Last week the full Legislature came together at the Augusta Civic Center to swear in the new members of the 130th Legislature. I am thrilled to be able to continue my work to represent Gorham and am deeply grateful to all the folks involved in making sure we can do so safely.
Normally we would meet in the State House, which has served as the home of Maine’s Legislature since the first Legislative session was convened on January 4, 1832. It is odd not conducting our business there this year, but far more important than where we legislate, is for whom and how.
I am dedicated to continuing to support you in Augusta this session. We have a lot of work to do to overcome many of the challenges posed by the coronavirus and to address issues that existed before the pandemic hit.
Months of preparation and collaboration among our non-partisan staff and the folks at the Civic Center resulted in changes to our physical space and operating procedures. Some of these measures include universal masking, distancing, maximum room capacity limits, pre-entry COVID-19 screening practices, and staggered arrival times. These steps are crucial to ensure we can continue to serve you in the safest way possible.
Swearing-in day was also marked by some other noteworthy firsts. This year, we elected our nation’s youngest Speaker of the House, Rep. Ryan Fecteau; the first person of color in leadership, Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross; and the first woman to serve as Maine’s Secretary of State, Secretary, Shenna Bellows. With such a strong leadership team in the Legislature and throughout the Constitutional offices, I am confident in our ability to pass meaningful and carefully crafted legislation and to continue to make our state government work for you.
Moving forward, I am eager to start working on legislation that supports Maine’s economic recovery. This is essential, even as we continue to see COVID-19 cases and death counts rise. Balancing these interests is difficult but possible. Just last week Governor Janet Mills and the Maine Climate Council released their four-year climate action plan titled “Maine Won’t Wait.” This plan is crucial in solving some of our state’s pressing economic concerns in light of the COVID-19 health crisis, but also importantly addresses another major crisis: climate change. The climate crisis can feel less urgent than COVID-19 to some, but here in the Northeast where many of our livelihoods are connected to our natural environment, we must take this issue seriously.
In recent years Maine has experienced unseasonably warm weather which has contributed to increases in flooding, the presence of more ticks, mosquitos and other harmful insects and a reduction of our lobster harvest. “Maine Won’t Wait” helps address these issues and others by embracing a new, more electric transportation future, modernizing Maine’s buildings with initiatives that encourage installation of heat pumps and other energy and cost efficient heating systems, growing Maine’s clean-energy economy and protecting our natural-resources.
The pandemic has taught us that preparation can mean the difference between life and death. We must be prepared for the hurdles around the corner even as we deal with the challenges immediately in front of us. It is our job as your representatives to be forward thinking and to set our communities up for success. This plan will be a big part of that work. While we may be meeting more remotely and in different spaces this session than in years past, my dedication to serving you and our community is unwavering.
As we embark on the 130th Legislative session, I want to hear from you about your concerns, hopes and expectations, so please reach out! It is an honor to continue to serve you.
Rep. Maureen “Mo” Terry, D-Gorham, is serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a chef and small business owner with more than 25 years of experience in the food service industry. Contact her at maureen.terry@legislature.maine.gov.