WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the January episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast, in which he discussed the close economic partnership between the United States and Canada. During the podcast, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) joined Senator King to discuss the American Canadian Economy and Security (ACES) Caucus, which they launched as Senate Co-Chairs in 2023 along with Representatives Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas). Later in the podcast, Bernadette Jordan, the Consul General of Canada in Boston, joined Senator King to share her perspective on the importance of U.S.-Canada relations and the ACES Caucus from her experience as Consul General and her time in the Canadian Federal Cabinet.

The ACES Caucus is dedicated to strengthening the historic and vital partnership between the United States and Canada and promoting further strategic opportunities between the two countries on matters of economic growth and national security. Every day, nearly 400,000 people and $2.5 billion worth of goods flow across the 5,525 mile long United States-Canada border, supporting more than 7.5 million jobs.

“Across our Northern Border, we have friends, business partners, family members, and neighbors who are an inseparable part of our communities and daily lives,” said Senator King. “The success of the United States and Canada has always been closely tied — our economic partnership creates millions of jobs and supports countless industries. With common values, we stand together on key national security issues and in defense of North America. I look forward to working with Senator Cramer as co-chairs of the bipartisan ACES Caucus, and the Canadian Delegation, to strengthen our relationship as we take on shared challenges and opportunities.”

Senator Kevin Cramer was elected to the United States Senate on November 6, 2018 after serving three terms as North Dakota’s At-Large Member of the United States House of Representatives. He is the first Republican to hold this Senate seat in his lifetime and serves on the Armed Services, Environment and Public Works, Veterans Affairs, and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committees. Senator Cramer has had a distinguished career in public service. In 2003, Senator Cramer was appointed to the Public Service Commission, and in 2004 he was elected to the position. As a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner he worked to ensure North Dakotans lower utility rates for North Dakotans, enhancing their competitive position in the global marketplace. An energy policy expert, Cramer understands America’s energy security is integral to national and economic security. Senator Cramer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Leadership, honoris causa, by the University of Mary. He is a native of Kindred, North Dakota.

Bernadette Jordan currently serves as the Consul General of Canada in Boston, a role which she was appointed to in 2023. Jordan began her career in the field of economic development and before pivoting to a career in community news, spending almost 12 years as the special projects manager for the award-winning newspaper publisher Lighthouse Publishing. In 2015, Bernadette won the federal riding of South Shore-St. Margarets, becoming the first woman to hold the seat. In 2019, she became Canada’s first minister of rural economic development. Later, that same year, she became minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard —making Jordan the first woman elected in Nova Scotia to hold a seat at the Cabinet table. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science from St. Francis Xavier University.

In addition to launching the ACES Caucus, Senator King has previously supported bipartisan efforts to strengthen the economic and national security relationship between the US and Canada. He has advocated for bolstering northern border security efforts, introduced the Arctic Commitment Act to address Artic warming, and negotiated funding for the modernization of Maine land ports to strengthen security and trade between Maine and Canada.

More information about the launch of the ACES Caucus can be found here.

The "Inside Maine" podcast airs on the last Saturday of the month and aims to keep Maine people informed about issues, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King’s work.

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