SCARBOROUGH, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended the 2018 Southern Maine Spring Senior Expo in Scarborough to visit with exhibitors and speak with Maine seniors about the issues they face.      

“The old adage tells that ‘with age comes wisdom,’ and this is true – but it leaves out the second half of the phrase: ‘and also challenges,’” said Senator King. “As the state with the oldest median age, Maine is well aware of the benefits and obstacles that come with an aging population. The exhibitors at today’s Senior Expo are helping our state’s seniors not only thrive in their own lives, but also contribute to Maine. It’s important work, and our state is grateful for their efforts.”

As the state with the oldest median age, Senator King has made it a priority to work to ensure Maine’s seniors are well-represented in Washington. Earlier this week, he joined Senator Collins to honor the one millionth ride provided by the Independent Transportation Network of America, a Maine-based nonprofit that provides rides to older and visually impaired individuals, and presented the organization with a Senate-passed resolution authored by the two Maine senators. In February, he met with seniors, healthcare providers and professionals in Machias to discuss strategies to help seniors age comfortably, safely and independently. 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. Senator King is also a strong proponent of strengthening telehealth, and is 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 to attending the Senior Expo, Senator King held several meetings with community leaders who are tackling important challenges facing Maine people. He met with the Maine Affordable Housing Coalition to discuss the organization’s programs to help low-income Maine people, and the policies that can help expand the availability of affordable housing in the state. Senator King then met with Maine Fiber Company to learn more about their efforts to improve broadband connectivity across Maine. The meeting came one day after Sen. King applauded the Post Road Foundation’s selection of three Maine regions to participate in a national pilot program designed to facilitate investments in high-speed internet and intelligent infrastructure. He also met with leadership of Boots2Roots, a Portland nonprofit that aims to provide support for men and women exiting the military and looking to transition into civilian life in Maine, to learn more about the organization’s efforts.