Sen. Chenette receives perfect score on education record

AUGUSTA — Sen. Justin Chenette, D-Saco earned a 100 percent rating from the Maine Education Association for his voting records on education issues during the second regular session of the 128th Legislature.

The Maine Education Association is an organization representing 24,000 Maine teachers and is dedicated to supporting policies and laws to improve public education.

“Maine’s teachers deserve to have legislators they can count on to support them in Augusta,” said Sen. Chenette. “I am proud of my record supporting teachers and students and will continue to push for the state to fully fund their share of public education, just as voters demanded at the ballot box in 2016.”

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​This year, Sen. Chenette supported two successful bills to protect the health and safety of school children. The first bill, LD 1710, restored state funding for school-based health centers, which the Department of Health and Human Services unexpectedly cut last summer.  The second bill, LD 1858, makes technical changes to the School Revolving Renovation Fund to prioritize essential upgrades for school security systems. Both these bills provide Maine schools with the resources necessary to best meet the needs of their students from funding school safety upgrades to proper physical and mental health care.
 
The senator also fought to protect Maine students and their families from predatory student loan companies, who make it impossible to pay off student debt and get ahead. While LD 1507 initially passed both the House and the Senate, the governor unfortunately vetoed the bill. Another bill that failed to become law because of the governor’s veto was LD 40, to ensure drinking water in all Maine schools is safe from lead and other harmful elements.
 
Sen. Chenette remains committed to fighting for Maine students and teachers in the Legislature.