HOULTON, Maine — Maliseet Tribal Representative Henry J. Bear of Houlton has been appointed by the Speaker of the House, Mark Eves, to serve on the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, giving him an influential voice in a range of areas, from veterans’ programs to campaign practices and financing. Rep. Bear will begin serving on this Joint Standing Committee of the 127th Maine Legislature starting in January 2015.
The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over liquor laws, the Maine State Lottery, games of chance, casino licensing and operations, harness racing, and off-track betting. It also oversees election laws; campaign practices; campaign financing and the Maine Clean Election Act; voter registration; and Maine casino voter initiatives and referenda.
Additionally, it exercises oversight of veterans’ programs; Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management Services; Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations; and the Maine National Guard.
“Having descended from a long line of Maliseet Tribal Veterans these issues are a priority of mine, and I am excited to begin work on a committee that deals with policy affecting all veterans, both State and Tribal,” said Rep. Bear of his appointment. “All Mainers who have served this country deserve recognition and the best possible treatment from this state for their military service. As Penobscot Indian Nation Representative, Wayne Mitchell did as a Member of this same Committee in the last session, I too will be equally committed to ensuring veterans concerns and gaming development opportunities are properly addressed and fairly dealt with, respectively, in the 127th Maine Legislature.”
