WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), is urging the Department of Treasury and Department of Veterans Affairs to better support veterans seeking the benefits they’ve earned. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and VA Secretary Denis McDonough, King and a bipartisan group of colleagues urge the federal government to address some important structural issues within the VA’s travel reimbursement program that is affecting the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to step up its efforts to protect veterans from prescription opioid abuse. In a letter from King and his committee colleagues to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the Senators are urging the department to take swift action following reports that found a majority of non-VA health care providers are not meeting the VA prescription opioid safety... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – The Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Saturday, December 16, 2023 as “Wreaths Across America Day.” The annual event honors our nation’s fallen heroes with commemorative Maine-made balsam wreaths laid by thousands of volunteers across the globe, including by a convoy that travels from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. “Wreaths Across America honors the service and sacrifice of the men and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Co-Chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today released the following statement on the inclusion of several key cybersecurity provisions in the final version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Once the President signs the bill into law, 58 out of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s 82 recommendations have now become law – roughly a seventy percent... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, have joined a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for using sexual and gender-based violence as a weapon of war against Israelis during the October 7th terrorist attack. More than 1,200 people were killed on October 7, 2023 by Hamas in its terrorist attack against Israel, the deadliest terror attack in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and Veterans Affairs Committee, hailed the bipartisan Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – which will strengthen America’s national security, support our men and women in uniform, and boost Maine communities through the dozens of businesses that serve the military’s technological and manufacturing needs. Today’s vote was on the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, have introduced legislation to honor former Majority Leader U.S. Senator George Mitchell. The bill would designate the Hulls Cove Visitor Center at Acadia National Park as the “George J. Mitchell, Jr., Visitor Center”. George Mitchell, born in 1933 in Waterville, is an American politician and diplomat who served as a member of the U.S. Senate (1980–95), as majority leader (1989–95).... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination. “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, Vice-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, today celebrated the Congressional passage of legislation that will streamline the duck stamp process for Maine hunters. The bipartisan Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 will provide access to the stamp on smartphones to help more people enjoy waterfowl hunting, remove barriers to getting outdoors, and increase revenue for conservation programs funded by stamp sales. The legislation passed the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King today continued expressing urgency for streamlining the permitting process, so that renewable energy projects can be built responsibly in support of America’s race against climate change. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining, King questioned Dr. Steve Feldgus, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Land and Minerals Management and Mr. Rich Haddock, about the changes needed in America’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today released the following statement regarding the Senate confirmation of the new National Cyber Director, Harry Coker. The National Cyber Director position has not had a Senate-confirmed leader since February 2023. The National Cyber Director plays a key role in leading the development of U.S. cybersecurity policy and strategy; the creation of the position was a key recommendation from... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced bicameral legislation to phase out single-use plastic foam food service products, “loose fill” such as packing peanuts, and non-medical disposable coolers – materials known to cause adverse health effects and pollute waterways. The Farewell to Foam Act would prohibit the sale and distribution of these items beginning January 2026 while aiming to support the transition to alternatives. Expanded polystyrene (EPS), known more commonly as... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a follow-up letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Army, Lieutenant General Donna W. Martin, to further press for a comprehensive review of the facts leading up to the October 25 mass shooting at Just-In-Time Recreation and Schemengees Bar & Grille in Lewiston. “We believe it is imperative that you, as the Inspector General of the Army, conduct... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — This week, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act. This legislation would prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary from finalizing a proposed nursing home staffing rule that would hurt facilities across Maine and could force many to close. Additionally, the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree, are requesting that if Congress provides additional funding for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), that the 45-day limitation on that aid be increased to 180 days. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas, the Maine Delegation is requesting an extension of the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) eligibility period – which typically lasts 45 days, but... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that five farms in Maine will receive a total of $1,009,892 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program. “Maine is known throughout the country for our wild blueberries, potatoes, dairy, and many other wonderful agricultural products.,” said Senators Collins and King. “These investments will help diversify our state’s homegrown products, making them more accessible... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, U.S. Senator King today pressed top military recruiting command officers on the status of “geographic diversity” recruitment efforts across the military. Specifically, he asked Major General Johnny K. David, United States Army; Rear Admiral Alexis T. Walker, United States Navy, Major General William J. Bowers, United States Marine Corps, and Brigadier General Christopher R. Amrhein, United States Air Force,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After an increase in threats to democracy, U.S. Senator Angus King has joined his colleagues to cosponsor a resolution honoring 2024 as the National Year of Democracy. Democracy is under attack across the world. According to a report published in 2022, 61 countries have seen a “significant” increase in threats to the electoral process, civil and political rights, and the strength of government institutions since 2017. Furthermore, global levels of democracy have steadily... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) have introduced legislation to combat cross-border money laundering. The Combating Cross-border Financial Crime Act of 2023 would establish a Cross-Border Financial Crime Center within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate investigations and information-sharing related to financial crimes with a nexus to the U.S. border. While multiple U.S. agencies broadly address financial... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, are calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) to provide all Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Maine with reliable WiFi service. In a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the delegation shares that reliable, high-speed WiFi is critical for continued healthcare service for Maine’s veterans – and the... Continue Reading »
