Press Releases
THE LATEST FROM THE STATE HOUSE REGARDING COVID-19 RESPONSE – May 8
Here’s the latest message sent to Speaker Gideon’s email list: Dear Friend, With consistently lower numbers of new COVID-19 cases being recorded, Maine appears to be successfully flattening the curve. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but we have been able to...
read moreResponding to Constituents during COVID-19
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Update Please note this update was posted May 7, 2020 and is subject to change if there is updated guidance. ATTENTION PUA APPLICANTS: If you received correspondence saying you are “not eligible,” it's okay! That means you are not...
read moreLabor and Housing Committee to Hold Briefing on Maine’s Unemployment Insurance System
AUGUSTA - The Maine Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee will meet next Wednesday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m. The committee has invited Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman for a briefing on the state’s unemployment insurance system. The meeting will be...
read moreGideon, Jackson Urges Changes to PPP to Help Rural Hospitals
Speaker Sara Gideon and Senate President Jackson issued a letter to the United States Small Business Administration urging them make a change to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that would help rural hospitals. Current PPP program guidance makes ineligible for...
read moreResponding to Constituents during COVID-19
Restarting Maine's Economy Please note this update was posted May 1, 2020 and is subject to change if there is updated guidance. The first day of May is here and I was pleased to turn the calendar and look ahead. There is still a lot of uncertainty, but as a State we...
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Pandemic Unemployment Insurance UPDATE Please note this information was posted on April 29, 2020 and is subject to change if there is updated guidance. I'm happy to share that the Maine DOL will begin accepting claims on Friday, May 1 at 8am from self-employed people...
read moreGideon, Jackson, & Bipartisan Group of Legislators Issue Letter to NOAA Regarding Right Whales and Maine’s Lobster Industry
Speaker Sara Gideon, Senate President Jackson, and a bipartisan group of members of the legislature issued a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries regarding Right Whales and the lobster industry in...
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Unemployment Insurance for Self-Employed or Sole-Proprietors Please note this information was posted on April 23, 2020 and is subject to change if there is updated guidance. Our office has heard from so many Mainers that are sole-propietors or self-employed and have...
read moreGideon, Jackson & Bipartisan Group of Legislators Request CARES Act Amendment
Speaker Gideon, Senate President Jackson and a bipartisan group of members of the legislature issued this letter to Maine’s federal delegation asking them to support an amendment to the CARES Act to provide states increased flexibility in the way federal relief...
read moreResponding to Constituents during COVID-19
Federal Economic Impact Payments Please note this information was posted on April 22, 2020 and is subject to change if there is updated guidance. Thousands of Mainers are due to receive a direct payment from the federal government as a result of the Coronavirus Aid,...
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