BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 47 Senators in calling on the Administration to issue stimulus checks automatically to recipients of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Supplemental Security Income program. In their letter, Senator King and his peers point out that these are two groups with large amounts of non-filers and groups for whom the federal government has the data necessary to deliver the stimulus checks... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the President informed the congressional Intelligence Committees of his intention to dismiss Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson:“In these turbulent times marked by unprecedented, complicated threats, we must place a premium on informed advice, straight talk, hard truths, and clear thinking. Making sure we’re gathering and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, emphasizing the importance of supporting the seafood industry through designated funds in last week’s $2.2 trillion legislation. In the letter, King, Pingree, and Golden emphasize the importance of Maine’s fisheries and related businesses to the state’s coastal communities, and encourage the Department of Commerce to... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of colleagues in a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Senators expressed their disappointment with the lack of such funding in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that recently passed Congress, despite their repeated call for resources dedicated... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter urging Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to provide immediate assistance to rural hospitals and clinics. Senators Collins and King joined 41 Senators and 81 Representatives in requesting the Administration use funding included in the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help rural health care providers. The lawmakers point out that... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—All four members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation wrote to President Donald Trump today to express their full support of Governor Janet Mills’ request for a Major Disaster declaration for the entire state as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden asked the President to fully grant the Governor’s requests for federal Public Assistance and for four supplemental assistance... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King applauded a move by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reverse its previous guidance and allow Social Security beneficiaries to automatically receive the direct payments included in the recently-passed CARES Act without having to file tax returns. This move brings the IRS’s administration of the direct cash assistance in line with Congress’s intent, as the law’s drafting specifically stated that the Treasury Department had the... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined 41 of his Senate colleagues in urging the Treasury Department and the Social Security Administration to ensure that all Social Security beneficiaries will automatically receive the direct assistance included in the recently-passed CARES Act without having to file tax returns. While the legislation ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined business leaders from across Maine in a tele-conference to discuss the federal government’s work to combat the economic challenges presented by the coronavirus and hear directly from Maine businesses on the largest obstacles they face in terms of sustaining themselves and providing for their workforce during the pandemic. The call was hosted by the Maine Chamber of Commerce (and can be heard by clicking here), and continues Senator... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) participated in a live-streamed tele-town hall hosted by AARP Maine to answer questions from Maine seniors about the challenges coronavirus is creating for Maine’s senior population, the federal response to help those who are struggling, and best practices to stay safe. In addition to Senator King, today’s call featured Governor Janet Mills, Maine Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman, and Maine Commissioner of Health and Human Services... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—Maine’s Congressional Delegation called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately release additional personal protective equipment (PPE) from the National Stockpile to alleviate the persistent, critical shortages Maine is experiencing.In a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden expressed concern that Maine health care professionals and first responders do not have... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke to hundreds of Maine employees of Sun Life, a financial services organization that recently expanded its workforce at their Portland location, to discuss the implications of coronavirus on Maine people and the aid included in the bipartisan coronavirus package that passed the Senate earlier this week – moments before that bill passed the House of Representatives and was sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. A day after... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—The Maine Delegation wrote to Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly today, urging him to take actions necessary to allow large private shipyards like Bath Iron Works to follow the same guidance the Navy has issued to public shipyards to protect vulnerable workers and families from COVID-19. In their letter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden emphasized their concern for the health and safety of shipyard workers. They... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted to advance the bipartisan agreement for the third phase of coronavirus relief, which unanimously passed the Senate by a vote of 96 to 0. In his full statement below, King highlights the important additions made during the most recent round of negotiations, including additional money for unemployment insurance, funding for states who are leading the fight against coronavirus, additional support for hospitals, and oversight... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored the Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act, legislation to direct the Trump administration to implement the Defense Production Act of 1950 and federalize the manufacturing and distribution of scarce in-demand medical supplies in order to address the growing challenges of 50 states and thousands of hospitals competing against each other for medical equipment. The Trump administration has told the American people on several occasions that... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that 18 health centers throughout Maine have been awarded a total of $1,083,790 to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity in response to this coronavirus pandemic.“Community health centers are the backbone of Maine’s rural health care system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these medical providers are needed now more than ever,” said Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined 19 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), urging them to support more robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing pandemic in the next version of the coronavirus relief package. The Senators expressed their... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, today announced that he is cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to allow senators to vote remotely during a national crisis. During certain crises, such as the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in five Senators self-quarantining, guidelines from the CDC may advise against convening the full Senate in the Capitol. However,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored the Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act, legislation aiming at addressing the impending crisis facing our healthcare system as the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic increasingly strains hospitals and providers across the country. To accommodate the millions of anticipated coronavirus cases, state and federal governments have suspended elective surgeries to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement, urging additional bipartisan negotiation to improve the Senate’s phase 3 legislation to respond to the coronavirus pandemic:“I could not vote to advance this bill because its misplaced priorities left too many working Americans behind. The bill includes a half-trillion dollar fund for large corporations, which will be administered at the Administration’s discretion, without nearly enough transparency or... Continue Reading »
