ROME, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) toured organizations in the Kennebec Valley to meet with Maine people and discuss important issues facing the state. To begin his day, Senator King served lunch to Maine seniors at the Cohen Community Center in Hallowell. At the Center, he also met with seniors and staff to discuss aging in place at the Cohen Community Center. Later in the day, he highlighted workforce development efforts at High Hopes Clubhouse in Waterville, which works with individuals with mental illnesses who are attempting to transition into the workforce, and spoke with staff and campers at Pine Tree Camp, which runs a program for people with developmental disabilities to help them gain independence.

“This day in the Kennebec Valley was a snapshot of Maine’s spirit,” said Senator King. “The organizations I visited today are dedicated to supporting members of their communities, whether it’s helping seniors age comfortably in their homes, creating new opportunities for Maine people with mental illnesses, or building the independence of those with developmental disabilities. Their warmth, hard work, and dedication to supporting otherwise vulnerable sections of our population are an example of what makes our state so special.”

As the state with the oldest median age, seniors are a vital part of Maine’s population, and Senator King has made senior issues one of his top priorities. In February of this year, he joined Maine seniors and healthcare providers in Machias to discuss strategies to help seniors age safely and comfortably.  In March 2017, Senator King introduced the Senior Home Modification Assistance Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a process to better coordinate the many existing federal home modification programs and provide more consumer-friendly information on how those programs can benefit older Americans. He also introduced the DELIVER Act, which would promote volunteerism within meal delivery programs and help provide meals to more seniors across America. Senator King is also a strong proponent of strengthening telehealth, and earlier this year announced his support for the CONNECT for Health Act. He was a cosponsor of the ECHO Act, which was enacted in 2016 and expands access to healthcare through telemedicine in rural and underserved areas. The Senator has also continually underscored the importance of home weatherization for Maine seniors, particularly during the winter months, and has been a champion for LIHEAP funding, which can serve as a lifeline for many seniors living on fixed incomes.

In addition, Senator King has made workforce development a focus of his work, and in 2015 he played an instrumental role in designating Maine as one of only four TechHire regions in the country, bringing the state $4 million in federal funding to involve more people in IT fields. When the Department of Labor considered cutting the number of people trained at Job Corps centers – including the Loring Jobs Corps Center in Limestone and the Penobscot Job Corps Center in Bangor—Senator King joined a letter to the Department raising concerns about the rationale for the enrollment cuts. The cuts were withdrawn, and Senator King supported the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Federal Appropriations bill that included a $15 million increase in funding for Job Corps. Across Maine, Senator King has highlighted the importance of growing Maine’s workforce and expanding career and technical education.

Photo 1: Senator King serves lunch at the Cohen Community Center in Hallowell

Photo 2: Senator King visits High Hopes Clubhouse in Waterville