WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned foreign policy experts on the best practices to defend the United States against Russian meddling in our elections. The hearing, which focused on Russia’s active measures and information operations campaigns in Europe, provided an overview of Russia’s attempts to exert influence and interfere in other countries’ elections, particularly in Eastern Europe.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today pressed top officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize the protection of state and local election systems in the wake of Russia’s attempt to hack into them last year. “I would urge you to put some urgency on this. We’ve got another election coming in eighteen months, and if we are talking about systems and registration... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed Attorney General Jeff Sessions on his repeated refusal to answer questions from members of the Committee about the ongoing investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. “You testified a few minutes ago – I’m not able to invoke Executive Privilege... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned former FBI Director James Comey about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and the FBI’s ongoing investigation into contacts between Russia and the Trump campaign. Senator King pressed former Director Comey on whether Russia’s activity in the 2016 election is a “one-off proposition” or part of a “long-term strategy” in which... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today grilled the top U.S. Intelligence Community officials on their repeated refusal to answer questions from members of the Senate Intelligence Committee about the ongoing investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Time after time during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing today, the Director of National Intelligence, the Acting Director of the FBI, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement on the U.S. strike in Syria: “The use of chemical weapons is not only an affront to all of humanity, but it also violates longstanding prohibitions against the use of these weapons as well as the 2013 agreement by the Syrian government to eliminate its chemical weapons stockpiles and manufacturing capability. Last night’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on the reported chemical attack in Syria: “These atrocities were not only aimed at the innocent men, women, and children whose lives were senselessly taken today, they were leveled against all of humanity,” Senator King said. “These heinous acts of violence, these heart-wrenching images, should remind all of us – from those... 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. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today participated in a Senate Intelligence Committee open hearing on Russian intelligence activities and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The hearing, Disinformation: A Primer in Russian Active Measures and Influence Campaigns, provided a foundational understanding of Russian active measures and information operations campaigns, examining the history and characteristics of those campaigns and the role and capabilities of cyber... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate today voted to approve the resolution of ratification approving Montenegro’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). For the past decade, the Maine National Guard has partnered with Montenegro to advise and assist the young nation following its December 2006 declaration of independence as it transformed its military and improved its disaster preparedness and response. After... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) that aims to protect America’s electric grid from cyber-attacks. Senator King, a member of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, spoke in favor of the bill, which also garnered support from... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) led a bipartisan group of 10 Senators in writing to the Acting Secretary of the Navy, requesting that he delegate down the chain of command the authority to grant increased reimbursement rates for public shipyard workers’ long-term temporary duty (TDY) assignments. Currently, the authority to grant these increased reimbursements rests with an official on the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a bipartisan push from U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that it plans to perform emergency maintenance dredging in the lower Kennebec River between Phippsburg and Bath, Maine. The Maine Delegation sent a letter last November calling on the Corps to dredge the river in response to concerns that the channel was below the authorized navigation... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports suggesting that the White House enlisted Intelligence Officials and Members of Congress to counter stories about President Trump’s ties to Russia: “I am deeply troubled by these reports and intend to speak with Chairman Burr to better understand what happened. This Committee must have credibility not only with our colleagues,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced the release of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) 2016 Arctic Strategy. Senators King and Sullivan sponsored an amendment to the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that required “an updated military strategy for the protection of United States national security interests in the Arctic region.” Such a strategy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he has been named Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Airland for the 115th Congress. The Airland Subcommittee oversees equipment and related research for the Air Force and Army, as well as the tactical aviation programs of the Navy and Marine Corps. It also has jurisdiction over equipment for the National Guard and Reserve. As Ranking Member, Senator King will lead the... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In case you missed it, Mozilla, a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending a free and open web, applauded U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) for their letter earlier this week calling on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a blog post published yesterday, Heather West, a senior public policy... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In the wake of a complex cyber-attack that disrupted service to Twitter, Spotify, The New York Times and other major websites, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today called on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a letter sent today, the two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee urged the President to help... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following their leadership and advocacy on the Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that the U.S. Navy plans to provide funding for another critical project at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). The funding includes $25.2 million to conduct structural repairs at berths 11A, 11B, and 11C that will repair a quay wall and restore the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging them to incorporate language in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would ensure servicemembers and Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, including public shipyard workers, receive full reimbursement when traveling on... Continue Reading »
