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

Well, earlier this week, I was proud to sign a proclamation officially commemorating the 90th Anniversary of Social Security in our country. You know, the Social Security Act was based on a simple promise: working people who paid into the program would receive their wages back in the form of retirement benefits. Congress has amended the Social Security Act time and again to honor that promise, including the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act.

For years, I've been proud to stand by your side in calling for Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset —  those laws, which prevented public service employees from receiving their full Social Security benefits — and the need to right this wrong.

For decades, bipartisan members of Maine's Congressional Delegation have pushed strongly to get this legislation across the finish line. Finally, on January 5 of this year, President Biden signed it into law — the law restoring full benefits to about 25,000 public service workers in the State of Maine and their survivors.

One retired state employee named Penny estimated that she and her husband, who was a firefighter, were losing about $1,200 dollars a month in Social Security benefits before the Social Security Fairness Act was passed. It's not fair, and I'm glad that it's finally been fixed.

There are many people like Penny in our state who rely on Social Security for financial stability in their retirement. Maine is the oldest and most rural state in the nation. Nearly 370,000 people in our state collect Social Security benefits of one sort or another. That includes seniors, and people with disabilities, and families who are navigating the loss of a loved one. Many of them are in rural communities: 43 percent of households in Aroostook, 45 percent of households in Washington County, 43 percent of households in Piscataquis, and 35 percent of households in Androscoggin County have someone in the household who's receiving Social Security benefits.

The financial stability of many people in Maine depends on Social Security. But the current administration in Washington, D.C., has created deep uncertainty about its future.

For months, Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or "DOGE," was given free reign over sensitive government agencies, including Social Security. They threatened to slash Social Security staff by the thousands, reduce services available over the phone, and close field offices that serve our rural areas.

Adding to that chaos, there have been five different people heading up the Social Security Administration just over the last ten months, including some people who recklessly rolled out and then rolled back administrative changes that left citizens confused and waiting for help.

Maine people frustrated with waiting on the phone might choose to drive for hours to a Social Security office in person, only to wind up waiting in line for hours there anyway. One claims representative recently said that the wait time at her office in Auburn has gone from 16 minutes to an hour and a half.

Older people in Maine should not be afraid of losing their Social Security benefits or be in the dark about changes. They also shouldn't have to worry about their Medicare benefits, but I'll tell you, the reconciliation bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Trump, creates a huge deficit in the federal budget that may well require across the board cuts in the federal budget, including Medicare, unless Congress acts. It's a completely unnecessary scare that older people relying on Social Security and Medicare shouldn't have to face.

Maine people have earned these benefits. The federal government should stand by its commitment to them.

So, as we reflect on the 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act – and think about our heroine, Frances Perkins, who helped FDR draft and enact this important measure – I urge the administration in Washington, D.C., to restore stability to the Social Security Administration and to recommit to the promise of Social Security for the everlasting benefit of all Americans.

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

WHEREAS, disasters and emergencies can strike at any time, posing significant risks to the safety, health, and welfare of all those living in Maine; and

WHEREAS, emergency preparedness in Maine is a coordinated effort among multiple levels of government and non-profit organizations, including the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), County Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs), local emergency managers, and community stakeholders who all work together through a collaborative approach to prioritize preparedness across the state; and

WHEREAS, August 14, 2025, marks the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, signed into law in 1935, establishing one of the most enduring institutions in American history; and

WHEREAS, Social Security has become the foundation of economic security for generations of Maine people, helping individuals live better, more secure and enjoyable lives in retirement with dignity and independence in their later years; and

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

My grandparents on my mother's side were born and raised in Ashland, up in the County. They raised their three children there, and they lived their entire lives in that small town. They were potato farmers during some of the most difficult times of the last century, during the Great Depression, and at a time when government mandated surpluses drove prices down and many potato farms failed.

I spent nearly all my summers and school vacations in Ashland as a youngster, hanging out with my grandparents. On Sundays after church, we would take a drive up to Portage Lake to fish or swim, or drive up the Realty Road to Garfield Plantation, where the older folks would listen to Guy Lombardo on the car radio and look down at the wide, fertile fields below. So, it was a privilege to be in the County recently, and remember my roots, and march in the parade of the Potato Blossom Festival, and to recognize the people who have continued farming potatoes there, who have made it into a $1.3 billion industry in Maine.

I'm so proud of the work we've done these past six-and-a-half years to sustain and strengthen the industry for these families, and for generations to come. In my first year in office, for instance, with the support of the Legislature, we created a major tax credit to encourage Maine-based food processing facilities to expand and to generate economic growth. This year, again with the support of the Legislature, I was proud to sign into law L.D. 1951, which expands those tax credits for the benefit of several businesses in the County, in particular. This more generous tax incentive program will certainly benefit the McCrum processing facility in Washburn, Maine, which currently employs 145 people.

Our first tax incentive program helped the McCrums hire about 90 more employees based in the State of Maine. Our expanded bill will also benefit the Taste of Maine Potato Chip Company, which is building a new factory at the Loring Commerce Centre in Limestone – the largest economic investment at Loring in more than a decade. When that project is completed in 2026, it is expected to create 100 good-paying jobs. I'm proud to support the continued success of the McCrum family, which represents six generations of potato farmers and other companies and families who are truly the cornerstones of the potato industry in Maine.

While in the County, I was also proud to attend a ribbon cutting on the newly renovated Aroostook Farm in Presque Isle, which is run by the University of Maine. With $3 million in federal funds from my Jobs and Recovery Plan, the university has transformed an old storage facility into an advanced research lab with tools like drones that fly over the farm collecting detailed data. Agriculture students now can better determine which potato varieties are the most resistant to weather, and pests, and disease.

Boy, my grandparents would be excited to learn of the progress being made in the County. The tools we have today are building on the legacy and the labor of our past. The legacy of hard working families like the Flewellings, the McCrums, the Smiths, whose innovation and ingenuity built the potato industry from the ground up. By combining the grit of previous generations with tax incentives and research technology, and the dogged persistence and patience of potato farmers in the county, we're going to make sure that that iconic industry and the families who are at its very heart, will endure for years to come.

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

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

Over the past six-and-a-half years, my administration has invested in Maine people, in public education, and in our economy. We've produced responsible, balanced state budgets – all without raising broad-based taxes. Despite periods of national economic uncertainty, including a worldwide pandemic, international credit rating agencies have reaffirmed the State of Maine's financial stability, ever since I've taken office, improving our ratings over the previous eight years.

Just recently, Fitch Ratings upgraded its bond rating for the State of Maine to AA+, the second-highest rating they issue. Fitch applauded our "proven ability to maintain significantly improved dedicated operating reserves through a challenging budget cycle." Put another way, Fitch is confident that we can weather an economic downturn with the reserves we have on hand, including the Budget Stabilization or "Rainy Day" Fund, which we have increased to a record high of more than $1 billion, the maximum allowed in state law reserved for rainy days.

Moody's and S&P, the two other leading credit agencies, also recently confirmed our ratings. Moody's reaffirmed its rating of Aa1 for Maine, their second-highest possible rating, and S&P also reaffirmed its AA rating for Maine. Fitch and Moody's both upgraded our rating after it had been downgraded under the prior administration. These improved ratings mean that Maine is a better investment for people, that Maine can borrow money, if it wishes, at a better interest rate. We are healthy financially, economically.

The Department of Administrative and Financial Services also reported that the State of Maine ended the 2025 fiscal year recently, with more than $150 million General Fund surplus, which has now been allocated, according to law, to fix roads and bridges and help pay for health care.

This significant ratings upgrade from Fitch, combined with our healthy reserves, shows the strength of Maine's financial picture as we face financial headwinds from Washington. I look forward to maintaining the progress we've made for Maine people, continuing to balance our budget, provide economic stability – again without increasing broad-based taxes.

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

WHEREAS, the State of Maine is committed to providing the best opportunities for success for those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 created tax-advantaged savings, spending, and investment accounts that allow eligible people with disabilities to save money, build assets, and financially plan for their future while protecting their eligibility for benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, for nearly 60 years, Maine’s community health centers have provided high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive health care in our rural and underserved communities; and

WHEREAS, today, Maine’s community health centers serve over 200,000 Maine people; and

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

You know, the know, the last seven years of his life, my husband was so proud to be coaching tennis at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. He would come home and talk about the building self-esteem he saw in those kids eyes, proud to be part of this community. Sports, he knew, represents a language that doesn't really know any boundaries. It's a universally understood celebration of competition, good sportsmanship, and different communities coming together for a game.

As James Earl Jones' character, Terance Mann, said in the movie Field of Dreams, people will "walk out to the bleachers and sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters."

The Hearts of Pine club have brought some of that magic to Maine in their wildly successful first year as a professional soccer team. The product of hard work by people like team owner and Lewiston native Tom Caron and founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, as well as players like Titus Washington, Ollie Wright, and Hunter Morse -- Brick wall in goal -- the Hearts of Pine have led the league in attendance this season, rising to 8th in the United Soccer League standings, and selling out game after game.

When I was at a Hearts of Pine game last month, I ran into Gabe Hoffman-Johnson. I told him that I was going to Nova Scotia soon to meet with Premier Houston to reaffirm our close partnership, despite the president's harsh rhetoric and harmful tariffs coming from Washington -- things that were discouraging Canadians from visiting Maine. Gabe said he'd love to issue a challenge to the Premier to have the Halifax Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League come to Portland to play an international "friendly" match with the Hearts of Pine. Gabe knows, as I do, that soccer is not just about sports -- it's about community and relationship building.

Well, after meeting with Premier Houston and talking with him about international trade, and tourism, and fisheries, I gave him a Hearts of Pine Jersey and I laid down the gauntlet -- would the Halifax Wanderers play the Hearts of Pine in Portland, Maine? I was delighted a few days later when he accepted the challenge.

This historic match, which will be held on August 6th at Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium, promises to be an exciting one. While it won't solve all of our tourism and trade challenges, it will be another opportunity to strengthen the bonds between Canada and Maine that are so important to our enduring friendship, our historical cultures, and our economy.

This may be a "friendly" match, but I know that the Hearts of Pine will bring the same heart and soul that they've brought to every game to date this season. Like most Maine people, I am very proud of this team and I look forward to watching the match.

To learn more about the match on August 6, visit the Hearts of Pine website at heartsofpine.com.

Maine now boasts a professional basketball team, professional baseball, professional hockey, and professional soccer team. We have it all! In the pouring rain or on a perfect afternoon, with good food and good company, people of all ages can cheer on their heroes, inspired by the enthusiasm of players in Maine.

I look forward to seeing you at a game someday soon, side by side with your family and mine.

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

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening. I hope everyone's enjoying a great summer in the State of Maine.

Well, recently I was proud to proclaim August 2-3, 2025 as Maine's Fifth Annual Wild Blueberry Weekend to celebrate our wild blueberries, and in honor of the hardworking people who grow, and rake, and process, and market, and bring Maine wild blueberries to markets near and far.

Maine produces nearly 100% of all wild blueberries in the United States. Last year alone, Maine farmers harvested 88 million pounds of wild blueberries--and we know that these are healthy, they have more antioxidants, and they're tastier and juicier than any other kind of blueberry in the world.

Well, to honor our wild blueberry growers and businesses and their significant contributions to the Maine economy, I declared our first-ever Wild Blueberry Weekend In 2021. Wild blueberry growers opened their doors for free for the first time that year, and they made available fresh, wild blueberries and jams and pies and other products available for guests to purchase.

We have 512 farms in Maine that grow blueberries, and 46,370 acres in Maine are blueberry barrens. The Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine has reported that there were thousands of dollars in direct farm sales when they first opened those farms for visits, and thousands of visitors who enjoyed touring the places where wild blueberries grow, maybe picking a few of their own, like I did recently.

This year, the Fifth Annual Wild Blueberry Weekend will feature farm tours and other family-friendly activities at 16 different wild blueberry farms in Franklin, Hancock, Cumberland, Lincoln, Kennebec, Knox, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington Counties, and wild blueberry-themed menu items and products will be available throughout that weekend at restaurants, ice cream shops, breweries, wineries, and distilleries all across the state.

To see the full list of participants, visitwww.WildBlueberryWeekend.com. Or go to the state's official agriculture website, www.RealMaine.com, for ideas on how you can support all of Maine's agricultural community all year long.

I encourage everyone to visit one of the participating wild blueberry farms on August 2or 3, and sample Maine-grown wild blueberry products at the many places selling them during that Wild Blueberry Weekend coming up. This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the residents of Maine value safe and healthy workplaces for all of our citizens; and

WHEREAS, the majority of workplace injuries and fatalities are preventable, however more than 5,000 U.S. workers die each year from job-related injuries, and millions more suffer occupational injuries and illnesses; and

WHEREAS, in 2024, at least 20 Maine workers died while either on the job, traveling to or from the job, or as a result of an injury or illness connected to their work; and