WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is cosponsoring the TRICARE Prescription Relief Act, legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to waive prescription cost-sharing requirements for military servicemembers, veterans, and their families during a declared national or public health emergency. The proposal – also supported by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Krysten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) – would help to reduce the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) connected with Maine student veterans from the University of Maine System (UMS) to share their unique perspective as non-traditional students – including some still serving in the Reserves – and additional challenges they have faced during the coronavirus pandemic. The students who participated in today’s call represent veterans from six campuses in the UMS: University of Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Southern... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and six of his colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) demanding they provide information to the Committee about the role that its Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has played in responding to the protests in Portland, OR. In the letter, the Senators pose a series of 25 questions to the department regarding its activities surrounding the protests, and request... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King flatly rejected President Donald Trump’s claim that mail-in voting will drastically increase voter fraud, and his suggestion that the 2020 election should be delayed. In his full statement, which can be read below, Senator King urges increased investments in national election infrastructure and the United States Postal Service, and condemns the President’s tweet, stating he can think of “no greater gift to our adversaries” seeking to undermine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) – joined by Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) Co-chair Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Commissioners Patrick Murphy and Frank Cilluffo – testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services and presented the CSC’s recommendations to establish a comprehensive, forward-looking cybersecurity strategy for the United States. The final report, issued on March 11, lays out more than 80 recommendations,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wa.) sent a letter to Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), seeking a comprehensive GAO review of current methane emissions from oil and gas development. In the letter, the Senators emphasize the importance of reducing methane leaks in the fight against climate change, and call for the federal government to review and improve its... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of colleagues in urging Senate leaders to include the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act in the next coronavirus relief package as negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats are underway. Inclusion of the legislation will help strengthen the public’s trust to participate in critical screening and contact tracing efforts to aid in the fight against coronavirus.“As you begin negotiations on another coronavirus stimulus... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a total of $10,251,895 in state and local preparedness grants to the State of Maine. This funding was awarded through the fiscal year (FY) 2020 State and Local Preparedness Grant Program to help address the nation’s immediate security needs and ensure public safety in communities across the country.“The men and women who serve as Maine’s law enforcement and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in response to the Senate Majority Leader’s proposal for a new coronavirus relief package:“On May 15th, the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act to help lay out the next stage of support for the American people during the coronavirus pandemic. This should have been seen as a starting point from which to begin a dialogue – but instead, the proposal languished on the Senate Majority Leader’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) have introduced legislation to establish a grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help enhance coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and supported isolation efforts. The COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act’s grants could be used to support programs that use mobile health units or work through community-based organizations, provide coronavirus... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that Community Clinical Services in Lewiston has been awarded a total of $329,717 to expand COVID-19 testing and tracing capacities. The funding was awarded through the Paycheck Protection Program & Health Care Enhancement Act that was signed into law on April 24, 2020. This legislation, which Senators Collins and King supported, included $52.7 million for the Maine Department of Health and Human Services,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation led by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) to establish a uniform federal standard for products labeled “Made in the U.S.A.” or “Made in America.” Under current conditions, businesses that make their products in the United States face a patchwork of different state laws – making compliance costs burdensome in order to ensure products can be sold across the country with the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to introduce legislation to study the impacts of telehealth during the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID–19 Emergency Telehealth Impact Reporting Act of 2020, requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assess key health care data, including utilization rates and hospital readmission rates, for patients who received their healthcare through... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his opposition to the nomination of Dr. Judy Shelton to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, after she passed through the Senate Banking Committee on a party line vote. His full statement below highlights concerns that Dr. Shelton would support dangerous economic policies – including a return to the gold standard – and abandon the longstanding independence that has allowed the Federal Reserve to set economic policy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today voted for the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation includes a number of provisions proposed and advocated for by Senator King, which will support Maine jobs, bolster our national security, and boost our economy and military in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill also includes a number of provisions that were recommended by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 47 of his Senate colleagues to introduce the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act and end the scourge of voter suppression. The legislation has been renamed to honor the legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis.“John Lewis fought every day of his life to make our nation live up to the ideals we hold dear – including the idea that we are a government of, by, and for the people,” said... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his opposition to the nomination of Dr. Judy Shelton to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, after she passed through the Senate Banking Committee on a party line vote. His full statement below highlights concerns that Dr. Shelton would support dangerous economic policies – including a return to the gold standard – and abandon the longstanding independence that has allowed the Federal Reserve to set economic policy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 36 of his Senate colleagues urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to support the funding levels for state and local governments that were included in the HEROES Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives over two months ago, as well as the legislation’s funding flexibility provisions. The HEROES Act included $500 billion for states, $375 billion for local governments and $20 billion each for territories and tribal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by a 310-107 vote, bipartisan legislation championed by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that will support national parks and public lands across our nation. The GAOA includes the Restore Our Parks Act, legislation introduced by Senator King and others to address the existing $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks – including an estimated $65 million... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed state election officials and election rights experts on the importance of taking steps to support and defend U.S. elections in advance of the 2020 election. During the hearing, Senator King hammered home the need to help Americans identify attempts by foreign actors to interfere in our election process, and he pushed officials on the steps needed to help make sure Americans are able to safely and securely exercise their right to... Continue Reading »
