AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the Legislative Council voted to advance an emergency bill from Rep. Holly Stover, D-Boothbay, that would protect Maine’s fisheries and economy by providing funding to replace the Maine Sea Grant, which was abruptly terminated by the Trump administration in February.
“The Maine Sea Grant has served as a crucial investment in our coastal communities for more than a half century,” said Stover. “It is baffling and frankly indefensible that the federal government would suddenly roll back this funding without any warning or valid explanation. My bill will protect our fishermen, their families and communities, and our economy statewide while we work to restore the Maine Sea Grant.”
The University of Maine received notice on Feb. 28 that the Maine Sea Grant would be terminated effective immediately. The Maine Sea Grant is one of 34 such programs in coastal and Great Lakes states administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. No other sea grant appears to have been terminated by the federal government. Despite later assurances that the program would be “renegotiated,” the administration has not reversed its decision or restored the lost funding.
Stover’s proposal would transfer up to $3 million from the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund to replace the lost federal funding over the next two years. If the grants are restored, the funding would be returned to the Rainy Day Fund.
According to the University of Maine, the Maine Sea Grant generates $15 in activity for every federal dollar invested. The total economic impact in Maine is $23.5 million annually. The federal and matching funds also directly support statewide research and salaries for 20 university employees both on the Orono campus and in Maine’s coastal communities.
The bill now faces consideration by the full Legislature.
Stover is serving her fourth term in the Maine House and represents Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, South Bristol, Southport and Westport Island. She is a member of the Legislature’s budget-writing Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Stover) | 305-965-2744