Sen. Craig Hickman appointed to Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission
AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, Aug. 25, Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Winthrop, was appointed to serve as chair of the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission by Senate President Mattie Daughtry.
The Commission is charged with gathering data on the service and health of Maine National Guard service members who were exposed to harmful chemicals during training at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in New Brunswick, Canada. The Commission is authorized to request necessary information from the United States Department of Defense and other federal agencies to gather relevant data.
“I am grateful to be appointed chair of this Commission,” said Sen. Hickman. “It is vital that the Maine Legislature continues its work in seeking justice for Maine veterans who were exposed to carcinogenic chemicals while training at Gagetown.”
The Commission — which was reestablished under LD 1640, “An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission and to Reestablish the Gagetown Harmful Chemical Study Commission” — was initially created during the 131st Legislature in 2023 and met from July 2023 to January 2024 with the goal of helping policymakers understand the scope of potential health issues caused by training at Gagetown.
The Commission will also be required to submit another report documenting its findings, recommendations and any suggested legislation to the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee no later than Nov. 4, 2026.
According to the report issued by the Commission in January 2024, Base Gagetown — with the permission from the Canadian Government — was used as a testing ground for several tactical herbicides that would be used during the Vietnam War, including Agent Orange. When Maine National Guard Members were sent to train on the base, they were exposed to the chemicals, resulting in several service members being diagnosed with conditions and illnesses associated with exposure to tactical herbicides.
LD 1640 was introduced by Sen. Hickman during the 132nd Legislature. A similar bill was introduced in the 131st Legislature but was pocket vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills upon adjournment.
Sen. Hickman is serving his third term in the Maine Senate and is Senate Chair of both the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Government Oversight Committee. He represents Senate District 14, which includes Chelsea, Farmingdale, Gardiner, Hallowell, Manchester, Monmouth, Pittston, Randolph, Readfield, Wayne, West Gardiner and Winthrop in Kennebec County.
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