From Harriet Beecher Stowe and Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby to Frances Perkins and Samantha Smith, Maine women have made an indelible mark on the history of our state, our nation, and our world.

And thanks to astronaut Jessica Meir, we can now say that the impact of Maine women reaches far beyond the planet Earth!

In celebration of these extraordinary women, and all women who have shaped history, I have proclaimed March 2023 as Women’s History Month in Maine.

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

From America’s earliest days, women have played an important role in building our nation and world. But too many women – and their contributions – have been overlooked by our history books.

Women’s History Month encourages the study and celebration of the countless women who have played an important role in American history. And there is no shortage of trailblazing, history-making women who have called Maine their home.

Women like author and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, who helped Americans understand the horrors of slavery through her book Uncle Tom’s Cabin, written at her home in Brunswick.

Women like Frances Perkins, America’s longest-serving Secretary of Labor and the first woman to serve in the president’s cabinet. Perkins was a major force behind President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” that helped to pull our nation out of the Great Depression.

Women like Samantha Smith, a young student from Manchester, Maine, who became known as a “goodwill ambassador” around the world for her efforts to promote peace during the Cold War.

Women like Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby from Phillips—back in 1897, she became the first Registered Maine Guide.

Women like Olympic gold medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first woman’s marathon winner at the Olympics, and a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon.

Women like Margaret Chase Smith – the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress and the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major political party convention. 

Women like Olympia Snowe, first woman in history to serve in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of Congress – not to mention a former first lady of Maine.

Women like Libby Mitchell, first woman to serve as both Speaker of the House of Representatives in Maine, and later, President of the Maine Senate.

Well, Maine women haven’t just made history – they’re making history now.

In 2019, Jessica Meir from Caribou became the first Maine woman to visit space – some say she may someday be the first woman to set foot on the moon.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, also from Caribou, recently became the longest serving Republican woman in the U.S. Senate. Serving alongside Congresswoman Pingree, women currently make up half of Maine’s Congressional Delegation.

In 2022, Brigadier General Diane Dunn retired after serving as the first woman general in the 200-year history of the Maine Army National Guard.

Last fall, Rachel Talbot Ross of Portland became the fourth woman – and first African American – to be elected Speaker of the Maine House. She is one of seven women – Republicans and Democrats -- currently serving in leadership roles in the Legislature. In the Senate, that includes Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, Assistant Majority Leader Mattie Daughtry, and Assistant Minority Leader Lisa Keim. In the House, Majority Leader Maureen Terry, Assistant Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier, and Assistant Minority Leader Amy Arata.

And more than half of my cabinet is made up of accomplished women – nine commissioners who help oversee everything from public health and the environment to education and economic development. Nine out of fifteen – highest number ever women in the cabinet.

Well, I’ve been honored to have made history myself, as the first woman to be elected District Attorney in New England, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Attorney General, and the first woman to be elected – and now re-elected – Governor of Maine.

But I am confident that someday I’ll be remembered not as the “first,” but rather, as the “first of many.”

Maine women fill our history books. But every day, women across our state are making history without accolades or big titles. Some may be the first in their family to go to college or the first to be promoted to some role at work, the first to pick up a welding tool and become a welder, an electrician, or a contractor. But no matter how they make their mark on the world, the contributions of Maine women to our state, nation, and world are extraordinary. 

This month, and every month, I hope you’ll take time to learn more about women who have made some history – and continue to make – history here and around the world.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the social work profession is dedicated to enhancing the lives and well-being of all people, including the most vulnerable among us; and

WHEREAS, this year's Social Work Month theme – "Social Work Breaks Barriers" – celebrates the tireless work of social workers to break down barriers that prevent people, families and communities from thriving; and

WHEREAS, Maine's agriculture community has been a cornerstone of our great state since its founding; and

WHEREAS, Maine’s agriculture sector fuels the state's economy, annually contributing an estimated $3.9 billion, and employing tens of thousands of people with over 1 million acres in agricultural use; and

WHEREAS, Maine's agricultural community has worked tirelessly to build a vibrant local food system that ensures the availability of Maine farm products year-round; and

Earlier this year, the Maine Legislature passed, and I signed into law, an Emergency Winter Energy Relief Plan to help Maine families stay safe and warm this winter.

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

The cornerstone of this plan was assistance in the form of $450 checks issued to most Maine taxpayers – more than 800,000 of them – a small but meaningful measure of relief to help ease the burden of increased energy costs.

I am proud to report that my administration has now finished mailing those checks to all eligible taxpayers and did so ahead of schedule.

Maine, as you know, is the single most heating oil-dependent state in the nation. Our over-reliance on costly fossil fuels means that Maine people are especially vulnerable to price increases driven by the global energy market.

While we may be a long way from Europe, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine has upended energy prices around the world, including right here in Maine.

In a state known for long, cold winters, price spikes have forced too many people in Maine to be faced with the choice between heating their homes or paying for other necessities.

Last fall, it was clear that many Maine people would need help this winter – and they would need it fast. That’s why I proposed an Emergency Winter Energy Relief Plan to provide direct assistance as quickly as possible.

In January, the legislature passed my measure with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation provided $450 in relief checks to most Maine people, equating to about $900 for the average Maine family.

The final legislation also included more home heating assistance for low-income consumers, and emergency fuel assistance to keep families from running out of fuel, and short-term emergency housing to address homelessness during the winter months.

Printing and distributing more than 800,000 checks takes some time – but my administration immediately hit the ground running after I signed the bill into law.

We set a goal of getting all payments out by the end of March. Well, I’m pleased to say that last week, my administration announced that it had completed processing and mailing payments to 876,176 eligible Maine taxpayers ahead of schedule.

If you believe that you are eligible for a winter energy relief payment and did not receive one, please visit Maine.gov/Governor/Mills/EnergyRelief. That’s Maine.Gov/Governor/Mills/EnergyRelief.

I really hope that this one-time relief will provide some assistance to Maine people as cold temperatures linger.

In the months and years ahead, I look forward to continuing to work with this Legislature to pursue policies that will bring down energy costs in the long run, including making sure we weatherize our homes and businesses, making more efficient heating and cooling technologies available, and diversifying our energy sources with clean, renewable energy in order to lower the price of electricity.

Monday is the first day of spring. Here’s hoping that snow and mud season will soon give way to warmer weather!

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

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has long been a haven for writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, poets, dancers, folk artists, culinary artists, and creative thinkers of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, Maine enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality, quantity, and variety of its cultural community; and

WHEREAS, Maine features a broad and significant array of historic and architecturally significant structures; and

WHEREAS, on July 26, 1819, the citizens of Maine voted decisively in support of Maine separating from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and becoming an independent state; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress received Maine’s petition for statehood and voted affirmatively to accept Maine as the 23rd State of the United States; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Secretary of State James Monroe notified Maine that it would formally and legally be an independent state beginning on March 15, 1820; and

WHEREAS, Maine law states that an employer may not discriminate between employees in the same establishment on the basis of sex by paying wages to any employee in any occupation in this State at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays any employee of the opposite sex for comparable work on jobs that have comparable requirements relating to skill, effort and responsibility; and

WHEREAS, wage inequality remains an ongoing issue though requirements regarding equal pay have been a part of Maine law since 1949; and

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

You know, located just across from the Maine State House, the Blaine House – where I spend most of my weekdays – has been home to every Governor of Maine since Carl Milliken and his family moved in back in January 1920.

The Blaine House grounds have also long been home to a large old maple tree in the front yard, a tree that Maine’s governors have tapped each spring for sap that can be boiled into delicious maple syrup.

This past Monday, with the help of Maine Maple Producers Association President Lyle Merrifield and with students from Westbrook’s Congin Elementary School watching, I was proud to once again tap the Blaine House maple tree and kick off Maine’s maple season.

Maine is home to 520 producers licensed to sell maple products who produce more than 575,000 gallons of syrup every year. That makes our state the third largest producer of maple syrup in the country. Producing and selling maple syrup generates more than $55.6 million in economic activity and supports more than 800 full-time and part-time jobs every year. And if you’ve ever been to a sap house, you know how hard and fast those people work.

So, just two weekends from now – March 25th and 26th – sugar shacks across our state will open their doors for one of my favorite Maine traditions: the 40^th annual Maine Maple Sunday weekend.

This year, more than 100 locations across Maine will host Maple Sunday Weekend events showcasing a wide variety of syrups and sweets. Maple producers across our state will host free family events where visitors learn all about maple syrup and how it’s made.

Events this year include boiling demonstrations, sugar woods tours, live music, horse-drawn hayrides, maple products for sale – not to mention pancake breakfasts, maple donuts, and plenty of maple products to sample.

Whether you prefer dark and rich or pale gold and delicate flavors, there’s a syrup for everyone’s taste.

I hope you’ll join me in visiting one of our extraordinary sugarhouses later this month during Maine Maple Sunday weekend. A full list of Maine Maple Producers can be found online at MaineMapleProducers.com. That’s MaineMapleProducers.com

Since 2015, Maple Syrup has been Maine’s “official state sweetener.” Whether you use your Maine maple syrup on pancakes or waffles, on carrots or Brussel sprouts, or on traditional maple snow candy – Maine maple syrup always makes life a little bit sweeter.

This is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening, and don’t forget to turn your clock ahead this weekend.

WHEREAS, women of every race, ethnicity, class, religion, and age have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our state and our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways; and

WHEREAS, women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of the life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force both inside and outside of the home; and

Every day, I hear about workforce challenges and needs from all across the state.

We all know that Maine desperately needs more electricians, plumbers, welders, and other skilled workers as well as teachers, and law enforcement, and firefighters, and so much more – and health care workers.

But this week, I announced that my administration is investing in four of our Career and Technical Education Centers to help prepare students for lifelong, rewarding careers in the trades.

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

I have always been a strong believer in the power of Career and Technical Education – or CTE, for short. These programs equip Maine high school students with the skills and hands-on experiences to prepare them for good-paying jobs.

That’s why when I was Attorney General, I funded new plumbing programs at four different schools using settlement funds from a settlement with Bath Fitter corporation.

Maine’s 27 CTE regions and centers – which can be accessed by all Maine high school students– enroll more than 9,800 students in 85 different programs ranging from plumbing and welding to early childhood education and health care. 

Students in these programs can earn industry accreditation, and/or college credits while earning their high school diploma, preparing them to graduate already ready enter the workforce or move on to higher education.

But despite the transformative role that CTE programs can play in the lives of Maine’s young people, and in building a skilled workforce to strengthen our economy, for decades our state has not done nearly enough to invest in modernizing or expanding this effective model of education – including investing in equipment.

We see the effects of that today, as Maine faces a severe shortage of workers and skilled tradespeople. 

So, two years ago I proposed to invest $20 million from my Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan – that is federal funds – into Maine’s CTEs to enhance and expand programs and to upgrade equipment and facilities so more young people can benefit from these programs.

On Monday, I announced that my administration is awarding $15 million of those funds to four different Maine CTEs so they can expand real-word programs for Maine students in plumbing, electrical, building construction, culinary, hospitality, welding, emergency medical techs and other health care occupations, and much more.

For instance, this investment will allow the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology to build a two-story addition to the existing high school to expand its plumbing and EMT programs, and to create new programs in culinary arts and hospitality and athletic training.

These funds will also enable Northern Penobscot Tech Region III in Lincoln, Maine to build an addition in order to add five welding booth ventilators, ten welding booths, and ten welders.

Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico will be able to expand and enhance its CTE facilities – including new classroom space for its welding program, constructing a new greenhouse, a store, outdoor kitchen, and classroom for its culinary arts program.

And this investment will allow Oxford Hills Technical School in Norway to construct a new free-standing building to expand their plumbing, electrician, and building construction training programs.

On Monday, I visited Oxford Hills Technical School, where I met a young man named Conner Cram, a third-year student in the school’s plumbing program. In addition to his time in the classroom, Conner is gaining real-world experience, working with a local plumber while going to school. When Conner graduates, he’ll have the training and experience necessary to enter the workforce right away. The investment I announced this week will give more Maine students the opportunity to have this valuable training and experience.

Since I took office, CTE enrollment has grown by nearly 11 percent, with an almost 300 percent increase in the exploratory programs that allow freshmen and sophomores to a number of different CTE programs. Exposing students to career opportunities at an early age is important, so I’ve included $500,000 in my biennial budget to fund CTE programming for middle school students as well.

CTE programs work. Let’s continue to invest in them, and in our students, and in strengthening our workforce.

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