The recent legal challenges surrounding the abortion medication mifepristone have cast a shadow over reproductive rights, not just in Maine, but across the country. While the legal battles continue, it is crucial to recognize what this means for the people of Maine and how we can continue to fight for our reproductive rights. I am committed to ensuring that the people of Maine have access to health care services, including reproductive health care.

We must continue to support organizations that provide these essential health care services in Maine, such as Planned Parenthood and Maine Family Planning. They have been on the frontlines of this fight, ensuring that patients have access to the care they need, regardless of the challenges they face. By supporting these organizations, we can help maintain continued access to reproductive health care and show that we stand together in the face of adversity.

Another issue on the top of my mind is our lack of affordable housing. I introduced two bills this week, LD 1276 and LD 724, which I believe will help our communities in this regard. We have numerous manufactured housing parks home to many residents, including young families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Because of this, stabilizing affordability is crucial. LD 1276 helps protect these communities by incentivizing the sale of housing parks and apartment buildings to resident-owned cooperatives, which can prevent sharp rent increases or redevelopment when large, out-of-state companies buy these communities. Studies and local recent history show resident-owned communities have a higher quality of life for their residents, especially in comparison to housing owned by large management companies.

LD 724, “An Act to Expand Workforce Housing in Rural Maine by Funding the Maine State Housing Authority's Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program,” would do exactly as the title says. I want to provide funding for the next two fiscal years to the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program, which is within the Maine State Housing Authority. This program has already demonstrated how effective it can be at supporting the development of smaller, affordable rental housing projects in rural areas where traditional Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects are not feasible.

All Mainers deserve the opportunity to live in safe, affordable homes, and our communities deserve the chance to grow and prosper. Our rural towns need workforce housing just as much as the larger towns and cities in this state.

Before I close, I want to mention the possible apartments and counseling center at St. Phillips Church on Hodge Street. As a result of funding provided in LD 3, which we passed earlier this year, MaineHousing has awarded a grant to Amistad for this project. I’ve been getting lots of questions and feedback about this, so I am looking into it further. If you would like to contact Amistad directly, you can email info@amistadmaine.org. 

If you or someone you know needs assistance, wants to discuss legislation, or needs help connecting with a state agency, please don’t hesitate to reach out. My email is Cameron.Reny@legislature.maine.gov, the Senate office phone number is 207-287-1515, and my cell is 207-400-9910. Also, you can find me on Facebook at facebook.com/SenatorCameronReny. To receive updates, sign up for my e-newsletter at mainesenate.org.