BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today visited with community service advocates, non-profit leaders, and volunteers at the University of Southern Maine (USM) Lewiston-Auburn Campus to discuss how civic engagement and volunteerism can strengthen Maine’s communities. Along with Senator King, the meeting was hosted by the Maine Commission for Community Service, which works to inspire volunteerism in Maine and foster involved, responsible citizens.“From helping out at the local soup... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that five Maine tribes – the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township and the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Pleasant Point Reservation – are receiving $4,257,104 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG). “Affordable housing is key to creating and... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today met with tax professionals, advocates, and clients to discuss ways to help low-income Maine people navigate the complexities of tax season. The meeting comes on tax day, and follows an intensive effort by Senator King to help ease the burden many people across Maine are feeling as the consequences of the new tax law take effect. During the meeting, Senator King signed a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging it to reverse cuts... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King this week joined a group of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Digital Equity Act of 2019, legislation aimed at closing the growing digital divide in communities across the country. The bill creates two new $125 million grant programs targeted toward a diverse array of projects at the state and local level that promote “digital equity” – and work towards providing equal access to information technology and educational materials for communities across... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) today renewed efforts to protect Medicare benefits by re-introducing the Medicare Advantage Quality Payment Relief Act. The bipartisan bill would reverse an unintended policy of the Affordable Care Act that is currently denying millions of seniors and people with disabilities the full measure of their Medicare Advantage benefits.“Medicare Advantage is a tried and true program that gives Maine... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) met with members of the Maine Hospital Association (MHA) in Washington, D.C., to discuss possible solutions to several issues hospitals throughout Maine are facing.Click HERE for a high-resolution photo In attendance included leadership from Cary Medical Center, Central Maine Healthcare, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Mount Desert Island Hospital, New England Rehab Hospital of Portland, Northern Light Blue Hill Hospital,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in an Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) laid out six challenges and solutions to combating climate change and explored clean energy innovation strategies. Panelists included: Mr. Robert Bryce, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, Ms. Sarah Ladislaw, Director and Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Energy and National Security Program; Dr. Arun Majumdar, Co-Director, Precourt... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned military leaders on why the creation of a Space Force is the right approach to managing national efforts in space. Senator King’s questioning came during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee that featured Acting Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan; Commander of the United States Strategic Command, General John E. Hyten; Secretary of the Air Force, Heather A. Wilson; and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced Domenic’s Law, legislation which would allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan forgiveness. This legislation was originally part of the Senators’ Stop Taxing Death and Disability Act which would both amend the Higher Education Act to provide student loan discharges to parents who take out loans for their children and also change... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today introduced the Restoring Access to Medication Act, bipartisan legislation that allows Americans to use the funds in their health care accounts to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications.“It’s just common sense – over the counter medications should not require a prescription from a primary care provider,” Senator King said. “But under current law, many Americans cannot access the funding they have set aside... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five days before Tax Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 44 Senators to introduce the Working Families Tax Relief Act. The legislation would cut taxes for workers and families by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). EITC and CTC are two of the most effective tools in the existing tax code to help low-income Americans and working families. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the legislation would... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 42 colleagues in a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice, & Science Subcommittee requesting a minimum of $400 million in federal funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. This significant increase in funding – backed by national police groups and the U.S. Conference of Mayors – will help local law enforcement bolster their community policing efforts.“When officers... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a cofounder of the Working Forest Caucus, applauded today’s announcement by the Maine Technology Institute (MTI) Board of Directors that it is awarding a total of $1.5 million to two Maine forest products companies. The funding stemmed from MTI’s collaboration with the Forest Opportunities Roadmap (FOR/Maine) Initiative, which Senators Collins and King have championed.“We applaud this substantial investment in two Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged U.S. Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Admiral John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations, to find opportunities to collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard to increase our ability to intercept drug shipments being transported into the United States by sea. “I’d like to start my questioning with a plea….Of the hundred-percent [of drug shipments] that we have intelligence on, we’re only able to interdict twenty-five... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a total of $1,945,301 to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) to help protect Maine’s environment.Maine DEP received $1,724,386 to administer environmental programs for air, water, and waste throughout the state, while Maine DHHS received $220,915 to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today – one week before Tax Day – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to top officials at the Internal Revenue Service challenging the IRS to refocus its limited resources away from disproportionately auditing lower-income households. In his letter, King cites the fact that residents of Piscataquis and Washington Counties are audited at a higher rate than residents of counties with much higher median household incomes. Additionally, he emphasizes the hardship that... Continue Reading »
Bill Text | One-PagerWashington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) in introducing the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, legislation to honor women who served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. The bill would recognize former Cadet Nurses' service to our country and provide them with honorable discharges, ribbon and medal privileges, and certain burial... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) this week introduced bicameral legislation with Senate and House colleagues to make college textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The Affordable College Textbook Act would authorize a competitive grant program to support the creation of and expand the use of open college textbooks – textbooks that are available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to freely... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of 38 Senators in sending a letter urging U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize the implementation of the dairy provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill.As dairy farmers across the country continue to struggle from market instability, the 2018 Farm Bill dramatically expands support for dairy producers, providing flexible, affordable coverage options through the Dairy Margin... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Maine’s State Plan Amendments to expand Medicaid (MaineCare) under the Affordable Care Act:“Life just got better for 70,000 Mainers,” said Senator King. “Medicaid is a lifeline for the most vulnerable members of our society, and now more Maine people in need will be able to access the high-quality healthcare they need to pursue happy, healthy,... Continue Reading »
