WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the Department’s Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to investigate the federal student loan discharge process for Americans with total and permanent disabilities (TPD). The members’ letter comes after an alarming report from National Public Radio (NPR), posted earlier this week, which... Continue Reading »
OAK RIDGE, TN – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and top officials from the University of Maine (UMaine) to tour Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The partnership between ORNL and UMaine advances research in additive manufacturing and 3D printing using bio-based products, which will create new markets for Maine’s forest products industry and support innovation in a broad range of industries in Maine including... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Neil Chatterjee, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), emphasizing the dangers of incorporating equipment manufactured by Huawei Technologies Co. (Huawei) into the nation’s critical infrastructure. In the letter, King, Risch, and 8 of their colleagues ask for Chatterjee’s assurance that FERC understands the threat posed to U.S. national... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), highlighted the U.S. military’s dramatic need for deterrence strategies against cyberattacks – one of his key concerns as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Later in the hearing, Senator King noted that the United States should focus its resources on combatting emerging threats, such as Russia’s development of “nightmare weapon” hypersonic missiles.“Let me focus on a particular... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded $1,398,216 to York County Community Action Corporation in Sanford, and $1,113,626 to Downeast Community Partners in Ellsworth for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The programs provide free early childhood education and childcare to low-income families.“Head Start programs... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the challenges facing Maine blueberry farmers due to the U.S./China trade war and China’s retaliatory tariffs – totaling up to 97% in lost China sales since the tariffs took effect. Despite the heavy losses the trade war has inflicted on Maine’s wild blueberry industry, producers have not seen any relief or assistance in the ongoing multi-billion dollar farm bailout. Just today, Senator King sent a letter... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON — Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) pressed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the accuracy of the data and assumptions the agency is using to craft new regulations on Maine’s lobstermen. The delegation is requesting additional information from NOAA about how the findings of a recently completed peer-review process will be incorporated into its draft rules... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging them to help wild blueberry producers whose livelihood has been put at risk by the ongoing Chinese trade war. In the letter, Senator King notes the value of Maine’s wild blueberry exports to China are on pace to drop by nearly 97% since 2017. Despite this massive market loss, Maine’s wild... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 45 of his senate colleagues on a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, urging him to reject a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for victims of discrimination to seek justice under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The Proposed Rule would significantly reduce use of the disparate impact standard for fair housing enforcement – a key tool for rooting out and eliminating hidden... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed top military officials to explain and resolve severe shortcomings by contractors that create unsafe living conditions for some American servicemembers and their families. At bases nationwide, military spouses and servicemembers have reported harmful, dangerous living conditions in privatized, on-base housing including mold contamination, dangerous temperatures, and pest infestations. Senator King’s remarks came during a hearing... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the November edition of Senator King’s “Inside Maine” podcast, focusing on the threats that cyberattacks pose to America’s national security. In this episode, Senator King welcomed David Sanger, an award winning journalist and best-selling author, to discuss the rise of cyberthreats as both an important military consideration and a serious security concern. Senator King is a leading voice on cybersecurity issues in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program has awarded a total of $2,181,629 to several rural healthcare organizations and educational institutions throughout Maine. The funds will help six Maine organizations expand their online services, allowing them to reach more Maine people. “In the 21st century, the internet creates new... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 23 Senators in sending a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), requesting they address their apparent efforts to promote “junk plans”, insurance plans that lack protections for people with pre-existing conditions and would increase costs for millions of Americans. In their letter, the Senators draw attention to the fact... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On National Rural Health Day, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $2,974,548 in funding to two community health center networks, which will be used to bolster multiple locations in central, western, and northern Maine. Senators Collins and King are avid supporters of community health centers (CHCs) – just last month, they joined a bipartisan group of 25... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that he is cosponsoring the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, a bipartisan bill that would expand telehealth services through Medicare, improve health outcomes, make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors, and help cut costs for patients and providers.“As one of the oldest and most rural states in the nation, Maine faces unique challenges when it comes to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to support the Smarter Sentencing Act, bipartisan legislation aiming to modernize federal drug sentencing policies by reducing mandatory minimum penalties for certain nonviolent drug offenses.“Under our current criminal justice system, nonviolent offenders spend decades in prison, drawing much-needed law enforcement and taxpayer dollars from other priorities. Enacting last... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, cast his vote along with many of his Committee colleagues on both sides of the aisle in support of the Restore Our Parks Act as it passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Senator King introduced the bill earlier this year with U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.); it would address the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Support Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee where he serves. The bill would support businesses seeking to invest in energy efficiency technology, diversify energy options for rural industries, and maximize the value of Maine’s natural resources. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is an original cosponsor of this legislation, which... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) led a bipartisan group of 30 colleagues in sending a letter to the Senate Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee urging them to provide H-2B visa cap relief for seasonal employers in any funding agreement. In the letter, the senators stress that there are not enough U.S. workers qualified and available to meet the seasonal demand for employment – and that... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been awarded $225,000 for their Drinking Water Program (DWP) to continue testing the water at schools and child care facilities throughout the state. This Safe Drinking Water Act funding was provided to Maine DHHS by the Environmental Protection Agency. “Lead poisoning poses a severe threat to human health, especially to children. Families... Continue Reading »
