AUGUSTA - Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, joined climate leaders from across the nation at the first-ever White House Summit on Building Climate Resilient Communities on Thursday, September 28. Rielly sponsored legislation to create the Maine Climate Corps, a new program focused on achieving Maine's climate goals while offering participants opportunities for professional growth, and was invited to speak to the program and its anticipated impacts on addressing future climate challenges.
During the summit, the Biden administration announced the launch of the American Climate Corps. The announcement highlighted Maine Climate Corps as a strong example and model for this new federal program.
"I was honored to discuss the Maine Climate Corps, a program I sponsored that is working to protect our natural resources and address our climate concerns, at the inaugural White House Summit on Building Climate Resilient Communities," said Rielly. "The Maine Climate Corps will play a key role in aiding small communities in resilience planning and emergency management while helping to fill gaps in staffing. From community outreach and education to conducting community surveys and gathering data, Maine Climate Corps members will be key players in helping to address the challenges that await us."
Although the Maine Climate Corps was signed into law in 2021, the program lacks sustainable funding, which Rielly hopes to achieve with passage of his legislation to direct state funds to support the program.
"If we want to address our most pressing climate-related concerns, Maine communities need easy access to financial assistance," said Rielly. "Often, the ability to provide a significant state or federal financial match is not possible, and many municipalities are not staffed to manage or initiate preparedness and mitigation efforts at a time when it is greatly needed. I look forward to working with the Biden administration and Maine legislators to find funding that will continue the good work of the Maine Climate Corps for years to come."
Rielly is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. He represents House District 127, which includes a portion of Westbrook.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Rielly], 305-965-2744
Photo: Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, poses for a photo while attending the first-ever White House Summit on Building Climate Resilient Communities.