WASHINGTON, D.C. — On this Independence Day, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of “Answering the Call: Maine’s Veteran Voices.” In the 15th interview of the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with Angela Baker of Pittsfield. Baker served with the Army National Guard for 20 years, during which she deployed to Iraq to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans Affairs (SVAC) Committees, is urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to protect servicemembers from traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and the after effects on mental health. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, King suggests that the DOD must take immediate actions to conduct baseline screenings of servicemembers for brain injuries. The letter comes in response to continued Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released the June episode of his “Inside Maine” podcast, in which he highlighted June as ‘Maine Dairy Month’ and discussed the importance of the industry to the state economy. During the podcast, Jenni Tilton-Flood, a dairy advocate and farmer, joined Senator King to share her experiences with dairy farming and how it supports rural communities across the state. Later in the podcast, Patricia Henderson, the Farm Superintendent... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced Downeast Transportation Inc. (DTI) is being awarded $23,529,000 to fund the acquisition of 23 electric buses and charging infrastructure — after they wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressing their support for the project. Supported by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, the award would replace... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined his colleagues in urging the Pentagon to implement policies ensuring access to contraception for service members and their dependents. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Senators call on DOD to comply with the FY 2016 NDAA by revising its pre-deployment form to allow service members to indicate if they would like to receive contraception counseling on the full... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today announced the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is being awarded $25 million to fund community infrastructure projects in the East Deering neighborhood in Portland — months after they expressed support for the project in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Supported by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues are urging the President of Panama to close an essential information-sharing gap critical to preventing Iran from transporting its oil under the Panamanian flag — a clear violation of U.S. sanctions. Iranian oil sanctions imposed in 2018 and 2019 cut off a significant source of revenue the regime uses to fund terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, cartels, nuclear proliferation and other... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announced that the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA) has been awarded $1,299,377 in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch the Rural Energy Futures (REF) project. Through the REF program, 8th-grade students in rural communities across the state will learn math while exploring local energy issues. “This funding will help prepare the next generation... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined the New England congressional delegation in introducing a Senate resolution congratulating the Boston Celtics for winning their record-setting 18th NBA championship against the Dallas Mavericks. “All of New England cheers whenever our Celtics return to the pinnacle of professional basketball,” said Senator Collins. “I am proud to join my New England colleagues in congratulating Coach Joe Mazzulla – a former Maine Red... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is adding his support to bipartisan legislation that supports job flexibility for military spouses and their families. The Resilient Employment and Authorization Determination to Increase the National Employment of Serving Spouses (READINESS) Act, developed by current and former federally employed military spouses, aims to encourage the retainment of military spouses across the federal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement marking Juneteenth, a day also known as “Emancipation Day,” which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States: “For more than 150 years, Juneteenth has reflected the contradiction inherent in America’s identity – it is both a celebration of the freedom that defines our national character, and a reminder that we are only a few generations removed from the inhumane institution of slavery. But the path to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee (SASC), announced today that Eastport will receive a port visit during the city’s 2024 Fourth of July celebration. The U.S. Navy has committed to sending the guided missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), which has a crew complement of approximately 280 sailors. The Eastport Fourth of July parade and festival is the largest in the state and draws thousands of Maine people... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) are introducing bipartisan legislation to help older 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) and create a falls prevention coordinator role there. The legislation would also create a pilot program for incorporating falls prevention programs into VA home modification... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), has joined bipartisan legislation to honor World War II nurses with a Congressional Gold Medal. The WWII Nurses Congressional Gold Medal Act will award the more than 59,000 Army Nurses and 14,000 Navy Nurses who bravely served in World War II with a Congressional Gold Medal. Nurses like Helen Siragusa, who passed away in Winthrop last year at 100 years old, were the true embodiment of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), hailed the bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) out of committee after more than sixteen hours of deliberation. This legislation will strengthen America’s national security, support our men and women in uniform, and boost the economies of Maine communities through shipbuilding and the hundreds of businesses that serve the military’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C —U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) has joined bipartisan legislation to award Navy Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. with the Congressional Gold Medal in honor of his service in the Vietnam War. On August 5, 1964, while flying Operation Pierce Arrow, Commander Alvarez’s A-4 Skyhawk was shot down, and he became the first aviator captured in Vietnam. He spent eight years and six months in captivity,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.— As fraudsters prey on Medicare recipients nationwide, U.S. Senator Angus King is calling on the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to better protect fraud victims from losing access to Medicare subsidies. In a letter to SSA Administrator Martin O’Malley and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, King calls on the two agencies to change existing Medicare regulations so that fraud victims can substantiate fraud claims... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has joined legislation to protect access to fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). The Right to IVF Act would guarantee access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), which is most frequently used via IVF. Each year, roughly 2% of all infants born in the United States are conceived through ART treatments. “In-vitro fertilization (IVF), and other common fertility treatments, have given hope to women across Maine who want to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Senate NATO Observer Group (SNOG), has joined a bipartisan resolution to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It comes in anticipation of the 2024 NATO Summit which will take place July 9-11 in Washington, D.C. The resolution expresses support for the NATO Alliance, recognizes its accomplishments over... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), has joined legislation that will close an existing loophole and allow Purple Heart recipients who receive this distinction after their discharge to transfer their GI bill benefits to their dependents. In 2017, Congress passed the Forever GI Bill, which incentivized servicemembers to continue serving in the military by allowing them to transfer GI bill benefits to their dependents after... Continue Reading »
