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 »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King joined a group of 47 Senators in writing to President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, requesting answers about supplies and equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) critical to addressing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators asked the president and vice president to confirm any relevant supply and equipment shortages in the SNS, to outline their strategy... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—On behalf of the more than 82,000 students in Maine who qualify to participate in the National School Lunch Program, Maine’s Congressional Delegation wrote to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging him to immediately use new authorities Congress has granted him to increase low-income students’ access to meals. During the regular school year, the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs provide nearly 225,000 meals daily to children across Maine. With schools... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King called on President Trump to consider necessary exemptions to protect public health and safety for businesses and individuals affected by the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to non-essential travel. The bipartisan letter, which was co-signed by a bipartisan group of Senators representing states along the United States-Canada border, highlights concerns regarding the border closure’s effect on the supply... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to establish a Special Adviser to the President for Global Health Security within the negotiated phase three coronavirus package. As noted in their letter, the Special Adviser would lead a Directorate for Global Health Security at the White House National Security Council and would advise the White House on global health crises. President Obama had previously... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, urging him to quickly distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to Maine.Health care professionals rely on PPE such as masks, surgical gowns, and respirators to safely treat individuals with COVID-19. After Maine received a limited disbursement of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile, however,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of 26 senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase subsidies to healthcare providers through the Rural Health Care Program. The additional funding would ensure that providers have the resources they need to deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With over half of Maine’s population living in rural areas, this is an... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded the Treasury Department for quickly adopting his suggestion to extend the federal tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Today’s decision comes one day after Senators King, John Thune (R-S.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Tax Filing Relief for America Act, which would have made this change legislatively, and it coincides with the Treasury Department’s previous announcement that it would extend... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—The Maine Delegation wrote to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly today, urging them to take action to protect the health of shipyard employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. In their letter, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden said that the safety of shipyard workers is “paramount.” They also told Secretary Esper and Acting Secretary Modly that they stood ready to provide the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced a bipartisan bill to extend the tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, which would build upon the Treasury Department’s previous announcement that it would extend the tax payment deadline for filers who owe the IRS for the 2019 tax year. The bipartisan Tax Filing Relief for America Act, also supported by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.), would provide greater clarity to taxpayers and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted to advance the House’s bipartisan coronavirus funding package in the Senate. Following the vote, King issued the following statement:“The coronavirus outbreak is challenging our society in unprecedented ways – but we will get through it together,” said Senator King. “Today’s bipartisan legislation is a step in the right direction, providing much-needed support to both our public health infrastructure working to combat this disease... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak escalates, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has joined a group of his Senate colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging the Senate to provide Americans with direct cash payments. In the letter, King and his colleagues outline a proposal to provide a $2,000 immediate cash payment to every adult, child (or non-child dependent), and recipient... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and twenty-seven of his Senate colleagues are urging President Trump to use his existing authority to help address widespread shortages of medical equipment, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a letter sent to President Trump, the senators pushed the president to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), which authorizes the president to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and supply in extraordinary circumstances, and to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the moves made by several major internet service providers (ISPs) that he requested last week to better support remote technologies for Americans in light of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday, King and 17 of his Senate colleagues urged CEOs of eight major ISPs to take steps to accommodate the unprecedented reliance we will likely see on telepresence services, including telework, online education, telehealth,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released a letter from Senator King outlining a wide range of funding initiatives in need of resources and staffing to deliver relief and aid to the American people as the nation faces likely long-term threats associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Given his consistent focus on preventive measures, Senator King identified a number of specific needs and federal shortcomings that face Maine given its unique... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), sent a letter to President Trump with 26 of his Senate colleagues urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing federal agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the Administration has issued guidance recommending agencies expand their telework capabilities, many federal employees are still required to come to work in-person when they can do their job from home. As the Centers for... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined a group of his colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to temporarily allow schools to utilize E-Rate program funding to provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home. This action would help ensure that all students can remotely continue their education during the coronavirus pandemic, which is forcing... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—Following a letter written by the Maine Delegation, the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved a disaster declaration making the state eligible for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden expressed their strong support for the request made by Governor Janet Mills that the SBA provide relief to Maine small businesses that have experienced economic hardship due to the... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in response to the President’s announcement that he will be declaring a national emergency in response to the continuing spread of the coronavirus. The announcement comes one day after Senator King and a group of his colleagues urged the President to take this step.“It is clear that we need aggressive, forward-thinking action to prevent this pandemic from continuing to spread,” said Senator King. “Today’s... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined a group of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, legislation that would ensure free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.“We can’t make evidence-based decisions about how to fight this pandemic without evidence,” said Senator King. “This is a public health emergency, and no one should be questioning whether they can afford to get tested. We need to do the right thing for the health of... Continue Reading »
