,,iii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #eda  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,march    
#aa1 #bjbj,ms4 ,collins 7for herself and
 ,mr4 ,king7 submitted the following    
resolution2 which was considered and    
agreed to  ,,resolution  ,recognizing   
and celebrating the #bjjth anniversary  
of the entry of ,maine into the ,union  
as the #bc;d ,state4  ,whereas the place
 now known as ,maine is ,wabanaki       
,homeland and is home to vibrant        
indigenous cultures and communities2    
,whereas ,maine was a district of       
,massachusetts1 #a of the #ac original  
colonies of the ,united ,states2        
,whereas1 by #ahbj1 people living in    
,maine had built a thriving economy that
 included farming1 forestry1 fishing1   
and shipbuilding industries2 ,whereas1  
in ,march #ahbj1 ,congress and          
,president ,james ,monroe approved the  
,missouri ,compromise1 authorizing the  
establishment of the ,state of ,maine   
and making ,maine the #bc;d ,state of   

the ,united ,states2 ,whereas ,maine is 
characterized by hardworking1           
altruistic1 and independent people and a
 strong community spirit2 ,whereas the  
,state motto of ,maine1 ,dirigo1 ,latin 
for ,i lead1 reflects the trailblazing  
nature of ,maine and the #a1cjj1jjj     
inhabitants of ,maine2 ,whereas ,maine  
has #a of the highest numbers of        
veterans per capita in the ,united      
,states1 and is the home of ,togus1 the 
first veterans hospital in the ,united  
,states2 ,whereas ,maine contributes    
greatly to national defense through the 
,portsmouth ,naval ,shipyard1 ,bath     
,iron ,works1 ,pratt  ,whitney1 and     
numerous other suppliers and            
installations whose skilled employees   
are a vital asset to the ,united        
,states2 ,whereas distinguished         
statesmen from ,maine include ,william  
,king1 ,joshua ,chamberlain1 ,hannibal  
,hamlin1 ,margaret ,chase ,smith1 and   
,edmund ,muskie2 ,whereas ,maine is     
known as ,the ,pine ,tree ,state and    

,vacationland for the extensive forests 
and spectacular scenery that draw       
millions of visitors to ,maine every    
year2 ,whereas the majestic beauty of   
,mount ,katahdin1 #a of the highest     
peaks in ,new ,england and the northern 
terminus of the ,appalachian ,trail1 and
 other unspoiled natural treasures      
beckon outdoor enthusiasts2 ,whereas the
 rugged coastline and vibrant fall      
foliage of ,maine are showcased in      
particular splendor in ,acadia ,national
 ,park1 #a of the #aj most visited      
national parks in the ,united ,states2  
,whereas the pristine ,atlantic waters  
off the coast of ,maine support         
fishermen and women and the iconic      
lobster industry1 which is the most     
valuable fishery in the ,united ,states 
and is known worldwide as a standard of 
seafood excellence2 ,whereas ,maine is  
the most forested ,state in the ,united 
,states1 with a long history of pulp and
 paper production and an exciting recent
 turn toward innovation and             

diversification of forest products2     
,whereas the fertile soils of ,maine    
have helped farmers produce the best    
potatoes and wild blueberries for       
generations1 and have supported the     
increase of organic agriculture         
operations2 ,whereas ,march #ae1 #bjbj1 
marks the #bjjth anniversary of the     
attainment of statehood by ,maine2 and  
,whereas that bicentennial is a         
monumental occasion to celebrate and    
commemorate the achievements of the     
great ,state of ,maine3 ,now1 therefore1
 be it ,that the ,senate recognizes and 
celebrates the #bjjth anniversary of the
 entry of ,maine into the ,union as the 
#bc;d ,state4