WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers in raising concerns that deceased individuals are receiving economic impact payments as part of the CARES Act. In a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig and Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul, the lawmakers asked each department to take immediate action to prevent further improper economic... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King helped to lead a national effort to honor police officers, sheriffs, and other law enforcement officers in Maine and throughout the country for serving our communities with valor, dignity, and integrity. Senators Collins and King joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in introducing a resolution recognizing the week of May 10 through May 16 as National Police Week, which passed unanimously. The resolution lists all... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the coronavirus crisis continues to inflict negative impacts on Americans’ mental health, yesterday the Senate unanimously passed legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would designate 9-8-8 as the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. The current National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis line are each 10-digits, creating an additional barrier to Americans in crisis seeking support. “The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a video call with New England Council (NEC) President and CEO James Brett and 150 NEC members. During the call, Senator King provided updates on federal coronavirus response efforts, took questions from the members, and discussed priorities that he would like to see in future coronavirus relief legislation, such as: substantial and additional aid to help state and local governments endure the economic impacts of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 12 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking transparency and information regarding the distribution process for the coronavirus therapeutic remdesivir. In their letter, King and his colleagues cited significant concerns raised by hospitals, health providers, patients, and medical societies regarding the opaque process under which the federal government is determining... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues have sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) explaining the financial and bureaucratic challenges facing meat producers and processors during the coronavirus pandemic. In their letter, the Senators advocate for the inclusion of the Processing Revival and Instrastate Meat Exemption Act (PRIME) Act in any future coronavirus response... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of 23 of their colleagues in urging Senate leadership to provide additional support for the child care sector in future COVID-19 relief legislation. “In many states, child care providers have been forced to close their doors. Other child care providers are continuing to operate, despite financial losses, to provide support to parents, especially our essential... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON — As more veterans in rural Maine seek routine VA care online or by phone due to COVID-19, Maine’s congressional delegation wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today in an effort to improve telehealth services. In their letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) requested the VA provide them with information Congress can use to ensure that veterans... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), along with CSC co-chair Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Commissioners Suzanne Spaulding and Thomas Fanning, testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and present the CSC’s recommendations to establish a comprehensive, forward-looking cybersecurity posture for the United States. The final report, issued on March 11, lays out... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today called on Congressman John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, to clarify his testimony regarding his position on the use of torture. In a letter sent from Senator King and his colleague on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) Senator Dianne Feinstein, they express grave concerns over his vague answers to questions in his nomination hearing.“In both your written and your oral responses to... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Maine has been awarded a total of $52,673,451 to purchase, administer, and expand capacity for COVID-19 testing.“Expanded testing is essential for helping to protect Mainers’ health during the current public health crisis and to safely reopen our communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “Testing will also give Mainers the confidence to resume their daily lives and return to work, school,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) led a bipartisan group of colleagues on a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging them to include their New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act as part of the federal government’s coronavirus response efforts.“As of Friday, May 2, 2020, beef processing was down 26 percent and beef production was down 24 percent over the past four weeks... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of senators to urge the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives to include $2 billion in the next coronavirus relief package to help healthcare providers expand telehealth services through improved access to broadband. Telehealth reduces the time and costs of traveling great distances, and also allows healthcare providers to treat patients safely without... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately work to ensure SNAP participants can receive home food delivery and access curbside pickup options during the COVID-19 pandemic.“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented rise in unemployment and a subsequent increase in demand for food assistance. At the same time,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce the Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility Act, legislation that would allow the federal relief funds provided to states and local governments in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to be used to replace revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic. The legislation would apply retroactively to the enactment of the CARES Act, and addresses the fact that the decline of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) participated in a video teleconference with Maine Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services to connect with their staff that work with Maine’s behavioral health organizations and help those coping with substance use disorders and mental health challenges. Reports show that the coronavirus pandemic is taking a toll on Americans who already struggle with mental health challenges... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To conclude National Teacher Appreciation Week, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a teleconference today with the Maine Jump$tart Coalition, a program that aims to improve the financial literacy of Maine people, to recognize two financial educators. Ms. Raelene Allen of Madison High School, and Ms. Samantha Drost of Central Aroostook High School have both been honored as Finance Educators of the Year, to publicly appreciate their outstanding efforts to improve... 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 $4,732,797 to purchase, administer, and expand capacity for COVID-19 testing.“Community health centers are the backbone of Maine’s rural health care system, and they have been instrumental in helping to protect Mainers’ health during the current public health crisis,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “Expanded testing is crucial... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) led a bipartisan group of 30 Senators in a letter to Senate leadership advocating for the inclusion of aid for charitable nonprofits in any upcoming coronavirus relief legislation. Charitable nonprofits have been essential partners in the fight against coronavirus and its economic effects. In the letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of 19 Senators to urge the Administration to take immediate steps to support federal employees and contractors during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell T. Vought and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Michael J. Rigas, the Senators emphasize several actions that the administration should take to support... Continue Reading »
