WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are introducing bipartisan legislation to offer a disaster mitigation tax credit to working waterfronts located on the coasts and on navigable waterways. The Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act would provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million in mitigation expenses, adjusted for inflation annually. Senator King has been at the forefront of supporting working waterfronts... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is welcoming the results of a newly released report that examines suicide rates by job function in the Armed Forces. The report, requested by Senator King after working with a Maine constituent, identifies key trends to help the Department of Defense (DoD) address suicide risk amongst higher risk job specialties and identify underlying cultural issues affecting the mental health of America’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King called on the Department of Defense (DoD) to fast-track its adoption of new technologies in order to allow America’s armed services to compete on the global stage more effectively. In an exchange with Jane Harman, Chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, King questioned why the DoD’s budget for directed energy has significantly fallen in recent years as the low-cost technology... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King welcomed the Senate passage of bipartisan legislation they cosponsored to better protect kids online. The Kids Online Safety Act will provide kids and parents with new tools to protect minors online, hold Big Tech accountable for harm to kids, and provide transparency into these companies’ proprietary algorithms. The bill passed in a vote of 91-3. “Far too many children across the nation are at risk online. We must ensure that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has been recognized as a 2024 “Hero of Main Street” by the National Retail Federation (NRF) for his support of small businesses across Maine. The “Hero of Main Street” award was created by NRF in 2013 to recognize a bipartisan group of lawmakers for their support of the retail industry’s public policy priorities. In Maine, the retail industry supports more than 245,000 local jobs and contributes more than $21 billion in economic activity. “Small... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) welcomed news that his legislation fighting online “deep fakes” has passed the Senate unanimously. The bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act) will protect Americans from sexually-explicit “deepfake” forgeries of their image or likeness, and permit victims to sue perpetrators for up to $150,000. This focuses on fake visual depictions created through the use of software, machine learning,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, today released the July episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast, in which he highlighted the importance of expanding affordable high-speed internet access in rural communities as well as the work being done at the state and federal levels to bolster connectivity. During the podcast, Andrew Butcher, President of the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA), joined Senator King to share his... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing legislation with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs. The Responsibility in Drug Advertising Act would prohibit direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of a new drug in the first three years after the drug receives Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The FDA could waive the third year of this prohibition if an affirmative value to public health is determined, or... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following reports from whistleblowers and former employees at OpenAI voicing safety and security concerns, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined four of his colleagues in calling on artificial intelligence (AI) research company OpenAI to honor its “public promises and mission” regarding essential safety standards. Since its founding in 2015, OpenAI has branded itself as a safety-conscious and responsible research organization. In the letter to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress: “While I am and always have been an unwavering supporter of Israel — and Israel’s right to defend itself and defeat Hamas after October 7 — I strongly disagree with the Netanyahu government’s initial conduct of the war and, especially, its current... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to immediately implement the actions recommended as a result of the Army Reserve and Army Inspector General investigations following the Lewiston shooting. For instance, in the letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the Delegation calls on the DoD to update its Psychological Health Program Standard Operating Procedures,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, is leading the introduction of a bipartisan bill to improve cybersecurity in health care. The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate on improving cybersecurity and make resources available to non-federal entities relating to cyber threat indicators and appropriate... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement in response to President Biden’s announcement ending his presidential campaign: “In his farewell address, George Washington said, ‘that, in withdrawing the tender of service which silence in my situation might imply, I am influenced by no diminution of zeal for your future interest, no deficiency of grateful respect.’ Like our first president, Joe Biden recognizes that the presidency is not about one person, or one... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King has announced that Presque Isle native, Jordyn Madore, has been promoted to Regional Representative for Aroostook County. Madore, who has been working with Senator King for seven years, will also continue to serve as a Constituent Services Representative in Aroostook County. “I am excited to announce the promotion of Jordyn Madore to Regional Representative for Aroostook County, a hard-earned and well-deserved reward for her tireless commitment... Continue Reading »
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined 16 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack expressing their serious concerns about the potential of potato wart spreading from potato imports originating from Canada’s Prince Edward Island (PEI). In the letter, the Senators urged for the implementation of additional mitigation measures to prevent introduction into the United States. Potato wart is a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Presque Isle International Airport is being awarded grant funding for infrastructure upgrades. The Department of Transportation awards, totaling $611,647, will support the construction of a new 15,000 square yard terminal apron to accommodate increased use of larger scheduled passenger aircrafts. The funding will also support updates to the existing pavement management plan, which includes the pavement condition... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King is introducing bipartisan legislation to protect and secure the supply chain of critical minerals. The Global Strategy for Securing Critical Minerals Act of 2024 would ensure that the United States, its allies, and global partners can count on a diverse and secure end-to-end supply of critical minerals. Specifically, the legislation would enhance diplomatic and financial tools to support the procurement and processing of these minerals. Critical... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King, Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, pressed top Defense officials on the most pressing challenges for America’s cyber defense capabilities. In a conversation with Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, the nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, King asked about the U.S. government’s ability to identify the sources of cyber attack — where a hack can originate in a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King has joined in the introduction of critical legislation to protect the affordable housing market in Maine and across the country. The Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act would encourage manufactured home park owners interested in selling their properties to sell the land to their residents, rather than another landlord or a developer. If passed by Congress, this would allow more Americans to stay in their homes and protect them from... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, Co-Chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, today applauded news that the remainder of the previously announced $271,977,723 in funding for the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA) has been approved through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. In November 2022, Senator Collins and King announced... Continue Reading »
