WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered impassioned remarks today on the Senate floor in support of efforts to have the administration pursue all options to process Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to protect the safety and well-being of Afghans who aided the U.S in our two decade military mission in Afghanistan. With the U.S. planning to withdraw troops on or before September 11, 2021, there are currently less than three months to help secure the safety of qualified SIV... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today questioned Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, on the importance of preparedness in the case of national security disaster caused by a debilitating cyberattack. During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King sought confirmation from Secretary Granholm that she would support modernization of the nation’s nuclear deterrence technologies, and commit to working to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, today continued his advocacy to designate the York River as part of the National Park System’s “Wild and Scenic” Rivers program, which protects rivers and surrounding areas that have been determined to have high natural and cultural value from construction. During his opening statement in today’s Subcommittee on National Parks hearing, Chairman King highlighted... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined 14 of their colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing June 2021 as “National Dairy Month.” The resolution highlights the important role dairy plays in a healthy diet and the exceptional work of dairy producers in being stewards of the land and livestock.“Having been born and raised in Aroostook County, I know how essential the dairy industry is to our state’s economy and our way of life. Maine dairy farmers... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that he is introducing two legislative proposals that would improve Medicare’s efforts to support preventive healthcare, encouraging seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious. One bill, the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, would improve the Annual Wellness Visit – a medical appointment currently covered by Medicare free of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted to open Senate debate on legislation aimed at protecting voting rights in the face of a range of legislative efforts in states across the nation that seek to make it more difficult for Americans to exercise their right to vote. In response to these bills, Senator King has sought to set a floor of minimum expectations that would prevent states from making it harder to vote while still providing states with the autonomy to create... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today continued to express concern over the Department of Defense’s proposal to omit one of the two procured DDG-51 ships from the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. During today’s hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King outlined several reasons why the Navy should reinstate the second destroyer, citing the increase of maritime martial activity by rivals China and Russia, how cutting one DDG-51 would break the Navy’s... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (Maine DHHS) has received a total of $6,980,956 to support its preparedness and response efforts against public health crises and emerging diseases. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).“As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not lose sight of other public health initiatives that protect the... Continue Reading »
WINTER HARBOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, and Susan Collins, Representatives Chellie Pingree, Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment, and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to Maine. During the Interior Secretary’s visit, the Delegation, the Governor, and the Secretary discussed the importance of investments in our nation’s public... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today applauded the unanimous Senate confirmation of Chris Inglis to serve as the nation’s first-ever National Cyber Director. The newly-created National Cyber Director position was a key recommendation of the Cyber Solarium Commission, and was one of the 25 CSC recommendations included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. Last week, Senator King introduced... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today emphasized the carbon sequestration benefits created by working forests during a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. During the hearing to discuss the fiscal year 2022 U.S. Forest Service budget, King questioned Victoria Christiansen, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, on the increased impact of growing forests versus mature forests in sequestering atmospheric carbon. Specifically, Senator King highlighted the... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Following overwhelming, bipartisan votes in the Senate and House, President Biden today signed into law bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as “Emancipation Day,” “Jubilee Day,” and “Juneteenth Independence Day.” On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) issued the following statement after the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act by a ruling of 7 to 2: “Over the last twelve years, the Affordable Care Act has helped more than a hundred million Americans access lifesaving medical care – and over the past year-plus, a once-in-a-generation pandemic drove home the importance of quality, accessible, affordable healthcare. After Americans witnessed the physical, emotional and economic... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the United States prepares to withdraw the last of its troops from Afghanistan by September 11th, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed a top Defense Department nominee for his commitment to prioritize efforts to bring America’s Afghan allies to safety. During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King pressed Dr. Ely Ratner, nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, for his commitment to “be irritating” on... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, convened top nuclear experts to talk through the strengths and weaknesses of U.S.’s current nuclear posture. During the hearing, Senator King questioned Dr. Matthew Kroenig on the question of whether or not the President of the United States has unilateral authority to launch a nuclear weapon. In addition, he pressed witnesses on topics including nuclear modernization,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) have introduced major bipartisan legislation to provide $40 billion in flexible funding to states, tribal governments, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to bridge the digital divide. The Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy (BRIDGE) Act of 2021 would provide states with the resources and flexibility to deploy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, stressed the need for clear cybersecurity leadership and accountability within the energy sector as a key way to confront the ongoing threat of cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure. During his exchange with Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, in today’s hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King raised New England’s vast reliance on natural gas to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of colleagues to support the bicameral John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act. This bill would prohibit discrimination against prospective foster or adoptive parents, and children and youth in the foster care system due to their religion, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and would bar harmful practices, like conversion therapy. Additionally, the bill would improve services to LGBTQ+ and religious... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, announced that a new report from the National Park Service showed that 2,717,380 visitors to national parks in Maine spent $306,900,000 in the state in 2020. Visitor spending resulted in 4,572 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $453,600,000. “From the coastal views of Acadia National Park to the awe-inspiring Katahdin Woods and Water National... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of this week’s G7 Summit, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is joining a group of Congressional colleagues to push the Biden administration to work toward a global agreement that addresses the ecological threat posed by marine plastic litter and microplastics. In their letter to President Biden, King and his fellow lawmakers emphasized that this crisis requires American leadership on the international stage, and encouraged the administration to engage in international... Continue Reading »
