Washington, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that an additional 35,000 H-2B visas will be made available to employers across the country to fill seasonal jobs – an increase of 5,000 compared to the additional visas allotted last year – for returning workers awarded a seasonal visa in at least one of the last three fiscal years. In December, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) led a bipartisan letter that was signed by 14 Senators to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON — Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced today they are introducing bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate to provide Gold Star Families with free access to National Parks and other federally managed public lands. Gold Star Families are the immediate family members of servicemembers who have died while serving.Specifically, the legislation would make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program free for Gold... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed top Navy officials on the importance of the DDG-51 to the Navy’s global operations. During a hearing in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Seapower, Senator King emphasized that the DDG-51 is the “workhorse of the Navy”, and reminded the leaders that steady procurement is vital to ensure that shipyards like Maine’s Bath Iron Works can continue to thrive and make vital contributions to America’s national... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of senators to urge passage of a legislative package that would enact Senator King’s bipartisan Restore Our Parks Act and would permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). He is one of the lead sponsors of the Restore Our Parks Act, and has championed the effort with Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) since the group first introduced the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sharply criticized the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s budget proposal, which would cut research into the fuels of the future by nearly 75% across the board. During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing featuring U.S. Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette, Senator King emphasized that the DOE’s proposed budget would not only cut future research dollars, but also refuse to issue funds previously allocated by Congress... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee (ENR), announced that he has introduced the Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling Act of 2020. This commonsense legislation aims to incentivize the recycling of rechargeable and electrochemical batteries – including lithium ion and other chemistries – needed to meet the United States’ growing clean energy needs and decrease dependence on critical mineral imports. In a letter to ENR... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing an additional $3,681,581 in funding for Maine through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which includes $134,848 specifically for tribes and tribal organizations. In November, Senators Collins and King announced more than $36 million for Maine under the first round of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the February edition of Senator King’s monthly Inside Maine podcast. This month’s show highlights the opportunities presented by the expansion of rural broadband across Maine, as well as emerging bipartisan solutions Senator King is leading to address this important challenge. In the first segment, Senator King is joined by Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), who co-chairs the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus with... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie to improve the VA’s payment processing and ensure delayed payments do not harm Maine healthcare providers’ viability – or the veterans who rely on their services. Senator King’s letter specifically references the impact of delays on FirstLight Home Care, a Maine-based personal care agency that decided earlier this week to no longer work with the VA due to delayed payments and a lack of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, today urged the Committee’s leadership to include King-backed legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions in any potential legislative package. In a letter to Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), who respectively serve as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee, King highlighted a number of legislative efforts that would enhance efforts to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Rural Broadband Caucus, today joined a bipartisan group of senators in urging the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to adjust requirements of the ReConnect program which currently blocks rural communities across 19 states from accessing federal funding intended to support rural broadband deployment.In the letter, the senators request Secretary Perdue to use his authority to broaden ReConnect eligibility,... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden applauded the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) announcement that it will begin issuing a Forever stamp celebrating the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood next month. Last year, on Maine’s 199th birthday, the Maine Delegation wrote to USPS to express their strong support for creating a commemorative postal stamp honoring Maine’s bicentennial.The new stamp features the painting “Sea... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that he is joining a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act, which would create a permanent reserve fund to enable quick and effective responses to future public health emergencies. The legislation comes as the coronavirus epidemic continues to threaten to develop into a pandemic, and after the administration has abolished or ignored programs designed to... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden issued a joint statement in response to reports that China has decided to establish a one-year exclusion process for certain U.S. goods imported into China. Live lobster is included as one of the 696 US-origin products eligible for a tariff exemption. “We welcome the promising development for Maine’s lobster industry that China may exclude $300 million worth of U.S.... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—In response to the Department of Education’s decision to cut $1.2 million from Maine’s rural, low-income schools made available through the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to Secretary Betsy DeVos urging her to restore this vital funding. Senator Collins coauthored the law creating REAP in 2002 as well as the reauthorization in 2015. REAP... Continue Reading »
LEWISTON, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited health professionals, businesses, and organizations in the Lewiston area to discuss the importance of preventive healthcare – listening to the challenges Maine people face in accessing affordable care. Senator King began his day at SeniorsPlus Education Center by participating in a listening session on the impact of high prescription drug prices on older Americans. He then met with Fatuma Hussein, Executive Director of the Immigrant... Continue Reading »
BUCKSPORT, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited several aquaculture and seafood processing facilities in Hancock County to meet with staff and hear their thoughts on the future of Maine’s marine economy. Senator King’s day included tours of Maine Coast Sea Vegetables in Hancock, Maine Shellfish Company in Ellsworth, and Greenhead Lobster and Pemaquid Mussel Farms in Bucksport.“Maine’s working waterfronts and hardworking fishermen have powered our state’s economy for... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Labor has been awarded an opioid-crisis National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker Grant of up to $6,281,891—with $2,093,964 released initially. This funding will support disaster-relief jobs and provide employment services to eligible individuals in Maine communities affected by the health and economic impact of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose.“The epidemic of opioid abuse... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME – Today, during the week of the VA National Salute to Veteran Patients, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) caught up with several Maine veterans who are patients at Togus VA Medical Center – saluting their service and expressing the gratitude of Maine people. The yearly event takes place during the week of Valentine’s Day, to show appreciation and support for men and women who are being cared for in VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, domiciliaries, and nursing homes.“Maine’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation that would support consistent, proactive American leadership in global public health efforts in order to better protect the health of the American people when infectious disease outbreaks occur. The Global Health Security (GHS) Act, which he is introducing as coronavirus is continuing to spread within China and across the globe, would officially establish an official national policy to create a permanent,... Continue Reading »
