WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are calling for continued engagement with Maine’s seafood industry stakeholders. In a letter to Eugenio Piñero Soler, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Senators urge NMFS to heed the well-founded concerns expressed by Maine’s lobstermen and fishermen regarding ropeless gear, and to include them in any further regulatory discussions. “Maine lobstermen’s concerns... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement as tensions grow in the Middle East after the President’s Easter Morning threat to escalate the U.S. bombing campaign to include civilian targets if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. “The President’s unhinged post Easter Sunday morning saying that Tuesday is “Power Plant Day” in Iran followed by an interview where he continued, “I am blowing up everything over there” are gravely dangerous to our country on two... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced legislation to strengthen the American seafood industry by treating it the same as the nation’s farmlands. The American Seafood Competitiveness Act would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. The legislation would also expand Farm Credit eligibility to businesses providing services... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) led several of his Senate colleagues in calling for a return to evidence-based, cost-effective preventative health services after a key federal oversight group has been dormant for over a year. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Senators raise concerns that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has not met for a full year, which is delaying critical decisions that directly... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and U.S. Representatives Herb Conaway, MD (D-NJ) and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) are introducing bicameral, bipartisan legislation to support mental health services for incarcerated veterans. The Get Justice-Involved Veterans Behavioral Assistance and Care for Key Health Outcomes to Maintain Empowerment (BACK HOME) Act would create a pilot program to allow the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to provide mental health... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) are introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to spur Congress to reduce the federal budget deficit and avoid passing down large sums of debt to the next generation. The 3% Resolution would support the goal of reducing the federal budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. “Restoring fiscal discipline isn’t about politics—it’s about responsibility,” said King. “Our 3% Resolution sets a clear,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) are pressing the Trump Administration to reverse course on its decision to limit the path to home ownership for rural Americans. In a bipartisan letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, the Senators asked that recent updates limiting additional access to the Rural Development Section 502 Direct Loan program are rescinded. Unfortunately, the new revisions drastically reduce the loan... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned Pentagon officials on the status of military operations in the Arctic, specifically those involving collaborations with Greenland and Denmark. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King asked General Francis Donovan, United States Marine Corps Commander of United States Southern Command whether Greenland was continuing to support American national security interests under the 1951 treaty. Senator King... Continue Reading »
To watch or download the exchange, click here WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pressed administration officials on known intelligence that Iran could consider a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage if the United States attacked Iran. In the annual Worldwide Threats hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), King specifically pressed Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, and John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Hoeven (R-ND) led a bipartisan effort calling for an investigation into unfair Canadian trade practices that are harming U.S. potato producers. In a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Chair Amy Karpel and Commissioners David Johanson and Jason Kearns, the senators outline how Canadian federal and provincial policies impose competitive disadvantages on U.S. producers. In the letter also signed by Senator Susan Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Jim Risch (R-ID) are introducing bipartisan legislation to correct a disparity in funeral and burial benefits for veterans who die from service-connected injuries when compared to non-service related causes. The Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act would make sure that veterans who pass away due to service-related causes get the recognition they deserve for the sacrifices they made by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is re-introducing legislation to strengthen and expand wastewater monitoring systems as a method to track and prevent serious public health emergencies. The Public Health Response and Emergency Detection through Integrated Wastewater Community Testing (PREDICT) Act would authorize wastewater infectious disease surveillance efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Wastewater monitoring analyzes sewage to detect viruses and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), emphasized Russia’s current warfare capabilities in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Baltics, and the far-reaching impacts of America’s heightening military strikes in Iran. In a conversation with General Alexus Grynkewich, United States Air Force Commander of United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, King also questioned the impacts to Ukraine’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Patty Murray (D-WA) are leading dozens of their Senate colleagues in pushing for the release of federal funding that supports comprehensive, confidential family planning and related preventive health services. In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Senators demand that HHS take immediate action to protect Americans’ uninterrupted access to these services by awarding a... Continue Reading »
To watch the floor speech, click here WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate Floor to criticize the Trump Administration’s attempts to whitewash American history at our national parks. The floor speech comes on the heels of a letter he sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, King requests information pertaining to Executive Order 14253 “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” and Secretarial... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) have introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) programs, which help farmers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing, or conservation practices. The Agriculture Management Assistance Act would boost funding for the AMA to $30 million, increase funding limits for farmers to $200,000 over five years, and expand the eligible uses for these funds... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representative Jared Golden are calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to immediately reverse the closure of its Augusta and Bangor Tax Assistance Centers (TAC). TACs are physical offices which offer assistance to Mainers who lack stable internet access, need help navigating technology, or otherwise need in-person assistance. With the Presque Isle TAC having previously been shuttered and Downeast Maine long lacking its... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) are introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s fiscal health and stabilize the nation’s finances for future generations. The Fiscal Commission Act bill would create a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission tasked with finding legislative solutions to stabilize spending and evaluate revenues with the goal of decreasing the national debt. The commission would be required to hold field hearings and complete a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, is joining several of his Senate and House colleagues in filing an amicus brief that would put a stop to President Trump’s plan to construct a commemorative arch on federal property. The amicus brief argues that the President’s plan is illegal unless Congress authorizes it. Joining Senator King as the House of Representatives leader in this challenge is Representative Jared Huffman... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) emphasized the critical need to improve drone manufacturing capabilities as changing technologies impact the cost and methods of 21st century wars. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King questioned Mr. Travis Metz, Drone Dominance Program Manager at the Department of Defense (DoD) and Major General Steven Marks, Director at the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group at the DoD, on the research and acquisition of... Continue Reading »
