{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", party = \"Independent\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans", "Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-december-podcast-king-highlights-maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans", "In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans", "2017-12-30", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 30, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the December edition of his Inside Maine podcast. In this edition, Senator King speaks with Travis Mills, a retired Army veteran, quadruple amputee and founder of the Travis Mills Foundation in Maine. Senator King then speaks with Jack Richards, a veteran and board member of the Veteran Mentors of Maine program. Senator King and his guests discuss how best help Maine veterans successfully transition into civilian life after service.\r\nMaine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country; theyre our friends, our neighbors, and our heroes, said Senator King. These veterans deserve our utmost gratitude, and our continuous support  particularly as they transition back into civilian life. Thats why it was so great to talk with Travis Mills and Jack Richards, both veterans themselves who have gone the extra mile to help struggling veterans regain a sense of purpose and direction. Travis and Jacks efforts give these men and women an opportunity to realize their full potential  it was an honor to speak to them and learn more about their important and meaningful work.\r\nRetired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a motivational speaker and advocate for veterans and amputees. While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Travis lost portions of both his arms and legs in Afghanistan from an IED. He is only one of five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive the injuries. Since then, hes created the Travis Mills Foundation, a Maine-based non-profit aimed at supporting injured veterans and their families. The Foundations work includes the establishment of the Travis Mills Foundation Veteran Retreat, which brings injured veterans and their family to Maine in order to help the veterans overcome physical obstacles with the support of family members. Jack Richards serves on the board of the Veteran Mentors of Maine, a non-profit organization that supports and mentors Maine veterans in the justice system.\r\nSince arriving in Washington, Senator King has been a strong advocate for veterans issues. Earlier this month, Senator King announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health or substance abuse issues  a move which comes after his February letter to the Department urging additional resources on the topic. Over Veterans Day weekend, he joined members of the community toobserve Veterans Day at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou, where he provided keynote remarks and participated in the wreath laying ceremony. He also spoke at the opening of the Maine Troop Greeters Museum at Bangor International Airport, and presented World War II Veteran and Penobscot Tribal Elder with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Last month, Sen. King also announced his support fortwo bills to protect and support American veterans.\r\nThese are just the latest examples of Senator Kings support for Maines veteran population. Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has supported multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support American veterans. In the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA, Senator Kingcosponsored a bipartisan amendment authored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that would encourage cooperation and integration between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense with their electronic health care record systems to improve the transition from active duty to veteran status and ensure that veterans wont have to wait to gain access to the health care services they have earned. He also supported an amendment authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that would encourage the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to assess the feasibility of establishing a joint office to house an interagency task force on suicide prevention. Senator King supports the coordination between the departments so that those who have served do not slip through the cracks. He is a strong supporter of theVeterans Choice Program, which helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health care within their communities and allows veterans in Northern Maine to seamlessly utilize community care as they formerly did under the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot.In August, the President signed into lawVeterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act,legislation he cosponsored that would overhaul the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) appeals process.\r\nThe Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator Kings work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator Kings podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on almost every last Saturday of the month.\r\nA link to the December podcast can be found HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on Republican Tax Plan", "2017-12-27", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 27, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 27  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the Republican tax plan:\r\n\"The Republicans are so desperate to spin their disastrous tax plan that they have resorted to taking comments I recently made completely out of context. Let me set the record straight.\r\n\"The Trump-Republican tax plan is one of the worst pieces of legislation in the modern history of our country. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, 83 percent of the tax benefits in that bill go to the top 1 percent at the end of 10 years and 60 percent of the benefits go to the top one-tenth of 1 percent. On the other hand, by the end of the decade, 92 million middle-class Americans will actually be paying more in taxes, including 8 million in the first year alone. Further, this legislation will result in 13 million people losing their health insurance while substantially raising premiums all across the country. It also raises the deficit by $1.4 trillion, laying the groundwork for House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans to call for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other important programs in the name of 'deficit reduction.'\r\n\"Instead of this grossly obscene piece of legislation, let's pass tax reform that permanently benefits all middle-income and working-class families without giving tax breaks to the top 1 percent. Instead of providing huge tax breaks to the rich and large corporations that explode the deficit, which this bill does, millionaires, billionaires and large, profitable corporations must begin paying their fair share of taxes. Then, among other things, we can permanently double the standard deduction, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, re-instate the personal exemptions and make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable  without increasing the debt future generations will inherit.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on Republican Tax Plan", "2017-12-27", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 27, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 27  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday regarding the Republican tax plan:\r\n\"The Republicans are so desperate to spin their disastrous tax plan that they have resorted to taking comments I recently made completely out of context. Let me set the record straight.\r\n\"The Trump-Republican tax plan is one of the worst pieces of legislation in the modern history of our country. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, 83 percent of the tax benefits in that bill go to the top 1 percent at the end of 10 years and 60 percent of the benefits go to the top one-tenth of 1 percent. On the other hand, by the end of the decade, 92 million middle-class Americans will actually be paying more in taxes, including 8 million in the first year alone. Further, this legislation will result in 13 million people losing their health insurance while substantially raising premiums all across the country. It also raises the deficit by $1.4 trillion, laying the groundwork for House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republicans to call for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other important programs in the name of 'deficit reduction.'\r\n\"Instead of this grossly obscene piece of legislation, let's pass tax reform that permanently benefits all middle-income and working-class families without giving tax breaks to the top 1 percent. Instead of providing huge tax breaks to the rich and large corporations that explode the deficit, which this bill does, millionaires, billionaires and large, profitable corporations must begin paying their fair share of taxes. Then, among other things, we can permanently double the standard deduction, expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, re-instate the personal exemptions and make the Child Tax Credit fully refundable  without increasing the debt future generations will inherit.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-application-period-for-assistance-to-firefighters-grant", "Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grant", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grant\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Tuesday, December 26 at 8:00am. The application period will close Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5:00pm.This year, Maine applicants received more than $2.3 million in grants ranging from $10,000 to $349,143 in FY16 funds.\r\nThe Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to apply for funding through this program to help obtain the vital resources they need to do their jobs and keep our communities safe.\r\nThe AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations in improving their emergency response capabilities. The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect emergency personnel and the communities they serve.\r\nSenator Collins serves as the Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Senator King is a member of the Caucus.\r\nGrant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants can be found HERE and the AFG Get Ready Guide can be found HERE. Applicants that require assistance should contact the AFG Help Desk by email at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-votes-against-continuing-resolution", "Sanders Votes Against Continuing Resolution", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Votes Against Continuing Resolution\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 21  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after voting against a temporary spending bill:\r\n\"I voted no on the continuing resolution because it is unconscionable for Congress to go home for the holidays while leaving major crises unresolved. There are 800,000 Dreamers in this country who are on the verge of losing their legal status and who could soon be subject to deportation if we do not act. For three months, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and the community health center program have not been reauthorized or fully funded. Millions of children and families are wondering whether they will be able to continue to receive health care. Over 1.5 million older workers and retirees will soon see the pensions they were promised cut by up to 60 percent if Congress does not do its job.\r\n\"It would simply be wrong to pass another continuing resolution. These problems must be addressed, and they must be addressed now.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-votes-against-continuing-resolution", "Sanders Votes Against Continuing Resolution", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Votes Against Continuing Resolution\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 21  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after voting against a temporary spending bill:\r\n\"I voted no on the continuing resolution because it is unconscionable for Congress to go home for the holidays while leaving major crises unresolved. There are 800,000 Dreamers in this country who are on the verge of losing their legal status and who could soon be subject to deportation if we do not act. For three months, the Childrens Health Insurance Program and the community health center program have not been reauthorized or fully funded. Millions of children and families are wondering whether they will be able to continue to receive health care. Over 1.5 million older workers and retirees will soon see the pensions they were promised cut by up to 60 percent if Congress does not do its job.\r\n\"It would simply be wrong to pass another continuing resolution.These problems must be addressed, and they must be addressed now.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-calls-on-senate-leaders-to-prioritize-public-health-funding", "King Calls on Senate Leaders to Prioritize Public Health Funding", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Calls on Senate Leaders to Prioritize Public Health Funding\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 20, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged Senate leaders to continue funding the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) at current levels. The letter comes as the Congress discusses a plan to continue funding the government that threatens to cut $6.35 billion in funding from the PPHF.\r\nPrevention remains one of the key means by which our nation can combat public health outbreaks and emergencies, Senator King wrote in the letter. Prevention is also very cost effective  while the nation at large spends $3 trillion annually on health care, less than 3 percent of this amount is dedicated to prevention and public health. The federal government plays a critical role in managing public health. Prevention and public health efforts are particularly critical for states like Maine with a substantial rural component.\r\nThe Prevention and Public Health Fund, created as part of the Affordable Care Act, represents the nations largest investment in prevention initiatives and is used to fund critical public health programs  including childhood immunizations, smoking cessation, and lead poisoning prevention  in every state. Maine has also received block grants, allowing the state to pursue innovative approaches to unique local health problems.\r\nSince 2010, Maine has received $39 million in funding from the PPHF, including nearly $5 million in FY 2017. Under the original proposal to fund the government, the state stands to lose $14.8 million over the next five years, more than half of the previously budged amount.\r\nThe text of the letter, which was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) can be found HERE and below.\r\n\r\n++++\r\nDecember 20, 2017\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Chuck Schumer\r\nMajority Leader Minority Leader\r\nUnited States Senate United States Senate\r\nWashington DC 20510  Washington DC 20510\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Orrin Hatch The Honorable Ron Wyden\r\nChair, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee\r\nUnited States Senate United States Senate\r\nWashington DC 20510  Washington DC 20510\r\nDear Senators McConnell, Schumer, Hatch, and Wyden,\r\nI write to express serious concern about H.J.Res. 124, the continuing resolution and Childrens Health Insurance Program authorization extension, which executes drastic cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, to a total of $6.35 billion. As the Senate works to fund the government and reauthorize a critical guarantor of child health, I encourage you to avoid further cutting the PPHF from current levels.\r\nPrevention remains one of the key means by which our nation can combat public health outbreaks and emergencies. Prevention is also very cost effectivewhile the nation at large spends $3 trillion annually on health care, less than 3 percent of this amount is dedicated to prevention and public health. The federal government plays a critical role in managing the public health.\r\nPrevention and public health efforts are particularly crucial for states like Maine with a substantial rural component. Research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that rural areas of the United States bear higher rates of all manner of conditions, from higher infant mortality to greater rates of death from heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory diseases, and stroke. In many cases, the costs to treat preventable conditions that advance to chronic disease are 7 (or more) times those of preventive measures.\r\nMaine has received $39 million from the PPHF since 2010, and these funds have gone to support evidence-based community prevention activities specifically tailored to meet local needs and preferences. For example, in FY 16 alone:\r\n \r\nMaine received approximately $75,000 for tobacco use prevention. This money was then used to air the CDCs Tips from Smokers campaign, yielding a 443 percent increase to 1-800-QUIT-NOW in the first week alone.\r\nMaine received $1.2 million in grants for the Maine CDC to help program and coordinate four CDC programs (diabetes; heart disease and stroke; nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; and school health) that work to prevent chronic diseases by addressing common risk factors, particularly among youth and critical populations.\r\nThe Epidemiology and Lab Capacity Grants provided Maine with $641,429 to support the ability of local health departments to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks.\r\nThe state Department of Health and Human Services received $1.68 million to improve access to vaccines, both to children and adults.\r\nThe Preventive Health and Health Service block grant provided Maine with $1.56 million, allowing Maine to address its own unique public health challenges in innovative and locally determined fashion.\r\n \r\nUnder the terms of H.J.Res. 124, Maine stands to lose $14.8 million over the next five years, a cut of more than half the amount previously budgeted. This will severely hamper efforts to provide for Mainers public health and wellbeing.\r\nThere is an old saying that used to be more common than it is now: Lets not be penny-wise and pound-foolish. When it comes to the health of Mainers and, indeed, all Americans, being penny wise on prevention will result only in dollar-foolish spending of several times more money to treat the more serious resulting conditions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-demands-congress-protect-dreamers-fund-chcs-and-chip-before-going-home", "Sanders Demands Congress Protect Dreamers, Fund CHCs  CHIP Before Going Home", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Demands Congress Protect Dreamers, Fund CHCs & CHIP Before Going Home\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 20, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 20  In a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said it would be unacceptable for Congress to break for the holidays without protecting Dreamers, funding community health centers and the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and addressing a number of other issues critical to working families.\r\nIt really would be unconscionable to leave Washington after giving tax breaks to billionaires and large corporations, while we ignore the enormous problems facing the middle class and working families of our country, Sanders said.\r\nIn his speech, he outlined the priorities that must be addressed before the end of the year.\r\nDACA:Any end of the year spending agreement must address the fear and uncertainty unnecessarily caused by the administrations reckless actions, and a clean DREAM Act must be signed into law. This is not just what Bernie Sanders wants.A Quinnipiac poll came out the other day in which 77 percent of the American people supported maintaining legal status for these young people and allowing them to move forward towards citizenship.\r\nCommunity Health Centers:If we do not act soon, 70 percent of community health center funding will be cut, and 2,800 health centers will close their doors.Further, 51,000 jobs will be lost, and 9 million patients will lose access to their health care. That would be unacceptable. Community Health Centers must funded at the levels contained in the bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year by Senators Blunt and Stabenow.\r\nChildrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP):If CHIP is not reauthorized,9 millionchildren in working families will lose their health insurance. These children are covered by CHIP because their families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private health insurance. Anything short of a full CHIP reauthorization will cause unnecessary confusion and stress for working families and their children.And this re-authorization must not be offset by slashing the prevention fund or other unacceptable offsets.\r\nMulti-Employer Pensions:If Congress does not act soon, the earned pension benefits of more than 1.5 million workers and retirees in multi-employer pension plans could be cut by up to 60 percent. When a worker is promised a pension benefit after a lifetime of hard work that promise must be kept. Congress needs to act before the end of the year to make sure that no one in America in a multi-employer pension plan will see their pension cut.\r\nSocial Security Administration:Since 2010, Congress has cut Social Securitys operating budget by 16 percent and Republicans want to cut it another 4 percent this year.According to a recentWashington Post article, 10,000 people died in the past year waiting for a decision on Social Security disability benefits. We need to increase funding for these vital services by at least $1.4 billion just to bring staffing back up to 2010 levels.\r\nStudent Loan Forgiveness:Because of problems with student loan servicing and complicated program requirements, there are tens of thousands of student loan borrowers who might not get the forgiveness theyve earned. That would be unacceptable. Congress must fix this problem now to make sure that 150,000 Americans can receive the student loan forgiveness they have earned and deserve.\r\nRural Infrastructure:Rural America is being shortchanged by the current, arbitrary funding caps set under the Budget Control Act.We need to bolster infrastructure investments in rural America by more than $2 billion, which are not being adequately funded under the current, arbitrary funding caps set by the Budget Control Act.\"\r\nFight the Opioid and Mental Health Epidemic: With this upcoming funding bill, Congress needs to double funding for mental health. That would send an extra billion dollars to programs that right now support treatment for more than 7 million people and provide training and resources to help identify mental health crises.\r\nTo watch Sanders' speech,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/sharing-the-holidays-with-vermont-seniors", "Sharing the Holidays with Vermont Seniors", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-update-from-cms-king-announces-that-special-enrollment-period-for-maine-people-affected-by-october-storm-runs-through-december-31st_", "Following Update from CMS, King Announces That Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected by October Storm Runs Through December 31st", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Update from CMS, King Announces That Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected by October Storm Runs Through December 31st  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tIndividuals Affected By October Wind Storm Do Not Need to Provide Additional Documentation To Qualify; In November, King Wrote Letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma Requesting Extension\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 19, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and healthcare assisters working to sign Maine people up for healthcare through the Affordable Care Act have received additional guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, telling them that people in Maine affected by Octobers wind storm can sign up for coverage through December 31st, and will not require any additional documentation to qualify. The new information provides an update to CMS Administrator Seema Vermas response to Senator Kings request for an extension of open enrollment for affected areas of Maine.\r\nThe October wind storm caused hundreds of thousands of Maine people to lose power just as the Open Enrollment period began, Senator King said. In what was already a shortened open enrollment period, those were valuable days during which many in Maine were not able to explore the different plans available or purchase coverage. Im grateful to CMS and Administrator Verma for recognizing the hardship this posed to our state, and urge our states affected citizens to take advantage of this renewed opportunity to secure healthcare for 2018.\r\nPer Administrator Vermas letter to Senator King, any resident of Maine who did not secure coverage by the end of the Open Enrollment Period and was affected by the wind storm should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to speak with a Marketplace representative.\r\nThe ACAs Open Enrollment Period, which ended on December 15th,had previously been shortened from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, and included a 12 hour shutdown of the Affordable Care Act website during most weekends. Earlier this year, Senator King hosted three events in South Portland, Lewiston and Bangor to highlight the importance of healthcare coverage to protect individuals and families from medical or financial trouble in the event of an unexpected injury or illness. He also sought to raise awareness of the shortened deadline, and the wide range of affordable plans that were available on the Marketplace.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/on-senate-floor-king-calls-on-colleagues-to-focus-on-expired-soon-to-expire-essential-services", "On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-veterans-hold-conversation-on-new-va-positions-in-maine", "King, Veterans Hold Conversation on New VA Positions in Maine", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Veterans Hold Conversation on New VA Positions in Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME  U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined local veterans and veteran advocates at American Legion Post 153 in Auburn to discuss the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement, made last week, that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention.\r\n Hearing from veterans who have seen the value of the Veterans Justice Program firsthand is a powerful testament to the programs importance and once again underscores our collective responsibility to care for the veterans who have cared for us, Senator King said. These new positions in our home state will strengthen outreach efforts to Maine veterans and support them in a time of need. I am grateful to the veterans, mentors, and advocates who joined the conversation this morning and look forward to working together to help our veterans and support our community.\r\nIncluded in the conversation were graduates of the Maine Co-Occuring Disorders and Veterans Court, Veterans Mentors of Maine, and founder of the first Maine veterans court Justice Nancy Mills. Participants in the Maine Co-Occuring Disorders and Veterans Court, which works in cooperation with the Veterans Justice Program, meet with a judge each week, meet multiple times a week with an assigned case manager, and attend intensive outpatient treatment.If a higher level of care is needed, referrals are made to residential facilities. Case managers assist participants in securing safe and affordable housing and accessing employment and educational opportunities.\r\nIn February, Senator Kingwrote to the VAurging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine.\r\nThe Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. The Veterans Justice Program includes both the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) and the Health Care for Reentry Veterans programs and has seen widespread success. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society. About 440 Maine veterans have received services through the program since 2010.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-king-calls-on-colleagues-to-focus-on-expired-soon-to-expire-essential-services", "On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tWhile essential programs and services go unfunded, Congress forcing through tax reform on arbitrary deadline\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged his colleagues in Congress to focus their legislative priorities on essential programs and services that have expired or are set to expire before the end of the year. During his speech, Senator King highlighted the misguided decision to force through tax reform based on an arbitrary deadline instead of addressing funding for some of the nations most pressing issues. Essential programs and services ranging from the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to FEMA Disaster Relief have gone unfunded or have not been reauthorized this fall, with many more programs in jeopardy if they are not addressed by the end of 2017.\r\nI want to talk about deadlines missed, and deadlines that dont exist, Senator King said. I don't know where else, other than in this body, where deadlines, which have enormous implications and enormous importance, are simply ignored. Now, I just sat in the last day or so and put together some real deadlines that we have in the law right now. What are they? Well, the Children's Health Insurance Program, deadline September 30, 2017. That's gone. That's passed. I can give you 23,000 reasons that we should have met that deadline. That's the number of young people in Maine that are covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program. Nine million nationwide. But we missed the deadline. Why? I can't find any reason. We don't know anything now that we didn't know in the middle of September or in August when we could have passed this program, but we just blew right by it. Maybe it's because none of our kids are in this program. I venture to say if the children of the members of the United States Senate were in the CHIP program, we would have met that deadline. But we didn't\r\nNow at the bottom of my chart of priorities is tax reform. Boy, are we going to make that deadline. The only problem is it doesn't exist. There's no deadline for that. There was no deadline. It's not December 22. It's not Christmas. It's not New Year's. It's a self-imposed deadline that's not in law anywhere. And I agree, we need to do tax reform, but we have been doing it on an unprecedented scale and speed that's unnecessary. We have missed and ignored all these real deadlines in exchange for focusing all of our attention on a fake deadline. Sure, it would be nice to get it done. We could have gotten it done. It could have been done on a bipartisan basis. We could have started last summer, and we would have had a bill just like the bill that emerged from the HELP Committee with regard to health care on a bipartisan basis. But instead, it was a closed process done with unprecedented speed with virtually no hearings, no real hearings on the bill, no serious outside experts, no analysis of what's in it. We have been given a 500-page bill that we're going to vote on probably in a day or so. And yet, we're racing to meet a deadline that didn't exist.\r\nSenator Kings floor speech follows his outreach this past Friday to health professionals, parents, and advocates at Greater Portland Health in Portland to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The authorization for CHIP expired at the end of September, putting millions of low-income children across the country at risk of losing their health coverage. Funding for FQHCs is also currently in jeopardy, as Congress has not acted to reauthorize the Community Health Centers Fund, which provides 70 percent of all federal funding for FQHCs across the country.\r\nIn his speech, Senator King also focused on the failure of Congress to appropriately address discretionary spending levels for Fiscal Year 2018; the uncertainty of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program; the National Flood Insurance Program, due to lapse at the end of this week; Medicare Extenders, set to expire at the end of 2017; and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Reauthorization Act. FISA Section 702, a critical part of U.S. national security policy will sunset on December 31, 2017 without Congressional action.\r\nChart 1: List of deadlines awaiting Congressional action\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/report-republican-tax-bill-hands-15-corporations-236-billion-tax-break", "Report: Republican Tax Bill Hands 15 Corporations $236 Billion Tax Break", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Report: Republican Tax Bill Hands 15 Corporations $236 Billion Tax Break\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 18  The Republican tax bill, which will be voted upon this week, will provide 15 of the largest and most profitable American corporations a $236 billion tax cut, according to a report prepared for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) by the Senate Budget Committee Democratic staff.\r\nIn the final legislation released Friday night, Republicans are offering corporations a nearly 20 percent tax cut to repatriate trillions of dollars stashed in offshore tax havens. The proposed 15.5 percent rate would be a boondoggle for profitable, multinational corporations.\r\nAfter making $59 billion in profits last year, Apple would be the biggest winner with a tax break as large as $47.97 billion on the $246 billion it has stashed in offshore tax havens.\r\nPfizer, with $775 million in 2016 profits, would receive up to a $38.8 billion tax cut; Microsoft up to a $27.7 billion cut after last years profits topped $20 billion; and, with $10.2 billion profits last year,General Electric would receive a tax break of up to $15.99 billion.\r\nA repatriation tax holiday has not worked in the past and will not work now, according to the report. As part of the 2004 American Jobs Creation Act, corporations were allowed to repatriate funds at a 5.25 percent tax rate with the assumption that the money would be used to boost the economy and create jobs. Instead, corporations brought $312 billion to the US and spent it on executive pay raises and stock buy backs.\r\n- In 2004, Pfizer repatriated $35.5 billion, fired 11,748 workers and gave its executives a raise of $12.8 million.\r\n- In 2004, Johnson & Johnson repatriated $10.6 billion, fired 4,062 workers, and gave its executives a raise of more than $32.8 million. The companystands to gain a tax cut of up to $12.9 billion tax break as a result of the Republican tax bill.\r\nDuring the debate over tax reform, corporate leaders have acknowledged that they will use repatriated funds to pay down debt or turn the gains over to their shareholders. They have made it clear that they have no intention of using the influx of cash to create jobs or invest in the American economy.\r\nThis report is further proof that the Republican tax bill is a massive giveaway to the largest corporations in the country and the wealthiest individuals. Meanwhile, while the very rich get much richer more than half of middle class families will pay more in taxes at the end of ten years. Further, by running up a $1.4 trillion deficit, the Republicans are paving the way for massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. This is a tax bill written for wealthy Republican campaign contributors, not for the average American. It must be defeated,\" Sanders said.\r\nTo read the report,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-congress-must-not-break-until-it-deals-with-major-crises", "Sanders: Congress Must Not Break Until it Deals With Major Crises", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders: Congress Must Not Break Until it Deals With Major Crises\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 18  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Monday regarding the end-of-year spending bill:\r\n\"As I have stated many times, Congress must not break for recess unless it addresses some of the major crises facing this country. While Republicans believe that tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations is the nation's major priority, I strongly disagree. Here are some of the issues that Congress must deal with now.\r\n\"We must act now to prevent 800,000 Dreamers, young people who were raised in this country and know no other home, from losing their legal status. Any end of the year spending agreement must address the fear and uncertainty unnecessarily caused by the administration's reckless actions, and a clean Dream Act must be signed into law.\r\n\"We must not allow 9 million children to lose their health insurance because the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has not been re-funded. As of December 6th, nine states have already exhausted their 2017 funding, and 16 more states will exhaust their funding by the end of next month. Full funding for CHIP must be reauthorized.\r\n\"It has been more than two months since funding for the Community Health Center program has lapsed. If we do not act very soon, health care for the 27 million Americans who utilize community health centers will be threatened. Lives will be lost. Unnecessary suffer will occur. The community health center program must be fully funded.\r\n\"If Congress does not act soon, the earned pension benefits of more than 1.5 million workers and retirees in multi-employer pension plans could be cut by up to 60 percent. When a worker is promised a pension benefit after a lifetime of hard work that promise must be kept. Congress needs to act before the end of the year to make sure that no American in a multi-employer pension plan will see their pension cut.\"\r\nSanders and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) authored an op-ed in The New York Times Monday detailing the priorities that should be at the top of Congress' agenda at the end of the year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-greater-portland-health-king-calls-on-congress-to-fully-fund-health-care-services-critical-to-maine", "At Greater Portland Health, King Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Health Care Services Critical to Maine", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At Greater Portland Health, King Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Health Care Services Critical to Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined health professionals, parents, and advocates at Greater Portland Health in Portland to underscore the importance of fully funding the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and reauthorizing funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Federal funding for CHIP expired at the end of September, putting millions of low-income children across the country at risk of losing their health coverage. Funding for FQHCs is also currently in jeopardy, as Congress has not acted to reauthorize the Community Health Centers Fund, which provides 70 percent of all federal funding for FQHCs across the country.\r\n Access to top-quality health services helps people care for their families and builds a healthy Maine community, Senator King said. Right now, Congresss neglect to fully fund CHIP and community health centers puts families in our state at an unnecessary risk. This is an abdication of our responsibility to the people we serve. For the hundreds of thousands of Maine people who use these essential services, and for millions more across the country, I urge my colleagues to act now and fund CHIP and Federally Qualified Health Centers.\r\nCHIP provides low-cost health insurance to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but are not able to afford private health insurance. In Maine, CHIP covers 23,000 children, and 9 million children nationwide are covered through the program. In some states, including Maine, CHIP also covers pregnant women.\r\nGreater Portland Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides health care to the greater Portland community and helps uninsured and medically underserved people access the care they need. Senator King is a strong supporter of FQHCs and their mission to provide quality, affordable primary care services to more than 200,000 Maine people.\r\nBefore the discussion at Greater Portland Health, Senator King visited Dorris Farrar, Maines oldest resident, at the Hawthorne House in Freeport. Born in Bar Harbor in 1906, Dorris is a 111-year-old supercentenarian. Senator King visited with Dorris and other residents of the Hawthorne House following a private lunch with Dorris.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-500000-grant-for-aroostook-band-of-micmacs", "Collins, King Announce $500,000 Grant for Aroostook Band of Micmacs", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $500,000 Grant for Aroostook Band of Micmacs\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $500,000 to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs through USDA Rural Developments Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.The funding will be used to construct a two-story, multifunction facility in Presque Isle that will provide space for important tribal programs.\r\nInvesting in infrastructure for the Aroostook Band of Micmacs ensures that the tribe can provide programs crucial to the community, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We applaud the USDA for supporting Maine tribes like the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and helping to strengthen our rural communities.\r\nThe Presque Isle facility will include housing, realty, and assets programs; Head Start; and programs for youth and seniors. In addition, the construction project will include road, water, sewer, and electrical upgrades and a new paved parking area.\r\nUSDA Rural Development programs provide grants and loans to assist economic expansion and job creation. Funds are directed towards infrastructure improvement, business development, homeownership, community services, public safety, and broadband access in rural areas across the country.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-urge-congressional-leadership-to-commit-resources-to-opioid-epidemic", "Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of nine senators in a letter to Leaders McConnell (R-Ky.) and Schumer (D-N.Y.) today calling on them to provide states like Maine with the resources they need to tackle the ongoing opioid epidemic.In their letter, the bipartisan group urged Senate leadership to include additional funding dedicated to addressing the public health crisis in the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation.\r\nOpioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation, wrote the Senators. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package.\r\nAs a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has secured significant funding for addiction treatment services. Earlier this fall, she announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee hasapproved $816 million a $665 million increase over the past two years  for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. The bill directs $500 million to State opioid crisis grants, which were authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill that was championed by Senator Collins and signed into law in December 2016.\r\nSenator King has been a leading proponent of providing additional funding to fight the heroin and opioid crisis, which kills more than one person per day in Maine. He has repeatedly called onCongressand both theObamaandTrumpadministrations to fund laws and agencies that help address the drug epidemic. This fall, heled a letter to the Trump Administrationurging additional funding for the opioid epidemic, and in October he joined with a group of colleagues tointroduce theCombating the Opioid Epidemic Act,legislation that would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance and treatment of opioids. Senator King also recently wrote to President Trump urging him to allow the government to negotiate lower prices for life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs like Naloxone.\r\nThe bipartisan group of senators include U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.).\r\nThe full text of the letter is below and can be read HERE.\r\n+++\r\nDear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer:\r\nWe write today to discuss our Nations opioid misuse epidemic and the urgent need for Congress to provide our states with the resources they need to deal with this public health emergency. In light of recent statements from the administration asking Congress to act on this issue, we believe the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation present significant opportunities for additional funding.\r\nAs you are aware, the opioid misuse epidemic is taking a toll on individuals, families and communities across the Nation. It is tearing apart families and straining the resources of local governments, law enforcement and public health agencies. Although we are pleased by the recent declaration of the epidemic as a public health emergency, that action needs to be coupled with adequate, sustained resources.\r\nOn December 4, Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan stated that the administration is looking forward to hearing from Congress about how they intend to address this. That means it is up to us to act. We urge you to advance a spending package that will provide substantial new resources for our families and our communities who have waited too long for help. Although the measures in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures legislation and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 were important first steps, we must now build upon those efforts to ensure that states have adequate resources for first responders, enforcement, prevention efforts and treatment and recovery services. We must also provide more resources for research into addiction and pain, to gain a better understanding of the disease and develop innovative new treatments for substance misuse.\r\nOpioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package.\r\nThank you and we look forward to working with you to ensure that our communities receive the resources they need to effectively address this national crisis.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-king-letter-centers-for-medicare-and-medicaid-services-agrees-to-provide-a-special-enrollment-period-for-maine-people-affected-by-wind-storm", "Following King Letter, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agrees to Provide a Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected By Wind Storm", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following King Letter, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agrees to Provide a Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected By Wind Storm\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tAnnouncement Comes on Final Day of 2018 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period; King Notes Uncertainty of Individual Eligibility for Special Enrollment Period, Urges Maine People to Enroll Before Todays Deadline\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME  Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) received a response to his November letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in which he urged CMS Administrator Seema Verma to extend the 2018 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period for Maine following the severe storm that caused more than 400,000 Maine people to lose power. In todays letter, the full text of which is included below, Administrator Verma agrees that individuals who were unable to enroll in coveragedue to the impacts of the severe wind-storms and resulting power outages across Maine should qualify for an exceptional circumstances [special enrollment period] The letter does not describe the criteria for attributing the inability to enroll to the wind storm, and does not define how much longer affected Maine people will have to enroll.\r\nFirst and foremost: if you are a Maine resident who has yet to enroll in the 2018 Open Enrollment Period, its not too late to sign up today,Senator King said.I know this posed a challenge for many in Maine: With an already shortened Open Enrollment Period, Octobers storm and the resulting power outages that affected hundreds of thousands in Maine caused a large number of people to lose valuable days that could have been used to explore the different plans available and secure healthcare coverage for 2018. While Im pleased CMS will consider special enrollment periods for those affected by the storm, Administrator Vermas letter does leave several questions open: notably what information is required to qualify, how the determination will be made, and how long the special enrollment periods will be available. Regardless of this possible option, I once again urge the people of Maine to secure coverage for 2018 before todays deadline.\r\nAdministrator Vermas letter comes on the final day of the 2018 Open Enrollment Period. Per the letter, any resident of Maine who has not secured coverage by the end of the Open Enrollment Period and was affected by the storm should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to speak with a Marketplace representative.\r\nThe ACAs Open Enrollment Period had previously been shortened from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, and included a 12 hour shutdown of the Affordable Care Act website during most weekends. Earlier this year, Senator King hosted three events in South Portland, Lewiston and Bangor to highlight the importance of healthcare coverage to protect individuals and families from medical or financial trouble in the event of an unexpected injury or illness. He also sought to raise awareness of the shortened deadline, and the wide range of affordable plans that were available on the Marketplace.\r\nThe full text of Administrator Vermas letter can be found below.\r\n+++\r\nThe Honorable Angus S. King, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senate\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\nDear Senator King:\r\nThank you for your letter requesting that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extend the 2018 Open Enrollment Period for Maine residents served by a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE) so those recovering from the recent wind-storms have additional time to shop for health insurance coverage. We share your concerns related to the ability of affected individuals to review their healthcare coverage options and make decisions within the current open enrollment period.\r\nCMS recognizes that certain exceptional circumstances, including a natural disaster such as a severe wind-storm, can prevent an individual from enrolling in coverage before an open enrollment period expires. In these cases, the FFE has the authority to provide a special enrollment period (SEP) to give these consumers more time to enroll in a health plan. CMS agrees that individuals who were unable to timely enroll in coverage during Open Enrollment due to the impacts of the severe wind-storms and resulting power outages across Maine should qualify for an exceptional circumstances SEP that will provide them more time to enroll in coverage.\r\nTherefore, Maine residents who were unable to complete enrollment during Open Enrollment due to the wind-storms should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to speak with a Marketplace representative. Maine residents who are affected by the wind-storm should provide detailed information about their situation so the Marketplace representative can appropriately assist them. Additional SEP information related to natural disasters is available on HealthCare.gov at https://www.healthcare.gov/sep-list. We intend to publicize the availability of this special enrollment period through assisters and agents in Maine.\r\nCMS is committed to providing help and support to the areas and individuals impacted by this storm. We appreciate your support in assisting individuals in accessing health coverage and recovering from this event. Thank you again for your letter and for sharing your concerns.\r\nSincerely,\r\nSeema Verma", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-va-secretary-to-protect-homeless-veterans-hud-vash-funding", "King Urges VA Secretary to Protect Homeless Veterans, HUD-VASH Funding", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Urges VA Secretary to Protect Homeless Veterans, HUD-VASH Funding\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tKing letter follows reports that VA improperly planned to reallocate funding for HUD-VASH program to VA General Purpose fund\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tPORTLAND, ME  U.S. Senator King (I-Maine) this week wrote to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin urging him to protect homeless veterans and ensure veteran homeless programs are fully funded. The letter follows reports that the VA planned to reallocate funding previously appropriated for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive housing (HUD-VASH) veteran housing voucher program to the VAs General Purpose fund.\r\n I write to express my serious concern over reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considered a reduction in funding for the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) HUD-VASH program during Fiscal Year 2018, Senator King wrote. The HUD-VASH program provides critical housing support to homeless veterans and has played a critical role in reducing veteran homelessness across the nation, and I strongly oppose these types of funding reductions. While I was glad to see the VA announce on December 7, 2017, that there will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs, I found the original proposal highly concerning and urge the VA to continue supporting this successful program...\r\nI plan to work with my colleagues in support of this important program that serves the needs of homeless veterans in Maine and across the country, and I hope that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue as an enthusiastic partner in these efforts to end veteran homelessness.\r\nThe HUD-VASH program is a collaborative effort between the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA that uses targeted vouchers to offer permanent supportive housing opportunities to veterans experiencing homelessness.Among VA homeless continuum of care programs, HUD-VASH enrolls the largest number and largest percentage of veterans who have experienced long-term or repeated homelessness.\r\nSenator Kings letter can be read in full below and is available HERE.\r\n+++\r\nThe Honorable David J. Shulkin, M.D.\r\nSecretary\r\nDepartment of Veterans Affairs\r\n810 Vermont Avenue, Northwest\r\nWashington, D.C. 20420\r\n\r\nDear Mr. Secretary,\r\nI write to express my serious concern over reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considered a reduction in funding for the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) HUD-VASH program during Fiscal Year 2018. A September 2017 VA Memorandum stated that Specific Purpose funding lines, including those allocating funds to the VA-HUD program, would be realigned to General Purpose and allocated to VHA Networks to be used at the discretion of the Network Directors. The HUD-VASH program provides critical housing support to homeless veterans and has played a critical role in reducing veteran homelessness across the nation, and I strongly oppose these types of funding reductions. While I was glad to see the VA announce on December 7, 2017, that there will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs, I found the original proposal highly concerning and urge the VA to continue supporting this successful program.\r\nWhen considering future spending proposals, I strongly support the inclusion of robust funding for HUD-VASH. Consistent funding is important for the continued success of the program, as the long term approach to homelessness, which utilizes VA case managers in addition to vouchers, requires continuity of skilled staff. Thanks in large part to the HUD-VASH program, the number of homeless veterans dropped by 47 percent between 2010 and 2016. Alarmingly, the number of homeless veterans in the United States rose this year for the first time since 2010  emphasizing the continued need for targeted housing and service resources that serve this population. I plan to work with my colleagues in support of this important program that serves the needs of homeless veterans in Maine and across the country, and I hope that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue as an enthusiastic partner in these efforts to end veteran homelessness.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-final-gop-tax-bill", "Sanders Statement on Final GOP Tax Bill", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Final GOP Tax Bill\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 15  U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Friday after Congressional Republicans released their final tax bill:\r\n\"This tax bill is a moral and economic obscenity. It is a gift to wealthy Republican campaign contributors and an insult to the working families of our country. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality this bill would provide the majority of benefits to the top 1 percent and the largest corporations. Unbelievably, at the end of 10 years it would actually raise taxes on millions of middle-class families and, by creating a $1.4 trillion deficit, would pave the way for massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other important programs. No member of Congress should vote for this disastrous legislation.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-final-gop-tax-bill", "Sanders Statement on Final GOP Tax Bill", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Final GOP Tax Bill\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 15, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 15 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Friday after Congressional Republicans released their final tax bill:\r\n\"This tax bill is a moral and economic obscenity. It is a gift to wealthy Republican campaign contributors and an insult to the working families of our country. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality this bill would provide the majority of benefits to the top 1 percent and the largest corporations. Unbelievably, at the end of 10 years it would actually raise taxes on millions of middle-class families and, by creating a $1.4 trillion deficit, would pave the way for massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other important programs. No member of Congress should vote for this disastrous legislation.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-urge-fcc-chairman-to-cancel-vote-on-net-neutrality", "Collins, King Urge FCC Chairman to Cancel Vote on Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Urge FCC Chairman to Cancel Vote on Net Neutrality\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai in support of the agency\u2019s existing net neutrality rules.\u00a0The senators\u2019 letter comes ahead of today\u2019s planned vote by the FCC on rolling back the existing net neutrality protections.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe are writing to urge you to cancel today\u2019s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order,\u201d the Senators wrote in their letter.\u00a0 \u201cRepealing the FCC\u2019s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order\u2019s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America\u2019s ability to realize the internet\u2019s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe complete text of the letter is available HERE and below.\r\n\r\n\r\n+++\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai   Chairman   Federal Communications Commission   445 12th Street, SW   Washington, DC 20554\r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nWe are writing to urge you to cancel today\u2019s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (Docket 17-108). This is a matter of enormous importance with significant implications for our entire economy, and therefore merits the most thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful process that can be provided. The process thus far in this important matter has not met that standard. \u00a0\r\nRepealing the FCC\u2019s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order\u2019s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America\u2019s ability to realize the internet\u2019s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement. \r\nFor decades, FCC chairs from both parties have used a mix of tools including enforcement actions and policy statements to ensure that American consumers can access online content, educational services, and important applications without fear of discriminatory practices or content blocking. Unfortunately, your proposal repeals common sense protections that today prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking lawful content, charging websites and services for access to subscribers, creating pay-for-play fast lanes, and engaging in unreasonable discrimination. The proposal removes basic oversight over broadband provider practices that would impede the internet\u2019s ability to serve our democracy, empower consumers, and fuel economic growth.\r\nBy replacing these protections with a limited transparency requirement and enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), rather than the FCC, this proposal fails to ensure that the open internet will continue to benefit and drive innovation in our economy. The FTC\u2019s definition of anti-competitive conduct would likely allow most violations of current net neutrality protections, including allowing ISPs to charge websites and services for access and fast lanes to customers, promote certain content over others, and to otherwise engage in discriminatory practices.\u00a0\r\nThe open internet has fostered a dynamic digital economy, connected communities, and provided small businesses and startups unlimited opportunities to create and develop content and technologies that have improved lives all across the globe. Net neutrality has ensured that the internet has been a level playing field leading to the online entrepreneurial explosion unparalleled in American history, changing nearly every facet of Americans\u2019 lives and bringing efficiency to every market in our economy. Removing these protections - and thus market certainty - would cause immediate harm to the innovation economy. Access fees, fast lanes, and preferential treatment of content would undermine the openness of the internet and disproportionately hurt\u00a0startups\u2019 and small businesses\u2019 ability to compete with entrenched incumbents, discouraging investment in early stage companies. \r\nBeyond these market effects, the proposal removes FCC oversight over interconnection points that allow rural carriers to connect with the rest of the internet, and hinders rural carriers\u2019 ability to deploy broadband in underserved areas, undermining efforts to bring adequate broadband to all Americans. This is especially important in the context of information services. We also believe it is critical that the FCC craft a framework to ensure that no carrier\u2019s network management practices have the effect of degrading the customer experience on other networks. Simply repealing the 2015 Net Neutrality rules will not put that framework into place. The FCC should not set aside the 2015 framework without addressing the legitimate concerns of rural providers and ensuring the availability of tools to support the continued buildout of rural broadband. \r\nGiven these concerns, we believe a more careful, deliberative process involving experts and the public is warranted, just as you called for in the 2014 proceedings. We respectfully ask that the Commission cancel the vote on the proposed order as scheduled and give Congress and the FCC the time to hold public hearings in 2018 in order to investigate the best way to ensure citizens and our economy have strong net neutrality protections that guarantee consumer choice, free markets, and continued growth. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter and please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bill-to-encourage-energy-independence-support-21st-century-grid", "King Introduces Bill to Encourage Energy Independence, Support 21st Century Grid", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Introduces Bill to Encourage Energy Independence, Support 21st Century Grid\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today introduced the Next Generation Grid Resources and Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act. The legislation would encourage energy independence, foster innovation, and leverage federal resources to support a more resilient 21st century electricity grid through the use of distributed energy resources (DER). The legislation builds off the Free Market Energy Act, introduced by Senator King in 2015, which created a first-of-its-kind framework to support DER technologies by establishing parameters for consumers to connect their distributed energy resources, like solar panels or battery storage, to the energy grid.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFostering personal energy independence helps people in Maine and across the country lower their energy costs and contribute to the grid all the while supporting innovative technologies that help create jobs,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cBy encouraging a commonsense framework for connecting distributed energy resources to the grid, we can build a diverse, resilient energy system that supports a 21st century economy. From lowering energy costs by increasing the efficiency of our electricity grid, to strengthening the resilience of the system from potential disruption, this bill will help keep the lights on, bolster our national security, and move our country forward.\u201d\r\n\"Maine is a regional leader in the development of innovative, forward-thinking, clean energy sources \u2013 it's critically important that our electric grid keep pace with the change in the types of electricity we use to power our homes and businesses,\u201d said Jeremy Payne, Executive Director of Maine Renewable Energy Association. \u201cSenator King's Next Gen GRID Act helps to ensure state regulators encourage the development of a modern power grid capable of adapting and responding to our societal needs.\u00a0We are fortunate to have someone like Senator King in Washington so that he can leverage his considerable energy knowledge to the benefit of Maine, New England, and the country's power grid.\"\r\n\"We thank Senator King for his forward-thinking policy to modernize our energy system, grow clean renewable energy, and protect the rights of consumers,\" said Maureen Drouin, Executive Director of Maine Conservation Voters. \"The Next Generation GRID Act would knock down barriers to clean energy technology, create a more resilient infrastructure, and promote fairness for homeowners and businesses, making it a win for everyone.\"\r\nAmerica\u2019s electricity grid, which historically moves electricity from power plants to consumers, has remained relatively unchanged over the past 100 years \u2013 but, today, innovative technologies are beginning to fundamentally transform the way electricity is generated and delivered. Those advanced energy assets \u2013 known as distributed energy resources (DER), which can include generation, storage (batteries), efficiency, and demand response, among others \u2013 are being deployed at the edge of the grid, helping to create a more secure, resilient, and independent electricity system.\r\nHowever, as has been seen in Maine, which recently suffered the worst power outage in the state\u2019s history, and in Puerto Rico where millions have been without power, the traditional grid model remains highly vulnerable to disruption. Extended outages like this can lead to lost productivity and serious hardships for businesses and homeowners. The Next Gen GRID Act would offer federal resources for states and utilities to evaluate their electricity systems to identify vulnerabilities and areas where DER could play a greater role to protect critical infrastructure\u2014such as hospitals and schools\u2014or to reduce costs through a more secure and efficient system. These investments would lay the groundwork for a more modern energy system.\r\nIn addition, antiquated policies governing how these new technologies interact with the grid are leading to problems that are largely being addressed in an inconsistent manner around the country and, as a result, are discouraging investment in DER. For example, utilities can levy expensive grid-connection fees that disincentivize consumers from pursuing newer technologies while, without changes in the regulatory structure, utilities are not incentivized to themselves incorporate these technologies into their planning.\r\nThe Next Gen GRID Act \u00a0would establish a set of parameters for the governance of distributed energy resources and retain the authority of each state to design its own set of rules within those parameters to properly reflect the state\u2019s needs. Importantly, the parameters would protect the right of consumers to connect their distributed resources to the grid while also ensuring that grid owners and operators receive proper compensation through a system that would maximize the potential of distributed energy resources in relation to the grid.\r\nBy establishing the criteria for these new technologies, the legislation would provide important guidance to the states, allow for the continued development of these technologies and the jobs they support, foster energy independence at the personal level, and bolster national security by making the electricity grid more resilient.\r\nThrough his work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has been an ardent supporter of innovative strategies to improve the energy grid and lower costs for American people. In September, Senator King announced his support for the\u00a0Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would establish an investment tax credit (ITC) for business and home use of energy storage. Senator King has also supported the Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act, which would amend the Stafford Act, comprehensive legislation that allocates federal natural disaster assistance to state and local governments, to stipulate that funds granted to repair energy systems may be used to build more modern and resilient infrastructure. Senator King also introduced the\u00a0Free Market Energy Act of 2015, which would establish a set of parameters for the governance of distributed energy resources, like storage and solar.\r\nA one page summary of the bill can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-fcc-vote-to-repeal-net-neutrality-protections", "King Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Protections", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Protections\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after today\u2019s vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to roll back the agency\u2019s existing protections on net neutrality:\r\n\u201cDisastrous isn\u2019t strong enough of an adjective to describe today\u2019s decision. This ruling will make it harder for regular people to use the internet, plain and simple. For decades, the internet has leveled the playing field so a mom-and-pop shop in Augusta has the same chance to succeed as a multinational corporation in Silicon Valley; now, internet providers can sell fast lanes to the highest bidder or discriminate against certain content. This change is bad for small businesses, bad for consumers, and bad for the country \u2013 so I\u2019m against it. While I\u2019m confident that the new rules (or lack thereof) will be challenged in court, I\u2019m also open to pursuing a permanent legislative solution to protect a truly free and open internet for all Americans.\u201d\r\nSenator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. This week, he sent two letters to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern about the proposal: one with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) asking Chairman Pai to cancel today\u2019s vote, and another with a group of 38 Senate colleagues urging Chairman Pai to abandon the attempts to repeal net neutrality protections. Last week, in light of reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of fraudulent comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking comment process,\u00a0he urged Chairman Pai\u00a0to delay the planned December 14th\u00a0vote until an investigation of the public record could be conducted. In September 2015, he filed\u00a0an amicus brief\u00a0with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC\u2019s Open Internet rules. He also wrote\u00a0a letter\u00a0to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission\u2019s net neutrality decision urging the FCC to put in place strong, light-touch protections that ensures the internet remains open and free of discriminatory practices.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/-sanders-statement-on-fcc-decision-to-repeal-net-neutrality", "Sanders Statement on FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 14 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality protections:\r\n\"Once again, the Trump administration has sided with big money and against the interests of the American people. The FCC\u2019s vote to end net neutrality is an egregious attack on our democracy. With this decision the internet and its free exchange of information as we have come to know it will cease to exist. The end of net neutrality protections means that the internet will be for sale to the highest bidder, instead of everyone having the same access regardless of whether they are rich or poor, a big corporation or small business, a multimedia conglomerate or a small online publication. At a time when our democratic institutions are already in peril, we must do everything we can to stop this decision from taking effect.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/-sanders-statement-on-fcc-decision-to-repeal-net-neutrality", "Sanders Statement on FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on FCC Decision to Repeal Net Neutrality\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 14 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after the Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal net neutrality protections:\r\n\"Once again, the Trump administration has sided with big money and against the interests of the American people. The FCC\u2019s vote to end net neutrality is an egregious attack on our democracy. With this decision the internet and its free exchange of information as we have come to know it will cease to exist. The end of net neutrality protections means that the internet will be for sale to the highest bidder, instead of everyone having the same access regardless of whether they are rich or poor, a big corporation or small business, a multimedia conglomerate or a small online publication. At a time when our democratic institutions are already in peril, we must do everything we can to stop this decision from taking effect.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/listening-to-vermont-students", "Listening to Vermont Students", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/listening-to-vermont-students_", "Listening to Vermont Students", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/tax-conference-committee-statement", "Tax Conference Committee Statement", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tax Conference Committee Statement\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 13, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSen. Bernie Sanders' prepared statement for the tax conference committee. Sanders is the ranking member of the Budget Committee.\r\nMr. Chairman, as you well know, this is not a real conference committee. It is a sham. According to media reports, much of this legislation has already been written behind closed doors which is consistent with the entire process for this bill from day one.\r\nIn legislation that will have a major impact on our economy there has not been one public hearing, no opportunity to hear from economists, governors, mayors or ordinary Americans who will be impacted by this legislation. \u00a0\r\nThis is legislation that was written for wealthy campaign contributors, for the billionaire class and by the billionaire class. In fact, it is my understanding that over 6,000 lobbyists have worked on this legislation behind closed doors. \u00a0\r\nMr. Chairman, every poll that I have seen shows that by overwhelming numbers the American people do not want this bill to be passed. They know that in the Senate bill, in the midst of massive wealth and income inequality, 62 percent of the tax benefits go to the top 1 percent and 42 percent of the benefits go to the top one-tenth of 1 percent.\r\nIn America today, the very rich are becoming much richer while the middle class continues to shrink, and your solution is to provide 62 percent of the benefits to the top 1 percent.\r\nThe American people also understand that at the end of 10 years, 83 million middle class Americans will see their taxes go up under the Senate bill. They know that, with 13 million Americans losing their health insurance, health care premiums on the individual market will increase by 10 percent. And they also know, that despite years of Republicans telling us how concerned they are about deficits and the national debt, this legislation will increase the deficit by $1.4 trillion over 10 years. \u00a0\r\nAnd, furthermore, the American people are outraged by what Speaker Paul Ryan is proposing. And that is that he wants to offset this $1.4 trillion deficit by making massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And that is where the Republican Party is today. Huge tax breaks for billionaires. And proposals to cut programs that are life and death for working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor.\u00a0\r\nMr. Chairman, just a few examples of the absurdity of this legislation.\u00a0\r\nThe Senate bill provides a 90 percent tax deduction to Wall Street hedge fund managers who become residents of the Virgin Islands, while the House bill increases the taxes of working class graduate students by treating their tuition waivers as taxable income.\r\nAt a time when climate change is ravaging the planet, the Senate bill gives investors in the Keystone Pipeline a 23 percent tax deduction on their profits after this pipeline leaked 210,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.\r\nThe Senate bill provides Pfizer, one of the largest and most profitable drug companies in the country with a $24 billion tax break on their offshore profits, while the House bill tells cancer patients they can no longer receive a tax deduction on their out-of-pocket medical expenses.\r\nThe House bill gives the Koch brothers, who have contributed hundreds of millions into Republican candidates, a tax break on their dark money political contributions, while taking away the tax deduction teachers get for buying school supplies for low-income students who can\u2019t afford pencils, notebooks and crayons.\u00a0\r\nAt a time of massive wealth and income inequality, we need to rebuild the disappearing middle class. We do not need to provide tax breaks to billionaires.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trumps-dod-unprepared-for-climate-adaptation-rejected-recommendations-for-improvement", "Trump's DOD Unprepared for Climate Adaptation, Rejected Recommendations for Improvement", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 \u2013 After reviewing mounting evidence from the Government Accountability Office that climate change has reduced military readiness, President Donald Trump's administration rejected the science attributing extreme weather events to climate change as well as recommendations to monitor the effects of climate change.\r\nThe Pentagon\u2019s rejection of established climate science comes in response to a new GAO report prepared for Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). The study, reviewing the Pentagon\u2019s efforts to plan for the impact of climate change on military bases in overseas locations, was requested in early 2016.\r\n\u00a0DOD has publicly acknowledged since 2010 that climate change is a threat to national security, and has said in the past that climate change will have serious implications on the ability to maintain and sustain military infrastructure and ensure military readiness. However, the Pentagon does not track how much the impacts of climate change will cost the department and regularly exempts key national security sites from vulnerability assessments, making it harder for DOD to effectively manage and budget for climate-related risks, according to a new report GAO prepared. New installations are rarely designed to include climate change adaptation because DOD inconsistently includes the relevant information in training and design standards.\r\nIn its review of overseas military installations, GAO found numerous examples of potential and observed impacts of climate change-related extreme weather on DOD infrastructure and operations, including flooding, facility damage, water shortages, power outages, increased maintenance and encroachment on training. Many of these events threaten the United States\u2019 military preparedness.\r\nIn response to GAO\u2019s recommendation that DOD require installations to systematically and comprehensively track the costs associated with extreme weather and climate change, President Trump\u2019s Department of Defense said last month that the science attributing extreme weather events to climate change \u201cis not supported\u201d by previous GAO reports, and that associating extreme weather events to climate change \u201cdoes not warrant the time and money\u201d necessary to do so.\r\nDOD also rejected recommendations that the Army, Navy and Air Force take steps to administer climate-change vulnerability assessments to relevant locations, saying that the qualitative nature of the assessments render them \u201cnot a useful tool\u201d for making long-term decisions.\r\n\"With President Trump as commander in chief, the Department of Defense, which previously called climate change a national security threat, now questions the science linking increasingly common extreme weather events to climate change. This is unacceptable and could severely jeopardize our military readiness. The Department of Defense should be doing all it can to fight the causes and prepare for the impacts of climate change to prevent threats to our national security, not questioning virtually the entire scientific community,\" Sanders said.\r\n\u201cIn this report, the nonpartisan GAO finds that climate change is real, that its effects (like sea level rise) are tangibly impacting military bases around the world, and that there is clear public benefit to doing something about it,\u201d said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee. \u201cThis follows on previous GAO reports showing clear challenges facing domestic military bases like Naval Station Norfolk. When scientists, the Department of Defense, Hampton Roads military and civilian leaders, and the federal government\u2019s accountability watchdog all agree that climate change is real and needs to be addressed, we should listen to them. Denial is not an option.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe U.S. defense community has consistently issued warning about climate change being a \u2018threat multiplier.\u2019 To postpone action to address and adapt for greater certainty on the causes and effects of climate change, as the Trump Administration is proposing, would be wholly irresponsible and potentially very costly,\u201d said Cardin. \u201cThe findings of this report demonstrate that DOD has worked to understand the challenge, but needs a willingness at the political level, and adequate resources, to do more to lower risk and ensure military readiness in the face of our changing global climate.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Click\u00a0here\u00a0to read the GAO report.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/trumps-dod-unprepared-for-climate-adaptation-rejected-recommendations-for-improvement", "Trump's DOD Unprepared for Climate Adaptation, Rejected Recommendations for Improvement", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 \u2013 After reviewing mounting evidence from the Government Accountability Office that climate change has reduced military readiness, President Donald Trump's administration rejected the science attributing extreme weather events to climate change as well as recommendations to monitor the effects of climate change.\r\nThe Pentagon\u2019s rejection of established climate science comes in response to a new GAO report prepared for Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). The study, reviewing the Pentagon\u2019s efforts to plan for the impact of climate change on military bases in overseas locations, was requested in early 2016.\r\n\u00a0DOD has publicly acknowledged since 2010 that climate change is a threat to national security, and has said in the past that climate change will have serious implications on the ability to maintain and sustain military infrastructure and ensure military readiness. However, the Pentagon does not track how much the impacts of climate change will cost the department and regularly exempts key national security sites from vulnerability assessments, making it harder for DOD to effectively manage and budget for climate-related risks, according to a new report GAO prepared. New installations are rarely designed to include climate change adaptation because DOD inconsistently includes the relevant information in training and design standards.\r\nIn its review of overseas military installations, GAO found numerous examples of potential and observed impacts of climate change-related extreme weather on DOD infrastructure and operations, including flooding, facility damage, water shortages, power outages, increased maintenance and encroachment on training. Many of these events threaten the United States\u2019 military preparedness.\r\nIn response to GAO\u2019s recommendation that DOD require installations to systematically and comprehensively track the costs associated with extreme weather and climate change, President Trump\u2019s Department of Defense said last month that the science attributing extreme weather events to climate change \u201cis not supported\u201d by previous GAO reports, and that associating extreme weather events to climate change \u201cdoes not warrant the time and money\u201d necessary to do so.\r\nDOD also rejected recommendations that the Army, Navy and Air Force take steps to administer climate-change vulnerability assessments to relevant locations, saying that the qualitative nature of the assessments render them \u201cnot a useful tool\u201d for making long-term decisions.\r\n\"With President Trump as commander in chief, the Department of Defense, which previously called climate change a national security threat, now questions the science linking increasingly common extreme weather events to climate change. This is unacceptable and could severely jeopardize our military readiness. The Department of Defense should be doing all it can to fight the causes and prepare for the impacts of climate change to prevent threats to our national security, not questioning virtually the entire scientific community,\" Sanders said.\r\n\u201cIn this report, the nonpartisan GAO finds that climate change is real, that its effects (like sea level rise) are tangibly impacting military bases around the world, and that there is clear public benefit to doing something about it,\u201d said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee. \u201cThis follows on previous GAO reports showing clear challenges facing domestic military bases like Naval Station Norfolk. When scientists, the Department of Defense, Hampton Roads military and civilian leaders, and the federal government\u2019s accountability watchdog all agree that climate change is real and needs to be addressed, we should listen to them. Denial is not an option.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe U.S. defense community has consistently issued warning about climate change being a \u2018threat multiplier.\u2019 To postpone action to address and adapt for greater certainty on the causes and effects of climate change, as the Trump Administration is proposing, would be wholly irresponsible and potentially very costly,\u201d said Cardin. \u201cThe findings of this report demonstrate that DOD has worked to understand the challenge, but needs a willingness at the political level, and adequate resources, to do more to lower risk and ensure military readiness in the face of our changing global climate.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Click\u00a0here\u00a0to read the GAO report.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-23-million-navy-contract-for-bath-iron-works", "Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) a $23,902,104 contract modification. The funding will be used to continue lead yard services for Arleigh Burke-class ships.\r\n\u201cThis funding is critical to ensuring that the highly skilled men and women of Bath Iron Works have the necessary resources to continue building the best, most advanced destroyers in the world,\u201d Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. \u201cWe applaud the Navy for this contract modification that supports the hardworking employees at BIW, strengthens Maine\u2019s economy, and bolsters our national security.\u201d\r\nThis funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for lead yard services. The modification provides engineering and technical assistance for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and tasks include planning and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight III upgrade design efforts.\r\nSenator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-signs-letter-to-fcc-chairman-in-support-of-net-neutrality", "King Signs Letter to FCC Chairman In Support of Net Neutrality", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Signs Letter to FCC Chairman In Support of Net Neutrality\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla) and 37 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to abandon his plan to repeal the agency\u2019s net neutrality rules.\u00a0The senators\u2019 letter comes ahead of a Thursday vote by the FCC on existing net neutrality protections.\r\n\u201cYour plan gives a broadband provider the ability to significantly alter their subscribers\u2019 internet experience,\u201d the Senators wrote.\u00a0 \u201cOnce adopted, this proposal will permit that provider to freely block, slow down or manipulate a consumer\u2019s access to the internet as long as it discloses those practices \u2013 no matter how anti-consumer \u2013 somewhere within mounds of legalese in a new \u2018net neutrality\u2019 policy.\u00a0 \u2026It is a stunning regulatory overreach.\u201d\r\nSenator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. Last week, in light of reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of fraudulent comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking comment process, he urged Chairman Pai to delay the planned December 14th vote until an investigation of the public record could be conducted. In September 2015, he filed\u00a0an amicus brief\u00a0with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC\u2019s Open Internet rules. He also wrote\u00a0a letter\u00a0to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission\u2019s net neutrality decision urging the FCC to put in place strong, light-touch protections that ensures the internet remains open and free of discriminatory practices. \r\nThe complete text of the letter is available HERE and below.\r\n+++\r\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai\r\nChairman, Federal Communications Commission\r\n445 12th St., SW\r\nWashington, DC 20554\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nWe write to urge you to abandon your reckless plan to radically alter the free and open internet as we know it.\u00a0 Your proposed action will amount to the largest abdication of the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC\u2019s) statutory responsibilities in history.\r\nAt its inception, Congress delegated to the FCC the primary responsibility to protect consumers and the public interest with respect to the nation\u2019s communications networks.\u00a0 With your current proposal, you have now decided to throw overboard those long-standing responsibilities \u2013 and consumers with them.\u00a0 In short, you are walking away from your statutory duties and effectively eliminating FCC oversight over high-speed internet access.\r\nYour plan gives a broadband provider the ability to significantly alter their subscribers\u2019 internet experience.\u00a0 Once adopted, this proposal will permit that provider to freely block, slow down or manipulate a consumer\u2019s access to the internet as long as it discloses those practices \u2013 no matter how anti-consumer \u2013 somewhere within mounds of legalese in a new \u201cnet neutrality\u201d policy.\r\n\r\nYour proposal also makes sure that no other state or local government can fill this gaping consumer protection void by preempting them from adopting their own open internet consumer protections.\u00a0 It is not enough for the FCC to turn its back on consumers.\u00a0 You willfully plan to tie the states\u2019 hands to prevent them from protecting their own residents.\u00a0 It is a stunning regulatory overreach.\r\nUnderlying your plan is the false notion that your action will return the internet to the supposed halcyon days of \u201clight touch\u201d regulation in the past.\u00a0 This notion \u2013 that the way the agency approached internet access in the 1990s and early 2000s is the perfect approach today \u2013 ignores the very different role that the internet plays in 2017.\u00a0 Over the past 20 years, internet communications have become widely adopted and relied on by American homes and businesses.\u00a0 Yet, your plan ignores the central and critical role that access to a free and open internet plays in Americans\u2019 lives and the role that the nation\u2019s expert communications agency should play with respect to the networks underlying that access.\u00a0 Moreover, your assertion that your plan returns internet access to the way it was before is not correct.\u00a0 Even under the Bush-era FCC, the agency adopted open internet principles and held out the threat of regulatory action to combat harmful activity.\u00a0 Your plan eradicates even that backstop and leaves Americans without a regulatory safety net.\r\nThe future of the internet hangs in the balance.\u00a0 The FCC\u2019s responsibilities over the nation\u2019s communications networks remain, and are more crucial than ever, as the internet has become fundamental to every aspect of our society.\u00a0 On behalf of our constituents \u2013 and future generations of Americans \u2013 we urge you to abandon this radical and reckless plan to turn the FCC\u2019s back on consumers and the future of the free and open internet.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-applauds-va-announcement-to-fund-veteran-support-specialists-in-maine", "Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tIn Portland, VA Deputy Secretary announces three new positions to address veteran mental health, substance abuse, homelessness\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 12, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today applauded the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) announcement that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman made the announcement during the First Annual Military Veteran Symposium in Portland this morning.\r\n\u201cMaine veterans answered the call to uphold our freedoms, and those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness deserve our comprehensive support,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThese new positions in Maine provide veterans with expanded access to specialists so they can get the treatments and services they need. Maine is a community \u2013 we care for our neighbors and for each other \u2013 and with the VA\u2019s announcement today, we have taken an important step to strengthen our community and better care for veterans across the state.\u201d\r\n\u201cAs our population of veterans has grown, aged, and diversified, the Togus VA Medical Center has adapted to these changes to meet the needs of patients,\u201d said Senator Collins.\u00a0 \u201cToday\u2019s announcement that the VA is funding three critical positions at Togus to help promote suicide prevention, assist veterans returning to society, and prevent unnecessary criminalization of those with mental illness will enhance the hospital\u2019s work to provide high-quality care for veterans.\u00a0 I applaud the VA for making this important investment.\u201d\r\n\"The high rate of veteran suicides is one of the most heartbreaking issues our country faces. We owe it to these brave men and women to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies and ensure they have someone to turn to. I appreciate the VA giving attention to this and other issues Maine veterans face. These new staff positions will be critical additions to the team at VA Togus,\u201d said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).\r\n\u201cTragically, too many of our Veterans face extraordinary mental and health challenges when they return from service,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cWe must make sure our Veterans have the help and support they need. I\u2019m very pleased with the announcement of these new positions at Togus that will help provide important resources to our Veterans.\u201d\r\nIn February, Senator King wrote to the VA urging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine.\r\nThe Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/lives-at-risk-inside-a-senior-complex-in-puerto-rico-with-no-power", "Lives at Risk Inside a Senior Complex in Puerto Rico With No Power", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lives at Risk Inside a Senior Complex in Puerto Rico With No Power\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 11, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tSAN JUAN, P.R. \u2014 Altagracia Rodriguez de Jesus woke up on a recent morning and cranked open the aluminum shutters along one wall of her small, eighth-floor apartment overlooking the capital.\r\nShe took a cold shower and kept the bathroom door open to let in the sunlight. Her cockatiel, Precious, sat in a cage on the toilet. Ms. Rodriguez de Jesus, 80, sang to the bird.\r\nShe and other residents at the subsidized apartment tower where she lives could not switch on lights, cook on electric stoves, turn on bedroom air-conditioners or use washing machines.\r\nHurricane Irma cut power to the San Juan neighborhood of Hill Brothers on Sept. 6. Then, two weeks later, Hurricane Maria devastated the entire island\u2019s electrical grid. It was not until early December that part of the neighborhood had power again.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/people-dont-take-their-pills-only-one-thing-seems-to-help", "People Dont Take Their Pills. Only One Thing Seems to Help.", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "People Don\u2019t Take Their Pills. Only One Thing Seems to Help.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 Austin Frakt \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 11, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tFor all that Americans spend on prescription drugs \u2014\u00a0$425 billion last year \u2014 you\u2019d think we\u2019d actually take our medicine.\r\nBut one of the frustrating truths about American health care is that half or more of prescribed medication is never taken.\r\nIt\u2019s called medication nonadherence, and it\u2019s a\u00a0well-documented\u00a0and\u00a0longstanding\u00a0problem, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. The drugs they\u2019re prescribed are intended to\u00a0prevent costly complications, reduce hospitalization, even keep them alive. But even when the stakes are high, many patients don\u2019t take their meds.\r\nThis seems like a problem we ought to be able to solve. It motivates high tech approaches,\u00a0like digital pills\u00a0that can automatically communicate to doctors that they\u2019ve been taken.\r\nContinue reading here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-government-spending-deadline", "Sanders Statement on Government Spending Deadline", "2017-12-09", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Government Spending Deadline\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 9, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe Republicans, who control the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House and the White House, must not be allowed to shut the government down at the end of the year.\u00a0 Since the passage of the Budget Control Act in 2011, every budget agreement reached between Republicans and Democrats has maintained parity between defense and non-defense spending.\u00a0 That must not change. \u00a0\r\nWhile the rich become much richer, many millions of middle class families are struggling to survive.\u00a0 The Republicans cannot ask for $54 billion more in military spending, and ignore the health care needs of our children and working families in the CHIP and Community Health Center programs.\u00a0 They cannot ignore millions of older workers who are about to lose the pensions they were promised, younger people burdened with outrageous levels of student debt or veterans unable to get the quality health care they were promised.\u00a0 They cannot ignore the reality that 800,000 Dreamers will start losing their legal status in a few months and that an opioid epidemic is sweeping the country. \u00a0\r\nIn short, the Republicans must work in a bi-partisan way to pass a budget which reflects the needs of all Americans, not just wealthy campaign contributors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-government-spending-deadline", "Sanders Statement on Government Spending Deadline", "2017-12-09", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Government Spending Deadline\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSaturday, December 9, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tThe Republicans, who control the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House and the White House, must not be allowed to shut the government down at the end of the year.\u00a0 Since the passage of the Budget Control Act in 2011, every budget agreement reached between Republicans and Democrats has maintained parity between defense and non-defense spending.\u00a0 That must not change. \u00a0\r\nWhile the rich become much richer, many millions of middle class families are struggling to survive.\u00a0 The Republicans cannot ask for $54 billion more in military spending, and ignore the health care needs of our children and working families in the CHIP and Community Health Center programs.\u00a0 They cannot ignore millions of older workers who are about to lose the pensions they were promised, younger people burdened with outrageous levels of student debt or veterans unable to get the quality health care they were promised.\u00a0 They cannot ignore the reality that 800,000 Dreamers will start losing their legal status in a few months and that an opioid epidemic is sweeping the country. \u00a0\r\nIn short, the Republicans must work in a bi-partisan way to pass a budget which reflects the needs of all Americans, not just wealthy campaign contributors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backs-bipartisan-bill-to-support-gold-star-families", "King Backs Bipartisan Bill to Support Gold Star Families", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Backs Bipartisan Bill to Support Gold Star Families\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 8, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced his support for the Gold Star Families Support and Installation Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would increase support for Gold Star families by creating a standardized policy so the families can more easily access military facilities and certain military benefits.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGold Star families have sacrificed so much for our country and they deserve our earnest support as they grieve for their loved ones,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cIn President Lincoln\u2019s Second Inaugural Address, he summed up our collective responsibility to care for our nation\u2019s veterans and their families saying we must, \u2018care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.\u2019 By improving the services and benefits available to Gold Star families, we can better live by Lincoln\u2019s words and give back to those who have given everything so we may live free.\u201d\r\nUnder current law, there are no standardized means for Gold Star families to access military facilities to do things like visit a loved one\u2019s gravesite, receive grief counseling, or attend a memorial service. Some services have taken steps to issue access cards, but there is still no consistent policy across military service branches. Additionally, Gold Star spouses lose their on-base benefits if they choose to remarry.\r\nJoining Senator King in supporting the Senate legislation are Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), David Purdue (R-Ga.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-16-2017-as-wreaths-across-america-day", "Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 16, 2017, as “Wreaths Across America Day”", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 16, 2017, as \u201cWreaths Across America Day\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, December 8, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 16, 2017 as \u201cWreaths Across America Day.\u201d On December 16th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave sites of American veterans interred there.\r\n\u201cIn its twenty-six year history, Wreaths Across America has become an enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice, and reaffirms our never-ending obligation to thank those who served in defense of our nation,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThis Maine-led tradition is an inspiring example of the generosity and gratitude to our nation\u2019s veterans that makes the holiday season so special.\u00a0 We are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who \u2018Remember, Honor, Teach\u2019 through Wreaths Across America.\u201d\r\nTo honor our fallen heroes, wreaths will be laid at the graves of American servicemembers as part of a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, wreaths will be laid at more than 1,200 other locations across the country and at numerous national veterans cemeteries on foreign soil. Patriot Guard Riders will once again continue their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks from Maine down the East Coast, along with other patriotic escorts including motorcycle units, law enforcement, and first responders. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition.\r\nThe resolution is available HERE.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/bernies-podcast/-episode-12-our-budget-priorities-with-elizabeth-warren-120717", "Episode 12: Our Budget Priorities with Elizabeth Warren", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While Republicans are busy trying to give enormous tax breaks to billionaires and corporations, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and I are here to talk about what we really should be prioritizing in our budget to invest in working families and put the middle class first.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-tax-reform-conference-committee", "Sanders Statement on Tax Reform Conference Committee", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Tax Reform Conference Committee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after\u00a0Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) named him to the conference committee on the Republican tax legislation:\r\n\"I thank Leader Schumer for putting me on the so-called 'tax reform' conference committee. Let me be very clear: Both versions of the Senate and the House tax bills are morally grotesque and terrible economic policy. Both bills would provide massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, increase taxes on millions of middle class Americans, raise the deficit by more than $1 trillion, and lead to savage cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And, by the way, both of these bills would provide major tax incentives to move American jobs and profits overseas. As a member of the conference committee, I will do everything I can to defeat these bills. We need to rebuild the disappearing middle class, not provide more tax breaks to billionaires. \"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-tax-reform-conference-committee", "Sanders Statement on Tax Reform Conference Committee", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Tax Reform Conference Committee\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 7 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) named him to the conference committee on the Republican tax legislation: \"I thank Leader Schumer for putting me on the so-called 'tax reform' conference committee. Let me be very clear: Both versions of the Senate and the House tax bills are morally grotesque and terrible economic policy. Both bills would provide massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, increase taxes on millions of middle class Americans, raise the deficit by more than $1 trillion, and lead to savage cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And, by the way, both of these bills would provide major tax incentives to move American jobs and profits overseas. As a member of the conference committee, I will do everything I can to defeat these bills. We need to rebuild the disappearing middle class, not provide more tax breaks to billionaires. \"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/on-senate-floor-king-urges-deficit-neutral-tax-reform", "On Senate Floor, King Urges Deficit-Neutral Tax Reform", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-motion-to-instruct-tax-bill-conferees-to-return-deficit-neutral-final-conference-report", "King Introduces Motion to Instruct Tax Bill Conferees to Return Deficit-Neutral Final Conference Report", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Introduces Motion to Instruct Tax Bill Conferees to Return Deficit-Neutral Final Conference Report\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s unethical, what we\u2019re doing.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 6, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) introduced a motion to instruct members of the bicameral conference committee on tax reform to return a final conference report that does not increase the federal budget deficit for the period of FY 2018 through FY 2027. He spoke on the Senate floor in support of the motion, which was defeated by a vote of 48 to 50. Excerpts from the speech are below:\r\n\u201cWe are headed into literally uncharted territory with regard to our national debt\u2026 It is a threat to this country. It\u2019s a threat to our national security. It\u2019s a threat to every man, woman and especially child, because they\u2019re the people that are going to have to be paying this debt.\r\n\u201cThe bill that was passed in the dead of night early Saturday morning adds $1.5 trillion to that debt\u2026We\u2019re adding to the debt at a time of low unemployment, enormous growth in the stock market and a relatively strong economy. Not perfect by any means, but compared with where we were 5 or 6 years ago, we\u2019re in positive territory on the economy. That\u2019s when you should pay down debt, not add to it unnecessarily. If we were in a crisis, if we were in a recession, if we were in a conflict that required immediate mobilization, that\u2019s when you want to add to the debt.\r\n\u201cThat\u2019s what you borrow for \u2013 we\u2019re borrowing to pay park rangers salaries. We\u2019re borrowing to do the ordinary operation of government, and now we\u2019re borrowing to give major tax cuts in a time of relatively positive economic growth. And I know it\u2019s not as it should be, and as high as we want it to be, but this bill that we passed that\u2019s going to add to the debt isn\u2019t going to do much of anything to assist us with growth. The analysis of the Joint Taxation Committee is that it will add 0.8% to GDP growth in 10 years. That\u2019s almost immeasurable\u2026it doesn\u2019t come close, by the way, to paying for itself\u2026\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s unethical, what we\u2019re doing. If 5-year-olds knew what we were doing and could vote, we would all be out of a job because they are the ones who are going to have to pay this bill\u2026it\u2019s unconscionable. It\u2019s unnecessary. If indeed we were going to expand the economy 3% or 4% a year, and everyone says that\u2019s what we\u2019re going for\u2026but we\u2019re talking about 0.8% over 10 years. Not per year, over 10 years. So my motion is very, very simple: don\u2019t come back with a bill that adds to the deficit.\r\n\u201cAnd there\u2019s lots of ways we can do tax reform\u2026without hammering the deficit. In fact, I understand as of this morning, we improve the finances of this bill by mistake to the tune of $389 billion. A mistake in the bill that we passed because we did it so fast that nobody knew what was in it. I have a new rule: the faster a bill goes through the United States Congress, the worse it is. And I think that\u2019s what we\u2019ve seen in this case.\r\n\u201cWe can deal with tax reform. We can increase our competitiveness. We can get our taxes aligned, particularly our business taxes, with the rest of the world without loading this debt onto our children. A tax cut when all you\u2019re doing is borrowing to fill the hole is not a cut. It is a shift of the tax from you to your kids\u2026\r\n\u201cI think one of the questions we have to ask is\u2026what are companies going to do with this newfound income when the taxes are cut dramatically\u2026is that money going to go into new plants and equipment? Is it going to go into wages? Is it going to increase people\u2019s wages\u2026 or is going to go into stock buybacks, which raise the value of the stock. That\u2019s great for the owners, but doesn\u2019t do a thing for the workers. And it doesn\u2019t do much for the United States economy.\r\n\u201cSo again, my motion couldn\u2019t be more straightforward and simple. Work on the tax bill in conference \u2013 I think you\u2019re going to have a hard time making a good bill out of it \u2013 but whatever you do, come back with something that\u2019s deficit neutral. And by the way, that\u2019s where this discussion started. Last January, the leadership in both Houses, in both parties, was talking about deficit-neutral tax reform. And somewhere along the way, it became: \u2018Let\u2019s break the bank. Let\u2019s add new debt to our kids. Let\u2019s create a situation where we\u2019re not going to have any slack when we need it.\u2019 No business would run this way, and it\u2019s wrong for us to try to run the country this way\u2026\u201d\r\nDuring his speech, Sen. King used Chart 1 to walk through the history of our national debt, which has ebbed and flowed based on economic circumstances and U.S. participation in armed conflicts. He specifically noted that following a large spike of debt to fund World War II, the Greatest Generation paid down the debt going into the 1970s.\r\nSenator King\u2019s motion would have given nonbinding instructions to the conferees, asking them to return a final conference report that is deficit neutral over a 10-year period. This is his most recent push for a deficit-neutral approach on the recent tax legislation; prior to the Senate\u2019s passage of the tax bill last week, Senator King offered an amendment to refer the tax bill to the Finance Committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal. The amendment failed along party lines following more than an hour of debate and an unusually long voting period.\r\nSenator King, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, has consistently called for a responsible, balanced and long-term approach to addressing our national debt and deficit. In 2016, he was named a \u201cFiscal Hero\u201d by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.\u00a0\r\nChart 1: Federal Debt Held by the Public as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-franken", "Sanders Statement on Franken", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Franken\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 6, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 6 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.):\r\n\"Sen. Franken has said that he will be making an announcement about his political future tomorrow. The right thing is for him to resign. We are now at a crossroads in American culture. And it is an important one. The way we treat women in our country has been abysmal in almost every way. We are finally addressing the issue of sexual harassment, and we need to get it right. But the conversation we are having now is only the tip of the iceberg. It needs to be an ongoing movement of women and men that includes a national discussion about sexism, sexual harassment, objectification, inequality and abuse of power.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-franken", "Sanders Statement on Franken", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Franken\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 6, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 6 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.):\r\n\"Sen. Franken has said that he will be making an announcement about his political future tomorrow. The right thing is for him to resign. We are now at a crossroads in American culture. And it is an important one. The way we treat women in our country has been abysmal in almost every way. We are finally addressing the issue of sexual harassment, and we need to get it right. But the conversation we are having now is only the tip of the iceberg. It needs to be an ongoing movement of women and men that includes a national discussion about sexism, sexual harassment, objectification, inequality and abuse of power.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/sen-king-on-cnn-new-day-12-05-17", "Sen. King on CNN New Day 12-05-17", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-727846-in-funding-for-greater-portland-health", "Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded two grants totaling $727,846 to Greater Portland Health. The Department\u2019s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) will grant $581,024 to Greater Portland Health through its Health Center Cluster program and $146,822 through its Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS program.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cCommunity health centers, like Greater Portland Health, help Mainers across our state receive the high quality care they deserve,\u201d Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. \u201cThese federal grants offer critical support for people in the Greater Portland area, and we applaud HHS for recognizing Greater Portland Health\u2019s commitment to the surrounding community.\u201d\r\nHRSA is an agency within HHS that is tasked with improving access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity. HRSA\u2019s Health Cluster programs targets the economic and medically vulnerable as well as the geographically isolated. The Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program funds primary care for those living with HIV.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trumps-plan-to-recognize-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-israel", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Plan to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Plan to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 5 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) responded to reports Tuesday that President Donald Trump plans\u00a0to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:\r\n\"I\u2019m extremely concerned by reports that President Trump plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. There\u2019s a reason why all past U.S. administrations have avoided making this move, and why leaders from all over the world, including a group of former Israeli ambassadors, have warned Trump against doing it: It would dramatically undermine the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, and severely, perhaps irreparably, damage the United States\u2019 ability to broker that peace. What the U.S. should be doing now is bringing adversaries in the Middle East together to seek common solutions, not exacerbating tensions in this highly volatile region.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-to-trump-keep-your-promises-to-protect-social-security-and-medicare", "Sanders to Trump: Keep Your Promises to Protect Social Security and Medicare", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders to Trump: Keep Your Promises to Protect Social Security and Medicare\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 5 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President Donald Trump to keep his repeated promise to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from Republican attempts to cut the programs.\r\n\u201cMr. President, on the campaign trail you said over and over again you would not cut Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid. And today, I am asking you nothing more than to keep your word. Don't lie to the American people. Millions of people voted for you because you said you would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Keep your word. Tell Senate Leader McConnell and tell House Speaker Paul Ryan that you will veto any legislation that cuts these programs,\u201d Sanders said on the Senate floor Tuesday.\r\nTrump said\u00a0repeatedly\u00a0during the campaign that he would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u00a0\r\nIn March 2016, then-candidate Trump said that unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) he would protect the programs.\r\n\u201cYou know, Paul [Ryan] wants to knock out Social Security, knock it down, way down. He wants to knock Medicare way down,\u201d Trump\u00a0told\u00a0WROK radio in Wisconsin. \u201cI\u2019m not going to cut it, and I\u2019m not going to raise ages, and I\u2019m not going to do all of the things that they want to do. But they want to really cut it, and they want to cut it very substantially, the Republicans, and I\u2019m not going to do that.\u201d\r\nAccording to The New York Times, Republicans plan to focus on cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid following tax reform.\r\n\u201cAs the tax cut legislation passed by the Senate early Saturday hurtles toward final approval, Republicans are preparing to use the swelling deficits made worse by the package as a rationale to pursue their long-held vision: undoing the entitlements of the New Deal and Great Society, leaving government leaner and the safety net skimpier for millions of Americans,\u201d\u00a0the Times\u00a0reported\u00a0in a front-page story last weekend.\r\nLast\u00a0week, a number of Republicans publicly said that they plan to cut \u201centitlement programs\u201d after passing their tax bill.\r\nAt a FOX News town hall this week,\u00a0Ryan said, \u201cThere\u2019s two things you got to do to get this debt under control. Cut spending \u2013 most importantly reform entitlement programs \u2013 and grow the economy.\u201d\r\n\u201cMany argue that you can\u2019t cut taxes because it will drive up the deficit,\u201d Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told business leaders. \u201cBut we have to do two things. We have to generate economic growth, which generates revenue, while reducing spending. That will mean instituting structural changes to Social Security and Medicare for the future.\u201d\r\nAnd\u00a0in an exchange\u00a0with Sanders on the Senate floor before the tax bill passed, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) refused to say that he would not support cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid \u2013\u00a0saying only that he would protect people currently on the programs.\r\nTo watch and download Sanders' challenge to Trump on the Senate floor,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-trumps-plan-to-recognize-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-israel", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Plan to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Plan to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 5 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) responded to reports Tuesday that President Donald Trump plans\u00a0to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:\r\n\"I\u2019m extremely concerned by reports that President Trump plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. There\u2019s a reason why all past U.S. administrations have avoided making this move, and why leaders from all over the world, including a group of former Israeli ambassadors, have warned Trump against doing it: It would dramatically undermine the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, and severely, perhaps irreparably, damage the United States\u2019 ability to broker that peace. What the U.S. should be doing now is bringing adversaries in the Middle East together to seek common solutions, not exacerbating tensions in this highly volatile region.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-to-trump-keep-your-promises-to-protect-social-security-and-medicare", "Sanders to Trump: Keep Your Promises to Protect Social Security and Medicare", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders to Trump: Keep Your Promises to Protect Social Security and Medicare\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Dec. 5 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President Donald Trump to keep his repeated promise to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from Republican attempts to cut the programs.\r\n\u201cMr. President, on the campaign trail you said over and over again you would not cut Social Security or Medicare or Medicaid. And today, I am asking you nothing more than to keep your word. Don't lie to the American people. Millions of people voted for you because you said you would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Keep your word. Tell Senate Leader McConnell and tell House Speaker Paul Ryan that you will veto any legislation that cuts these programs,\u201d Sanders said on the Senate floor Tuesday.\r\nTrump said\u00a0repeatedly\u00a0during the campaign that he would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u00a0\r\nIn March 2016, then-candidate Trump said that unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) he would protect the programs.\r\n\u201cYou know, Paul [Ryan] wants to knock out Social Security, knock it down, way down. He wants to knock Medicare way down,\u201d Trump\u00a0told\u00a0WROK radio in Wisconsin. \u201cI\u2019m not going to cut it, and I\u2019m not going to raise ages, and I\u2019m not going to do all of the things that they want to do. But they want to really cut it, and they want to cut it very substantially, the Republicans, and I\u2019m not going to do that.\u201d\r\nAccording to The New York Times, Republicans plan to focus on cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid following tax reform.\r\n\u201cAs the tax cut legislation passed by the Senate early Saturday hurtles toward final approval, Republicans are preparing to use the swelling deficits made worse by the package as a rationale to pursue their long-held vision: undoing the entitlements of the New Deal and Great Society, leaving government leaner and the safety net skimpier for millions of Americans,\u201d\u00a0the Times\u00a0reported\u00a0in a front-page story last weekend.\r\nLast\u00a0week, a number of Republicans publicly said that they plan to cut \u201centitlement programs\u201d after passing their tax bill.\r\nAt a FOX News town hall this week,\u00a0Ryan said, \u201cThere\u2019s two things you got to do to get this debt under control. Cut spending \u2013 most importantly reform entitlement programs \u2013 and grow the economy.\u201d\r\n\u201cMany argue that you can\u2019t cut taxes because it will drive up the deficit,\u201d Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told business leaders. \u201cBut we have to do two things. We have to generate economic growth, which generates revenue, while reducing spending. That will mean instituting structural changes to Social Security and Medicare for the future.\u201d\r\nAnd\u00a0in an exchange\u00a0with Sanders on the Senate floor before the tax bill passed, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) refused to say that he would not support cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid \u2013\u00a0saying only that he would protect people currently on the programs.\r\nTo watch and download Sanders' challenge to Trump on the Senate floor,\u00a0click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-44-million-naval-contract-with-bath-iron-works-", "Collins, King Announce More Than $44 million Naval Contract with Bath Iron Works", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce More Than $44 million Naval Contract with Bath Iron Works \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 4, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Navy awarded Bath Iron Works a $44,305,474 option last month\u00a0on a previously awarded contract.\u00a0 The funding will be used to continue Integrated Planning Yard services for Arleigh Burke-class and Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships.\r\n\u201cThis announcement is welcome news for the hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works,\u201d\u00a0said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThese contracts show the Navy\u2019s commitment to BIW and its confidence in the shipyard\u2019s highly skilled employees, who are vital to our state\u2019s economy and to our nation\u2019s security.\u201d\r\n\r\nThis funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for the continuation of Integrated Planning Yard services. The modification covers integrated planning and support for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Oliver Hazard Perry-class of frigates built at Bath, and tasks include design, planning, and modernization efforts.\r\n\r\nSenator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-call-on-fcc-to-delay-vote-to-roll-back-net-neutrality-rules", "King, Colleagues Call on FCC to Delay Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Colleagues Call on FCC to Delay Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tLetter follows reports that bots may have filed hundreds of thousands of fake comments to FCC during Net Neutrality policymaking process\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 4, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S Senator Angus King today joined 27 of his senate colleagues in a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern over reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking process and calling on the Chairman to delay the planned December 14th vote to roll back net neutrality rules until an investigation of the state of the record is conducted.\r\n\u201cA free and open Internet is vital to ensuring a level playing field online, and we believe that your proposed action may be based on an incomplete understanding of the public record in this proceeding,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cIn fact, there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed\u2026\r\n\u201cWithout additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record, the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public\u2019s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017.\u201d\r\nSenator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. In September 2015, he filed\u00a0an amicus brief\u00a0with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC\u2019s Open Internet rules. He also wrote\u00a0a letter\u00a0to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission\u2019s net neutrality decision urging that broadband be reclassified as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.\r\nSenator King was joined in writing the letter by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).\r\nThe letter is below and can be read in full HERE:\r\nDecember 4, 2017\r\nThe Honorable Ajit Pai\r\nChairman\r\nFederal Communications Commission\r\n445 12th Street Southwest\r\nWashington, DC 20554\r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nWe are deeply concerned by your recently released proposal to roll back critical consumer protections by dismantling the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s (FCC) current net neutrality rules. A free and open Internet is vital to ensuring a level playing field online, and we believe that your proposed action may be based on an incomplete understanding of the public record in this proceeding. In fact, there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed.\r\nTo this end, we request a thorough investigation by the FCC into reports that bots may have interfered with this proceeding by filing hundreds of thousands of comments. Furthermore, an additional 50,000 consumer complaints seem to have been excluded from the public record in this proceeding, according to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by the National Hispanic Media Coalition.\u00a0 Without additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record, the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public\u2019s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017.\u00a0\r\nNew York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has spent the past six months conducting an investigation into the fraudulent comments, and found that \u201chundreds of thousands\u201d of comments may have impersonated New York residents, a violation of state law. He further asserts that the FCC has not cooperated with requests for additional data and information. Data scientist Jeff Kao has also run an analysis of the public record, and estimates that over a million comments filed in support of repealing net neutrality may have been fake. These reports raise serious concerns as to whether the record the FCC is currently relying on has been tampered with and merits the full attention of, and investigation by, the FCC before votes on this item are cast.\r\nA transparent and open process is vitally important to how the FCC functions. The FCC must invest its time and resources into obtaining a more accurate picture of the record as understanding that record is essential to reaching a defensible resolution to this proceeding.\u00a0 As a result, we are requesting that you delay your planned vote on this item until you can conduct a thorough review of the state of the record and provide Congress with greater assurance of its accuracy and completeness.\u00a0\r\nThank you for your immediate attention to this matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-to-the-united-states-military-service-academies-1", "Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 4, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.\u00a0 Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination.\r\n\u00a0\u201cWe are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation\u2019s distinguished service academies,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThe young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character.\u201d\r\nThe following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King:\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nUnited States Air Force Academy \u2013 Colorado Springs\r\nName\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Home Town\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 High School\r\nTristan Cosby\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton High School\r\nHaley Donovan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Crawford\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Calais High School\r\nMia Ferrante\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Buxton\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bonny Eagle High School\r\nZachary Grant\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brunswick\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brunswick High School\r\nBrinley Harrison\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 South Bristol\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Lincoln Academy\r\nPatrick Hopkins\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winslow\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Winslow High School\r\nAlexander Inman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Eddington\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bangor High School\r\nJames Mannette\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Windham\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Windham High School\r\nMaria Maxsimic\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Brewer High School\r\nConnor Roy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hampden\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hampden Academy\r\n\u00a0\r\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point\r\nName\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Home Town\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 High School\r\nElizabeth Diaz\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jay\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kents Hill School\r\nRaymond Horne\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Berwick\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Noble High School\r\nDerrick Littlefield\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Old Orchard Beach\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sewickley Academy\r\nMarco Manfra\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough High School\r\nJames Mannette\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Windham\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Windham High School\r\nEric Quirk\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough High School\r\n\u00a0\r\nUnites States Military Academy \u2013 West Point\r\nName\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Home Town\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 High School\r\nSamuel Colesworthy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 North Yarmouth\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Greely High School\r\nTristan Cosby\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton High School\r\nJack Freeman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Owls Head\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oceanside High School\r\nElizabeth Garver\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bailey Island\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mount Ararat\r\nAlexander Inman\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Eddington\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bangor High School\r\nBrendan Killarney\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Veazie\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John Bapst Memorial High School\r\nPayje Leclerc\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Old Orchard Beach\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Old Orchard Beach High School\r\nMichael Lunny\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Springvale\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sanford High School\r\nMaria Maxsimic\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Brewer High School\r\nEmily Mikoud\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dover Foxcroft\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Foxcroft Academy\r\nAsa Muthig\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 North Berwick\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Berwick Academy\r\nEric Quirk\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scarborough High School\r\nAiden Roberts\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hope\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Phillips Exeter Academy\r\nSierra Weston\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Winthrop\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lawrence High School\r\n\r\nUnited States Naval Academy- Annapolis\r\nName\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Home Town\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 High School\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nTristan Cosby\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Houlton High School\r\nEric Heiman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Arundel\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thornton Academy\r\nRobert Hetherman\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Harpswell\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hyde School\r\nDana Hirschhorn\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Kennebunkport\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waynflete School\r\nAlexander Howell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Islesboro\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Islesboro Central High School\r\nAnthony Mason\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beaver Cove\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Greenville High School\r\nMaria Maxsimic\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Holden\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Brewer High School\r\nEmily Mousseau\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lewiston\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lewiston High School\r\nDylan Richmond\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mason Township\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hebron Academy\r\nSean Scanlon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bath\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Cheverus High School\r\nAnna Sewall\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 East Millinocket\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Schenck High School\r\nJames Waaler\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yarmouth\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Yarmouth High School\r\nJohn Wallace\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Topsham\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mouth Ararat High School\r\nConnor Winn\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Saco\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Thornton Academy\r\nKevin Wrigley\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wells\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wells High School\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-speaks-with-vermont-high-school-students_about-goals-after-graduation-", "Sanders Speaks With Vermont High School Students  About Goals After Graduation", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "MORRISVILLE, Vt., Dec. 4 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) visited Peoples Academy in Morrisville Monday morning to have an open conversation with students about their aspirations and goals after graduating high school.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we understand how students see their options as they prepare to graduate high school,\u201d said Sanders, who serves on the Senate education committee.\r\n\u201cDo they have adequate information to determine the best college for them and how they can finance a higher education? If they are not going to college, do they know how to get training to secure the best jobs that are out there?\u201d Sanders said.\r\nSanders was joined by Vermont Agency of Education Secretary Rebecca Holcombe, Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Lindsay Kurrle, local business owners, and other state and regional education and workforce development leaders.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe economic return to education is increasing. Students need to understand -- and need help leveraging -- the benefit of some post-secondary credential, whether it is an industry recognized credential in a trade or a college degree,\u201d Holcombe said, adding, \u201cAnd, particularly in some of our rural communities, wouldn\u2019t it be great if some of our students grew up to be the doctors, skilled tradespeople and other professionals their communities desperately need to grow a more prosperous future?\u00a0 We need to work together to make this happen.\u201d\r\nSanders visited the Vermont high school to seek candid input from young Vermonters to help inform his work in the Senate.\r\nPhilip Grant, principal of Peoples Academy, said high schools throughout Vermont have become \u201cincreasingly more collaborative and creative to help prepare students for their path beyond graduation.\u201d\r\n\u201cIncreased and flexible opportunities, such as early college, dual enrollment, online learning, internships, and expanding tech centers are also greatly improving students\u2019 focus and access to postsecondary aspirations. As a result, seniors are becoming more prepared for what they want to do in life,\u201d Grant said.\r\nIn October, Sanders held a series of college fairs in Vermont to help high school students and their families learn about higher education options. Next spring, Sanders will host additional resource fairs with information about higher education and career opportunities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-challenges-trump-to-reject-gop-plan-to-cut-social-security-medicare-medicaid", "Sanders Challenges Trump to Reject GOP Plan to Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Challenges Trump to Reject GOP Plan to Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 4, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tREADING, Penn., Dec. 3 \u2013 At a rally here Sunday against the Republican tax bill, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President Donald Trump to keep his word to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\r\n\u201cMr. President, you told the American people time and time again you were not going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Today, get on the phone. Tell Paul Ryan, tell Mitch McConnell that you will veto any bill that cuts Social Security, that cuts Medicare, that cuts Medicaid,\u201d Sanders said.\r\nTrump said\u00a0repeatedly\u00a0during the campaign that he would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u00a0\r\nIn March 2016, then-candidate Trump said that unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) he would protect the programs.\r\n\u201cYou know, Paul [Ryan] wants to knock out Social Security, knock it down, way down. He wants to knock Medicare way down,\u201d Trump\u00a0told\u00a0WROK radio in Wisconsin. \u201cI\u2019m not going to cut it, and I\u2019m not going to raise ages, and I\u2019m not going to do all of the things that they want to do. But they want to really cut it, and they want to cut it very substantially, the Republicans, and I\u2019m not going to do that.\u201d\r\nIt is now becoming very clear that is exactly what Republicans intend to do. This week, a number of Republicans publicly said that they plan to cut \u201centitlement programs\u201d after passing their tax bill.\r\nAt a FOX News town hall this week,\u00a0Ryan said, \u201cThere\u2019s two things you got to do to get this debt under control. Cut spending \u2013 most importantly reform entitlement programs \u2013 and grow the economy.\u201d\r\n\u201cMany argue that you can\u2019t cut taxes because it will drive up the deficit,\u201d U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told business leaders. \u201cBut we have to do two things. We have to generate economic growth, which generates revenue, while reducing spending. That will mean instituting structural changes to Social Security and Medicare for the future.\u201d\r\nAnd\u00a0in an exchange\u00a0with Sanders on the Senate floor before the tax bill passed, U.S. Sen Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) refused to say that he would not support cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid \u2013\u00a0saying only that he would protect people currently on the programs.\r\nTo watch the rally,\u00a0click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-challenges-trump-to-reject-gop-plan-to-cut-social-security-medicare-medicaid", "Sanders Challenges Trump to Reject GOP Plan to Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid", "2017-12-03", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Challenges Trump to Reject GOP Plan to Cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tSunday, December 3, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tREADING, Penn., Dec. 3 \u2013 At a rally here Sunday against the Republican tax bill, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged President Donald Trump to keep his word to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\r\n\u201cMr. President, you told the American people time and time again you were not going to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Today, get on the phone. Tell Paul Ryan, tell Mitch McConnell that you will veto any bill that cuts Social Security, that cuts Medicare, that cuts Medicaid,\u201d Sanders said.\r\nTrump said repeatedly during the campaign that he would not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.\u00a0\r\nIn March 2016, then-candidate Trump said that unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) he would protect the programs.\r\n\u201cYou know, Paul [Ryan] wants to knock out Social Security, knock it down, way down. He wants to knock Medicare way down,\u201d Trump told WROK radio in Wisconsin. \u201cI\u2019m not going to cut it, and I\u2019m not going to raise ages, and I\u2019m not going to do all of the things that they want to do. But they want to really cut it, and they want to cut it very substantially, the Republicans, and I\u2019m not going to do that.\u201d\r\nIt is now becoming very clear that is exactly what Republicans intend to do. This week, a number of Republicans publicly said that they plan to cut \u201centitlement programs\u201d after passing their tax bill.\r\nAt a FOX News town hall this week, Ryan said, \u201cThere\u2019s two things you got to do to get this debt under control. Cut spending \u2013 most importantly reform entitlement programs \u2013 and grow the economy.\u201d\r\n\u201cMany argue that you can\u2019t cut taxes because it will drive up the deficit,\u201d U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told business leaders. \u201cBut we have to do two things. We have to generate economic growth, which generates revenue, while reducing spending. That will mean instituting structural changes to Social Security and Medicare for the future.\u201d\r\nAnd in an exchange with Sanders on the Senate floor before the tax bill passed, U.S. Sen Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) refused to say that he would not support cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid \u2013\u00a0saying only that he would protect people currently on the programs.\r\nTo watch the rally, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-senate-passage-of-tax-bill", "King Statement on Senate Passage of Tax Bill", "2017-12-02", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Statement on Senate Passage of Tax Bill\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, December 2, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed its tax bill:\r\n\u201cTonight, I\u2019m disappointed, and I\u2019m angry, because the American people deserve better. For months, moderates in the Senate reached across the aisle to colleagues \u2013 and friends \u2013 asking them to sit down and work together on a commonsense tax reform bill that supports hardworking Americans and fosters economic growth for businesses in Maine and across the country. In other words: to govern. But instead of digging in and doing the hard work, this Senate has decided to pass a bill that helps the few instead of the many, and shifts a massive financial burden onto our children. Rather than maximize this opportunity to help working Americans and set our nation on a path to further prosperity, this bill pushes through at least $1 trillion in unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations. These cuts are not only misguided \u2013 they\u2019re downright dangerous, and their effects will be felt by every aspect of our society, from the health of our economy to our national security interests.\r\n\u201cBy rushing this legislation through the Senate with no hearings, no input from experts and no feedback from the American people, we\u2019ve advanced a terrible bill that will have terrible consequences. If history is any guide, this will be the major tax reform bill of the next 20 to 30 years, affecting every business, every citizen, and our entire economy. I\u2019m disappointed today \u2013 but I hope members of Congress will reconsider the chance to work across the aisle to make fixes to this deeply flawed piece of legislation, so we can mitigate the damage to everyday Americans.\u201d\r\nSenator King\u00a0has consistently called for a responsible, balanced and long-term approach to addressing our national debt and deficit. On Thursday, he offered an amendment to refer the tax bill to the Finance Committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal. The amendment failed along party lines following more than an hour of debate and an unusually long voting period.\u00a0In 2016, he was named a \u201cFiscal Hero\u201d\u00a0by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/sen-king-joins-ac360-to-discuss-floor-developments-on-senate-tax-bill", "Sen. King Joins AC360 to Discuss Floor Developments on Senate Tax Bill", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/sen-king-joins-morning-joe-to-discuss-senate-tax-plan", "Sen. King Joins Morning Joe to Discuss Senate Tax Plan", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/testing-solar-in-vermont", "Testing Solar in Vermont", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/vermont-viewpoint-howard-sinnott", "Vermont Viewpoint: Howard Sinnott", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/ahead-of-vote-on-tax-reform-king-warns-of-proposals-dangerous-impact-on-national-deficit", "Ahead of Vote on Tax Reform, King Warns of Proposal’s Dangerous Impact on National Deficit", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/in-armed-services-hearing-king-underscores-significance-of-diplomacy-in-national-defense-strategy", "In Armed Services Hearing, King Underscores Significance of Diplomacy in National Defense Strategy", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ahead-of-vote-on-tax-reform-king-warns-of-proposals-dangerous-impact-on-national-debt", "Ahead of Vote on Tax Reform, King Warns of Proposal’s Dangerous Impact on National Debt", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ahead of Vote on Tax Reform, King Warns of Proposal\u2019s Dangerous Impact on National Debt\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s Shameful, and It\u2019s Going to Come Back to Haunt Us.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 30, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the dangerous impact the Senate tax reform proposal would have on the national debt. Senator King\u2019s comments came during debate on an amendment he offered to refer the bill to committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal, which the Senate voted on tonight. His amendment was defeated by a vote of 48 to 52.\r\n\u201cOne of my concerns\u2026that I want to focus on today, and the background of my amendment which recommits and asks that the Committee come back with a deficit-neutral bill, is the debt and the deficit,\u201d said Senator King, who then turned to a chart of federal debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (linked below as Chart 1). \u201cIf you notice there\u2019s a pattern here\u2026the pattern is that when we get into major catastrophes \u2013 including war \u2013 that\u2019s when we have to borrow money\u2026this is why you preserve your borrowing power for when you actually need it\u2026\r\n\u201cLook where we\u2019re headed \u2013 we\u2019re headed to a place where we aren\u2019t going to be able to sustain this debt. Everybody knows that, and yet the bill that we\u2019re voting on today expands the deficit by somewhere between half a trillion and two and a half trillion dollars, depending upon how it\u2019s all sorted out\u2026it\u2019s shameful, and it\u2019s going to come back to haunt us\u2026\r\n\u201cNow I\u2019ve been around public life and politics for a long time, and I\u2019ve heard a lot about deficits, and people are concerned about deficits \u2013 until today! The deficit doesn\u2019t seem to be a big deal anymore. I predict that after this bill passes, within a couple of years when the deficits start to mount up, the same people who are voting for this bill today are going to say, \u2018Oh my goodness, we have these huge deficits, what are we going to do? I think we have to cut entitlements, we have to cut Social Security, we have to cut Medicare and certainly we have to cut all those domestic programs.\u2019 Well [Mr. President], I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right\u2026\r\n\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is simply borrowing money from our children to give ourselves tax cuts. That\u2019s really the essence of what\u2019s going on here. If we were cutting taxes on a revenue-neutral basis, that would make sense\u2026but instead, all we\u2019re doing is shifting the tax to our kids\u2026If 5 year-olds knew what we were doing and could vote, none of us would have a job \u2013 because we are spending their money. It\u2019s as if you\u2019re lying on your deathbed, you call your children over to hear your last words, and your last words are \u2018Here\u2019s the credit card, we had a great vacation, your mother and I. You pay the bill.\u2019 That\u2019s what we\u2019re doing, and it\u2019s wrong. It\u2019s unethical \u2013 we are passing the bill onto our children\u2026\r\n\u201c\u2026the idea that these tax cuts are going to pay for themselves? It\u2019s never happened. It\u2019s never happened, it didn\u2019t happen to the Bush tax cuts, it hasn\u2019t happened in Kansas, it just hasn\u2019t happened. So we\u2019re talking about a dramatic increase in the federal deficit on top of what\u2019s already coming\u2026 these are the times when we should be paying back this debt, not making it worse. No rational business would be taking on debt when they\u2019re doing well \u2013 when you\u2019re doing well, you pay down your debt, and then you have a reserve for when you need it. We have no reserve \u2013 we\u2019re using up our cushion. We\u2019re using up whatever cushion we might need for disasters, for some kind of \u2013 heaven forbid \u2013 conflict, or simply for a recession. This is an incredibly destructive bill, and it doesn\u2019t have to be that way\u2026\r\n\u201cThere are many other issues with the bill, but I chose today to focus in my remarks and also on my amendment, on the effects on the deficit because I think it\u2019s one of the most long-term threats. In fact, a former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the national debt is the most serious threat to our national security in the long run. And to aggravate it unnecessarily as this bill would do, I think is irresponsible. Mr. President, we can do better \u2013 I am sure of that \u2013 if we\u2019ll slow down, listen to one another, and do what the American people expect of us.\u201d\r\nSenator King, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, has consistently called for a responsible, balanced and long-term approach to addressing our national debt and deficit. In 2016, he was named a \u201cFiscal Hero\u201d by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.\u00a0\r\nChart 1: Federal Debt Held by the Public as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-armed-services-hearing-king-underscores-importance-of-diplomacy-for-national-security", "In Armed Services Hearing, King Underscores Importance of Diplomacy for National Security", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Armed Services Hearing, King Underscores Importance of Diplomacy for National Security\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 30, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today underscored the importance of diplomatic efforts to support and strengthen United States national security interests during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The hearing was held to receive testimony from outside experts on recommendations for a future National Defense Strategy.\r\n\u201cDefending the national security of the United States involves a continuum, it seems to me, that goes from diplomacy to war,\u201d Senator King said to the witnesses before the Armed Services Committee. \u201cWar is the most expensive and least desirable of those outcomes.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI think of Afghanistan. Our success there will ultimately depend upon the success of the government in Afghanistan to gain the confidence of its people. In Iraq, the relationship between the government of Iraq, and the Kurds, and the Sunni population is ultimately going to determine if Iraq is a successful state. North Korea, the solution to North Korea lies through diplomacy with China. I think everyone appreciates and understands that. The reason Iran is not North Korea today is because of the JCPOA, which was passed two years ago. Otherwise \u2013 according to the intelligence services \u2013 we would be dealing with an Iran with a nuclear weapon, today, about two years from when we passed that bill. Israel-Palestine, a major flashpoint for conflict in the Middle East, it\u2019s all about diplomacy.\u201d\r\nSenator King went on to discuss the issues with staffing at the U.S. Department of State, and highlighted the need to fill important posts at the department.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRight now, by the way, under the current dispensation, this part of the strategy \u2013 that is diplomacy \u2013 is being drastically downgraded, with budgets cut at the State Department,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWe don\u2019t have an Ambassador to South Korea, for example, or even a nominee.\u201d\r\nThe witnesses before this morning\u2019s hearing were Dr. Mara E. Karlin, Associate Professor Of The Practice Of Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins School Of Advanced International Studies; Dr. Thomas G. Mahnken, President And Chief Executive Officer, Center For Strategic Budgetary Assessments; Mr. David A. Ochmanek, Senior Defense Research Analyst, RAND Corporation; Lieutenant General Thomas W. Spoehr, USA (Ret.), Director Of The Center For National Defense, Heritage Foundation; Ms. Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow Of The Marilyn Ware Center For Security Studies, The American Enterprise Institute.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-applaud-university-of-maine-designation-as-a-combined-heat-and-power-assistance-center", "Collins, King Applaud University of Maine Designation as a Combined Heat and Power Assistance Center", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Applaud University of Maine Designation as a Combined Heat and Power Assistance Center\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tUMaine one of eight new CHP assistance centers eligible for DOE funding\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 29, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) decision to select the University of Maine as a regional Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) program designee. The announcement includes $25 million in DOE funding, which will be disbursed over five years to eight new CHP TAP designees, including the University of Maine. The funding aims to advance the installation of cost-effective, highly efficient CHP technologies. CHP technologies can efficiently leverage forest industry byproducts and turn them into added value for local economies, which diversifies energy options for rural industries, increases markets for forest products residuals, and maximizes use of Maine\u2019s natural resources.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCHP technologies provide an exciting opportunity to explore innovative strategies that lower energy costs and strengthen the Maine economy,\u201d Senator Collins and King said in a joint statement. \u201cBy leveraging our state\u2019s natural resources, we can bolster the forest products industry and help create jobs that support our rural communities. We are thrilled the Department of Energy has recognized the University of Maine as a premier research institution that can help industries in Maine further develop the potential of CHP technology.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"We are thrilled to be part of this important Department of Energy Program,\u201d said Dr. David Dvorak, Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at the University of Maine. \u201cCombined Heat and Power (CHP) systems offer real solutions to today's energy issues: supporting economic development through improved energy efficiency, increased energy resiliency, and lower energy costs. We have a strong team of experts at the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire, and look forward to working together to promote cost-effective energy systems in Maine, New Hampshire, and New England.\"\r\nWith the DOE investment, the University of Maine will become a regional CHP Technical Assistance Partnership (CHP TAP), which enables higher education research centers to provide assistance and analysis for any business looking to invest in CHP technology.\u00a0 This DOE program has supported a wide-range of businesses throughout the country. In Maine, the program has helped multiple businesses install energy-efficient CHP equipment that has saved energy costs. Following Hurricane Maria, some of the only facilities with power in Puerto Rico were hospitals with on-site CHP technology.\r\nIn early October, Senator King hosted a Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee field hearing at Robbins Lumber, a fifth-generation family owned sawmill in Searsmont, to discuss how CHP and microgrid technology approaches can support rural industries and communities and to underscore the energy saving potential of colocation energy approaches. Robbins Lumber currently has a CHP facility under construction that will generate electricity and thermal energy\u00a0from wood waste produced in the region\u2019s logging operations and sawmills. The field hearing included witnesses from the Maine forest products and energy industries as well as the Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office in the Department of Energy.\r\nIn response to input from leaders of the forest products industry at the October ENR field, Senator King introduced the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Support Act, legislation that would help sustain and strengthen rural industries and create jobs by reauthorizing the CHP technical assistance partnership (TAP).\u00a0Specifically, the CHP Support Act would authorize $12 million in funding for the CHP TAP program each year through Fiscal Year 2022.\u00a0\r\nThe Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT),\u00a0originally requested by Senators Collins and King in March 2016, recommended the development of markets for forest product residuals including low-value wood in CHP biomass plants, micro-grids, and modern thermal systems. In the EDAT report, the Department of Energy announced support through its CHP Technical Assistance Program to help Maine\u2019s forest industry with feasibility assessments of existing operations to install CHP technology as a strategy to lower costs through generating onsite power.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe DOE\u2019s CHP activities, led by the Office of Advanced Manufacturing, focus on early-stage research and development, as well as public-private partnerships and field validation of CHP technologies.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-reintroduce-bill-to-prioritize-preventive-healthcare_", "King, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Prioritize Preventive Healthcare", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Prioritize Preventive Healthcare  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 29, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), along with Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) today reintroduced\u00a0the\u00a0Preventive Health Savings Act,\u00a0legislation that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive healthcare, including health screenings.\r\n\u201cCongress has recently spent a lot of time debating the best methods of paying for healthcare, and for good reason: the American people rely on this care to live happy, healthy lives,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cBut these recent discussions don\u2019t address the underlying problem of overall healthcare spending. Regardless of who is writing the check, the current trajectory of healthcare spending is unsustainable. We need to make the most of options like preventive care, which is proven to control costs and improve the overall health of communities. By ensuring that future Congressional Budget Office studies extend beyond the existing ten-year budget window, this bill will help us fully understand the long-term benefits and maximize the impact of preventive care to improve overall health, in Maine and across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation is a simple fix that will allow the Congressional Budget Office to capture the long-term savings that can be achieved through preventive health care, arming lawmakers with more accurate information when considering legislation to improve health care system,\u201d said Senator Crapo.\r\n\u201cPrevention and early detection through cancer screenings, counseling, and immunization all lower healthcare costs by reducing the severity of disease. As a nation, we spend far more on the treatment of disease than we do on preventive health. But our neglect of prevention has been costly, overwhelming our healthcare budgets, particularly Medicare and Medicaid,\u201d said Senator Cardin. \u201cRe-evaluating our budget rules is not a new phenomenon. As our nation shifts its focus to more preventive healthcare, our budgets and accounting methods should shift too.\u201d\r\n\u201cPreventive health care has been proven time and time again to save lives and dramatically lower costs, and that is an investment that is well worth making,\u201d Senator Udall said. \u201cThis bill will ensure that lawmakers have that information at their fingertips to help make better decisions about these programs in the future.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe Preventive Health Savings Act recognizes the importance of preventing chronic diseases and promoting behavioral health,\u201d said LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs & Advocacy at the American Diabetes Association. \u201cWe know that lifestyle support programs such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program lead to significant cost-savings that extend beyond the Congressional Budget Office\u2019s traditional scoring window of 10 years. Evaluating cost-savings further into the future, as would be allowed by the Preventive Health Savings Act, will provide a more comprehensive appraisal of critical programs that promote wellness and disease prevention, while reducing health care costs and overall spending, and thus improving the lives of millions of Americans.\u201d\r\nThe American Diabetes Association is one of 120 organizations that have expressed support for the Preventative Health Savings Act. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and the disease is one of the leading chronic diseases causing death and disability in the United States.\r\nAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), efforts to treat chronic diseases account for over 80 percent of America\u2019s health care costs. \u00a0Preventive care \u2013 such as health screenings, shots, and lab tests \u2013 can help prevent chronic disease and ultimately lead to savings in health care costs.\r\nUnder current law, however, the CBO does not take into account the long-term cost-savings associated with preventive health initiatives.\u00a0The Preventive Health Savings Act\u00a0would direct the CBO to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive health care legislation by allowing Congressional Committees \u2013 including the Budget; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Finance; Ways and Means; and Energy and Commerce Committees \u2013 to request an analysis of preventive measures extending beyond the existing 10-year budget window to two additional 10-year periods.\r\nBy allowing the CBO to widen its budget window to better capture the costs-savings from preventive care, the legislation\u00a0encourages a sensible review of health policy in order to promote public health and incentivizes Congress to invest in proven methods of saving lives and money.\u200e\r\nSenators King, Crapo and Cardin originally introduced the bill in 2013, and reintroduced the bill in 2016.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-motion-to-proceed-with-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on Motion to Proceed with Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Motion to Proceed with Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 29, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 29 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday after Senate Republicans voted to move forward with their tax bill:\r\n\"I am disappointed but not surprised that the Republicans voted unanimously to proceed with a disastrous tax bill. This bill will provide 62 percent of the benefits to the top 1 percent and at the end of 10 years increase taxes on 87 million middle class households \u2013 half of the families making $200,000 a year or less. Together the American people must rally to defeat the Republican tax bill.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-trumps-promotion-of-anti-muslim-videos", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Promotion of Anti-Muslim Videos", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Trump's Promotion of Anti-Muslim Videos\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 29, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 29 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Wednesday:\r\n\"I do not make it a habit to respond to every ugly or absurd tweet from President Trump. If I did that, I\u2019d have little time for anything else. But even for Trump, today's retweet of a series of offensive videos from a British right-wing, anti-Muslim fringe group reaches a new low. The goal of these videos is clear: to promote fear and hatred of Muslims, and to incite hostility toward a minority group. I know that Trump is not much into history or the U.S. Constitution, but he ought to know that millions of men and women have struggled, fought and died to defend our democracy and the religious freedom that our Constitution guarantees. \"This Friday I will be visiting Louisville, Kentucky, the city where Muhammad Ali, one of the most popular athletes of the 20th Century, who also happened to be an American Muslim, was born and raised. While there I plan on visiting the Muhammad Ali Center, a museum that focuses not only on Ali\u2019s career as a boxer and athlete, but also on his legacy as an activist and spokesman for the Muslim faith.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-motion-to-proceed-with-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on Motion to Proceed with Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Motion to Proceed with Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, November 29, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 29 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement Wednesday after Senate Republicans voted to move forward with their tax bill:\r\n\"I am disappointed but not surprised that the Republicans voted unanimously to proceed with a disastrous tax bill. This bill will provide 62 percent of the benefits to the top 1 percent and at the end of 10 years increase taxes on 87 million middle class households \u2013 half of the families making $200,000 a year or less. Together the American people must rally to defeat the Republican tax bill.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/sanders-challenges-republicans-to-prove-him-wrong-about-tax-bill", "Sanders Challenges Republicans to Prove Him Wrong About Tax Bill", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Challenges Republicans to Prove Him Wrong About Tax Bill \n            On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) challenged Republicans to tell him he is \u201cwrong\u201d \u2013 that they will not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid if the tax bill passes and creates a $1.4 trillion deficit.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/in-budget-committee-king-urges-caution-on-rushed-tax-reform-process", "In Budget Committee, King Urges Caution on Rushed Tax Reform Process", "2017-11-28", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAugusta, Maine 04330", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-budget-committee-king-urges-caution-on-rushed-tax-reform-process", "In Budget Committee, King Urges Caution on Rushed Tax Reform Process", "2017-11-28", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Budget Committee, King Urges Caution on Rushed Tax Reform Process\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThe ancient Roman historian Tacitus said, \u2018Truth is confirmed by inspection and delay; falsehood by haste and uncertainty.\u2019\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 28, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, today urged caution on rushing the proposed tax reform plan through the Senate without substantial hearings, feedback from the public, or information from experts. His remarks come days ahead of a planned vote before the full Senate on the tax cut framework.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe could get 70 votes, or 80 votes, for a tax reform proposal that was less damaging to the deficit, more stimulative to the economy, and more fairly distributed,\u201d Senator King said. \u201c[\u2026]Let\u2019s slow down, have a real process, get input from people all across the country, find out what this bill would actually do. Change it. Improve it. And then come out with a product that can be passed on a bipartisan basis, will be much more consistent with the needs and desires of the American people, and will make \u2013 I believe \u2013 a difference for the next generation. Instead of being a millstone, it will be an opportunity.\u201d\r\nThis morning, Senator King joined a group of moderate Democrats to underscore the potential and desire for bipartisan compromise on tax reform. The press conference is available in full HERE.\r\nSenator King has consistently called for a responsible, balanced, and long-term approach to addressing the United States national debt and deficit, and was named a \u201cFiscal Hero\u201d in 2016 by Campaign to Fix the Debt. The Budget Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution by a 12 to 11 party-line vote in October.\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-colleagues-unveil-legislation-to-rebuild-puerto-rico-and-virgin-islands", "Sanders, Colleagues Unveil Legislation to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands", "2017-11-28", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with five cosponsors in the Senate, introduced a comprehensive plan Tuesday to address the immediate humanitarian needs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ensure that the islands not only recover, but are able to rebuild in a way that empowers them to thrive.\r\nThe Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Reps. Stacy Plaskett (D-V.I.), Nydia M.\u00a0Vel\u00e1zquez\u00a0(D-N.Y.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.) will introduce a companion bill in the House. The bill is endorsed by\u00a075 organizations.\r\nMore than two months after Hurricane Maria, much of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands remain devastated. More than half of Puerto Rico is still without power. In both territories, clean drinking water is difficult if not impossible to find in many areas and thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters.\r\nThe legislation introduced today would instruct the federal government to immediately address these humanitarian crises by mobilizing all necessary resources and assets to restore power, provide clean drinking water and food, safe shelter and access to health care. And, it would do so without forcing the territories to take on more debt.\r\nThe Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act emphasizes local control and sustainable rebuilding of the territories and instructs Congress to address Puerto Rico\u2019s debt \u2013 a major impediment to a just and full recovery. And, it ensures that any federal disaster funding provided to the islands is protected from Wall Street vulture funds and acted upon with local input and local workers.\r\nSan Juan Mayor\u00a0Carmen Yul\u00edn Cruz\u00a0offered her support for the bill:\u00a0\u201cThe bill that Senator Sanders has introduced in the United States Congress is a comprehensive plan that provides the blueprint for the transformation of Puerto Rico. While dealing with all major areas of immediate concern: energy, health and education it also sets the foundation to make Puerto Rico a more equitable, just and fair society for all. Senator Sanders also shows a great deal of respect and faith in us when claiming that the recovery or Puerto Rico must be in Puerto Rican hands. The bill comes from Sanders\u2019 commitment of listening first hand to the hopes and aspirations of our people and must be given serious consideration by Congress.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt is unconscionable that in the wealthiest nation in the world we have allowed our\u00a0fellow citizens\u00a0to suffer for so long. The full resources of the United States must be brought to bear on this crisis,\u00a0for as long as is necessary,\u201d said\u00a0Sanders, who visited Puerto Rico in October. \u201cBut we cannot simply rebuild Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands the way they were. We must go forward to create a strong, sustainable economy and energy system in both territories and address inequities in federal law that have allowed the territories to fall behind in almost every measurable social and economic criteria.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe bill addresses seven components necessary to rebuild and move the islands forward:\r\n1)\u00a0Debt and Privatization:\u00a0Puerto Rico\u2019s debt must be addressed to ensure the territory can recover with dignity. Congress must also prevent the privatization of public institutions to benefit creditors in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is struggling with an unsustainable $74.8 billion of debt, much of which is held by Wall Street creditors, with an additional $49 billion in unpaid pension obligations. The territories\u2019 recovery should not add to existing debt. 2) Resilient and Renewable Energy:\u00a0Instead of simply rebuilding an antiquated, centralized and inefficient system dependent on imported fossil fuels, the bill ensures the electric grids will be rebuilt to be more renewable and resilient, to provide less expensive electricity and create local jobs. 3) Medicaid and Medicare Parity:\u00a0The health care systems in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were inadequate before the hurricanes made landfall, in large part because they receive far fewer federal dollars compared to states. The bill makes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands eligible for the same Medicare and Medicaid benefits as the rest of America. 4) Rebuild and Improve the VA Hospital and Clinics:\u00a0Appropriates necessary funds to the VA for veterans in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 5) Improve Public Schools, Colleges, and Childcare Facilities:\u00a0In addition to rebuilding damaged schools and childcare facilities, we must face the fact that many of these facilities were inadequate before the storms hit. Hundreds of public schools in Puerto Rico have been closed because of austerity policies, and schools in the Virgin Islands are struggling to prepare students for college and future careers. The bill appropriates necessary funds for services and facilities for public Head Start, elementary, secondary and higher education. \u00a0 6) Invest in Infrastructure and Spur Economic Development:\u00a0Underfunded infrastructure in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands contributed to the severity of the damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In addition to rebuilding damaged facilities, the legislation would make significant investments in the islands\u2019 physical infrastructure to spur the local economy and create jobs.  \u00a0  7)\u00a0Environmental Cleanup:\u00a0Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have significant environmental contamination related to the hurricanes, prior pollution and a legacy of military bombing exercises on Vieques. The legislation would provide grants to the EPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense for environmental remediation.\r\n\r\n\"This bill from Senator Sanders is crucial because it will emphasize the importance of input in the recovery process by local impacted communities along with ensuring public participation in an open and transparent oversight process. This legislation will also promote long-term economic development, environmental safeguards, and rights of the local communities affected and to chart the path to recovery for the Virgin Islands. Ensuring the input of local communities as well as local and municipal powers in the recovery effort of the Virgin Islands is critical to a balanced response that fully meets the needs of impacted communities of the territories. It is imperative that we learn from the shortcomings from these disasters that have created a humanitarian crises the echoes of which are still being felt in the Virgin Islands,\"\u00a0Plaskett\u00a0said.\r\n\"The principles and the legislation being announced today provide a framework not just for finally getting control of the ongoing crisis \u2013 but ensuring we invest to build Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands back better. This will lay the groundwork for making Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands whole,\" said\u00a0Vel\u00e1zquez.\u00a0\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered one of the worst disasters our country has ever experienced, and Congress has done the minimum expected of us. Congress must rise to the occasion and implement this new Marshall Plan to help our fellow American citizens rebuild and recover,\" said\u00a0Gillibrand. \"We must all pledge to stand with these families until the islands are rebuilt and fully back on their feet.\"\r\n\"This bill provides the help that the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands desperately need. It tells millions of U.S. citizens: we have not forgotten you. Congress should pass it right away -- the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are counting on us. I was glad to work closely with Senator Sanders on this far-reaching bill so that we can aid our fellow U.S. citizens and help them along a path to full recovery,\"\u00a0said\u00a0Warren.\r\n\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico have been living in a nightmare for far too long,\" stated\u00a0Soto. \"We talk about power to the people. The people of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands need power! I am proud to co-introduce the Just Rebuild Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands Act of 2017, legislation that will help them get the lights back on and their economies going again. \u00a0As we look to rebuild the islands, we have an opportunity to become an energy model for the 21st century if we invest right.\"\r\n\u00a0\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have waited far too long for a comprehensive effort from the federal government to recover from these devastating storms and to rebuild in a way that makes them stronger for the future. The Administration and Congress must stop delaying, and pass real, meaningful relief so that these Americans can begin the process of long-term recovery,\"\u00a0Markey\u00a0said.\r\nFor a summary of the bill,\u00a0click here.\r\nFor the section by section,\u00a0click here.\r\nFor a copy of the legislation,\u00a0click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-colleagues-unveil-legislation-to-rebuild-puerto-rico-and-virgin-islands", "Sanders, Colleagues Unveil Legislation to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands", "2017-11-28", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, Nov. 28 \u2013\u00a0Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with five cosponsors in the Senate, introduced a comprehensive plan Tuesday to address the immediate humanitarian needs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ensure that the islands not only recover, but are able to rebuild in a way that empowers them to thrive.\r\nThe Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Reps. Stacy Plaskett (D-V.I.), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-N.Y.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.) will introduce a companion bill in the House. The bill is endorsed by\u00a075 organizations.\r\nMore than two months after Hurricane Maria, much of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands remain devastated. More than half of Puerto Rico is still without power. In both territories, clean drinking water is difficult if not impossible to find in many areas and thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters.\r\nThe legislation introduced today would instruct the federal government to immediately address these humanitarian crises by mobilizing all necessary resources and assets to restore power, provide clean drinking water and food, safe shelter and access to health care. And, it would do so without forcing the territories to take on more debt.\r\nThe Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act emphasizes local control and sustainable rebuilding of the territories and instructs Congress to address Puerto Rico\u2019s debt \u2013 a major impediment to a just and full recovery. And, it ensures that any federal disaster funding provided to the islands is protected from Wall Street vulture funds and acted upon with local input and local workers.\r\nSan Juan Mayor\u00a0Carmen Yul\u00edn Cruz\u00a0offered her support for the bill:\u00a0\u201cThe bill that Senator Sanders has introduced in the United States Congress is a comprehensive plan that provides the blueprint for the transformation of Puerto Rico. While dealing with all major areas of immediate concern: energy, health and education it also sets the foundation to make Puerto Rico a more equitable, just and fair society for all. Senator Sanders also shows a great deal of respect and faith in us when claiming that the recovery or Puerto Rico must be in Puerto Rican hands. The bill comes from Sanders\u2019 commitment of listening first hand to the hopes and aspirations of our people and must be given serious consideration by Congress.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt is unconscionable that in the wealthiest nation in the world we have allowed our\u00a0fellow citizens\u00a0to suffer for so long. The full resources of the United States must be brought to bear on this crisis,\u00a0for as long as is necessary,\u201d said\u00a0Sanders, who visited Puerto Rico in October. \u201cBut we cannot simply rebuild Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands the way they were. We must go forward to create a strong, sustainable economy and energy system in both territories and address inequities in federal law that have allowed the territories to fall behind in almost every measurable social and economic criteria.\u201d\r\n\r\nThe bill addresses seven components necessary to rebuild and move the islands forward:\r\n1)\u00a0Debt and Privatization:\u00a0Puerto Rico\u2019s debt must be addressed to ensure the territory can recover with dignity. Congress must also prevent the privatization of public institutions to benefit creditors in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is struggling with an unsustainable $74.8 billion of debt, much of which is held by Wall Street creditors, with an additional $49 billion in unpaid pension obligations. The territories\u2019 recovery should not add to existing debt. 2) Resilient and Renewable Energy:\u00a0Instead of simply rebuilding an antiquated, centralized and inefficient system dependent on imported fossil fuels, the bill ensures the electric grids will be rebuilt to be more renewable and resilient, to provide less expensive electricity and create local jobs. 3) Medicaid and Medicare Parity:\u00a0The health care systems in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico were inadequate before the hurricanes made landfall, in large part because they receive far fewer federal dollars compared to states. The bill makes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands eligible for the same Medicare and Medicaid benefits as the rest of America. 4) Rebuild and Improve the VA Hospital and Clinics:\u00a0Appropriates necessary funds to the VA for veterans in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 5) Improve Public Schools, Colleges, and Childcare Facilities:\u00a0In addition to rebuilding damaged schools and childcare facilities, we must face the fact that many of these facilities were inadequate before the storms hit. Hundreds of public schools in Puerto Rico have been closed because of austerity policies and schools in the Virgin Islands are struggling to prepare students for college and future careers. The bill appropriates necessary funds for services and facilities for public Head Start, elementary, secondary and higher education. \u00a0 6) Invest in Infrastructure and Spur Economic Development:\u00a0Underfunded infrastructure in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands contributed to the severity of the damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. In addition to rebuilding damaged facilities, the legislation would make significant investments in the islands\u2019 physical infrastructure to spur the local economy and create jobs.  \u00a0  7)\u00a0Environmental Cleanup:\u00a0Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have significant environmental contamination related to the hurricanes, prior pollution and a legacy of military bombing exercises on Vieques. The legislation would provide grants to the EPA, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Defense for environmental remediation.\r\n\r\n\"This bill from Senator Sanders is crucial because it will emphasize the importance of input in the recovery process by local impacted communities along with ensuring public participation in an open and transparent oversight process. This legislation will also promote long-term economic development, environmental safeguards, and rights of the local communities affected and to chart the path to recovery for the Virgin Islands. Ensuring the input of local communities as well as local and municipal powers in the recovery effort of the Virgin Islands is critical to a balanced response that fully meets the needs of impacted communities of the territories. It is imperative that we learn from the shortcomings from these disasters that have created a humanitarian crises the echoes of which are still being felt in the Virgin Islands,\"\u00a0Plaskett\u00a0said.\r\n\"The principles and the legislation being announced today provide a framework not just for finally getting control of the ongoing crisis \u2013 but ensuring we invest to build Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands back better. This will lay the groundwork for making Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands whole,\" said\u00a0Vel\u00e1zquez.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands suffered one of the worst disasters our country has ever experienced, and Congress has done the minimum expected of us. Congress must rise to the occasion and implement this new Marshall Plan to help our fellow American citizens rebuild and recover,\" said\u00a0Gillibrand. \"We must all pledge to stand with these families until the islands are rebuilt and fully back on their feet.\"\r\n\r\n\"This bill provides the help that the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands desperately need. It tells millions of U.S. citizens: we have not forgotten you. Congress should pass it right away -- the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are counting on us. I was glad to work closely with Senator Sanders on this far-reaching bill so that we can aid our fellow U.S. citizens and help them along a path to full recovery,\"\u00a0said\u00a0Warren.\r\n\r\n\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico have been living in a nightmare for far too long,\" stated\u00a0Soto. \"We talk about power to the people. The people of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands need power! I am proud to co-introduce the Just Rebuild Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands Act of 2017, legislation that will help them get the lights back on and their economies going again. \u00a0As we look to rebuild the islands, we have an opportunity to become an energy model for the 21st century if we invest right.\"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\"The people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have waited far too long for a comprehensive effort from the federal government to recover from these devastating storms and to rebuild in a way that makes them stronger for the future. The Administration and Congress must stop delaying, and pass real, meaningful relief so that these Americans can begin the process of long-term recovery,\"\u00a0Markey\u00a0said.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe devastating effects of this historic natural disaster calls for a historic response. Our bill has the makings of a Marshall Plan \u2013 providing vital funds to rebuild islands\u2019 housing, electricity, health care, and basic government operations. Relief is not enough. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands must rebuild with resilience to better withstand future disasters, and we must meet our moral obligation to help fellow American citizens in need,\u201d\u00a0Blumenthal\u00a0said.\r\nFor a summary of the bill,\u00a0click here.\r\nFor the section by section,\u00a0click here.\r\nFor a copy of the legislation,\u00a0click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/vermont/what-i-learned-in-high-school-last-week", "What I learned in High School Last Week", "2017-11-28", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "What I learned in High School\u2026 Last Week\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By:\u00a0 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders  \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, November 28, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\tLast year, more than 60,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the United States. That\u2019s more Americans dying in one year than during the entire 19 years of the Vietnam War.\u00a0 In our small state, 112 Vermonters died from a drug overdose, which is three times as many as died in 2010.\u00a0 And what\u2019s even more shocking than the sheer numbers of people dying is how hard this epidemic is hitting younger people. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for people younger than 50. In Vermont, the average age of death from overdose is just 40 years old.\u00a0 And in 2016, nearly 20 percent of the drug overdose deaths were in people under age 30.\r\nSolving the opioid epidemic will not be easy. We\u2019re going to have to challenge the pharmaceutical industry, which made huge profits by putting drugs on the market that were far more addictive than they admitted. We\u2019re going to have to deal with drug wholesalers, who are selling far more pills than anyone thinks is necessary for medical reasons. We\u2019re going to have to make sure doctors and dentists \u2013 as Vermont providers have begun doing \u2013 take up safe prescribing practices so excess painkillers aren\u2019t abused or misused and that states use tools to curb so-called \u201cdoctor shopping\u201d and \u201cpill-mills.\u201d\r\nBut, at the end of the day, if we\u2019re going to solve this terrible crisis, we\u2019re going to have to do a lot better job at prevention \u2013 keeping people from turning to drugs in the first place. And to do that, we must look to our young people. For that reason, on the Friday before the Thanksgiving break, I went to Burlington High School to talk to the entire student body. I was joined by T.J. Donovan, Vermont\u2019s Attorney General; Dr. Heather Stein, an expert on opioid addiction; and Kelly Breeyear, a courageous woman who is living in recovery from addiction.\u00a0I wanted to discuss the dangers of taking opioids, but I also wanted to hear from our students. I needed their help.\u00a0\r\nIn Washington, I sit on the Senate\u2019s Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, which hears from some of the most knowledgeable people in this country on all kinds of matters relating to health care and education. But on this issue of opioid and heroin addiction, and on the question of why so many young people are turning to drugs and how we can prevent that, I believe our nation\u2019s young people might know more than the experts.\r\nThese young people know first-hand what it\u2019s like to live in a family where a parent struggles with addiction. They know from personal experience what kind of pressure exists when your best friends are experimenting with pills and ask you to join in. They might also know, if they injured themselves or had their wisdom teeth removed, how tempting it could be to keep taking painkillers prescribed by a doctor, even when the physical pain subsides. They certainly know better than older generations what it\u2019s like to be growing up in today\u2019s crazy and rapidly changing world.\u00a0 And, perhaps most tragically, they know how common it can be to struggle with anxiety or even depression \u2013 a growing problem for young people.\r\nIn their questions and comments, what I heard from these high school students was truly insightful. Many of them talked about looking for ways to fight stigma, to make it clear that it is okay to confide in each other about personal and family problems and that one not need to be embarrassed to ask for professional help. They talked about how important it is for people struggling with addiction to not only have access to treatment, but have their recovery supported when they came back home. They wanted to understand why health insurance companies are willing to pay for expensive prescription opioids, but refuse to cover other options like acupuncture and yoga, or mental health care.\r\nIf I learned one thing from talking with and listening to these students, it\u2019s that they do know the dangers of heroin and other opioids. They know that these drugs can destroy their lives, and the lives of the people they love. But I also learned that they want and need constructive alternatives.\u00a0 And that, as adults, is our job.\u00a0\r\nWe must create schools that challenge them intellectually and support them emotionally, and make sure that none of them \u201cfall through the cracks.\u201d We must help make sure they have a safe place to live and an opportunity for higher education or a job that gives them purpose. We must appreciate their ideas and make them a part of the solution.\u00a0 Every single one of our young people deserves a chance at a bright future. And when we accomplish that, I have little doubt that we will have gone a long way toward ending the opioid crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-to-republicans-how-much-will-you-cut-social-security-medicare-and-medicaid-to-pay-for-tax-cuts", "Sanders to Republicans: How Much Will You Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts?", "2017-11-27", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders to Republicans: How Much Will You Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts?\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, November 27, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 27 \u2013 In a letter sent Monday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded honesty from the Republican leaders as to how they would pay for the $1.4 trillion deficit in their \"tax reform\" bills.\r\n\"I am very concerned that if you succeed in passing tax legislation that significantly adds to our national debt, you will then move aggressively to balance the budget on the backs of working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor. In other words, in order to pay for tax breaks for the rich and large corporations, you will make massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, nutrition, environmental protection and every other program designed to protect the needs of the middle class and working families of our country,\" Sanders wrote in the letter.\r\n\"The bottom line is that the American people have a right to know exactly how you plan to pay for a $1.4 trillion increase in the deficit before, not after, tax legislation is signed into law. In your response, please be as specific as you can.\"\r\nTo read the letter, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-to-republicans-how-much-will-you-cut-social-security-medicare-and-medicaid-to-pay-for-tax-cuts", "Sanders to Republicans: How Much Will You Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts?", "2017-11-27", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders to Republicans: How Much Will You Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to Pay for Tax Cuts?\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, November 27, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 27 \u2013 In a letter sent Monday to Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Speaker Ryan (R-Wisc.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded honesty from the Republican leaders as to how they would pay for the $1.4 trillion deficit in their \"tax reform\" bills.\r\n\"I am very concerned that if you succeed in passing tax legislation that significantly adds to our national debt, you will then move aggressively to balance the budget on the backs of working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor. In other words, in order to pay for tax breaks for the rich and large corporations, you will make massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, nutrition, environmental protection and every other program designed to protect the needs of the middle class and working families of our country,\" Sanders wrote in the letter.\r\n\"The bottom line is that the American people have a right to know exactly how you plan to pay for a $1.4 trillion increase in the deficit before, not after, tax legislation is signed into law. In your response, please be as specific as you can.\"\r\nTo read the letter, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/honoring-the-service-and-activism-of-maine-veterans", "Honoring the Service and Activism of Maine Veterans", "2017-11-25", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content\n\n\t\n\n    \n    \n        \n            \n            \n                \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                \n            \n             Honoring the Service and Activism of Maine Veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-november-podcast-king-highlights-service-and-activism-of-maine-veterans", "In November Podcast, King Highlights Service and Activism of Maine Veterans", "2017-11-25", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In November Podcast, King Highlights Service and Activism of Maine Veterans\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, November 25, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNORWAY, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released the November edition of his Inside Maine podcast. In this edition, Senator King speaks with Carmine Pecorelli, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, about time in the military and how he\u2019s continued his lifetime of service as a volunteer advocate for veterans. Senator King then speaks to Deo Lauria, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and the outgoing District Service Officer for the American Legion at Togus. Senator King and his guests discuss the importance of serving Maine veterans.\r\n\u201cMaine has a long and storied history of military service that continues to this day, as our state has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThese are men and women who deserve our deepest gratitude for their military service \u2013 but it\u2019s important to recognize that their efforts continued after they took off the uniform. Carmine and Deo are phenomenal examples of that continued work; pillars of service above self, these men exemplify how vibrant and vital Maine\u2019s veterans community is. It was my pleasure to speak with them and highlight the good work they do for Maine\u2019s veterans. \u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nSince arriving in Washington, Senator King has been a strong advocate for veterans issues. This was particularly true in November: over Veterans Day weekend, he joined members of the community to observe Veterans Day at Northern Maine Veterans\u2019 Cemetery in Caribou, where he provided keynote remarks and participated in the wreath laying cemetery. He also spoke at the opening of the Maine Troop Greeters Museum at Bangor International Airport, and presented World War II Veteran and Penobscot Tribal Elder with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Earlier in the month, Sen. King also announced his support for two bills to protect and support American veterans.\r\nThese are just the latest examples of Senator King\u2019s continued efforts for Maine\u2019s veteran population. Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has supported multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support American veterans. In the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA, Senator King\u00a0cosponsored an amendment authored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that would encourage cooperation and integration between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense with their electronic health care record systems to improve the transition from active duty to veteran status and ensure that veterans won\u2019t have to wait to gain access to the health care services they have earned. He also supported an amendment authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that would encourage the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to assess the feasibility of establishing a joint office to house an interagency task force on suicide prevention. Senator King supports the coordination between the departments so that those who have served do not slip through the cracks. He is a strong supporter of the\u00a0Veterans Choice Program, which helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health care within their communities and allows veterans in Northern Maine to seamlessly utilize community care as they formerly did under the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot.\u00a0In August, the President signed into law\u00a0Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act,\u00a0legislation he cosponsored that would overhaul the Department of Veteran Affairs\u2019 (VA) appeals process.\r\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on almost every last Saturday of the month.\r\nA link to the November podcast can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-small-business-saturday-king-highlights-local-economy-in-oxford-county", "On Small Business Saturday, King Highlights Local Economy in Oxford County", "2017-11-25", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Small Business Saturday, King Highlights Local Economy in Oxford County\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, November 25, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tNORWAY, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today met with small business owners and community members in the Norway/South Paris region to underscore how supporting local businesses can grow the Maine economy. His visit came on Small Business Saturday, which falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and emphasizes the importance of supporting local small businesses, particularly during the holiday season.\r\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of our economy. All across Maine, there are independently-owned businesses that create jobs for local people and foster growth and innovation in our communities,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe local business owners I met with in Paris and Norway today characterize Maine\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit, and -- by working to grow the economy -- demonstrate a dedication to friends and neighbors to make their communities more resilient. During this holiday season, let us reaffirm our commitment to buying local so we can support the Main Streets of our hometowns and help keep Maine a special place to work and live.\u201d\r\nIn the morning, Senator King visited Caf\u00e9 Nomad in Norway to meet with local people. Following this, Senator King stopped at a variety of small businesses on Main Street in Downtown Norway and had lunch at the family-owned Norway Brewing Company. He also attended the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce\u2019s Christmas Parade, which is the state\u2019s largest Christmas Parade.\r\nEarlier this month, Senator King cosponsored a bipartisan U.S. Senate resolution to recognize the importance of Small Business Saturday for local businesses across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/video-audio/happy-thanksgiving", "Happy Thanksgiving", "2017-11-23", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Happy Thanksgiving \n            On behalf of Jane, my four kids and seven grandchildren, I wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. This has been a tough year, but we can move forward as a country in a direction based on generosity and love.\n            \n                \n                    \n                       \t\n        \t\t\t\t\n                        \n                            \n                                \n                                \n                                    \n                                    \n                                    \n                                \n                                \n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \n                        \n                        \n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n                \n            \n        \t\n            \n            \n            \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                    \n                   \tSee Video on YouTube\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n                    \nCopy Link", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-belfast-king-meets-with-belfast-community-members-hears-from-local-business-leaders", "In Belfast, King Meets with Belfast Community Members, Hears from Local Business Leaders", "2017-11-21", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Belfast, King Meets with Belfast Community Members, Hears from Local Business Leaders\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, November 21, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBELFAST, ME\u00a0\u2013\u00a0U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today visited the Belfast region to hear from business leaders and community members about important issues impacting the area. Senator King began the day visiting Bank of America, met with community and business leaders at the Belfast Co-op, and visited Front Street Shipyard. He will end the day meeting with Sprague Energy at Mack Point Terminal in Searsport.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOne of the most important parts of my job is to listen. And whether it\u2019s in hearings in Washington, or right here on Front Street in Belfast, listening helps guide my work on behalf of our state,\u201d\u00a0Senator King said. \u201cThese meetings in Belfast today provided important insight into the many different ways we can work together to grow the economy and support Maine people. From food to ferries, innovation starts with local people driven to help their communities, and it was great to see people in Belfast working to support their neighbors and build a diverse, resilient economy.\u201d\r\nIn the morning, Senator King toured the Bank of America in Belfast, which employs about 725 Maine people and is a significant economic driver for the region. Following the tour, Senator King met with local leaders for lunch at the Belfast Co-op. The Belfast Co-op, founded in 1976, is one of the oldest co-ops in Maine and one of the largest in New England. With over 3,900 members, the Co-op has continued to expand and improve to support the local economy and Belfast\u2019s vibrant natural foods industry.\r\nIn the afternoon, Senator King visited Front Street Shipyard to discuss its proposed new manufacturing line, which is intended to support the construction of carbon fiber ferries. The proposal would expand Front Street\u2019s operation to new markets and help grow the region\u2019s workforce. The shipyard is partnering with the Norwegian-based company Brodene Aa, which designs and constructs fast, fuel-efficient ferries, to establish a foothold for carbon fiber ferries in U.S. markets. Ferries currently carry about 103 million passengers and more than 37 million vehicles per year in the United States.\r\nSenator King will end the day meeting with Sprague Energy at Mack Point Terminal in Searsport to discuss infrastructure plans to support the export of forest products and the construction of a new crane for a liquid dry dock to support offshore wind project efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-388000-from-usda-for-university-of-maines-potato-breeding-research", "Collins, King Announce $388,000 from USDA for University of Maine’s Potato Breeding Research", "2017-11-20", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Collins, King Announce $388,000 from USDA for University of Maine\u2019s Potato Breeding Research\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, November 20, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a grant totaling $388,000 to the University of Maine at Orono to study potato breeding and improve quality and pest resistance in the eastern United States.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMaine potatoes are a staple in homes around the country and are a testament to the quality of our farmers and small businesses,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThis funding from the USDA will support the University of Maine\u2019s cutting-edge research into potato breeding and help the state build on our strong agricultural traditions so we can make Maine potato products more economically resilient. We\u2019re glad the Department of Agriculture recognizes the University of Maine\u2019s innovative research and our state\u2019s important role in the country\u2019s agriculture.\u201d\r\nThe grant, awarded through NIFA\u2019s Potato Breeding Research Program, aims to increase the productivity, profitability, and natural resource stewardship of potato cultivation. The University of Maine will serve as the lead on an eastern United States potato breeding project focused on developing attractive, productive, disease- and insect-resistant potato varieties for both large and small scale production. This will positively impact productivity and quality of eastern U.S. potatoes, while also decreasing the economic impact of pests.\u00a0\r\nSenators Collins and King have been longtime advocates for Maine\u2019s agricultural heritage. In September, they introduced the bipartisan Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act, which would double the funding for two USDA export promotion programs and help U.S. farmers stay competitive in the global markets. Senator King recently attended the Harvest Festival in Bangor and met with members of the Maine Potato Board to highlight the CREAATE Act and the impact it would have on Maine\u2019s local farmers.\r\nThe USDA NIFA invests in agricultural research and education through projects like the one at the University of Maine to directly support the prosperity of U.S. agriculture.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-holds-student-meeting-on-opioids", "Sanders Holds Student Meeting on Opioids", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Holds Student Meeting on Opioids\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 17, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 17 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) held a student town meeting Friday with the entire student body of Burlington High School and the Burlington Technical Center to discuss the opioid crisis in Vermont and throughout the United States.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\u201cI need your help. Not only for Vermont, but for the entire country,\u201d Sanders told the students. \u201cIt is critically important that we have an honest and open discussion about this crisis that claimed the lives of 112 Vermonters last year, and affected thousands more. If we do not have the courage to talk about this issue. We are never, ever going to solve it.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cNone of us are immune to the effects of addiction. It doesn\u2019t matter if you live in New York City or rural Vermont,\u201d said Sanders, who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.\u00a0\r\nSanders was joined by a panel including: Kelly Breeyear, a Vermonter who shared her personal experience with addiction, Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan and\u00a0Dr. Heather Stein, associate medical director at the Community Health Centers of Burlington.\u00a0\r\n\u201cYou have a choice now. After you have it in your system, you may not have a choice ever again,\u201d Breeyear said. \u201cWe need to start telling the truth. We need your help to find a solution. We need to stop this now.\u201d\r\nDonovan said, \u201cWe have to speak out, lift people up and help members of the community with this disease. The opiate crisis doesn't discriminate -- it affects everyone. We all have to work together, from people in government to teachers, students and family members.\u201d\r\nStein runs Community Health Centers of Burlington\u2019s program that helps patients who are struggling with substance abuse. \u201cYour brain is going to be hooked on something faster than someone twice your age,\u201d Stein told the students. \u201cYou\u2019ll do things you can\u2019t imagine now to get narcotics.\u201d\r\nFollowing the panel discussion, students participated in a question-and-answer session, sharing personal experiences and asking a broad range of questions.\r\nLast year, more than 60,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the United States, including 112 in Vermont. Narcan was used on more than 2,200 Vermonters last year to reverse the effects of an overdose, according to the Vermont Department of Health.\r\nIf you or someone you know needs help with an opioid addiction, call toll free 1-866-652-4636 or dial 2-1-1.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-white-house-request-for-disaster-relief-funds", "Sanders Statement on White House Request for Disaster Relief Funds", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on White House Request for Disaster Relief Funds\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 17, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 17 \u2013\u00a0U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Friday after the White House asked Congress for $44 billion in additional\u00a0disaster relief for areas ravaged by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria:\r\n\"The president\u2019s request for supplemental appropriations for disaster relief is totally inadequate. While the president wants to provide the very richest people in this country hundreds of billions in tax relief, he is largely ignoring the needs of the communities that were devastated by the recent hurricanes. Two months after Hurricane Maria, the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still suffering without electricity, clean water and other basic necessities. That is not acceptable. I will be releasing comprehensive legislation this month to address the short- and long-term needs of the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a nation, we must stand with those communities that have been devastated by natural disasters.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/letter-to-sec-tillerson-on-iran-earthquake-aid", "Letter to Sec. Tillerson on Iran Earthquake Aid", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Letter to Sec. Tillerson on Iran Earthquake Aid\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 17, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tNovember 16, 2017\r\nThe Honorable Rex Tillerson   Secretary   U.S. Department of State   2201 C St. NW   Washington, DC 20520\r\nDear Secretary Tillerson:\r\nWe write today concerning the recent earthquake that struck Iran on November 12. The latest reports indicate over 500 dead and thousands wounded, making this earthquake the world\u2019s deadliest of the year. We urge you temporarily waive any existing restrictions that would impede relief donations in order to speed the delivery of aid.\r\nWhile the earthquake affected both Iran and Iraq, most of the casualties are on the Iranian side of the border. After earthquakes in 2003 and 2012, the United States demonstrated its compassion and goodwill by offering assistance to the Iranian people and allowing private relief donations. The administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama both temporarily waived sanctions, and the Department of the Treasury\u2019s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued general licenses to simplify aid delivery.\r\nUnder the Bush administration, an OFAC license authorized U.S. persons to provide cash donations to nongovernmental organizations, U.S. and non-U.S., assisting with relief efforts in Iran. At the time, OFAC also worked with aid organizations to clarify rules on donations of food and medicine and which Iranian entities could receive aid and eased banking constraints to ensure the timely receipt of donations in Iran. While we understand that a general license issued by OFAC in 2013 allows for U.S. nongovernment organization to deliver aid to Iran, we urge you make it easier for U.S. citizens to contribute to nongovernment organizations not based in the United States that are currently providing relief aid to earthquake victims in Iran.\r\nDespite decades of animosity and no formal diplomatic relations, the United States has routinely offered to help the Iranian people in times of need. This time should be no different. We ask that you direct the Department of State to assist in aid efforts and to coordinate such efforts with OFAC and other relevant agencies in order to ensure aid arrives quickly.\r\nThank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your timely response.\r\n  Sincerely,\r\nBERNARD SANDERS  United States Senator\r\nELIZABETH WARREN  United States Senator\r\nAL FRANKEN  United States Senator\r\nTHOMAS CARPER  United States Senator\r\nDIANNE FEINSTEIN  United States Senator", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-white-house-request-for-disaster-relief-funds", "Sanders Statement on White House Request for Disaster Relief Funds", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on White House Request for Disaster Relief Funds\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, November 17, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 17 \u2013\u00a0U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Friday after the White House asked Congress for $44 billion in additional\u00a0disaster relief for areas ravaged by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria:\r\n\"The president\u2019s request for supplemental appropriations for disaster relief is totally inadequate. While the president wants to provide the very richest people in this country hundreds of billions in tax relief, he is largely ignoring the needs of the communities that were devastated by the recent hurricanes. Two months after Hurricane Maria, the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still suffering without electricity, clean water and other basic necessities. That is not acceptable. I will be releasing comprehensive legislation this month to address the short- and long-term needs of the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a nation, we must stand with those communities that have been devastated by natural disasters.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-response-to-enr-field-hearing-at-robbins-lumber-king-introduces-combined-heat-and-power-support-act", "In Response to ENR Field Hearing at Robbins Lumber, King Introduces Combined Heat and Power Support Act", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Response to ENR Field Hearing at Robbins Lumber, King Introduces Combined Heat and Power Support Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tKing bill would help support rural industries, create jobs, encourage energy efficiency\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In response to input from leaders of the forest products industry at the October U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee field hearing at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Support Act, legislation that would help sustain and strengthen rural industries and create jobs by reauthorizing the CHP technical assistance partnership (TAP), which sunset in September of this year. The bill would also provide funding for the CHP TAP program for the next five years. CHP technology can efficiently leverage byproducts of the forest industry and turn them into added value for local economies, which would diversify energy options for rural industries, increase markets for forest products residuals, and maximize use of Maine\u2019s natural resources.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn Maine and throughout the country, lowering energy costs is essential to supporting rural industry and fostering job creation,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAt Robbins Lumber in October, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, industry stakeholders, and representatives from the Department of Energy were able to see firsthand how innovative approaches to controlling energy costs can be good for business, and good for the health and vibrancy of the surrounding community. Maine sits on a goldmine of fiber, and by offering an array of strategies to Maine businesses, we can better manage energy usage and ensure our forest products sector is leveraging every inch of the tree \u2013 from stump to stem.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs we look to diversify and restore markets for full utilization of our forest resources, wood energy is an extremely important opportunity for Maine\u2019s loggers and truckers,\u201d Dana Doran, Executive Director, Professional Logging Contractors of Maine. \u201cThe DOE Technical Assistance program can provide important tools to assist Maine in expanding market opportunities for wood energy to make Maine more energy independent.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"Enabling biomass power facilities to sell the heat produced in generating electricity is the next frontier for our industry,\" said Bob Cleaves, president and CEO of Biomass Power Association. \"We thank Senator King for fighting for this funding, which will go toward helping biomass facilities do the necessary upgrades to sell heat. This could boost not only biomass facilities, which face stiff competition in current power markets, but also the larger forest products industry in Maine and around the country.\"\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe Alliance for Industrial Efficiency applauds Senator King for his leadership in introducing legislation to authorize the Department of Energy\u2019s Combined Heat and Power Technical Partnership Program (\u201cCHP TAPs\u201d),\u201d said Jennifer Kefer, Exeuctive Director of the Alliance for Industrial Efficiency. \u201cThe CHP TAPs and the supporting efforts of the DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office\u2019s Technical Assistance Partnerships save consumers money, increase economic competitiveness, strengthen our nation\u2019s energy security, and reduce harmful emissions through the use of CHP. By authorizing the continuation of the CHP TAPs, Senator King will help manufacturers, universities, and institutions save money, reduce their energy use, increase their reliability in the face of extreme weather events that may compromise the grid, and lower their emissions.\u201d\r\nSpecifically, the CHP Support Act would authorize $12 million in funding for the CHP TAP program each year through Fiscal Year 2022. The CHP TAP program enables higher education research centers to provide assistance and analysis for any business looking to invest in CHP technology and has supported a wide-range of businesses throughout the country. In Maine, the program has helped multiple businesses install energy-efficient CHP equipment that has saved energy costs. Following Hurricane Maria, some of the only facilities with power in Puerto Rico were hospitals with on-site CHP technology.\r\nIn early October, Senator King hosted a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee field hearing at Robbins Lumber, a fifth-generation family owned sawmill in Searsmont, to discuss how CHP and microgrid technology approaches can support rural industries and communities and to underscore the energy saving potential of colocation energy approaches. Robbins Lumber currently has a CHP facility under construction that will generate electricity and thermal energy\u00a0from wood waste produced in the region\u2019s logging operations and sawmills. The field hearing included witnesses from the Maine forest products and energy industries as well as the Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office in the Department of Energy.\r\nSenator King has been a strong advocate for reducing energy costs and supporting job growth for Maine industry. The Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT), originally requested by Senators Collins and King in March 2016, recommended the development of markets for forest product residuals including low-value wood in CHP biomass plants, micro-grids, and modern thermal systems. In the EDAT report, the Department of Energy announced support through its CHP Technical Assistance Program to help Maine\u2019s forest industry with feasibility assessments of existing operations to install CHP technology as a strategy to lower costs through generating onsite power.\r\nSenator King has also introduced the Biomass Thermal\u00a0Utilization Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would establish a tax credit for business and home use of high-efficiency biomass heating equipment. Tax incentives already exist for other forms of renewable energy and this bill seeks to achieve parity between those renewable systems and thermal biomass systems.\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-king-pushes-for-funding-of-federally-qualified-healthcare-centers", "On Senate Floor, King Pushes for Funding of Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Senate Floor, King Pushes for Funding of Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThis is one of the best federal programs ever created, and it\u2019s always been supported on a bipartisan basis.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of funding Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which provide vital health care services to rural communities. Seventy percent of federal funding for FQHCs expired on October 1st, threatening access to health care for tens of thousands of people in Maine.\r\n\u201cIn Maine, we have 20 centers, and 70 facilities scattered all over our state and they are providing services every day to over 200,000 people,\u201d said Senator King during his remarks. \u201cThey\u2019ve saved Medicaid over $100 million in Maine. $257 million is the estimate for what they\u2019ve saved the overall health care system [in Maine]\u2026 One in six people in Maine get their health care from FQHC\u2019s. 210,000 people. They accept everybody that comes in the door, I\u2019ve been to them all over the state\u2026These are the rural health care providers for rural America. And it\u2019s not only Maine, it\u2019s across the country. 10,000 sites across the United States, 26 million patients at risk\u2026\u00a0\r\n\u201cIf we leave at the end of the year and haven\u2019t done this, it will be a tragedy for rural America, it will be a betrayal of rural America, it will be betrayal of our constituents. All of us have been to these centers and seen the care that they provide \u2013 the caring that they provide \u2013 the passion that people bring to the services in their communities and how much they mean to their communities. This is one of the best federal programs ever created. And it\u2019s always been supported on a bipartisan basis.\u201d\r\nDuring his remarks, Senator King highlighted a recent letter from the leader of one of Maine\u2019s 20 FQHCs. The letter lays out the challenges FQHCs are already facing based on the uncertainty of funding: a dentist recruit, who had been trained by the center in question, had his application placed on hold, calling his future employment in the region into question. This dentist\u2019s presence is vital, as 3,000 community members are currently being served by a dentist who is planning to retire; based on uncertainty alone, thousands of people in Maine could be left without a viable option for dental care.\u00a0\r\nSenator King\u2019s speech, which came on National Rural Health Day, is the latest example of his strong advocacy for increased support of rural health services. Last week, he announced his support for three bipartisan bills aimed at improving financial stability for rural hospitals and supporting seniors in rural Maine. He has also met with hospital administrators and health professionals in Bridgton, Lincoln, Skowhegan, Eastport and Machias to discuss the impact changes to the Affordable Care Act would have on rural Maine clinics, hospitals, patients, and local economies. Proposed cuts to health programs like Medicaid would significantly threaten the financial stability of rural hospitals which serve as one of the top employers in fifteen out of Maine\u2019s sixteen counties.\r\nSenator King has opposed several attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and has repeatedly called on his colleagues to engage in bipartisan discussions to make meaningful improvements to the law rather than rushing to repeal it. This summer, Senator King\u00a0outlined a roadmap of health care priorities\u00a0to stabilize the health care marketplace and lower the underlying costs of treatment and health coverage for people in Maine and across the country. He is a cosponsor of the bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) to stabilize the individual health insurance marketplace.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-reconciled-fy-2018-ndaa-with-victories-for-maine", "Senate Passes Reconciled FY 2018 NDAA with Victories for Maine", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Passes Reconciled FY 2018 NDAA with Victories for Maine\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tKing Hails NDAA Provisions, Renews Call to End Sequestration\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Senate approved the conference committee\u2019s bicameral agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018, which included key victories for Maine. Senator King served on the conference committee that reconciled the differences between the Senate\u2019s version, which passed by a vote of 89-8, and the version advanced by the House of Representatives. The bill will now go to the President for his signature.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThroughout this process, I have proudly highlighted the important role that the people of Maine play in our national defense,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis final bill will make sure Maine\u2019s military personnel and workers in defense-related industries have the resources they need to continue making important contributions to national security. Now that the final bill has been passed, I hope that Congress can continue to work toward the best interest of both national safety and the economy by finally acting to end sequestration.\u201d\r\nSenator King secured several major victories that will directly benefit Maine, including:\r\n \r\nNEW FACILITY AT PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD: The legislation authorizes $61,692,000 for the construction of a paint, blast, and rubber facility at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. Senator King also supported an amendment authored by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) that calls for a study on dry dock capacity to identify and support the shipyard infrastructure needs at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.\r\n \r\n \r\nNEW NATIONAL GUARD CENTER IN PRESQUE ISLE: The legislation authorizes $17,500,000 for the construction of a new National Guard Readiness Center in Presque Isle.\r\n \r\n \r\nFUNDING FOR SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES: The legislation authorizes more than $5.62 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including more than $5 billion for the procurement of three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke destroyers in fiscal year 2018 that Bath Iron Works can compete to build, as well as more than $314.5 million for the continued R&D and production of DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers, all of which are being built at Bath.\r\n \r\nSenator King also cosponsored an amendment authored by Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in support of the Navy\u2019s Force Structure Assessment requirement for 355 battle force fleet ship. This requirement was codified into the final conference report.\r\n \r\nJOINT STRIKE FIGHTER: The bill authorizes the procurement of 90 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters of all three variants. Several Maine-based companies, including Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick and General Dynamics in Saco, are in the supply and production chain for this fifth generation fighter.\r\n \r\n \r\nLONG RANGE STRIKE BOMBER: The bill authorizes more than $2 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation of the long-range stealth bomber, B-21, which will be a central pillar of our national security strategy to deal with future threats. Pratt & Whitney, which maintains a facility in North Berwick, will be the engine supplier for the B-21.\r\n \r\n \r\nCH-53K HELICOPTER: The bill authorizes more than $567 million to procure four CH-53K helicopters. Hunting Dearborn in Fryeburg manufactures the rotor shaft for this helicopter.\r\n \r\n \r\nNO NEW BRAC ROUND: This legislation rejects the President\u2019s call in his Fiscal Year 2018 budget request for additional base closures under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The last BRAC process occurred in 2005 when a recommendation to close the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was ultimately overturned by the BRAC Commission, but Brunswick Naval Air Station was closed.\r\n \r\nThe Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA establishes policies and authorizes funding for the Department of Defense as well as the national security programs of the Department of Energy. It provides for the pay and benefits earned by members of the military and their families, provides for national defense including authorization of funds for military operations in places like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and represents a vision of America\u2019s national security goals, resources, and policies. Now that the final report has been passed by both the House and the Senate, the bill will go to the President for his signature.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-house-passage-of-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on House Passage of Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on House Passage of Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 16 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after the House passed its version of the Republican tax overhaul: \"It is disappointing, but not surprising that the House Republicans just voted to give the Koch brothers and other billionaire campaign contributors a massive tax break. Under the House bill, the top 1 percent would get half of the tax benefits, while nearly half of middle class families would see their taxes go up. As bad as the House bill is, the Senate tax plan is even worse. It would raise taxes on all middle-class families making $75,000 or less by the end of the decade in order to provide permanent tax relief to profitable corporations that shift American jobs to China and American profits to the Cayman Islands. Meanwhile, it would throw 13 million Americans off of health insurance, cut Medicaid by $179 billion and substantially raise premiums on Americans throughout the country. This legislation must be defeated. We need tax relief for the middle class, not the billionaire class.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-sen-franken", "Sanders Statement on Sen. Franken", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on Sen. Franken\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Nov. 16 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the following statement Thursday on Sen. Franken:\r\n\u201cSexual harassment is completely unacceptable. I agree with the calls for an Ethics Committee investigation into this deeply troubling incident.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-house-passage-of-republican-tax-plan", "Sanders Statement on House Passage of Republican Tax Plan", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Statement on House Passage of Republican Tax Plan\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, November 16, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tWASHINGTON, Nov. 16 \u2013 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Thursday after the House passed its version of the Republican tax overhaul: \"It is disappointing, but not surprising that the House Republicans just voted to give the Koch brothers and other billionaire campaign contributors a massive tax break. Under the House bill, the top 1 percent would get half of the tax benefits, while nearly half of middle class families would see their taxes go up. As bad as the House bill is, the Senate tax plan is even worse. It would raise taxes on all middle-class families making $75,000 or less by the end of the decade in order to provide permanent tax relief to profitable corporations that shift American jobs to China and American profits to the Cayman Islands. Meanwhile, it would throw 13 million Americans off of health insurance, cut Medicaid by $179 billion and substantially raise premiums on Americans throughout the country. This legislation must be defeated. We need tax relief for the middle class, not the billionaire class.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-speaks-out-against-drilling-in-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge", "King Speaks Out Against Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Speaks Out Against Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, November 15, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the U.S. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), today spoke out against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during an ENR Committee business meeting. The legislation considered before the committee today would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish and administer an oil and gas program in the Coastal Plain within the refuge.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe words \u2018wildlife refuge\u2019 mean something it seems to me,\u201d Senator King said. \u201c[\u2026]We\u2019re talking about lot of coverage of this area \u2013 in multiple wells \u2013 a minimum of 400,000 acres being leased. Alaska is 375 million acres, the state owns 105 million acres, the National Petroleum Reserve is 23 million acres, and it just strikes me that the case hasn\u2019t been made to open up this particular, relatively small area of the state for drilling. Particularly when we\u2019re now projecting \u2013 in the news just yesterday \u2013 a record oil production in the United States next year of almost 10 million barrels a day, rivaling that of Saudi Arabia.\u201d\r\nThe 19-million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected refuge in the United States, supports more than 250 animal species, and represents one of the last intact arctic ecosystems on the North American continent. The Coastal Plain, a 1.57-million acre section of the refuge, is the current focus for development. It is also designated as a critical habitat for polar bears under the Endangered Species Act and is an important hub for caribou, musk ox, and other wildlife.\r\nAt present, the United States is world\u2019s third largest oil producer after Russia and Saudi Arabia. There are currently 23.6 million acres in Alaska open for development at the National Petroleum Reserve.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 797, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "Independent", "p2": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 797, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 797, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 429, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017&state=ME", "selected": false}, {"value": "VT", "label": "VT", "count": 346, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017&state=VT", "selected": false}, {"value": "MP", "label": "MP", "count": 22, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017&state=MP", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 797, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-11-15,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fking-speaks-out-against-drilling-in-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&party=Independent&year=2017&_next=2017-11-15%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fking-speaks-out-against-drilling-in-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 734.9606021307409, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}