BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered remarks at the Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Annual Convention in Bangor where he thanked the veterans for their service to our nation and outlined five of his top priorities for veterans in Washington. “We will only be the land of the free as long as we are the home of the brave – and you’re it,” Senator King said in his remarks. “You’re the people who were and are brave, and who... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the dedication of the Charles Shay Indian Memorial in Normandy, France today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the text of a letter he sent to the memorial’s namesake, Mr. Charles Shay, of Indian Island, Maine. “This park, overlooking Omaha Beach, is a tribute to all Native American soldiers who bravely advanced in the defense of the free world, despite grave peril and under tremendous enemy fire. The United States, and the world... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) presented veteran Paul Laird of Otisfield with the Humanitarian Service Medal to recognize his work in 1977 cleaning up the Enewetak Atoll, one of several small islands in the Pacific Ocean where the United States conducted multiple nuclear weapons tests from 1948-1952. Mr. Laird never received his recognition, and Senator King’s office recently worked with the Department of the Army to help secure it. Following the medal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King announced today that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $479,155.51 through the State Home Construction Grant Program for a recently completed renovation project at Maine Veterans’ Homes’ Scarborough facility. “Maine Veterans’ Homes provides veterans with the high-quality care and support... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting that they include funding for 24 VA medical facility leases in the President’s FY 2018 budget request. The letter also urges the administration to assume authorization of the leases and partner with members of Congress to raise awareness about the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues to write to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans’ Homes that help provide long-term care to American veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans’ Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues to write to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans’ Homes that help provide long-term care to American veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans’ Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin are warning Maine veterans to beware of a scam where imposters attempt to imitate the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) phone line. Through this scam, a phone line has been set up by an unknown party to potentially mimic the VCP phone line. The imposter phone line may be intended to reach veterans who inadvertently dial the VCP number incorrectly. “We urge all Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin were encouraged by the findings in a report released today by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) on mental health consults and access to care issues at the VA Maine Healthcare System (VA Maine). The report indicated that VA Maine has made significant improvements following a 2015 report that substantiated some instances where... Continue Reading »
AUBURN, ME – Flanked by Maine veterans who have been mired in the bureaucratic mess of a broken appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today called on Congress to pass the Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act. The legislation, which Senator King has cosponsored, would overhaul the current VA system to provide veterans with clear and timelier options after receiving an initial appeals decision from the VA. The... Continue Reading »
BATH, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered remarks today at the christening of the future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) at Bath Iron Works. The Hudner, a 510-foot long and 9,200 ton Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, is named after Medal of Honor recipient retired Navy Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., who also attended today’s ceremony. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on April 13, 1951 for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his support for the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, legislation that would amend current law to make all veterans with a service-connected disability eligible for a free, lifetime pass allowing entry to National Parks and other recreational lands and waters held by the United States. “Those who have served and sacrificed on our behalf have already... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to reintroduce legislation that would overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs’ broken appeals process. The process has not been updated since 1933, and more than 450,000 appeals are currently pending. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. By replacing the current... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today called on the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund two additional staffing positions in Maine that will help better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. In a letter sent today, Senator King urged VA Secretary Shulkin to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a VJO Re-entry Specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced this afternoon that he will vote to confirm Dr. David Shulkin as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs later this evening. Senator King released the following statement: “Having worked directly with Dr. Shulkin in the past, I know that he has the best interests of Maine veterans at heart and is committed to improving health care services for them,” Senator King said. “I also believe he shares my view that... Continue Reading »
