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Press Releases

Press Releases

Senators Collins, King, Representative Golden Deliver Over $3.4 Million for Sanitation Upgrades in Bethel and Milo

September 5, 2023

WASHINGTON D.C. —  U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $3,495,000 to the towns of Bethel and Milo for wastewater treatment and sewer facility upgrades. Currently, the Mill Hill pump station suffers from several broken pipes that leak waste into the surrounding area. The sewers in Milo have also experienced infiltration issues at the detriment of public... Continue Reading »


“A huge victory for Americans,” King Celebrates Historic Step to Lower Costs of Prescription Drugs

August 29, 2023

BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King today celebrated the Biden administration’s historic step to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act that passed Congress last August, Medicare will now begin direct negotiations with drug companies on the prices of ten drugs under Medicare Part D. Tens of thousands of Maine Medicare enrollees currently take the ten drugs; paying annual out-of-pocket costs up to nearly $5,000 in 2022. The drugs treat common... Continue Reading »


King Introduces Bill to Improve Clean Water Access for Maine Tribal Communities

August 28, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced a bill to expand clean water access in Tribal communities across Maine and the nation. The Tribal Access to Clean Water Act would significantly increase federal funding by over $1 billion for Tribal water and wastewater projects to reduce the number of Native American households without sufficient access to water infrastructure. There are currently five Public Water Systems (PWS) in Maine that serve tribal residents, with some struggling... Continue Reading »


In August Podcast, King Recaps Veteran Affairs Secretary’s Visit to Maine

August 26, 2023

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the August episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast. The Senator was joined by Ryan Lilly, the Director of the Veterans Integrated Service Network, and Dan Hodgkins, the Senior Director of Social Work for Veterans Housing Services at Preble Street, to share their takeaways from the recent visit by Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough. During the episode, Senator King and his guests also discuss the importance of... Continue Reading »


Maine Delegation Urges DOJ to Shut Down Foreign-Owned, Illegally Operated Marijuana Businesses

August 24, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Maine’s Congressional Delegation is pushing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to shut down illegally operated Chinese marijuana growing operations in Maine. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden ask the DOJ to address the illegal growing operations run by foreign governments or entities. The letter comes in response to media reports indicating that there could be 270... Continue Reading »


Collins, King Announce Federal Funding to Support Fish Migration and Spawning within Traditional Passamaquoddy Homeland

August 23, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Passamaquoddy Tribe will receive $7,741,450 in federal funding to restore fish access to migratory and spawning habitats. The grant from the Federal Highway Administration will replace four road-stream culverts in Downeast Maine, which will benefit a variety of fish species including Atlantic salmon, rainbow smelt, river herring, and American shad. “Maine fish have long held cultural and economic significance... Continue Reading »


Maine Delegation Calls on VA Secretary to Fix Travel Reimbursement System

August 15, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), along with Senator Susan Collins and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, is pushing to simplify and improve the healthcare travel reimbursement process for Maine veterans. In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough, the Maine Delegation identifies challenges with the VA’s new Beneficiary Travel Self Service System, implemented more... Continue Reading »


King: “The Coast Guard is the Territory of the Brave”

August 10, 2023

PORTLAND, ME—U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered a speech at the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) commissioning ceremony of the CGC John Patterson – the Coast Guard’s newest fast response cutter (FRC). The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 53rd fast response cutter, John Patterson, on May 11 in Key West, Florida. John Patterson will be the fourth fast response cutter to be homeported in Boston. King was joined by... Continue Reading »


Ahead of School Year, King Works to Improve Mental Healthcare for Teachers, School Staff

August 10, 2023

BRUNSWICK, ME — U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced legislation to increase access to mental health resources for educators and school staff. The Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act will help address mental health challenges that have been exacerbated by growing teacher shortages, increasingly unfavorable working conditions, community-wide hardships, and lingering impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Educators – particularly those working in underserved schools... Continue Reading »


Facing “Onslaught” of Robocalls, Senator King Urges Enforcement of Regulations

August 9, 2023

BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce its rules, and get telemarketing calls (robocalls) under control. In a letter to the FCC, King and several of his Senate colleagues also call for issue guidance restating long-held requirements for unwanted telemarketing calls to assist telemarketers and sellers in complying with these rules. “We are heartened that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering... Continue Reading »


King Introduces Legislation to Combat Maine’s Opioid Epidemic

August 2, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced bipartisan legislation to combat the opioid epidemic plaguing Maine communities, as drug overdoses have taken 268 lives in Maine through June. The bipartisan Life Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment (LifeBOAT) Act would establish a 1-cent stewardship fee on each milligram of active opioid ingredient in a prescription pain pill to provide and expand access to substance use treatment through the existing Substance Use... Continue Reading »


Senators Collins, King and Reps. Pingree, Golden Announce Contract Award to Build at least Three Destroyers at Bath Iron Works

August 1, 2023

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, announced today that Bath Iron Works (BIW) has been awarded a contract to build three additional DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.  The contract is part of the Navy’s 5th DDG-51 multiyear procurement (MYP) authorized by Congress.  The contract also supports the potential for five additional ships, as BIW continues to work to deliver... Continue Reading »


Senate Passes King Bill for Easier, Electronic Access to Duck Permits

August 1, 2023

BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Vice-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, today celebrated the Senate’s unanimous passage of his bipartisan Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023 that would make the Federal Duck Stamp – required for duck hunting – available electronically. Providing access to the stamp on smartphones, in an expedited fashion, would help more people enjoy waterfowl hunting, remove barriers to getting outdoors,... Continue Reading »


Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Fight Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases

July 31, 2023

BRUNSWICK, ME — U.S. Senator Angus King has introduced bipartisan legislation to expand and strengthen the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s mosquito control and response efforts. The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) 2.0 Act, cosponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Tina Smith (D-MN), would provide the CDC additional funding to research and fight the spread of dangerous diseases like West Nile Virus. The bill comes as the... Continue Reading »


With NASA Administrator, King Discusses Maine’s Promising Future in Space in July Podcast

July 29, 2023

Senator King’s podcast can be found HERE or on Apple Podcasts WASHINGTON D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the July episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast. The Senator was joined by NASA Administrator and former astronaut Bill Nelson, along with the CEO and founder of bluShift Aerospace, Sascha Deri, to discuss Maine’s emerging space industry. “Maine entrepreneurs are directing our state towards the stars,” said Senator... Continue Reading »


Governor Mills, Senators Collins & King Celebrate BIW Christening of USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr.

July 29, 2023

Bath, MAINE — Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today delivered remarks at the christening of the future USS Harvey C Barnum Jr (DDG 124), a navy destroyer built at Bath Iron Works. The Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer is named in honor of Marine Corps Colonel Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Vietnam War and was later appointed Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Also joining Mills,... Continue Reading »


Senate Designates July as “National Blueberry Month”

July 28, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution, cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, designating the month of July as “National Blueberry Month.” The resolution recognizes the importance of blueberries to Maine, and the United States’ agricultural economy, and highlights the crop’s history. Senators Collins and King included language in the resolution specifically paying tribute to Maine wild blueberries and... Continue Reading »


Senate Passes 2024 Defense Bill with King-Backed Provisions to Strengthen National Security and Support Maine Jobs

July 27, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees and co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today supported the Senate’s 86-11 passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s national security, support our men and women in uniform, and boost Maine communities. The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a number of provisions that Senator King backed,... Continue Reading »


Senators King and Welch Introduce Bill to Protect Farmland for Future Generations

July 27, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Peter Welch (D-VT) have introduced legislation that would help protect American and Maine farmland for agricultural use and expand access to farming for the future generations. The Farmland Access Act updates the existing, but underutilized, federal Buy-Protect-Sell program that allows land trusts and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to purchase and preserve farmland before its eventual transfer to another farmer who can... Continue Reading »


King Pushes Top VA Officials to Reduce Benefit Claims Backlogs

July 26, 2023

Watch or download Senator King’s questioning HERE WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King, today urged top officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work on reducing backlogs in processing veterans’ PACT Act toxic-exposure claims. King encouraged Joshua Jacobs, VA Under Secretary for Benefits, to adopt automation technology nationwide to make processing benefits more efficient; referencing a... Continue Reading »