WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins’ (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) to designate today, October 20, 2023, as National Early Childhood Literacy Awareness Day. The resolution, which highlights the importance of access to high-quality early childhood education programs, is also co-sponsored by Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). "Fostering literacy in early childhood is crucial for preparing students... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King and 19 of his colleagues are pushing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve access to local media on streaming platforms, in a letter they sent to the Commission. Current law and Commission rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear streaming services over the internet are not required to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement following President Biden’s speech to the nation on the war between Hamas and Israel, and the global imperative to support democracy over tyranny and terrorism: “The causes of freedom, democracy, and self-defense are core American guiding beliefs. In fact, Thomas Jefferson, after writing the Declaration of Independence, swore eternal hostility... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, joined nearly all of their Senate colleagues in passing a bipartisan resolution in support of Israel. Senators Collins and King are co-sponsors of the resolution, which passed the Senate by a vote of 97-0. “The Senate stands with Israel as it defends itself, including Israeli efforts to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King, Chair of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, questioned former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl — the Vice Chair, Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States — about the increasing need to bolster the United States’ nuclear deterrence capacity while working to secure additional non-nuclear tactical options. Earlier this week, Senator King and Senator Fischer, the Ranking Member... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) are pushing the Department of Labor (DOL) to change eligibility criteria for veterans looking to enter the workforce. In a letter to Assistant Secretary James Rodriguez, they urged the DOL to categorize transitioning service members as eligible for career services programs funded by Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG). The JSVG program provides federal funding to State Workforce Agencies, allowing them to hire staff... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Angus King (I-Maine), members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), are fighting to keep many VA facilities open nationwide, by asking the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to find workable solutions for staffing shortages at long-term care facilities across the country. VA and long-term care facilities serve retired veterans and future demand is expected to grow. In a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a joint hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), U.S. Senator Angus King, questioned Honorable James D. Rodriguez — the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training at the Department of Labor — about how to ensure specialized military job skills are easily transferred to the civilian workforce. Senator King specifically requested the joint hearing earlier this year to focus on a “warm... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) announced that Rumford Police Department has been awarded a total of $163,462 through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) grant program to provide greater mental health support to law enforcement officers and their families. "Law enforcement officers... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), co-chairs of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve forest industry employment and participation through a grant program aimed at rural and underserved communities. The Jobs in the Woods Act would support developmental programs designed to better equip and train the forest products workforce for careers with the U.S. Forest Service and timber industries. Nationally, the forest... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine)and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, released the following statement after the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States released its final unclassified report:“As the top members of the Strategic Forces subcommittee, we understand the need for a nuclear force posture that can successfully deter adversaries in a worsening global threat environment. We... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King is urging the Biden administration to help reduce energy costs ahead of the winter season. In a bipartisan letter, King is calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Public Safety has been awarded $760,000 through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) program to help combat the opioid crisis in Maine. This funding is one of only 13 AHTF awards made nationwide this year. ... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have cosponsored bipartisan legislation to reduce institutional child abuse in residential treatment centers. The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act would provide greater oversight and data transparency for youth treatment programs, implement urgent recommendations to develop information-sharing systems among states, and promote best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse. “Tragically, families across... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced the hiring of three Maine people to support his efforts serving people across Maine. Sarah Stanley is joining Senator King’s team as the York Country Regional Representative based in Biddeford; Marielle Thete, who previously served as Senator King’s scheduler, is returning to serve as a Legislative Assistant overseeing immigration, education and judiciary policy; and Maria Kuhn, who also previously served in Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King was honored by the Navy League Capital Council as the 2023 recipient of its Congressional Sea Services Award in an event held on Capitol Hill. This award, presented annually to a member of Congress, recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions to the United States Sea Services. Senator King accepted it on behalf of the men and women of the sea services and shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Senator King was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chairs of the Senate Arctic Caucus, have introduced a bill to expand and improve economic ties with Iceland. Currently, Icelanders are not eligible for economic visas to visit and conduct business in the United States, one of the only Arctic nations whose residents face such a barrier. The Nordic Trader and Investor Parity Act would expand access to trade and investment visas for Icelanders, resulting in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, alongside Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve forest health and support Maine’s rural economy. The Timber Innovation Act for Building Rural Communities Act would require the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a method where it can accurately monitor and measure the carbon impacts of forest management. It would also set up several grant programs to support Maine... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) will receive $7,632,256 over a five-year period through the U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Innovation Fund (DIF). The funding will support a project aimed at improving the successful transition to adulthood for children and youth with disabilities in Maine by enhancing access to coordinated transition services. Despite recent progress, many students with... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) today introduced a bill that strengthens and simplifies American manufacturing by creating one national “Made in USA” labeling standard. The Reinforcing American-Made Products Act would ensure that the federal government maintains authority over setting country-of-origin labeling standards, preventing a variety of state-by-state logos and labels that would confuse consumers. Under current conditions, businesses that make... Continue Reading »
