BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined business leaders from across Maine in a tele-conference to discuss the federal government’s work to combat the economic challenges presented by the coronavirus and hear directly from Maine businesses on the largest obstacles they face in terms of sustaining themselves and providing for their workforce during the pandemic. The call was hosted by the Maine Chamber of Commerce (and can be heard by clicking here), and continues Senator... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a live-streamed tele-town hall hosted by AARP Maine to answer questions from Maine seniors about the challenges coronavirus is creating for Maine’s senior population, the federal response to help those who are struggling, and best practices to stay safe. In addition to Senator King, today’s call featured Governor Janet Mills, Maine Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman, and Maine Commissioner of Health and Human Services... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—Maine’s Congressional Delegation called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately release additional personal protective equipment (PPE) from the National Stockpile to alleviate the persistent, critical shortages Maine is experiencing.In a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden expressed concern that Maine health care professionals and first responders do not have... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke to hundreds of Maine employees of Sun Life, a financial services organization that recently expanded its workforce at their Portland location, to discuss the implications of coronavirus on Maine people and the aid included in the bipartisan coronavirus package that passed the Senate earlier this week – moments before that bill passed the House of Representatives and was sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. A day after... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—The Maine Delegation wrote to Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly today, urging him to take actions necessary to allow large private shipyards like Bath Iron Works to follow the same guidance the Navy has issued to public shipyards to protect vulnerable workers and families from COVID-19. In their letter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden emphasized their concern for the health and safety of shipyard workers. They... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted to advance the bipartisan agreement for the third phase of coronavirus relief, which unanimously passed the Senate by a vote of 96 to 0. In his full statement below, King highlights the important additions made during the most recent round of negotiations, including additional money for unemployment insurance, funding for states who are leading the fight against coronavirus, additional support for hospitals, and oversight... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, legislation to direct the Trump administration to implement the Defense Production Act of 1950 and federalize the manufacturing and distribution of scarce in-demand medical supplies in order to address the growing challenges of 50 states and thousands of hospitals competing against each other for medical equipment. The Trump administration has told the American people on several occasions that... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that 18 health centers throughout Maine have been awarded a total of $1,083,790 to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity in response to this coronavirus pandemic.“Community health centers are the backbone of Maine’s rural health care system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these medical providers are needed now more than ever,” said Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined 19 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), urging them to support more robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing pandemic in the next version of the coronavirus relief package. The Senators expressed their... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, today announced that he is cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to allow senators to vote remotely during a national crisis. During certain crises, such as the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in five Senators self-quarantining, guidelines from the CDC may advise against convening the full Senate in the Capitol. However,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored the Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act, legislation aiming at addressing the impending crisis facing our healthcare system as the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic increasingly strains hospitals and providers across the country. To accommodate the millions of anticipated coronavirus cases, state and federal governments have suspended elective surgeries to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement, urging additional bipartisan negotiation to improve the Senate’s phase 3 legislation to respond to the coronavirus pandemic:“I could not vote to advance this bill because its misplaced priorities left too many working Americans behind. The bill includes a half-trillion dollar fund for large corporations, which will be administered at the Administration’s discretion, without nearly enough transparency or... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King joined a group of 47 Senators in writing to President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, requesting answers about supplies and equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) critical to addressing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators asked the president and vice president to confirm any relevant supply and equipment shortages in the SNS, to outline their strategy... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—On behalf of the more than 82,000 students in Maine who qualify to participate in the National School Lunch Program, Maine’s Congressional Delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging him to immediately use new authorities Congress has granted him to increase low-income students’ access to meals. During the regular school year, the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs provide nearly 225,000 meals daily to children across Maine. With schools... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King called on President Trump to consider necessary exemptions to protect public health and safety for businesses and individuals affected by the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to non-essential travel. The bipartisan letter, which was co-signed by a bipartisan group of Senators representing states along the United States-Canada border, highlights concerns regarding the border closure’s effect on the supply... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to establish a Special Adviser to the President for Global Health Security within the negotiated phase three coronavirus package. As noted in their letter, the Special Adviser would lead a Directorate for Global Health Security at the White House National Security Council and would advise the White House on global health crises. President Obama had previously... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, urging him to quickly distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to Maine.Health care professionals rely on PPE such as masks, surgical gowns, and respirators to safely treat individuals with COVID-19. After Maine received a limited disbursement of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile, however,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of 26 senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase subsidies to healthcare providers through the Rural Health Care Program. The additional funding would ensure that providers have the resources they need to deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With over half of Maine’s population living in rural areas, this is an... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded the Treasury Department for quickly adopting his suggestion to extend the federal tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Today’s decision comes one day after Senators King, John Thune (R-S.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Tax Filing Relief for America Act, which would have made this change legislatively, and it coincides with the Treasury Department’s previous announcement that it would extend... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—The Maine Delegation wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly today, urging them to take action to protect the health of shipyard employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. In their letter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden said that the safety of shipyard workers is “paramount.” They also told Secretary Esper and Acting Secretary Modly that they stood ready to provide the... Continue Reading »
