Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, calling on him to adjust the temporary tariff deferral process for U.S. companies that are experiencing economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 19, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order providing the Treasury Department with emergency authority to extend deadlines for payment of certain duties, taxes, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of 27 colleagues in urging Senate leadership to include funding for America’s schools, educators, and students in the next round of coronavirus relief funding. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senators highlighted the impact of the coronavirus crisis on education budgets and emphasized the importance of supporting public education through... Continue Reading »
Today, Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden convened a Zoom conference call to discuss the State’s response to COVID-19 and the Congressional Delegation’s work in Congress to support the State’s efforts.The Governor and Congressional Delegation specifically discussed the need for Federal aid to State and local governments. The conference call follows a recent letter from Governor Mills to the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a video conference with the 16 educators who are being honored as Maine’s 2020 County Teachers of the Year. During the call, Senator King congratulated the teachers for their commitment to educating Maine’s young people – particularly as the coronavirus pandemic has created unforeseen challenges for them, forcing students and teachers to adapt to distance learning technologies.“Maine’s 2020 County Teachers of the Year... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a teleconference with Portland Buy Local to take questions from business leaders on the tools available to help the state’s business community in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Portland Buy Local Executive Director Mary Alice Scott moderated the conversation, and 120 Portland small business owners participated. “The economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are hitting small businesses hard, and we need to... Continue Reading »
Washington. D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the University of New England (UNE) will receive a total of $186,080 to increase telehealth capabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding was awarded through the CARES Act, which Senators Collins and King voted for.“Maine has the nation’s oldest population by median age, which presents unique challenges during the ongoing public health crisis. In addition, many of Maine’s seniors reside in... Continue Reading »
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 »
