs were set to go into effect, he decided suddenly to delay them for 30 days. This temporary reprieve may seem like some sort of relief, but what happens less than 30 days from now? The continued uncertainty and instability is what hurts businesses and people across the country and across the State of Maine. I've already seen the price of gas go up just in the last week, traveling around the state, at a time when we can ill afford it. 

The president acknowledged that Americans "may feel some pain" as a result of these new tariffs he wants to impose. To me, that's a betrayal of the many people who believed that he would work to lower prices and bring down the cost of living, not increase it. 

I certainly hope that after this 30 day delay, he makes up his mind not to pursue tariffs, which are taxes, basically, that will hurt Maine people and Maine small businesses in particular, and that he instead chooses to work with Congress to bring down the costs for all American people and American families. 

This is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening. 

WHEREAS, Black History Month, previously known as Negro History Week, was founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson and first celebrated on February 1, 1926; and

WHEREAS, since 1976, it has become a nationally recognized month-long celebration held to acknowledge and pay tribute to the contributions made by African Americans to the history of our country that for years were omitted by society and history books; and

WHEREAS, American history is an essential component of a complete and well-rounded education; and

WHEREAS, the study of history provides us a deeper understanding of our culture and traditions and connects us with events, people, places, and ideas of our country's past; and

WHEREAS, understanding our shared history allows us to make better decisions about our future, and to prevent repeating mistakes of the past; and

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

Well, earlier this week, I delivered my State of the Budget Address to a joint session of the Maine Legislature. I shared with the lawmakers an account of where the state budget stands. Telling it straight - so our discussions can start with a common understanding of our challenges.

Well, it wasn't easy to put this budget together, but this proposal is balanced. It continues to invest in things we all support, like education, revenue sharing, public safety, higher ed and school meals.

Now, I've already heard some lawmakers criticizing the budget before it was even printed. "No tax increases," some said. "No program cuts," from others. I told my Democratic friends that I know that they don't want to see programs cut. I know many of them would prefer to see us raise income or sales taxes to avoid reductions whatsoever. But Democrats also know that their Republican colleagues on the other side of the aisle don't want to do that.

I told my Republican friends, I know some of them don't want to raise any revenues, even in a targeted way. I know the Republicans would prefer to cut more programs to bridge the gap and avoid any and all revenue increases. But Republicans also know that their Democratic colleagues generally don't want to do that.

So where do they go from here?

Look, it's easy to stand in front of a TV camera and say “No!” It's easy to fire off social media posts and feel good as the "likes" roll in.

But during my address Tuesday, I encouraged both parties to reserve judgment and not create barriers to compromise. That's not what people expect. I told them it's harder to do the work of sitting around the table, putting forward their own ideas, hearing what folks on all sides have to say, and then coming to consensus, and enacting balanced public policy. Whether they're Democrat, or Republican, or Independent, I hope that is how lawmakers approach these conversations: in good faith, with good ideas, with civility, and with an open mind to the views of others, and ultimately with the commitment and courage to make hard choices on behalf of all of you, the people of Maine.

While it's true we have some tough decisions in the coming weeks and months, we should not lose sight of the strengths of our state and the strengths of our people. We have clean air, clean water, good schools and yes, safe streets, healthy forests and farms, and clear lakes, and fish-filled rivers, and sturdy waterfronts. A strong economy with rewarding jobs, and a state that people want to visit in every season. These aren't little things, but we have them all. I ask lawmakers to use this session to protect the things that make us special and keep our state on a stable fiscal course.

I told them when we hear anger and acrimony, we ought to remember the words of our old friend Dave Mallet, who told us that things, especially things in Maine, are “better than that.”

I see faces and I hear voices across every county, town and city, in every corner of the state, looking to us to manage the finances of the state, to work with civil purpose, to solve problems, to create hope and prosperity, to keep people safe, and to preserve the things that make our state so special.

We've shown before that Democrats, Republicans. and Independents, can all put their heads together and get good results. I'm ready to work with lawmakers in the coming months on a budget that is balanced, that is fiscally responsible, that invites investment, and that strengthens our economy and lifts up our greatest asset of all: you, the people of Maine.

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

My budget proposal maintains our commitments to Maine people to provide affordable health care, to protect school funding and property tax relief, and making sure that we have good schools and good teachers, no matter a child's zip code.

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

We want to make sure that no child tries to learn on an empty stomach. And we want to try to stabilize property taxes across the state. Those are taxes that also pay for those schools. These are all bipartisan priorities, and they've been supported by the overwhelming majority of the legislature and the overwhelming majority of Maine people.

Well, more than half of the entire state budget goes to health care and education. Roughly $4.8 billion for education alone, and approximately $4.3 billion for Health and Human Services including child welfare, mental health, hospital, nursing home and home health care, and child care costs.

So, I don't believe that government can or should be all things to all people all the time, but I firmly believe that our most important responsibility is to protect the health and safety of Maine people, especially children, and the sick, and the most vulnerable. That's the belief that's reflected in this budget proposal.

The budget proposal also reflects difficult choices that are a reality of our tight budget circumstances. Because, you know, state revenues have leveled off now after years of surpluses during and after the pandemic – surpluses driven in part by federal stimulus money. No surprise there. It's the same experience many other states across the country, red, blue and purple states, including many in New England, are facing. And another factor is because our economy is doing fairly well, we lose a portion of the federal funds that go to health care - Medicaid, specifically.

We saw all of this coming, which is why I urged lawmakers last year to reduce spending and save more than $100 million as well. Unfortunately, that proposal was rejected by the prior Legislature, and additional spending was layered onto the budget. Now there's a budget gap, as many, many states have.

So to balance the budget and to protect the long-term fiscal health of Maine, I'm proposing to make certain changes – primarily within the Department of Health and Human Services, the largest department – to cut costs, primarily for programs that haven't yet begun.

I'm also proposing an update to the excise tax on cigarettes and related tobacco products. You know, cigarettes are a leading cause of cancer, heart disease, and stroke, as we all know. And when more than one-third of Maine cancer deaths each year are attributable to smoking, having the cheapest cigarettes of nearly every state in New England still just doesn't make sense for the State of Maine. It's time to change that. That's why my budget proposal includes a $1 a pack increase to cigarettes, which puts us in the middle of the New England states.

Keep in mind, I'm not proposing – and I do not support – broad-based tax increases, such as to the income tax or sales taxes.

So with this budget proposal, we've taken a balanced approach, one that maintains core programs like education and health care, one that raises revenues in a very targeted way to benefit public health, and one that makes difficult changes to various programs to save money to the taxpayers. There are difficult decisions to be made in the coming weeks and months, and none of this is easy, but I know this new Legislature shares my commitment to enacting a balanced budget that is good for Maine people, and good for the fiscal health of our state. I look forward to working with both parties to achieve just that, as responsible lawmakers offer constructive feedback in the coming months on this detailed document.

This is Governor Janet Mills. And thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting the state; and

WHEREAS, Community Risk Reduction is a proactive and comprehensive approach to identify, assess and mitigate risks such as fires, falls, car accidents and more; and