WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) are introducing bipartisan legislation to help veterans “Stand Strong” and avoid injuries from costly, dangerous falls. The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act would establish an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The legislation would also establish the position of a ‘falls prevention coordinator’ role, create a pilot program for incorporating falls prevention programs into Department of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the following statement following the termination of seven employees at Togus Medical Center; five of whom are veterans themselves: “I am deeply troubled by the news from Togus that seven Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Maine probationary staffers were terminated yesterday — five of whom are veterans themselves. These firings appear arbitrary and without any strategic thinking; these men and women were fired simply because... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), Senator Angus King (I-Maine), spoke about the importance of ensuring a smooth transition from active duty status to civilian life for veterans with James LaCoursiere, Jr., the National Commander of The American Legion. In the exchange, Senator King referenced the bipartisan TAP Promotion Act, legislation he championed that would proactively help veterans in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) are introducing bipartisan legislation to make it easier for rural workers to live in the communities they serve, as well as address the housing shortage across the nation. The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act would expand the existing Housing Preservation Grants (HPG) program so rural home owners can create more housing on their property — such as an attached apartment unit or a small home nearby — to be available for... Continue Reading »
A full clip of the exchange can be downloaded here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) challenged a Trump Administration nominee to outline and justify looming, arbitrary firings that at the Department of Defense that could wreak havoc on national security functions. In a tense exchange during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King pressed Stephen Feinberg, nominee to become the Deputy Secretary of Defense, on whether he would support and institute the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint hearing before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) and the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), Senator Angus King (I-Maine) raised concerns over how mass layoffs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that closely resemble provisions in Project 2025 will negatively affect veteran benefits and care with Daniel Contreras, the National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans — who echoed the Senator’s worries. The hearing comes the day after the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would allow broadband developers to maximize the impact of federal funding in Maine’s underserved communities. The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act would exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s taxable income. If passed, this would ensure the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation that would allow Americans to save money by importing the same medications from pharmacies in Canada — for less. The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would give Americans safe access to prescription drugs from Canada, which would help lower costs, increase access for consumers and positively impact the domestic market for consumers through increased competition. According the Kaiser Family... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), a member and chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) respectively, are introducing legislation to better coordinate and manage health care for veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) health care system. The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act would create a three-year pilot program where veterans who are enrolled in both Medicare... Continue Reading »
To watch the floor speech click here or download here A full transcript of the speech can be found here WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) shared his growing concerns over the Trump Administration’s largely unconstitutional and unprecedented overreach – including the usurpation of Congressional Authority that has now reached the constitutionally-directed ‘power of the purse.’ During the floor speech, King also shared the detrimental impacts of reckless, indiscriminate government... Continue Reading »
To watch the floor speech click here WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today spoke on the Senate floor to share his growing concerns over the Trump Administration’s largely unconstitutional and unprecedented overreach – sharing the usurpation of Congressional Authority that has now reached the constitutionally-directed ‘power of the purse.’ In the speech, King also shared the detrimental impacts of reckless, indiscriminate government cuts on critical federal functions like... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are introducing legislation to fast-track veteran’s access to earned health care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Servicemember to Veteran Health Care Connection Act would codify and expand the existing VA pre-transition health care registration process for all servicemembers transitioning to civilian life. This would ensure that the VA, in partnership... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) scorned the recent firing of one thousands employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) across throughout the country as having a detrimental impact on veterans and their ability to access their earned benefits. In a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), King also questioned the Honorable Paul Lawrence Ph.D., nominee to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, on his support for these cuts and how he will work... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is introducing legislation to help improve conditions for kelp forest and marine life. The Help Our Kelp Act — which also has a companion bill in the House of Representatives — would invest federal resources to address ongoing crises that kelp forest ecosystems face along the Maine coastline and across the country. Kelp forest ecosystems in Maine and along the nation’s shores... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, is cosponsoring legislation to allow surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers to retain certain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry. Under current law, most benefits from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are terminated for surviving spouses who remarry before age 55. The Love Lives On Act would allow... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King raised several urgent questions with Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, the Commander of United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Air Force General Gregory Guillot, Commander of United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM). Senator King, pushed the military officials about the lack of military presence and resources in the Caribbean to interdict illegal drug shipments — in addition to in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Select Senate Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help law enforcement combat fentanyl trafficking and equip scientists with the tools to research and better understand fentanyl and other opioid-related substances. The bipartisan Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act would finally make permanent the scheduling of illicitly produced... Continue Reading »
To watch the floor speech click here WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) tonight took to the floor of the Senate to share his concern over President Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the speech, Senator King began his remarks by outlining the roles of Congress and the Presidency as America’s Founders envisioned: to make laws and to execute laws, respectively. He then turned to the HHS candidate, speaking... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement after voting against Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence. Congresswoman Gabbard was confirmed in a vote of 52-48. “The Director of National Intelligence position boils down to judgment and management — and I find Congresswoman Gabbard lacking in both of these essential traits. “First to the quality of judgment and discernment. While the Congresswoman has... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are introducing bipartisan legislation to protect a higher-quality veterans’ experience with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Improving Veteran Experience Act would lock into law the Veterans Experience Office (VEO), making it an official fixture to help meet the increased demand for services. Founded in 2015, the VEO collects veterans’ feedback through surveys and uses that data to continuously improve the... Continue Reading »
