News
Women Veterans’ Luncheon set for April 30: RSVP by April 27.
Monday, April 25, 2016 | Category: Advocacy/Outreach - ME
The 1st Annual Women Veterans Luncheon is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016. There is no admission fee. The Women Veteran's Advisory Committee of the American Legion Department of Maine along with Posts 181, 205 and 2 women veterans are hosting the event, which includes refreshments, free giveaways, morning pampering on a first-come, first served basis from 10 a.m. to noon by local professional volunteers providing manicures, haircuts/styles, and mini massages. Lunch is served at noon, followed by guest speakers at 12:30 p.m. RSVP by April 27, 2016 with Deb Couture at 582-3897 or e-mail her at mewomenvets@gmail.com.
Veteran Farmers Re-introduce Rare Pigs to Maine
Monday, April 25, 2016 | Category: Business - ME
Ten veteran-owned farms in Maine now have 50 pigs that were nearly extinct. Mangalista pigs, originally from Hungary, are furry and known to be the Kobe beef of pork.
Pingree Continues to Fight to Protect Survivors of Sexual Assault Who Seek Security Clearance
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - ME
Drafters of the final version of the national security clearance questionnaire apparently considered the Director of National Intelligence's April 2013 changes to Question 21 of the Standard Form 86 as provisional. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) is again asking the Director not to force survivors of sexual assault to disclose whether or not they pursued counseling, just as military personnel counseled for combat-related PTSD have long been exempted.
LePage Signs Bill Designed to Improve Services for Maine Veterans
Friday, April 15, 2016 | Category: State Veteran Affairs - ME
Governor LePage signed into law a bill that provides staffing for the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services and provides state community college and university tuition to members of the Maine National Guard. The new Bureau positions include one position that will be dedicated to improving and coordinating outreach and communication with Maine veterans. The other three will augment the current staff of state Veteran Service Officers. Two will be mobile, bringing services to veterans, and one will also focus on homeless veterans in Maine.
ARCH Program Moves One Step Closer to Being Extended
Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Category: Health Care - ME
The Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program was extended two years by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, successfully advocated for the program's continuance.
Federal Veterans Budget Includes Nearly $7 Million for Portland Clinic
Thursday, April 14, 2016 | Category: Health Care - ME
Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Appropriations Committee, announced that the 2017 fiscal year budget for military construction and veterans affairs included about $7 million to relocate and consolidate the Portland and Saco veterans’ outpatient clinics. Monies would cover a new facility lease, more services, and support a partnership between the VA Maine Healthcare System, Maine Medical Center, and the Tufts University School of Medicine. The bill awaits a final full Senate vote.
Governor Visits Maple Veterans' Sunday
Sunday, April 3, 2016 | Category: Employment - ME
Ireland Hill Farms in Swanville is a veteran-owned business. Jerry Ireland hosted Maple Sunday a week late, celebrating the grand opening of the first store in Maine to sell "Homegrown by Heroes" products with Governor LePage attending in the ribbon cutting ceremony. These products support Maine veteran farmers. They've grown from 20 to 140 participating farms in just the last year.
Maine Lawmakers Forge Deal on Veterans Aid Funding
Friday, April 1, 2016 | Category: Legislation - ME
Bills resulting from a 2015 Commission report garnered bipartisan House support after a short delay. Funding is proposed to come from surplus revenue at the state’s Gambling Control Board.
Bid to Use Liquor Profits to Fund Maine Veterans Programs Stumbles
Wednesday, March 30, 2016 | Category: State Veteran & Military Laws: Non-state Sources - ME
The Maine Bureau of Veterans Services hasn't received substantial funding since before September 11, 2001. Representative Jared Golden's bill "hit a brick wall" in the House of Representatives after more than 90 minutes of debate. The point of contention was centered on funding the legislation’s estimated $600,000 annual price tag. The legislation also provided for free tuition to members of Maine’s National Guard.
Decades Later, Vietnam Veterans Welcomed Home to Maine
Sunday, March 20, 2016 | Category: History/Heritage - ME
In Saco, Maine, hundreds welcomed home Vietnam veterans in advance of the official Vietnam Veterans Day on March 29th.