Press Releases

Today, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) visited Kennebunk and Wells to highlight how the American Rescue Plan is helping Maine address impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meeting with bus drivers in Kennebunk, Secretary Cardona and Pingree discussed how the historic American Rescue Plan, which Pingree voted to pass in March 2021, helps address the nationwide driver shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Wells, Secretary Cardona and Pingree toured York County Community College (YCCC) and held a roundtable discussion with students and faculty about how higher education institutions create good career pathways. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic caused a nationwide school bus driver shortage, presenting even more challenges for kids returning to classroom. In Kennebunk, we heard directly from school bus drivers about the unique challenges they have faced over the past two years and how the incentives created by the American Rescue Plan have helped with recruiting and retaining drivers,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “We also saw up-close how the significant in higher education investments made by the Biden-Harris Administration are supporting Maine students. York County Community College is a perfect example of how the COVID relief passed by Democrats in Congress has helped campuses create the conditions for students to safely complete their degrees. Every day I am proud to have supported the American Rescue Plan, because funding made possible through this historic legislation is helping get Maine back on track, and delivering urgent support and resources for Maine educators, students, and families.”

By funding the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, the American Rescue Plan gives states the ability to leverage drivers by offering hiring bonuses and increasing wages. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Education have given states the option of waiving the portion of the commercial driver’s license (CDL) skills test that requires applicants to identify the “under the hood” engine components.

Pingree and members of the Maine Delegation wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in January 2022 urging the administration to waive or delay CDL requirements to quickly fill open bus driving jobs.

In March 2021, Maine colleges and universities received $105 million in emergency funding through the American Rescue Plan, including $2.4 million for YCCC. Over the past year, Maine received a total of nearly $125 million for 32 colleges and universities, including $35 million for community colleges, through the American Rescue Plan-funded Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. 

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