{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Independent\" and state = \"ME\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-administration-to-keep-safeguards-in-place-for-displaced-ukrainians", "King, Colleagues Urge Administration to Keep Safeguards in Place for Displaced Ukrainians", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and several of his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle are requesting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and State Department extend humanitarian protections for Ukrainian citizens temporarily staying in the United States due to the unprovoked Russian invasion of their home country. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the senators urge the administration to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation an additional 18 months beyond the current October 19, 2026, termination date, ensuring current TPS beneficiaries are not forced to return to an active combat zone.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cThe war in Ukraine\u2014the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II\u2014is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cUkrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cTo ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter is signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeffery Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tina Smith (D-MN).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has consistently championed legal protections for individuals fleeing global conflict. Immediately following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, he released a statement condemning Vladimir Putin and advocated for the initial designation of TPS ensuring arriving individuals from Ukraine had immediate legal authorization to remain and work in the U.S. Over the last 4 years, Senator King has been a vocal lawmaker supporting Ukraine\u2019s defense, including unwavering support for bipartisan aid legislation and loyalty to the democratic values of Ukraine.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe strongly urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine prior to the impending October 19, 2026, termination date. Ukraine is currently in the fifth year of a large-scale war with Russia, which has led to ongoing civilian casualties, significant damage to critical infrastructure and the displacement of broad swaths of the population. An extension of TPS for Ukraine would protect current TPS beneficiaries from being forced to return to an active war zone, while a redesignation would expand those protections to the population of Ukrainian nationals who arrived after October 20, 2023.\n\nUkraine was initially designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by Russia\u2019s military actions within the country. In its designation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, cited regular artillery attacks and airstrikes by Russia\u2019s military forces, serious human rights abuses and the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure. Subsequent reviews of in-country conditions found that the situation in the country had not sufficiently improved; accordingly, TPS for Ukraine was extended and redesignated through April 19, 2025, and extended once more beginning on April 20, 2025.\n\nThe war in Ukraine\u2014the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II\u2014is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.\n\nProtecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision. Thanks to the work authorization granted by their TPS status, Ukrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.\n\nCurrent conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone. Ukrainian TPS holders contribute greatly to our communities, both culturally and economically. To ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-golden-dome-hearing-questions-scholars-on-costs-and-impacts-to-american-taxpayer", "King Leads Golden Dome Hearing, Questions Scholars on Costs and Impacts to American Taxpayer", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, questioned leading authorities on the costs and impacts of the President\u2019s proposed Golden Dome missile defense project on the American taxpayer. As details surrounding the ambitious military program remain vague, Senator King took the advantage of the open hearing to gain more concrete information from the assembled experts.\n\nIn his exchange with the Honorable David Trachtenberg, a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy, the Senator asked how much the Golden Dome would cost the American taxpayer and who and what American territory would be protected by the defense program.\n\nSenator King began his remarks, \u201cFirst I have an issue with how this program is being funded. That is not really your problem, but it\u2019s being funded principally through reconciliation, which is a totally partisan process with very little input from the appropriations committee or the members of this committee. It has very little restrictions in the way of how it can be spent. So I want it on the record, as I mentioned at the beginning, that this is one of the most expensive and important initiatives of this government and it should be one that has broad popular support, indicated by broad support here in the congress. The fact that the vast bulk of it was funded first in the reconciliation last year and is proposed for this year, I think is very bothersome from the point of view of process.\n\n\u201c\u2026The other piece of this that bothers me, I was looking at the president's executive order, which says it will deter and defend its citizens and critical infrastructure, provide for the common defense of its citizens,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cThe implication of the term golden dome is a national coverage. I think all of you will agree that that is just not in the cards. So, one of the questions that has to be discussed is, who is being protected? And what is the golden dome actually going to do? The nomenclature implies an arch over the entire country that is protected from any kind of missile attack. Would you agree that is not what we are talking about here?\u201d\n\nTrachtenberg replied, \u201cSenator, I would suggest that the nature of golden dome is to try to produce a system capable of a much broader level of defense for the American people and for the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo, this means every American citizen can sleep better tonight because they are protected from a missile attack?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cWith all due respect, Senator, I don't think that is the appropriate metric to use,\u201d Trachtenberg answered. \u201cI believe the appropriate metric is, as I stated is can we build a system that provides a level of protection that dissuades and discourages.\u201d\n\nSenator King followed up, \u201cTo whom? To whom? Who is being protected and who makes that decision? Are you telling me that every citizen in America can be protected by this system?\n\nTrachtenberg concluded, \u201cNo, I'm not saying every citizen can be protected.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo if that is the case, who decides who is protected and who isn\u2019t?\u201d Senator King asked again.\n\nTrachtenberg replied, \u201cI think that the actual architecture would be, again, I don't have insight into the current architectural plans, but I think it would be deployed probably in phases or in stages, at certain times when the architecture is ready. But I think it should be expansive. I'm a firm believer, Senator, in the old air force recruiting motto, aim high. I think we should aim high on this. We may not get there, I agree. But I would rather aim high than aim low, in terms of what we are attempting to do.\u201d\n\nKing focused his concerns on the actual scope of the program, which portions of the country would be protected, and on obtaining realistic cost estimates.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces \u2013 which oversees the United States\u2019 nuclear arsenal and posture \u2013 Senator King has been an outspoken voice on the need to address the growing nuclear capacity of our adversaries and to protect the threats by our adversaries to the mainland United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-welcome-bangors-selection-as-one-of-four-potential-locations-for-new-kc-46-squadron", "Senators Collins, King Welcome Bangor\u2019s Selection as One of Four Potential Locations for New KC-46 Squadron", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today welcomed the Air Force\u2019s decision to advance the Bangor Air National Guard Base as a potential location for a new KC-46A air refueling squadron. The two Senators received news moments ago that Bangor is one of four finalists from an initial field of 14 Air National Guard bases.\n\nSenators Collins and King were briefed on the decision by Mr. Michael Saunders, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment and Major General Bryony Terrell, Deputy Director of the Air National Guard.\n\n\u201cThis announcement from the Air Force is an important step toward equipping the MAINEiacs with the advanced aircraft they need to carry out their critical mission,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cBangor\u2019s strategic location and the proven excellence of the 101st Air Refueling Wing make a compelling case for bringing the KC-46 to Maine. We will continue to press for Bangor\u2019s selection as the selection process continues.\u201d\n\nIf selected, Bangor would gain significantly more advanced refueling capabilities as the KC-46A would replace, over time, the aging KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 101st Air Refueling Wing. The first aircraft would be expected to arrive in 2030.\n\nThe remaining finalists will undergo further site analysis and evaluation. A decision for a preferred location on KC-46A Main Operating Base 9 is expected in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2027.\n\nSenator Collins secured $50 million in the Fiscal Year 2025 full-year continuing resolution for a universal fuel cell hangar in Bangor capable of accommodating the KC-46A, strengthening the base\u2019s readiness for future aircraft. She also secured nearly $9.6 million in Fiscal Year 2024 military construction funding for Maine National Guard projects in Bangor and Saco. Additionally, of the more than $428.6 million in Congressionally Directed Spending Senator Collins secured for Maine in Fiscal Year 2026 funding bills, $2.5 million will support a new aircraft maintenance and ground equipment facility at Bangor Air National Guard Base.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the armed forces, including Bangor\u2019s 101st Air Refueling Wing. In a SASC hearing, he touted the \u201cMAINEiacs\u201d and reminded then-Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the strategic importance of Bangor Air National Guard. He secured key provisions in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to help protect the Maine Air National Guard \u2014 guaranteeing that as the Air Force modernizes the tanker fleet, it replaces older aircraft on a one-for-one basis \u2014 and ensure support for all branches of the military to make sure that servicemembers can continue providing best in class services to protect the \u2018territory of the brave.\u2019\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medications", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans\u2019 Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans\u2019 homes. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) to reimburse State Veterans Homes (SVH) for high-cost medications that exceed 8.5% of their per diem rate, like the arrangement many private contract nursing homes currently have with the VA. Alternatively, it could require the VA to provide these medications directly to the SVHs. Maine has six SVH\u2019s in locations across the state.\n\nCurrently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not pay State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications for severely disabled veterans, which are covered for veterans who reside outside the facilities. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) joins Senator King as a lead co-sponsor of the bill.\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform didn\u2019t hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve the nation \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIf the VA covers veterans\u2019 medications when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they chose to live.\u201d\n\n\u201cState veterans\u2019 homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive,\u201d said Senator Banks. \u201cThis bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation\u2019s heroes.\u201d\n\nSince the successful passage of the PACT Act in 2022, there has been a significant increase in the number of veterans adjudicated as being severely disabled. For these veterans, the VA currently pays a per diem but doesn\u2019t pay the State Veterans Homes for the cost of extremely high-cost medications which often cost the homes more than VA is paying (sometimes more than $1000 a day). The result has been a rise in veterans being refused SVH admissions, SVHs having to foot the costs of certain lifesaving medications \u2013 or the SVHs discharging them due to expense.\n\n\u201cThis legislation addresses a clear and consequential gap in federal policy. Private facilities that contract with the VA receive direct reimbursement for high-cost medications, while State Veterans Homes like Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes do not. That inequity can force Veterans Homes to weigh the extraordinary cost of a Veteran\u2019s medications during the admissions process\u2014something no Veteran or Veterans Home should face,\u201d said Brad Klawitter, Maine Veterans\u2019 Homes CEO. \u201cMaine Veterans\u2019 Homes provides high-quality care in a setting specifically designed to honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans. Reimbursement for high-cost medications is essential to our ability to continue serving Veterans in our communities, including those with complex medical needs. These Veterans served our state and country, and they deserve access to a Veterans Home where their service is understood, respected and honored. Closing this gap must be a priority.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) strongly supports the bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act which would ensure exorbitantly high-cost medications don\u2019t limit long-term care options for aging and disabled veterans,\u201d said Ryan Engle, NASVH President. \u201c\u201cNASVH is grateful for the leadership of Senators Angus King and Jim Banks in introducing legislation to improve the lives of highly service-connected disabled veterans and strengthen the State Veterans Homes system.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-slams-unconstitutional-lawlessness-of-trump-rescissions", "King Slams \u201cUnconstitutional Lawlessness\u201d of Trump Rescissions", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) issued the following response to news that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinded nearly one billion dollars of Congressionally-approved bipartisan spending without warning or Congressional authorization:\n\n\u201cThis administration\u2019s Office of Management and Budget has just unilaterally taken away 800 million dollars that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis towards key priorities \u2013 in blatant defiance of the Constitution and federal law.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t a vague legal concept they are abusing; it\u2019s grade school-level American government: Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Elected lawmakers make funding decisions to provide for the common defense and support the general welfare - that\u2019s the beating heart of representational democracy.\n\n\u201cBut this President and his administration no doubt believe they can get away with such an illegal action \u2013 because, for over 20 months, they have. Watching the President spend billions on his unauthorized and illegal war that is costing lives and wrecking household budgets; wage economic warfare on our allies through tariffs that hike costs for Americans on everyday goods and spend over a billion dollars on his vanity projects, the Congressional majority has shown no resistance.\n\n\u201cWhy does he believe he can claw back a nearly billion dollars of bipartisan-approved Congressional spending? Because this Congress has enabled him by declining to stand up for itself and the rule of law \u2013 even voting down a Senate attempt to formally ban rescissions like this on party lines. After nearly two years of this explicitly unconstitutional lawlessness, will my colleagues finally say \u2018no more?\u2019 I urge my colleagues to come together, reject this unconstitutional pattern of behavior, and reset the balance among the branches of government.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is having enough difficulty doing his job; Congress should take this opportunity to do ours.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-celebrate-maines-iconic-lobster-industry-on-national-lobster-day", "Collins, King Celebrate Maine\u2019s Iconic Lobster Industry on \u2018National Lobster Day\u2019", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins are celebrating Maine\u2019s iconic lobster industry after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution recognizing September 25, 2026, as \u201cNational Lobster Day.\u201d The resolution recognizes the crustacean as a foundational part of Maine\u2019s economy and culture. The resolution also highlights the environmental and economic impact of this heritage industry.\n\n\u201cFueling the lobster\u2019s iconic status are the hardworking men and women who wake up early every morning in towns up and down our coastline to carry on the proud lobstering tradition,\u201d said Senator King and Collins. \u201cThis National Lobster Day, let us highlight their work to ensure the long-term health, resiliency, and sustainability of our waters and the hundreds of millions of dollars they bring to our local economy. Our lobstermen bring immeasurable pride to our great state and this resolution is just one way we can acknowledge and appreciate their service to our communities.\u201d\n\n\"National Lobster Day comes at peak Maine Lobster season and is the perfect time to enjoy the sweet flavor and tender texture of your favorite lobster dish,\u201d said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. \u201cWhile celebrating this delicious treat, people are also supporting the independent fishermen and coastal communities that have worked for generations to bring lobster to tables everywhere.\"\n\nLobster is a top economic driver for the state of Maine. The Maine lobster fishery is one of the oldest continually operated industries in North America, with the first documented catch dating back to the 1600s. Today, Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation. Each year, the fishery employs 5,600+ independent lobstermen, harvests 100+ million pounds of lobster, and contributes $1+ billion to the Maine economy.\n\nSenator King and Collins have been top advocates for the Maine lobster industry, most recently urging Senate action to extend the current lobster regulatory pause to protect Maine\u2019s sustainable lobster industry from misguided regulations that would have been devastating for the industry. This action follows Senators Collins and King securing a provision in the fiscal year 2022 annual appropriations spending bill which included the original regulatory reprieve. Additionally, the Senators secured more than $1.9 million for lobster research in 2024 to address critical knowledge gaps and improve fisheries.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-legislation-supporting-fire-departments-and-boosting-community-home-safety-standards", "King Introduces Legislation Supporting Fire Departments and Boosting Community Home Safety Standards", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing a key piece of legislation that would support fire departments responding to in-home emergencies. More specifically, the FASTER Act would fund grants to support fire department safety visits, simple home modifications like grab bars, and connections to lifesaving community resources.\n\nThe legislation is being introduced during the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week and would empower local fire departments to initiate a program where seniors could sign up to get lock boxes installed (local FD had the master key) so Emergency Medical Services (EMS) don\u2019t have to knock down their door to get inside to respond to an emergency. While at the senior\u2019s home installing the lock box, the fire department staff could also evaluate the home for fall hazards and suggest minor home modifications.\n\nOn a percentage basis, Maine leads the nation with the largest 65 and older population. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. There are roughly 1 million fall-related hospitalizes and 3 million emergency department visits annually across the country due to falls.\n\n\u201cWe all know the saying \u2018an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,\u2019 and preventative care is a win-win for Maine patients, families and the taxpayers,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe FASTER Act is a critical step forward in supporting older Maine people and making sure that fire departments have the tools and resources to respond to in-home emergencies promptly while avoiding costly complications. Tools like lock boxes, grab bars or handrails can be the difference between a simple installation and an avoidable injury, while reducing time-consuming delays for responders. This is just another effort we are making in the Congress to help Maine people\u2014and all older Americans\u2014to stand strong.\u201d\n\nPreventing falls is also about enabling adults to age comfortably in their homes, which is where most Americans want to age. At a time of affordability challenges and when inflation continues to rise, preventing falls is also cost saver for the average American and the taxpayers, with a private nursing home room cost now averaging more than $120,000 per year.\n\nMore specifically, the FASTER Act would:\n\nRequire the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make three-year grants to fire departments to implement fall prevention programs.\n\nGrants would be used for the following:\n\nTo procure and install lock boxes accessible by emergency personnel for seniors in need of assistance;\n\nMinor home modifications to reduce fall risks, including flattening of rugs, removal of tripping hazards, and installation of hand rails and grab bars;\n\nOther health and safety tasks, including installing and replacing smoke detectors and batteries, risk assessment and reconciliation of medications, and referral to falls prevention classes.\n\nThe bill would authorize the program for ten years, with $1 million for the first three years and increasing incrementally up to $7 million for the final year.\n\n\u201cAs more older Americans live in their own homes, timely access by fire departments and EMS in the event of a fall can mean the difference between life and death,\u201d said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. \u201cWe are grateful to Senator King for his continued bipartisan, bicameral efforts to advance falls prevention strategies by introducing the Senate version of the FASTER Act during Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2026.\u201d\n\nAccording to a 2024 report from the National Institute of Health, Medicare spent over $50 billion dollars on direct medical expenses related to falls \u2013 with the average fall-related injury costing about $20,000.\n\nAs an extension of his longtime focus on prevention efforts, Senator King has been leading the charge in the falls prevention space on cost-effective solutions like bathmats. Senator King introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan. The package also included the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-call-on-president-trump-to-release-home-heating-oil-from-northeast-reserve-as-prices-surge", "Senators Collins, King Call on President Trump to Release Home Heating Oil from Northeast Reserve as Prices Surge", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Trump urging him to release supply from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Mainers from high costs as the cold weather months approach.\n\nAccording to the Maine Department of Energy Resources\u2019 most recent weekly fuel survey, statewide heating oil prices have increased by 74 percent compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank than it did last year, imposing a significant hardship on the half of Maine households that heat their homes with fuel oil.\n\n\u201cWe write to request that you release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Mainers from the very high prices that are imposing a difficult financial burden,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote. \u201cYou ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve earlier this year to help address rising costs, and we believe the same urgency now applies to the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Energy Information Administration\u2019s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook finds that U.S. distillate fuel inventories, which include home heating oil, fell below the five-year range in April and are expected to remain below the 2021\u20132025 low through the end of 2026 and most of 2027,\u201d they continued. \u201cAccording to the EIA, \u2018Low inventories may also contribute to higher prices for residential heating oil in the Northeastern United States.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cFurther, the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have prevented additional heating oil from reaching the global market. Maine is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks because our state imports much of our home heating oil. With both domestic and international supplies running low, a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve would help ease these prices,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-joins-colleagues-demanding-answers-from-hegseth-on-human-economic-cost-of-iran-war", "King Joins Colleagues Demanding Answers from Hegseth on Human, Economic Cost of Iran War", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling on the Pentagon to provide basic information on the cost to American taxpayers of the Iran War. In a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth from King and several of his colleagues, the senators demand a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran and criticized the DoD for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and costs continue to increase.\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Secretary Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East\u2026Meanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\n\u201cBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cIn June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter is signed by Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes in Iran earlier this year, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. He has also pressed several Pentagon nominees on the total cost of the ongoing conflict in Iran, expressing frustration that neither Congress nor the American people have received a clear accounting of the financial burden of military operations. Senator King has consistently supported War Powers resolutions, asserting Congress\u2019s constitutional authority over military conflicts, specifically demanding that the President either obtain congressional authorization for hostilities or remove U.S. Armed Forces from the conflict.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East. Our troops have had their deployments extended repeatedly, as with the USS Lincoln and now the 82nd Airborne. Our offices have all received outreach from military families concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones serving and sacrificing in this war.\n\nMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\n\nBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher. In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.\n\nDespite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous Administrations, Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war. Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense during the Iraq War, briefed Congress more than 20 times in the first six months of that war. In his briefings, he publicly provided granular detail about the war, including objectives; precise figures on damaged aircraft; quality of life for our troops\u2014down to the number of days it took to deliver mail; and detailed breakdowns for transportation, operational support, and munitions replenishment costs in the supplemental request. In stark contrast, you have briefed Congress just seven times in that same period and, in those appearances, refused to answer basic questions about the objectives and cost of this war. Your Department has held only eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the start of the Iran War, compared to more than 70 in the first month of the Iraq War alone.\n\nThis lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon\u2019s spending. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel. In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as \u201c$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.\u201d\n\nDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent. Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\n\nYou shared this belief before entering government. In 2012, you criticized the Department\u2019s ability to \u201cshift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.\u201d You added, \u201c[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it\u2019s long overdue.\u201d And just last year, you said that \u201cthe American taxpayers deserve\u201d to know where their money goes, \u201chow it's spent and make sure it's spent wisely.\u201d We agree.\n\nGiven this, we request the following information to inform the Senate\u2019s decision-making by September 30, 2026.\n\nCost of the Iran War: Please provide a detailed breakdown for the cost of military operations against Iran to date, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs attributable to the conflict. This should include damage to military installations, aircraft, and equipment; cost to refurbish deployed ships and aircraft; and expected benefits for veterans.\n\n$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration\u2019s supplemental request, including a detailed accounting for each major funding category and estimated expenses for the war in Iran. This breakdown should identify which portions of the request are intended to reimburse costs already incurred, which are intended to fund anticipated future operations, and which are unrelated to military operations against Iran. Please also note potential future funding requirements not included in the request, such as repairing military installations.\n\nOne Big Beautiful Bill Act Funding: Please provide a detailed accounting of how the $34 billion remaining from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent, on what timeline, and whether any of these funds will support operations related to the Iran war.\n\nThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility. We look forward to receiving your response.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-va-hiring-retention-of-high-skilled-doctors", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Hiring, Retention of High-Skilled Doctors", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), is introducing bipartisan legislation that makes it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) medical centers to hire and better retain high-skilled doctors. The bipartisan VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would allow the VA Secretary to issue waivers to VA medical directors and allow them to exceed existing salary caps if they need to hire or retain highly skilled physicians. The VA system currently faces a serious shortage of doctors, due in part to the higher pay rates available in the private sector. Joining Senator King on the legislation are Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nWhen the United States Congress passed the bipartisan Elizabeth Dole Act in December of 2024, it allowed the VA to exceed salary caps for a limited number of highly trained physicians and for a limited time. Senator King\u2019s bipartisan bill would allow the VA Secretary to issue as many waivers as necessary and allow this system to remain in place for the next five years after enactment allowing medical facilities a greater degree of certainty when they make hiring decisions. As VA Secretary Doug Collins discussed with Senator King in a recent SVAC hearing, the limitations of the current system created by the Elizabeth Dole Act are not giving the VA the flexibility it needs, resulting in the need for this type of legislation.\n\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform served our country with patriotism and without conditions, and they deserve medical attention with a minimum of red tape,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment would allow VA facilities to have a more competitive salary structure that will maintain high levels of care for our veterans and reduce the odds that the VA lose doctors to higher paying opportunities elsewhere.\u201d\n\n\u201cHiring and retaining skilled physicians is a serious challenge within the VA and it needs to be addressed now,\u201d Senator Fischer said. \u201cGiving the VA flexibility to retain medical professionals will help it compete with private-sector salaries and ensure veterans receive high-quality care. I thank Senators King and Blumenthal for their leadership, and I will continue working to support Nebraska\u2019s veterans.\u201d\n\n\u201cVA\u2019s current salary cap is outdated and counterproductive \u2014 hindering the Department as it competes with the private sector to hire doctors,\u201d said Senator Blumenthal. \u201cOur bipartisan bill gives VA authority to raise physician salaries. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket, VA needs this authority to recruit and retain the best doctors around to serve veterans.\u201d\n\nThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act is also supported by Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).\n\n\u201cWounded Warrior Project (WWP) supports efforts to ensure every veteran has timely access to high-quality care,\u201d said WWP Vice President of Government and Community Relations Jose Ramos. \u201cThe VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with greater flexibility to recruit and retain skilled health care professionals in areas with critical staffing needs. We appreciate Senator King\u2019s unwavering commitment to those who served and urge Congress to pass this important legislation.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Last year, he introduced the VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act that would protect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-stresses-importance-of-uschina-engagement-on-ais-shared-risks", "King Stresses Importance of U.S.\u2013China Engagement on AI\u2019s \u201cShared Risks\u201d", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Ahead of the White House\u2019s historic State Visit with President Xi Jinping of the People\u2019s Republic of China, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is underlining the crucial importance of productive engagement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with the Chinese Government on the \u201cshared risks\u201d posed by artificial intelligence (AI). In a letter to Bessent, King acknowledges Bessent\u2019s recent public comments on his willingness to discuss critical AI risks with China and states that while the White House should continue to promote American leadership in the artificial intelligence space, continued conversations and dialogue with the Chinese government are critical to AI safety strategy in defense of all humankind.\n\nSenator King wrote, \u201cAs you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that \u201c[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,\u201d many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.\u201d\n\n\u201cChinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cBut we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccording to an expert on China\u2019s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated \u201cAI Safety & Governance Framework\u201d and created an \u201cAI Safety/Security Working Group\u201d called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks. To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts,\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs former Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress\u2019 leading experts on cyber defense, cyber safety, and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyber strategy. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nAhead of your meetings this weekend with a delegation from the People\u2019s Republic of China led by Vice Premier He and President Trump\u2019s meetings with President Xi next week, I write to express my appreciation for your stated willingness to engage with the Chinese government on the \u201cshared risks\u201d posed by Artificial Intelligence (\u201cAI\u201d) to both of our nations.\n\nAs you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that \u201c[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,\u201d many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.\n\nChinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space. But we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes. And there is good reason to expect that the Chinese government is thinking seriously about these issues. According to an American expert on China\u2019s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated \u201cAI Safety & Governance Framework\u201d and created an \u201cAI Safety/Security Working Group\u201d called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks.[1] To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American AI safety technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts.\n\nThank you again for your work to engage productively with the Chinese government on AI safety. I would appreciate staying in touch with you on these issues as Congress continues to debate how to appropriately respond to calls for federal regulation of frontier AI companies.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-army-cutting-vital-ukraine-drone-battalion-another-worrying-signal", "King, Colleagues: Army Cutting Vital Ukraine Drone Battalion \u201cAnother Worrying Signal\u201d", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues in requesting a formal briefing on the Army\u2019s decision to eliminate a specialized drone battalion critical to U.S. interests in Europe and the defense of Ukraine. In a letter to departing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and acting Army Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve, the lawmakers cited deep concerns about the elimination of the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.\n\nJoining King on the letter are Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10).\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cWe write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation\u2019s ability to adapt. [...] Both the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare\u2014lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nThey further explained, \u201cThe DOD\u2019s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent\u2014 the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nSecretary Driscoll and General LaNeve:\n\nWe write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.\n\nWe have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation\u2019s ability to adapt.\n\nBoth the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare\u2014lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space. For over four years the Ukrainian Armed Forces have fought and adapted on the frontlines against one of the United States\u2019 most powerful near-peer adversaries. As a result, Ukrainian military technology -- particularly in drone warfare -- is battle tested and provides valuable insights to the U.S. military and defense industrial base. This drone battalion was ideally placed to capture these lessons and insights.\n\nThis is in part why we supported the Army\u2019s January 2026 establishment of a \u201ctactical unmanned systems battalion\u201d in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, to study the lessons from Ukraine and develop new concepts for fighting with drones and other unmanned systems. These six hundred soldiers specializing in drone warfare were designed to be a dedicated force, known as the \u201cUnmanned Assault Battalion,\u201d that could deploy anywhere drone expertise was required \u2013 a force multiplier across the entire formation.\n\nThe DOD\u2019s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent\u2014 the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces. We are supportive of the transformative initiatives the Army has taken under Secretary Driscoll\u2019s leadership in this area and would like to see that momentum maintained even as uniformed leadership changes.\n\nWe understand that, at its core, the 173rd is an infantry battalion and that the elimination of this unit is part of General LaNeve\u2019s \u201cback to basics\u201d approach from his message to the force published on August 18th. However, this message also says soldiers need to \u201clearn, innovate, and adapt faster\u201d to prepare for the next war, and eliminating this battalion, without announcing a new home for this specialized drone capability runs counter to that. It hurts our ability to acquire the critical knowledge and skills that can be gained from working with and learning from Ukrainian soldiers.\n\nWe respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026.\n\nThank you for your prompt attention.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-urge-senate-commerce-committee-to-promptly-consider-bill-to-extend-pause-on-right-whale-regulations", "Senators Collins, King Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Promptly Consider Bill to Extend Pause on Right Whale Regulations", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, respectively, urging them to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act in their committee as soon as possible. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), recently passed the House of Representatives and would extend the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale regulations through 2035.\n\n\u201cThis pause is necessary to protect Maine\u2019s lobster fishery, which is essential to the state\u2019s economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs,\u201d Senators Collins and King wrote.\n\n\u201cThe Maine Department of Marine Resources has used congressionally appropriated funds to establish a right whale research and monitoring program that is now in its third year of data collection,\u201d they continued. \u201cThe program includes aerial, vessel-based, and acoustic whale monitoring. This work is ongoing, and extending the pause would allow it to continue and provide scientists and regulators with better data to inform future management decisions.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is critical that any future regulatory actions appropriately balance protecting North Atlantic right whales with the economic and practical realities facing Maine\u2019s lobster industry. We ask that you work to advance H.R. 9436 as soon as possible,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nClick here to read their letter in full.\n\n+++\n\nIn 2022, Maine\u2019s lobster fishery faced sweeping new federal regulatory requirements that relied on flawed assumptions and an inadequate scientific record. The requirements threatened severe economic consequences for Maine\u2019s lobster industry without a sufficiently sound scientific basis. The Maine Delegation responded by securing a provision in the 2022 year-end appropriations law that prevented additional restrictions through December 31, 2028. Extending the regulatory pause through 2035 would allow this work to continue and help ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on the best available science and a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\nSince the enactment of this pause, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine\u2019s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-demands-education-department-restore-critical-mental-health-funding-that-addresses-youth-needs", "King Demands Education Department Restore Critical Mental Health Funding That Addresses Youth Needs", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is urging the Department of Education to restore funding for critical school-based mental health programs and halt efforts to terminate grants that help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals. In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, King and his colleagues warned that the Department\u2019s actions are disrupting student access to care \u2013 including those handling difficult psychological issues \u2013 and creating uncertainty for schools and educators across the country.\n\nThe School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address shortages of mental health professionals in schools, particularly in rural communities. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide and trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals. Despite the programs\u2019 demonstrated results, the Department abruptly discontinued more than 200 multi-year grants in April 2025, claiming the programs did not align with the administration\u2019s policy priorities regarding diversity and equity initiatives. The cancellations forced some grantees to pause hiring and training, lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, and stop funding scholarships used to recruit future mental health professionals.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals,\u201d King and his colleagues wrote. \u201cWe therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThe notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cTo cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.\u201d\n\nIn addition to King, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to request immediate clarification regarding the Department of Education\u2019s (the Department) termination of $1 billion in School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) programs. The Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals. These choices will increase the financial and administrative barriers to obtaining a quality education. We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.\n\nFunded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the SBMH and MHSP programs address the dire shortage of mental health service providers in our nation\u2019s schools. More than half of schools in the nation reported their ability to provide mental health services to students was limited in a significant way by inadequate funding, while 40 percent described insufficient access to mental health professionals as a barrier. SBMH grants help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, specifically targeting areas with a demonstrated need, like rural and low-income communities. MHSP grants enable institutions of higher education and school districts to enter partnerships to recruit and train mental health professionals to work in schools.\n\nThe efficacy of SBMH and MHSP is supported by clear performance metrics. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide, reduced absenteeism and behavioral issues, lowered suicide risk, trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals, and retained a vast majority of new and existing mental health professionals.\n\nThese programs fill crucial gaps in mental health care for youth in our nation\u2019s schools. A 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 40 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, an increase from 30 percent in 2013. Twenty-nine percent of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health and nine percent shared that they had attempted suicide.\n\nDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences. The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.\n\nConsequently, grantees were forced to pause hiring and training and lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. MHSP-supported graduate programs could also no longer fund the scholarships needed to recruit students.\n\nIn June 2025, 16 states, home to 140 of the canceled grants, sued the Department, arguing that the discontinuation of the grants violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). A district court subsequently issued a preliminary injunction against the discontinuation and then granted summary judgment and a permanent injunction to the plaintiff states, finding that the Department\u2019s actions were inconsistent with statutory requirements. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit denied the Department's request to stay the permanent injunction.\n\nThe Department resumed 122 of the grants through June 30, 2026, imposing additional reporting requirements before deciding whether to release funding for the second half of the year. This process caused serious administrative uncertainty because grantee organizations could not reliably and effectively project budgets to determine if they would have the funds to hire and train mental health professionals. Some grantees were forced to lay off employees, exacerbating the challenges they face in addressing student mental health.\n\nFurthermore, the Administration has indicated plans to permanently discontinue these grants, raising serious concerns regarding compliance with standing federal permanent injunctions and the July 27, 2026, Temporary Restraining Order.\n\nThe Department\u2019s decision to withhold this funding from our nation\u2019s schools will reverberate as the new school year starts in the fall, and the harm will be exacerbated if the Department continues to disrupt or withhold SBMH and MHSP funding. Our nation\u2019s schools are already facing significant barriers to retaining mental health professionals, who serve as trusted adults for students and their parents.\n\nThese interruptions in student services disrupt the continuity of care. The Department\u2019s actions will also slow the recruitment of new mental health professionals, disincentivizing prospective counselors and therapists from serving in our nation\u2019s schools.\n\nIn light of the Department\u2019s actions, we request answers to the following questions by September 18, 2026:\n\nHow many grantees have received an additional six months of funding after June 30, 2026? Please provide a list containing the name, a description of the grant, the amount, and any associated reporting requirements for each grantee.\n\nWill the Department continue to impose similar requirements on these grantees for the remainder of their grant period?\n\nWhat objective evaluation criteria were used to determine program compliance? Please provide a written justification for each discontinued grant including grant-specific reasons that go beyond the generic justification currently offered in the notices.\n\nHow does the Department plan to address the interruptions and uncertainty for grantees caused by the discontinuations?\n\nWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services. To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-modernize-noaa-fishery-stock-counts", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize NOAA Fishery Stock Counts", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) capacity to track and protect fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, bolstering their ability to conduct more accurate and cost-effective stock assessment surveys.\n\nToday, NOAA's stock assessment methods are limited due to their high operational costs and limited vessel availability. This in turn results in gaps in survey coverage. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would integrate eDNA into these assessments, a method that is already widely used in the private sector to close these gaps by enabling sampling in remote or hazardous environments while reducing costs.\n\n\u201cFisheries have long been an essential part of Maine\u2019s economy and culture, and their enduring prominence depends upon their sustainability,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Fisheries Science Modernization Act would provide the NOAA with the advanced tools necessary to conduct more comprehensive surveys of our fisheries. By painting a more accurate picture of species health, we can be certain that our fisheries receive the attention they need, improving their sustainability and keeping them healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\nSenator King has long been a vocal advocate for the protections of Maine\u2019s fisheries and marine ecosystems. Earlier this year, he introduced the American Seafood Competitiveness Act, legislation which would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Help Our Kelp Act, investing in the protection of the kelp forests which provide sustenance for Maine\u2019s fish. The year prior, in 2024, Senator King introduced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act alongside his fellow members of the Maine delegation. This bill would gain congressional approval in December of 2024, leading to the construction of the Cherryfield Fishway, which allows anadromous fish such as herring, alewives, and the endangered Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hollow-promise_king-responds-to-news-that-ice-has-acquired-sufficient-body-worn-cameras", "\u201cHollow Promise\u201d \u2013 King Responds to News that ICE Has Acquired Sufficient Body-Worn Cameras", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today shared the following statement responding to news that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement now says it has acquired enough body-worn cameras to have all officers equipped with:\n\n\u201cThis update from ICE is a hollow promise since ICE announced weeks ago that they have no intention of making body-worn camera footage public if it does not show them in a favorable light. So unless and until there is a change of policy and leadership, today\u2019s news simply means that there is more expensively equipped lawlessness on our streets rather than responsible, legitimate law enforcement.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Weeks ago, he condemned the news that ICE was buying painful \u201cshock gloves\u201d for officers to stun and paralyze suspects they were seeking to detain.\n\nMost recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-efforts-to-protect-military-brain-health-making-improvements-identifying-remaining-challenges", "King Efforts to Protect Military Brain Health Making Improvements, Identifying Remaining Challenges", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veteran\u2019s Affairs Committee (SVAC), is continuing to push for research into the traumatic effects of blast overpressure on servicemembers during and after their time in the military. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study that reviews Department of Defense (DOD) actions to assess, monitor, and improve the health risks posed by blast overpressure on troops operating heavy weapons. The report was issued after Senator King worked to include it in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which codified his Blast Overpressure Safety Act.\n\nWhile the study concludes that \u201cDOD has taken critical steps to prevent and mitigate service members\u2019 exposures,\u201d it identifies root causes behind shortfalls in monitoring servicemembers\u2019 brain health \u2013 including the shortage of industrial hygienists who can conduct the sophisticated tests that can help unit commanders and medical personnel evaluate and track the injuries.\n\n\u201cFor years I have said that you cannot fix a problem unless you can measure it,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThanks to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) survey, we now have more information and metrics to track progress in addressing this invisible danger that has been lurking for years. We have seen the tragic consequences that result when these blast overpressure symptoms go unnoticed or untreated, and it\u2019s work like this that will make the difference, improve the health of our service members, and likely save lives.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the specific finding of an insufficient number of medically-trained staff, the report surveyed five factors that are playing a part in addressing and improving the mental health threat posed by blast overpressure. Awareness, military hierarchy, unit culture, access to care, and the nature of interactions with health care providers were all singled out by participants as playing a role in confronting this problem among America\u2019s military.\n\nFollowing the 2023 Lewiston shooting, Senator King has been working with his colleagues to increase mental health funding and address brain injuries. In a SASC hearing last year, King spoke with top DOD officials about the importance of addressing brain injuries in servicemember and veterans caused by repeated exposure to weapon blasts. In 2024, he wrote a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) urging the Department to expedite protection of servicemembers from weapon blasts and TBIs. Prior to that letter he urged leaders of the Appropriations Committee to support the strongest possible funding for the Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research program within the DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDRMP).\n\nSenator King introduced Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 to study impacts of lower-intensity weapon blasts on veteran mental health. The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act codified the core provisions of the Blast Overpressure Safety Act introduced in 2025 by Senator Elizabeth Warren and co-sponsored by Senator King. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act implemented additional monitoring and audit requirements. The Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee directs further oversight on implementing monitoring blast overpressure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-and-colleagues-call-for-committee-hearing-on-needless-avoidable-shortages-and-strain-on-troops", "King and Colleagues Call for Committee Hearing on Needless, Avoidable Shortages and Strain on Troops", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is calling for a public hearing to scrutinize the planning and management of extended military deployments in support of ongoing operations in Iran and the mounting toll on American servicemembers and their families. In a letter to SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), King and twelve of his colleagues pointed to recent reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships, as well as extended deployments affecting soldiers, airmen, National Guardsmen, and reservists. The lawmakers are seeking testimony from Department of Defense leadership about how the military is supporting deployed servicemembers, planning relief rotations and addressing the effects of extended deployments on military readiness, recruitment, and retention.\n\nThe request follows reports that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have faced deteriorating living conditions during an extended deployment, including food rationing, shortages of water and other basic supplies, broken facilities and serious mental health concerns. Most recently, Stars and Stripes reported that military families stationed in Bahrain are facing \u201cuncharted territory\u201d when it comes to a lack of planning and communications from the highest levels of government \u2013 from reasons for the war to sudden and chaotic evacuations.\n\n\u201cThe toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable,\u201d King and his colleagues wrote. \u201cTroops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cSupply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions,\u201d the lawmakers concluded. \u201cWe believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation\u2019s call, we will have their backs \u2014 not leave them stranded with no support.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the letter by Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chairman Wicker:\n\nWe request that you convene a public Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the poor planning and mismanagement of extended deployments to support Iran operations and the impact on our troops. Recent reports of sailors suffering from severe mental health issues amid deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln have only added to a disturbing pattern of failures to adequately plan and support our troops, who have been away from their families indefinitely as the Iran War drags on.\n\nOn August 11, Military Times reported that multiple sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln currently supporting Iran operations attempted to jump overboard, a heartbreaking decision in effort to escape the mental health toll of an extended deployment that was planned to end in May but is now at 9 months and counting. Horrifying messages from military families described other poor conditions onboard the Lincoln, including food rationing, rotten meals, shortages of supplies like water and soap, overflowing toilets, broken facilities and disrupted mail delivery. It took nine months for the Navy to relieve the Lincoln with the USS George Washington, after conditions had reached such severity that military families directly confronted the Acting Secretary of the Navy. This has revealed the real impact of unplanned deployment extensions on our ability to maintain and logistically support our ships in a contested environment.\n\nThis is not the first time during this war that we have seen the consequences of extended deployments onboard an aircraft carrier or even other ships. Sailors on the USS Ford experienced hundreds of broken toilets and significant damage from a non-combat fire that injured multiple sailors and affected 100 sleeping berths and forced it to redirect to Greece for emergency repair. After this emergency repair, the Ford was again sent back to the Red Sea to support Iran operations \u2013 eventually completing 11 months of deployment, even though the Navy tries to limit deployments to seven months. Military families of servicemembers on board the multiple ships as part of the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) in the region have reported emotional and financial strain from the unplanned extensions, struggling to balance work and childcare and caught in limbo with disrupted plans every time orders are extended.\n\nBoth the Lincoln and the Ford Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) were redirected from their original missions to support President Trump\u2019s illegal wars of choice. The Lincoln originally deployed in November to conduct routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East in January to support the start of the Iran operations. The Ford ultimately served a whopping 11 months at sea \u2013 redirected three times from an original mission to support deterrence in Europe, to operations in the Caribbean Sea and against Venezuela, to Iran operations. This Administration has failed to explain why it has insisted on stretching our sailors in this way without adequate planning \u2013 let alone for unauthorized wars of choice.\n\nThe strain on our troops is not confined to the Navy. In fact, our offices and press have heard story after story of Soldiers and Airmen, including National Guardsmen and Reservists, seeing their deployments extended with uncertainty about when they will be relieved by other units and can return home to their families. Bases in the Middle East originally designed to support a specific footprint have been stretched to support a much larger scale of units now stationed there \u2013 and conditions are deteriorating as too many people meet too little space and supplies.\n\nThe toll this illegal, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable. Troops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\n\nAll these developments strongly indicate a systemic failure of planning and adaptation by the Secretary of Defense and senior DoD leaders. It is appalling that in month seven of the Iran War, DoD still continues to fail to anticipate and plan for the second-order consequences of the President\u2019s choices to continue this war with no end.\n\nMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers \u2013 why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative.\n\nThe stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price.\n\nWe request a public hearing to help Congress and the public better understand how we got here and how the Department will ensure it never happens again. We call on the Department to explain to Congress, military families and the American people how it assesses and justifies the readiness impacts of these extended deployments, how it plans for relief rotations and what accounts for the systemic failures to provide troops with the support they need to do the mission the President has illegally asked of them. Importantly, the Department must justify and detail exactly how it plans to sustain our troops in this war indefinitely -- as the President\u2019s negotiations continue to fail.\n\nAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions. We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation\u2019s call, we will have their backs \u2013 not leave them stranded with no support. For these reasons, we urge the Committee to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity to examine these issues directly with DoD leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-us-canada-trade-war-could-devastate-lobster-industry", "King: US-Canada Trade War Could \u201cDevastate\u201d Lobster Industry", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement after the United States and Canada recently escalated the year-long trade war with retaliatory tariffs that will have major impacts on Maine people and businesses:\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen are some of the most determined and resilient members of Maine\u2019s workforce. For months, these hardworking men and women have faced challenges across the board, from the increased cost of living at home to the spike in diesel fuel prices at work. Now this new escalation of the trade war with Canada \u2013 \u2018the dumbest trade war\u2019 according to the Wall Street Journal \u2013 is going to make things even worse\u2019\n\n\u201cThe Canadians just announced that they will begin retaliatory tariffs against American products as a response to the White House\u2019s rash actions \u2013 including a 25% tariff on lobsters beginning in September. In the fall, almost half of the Maine lobster catch goes to Canada for processing which means that they will be tariffed on their way from the United States to Canada which could cut off the Canadian market with devastating consequences. And if the President\u2019s misguided trade war further escalates, the processed lobsters could be taxed again when they are shipped back from Canada to the United States. If the President doesn\u2019t relent, this hammer blow to hardworking Maine people would devastate the Maine lobster industry and leave many of these hardworking people literally high and dry.\n\n\u201cMaine people are not interested in personal, retaliatory politics. They are focused on the high cost of goods here at home. The majority party must listen to the industry leaders here in Maine, put pressure on the President, and move forward with an economic policy that works for us and not against us.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pushing-state-department-to-fix-college-student-visa-delays", "King Pushing State Department to Fix College Student Visa Delays", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined 29 of his Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of State to address delays in processing student and exchange visitor visas ahead of the upcoming academic year. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators are calling for the timely processing of F, M, and J visas as well as for answers about the lack of available visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates.\n\nThe Senators highlight the vital contributions international students make to universities and communities nationwide, including expanding opportunities for American students, generating economic activity, strengthening the U.S. workforce, and building international partnerships.\n\n\u201cInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students,\u201d write the Senators. \u201cInternational students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\u201d\n\nIn addition to King, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to express our concerns regarding the ongoing unavailability of visa appointments during the peak visa application season for students and scholars seeking to enter the U.S. in time for the start of classes and the academic year. We urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness. Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students\u2019 visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.\n\nThese challenges come at a time when major academic institutions need skilled, international talent to begin their semesters. Without a fix, the repercussions will be felt across the academic and skilled-technical talent pipeline.\n\nInternational students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students. For every additional international undergraduate enrolled at a U.S. public university, two additional in-state freshman students can enroll. Most international students pay out-of state tuition, injecting vital revenue into our colleges and universities and helping keep costs down for domestic students. International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.\n\nThe case-by-case nature of availability for access to expedited appointments or National Interest Exception requests is neither efficient nor sustainable. Instead of diverting already limited personnel resources, the State Department should ensure that its consular sections restore priority to interview, adjudicate, and process student visas in time for the upcoming school year.\n\nIn addition to the above, we urge the State Department to extend interview waivers for vetted returning student applicants; ensure adequate staffing for timely visa vetting and processing; and meaningfully engage with stakeholders to promote greater transparency.\n\nInternational students bolster the American workforce, drive innovation, and better position our country to maintain its competitive edge. Therefore, we request a written response answering these questions within 30 days:\n\nWhat resources has the Department devoted to processing the backlogs and streamlining processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\nHave consular process priorities changed since the spring and summer of 2025? What visa interview categories are currently prioritized by the Bureau of Consular Affairs and where do student visas fall within that list? Provide the list of visa interview prioritization.\n\nWhat guidance has been sent to embassies and consulates regarding prioritization or deprioritization of student and exchange visitor visa processing? Provide a copy of all guidance regarding the prioritizing or deprioritizing of student and exchange visitor visas since August 2025 until the present day.\n\nHow are interview slots being allocated at embassies and consulates and where do student and exchange visitor visa appointments fit within that allocation?\n\nHow often are consular post websites and the main State Department website updated for relevant and current information regarding current U.S. consulate operations including visa appointment availability and approximate processing times?\n\nWhen will you resume publicly posting monthly, accurate visa issuance data by category?\n\nWill the Department commit to implementing regular, ongoing outreach and collaboration with stakeholders and relevant agencies about the student and exchange visitor visa process and ensure the timely processing of F, J, and M visas?\n\nHow do you ensure that embassies and consulates are accurately and timely informed of any regulatory or policy changes regarding student and exchange visitor visas?\n\nWhat are the average processing times for F, M, and J visas at the top five locations processing these visas from September 2025 to date, disaggregated by month?\n\nLast year, the Department of State announced new vetting, including online presence vetting, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classification.\n\na. What resources has the Department of State devoted to these new vetting procedures?\n\nb. In developing these new vetting procedures, what steps has your Department taken to ensure our national security interests of welcoming bona fide international students in our communities can still be achieved through timely processing of F, J, and M visas.\n\nc. How many applications have been refused pursuant to the new enhanced vetting procedures? Please disaggregate these numbers by the basis for refusal.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-demand-answers-from-pentagon-about-safety-and-well-being-of-uss-abraham-lincoln-crew", "King, Colleagues Demand Answers from Pentagon About \u201cSafety and Well-Being\u201d of USS Abraham Lincoln Crew", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined several of his colleagues in demanding answers about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, King and his colleagues raised concerns about the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide a clear timeline for the crew\u2019s return and pressed the Department for information about the health, safety and well-being of the sailors and Marines aboard the ship. The letter follows reports that the aircraft carrier\u2019s crew has endured food and water shortages, broken plumbing, and serious mental health crises during its record-setting deployment.\n\n\u201cWe write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised,\u201d the Senators began. \u201cThese are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers. The USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cAs the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm\u2019s way deserve nothing less,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nKing is joined on the letter by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth(D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Coons (D-DE).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth,\n\nWe write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised. These are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers.\n\nThe USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier. Family members of the sailors and Marines serving aboard have received urgent messages describing conditions that should alarm you, and everyone serving in a position of leadership at the Pentagon, to include concerns about exhaustion, food and water shortages, and mental health crises serious enough that multiple sailors reportedly attempted to go overboard.\n\nIn response to these reports, you publicly stated that the conditions aboard the carrier have been \u201ccompletely misrepresented.\u201d Even more galling, when asked by reporters about the conditions on the Lincoln, President Trump dismissed the concerns of the families and stated that the Lincoln had not been deployed \u201cnearly long enough.\u201d\n\nOur sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission.\n\nThis situation was preventable, and the conditions aboard the Lincoln are nearly identical to the issues faced by the USS Ford when it conducted an extended deployment that ended earlier this year. The USS Lincoln was redirected to the Middle East as the war with Iran began and has remained there as that war has dragged on with no clear endpoint. This is a symptom of poor planning by both you and the President and exacerbated by the deeply unsound decision to start a war with Iran. Open-ended deployments driven by an open-ended war have real consequences for our servicemembers, and we are seeing those consequences now.\n\nRecent press reports indicate that the USS George Washington will be deployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS AbrahamLincoln. While that is welcome news, the Department\u2019s mismanagement of carrier deployments also means that the U.S. will not have an aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the foreseeable future. However, ensuring the USS Lincoln returns to port takes precedence, and it is incumbent on the Department to inform Congress, and the families, on the plan and timeline to get the crew home. Denial and defensiveness are not acceptable responses. Congress and these families need accountability.\n\nGiven the seriousness of these reports, we request written answers to the following:\n\nWhat is the current timeline for the USS Lincoln\u2019s relief and return to homeport, and what specific operational requirements are driving continued extensions of this deployment?\n\nWas the crew informed that the deployment could be extended indefinitely? Have any members of the crew been changed out since the beginning of this deployment, and if so, how many?\n\nHas there been any degradation in the operational capability of the USS Lincoln or her airwing?\n\nWhat mental health resources are being provided to the crew?\n\nHave there been any suicides aboard the ship during this deployment? How many instances of detected suicidal ideation or attempted self-harm, including attempts to go overboard, has the Department recorded?\n\nWhat other medical resources are available aboard the ship, and are resources sufficient to meet the crew\u2019s needs given the length of this deployment?\n\nWhat chaplain resources are available to the crew, and have they been adequate to the scale of need aboard the ship?\n\nWhat is the current state of good order and discipline aboard the USS Lincoln?\n\nWhat is the hygiene and healthy food situation on board, including the status of reported plumbing failures, water contamination, and food shortages?\n\nWhat is the extent of illness or injury aboard the ship, including full details of the reported man-overboard incident and any other similar incidents?\n\nWhat is the state of the families of the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Lincoln? What resources are being provided to them, and are they being kept informed on a regular basis about the status of the deployment and their loved ones\u2019 wellbeing?\n\nWill the Department authorize a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the Lincoln to conduct firsthand oversight of conditions aboard the ship?\n\nAs the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm\u2019s way deserve nothing less.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-secure-48-million-for-new-downeaster-train-station-in-portland", "Collins, King Secure $48 Million for New Downeaster Train Station in Portland", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) today announced that they have secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster station in Portland. More specifically, the $48,136,000 investment will help relocate Portland\u2019s existing station, improving the speed and reliability of passenger rail service in Maine.\n\n\u201cThe Downeaster is an essential transportation link for the people of Maine, connecting communities, supporting our economy, and providing a reliable alternative to getting in the car or boarding an airplane,\u201d said Maine\u2019s Senators. \u201cRelocating Portland\u2019s station to the mainline is a commonsense investment that will mean shorter trips, fewer delays, and better connections for passengers traveling throughout Maine and New England. We\u2019re proud to have helped secure this federal funding to help move this long-awaited project forward and strengthen passenger rail service for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe project has been selected to advance through final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will provide a 20 percent non-federal match. Amtrak\u2019s Downeaster provides daily passenger rail service connecting Brunswick and communities throughout southern Maine with Boston, Massachusetts. The service is managed by NNEPRA and serves communities including Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-on-reported-use-of-shock-gloves-by-ice", "King Releases Statement on Reported Use of Shock Gloves by ICE", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in response to reporting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is spending $20 million dollars on \u201cshock gloves\u201d in its nationwide patrols.\n\n\u201cAt a time when the majority of Americans believe that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been irresponsible in its use of force, the new ICE announcement touting shock gloves begs a crucial question: is ICE genuinely focused on de-escalation or, what appears more likely, intimidation of anyone critical of their often unlawful conduct?\n\n\u201cWhen two separate and entirely partisan funding bills passed Congress in the last year, they directed $75 billion in taxpayer dollars to ICE\u2019s rogue agenda, and even forward-funded the agency into 2029 in order to make congressional oversight all but impossible.\n\n\u201cWe have already seen the tragic and deadly results of this agency operating without any real accountability. Innocent civilians have been killed, body-worn camera footage \u2013 when there are body cameras actually available and activated \u2013 is only released when it benefits the agency, and Americans nationwide are feeling more and more like they are living in a police state occupied by masked agents.\n\n\u201cAnd rather than have an open, good-faith conversation over methods and tactics, ICE is now investing millions (through what is reportedly a no-bid contract) in shock gloves that can do serious harm with little or no transparency or accountability.\n\n\u201cI urge every single one of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up, assert our constitutional authority, and demand immediate answers from ICE on their hiring practices, training, and tactics.\n\n\u201cI never thought I would see the day when masked and armed men in unmarked cars would be roaming the streets and neighborhoods of America, acting in utter disregard of the legal constraints that are basic to our freedoms.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s becoming more and more clear that the stated basis for this gross violation of our rights\u2014that they are ridding our communities of \u201cthe worst of the worst\u201d\u2014is a lie, and the real purpose is to establish a national police force to do the bidding of a corrupt and lawless administration.\n\n\u201cIt is past time for Congress to do its duty and, for once, put country ahead of party.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails.\n\nMost recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pingree-lead-push-to-protect-federal-workforce-at-portsmouth-naval-shipyard", "King, Pingree Lead Push to Protect Federal Workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), are urging the administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would weaken longstanding civil service protections for federal employees, including the nearly 8,000 civilian workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Chairman Cathy Harris, the lawmakers warned that the proposal would make it more difficult to recruit and retain the skilled civilian workforce responsible for maintaining the Navy's submarine fleet, ultimately threatening national security.\n\n\"We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)'s proposed rule 'Promoting Employee Accountability,\u2019\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cThis proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitment and retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule's impact on workers essential to our national security.\"\n\n\"By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness... the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready... We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB's proposed rule,\" the lawmakers concluded.\n\nJoining King and Pingree on the letter are U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDirector Kupor and Acting Chairman Kerner,\n\nWe write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)\u2019s proposed rule \u201cPromoting Employee Accountability,\u201d Docket OPM-2025-0012 (RIN 3206-AO91). This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitmentand retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule\u2019s impact on workers essential to our national security.\n\nOPM and MSPB\u2019s joint notice of proposed rulemaking issued on July 2, 2026, unnecessarily weakens civil service protections and undermines workers\u2019 rights to challenge removal. Current law provides agencies with the authority to address misconduct and poor performance while ensuring personnel decisions are appropriate, fair and consistent. This rulewould impose a short 30-day limit for performance improvement periods and make termination the default penalty. Theshortened window, coupled with termination as the default, could result in the loss of skilled workers who could have improved their performance if given sufficient time. Furthermore, the proposed rule weakens workers\u2019 ability to challenge disciplinary measures by barring the use of union time to represent workers in removal proceedings.\n\nSince the MSPB\u2019s decision in Douglas v. Veterans Administration in 1981, agencies must consider 12 factors when examining the reasonableness of an agency\u2019s proposed penalty for adverse action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7513. These include considering mitigating circumstances, rehabilitation potential and length of service. For nearly 50 years across Republican and Democratic administrations, these consistent standards have provided fairness to federal workers facing accusations of misconduct and created a framework for determining approportionate responses. OPM\u2019s and MSPB\u2019s proposal would instead require agencies to rely on an arbitrary, case-by-case examination of whether disciplinary action is reasonable given the \u201ctotality of circumstances\u201d and explicitly states that \u201cnoparticular factors must be considered in every case.\u201d This could allow agencies to ignore important mitigating factors and more easily remove skilled workers with strong rehabilitation potential from critical industries.\n\nAs you are no doubt aware, the men and women who work at our public shipyards are critical members of our defenseindustrial base, without whom the ability to repair, retrofit and refuel our country\u2019s submarines would be in jeopardy. In our states, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has nearly eight thousand civilian employees, creating more than $1.5 billion in annual economic impact in surrounding communities. As our military\u2019s \u201cpacing threat,\u201d the People\u2019s Republic of China, is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons programs, the role that our own submarines play in the survivability of our nuclear triad cannot be overstated. In fact, PNSY currently needs to hire over 700 workers annually to meet the Navy\u2019s demand \u2013 which is an increase from 550 over the past two years. Further, policies that reduce workplace protections risk making federal service less attractive to qualified candidates. Due to civilian hiring quotas imposed by the Office of Personnel Management, PNSY has struggled to onboard workers and cannot risk additional delays or departures. If the Administration intends to retain this political litmus test at our public shipyards, the costs of unnecessarily losing more skilled workers through this proposed rule far outweigh any potential benefit.\n\nBy stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness and refusing toconsider important factors, the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready, ultimately harming the shipyard\u2019s ability to meet the Navy\u2019s needs and threatening our national security.\n\nWe, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB\u2019s proposed rule, \u201cPromoting Employee Accountability,\u201d and consider alternatives that preserve federal workers\u2019 longstanding civil service protections.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-fight-mosquito-borne-diseases", "Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fight Mosquito-Borne Diseases", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen the fight against mosquito and other vector-borne diseases (VBD). The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) 2.0 Act would reauthorize funding for federal mosquito control and public health response efforts as well as improve preparedness and response efforts for VBDs.\n\nVector-borne diseases (VBDs) is the technical term for diseases spread by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. For decades, the United States government has successfully controlled VBDs through methods like eliminating standing water breeding grounds and deploying safe pesticides to eliminate the seasonal scourges of malaria and yellow fever.\n\n\u201cOne of the best parts about living in Maine is being able to spend time outdoors, but the threat of dangerous illnesses from mosquito bites is a real concern,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cMosquitoes are more than just a nuisance \u2013 they have the potential to transmit dangerous diseases which threaten American public health Acting to prevent the spread of such diseases is essential to protect the health of Maine people and Americans nationwide. The SMASH 2.0 Act would provide our communities with further protection from vector-borne diseases and their complications, promoting health and reducing healthcare costs.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the SMASH 2.0 Act would:\n\nReauthorize the CDC\u2019s Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (MASH) program at $100 million per year;\n\nAuthorize within the MASH program to expand training, evaluation, and to support education and training for public health staff engaged in mosquito abatement; and\n\nRequire the CDC to coordinate with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on stockpiling vector-borne disease control products.\n\n\u201cMosquitoes and the diseases they transmit are continual threats to all Americans,\u201d said American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Technical Advisor Daniel Markowski. \u201cThe reauthorization of the SMASH Act is imperative to support the ability of local districts, state health departments, territorial governments, and tribal communities to identify and combat the continued threat of vector-borne diseases from mosquitoes. The AMCA strongly supports this legislation as it will provide local programs with resources for timely, on-the-ground prevention and control.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrengthening the capacity of local and state health departments to detect and respond to outbreaks promptly through vector surveillance, laboratory testing, and integrated disease management programs is necessary to effectively slow the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases and limit their spread to promote the health and safety of the public. The SMASH 2.0 Act is one critical way to help accomplish this and the Entomological Society of America enthusiastically encourages Congress to pass this legislation,\u201d said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.\n\nJoining Senator King on this legislation are U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Rick Scott (R-FL).\n\n\u201cThe West Nile virus does not consign itself to far-off lands. Mississippians are infected with it every year,\u201d said Senator Wicker (R-MS). \u201cThis bill will help us track and treat West Nile Virus in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cMinnesotans are proud to boast about our 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers for us to enjoy, and we\u2019re always eager to get outside after a long winter. The only downside to having so many bodies of water to enjoy are the mosquitos that come with them,\u201d said Senator Smith (D-MN). \u201cThe number of vector-borne disease cases in Minnesota and across the country is on the rise. This bill will strengthen education, preparedness, and response efforts for these diseases, ensuring that Americans can continue to safely enjoy the outdoors.\n\n\u201cFlorida\u2019s world-famous weather brings millions of visitors to beaches and parks across the Sunshine State every year. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to ensure those beautiful outdoor spaces are protected against mosquito-borne illnesses. State and local governments need to be properly prepared to combat the spread of these diseases, and this bill goes a long way to ensure those tools are available to them,\u201d said Senator Scott (R-FL).\n\nSenator King has long been an active proponent for research intended to combat vector-borne diseases. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Kay Hagan Tick Act, landmark legislation to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases. Senator King also introduced the SMASH Act in 2019, a predecessor to the SMASH 2.0 Act that authorized funding for mosquito control and VBD prevention efforts in response to the spread of Zika in the years prior. The SMASH Act was signed into law in 2019.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-medicare-patients-physicians", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare Patients, Physicians", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to support physicians and preserve their ability to care for Medicare patients. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would modernize the Medicare\u2019s Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) \u2013 how much medical professionals are reimbursed for providing care \u2013 and preserve patient access to care by adjusting payments to cover more of the actual cost of delivering medical services.\n\nAs reported by the American Medical Association (AMA), the average Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined roughly 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation. This reduction can be largely attributed to the Medicare budget neutrality threshold last updated in 1992, which has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of care. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act reforms key structural elements of MPFS, supporting physicians and preserving their ability to care for Medicare patients.\n\n\u201cAccessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense bipartisan legislation to strengthen access to quality care for older Americans.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).\n\nSenator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the provision of affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans. In June of 2026, Senator King introduced the Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Access Act, requiring private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In 2022, Senator King also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic package which included significant, commonsense changes to Medicare that caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2000 a year and allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for many of the drugs it purchases.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-polling-stations-from-federal-intervention-armed-troops", "King Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Polling Stations from Federal Intervention, Armed Troops", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to protect against the use of federal troops or armed federal agents at polling places. The Protect Our Polls Act would require congressional approval prior to any deployment of armed federal law enforcement or uniformed military personnel at polling stations across the country.\n\nExisting federal law explicitly prohibits the federal government from sending federal troops or law enforcement to polling places with only a minor exception should they be used to repel \u201carmed enemies of the United States.\u201d The Protect Our Polls Act aims to close that loophole and create additional barriers to prevent the President from interfering in elections and utilizing law enforcement and the military to intimidate voters.\n\n\u201cFree and fair elections serve as the foundation of American democracy, and its strength rests upon the assurance that elections remain accessible for all Americans,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Protect Our Polls Act would strengthen protections against tactics designed to intimidate voters at polling stations, ensuring that Americans are confident in their safety when exercising their right to vote. Our democracy remains healthy only when those who constitute it have their voices heard, and this bill will protect their ability to do so.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\nSenator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the protection of democratic freedoms. After President Trump gave a national address threatening increased federal interference with elections, King published an op-ed outlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration\u2019s aims to nationalize elections. Earlier this week, King introduced the Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act, authorizing state attorney generals and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America\u2019s Future Election\u2019s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and allow the federal government to exert greater control over state voting processes, requirements likely to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if put in place. Two years prior, in 2023, Senator King also introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, aiming to codify national standard for voting rights in law, end gerrymandering on party lines, and eliminate the influence of undisclosed funding in elections.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-on-dea-to-clarify-rule-threatening-maine-ems-providers-with-new-costs", "Maine Delegation Calls on DEA to Clarify Rule Threatening Maine EMS Providers with New Costs", "2026-07-29", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to quickly clarify federal guidance that is threatening Maine emergency medical service (EMS) agencies with new costs. In a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, the lawmakers explained that uncertainty surrounding the DEA's implementation of a 2017 law has led several Maine hospital systems to end longstanding agreements that allowed local EMS agencies to obtain certain emergency supplies and medications through their hospital partners. Without these agreements, EMS agencies have already begun to spend thousands of their own dollars on these expenses, likely resulting in cost increases to patients to recoup the additional charges.\n\nThe Controlled Substances Act (CSA), along with related DEA regulations, requires registration for any practice that dispenses controlled substances. Prior to 2017, the CSA did not directly mention EMS, and thus EMS departments historically were not required to register to procure or dispense controlled substances \u2013 allowing EMS to acquire medications and supplies from hospital partners to do their critical work.\n\n\u201cWe write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA),\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cAs you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances. This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA\u2019s subsequent final rule has created disruption and confusion for Maine\u2019s healthcare system.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state\u2019s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine\u2019s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\n\u201cTherefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Administrator Cole:\n\nWe write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA). As you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances.\n\nThis statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA\u2019s subsequent final rule has created severe disruption and confusion for Maine\u2019s healthcare system. The conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state\u2019s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine\u2019s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships.\n\nPPAEMA established a new registration category under the CSA for EMS agencies that are authorized to conduct emergency services under state law. Congressional intent in enacting PPAEMA was clear in focusing on clarifying existing law to align with current practices to allow EMS to administer controlled substances under the supervision of a physician. The purpose was not to create a new requirement whereby EMS agencies would be required to procure controlled substances and other required medications.\n\nHowever, subsequent rulemaking and implementation of PPAEMA has created uncertainty and significant costs to our EMS agencies as they look to comply with the law and new regulations. Per the final rule, \u201c\u2026 controlled substances must be delivered to the registered location of the EMS agency or the hospital if the EMS agency operates under the hospital\u2019s DEA registration.\u201d Hospitals in our state interpret this to mean that previous purchasing and distribution agreements with EMS agencies outside of the hospital organization\u2019s direct oversight are no longer valid and violate PPAEMA rulemaking.\n\nAs a result, approximately 140 EMS agencies across Maine are reportedly spending tens of thousands of dollars each to procure the secure systems required for independent storage compliance. Additionally, these agencies are facing the likelihood of having to spend thousands of dollars, if not more, on required substances. Because these medications are often exclusively sold in bulk, smaller EMS agencies will be forced to buy quantities they cannot realistically use before the drugs expire. At a time of severe budget constraints, this rigid interpretation is creating a crippling operational and financial burden for our EMS agencies.\n\nIn a recent article, quotes from DEA staff and Maine EMS suggest that previous arrangements remain accessible and that registration by EMS agencies with DEA are optional. According to Heidi Carroll, diversion program manager at DEA Northeast Region, \u201cThis is not a requirement by DEA. This is an additional registration category made available, but it does not replace any previous compliant arrangements to provide patient care and emergency services to the public.\u201d However, our hospitals must ensure that they are compliant with DEA regulations and without clarifying guidance, believe that they cannot maintain previous arrangements to procure and distribute controlled substances to EMS agencies.\n\nTherefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-30T07:32:48Z", "2026-07-30T07:34:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-bill-to-expand-mental-health-care-access-in-rural-maine-communities", "King Leads Bill to Expand Mental Health Care Access in Rural Maine Communities", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King is introducing legislation to help people in rural Maine communities maintain reliable access to mental health care. The Compacts, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Mental Health Professionals Act would incentivize interstate medical health provider networks with federally funded grant opportunities. Interstate networks allow providers to practice across state lines while avoiding duplicative registration processes, thus reaching more rural communities with mental health resources.\n\nRural communities are disproportionately affected by the country\u2019s mental health crisis. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 60% of rural Americans live in designated mental health provider shortage areas\n\n\u201cThe expansion of telehealth has been a game changer, especially for rural Maine communities, older adults, and those who might otherwise forgo care due to their inability to pay for or drive to their appointments. Telehealth has improved access to mental health services, eased burdens on providers, and helped patients receive the care they need when they need it,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act adapts care with the times, and reduces unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for qualified providers to deliver telehealth services across state lines, ensuring more Maine people can access quality mental health care for years to come.\u201d\n\n\"NAMI Maine remains committed to advancing policies that improve access to mental health care and strengthen the behavioral health workforce, said Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. \u201cWe support bipartisan solutions, such as Sen. King's CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, that ensure individuals, families, and communities can find qualified professionals when and where they need them,\".\n\nSenator King is a long-time advocate for the availability and accessibility of telemedicine. King co-sponsored the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act which make current telehealth flexibilities permanent and ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue enjoying access to telemedicine. Senator King also introduced the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, and co-sponsored the TREAT Act, to address interstate medical professional licensing issues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-elections-from-interference-and-tampering", "King, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Interference and Tampering", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing legislation to protect elections from interference and tampering \u2013 from both outside actors and unconstitutional orders from the federal government. The Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act would authorize state attorneys general and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections, extend the statute of limitations for federal criminal prosecutions involving election interference from five to nine years, and establish additional protections to prevent the unlawful seizure of ballots before election results are finalized.\n\n\"Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution makes it clear that the oversight and administration of elections is left to the states; recent remarks and proposals from the White House seem to threaten the firewall our founders made a priority \u2013 and also contradicts the principle of states\u2019 rights,\" said Senator King. \"The SHIELD Our Elections Act reinforces those fundamental principles and sustaining public faith in elections that are conducted fairly, impartially, and constitutionally \u2013 while strengthening accountability for those who attempt to undermine our electoral system.\"\n\nMore specifically, the SHIELD Our Elections Act would:\n\nAllow State Attorneys General and impacted voters to sue when federal officials unlawfully interfere with or intimidate them at polling places;\n\nStrengthen accountability by extending the statute of limitations from five to nine years for key federal election crimes, including interference by armed forces and voter intimidation, to enable them to be brought by future administrations for past actions;\n\nProtect ballots from improper seizure by limiting when state or federal law enforcement may seize ballots or election equipment and requiring court-authorized election officials to maintain joint custody whenever materials must be seized, especially before the resolution of an election.\n\nIn addition to King, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nSenator King has long been a proponent for the protection of democratic freedoms. Last week, he published an op-ed last weekoutlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration\u2019s aims to nationalize election. King has also cosponsored the Right to Vote Act, which would establish the first-ever statutory right to vote in federal elections, protecting citizens from state and federal laws that attempt to restrict or limit voter access. In 2023, he introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, which aimed to establish national standards for voting rights, end partisan gerrymandering, and eliminate the influence of secret money in elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America\u2019s Future Election\u2019s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and insert the federal government into state voting processes, requirements that would likely disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if implemented.\n\nIncreasing civic engagement and historical literacy among Americans is also a prominent objective of Senator King\u2019s. In 2025, he introduced the CIVICS Act, bipartisan legislation that would bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States. In 2022, he also introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day and encourage greater civic participation among high school seniors that are eligible to vote. Most recently, Senator King led a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on \u201cCivics at 250\u201d that was nationally televised on C-SPAN.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-28T07:37:32Z", "2026-07-28T07:38:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-white-house-to-withdraw-proposed-rule-politicizing-scientific-research-grants", "King, Colleagues Urge White House to Withdraw Proposed Rule Politicizing Scientific Research, Grants", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is urging the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to withdraw a proposed rule that would significantly expand political control over how federal agencies award grants and cooperative agreements. In a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought with several of his colleagues, the senators warn the proposal could undermine scientific research, weaken American competitiveness, and jeopardize funding for critical projects in communities across the country.\n\nOMB has proposed sweeping, partisan changes to the rules governing how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements \u2013 the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce development. These agencies also fund a wide array of grants for local projects, including but not limited to infrastructure, public health, resource conservation, and rural development. The proposed rules formalize an August 7, 2025 Executive Order that directed OMB to expand political oversight over all federal awards.\n\n\u201cThe proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cInstead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Mr. Vought,\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the proposed rule revising the Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, docket OMB-2026-0034. We urge you to rescind this rule immediately. The proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities. Instead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.\n\nThe proposed guidance enables corruption.\n\nThis rule turns federal assistance into a political slush fund. The rulemaking obliterates the objective, nonpartisan guardrails that ensure that grants and cooperative agreements are awarded to qualified projects. The rulemaking expands federal authority to impose special conditions, suspend Congressionally-directed funding, or terminate awards based solely on the administration\u2019s political priorities. No transparency or accountability requirements are imposed on any of this political intervention. This gives political appointees the power to circumvent Congress\u2019 Constitutional power of the purse and allows the direction of taxpayer dollars to friends and associates as opposed to qualified teams capable of advancing American innovation.\n\nThe proposed guidance hurts communities building in their own backyards.\n\nThis rulemaking creates an outsized level of influence for the Executive Branch in the local grant processes by enabling political appointees to select, or even cancel, previously awarded grants based on ideological and partisan values. States, local governments, Tribes, and locally-led organizations hold an intimate knowledge of how federal funding should be used in their communities. Creating a system where grantees must cater to the priorities of the current political party prevents them from prioritizing the actual needs of the community. This has already impacted vital investments in transportation infrastructure,1 energy,2 affordable housing, and the modernization of resident services3 in cities across the nation. Projects that were awarded funding under a previous administration have been notified that their funding is now paused and under review despite shovels already being in the ground. This is disruptive anda waste of valuable taxpayer dollars. If finalized, these guidelines would only encourage and perpetuate this waste and uncertainty that hinge on political whims.\n\nThe proposed guidance undermines American scientific competitiveness.\n\nBasing funding decisions on politics rather than vetted rubrics and peer review is a severe form of government overreach that prevents intellectual freedom, and with it, the objective, methodical nature of curiosity-driven science that leads to innovation. America\u2019s unique scientific ecosystem that enabled our innovative edge and global leadership is built around federal research and development (R&D) funding that fills market gaps that industry cannot, trains a highly skilled workforce, funds cutting-edge research, and catalyzes commercialization of that research to create jobs and improve quality of life. In just one example, experimental research on reptiles in the 1980s led to the invention of GLP-1 medicines that are revolutionizing health care today.4,5 Our country risks losing its competitive edge in innovation, invention, and technology development should partisan politics be put above scientific integrity and intellectual freedom, as this rule proposes to do.Seventy percent of federal R&D dollars flow to universities and labs. This funding is used to train students and attract talent.6 Every single dollar of this R&D funding generates between $1.40-$2.10 in economic returns to taxpayers: the highest return of any government spending.7 The uncertainty around scientific integrity, exacerbated by the very consideration of this rule, is already causing brain drain. Faculty are reducing the timeline to train graduate students from previous\n\nThe proposed guidance would censor life-saving science to promote a political agenda.\n\nThis ruling would solidify an attack on intellectual freedom under the guise of avoiding \u201cdiversity, equity, and inclusion\u201d in federally funded activities. That attack goes to such extremes that it has already stopped research into inherently unique issues, such as ovarian cancer in females,17 which were identified by keyword searches including words like \u201cwomen\u201d.18 Ideological restrictions could eliminate funding for credible research projects simply because an application contains terms like \u201cBlack Americans\u201d or \u201cAsian Americans.\u201d For example, this overreach directly threatens vital funding for sickle cell disease, despite the fact that Black Americans account for 90% of those diagnosed in the United States.19 Hepatitis research into life saving treatments would also be derailed because the disease disproportionately affects Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.20 The cost of these cuts is measured in American lives.\n\nThe proposed guidance razes foundational pillars of the American scientific enterprise. Global collaborations where experts exchange ideas and resources give rise to new findings that are shared through the publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts. This kind of exchange is the very foundation of American leadership in science and innovation. Arbitrarily blocking international research collaboration due to xenophobic politics will lead to the loss of our world-leading scientific status. Researchers frequently collaborate through relationships forged at conferences where they communicate their work, for which funds would be prohibited from being used by this rule. Additionally, preventing scientists from sharing the results of their research in peer-reviewed journals would further eliminate transparency. International collaborations and partnerships provide essential opportunities for maximizing resources and ensuring that the best minds are contributing to new discoveries, but these changes would disallow any federal funds from being used for collaboration with \u201ccovered foreign countries or regions\u201d as determined in part by executive orders which can change with no warning or limits. Research conducted on NASA\u2019s International Space Station (ISS) has led to new water purification systems, better understanding of diseases like asthma and cancer, and improved disaster response.21 Without international collaboration, the ISS would never have come to fruition, and these discoveries would have been left in the dark.\n\nThe proposed guidance increases bureaucracy and red tape.\n\nWhile this administration claims to champion efficiency, this rule does the exact opposite. It overburdens local governments, small businesses, and research institutions in a mountain of duplicative paperwork, audits, and political compliance certifications. This unwanted bureaucracy acts as a tax on local projects. When towns and small businesses are forced to spend time and resources navigating arbitrary federal red tape, project timelines stretch out, and costs skyrocket. These costs are ultimately passed directly on to American families.\n\nWe share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden\u2013all in pursuit of continuing America\u2019s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country\u2019s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule. Instead, we encourage you to craft productive, unbiased guidance that actually serves the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-renew-demands-to-dhs-for-civilian-protections-greater-transparency", "King, Colleagues Renew Demands to DHS for Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is leading dozens of his Senate colleagues in calling for stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the thirty-nine Senators urge DHS to fulfill its previous commitments to deploy and expand the usage of body-worn cameras, strengthen officer identification requirements, and review enforcement protocols.\n\nThe measures suggested by the Senators are intended to help prevent future deadly encounters involving ICE enforcement officers \u2013 and comes after two fatal shootings during immigration enforcement operations in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas.\n\n\u201cThe recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cRather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Dur\u00e1n Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startling similarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intendedtargets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel) along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approaches necessary to prevent such tragedies. These recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cWe remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as \u201cthe worst of the worst,\u201d making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department\u2019s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law,\u201d the Senators finished.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and John Fetterman (D-PA).\n\nSenator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and CBP in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Most recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Mullin:\n\nThe recent fatal shootings involving U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, specifically within U.S. Immigrationand Customs Enforcement (ICE), in Biddeford, Maine, and Houston, Texas, coupled with fatalities during similar incidents elsewhere in the country, are completely unacceptable. Rather than making our communities safer, these actions endanger our citizens and seriously undermine confidence in law enforcement generally.\n\nThe tragic deaths of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Dur\u00e1n Guerrero occurred less than a week apart and carry startlingsimilarities. In both incidents, the individuals were killed in enforcement actions in which they were not the intended targets. Furthermore, both individuals were shot by DHS officials while inside a vehicle. The unnecessary loss of life in these incidents demands immediate, thorough, independent, and transparent investigations (including the full involvement of local and state law enforcement personnel), along with a comprehensive examination of enforcement protocols, training, and operational approachesnecessary to prevent such tragedies.\n\nThese recent events have further compromised the credibility of DHS and fractured public trust within communities across our country. In each case, DHS quickly issued statements asserting that officers were acting in self-defense, even before evidence of the facts surrounding the incidents had been gathered. Compounding this failure, no DHS officials involved in these fatal shootings wore body-worn cameras that could be reviewed by investigators or members of the public.\n\nWhile DHS has previously acknowledged that body-worn cameras promote public trust and increase officer and public safety, accountability, and transparency, the Department has clearly not prioritized acquiring cameras. Recent statements from DHS andthe White House assert that DHS could not acquire cameras due to the government shutdown. However, since July 2025, DHS received nearly $40 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that could have been used to swiftly acquire and deploy body-worn cameras for both existing ICE law enforcement officers and the reported 10,000 additional officers hired since enactment of OBBBA. Contrary to recent statements made by the Department and the White House, DHS has had more than sufficient time and funding to procure and deploy a body-worn camera for every officer before the end of 2025.\n\nFollowing public outrage in the aftermath of the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, the former Secretary announced in February of this year that DHS law enforcement officers would be required to wear body-worn cameras across the country, and ICE issued a directive reinforcing its policy to activate body-worn cameras during enforcement activities wherever cameras areavailable. Then-Secretary Noem stated that \u201c[a]s funding is available, the body-worn camera program will be expanded nationwide.\u201d In March of this year, the White House border czar, Tom Homan, stated that the administration would expand the use of body-worn cameras by DHS officers undertaking immigration enforcements and require footage, in addition to ending roving patrols. The recent tragedies confirm that neither of these commitments were honored.\n\nAs we underscored during the subsequent funding negotiations earlier this year, implementing comprehensive accountability and oversight reforms for ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is necessary both to protect the public and restore trust in the work of your agency. Our reform proposals are based upon the standards applicable to virtually every law enforcement agency inthe country (except immigration enforcement officers), including visibly displayed identification, no masks, and body-worn cameras.\n\nIn recent weeks, federal agents have aggressively ramped up enforcement operations, reportedly arresting thousands of immigrantsin a matter of days. Following the public backlash from these most recent fatal shootings, your Department has once again committed to distributing body-worn cameras, stating that every ICE arrest team will have at least one law enforcement officer equipped with a camera going forward and promising that all field offices will receive them within the next 60 days. Acting ICE Director Venturella also went on the record promising members of Congress that all field agents would be outfitted by the end of July. We view this timeline not as a projection, but as a firm, binding commitment to which we will hold the Department accountable.\n\nFurthermore, to strengthen public safety and minimize dangerous operational confusion, we urge an immediate policy change regarding agency branding. To help ensure clear accountability and avoid misleading the public, ICE personnel engaged in interior enforcement must immediately cease wearing tactical gear, vests, or uniforms labeled with the generic term \u201cPOLICE\u201d or \u201cPOLICEICE.\u201d All operational uniforms should explicitly and exclusively identify personnel as \u201cICE.\u201d In addition, agents should be required to identify themselves as \u201cICE\u201d when making arrests and uniforms must clearly be identified as \u201cICE.\u201d\n\nFinally, given the immediate need for administrative accountability following these tragedies, we request detailed information in response to the following questions:\n\n1. What is DHS\u2019s specific plan to respond to the public\u2019s interest in timely, transparent, and independently verified investigations into these incidents?\n\n2. What are the vetting procedures with respect to new ICE recruits? Does ICE consider records of domestic violence and abuse from family courts in its vetting?\n\n3. What immediate updates or reviews are being made to ICE vehicle pursuit and traffic stop policies, including enhancedtraining specifically applicable to traffic stops to ensure they prioritize public and officer safety?\n\n4. Beyond the deployment of body-worn cameras, what additional oversight, reporting requirements, or public safety measures is the agency implementing?\n\nWe remain supportive of removing dangerous convicted criminals from our communities, but this goal can and must be achieved without endangering these very communities in the process. By no stretch could either of the victims in Texas and Maine be characterized as \u201cthe worst of the worst,\u201d making these tragic deaths even more egregious. The American people deserve clarity and accountability. We urge you to honor your Department\u2019s earlier commitments and take immediate action to implement these necessary reforms. We also stand ready to work with you to codify reforms into law.\n\nWe look forward to hearing from you at the earliest possible date.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-key-nomination-hearing-king-challenges-potential-intelligence-head-on-ability-to-avoid-political-pressure", "In Key Nomination Hearing, King Challenges Potential Intelligence Head on Ability to Avoid Political Pressure", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, during a key hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned the potential lead Intelligence official on his ability to resist political pressure. In his exchange with Office ofDirector of National Intelligence (ODNI) nominee Jay Clayton, King stressed the importance of analytical integrity and the obligation of intelligence officials to provide objective, fact-based assessments free from political influence.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cThere's been some discussion earlier about the importance of analytical integrity. Telling truth to power. The Intelligence Community directive, which goes back to more than a decade, says this, \u2018Any information from the Intelligence Community should be independent of political consideration. Analytic assessments must not be distorted by or shaped by advocacy of a particular audience or policy viewpoint. Analytic judgments must not be influenced by the force of preference for a particular policy.\u2019 Do you concur with that?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d Mr. Clayton responded.\n\nSenator King asked, \u201cWho won the 2020 election?\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm not going to get into that,\u201d Mr. Clayton replied.\n\n\u201cCould you answer the question? Who won 2020 election? It\u2019s a simple question,\u201d Senator King repeated.\n\n\u201cMy answer to the Chairman, he asked me if I was an election denier. I am not an election denier. Joe Biden was certified as the President. He went through his process. We went through our electoral process. I can tell you, I was in my seat at the SEC\u2014,\u201d said Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cI am asking a really simple question. Who won 2020 election?\u201d Senator King repeated again.\n\n\u201cAs I said, we went through our processes and Joe Biden became the President of the United States,\u201d Mr. Clayton responded.\n\n\u201cThat is not an answer to the question. I am asking one more time. Who won the 2020 election?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cI'm here to talk about my qualifications,\u201d replied Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cOne of your qualifications is to tell the truth to power and you will not answer reasonable questions,\u201d said Senator King.\n\n\u201cI've answered it many times,\u201d replied Mr. Clayton.\n\n\u201cYou have not answered that. Saying that Joe Biden was certified is not an answer,\u201d Senator King finished.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has repeatedly questioned Obama, Biden, and Trump Administration officials on their willingness to speak truth to power \u2013 even when the truth is politically inconvenient. Most recently, Senator King questioned an administration nominee on his independence and integrity \u2013 stressing that the nation\u2019s most significant national security mistakes occur when \u201cbiased\u201d information is given to leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-challenges-pentagon-nominees-on-financial-cost-of-iran-war", "King Challenges Pentagon Nominees on Financial Cost of Iran War", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pressed several Pentagon nominees on the total cost of the ongoing conflict in Iran, expressing frustration that neither Congress nor the American people have received a clear accounting of the financial burden of military operations. More specifically, Senator King questioned Department of Defense Comptroller nominee Jules W. Hurst III, who could not provide an updated estimate despite previously serving in a role that conducted oversight of the Pentagon\u2019s finances \u2013 though he did admit to King that his estimate from earlier this year did not include damage to America\u2019s military installations.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cMr. Hurst, I\u2019m not persuaded by your professed ignorance over the costs of the war. You've been the Chief Comptroller of the Department of Defense until about seven weeks ago. To sit here today and say, \u201cI don't really know and I'm not in the position\u2026\u201d You had to know that this question was going to come up at this hearing today. How much has the Iran war cost the American people?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator King, I will give you the same answer I gave you during the posture hearing. It was $29 billion at the time I left the position,\u201d Mr. Hurst responded.\n\n\u201cDoes that $29 billion include damage to facilities and assets in the region?\u201d Senator King continued.\n\n\u201cNo, Senator, that estimate did not include military construction. Again, we don't know what the posture is going to be. There are lessons to be learned in military construction from this conflict, and one of them is that the United States needs to invest more in hardened and deeply buried facilities, particularly in these kinds of areas. Mr. Hurst answered.\n\n\u201cSo that\u2019s not part of the estimate? Your estimate of 29 billion was essentially munitions and expenditures as a direct result of the conflict?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cSenator, yes, I would characterize the estimate largely as munitions and that most of the rest of that was operational costs,\u201d Mr. Hurst answered.\n\n\u201cAnd preparing for this hearing you didn't ask any questions about updating that number?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cI felt it would be inappropriate to do so, that's not in my current role within the department,\u201d Mr. Hurst answered.\n\n\u201cI think it's very frustrating to the American people that we cannot get a straight answer on what the war is costing, not to mention what it has cost and is costing to the American people at the gas pump and in other costs,\u201d Senator King finished.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes in Iran earlier this year, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. Senator King has consistently supported War Powers resolutions, asserting Congress\u2019s constitutional authority over military conflicts, specifically demanding that the President either obtain congressional authorization for hostilities or remove U.S. Armed Forces from the conflict.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-for-full-expedited-investigation-into-ice-fatal-shooting-in-maine", "Maine Delegation Calls for Full, Expedited Investigation into ICE Fatal Shooting in Maine", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are calling for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, the delegation requested an independent review of the incident to ensure a full accounting of the facts and help maintain public confidence in the investigative process.\n\n\u201cWe write to formally request that your office conduct a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel that occurred [yesterday/earlier this week] in Biddeford, Maine,\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cAlong with our constituents, we are deeply saddened by this loss of life. The facts surrounding this tragedy remain a matter of significant local concern and necessitate thorough, objective accounting.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the gravity of the situation and the understandable anxiety within the Biddeford community, we urge you to prioritize this investigation,\u201d they continued. \u201cTimely and factual answers will be critical to providing closure for the grieving community and ensuring that federal law enforcement operations are conducted safely, lawfully, and in a manner that respects public safety.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Inspector General Cuffari:\n\nWe write to formally request that your office conduct a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel that occurred yesterday in Biddeford, Maine.\n\nAlong with our constituents, we are deeply saddened by this loss of life. The facts surrounding this tragedy remain a matter of significant local concern and necessitate thorough, objective accounting.\n\nTo ensure public trust, transparency, and accountability, we request that your office include the following key areas in your examination:\n\nThe Sequence of Events: A detailed timeline of the encounter, including the specific actions taken by both the ICE agents and the individual involved prior to the discharge of a firearm.\n\nOperational Protocols: An evaluation of whether the tactics, use, and degree of force utilized adhered strictly to current DHS and ICE use-of-force policies.\n\nRecording and Documentation: Clarification on the availability of audio, dashcam, or body-worn camera footage of the incident, and the status of any evidence preservation.\n\nFurthermore, we ask that you detail the extent to which DHS will collaborate with state or local agencies in carrying out the investigation.\n\nGiven the gravity of the situation and the understandable anxiety within the Biddeford community, we urge you to prioritize this investigation. Timely and factual answers will be critical to providing closure for the grieving community and ensuring that federal law enforcement operations are conducted safely, lawfully, and in a manner that respects public safety.\n\nWe look forward to your response and stand ready to work with your office to facilitate any necessary inquiries.\n\nSincerely,\n\ncc: Markwayne Mullin, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; David Venturella, Acting Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-urge-doj-to-cooperate-with-maine-law-enforcement-in-biddeford-shooting-investigation", "Senators Collins, King Urge DOJ to Cooperate with Maine Law Enforcement in Biddeford Shooting Investigation", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) collaborate with Maine state and local law enforcement as authorities investigate yesterday\u2019s fatal shooting in Biddeford involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel. In a letter to Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the Senators emphasized that coordination among law enforcement agencies is essential to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation.\n\n\u201cWe write to request that the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cooperate with state and local law enforcement in the investigation of yesterday\u2019s fatal shooting in Biddeford, Maine, involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\n\u201cWe understand that the FBI has opened an investigation into the shooting and is working with the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Office of Inspector General as it investigates what happened. We appreciate these steps. The facts surrounding the shooting remain a matter of significant local and national concern, and it is important that these investigations provide clear answers as to what transpired yesterday,\u201d they continued. \u201cFederal law enforcement agencies must fully cooperate with state and local law enforcement throughout the investigations to give the public confidence that the inquiries have been conducted in a thorough, fair, and impartial manner.\u201d\n\nClick here to read the complete text of their letter.\n\nEarlier today, the Maine Delegation also sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (DHS) Inspector General calling for a full, transparent investigation into the shooting to help ensure public trust in the investigative process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-shares-remarks-with-maine-press-corps-on-ice-involved-shooting-in-biddeford", "King Shares Remarks with Maine Press Corps on ICE Involved Shooting in Biddeford", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke to the Maine press corps and share remarks on the reported shooting in Biddeford by a member of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE):\n\nOpening Remarks\n\nSenator King: \u201cAbout 20 minutes ago, I talked to Secretary Markwayne Mullen of the Department of Homeland Security about the incident in Biddeford. Here's what I learned, and here's what I conveyed to him. The individual who has been killed is a male in his 20s. That's all I know about him. He had been given an order to leave the country. He was in a vehicle--pulled out in the vehicle, and the term the secretary used was \u201cweaponized\u201d the vehicle and was shot by an ICE agent. What I said to the Secretary was, we want a full, transparent and open investigation of this matter. And one of the problems is apparently\u2014and again, everything I'm saying is what I know now, certain facts may come out\u2014but apparently there are no cameras. Body cameras were not on the agents. So we have no video evidence of what occurred in this case. State and local officials, of course, are attending to it. The FBI will be leading the investigation because it was a federal operation, but my belief is that our state local officials should also be kept informed and engaged in the investigations. I also talked just five minutes, ten minutes ago to Mayor LaFountain of Biddeford and he is also anxious to see that state and local officials are not frozen out of this investigation. It's a tragedy whenever there's a loss of life. We don't know the circumstances at this point, but my statement to Secretary Mullen, I said, \u201cI'm going to say that you have committed to me that this investigation will be full, fair and transparent. Can I say that? He said, \u201cYes, absolutely.\u201d So that's the status of this matter right now. Of course, we'll be following it over the next several days. But as I say, I reached out to the Secretary less than a half hour ago, talked to Mayor LaFountain less than 15 minutes ago, and we're going to stay on this and determine exactly what happened. That's my statement at this point. Let me go ahead and take a few questions before I board the flight to Washington.\u201d\n\nQ+A (audio of questions unavailable)\n\nResponse 1\n\nSenator King: \u201cAnd that's why I was so explicit with the secretary. I know him from working with him in the Senate before he became secretary. I have no reason to think that he's not telling me the truth. But my motto, as with Ronald Reagan, is trust but verify. And I intend to stay on this. And to be sure that we can verify what happened and also whether the investigation is proceeding in a full, comprehensive and transparent way.\u201d\n\nResponse 2\n\nSenator King: \u201cThat's my understanding from the Secretary, was that he was given an order to be to leave the country. He had been through his various processes, and so his status was that he was the person who was shot, was the target of the end of the arrest warrant based upon his immigration status. That's about all I can tell you right now. I don't know the details of the status, but he wasn't a bystander or inadvertently, it was the person they were searching for. And the question is, what did he do with his vehicle? Were officers threatened? Was this were the threats rising to the level that justified deadly force? That's what this investigation is all about. And I certainly intend to, stay after it, to do everything I can to be sure the investigation is as transparent and thorough as possible, and that our state and local officials aren't frozen out from the involvement with this project, with this investigation. The FBI will lead it because it was a federal, project. But, to be given what's happened around the country, we need to verify that this investigation will be thorough and transparent and talking about.\u201d\n\nResponse 3\n\nSenator King: \u201cI think the community has every right to ask questions and to bring pressure to bear on, on the federal government for straight answers and honest answers. And whatever evidence there is should be made public and should be made public soon. And, I think the role of the community is to express concern.\u201d\n\nResponse 4\n\nSenator King: \u201cWe don't yet really know what happened, but to, ensure that we find out what happened and that if there were actions that were unjustified, that those who committed those actions will be held accountable.\u201d\n\nResponse 5\n\nSenator King: \u201cWe\u2019ve been told that body cameras would be widely distributed. Secretary told me that they're on order, that they have been distributed widely across the country, but not everywhere, and apparently not in Biddeford Maine.\u201d\n\nResponse 6\n\nSenator King: \u201cMy concern was the in the initial surge, they arrested something like 200 people and 20 of them had criminal records. The rest didn't. So this idea that they were going after the worst of the worst is just nonsense. And, it just doesn't pass the straight face test in terms of the actual data. So I want to understand if they're doing this again, and if so, how are they proceeding? What are the targets? Are they in fact going after people with criminal records? I would want to know whether this individual had a criminal record.\u201d\n\nResponse 7\n\nSenator King: \u201cThat's not what I believe. That's the fact that, you know, an investigation involving federal agents. It's the FBI that follows through. I presume it will be the FBI office here in Maine. But I believe, as I said, that it should be coordinated with and, the information should be shared with local and, and state officials, with the attorney general's office, with the governor's office. Because I believe that given what's happened over the past year, we can't just stand back and say, oh, it's a federal investigation. Everything's on the up and up. I hate to say that, but again, given the experience of the past year, I think we have to trust but verify.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-coast-guard-to-select-maine-as-homeport-for-new-arctic-security-cutter", "King Urges Coast Guard to Select Maine as Homeport for New Arctic Security Cutter", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Co-Chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, is urging the U.S. Coast Guard to select Maine as the homeport for one of its new Arctic Security Cutters. In a letter to U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday, King highlighted Maine's unique advantages as the Coast Guard evaluates homeports for the next generation of icebreakers.\n\nArctic Security Cutters will anchor a modernized icebreaker fleet built for the most demanding conditions, ensuring the United States is equipped to defend its interests and meet emerging challenges in the Arctic for decades to come. In his letter, Senator King makes the point that as sea ice continues to recede in the Arctic, Maine\u2019s unique location and infrastructure is ideally suited to position the next generation sea vessels to leverage America\u2019s leadership as an Arctic Nation.\n\n\u201cI write to urge that the State of Maine be selected as a homeport for the Service\u2019s new Arctic Security Cutters,\u201d Senator King began. \u201cThe decision to build out an 11-ship fleet is a generational investment in American presence in the high latitudes, and Maine offers the Coast Guard an ideal Atlantic homeport from which to project that presence.\u201d\n\n\u201cGeography makes the case on its own. Maine is the closest point in the continental United States to the Arctic, giving an Atlantic-based cutter the shortest transit to its operating areas. The state\u2019s deep-water harbors offer reliable year-round access\u2014from Portland, with its established working waterfront and supporting infrastructure, to Eastport, the deepest natural seaport on the East Coast. Either provides the Coast Guard strong options, and I would of course defer to the Service on the specific siting that best fits operational needs,\u201d Senator King continued.\n\n\u201cAs the Coast Guard makes homeporting decisions for the cutters still to come, I urge you to make Maine a top choice. No other state offers this combination of Arctic proximity, deep-water access, shipbuilding and repair capacity, and Arctic expertise, and Maine is ready to deliver for the Service and its crews. I stand ready to assist however I can, and I thank you for your continued leadership of the Coast Guard,\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the Navy and Coast Guard. He recently secured key provisions in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support the maritime forces and ensure that America\u2019s military can continue providing best-in-class services and defense of the homeland. Earlier this year, Senator King and his U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus Co-Chair Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) traveled to Greenland to project America\u2019s leadership and voice in the Arctic. During the visit, they met with the Prime Minister, members of the Greenland parliament, and toured the U.S. Pituffik Space Base inside the Arctic Circle.\n\n+++\n\nDear Admiral Lunday:\n\nAs co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and a longtime advocate for the Coast Guard, I write to urge that the State of Maine be selected as a homeport for the Service\u2019s new Arctic Security Cutters. The decision to build out an 11-ship fleet is a generational investment in American presence in the high latitudes, and Maine offers the Coast Guard an ideal Atlantic homeport from which to project that presence.\n\nGeography makes the case on its own. Maine is the closest point in the continental United States to the Arctic, giving an Atlantic-based cutter the shortest transit to its operating areas. The state\u2019s deep-water harbors offer reliable year-round access\u2014from Portland, with its established working waterfront and supporting infrastructure, to Eastport, the deepest natural seaport on the East Coast. Either provides the Coast Guard strong options, and I would of course defer to the Service on the specific siting that best fits operational needs.\n\nMaine is a strong Coast Guard state, more than ready and capable to serve as a homeport. Sector Northern New England is headquartered in South Portland, and stations along Maine\u2019s coast maintain close, longstanding ties to the communities they serve\u2014a foundation of infrastructure, personnel, and local goodwill the Service can build on. Maine also brings an ecosystem built to sustain these vessels over their decades of service. The state\u2019s deep shipbuilding heritage and skilled maritime workforce stand ready to support the construction, repair, and maintenance of complex platforms. That industrial base is complemented by genuine Arctic and maritime expertise: the University of Maine is a national leader in Arctic research, and Maine Maritime Academy offers deep expertise in maritime operations and a natural link to the Service\u2019s Arctic mission. Together they reflect a statewide maritime culture the Coast Guard can draw on for partnership, training, and regional support.\n\nAs the Coast Guard makes homeporting decisions for the cutters still to come, I urge you to make Maine a top choice. No other state offers this combination of Arctic proximity, deep-water access, shipbuilding and repair capacity, and Arctic expertise, and Maine is ready to deliver for the Service and its crews. I stand ready to assist however I can, and I thank you for your continued leadership of the Coast Guard.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-independence-day-king-celebrates-americas-250th-birthday", "On Independence Day, King Celebrates America\u2019s 250th Birthday", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, on Independence Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement to commemorate America\u2019s 250th birthday:\n\n\u201cEach Fourth of July, Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate with barbecues, parades, and fireworks. But beneath those traditions lies one of the most remarkable moments in human history. When the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, it introduced a revolutionary idea: that government derives its power from the consent of the governed, and that every person is endowed with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those principles challenged centuries of inherited power exercised by kings, pharaohs, emperors, and monarchs, and forever changed the course of history.\n\n\u201cAs we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, we're reminded that the promise of our nation has always depended on each generation's willingness to preserve and strengthen those founding ideals. Independence Day is not only a celebration of our past, but a renewal of our shared responsibility to uphold our founding values that remain at the heart of the American experiment.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bill-to-help-make-child-care-more-accessible-for-working-families", "King Introduces Bill to Help Make Child Care More Accessible for Working Families", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are introducing legislation to make childcare more affordable and accessible for working families. The Right Start Child Care and Education Act would strengthen the childcare workforce by creating a new federal tax credit for childcare professionals with college degrees. This would help childcare providers recruit and retain qualified educators while expanding access to high-quality, affordable care.\n\n\"For too many working parents in Maine, finding affordable childcare is the difference between being able to stay in the workforce or not \u2013 and it begins with a shortage of providers,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Right Start Child Care and Education Act recognizes that recruiting and retaining childcare providers is one of the smartest investments we can make in Maine families and the Maine economy, so it offers college graduates an additional financial incentive to enter the workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cNew Hampshire\u2019s shortage of affordable childcare options has placed an enormous burden on families and providers alike. Unfortunately, it\u2019s a persistent and worsening trend we\u2019re seeing across the country,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cThe Right Start Child Care and Education Act would make important reforms to our tax code to promote and increase access to high-quality childcare by supporting early education professionals, ensuring affordable childcare options are available for families everywhere.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too many families, the struggle to find high-quality, affordable childcare serves as a barrier to children\u2019s early development and to parents entering the workforce. This legislation will help recruit and retain more childcare professionals, to help families in all parts of the country afford and access the childcare they need,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar.\n\nSpecifically, the Right Start Child Care and Education Act would create a new tax credit for childcare professionals with relevant educational degrees. The legislation would provide tax credits of $1,500 to $4,000 depending on the level of degree.\n\nSenator King has long worked to expand access to childcare. Last year, King secured the Child Care for Working Families Act that would put a cap on childcare costs for working families, address childcare deserts by providing grants to open new facilities, support higher wages for childcare workers, provide comprehensive funding for Head Start to provide full-day, full-year programming, and expand access to pre-K programs. He secured millions to improve childcare services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is also the cosponsor of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit that helps households offset their childcare costs. Most recently, he joined bipartisan legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare: the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act, which would provide competitive grants for states to train childcare workers and build or renovate childcare facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-voting-access-for-all-american-citizens", "King Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Voting Access for all American Citizens", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to strengthen the fundamental right to vote for all American citizens. The Right to Vote Act would establish the first-ever statutory right to vote in federal elections, protecting citizens from state and federal laws that attempt to restrict or limit voter access. Notably, the bill would also allow American citizens to sue states for any policy that unduly restricts ballot access.\n\nOver the last several years, states across the nation have attempted to restrict access to the polls by tightening voter ID laws, shortening voting times, restricting registration, and purging voter rolls. The Right to Vote Act would require that efforts to restrict voting access meet a high standard to justify any policy that makes it harder for citizens to participate in federal elections.\n\n\u201cFree and fair elections are the foundation of participatory government, and any threat to the democratic process is a threat to our democracy itself,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Right to Vote Act would establish clear protections for voters and help ensure that every eligible American can demonstrate this sacred right in our elections. A healthy democracy depends on broad participation, and this bill will continue to make that participation easier\u2014not harder.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\nSenator King has long been a proponent for the protection of democratic freedoms. In 2023, he introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, which aimed to establish national standards for voting rights, end partisan gerrymandering, and eliminate the influence of secret money in elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America\u2019s Future Election\u2019s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and insert the federal government into state voting processes, requirements that would likely disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if implemented. King also introduced the Voter Choice Act to support the adoption of a ranked choice voting model for federal elections, as well as a resolution to recognize September as National Voting Rights Month.\n\nIncreasing civic engagement and historical literacy among Americans is also a prominent objective of Senator King\u2019s. In 2025, he introduced the CIVICS Act, bipartisan legislation that would bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States. In 2022, he also introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day and encourage greater civic participation among high school seniors that are eligible to vote. Most recently, Senator King led a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on \u201cCivics at 250\u201d that was nationally televised on C-SPAN.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-reject-proposed-cuts-to-veterans-disability-benefits", "King, Colleagues Reject Proposed Cuts to Veterans\u2019 Disability Benefits", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Veterans\u2019Affairs Committee (SVAC), is opposing potential cuts to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for disabled veterans who suffer from sleep apnea and tinnitus, as proposed by a draft VA rule and the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act. In a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, King and several of his colleagues condemn the proposed reductions to benefits for veterans suffering from sleep apnea and tinnitus, which would impact benefits for more than one million veterans. While the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act would address several key needs of America\u2019s veteran population, it would do so by using funds that currently help those suffering from tinnitus and sleep apnea \u2013 which are two of the most significant health problems facing America\u2019s men and women who served.\n\n\u201cWe write in strong opposition to a proposed reduction in benefits for more than one million veterans suffering from sleep apnea and tinnitus outlined in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) draft rule entitled \u201cSchedule for Rating Disabilities--Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology Disabilities; Special Provisions Regarding Evaluation of Respiratory Conditions; Respiratory System\u201d (RIN: 2900-AQ72),\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cWe urge you to listen to the growing opposition from veterans and publicly commit to addressing their concerns.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cAlong with the draft rule, we are equally opposed to the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act because it codifies the same harmful reductions in benefits for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea benefits. By writing these cuts into statute, the legislation would permanently implement the very policies that veterans, medical experts, and veterans service organizations have overwhelmingly opposed. Whether implemented through regulation or enacted by Congress, these cuts would strip disabled veterans of earned compensation and health care benefits \u2013 they should be rejected outright.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt your confirmation hearing last year, you pledged, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to balance budgets on the back of veterans\u2019 benefits.\u201d We urge you to honor that commitment by abandoning these proposals and to further reject any legislation that would permanently cut off these benefits to veterans. We look forward to working with you to ensure our nation\u2019s veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John W. Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Timothy Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacklyn Rosen (D-NV), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nSeveral leading veterans\u2019 groups have also come out in strong opposition to the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act, including Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), theUnion Veterans Council/AFL-CIO, VoteVets, and Common Defense.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Last year, he introduced the VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act that would protect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\nThe full text can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Collins,\n\nWe write in strong opposition to a proposed reduction in benefits for more than one million veterans suffering from sleep apnea and tinnitus outlined in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) draft rule entitled \u201cSchedule for Rating Disabilities--Ear, Nose, Throat, and Audiology Disabilities; Special Provisions Regarding Evaluation of Respiratory Conditions; Respiratory System\u201d (RIN: 2900-AQ72). We urge you to listen to the growing opposition from veterans and publicly commit to addressing their concerns.\n\nWe laud your decision earlier this year to rescind an interim final rule after it faced significant backlash from the veterans\u2019 community. At the time you stated, \u201cVeterans spoke, and [VA] listened.\u201d We ask that you again heed concerns from the medical and veterans\u2019 communities about the benefits they receive to address tinnitus and sleep apnea. VA must make clear it will not punish veterans seeking effective sleep apnea treatments or deny veterans with service-connected tinnitus the benefits and health care they have earned.\n\nTinnitus is the most common service-connected disability recognized by VA, with an estimated 3.6 million veterans receiving benefits for this condition. The most controversial proposal in the draft rule would eliminate tinnitus as a stand-alone disability \u2013 instead requiring veterans to be service connected for an underlying pathology related to hearing loss. According to the draft rule\u2019s regulatory impact analysis, more than 60 percent of veterans who submit claims for tinnitus-related benefits are not service connected for an underlying pathology. Those veterans would no longer qualify for life-saving VA health care and benefits. In total, VA\u2019s analysis concluded that nearly one million veterans would have their monthly disability compensation reduced by the change.\n\nOur urgent concern is validated by the American Tinnitus Association\u2019s comments to the draft rule that \u201ctinnitus often occurs independently of any other health condition.\u201d The American Tinnitus Association made clear that medical research, including VA-commissioned studies, confirms the debilitating effects of tinnitus and the need for it to remain a stand-alone disability. It warned that removing the stand-alone disability would also hinder research to improve tinnitus treatments and efforts to find a cure. Also important, the American Legion in its comments categorized the change as problematic because it conflicts with several \u201ccourt decisions that recognize tinnitus as a stand-alone condition.\u201d\n\nSleep Apnea is a breathing disorder that involves a decrease or complete halt in airflow despite an ongoing effort to breathe. More than 763,000 veterans receive VA benefits for service-connected sleep apnea. The draft rule would reduce the level of compensation veterans receive for their service-connected sleep apnea to zero. This change is similar to a recent interim final rule you rescinded after the veterans\u2019 community made the case against reducing ratings for veterans who comply with their doctors\u2019 orders. Veterans service organizations have made clear that veterans who use effective medical devices should not have their disability compensation lowered. In its comments on VA\u2019s draft rule, Disabled American Veterans argued that using effective medication does not eliminate the underlying conditions' impact on veterans\u2019 earning potential, which is the basis for VA\u2019s schedule for rating disabilities. Medications help improve function and mask symptoms, but they do not eliminate the impact of living with a disability.\n\nAlong with the draft rule, we are equally opposed to the Take Care of America\u2019s Veterans Act because it codifies the same harmful reductions in benefits for veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea benefits. By writing these cuts into statute, the legislation would permanently implement the very policies that veterans, medical experts, and veterans service organizations have overwhelmingly opposed. Whether implemented through regulation or enacted by Congress, these cuts would strip disabled veterans of earned compensation and health care benefits \u2013 they should be rejected outright.\n\nAt your confirmation hearing last year, you pledged, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to balance budgets on the back of veterans\u2019 benefits.\u201d We urge you to honor that commitment by abandoning these proposals and to further reject any legislation that would permanently cut off these benefits to veterans. We look forward to working with you to ensure our nation\u2019s veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T06:16:17Z", "2026-06-27T06:17:30Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-denounce-white-house-attempt-to-restrict-vote-by-mail", "King, Colleagues Denounce White House Attempt to Restrict Vote by Mail", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining dozens of his Senate colleagues in raising concerns overan unconstitutional executive order that would restrict mail-in voting. In a letter to the Postmaster General and Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Senators demand that USPS follow existing federal law instead of an executive order signed by President Trump that would direct the USPS to create and maintain \u201cMail-in Absentee Participations Lists.\u201d These lists would determine which voters are eligible to receive and cast absentee ballots through the mail. The letter follows an earlier letter sent on April 20th urging the USPS to resist the executive order.\n\nThe order attempts to turn the USPS into an election administrator and regulator, when it is supposed to be a nonpartisan agency whose only priority is to deliver the mail. This directive would have a chilling effect on the eligibility of American voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote by imposing unnecessary barriers and would corrupt the independent mission of the USPS by giving the agency the authority to determine who can vote by mail.\n\n\u201cWe write for a second time regarding the unconstitutional and illegal attempt to transform the United States Postal Service into an election administration agency controlled by the White House and President Trump,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cIn April, 37 senators wrote to you after President Trump issued his Executive Order directing USPS to issue a rule to establish compulsory specifications for election mail and create a master absentee voter list of millions of American voters \u2013 with the power to refuse to deliver their ballots.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cDespite these grave and serious legal deficiencies, on June 2, 2026, USPS published a proposed rule that, if finalized, would establish President Trump\u2019s control over federal elections and allow USPS to adjudicate who can and cannot vote by mail. This proposed rule risks disenfranchising millions of voters. We again insist that you follow the law, refuse to implement President Trump\u2019s Executive Order, and withdraw this presidentially-directed proposed rule.\u201d\n\nThe senators warned that the proposed rule would create a national list of absentee voters that falls under federal control, raising serious concerns about the potential for misuse and abuse. In court filings, the Administration has acknowledged that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is already in discussions with USPS about potentially comparing the list to DHS datasets. The senators raised concerns that combining USPS data with unreliable federal records could lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible voters, or the unfair targeting of voters and election officials for investigation.\n\n\u201cUltimately, the proposed rule seeks to create a centralized national absentee voter database with individualized barcodes connected to the voters\u2019 names under the control of the President that contains the voting information of millions of Americans,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThat information would be ripe for potential abuse or improper disclosure potentially imperiling the integrity of American elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccordingly, we insist that the Postal Service abandon this proposed regulation and return to its core mission of providing universal postal services to every American. The Constitution and federal law demand nothing less,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nSenator King has been a vocal supporter of the USPS\u2019s critical role in American society and in Maine, one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most rural states that relies heavily on the services provided by the USPS to receive prescriptions and other necessities. Earlier this year, he joined his Senate colleagues on a letter to USPS Postmaster General David Steiner pushing to protect the timely delivery of mail across the nation\u2014resisting a change that would make it harder for Maine people to access basic services like prescription drug deliveries, bill payments, and votes cast by mail. Last year, he sent a letter to then-Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, urging him to stop any changes to the USPS service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance. That letter came soon after Maine\u2019s postal workers and elected officials voiced their opposition of the USPS\u2019 plans to move some of the Hampden facility\u2019s processing operations to a facility in Scarborough, nearly 130 miles away \u2014 raising the possibility of needless delays in delivery.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Postmaster General Steiner, Chairwoman McReynolds, Vice Chairman Kan, Governor Stroman, and Governor Tangherlini:\n\nWe write for a second time regarding the unconstitutional and illegal attempt to transform the United States Postal Service (USPS) into an election administration agency controlled by the White House and President Trump. In April, 37 senators wrote to you after President Trump issued his Executive Order directing USPS to issue a rule to establish compulsory specifications for election mail and create a master absentee voter list of millions of American voters \u2013 with the power to refuse to deliver their ballots.1 In that letter we urged you not to implement the President\u2019s unconstitutional Executive Order. The Order is a blatant violation of the Constitution, which vests the authority to regulate the time, place, and manner of federal elections with the states, subject to alterations made by Congress. We received no response to that letter and USPS is now taking explicit steps to implement the Order. No federal statute vests the President or USPS with any authority to regulate elections of any kind. Accordingly, multiple states and organizations have filed lawsuits challenging the Executive Order.2\n\nDespite these grave and serious legal deficiencies, on June 2, 2026, USPS published a proposed rule that, if finalized, would establish President Trump\u2019s control over federal elections and allow USPS to adjudicate who can and cannot vote by mail. This proposed rule risks disenfranchising millions of voters. We again insist that you follow the law, refuse to implement President Trump\u2019s Executive Order, and withdraw this presidentially-directed proposed rule.\n\nThe right to vote is the most sacred and cherished right of the American people. It is the bedrock of American democracy. The framers of our Constitution understood the dangers of centralizing power over federal elections and accordingly vested the primary authority to regulate the \u201ctimes, places, and manner\u201d of federal elections with the states, subject to alterations by statute enacted by Congress.3 The Constitution similarly vests the authority to determine the eligibility of voters with the states\u2014not the President, and certainly not with USPS.4 The Constitution provides no role for USPS in regulating federal elections, and no statute delegates to USPS any authority to regulate elections or voter eligibility. The proposed rule does not grapple with these serious legal deficiencies. The proposal simply cites two sections of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 to justify USPS\u2019s regulation of federal elections.5 These sections provide specific postal powers and general authorization to issue regulations but say nothing about regulating federal elections.6 Indeed, Title 39 explicitly says, \u201cIn providing services [...] the Postal Service shall not [...] make any undue or unreasonable discrimination among users of the mails,\u201d \u2013 this proposal does the exact opposite.7\n\nIt is universally understood that the Postal Service does not regulate or administer American elections. By statute, USPS is \u201can independent establishment of the executive branch\u201d and its Board of Governors is protected from arbitrary removal by the President. This independence, which the proposed rule undermines, is the foundation of the nation\u2019s trust in USPS\u2019s ability to deliver the mail without fear or favor. The Postal Service acknowledged in a rulemaking just last year, \u201cthe Postal Service does not administer elections, establish the rules or deadlines that govern elections, or determine whether or how election jurisdictions utilize themail.\u201d8 This neutral and apolitical role to transmit the mail is critical to ensuring American voters trust that their ballots will be properly delivered. The proposed rule would fundamentally upend this longstanding and vital role of USPS, transforming them into a federal election administration agency \u2013 with frightening authorities to disenfranchise Americans.\n\nThe proposed rule USPS issued on June 2 suffers from all the same legal deficiencies of the Executive Order and cannot be lawfully implemented. The proposed rule would illegally condition a state\u2019s exercise of its constitutional authority to utilize mail-in ballots on submitting its complete absentee voter rolls to USPS and complying with USPS mandatory election mail specifications. Specifically, the proposal requires any state that permits votes to be cast by mail to submit to USPS each absentee or mail-in voter\u2019s name, address, and their unique Intelligent Mail Barcode. The regulation purports to permit only states to control which of their voters are enrolled on the new master list, but this new and unnecessary master list of American voters would then be controlled by USPS and ultimately President Trump.\n\nIn addition, the proposed rule requires that all mail ballots comply with new mandatory specifications, including that they have an election mail logo, a specific design, automation compatibility, and an Intelligent Mail Barcode unique to each voter. All ballots must also undergo design review by USPS prior to being mailed by an election jurisdiction. While some of these requirements are best practices, their compulsory nature creates new onerous, costly, and unfunded requirements on election jurisdictions that do not currently use these practices nor have the resources to do so. Furthermore, the new mandatory specifications provide the USPS with new and subjective authority to reject ballots, even for a missing or misprinted logo.\n\nCritically, the proposed rule requires USPS to conduct a verification process to ensure that states comply with the regulation\u2019s mandates prior to USPS accepting ballots and mailing them to voters. For such a consequential regulation of American democracy, the regulation stunningly lacks any detailed information about the process USPS intends to use to verify each piece of outbound election mail. Nevertheless, this new \u201cverification process\u201d empowers USPS to serve as the final arbiter of whether ballots meet the unilateral federal standards and are adequate to be delivered to voters \u2013 granting USPS the ultimate authority to decide which Americans can cast a ballot by mail. What the proposal also makes clear is that if a state chooses not to provide USPS with their voter rolls that state cannot mail ballots to their voters, effectively prohibiting vote-by-mail in those states. Even if a state does provide USPS its voter rolls, USPS can still disenfranchise individual voters if their ballots do not meet USPS\u2019s demanding requirements. While \u201cneither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night\u201d stops the mail, under the regulation a missing election logo will. Nothing in federal law authorizes USPS to restrict states and voters from using the postal system to mail ballots.\n\nThis proposed regulation occurs as the federal government is demanding nearly every state\u2019s voter rolls \u2013 an effort which has consistently been rejected by federal courts.9 Creating a master absentee voter list for the entire country is a backdoor mechanism to secure access to these voters\u2019 names and addresses. And for states with universal vote-by-mail like California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Vermont (in general elections), the proposed regulation is a form of extreme coercion. It creates an untenable scenario, that requires these states to submit their entire voter rolls to the federal government or face the prospects of abandoning absentee voting altogether.\n\nFurthermore, the proposed regulation explicitly articulates that one of its purposes is to assist federal law enforcement, raising serious legal and policy questions about how this information will be used. In fact, the Administration has acknowledged in recent court filings that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is currently having conversations with the Postal Service on how it could use the new master list of absentee voters and potentially compare it to DHS datasets.10 Given the ongoing efforts of the Administration to seek voter rolls and put them through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services\u2019 Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program, this coordination could lead to the USPS data being used in coordination with other risky and unreliable sources of information to disenfranchise American voters or even target voters or election officials for investigation.11\n\nThe proposed rule also raises serious privacy concerns. Ultimately, the proposed rule seeks to create a centralized national absentee voter database with individualized barcodes connected to the voters\u2019 names under the control of the President that contains the voting information of millions of Americans. That information would be ripe for potential abuse or improper disclosure potentially imperiling the integrity of American elections. The proposal provides no discussion of how USPS would safeguard this crucial information and every American\u2019s right to a secret ballot. USPS simply states that its explanation of its privacy controls is \u201cforthcoming.\u201d Compiling a master list of mail-in and absentee voter data is incredibly dangerous in the modern era.\n\nLastly, notwithstanding the regulation\u2019s major constitutional and legal violations, the proposed timeline and scope is not feasible. The proposed regulation demands that the Postal Service set up an entirely new system and database to process and transmit millions of absentee ballots that is secure and accessible to every American election official, just months prior to a general election. The Postal Service already issued its election mail guidance in January, and states and local governments have been planning accordingly \u2013 they will have no ability to change course to respond to this rule. This endeavor will also allegedly be accomplished without any dedicated resources or funding at a time when the Postal Service\u2019s finances are under immense strain. In fact, the Postal Service has recently suspended regular retirement contributions and placed limits on all non-essential spending.12 As such, it is wholly unworkable and impractical.\n\nAccordingly, we insist that the Postal Service abandon this proposed regulation and return to its core mission of providing universal postal services to every American. The Constitution and federal law demand nothing less.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-26T06:29:35Z", "2026-06-26T06:31:46Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-housing-package-with-king-provisions-passes-congress-and-heads-to-presidents-desk", "Bipartisan Housing Package, with King Provisions, Passes Congress and Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is celebrating Congressional passage of bipartisan housing legislation. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will increase the nation's housing supply, reduce barriers to development, and help more Americans achieve homeownership. The bill passed the U.S. Senate by a resounding 85-5 vote before passing the House of Representatives\u2014it now heads to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\n\"From families trying to buy their first home, to workers trying to find affordable housing close to their job, the severe housing shortage is debilitating for many Maine people and businesses,\u201d said Senator King. \"There is no single solution to our housing challenges, but this bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act takes meaningful steps toward creating affordable places to live. The one law that Congress can\u2019t revoke is the law of supply and demand. Since housing affordability is fundamentally a supply issue, the enhancements to the development of new housing in this bill are the kind of practical, bipartisan problem-solving that Americans expect from Congress.\"\n\nAmong its many provisions, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes bipartisan legislation Senator King cosponsored to address housing challenges in Maine. These include the Rural Housing Service Reform Act to improve rural housing programs and increasing house supply in rural areas, as well as the PRICE Act, which permanently authorizes a federal grant program to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing communities, an important source of affordable housing for thousands of Maine families. The package also incorporates the Whole Homes Repairs Act, which would help low- and moderate-income homeowners make critical repairs to existing homes to improve their safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.\n\nSenator King has long been committed to ensuring Maine people across the state can access safe and affordable housing and has worked with his colleagues on creative solutions to combat the housing shortage. He introduced the Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act, which would expand the existing Housing Preservation Grants program so rural home owners can create more housing on their property \u2014 such as an attached apartment unit or a small home nearby \u2014 to be available for rent. Additionally, King has sponsored the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country \u2014 including thousands in Maine. He also worked with his Republican colleagues to improve affordability of rural homes and farms through the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2023.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-commemorates-world-refugee-day-and-reasserts-support-for-refugees-worldwide", "King Commemorates \u201cWorld Refugee Day\u201d and Reasserts Support for Refugees Worldwide", "2026-06-19", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining a Senate Resolution that reaffirms U.S. commitments to protect and assist millions of refugees and displaced persons globally. The World Refugee Day Resolution honors World Refugee Day and highlights ongoing global refugee and displacement crises.\n\n\u201cWorld Refugee Day,\u201d annually celebrated on June 20, is an international day designated by the United Nations to recognize refugees around the globe and celebrate the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.\n\n\u201cThroughout our history, America has been a refuge for people fleeing war, persecution, and oppression in search of safety and opportunity,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWorld Refugee Day is a reminder that behind every displacement statistic is a human story\u2014a family seeking security, a parent seeking a future for their children, or an individual searching for freedom and dignity. Supporting refugees is not only a humanitarian obligation, but a reflection of our nation's values here at home and around the world.\u201d\n\nOver the past three decades, Maine has welcomed refugees who have not only provided significant economic contributions\u2014from starting small businesses to filling the state\u2019s workforce shortage\u2014but also enriched their local communities.\n\nThe resolution is also joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-NY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nSenator King has long worked on policy solutions that provide pathways for legal immigration into the United States, seeking to provide individuals with support while keeping the United States secure. He previously led bipartisan negotiations to provide a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and provided more than $25 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to construct physical border barriers and technology. Additionally, King voted for bipartisan agreements designed to reform American immigration policy by offering millions of undocumented immigrants an earned pathway to legal status and citizenship. Support of such policies reflect Senator King\u2019s dedication to strengthening American national security while providing humanitarian support for those in need.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-20T06:35:38Z", "2026-06-20T06:37:01Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-governor-of-guam-highlight-cybersecurity-attacks-on-national-security-installations-in-guam", "King, Governor of Guam Highlight Cybersecurity Attacks on National Security Installations in Guam", "2026-06-19", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with territory officials on the increasing nature of cybersecurity attacks on national security installations in Guam. In a hearing of the ENR committee, King and Guam Governor \u201cLou\u201d Aflague Leon Guerrero discussed how energy transmission lines that are of critical importance to both military installations and civilian infrastructure across the island have been subjected to increasing levels of cyberattacks.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cDo the extensive U.S. National security facilities on Guam depend on the local grid, or do they have their own energy sources?\n\n\u201cOur Guam power authority is the only provider of energy to the whole island, including military bases,\u201d Governor Guerrero responded.\n\nSenator King clarified, \u201cSo, the security of that grid, you mentioned cyber, but also just the vulnerability to some kind of attack, is a very important issue. Not only for the people Guam but for our national security.\u201d\n\nGovernor Guerrero replied, \u201cAbsolutely. We have been working very closely with INDOPACOM [Indian-Pacific Command] and federal government to enhance the security for those grids and for our power transmission. One of the biggest resilient actions, I think, is putting the transmission lines underground. That's very key to hardening, and efficient, effective transmission of energy. But we have, yes, we are very aware, Senator, about cybersecurity.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you under assault?\u201d Senator King asked point blank. \u201cI know that the People's Republic of China realizes the strategic value of Guam. Are you experiencing cyber-attacks and sabotage, those kinds of things already?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, we have had some cyberattacks just recently,\u201d Governor Guerrero answered. \u201cThe federal government, the FBI, the CISA, and other various federal agencies are working very closely to monitor, investigate, and help us identify those attackers and, of course, try to get rid of them. But we have been, yes, we have had several, just recently, cyberattacks.\u201d\n\nSenator King agreed, \u201cSo that\u2019s a problem not only for the people of Guam, but also for national security because of its strategic importance.\u201d\n\nGovernor Guerrero confirmed, \u201cAbsolutely, yes. We have a very good relationship with the military in helping us to enforce and strengthen that.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has been uniquely focused on the impacts of energy transmission to both civilian and military infrastructure. He recently spoke about the rising costs of electric bills in Maine and the path forward to address these rising costs via transmission upgrades and battery storage for renewable energy sources. Senator King has also introduced legislation banning energy exports to China and other foreign adversaries. This legislation would ban the export of crude oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea to support America\u2019s national defense and help to keep energy costs lower for everyday Americans\n\nAs Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), Senator King is also recognized as one of Congress\u2019 leading experts on cybersecurity and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyber strategy that emphasizes layered cyber deterrence. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-20T06:35:38Z", "2026-06-20T06:37:01Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-colleagues-in-call-to-terminate-illegal-plans-for-triumphal-arch", "King Leads Colleagues in Call to Terminate Illegal Plans for \u201cTriumphal Arch\u201d", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Subcommittee on National Parks, is leading a group of his Congressional colleagues in objecting to the Trump Administration\u2019sproposed plan to illegally construct a \u201cTriumphal Arch\u201d without congressional approval. In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the Acting National Park Service (NPS) Director and the Superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, members of both the House and Senate demand the Administration suspend the plans for construction of the arch, as proposed on federal land, unless Administration receives congressional authorization as required by multiple federal laws.\n\n\u201cWe write as Ranking Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over the construction of monuments in the Nation\u2019s Capital to comment on the Assessment of Effects Report (Report) and draft Programmatic Agreement for the proposed Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle,\u201d the lawmakers began. \u201cWe oppose this project in the strongest terms and object to execution of the draft Programmatic Agreement. The National Park Service (NPS) is assessing the effects of an undertaking that Congress has never authorized and that two federal statutes squarely prohibit. Section 106 consultation cannot supply that missing authority, and no programmatic agreement can resolve the adverse effects of a project the NPS has no power to build.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe also object to the indefensibly truncated Section 106 comment process, which falls short of the law. The NPS has allowed ten days, June 5 to June 15, for public comment on a 250-foot undertaking that its own Report concludes would adversely affect historic properties across the monumental core, in a review the Report acknowledges is subject to the heightened duty of Section 110(f) of the National Historic Preservation Act to minimize harm to National Historic Landmarks to the maximum extent possible,\u201d the legislators criticized about the rushed comment period. \u201cTen days of public comment cannot discharge that duty.\u201d\n\n\u201cBecause Congress has enacted no laws authorizing this commemorative work, NPS must take the only course allowed by law: suspend the Section 106 process, decline to execute the Programmatic Agreement, issue no construction or special use permits, and undertake no ground disturbance at Memorial Circle unless and until Congress provides the express authorization these statutes require,\u201d the authors continued.\n\n\u201cIf the Administration believes the semiquincentennial warrants a permanent commemorative work in the capital, the path is open and well worn; it runs through Congress, as it has for every memorial since the Continental Congress approved the first, an equestrian statue of George Washington, in 1783.\u201d the Senators and Representatives concluded.\n\nIn addition to King, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), as well as Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ).\n\nAs a lifelong advocate for conservation and Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate\u2019s most prominent voices advocating for our national parks. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) \u201cHero\u201d Award. Earlier this year, Senator King and most of the authors of the letter to Secretary Burgum, filed a legal challenge to the Arch in federal court, stressing Congress\u2019s role in authorizing projects on public lands.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nWe write as Ranking Members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over the construction of monuments in the Nation\u2019s Capital to comment on the Assessment of Effects Report (Report) and draftProgrammatic Agreement for the proposed Triumphal Arch at Memorial Circle. We oppose this project in the strongest terms and object to execution of the draft Programmatic Agreement. The National Park Service (NPS) is assessing the effects of an undertaking that Congress has never authorized and that two federal statutes squarely prohibit. Section 106 consultation cannot supply that missing authority, and no programmatic agreement can resolve the adverse effects of a project the NPS has no power to build.\n\nMost fundamentally, the Commemorative Works Act1 provides that a commemorative work may be established on land administered bythe NPS in the District of Columbia and its environs \u201conly as specifically authorized by law.\u201d The proposed Arch meets every element ofthe Act\u2019s coverage: it is a monument designed to perpetuate in a permanent manner the memory of a significant element of American history, the Nation\u2019s 250th anniversary; it would stand on land the NPS administers within Lady Bird Johnson Park; and Memorial Circle lies within Area I of the map Congress wrote into the statute. Because the site is in Area I, the Act requires a second, separate approval,under which Congress must enact a law ratifying the Area I location within 150 days of the Secretary\u2019s notification, following a determination that the subject is of preeminent historical and lasting significance to the United States. Congress has enacted no such laws. Analysis we requested from the Congressional Research Service in January reached the same conclusion: absent these authorizations, construction of an arch in Memorial Circle would not comport with the Commemorative Works Act. Since 1986, everymemorial placed on federal land in the capital under the Act, more than forty in all, has come to Congress first. The World War II Memorial alone required two acts of Congress before the NPS issued a construction permit. The Arch\u2019s sponsor has sought no act at all.\n\nAdditionally, this proposed project independently violates 40 U.S.C. \u00a7 8106, which Congress enacted in 1912 and which provides that a building or structure \u201cshall not be erected on any reservation, park, or public grounds of the Federal Government in the District ofColumbia without express authority of Congress.\u201d The NPS proposal describes a 70,072-square-foot building on five levels, with security screening halls, a gallery floor that may include a caf\u00e9 and gift shop, five elevators, and an observation deck 161 feet above grade. That is a substantial building on NPS parkland in the District by any definition, and no express authority of Congress exists for it. Notably,neither the Report nor the draft Programmatic Agreement identifies any act of Congress authorizing the undertaking; the only authorityeither document invokes is Executive Order 14252. An executive order is not an act of Congress. It cannot substitute for the authorizationthat \u00a7 8106 and the Commemorative Works Act demand. We have presented these arguments to the United States District Court for theDistrict of Columbia as amici curiae in Lemmon v. Trump, No. 1:26-cv-00544, and we incorporate that brief here by reference.\n\nThe proposed Arch would also defy the height regime Congress has imposed on the capital for more than a century. The Height ofBuildings Act of 1910 (DC Height Act)2 caps buildings at 130 feet, with a single exception permitting 160 feet along one stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue. The Report states that the Arch\u2019s principal architectural component would rise approximately 166 feet, higher than the most generous limit anywhere in the Act, and that surmounting statuary would carry the total to approximately 250 feet. The Report further explains that shorter designs were evaluated and dismissed in part because only a 250-foot arch was considered representative of a 250th anniversary. Whatever the dubious merits of this arithmetic, Congress, not the Executive, decided in 1910 that Washington wouldremain a horizontal city, and Congress has preserved that judgment ever since. The Administration cannot claim a federal exemption from the DC Height Act with one hand while dispensing with the congressional authorization the Commemorative Works Act and \u00a7 8106 require with the other. A departure of this magnitude from the capital\u2019s settled vertical order is precisely the kind of decision the law reserves to Congress.\n\nBeyond its illegality, the Arch would deface one of the most deliberate and historic sightlines in America. The Report\u2019s own historic summary recounts that the McMillan Plan of 1901\u20131902 proposed Arlington Memorial Bridge and its axial landscape to link the plannedLincoln Memorial with Arlington House, the former home of Robert E. Lee, in a composition intended to \u201cphysically and symbolically unite North and South.\u201d The bridge, completed in 1932, joins the memorial to the President who preserved the Union with the home ofthe general who led the armies against it, and Memorial Circle is the hinge of that composition. The corridor commemorates reconciliation after the Civil War. It does not commemorate triumph, and a triumphal arch is its antithesis. The NPS\u2019s own findings confirm the damage: Appendix D concludes that the undertaking would adversely affect, directly and indirectly, Arlington MemorialBridge, whose 35-foot granite pylons \u201cwould be removed or diminished,\u201d along with the Memorial Avenue Corridor, Lady Bird Johnson Park, Arlington National Cemetery (including views from Arlington House and the Kennedy Gravesite to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument), Arlington House itself, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall, and the Washington Monument grounds. Witnesses at the 1986 hearings on the Commemorative Works Act cited the historic visual axes of the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery as a specific example of the sightlines the Act was enacted to protect. Even the most monumental schemes contemplated forColumbia Island in the 1920s, twin columns crowned with winged victories, were conceived as emblems of reunion, and they were abandoned in favor of the open composition that stands today. The Report\u2019s assurance that a 250-foot arch would frame this view ratherthan block it concedes the point: the view was never meant to be framed by anything.\n\nWe also object to the indefensibly truncated Section 106 comment process, which falls short of the law. The NPS has allowed ten days, June 5 to June 15, for public comment on a 250-foot undertaking that its own Report concludes would adversely affect historic properties across the monumental core, in a review the Report acknowledges is subject to the heightened duty of Section 110(f) of the NationalHistoric Preservation Act to minimize harm to National Historic Landmarks to the maximum extent possible. Ten days of public commentcannot discharge that duty. The draft Programmatic Agreement recites that an environmental assessment has been published and a finding of no significant impact issued, yet no such assessment or finding appears anywhere on the project\u2019s public planning record, where the only posted document is the Section 106 package itself. If those recitals describe actions already taken, the finding preceded any public review of the assessment; if they describe outcomes merely anticipated, the draft presumes the very conclusions this consultation exists toinform. The same draft recites, in the past tense, a consulting parties meeting dated June 15, the day this comment period closes, and it stillcontains placeholders for the number of historic resources affected. A consultation conducted on this schedule, toward a conclusion reached before it began, is not the process Congress prescribed.\n\nBecause Congress has enacted no laws authorizing this commemorative work, NPS must take the only course allowed by law: suspend theSection 106 process, decline to execute the Programmatic Agreement, issue no construction or special use permits, and undertake no ground disturbance at Memorial Circle unless and until Congress provides the express authorization these statutes require. Without such legal authorization, any officials who order this project forward would do so in their personal capacities, not the sovereign\u2019s. Where an officer\u2019s powers are limited by statute, the Supreme Court has held, action beyond those limits is \u201cindividual and not sovereign\u201d; it isultra vires and sovereign immunity offers it no shelter, and courts may grant relief against the officer personally.3 In other words, these officials would be answerable as individuals, and the exposure does not end with an injunction. Appropriated funds may be applied only to the objects for which Congress appropriated them, and an official who obligates funds for construction Congress has never authorized also risks violating the Anti-Deficiency Act, whose sanctions run against the responsible officer personally: suspension without pay, removal from office, and, for knowing and willful violations, criminal fines and imprisonment.4 Furthermore, firms engaged to carry outthe work bear a parallel risk, because a contractor\u2019s immunity from suit is derivative and holds only where its authority to carry out theproject was validly conferred and not exceeded.5 No valid authority has been conferred here. Every official who directs this work, and every firm that performs it, proceeds at their own peril.\n\nIf the Administration believes the semiquincentennial warrants a permanent commemorative work in the capital, the path is open and wellworn; it runs through Congress, as it has for every memorial since the Continental Congress approved the first, an equestrian statue of George Washington, in 1783.\n\nWe appreciate the NPS\u2019s consideration of these comments.", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-new-video-series-king-spotlights-joshua-chamberlains-legacy-as-americas-250th-birthday-approaches", "In New Video Series, King Spotlights Joshua Chamberlain\u2019s Legacy as America\u2019s 250th Birthday Approaches", "2026-06-17", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is highlighting the legacy of Joshua Chamberlain, the Maine educator, soldier, and statesman, whose leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg helped shape the course of American history. As part of historian Heather Cox Richardson\u2019s ongoing \u201cWe Are America\u201d series commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, King touts Chamberlain as \u201cMaine\u2019s greatest citizen\u201d and recognizes his contribution to our nation.\n\n\u201cJoshua Chamberlain\u2019s story reminds us that history is often shaped not by those who seek greatness, but by ordinary citizens who answer the call to serve,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cChamberlain\u2019s courage at Gettysburg helped preserve the United States, but his legacy extends far beyond the battlefield. He embodied a belief that citizenship carries both rights and responsibilities\u2014a lesson that remains as relevant today as it was more than 160 years ago. As we celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday, Chamberlain\u2019s life reminds us that each generation has a role to play in strengthening our democracy and shaping our nation\u2019s future.\u201d\n\nBefore becoming one of the Civil War\u2019s most celebrated military leaders, Chamberlain served as a professor at Bowdoin College. When the nation faced its greatest test, he left the classroom to join the Union Army, ultimately commanding the 20th Maine Regiment during the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg. Chamberlain\u2019s decision to lead a bayonet charge at Little Round Top helped secure a crucial Union position turned the momentum of that struggle and has since become one of the most enduring stories of courage and leadership in American history.", 1, "2026-06-18T06:41:00Z", "2026-06-18T06:43:25Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-cost-saving-health-bill-to-have-insurance-plans-cover-three-primary-care-visits", "King Introduces Cost-Saving Health Bill to Have Insurance Plans Cover Three Primary Care Visits", "2026-06-15", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing legislation to ensure Maine and American people have access to affordable primary care and mental and behavioral healthcare services, so they can proactively keep track of their mental and physical well-being. The Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Access Act would require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits, without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. This commonsense legislation would cover private insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and employer-sponsored plans.\n\nUnder existing law, private group health plans, regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), are not obligated to provide no-cost coverage for primary care, or mental and behavior health services. More than 180 million Americans receive health insurance coverage through employer-sponsored plans regulated by ERISA, who otherwise are not entitled to no or low-cost primary care. Over 46% of Maine people are covered through employer-sponsored plans.\n\n\u201cAffordable and accessible healthcare is essential to keeping Maine people healthy \u2013 it is also a prevention measure that saves taxpayer dollars in the long-run,\u201dsaid Senator King. \u201cThe cheapest medical procedure is the one that doesn\u2019t have to happen because the problem was caught early. This commonsense approach, making routine healthcare visits to primary care physicians, mental health professionals, and substance use counselors more accessible and cheaper for all Americans, is the first step in supporting the longevity and success of our communities, our family and our friends.\u201d\n\nSenator King has consistently worked to reduce healthcare costs for Maine people. The Inflation Reduction Act has laid the groundwork for \u2014 and in some cases already implemented \u2014 long-term changes in federal policy that will keep people healthier and deliver higher quality care at a lower cost to patients. These benefits are delivered while simultaneously reducing the deficit by finally allowing Medicare to negotiating bulk discounts on the price it pays for prescription drugs. This will save taxpayers hundreds-of-billions. His preventative proposal to provide all Medicare recipients with basic bath mats, in order to save the tens of millions of dollars that home falls costs Americans yearly, drew over ten million views in a viral moment last month.\n\nAdditionally, Senator King has worked to reduce prescription drug costs. He has previously introduced legislation to prohibit pharmaceutical drug manufacturers from claiming tax deductions for consumer advertising expenses and also introduced bipartisan legislation to require price transparency in prescription drug advertisements. Most recently, he introduced the bipartisan Physician Fee Stabilization Act to protect seniors\u2019 access to healthcare.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-16T06:53:21Z", "2026-06-16T06:55:02Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-question-white-houses-redirection-of-national-park-funds", "King, Colleagues Question White House\u2019s Redirection of National Park Funds", "2026-06-12", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Subcommittee on National Parks, is raising questions and seeking transparency from the Administration for redirecting taxpayer dollars away from national parks and toward vanity projects in the Washington, D.C. area that were not among the National Park Service\u2019s top construction priorities. In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the senators push for answers regarding how the redirected funds are being used. The oversight comes amidst a constant disregard for the Constitution which explicitly states that only the Congress has the power to appropriate funds.\n\nSome of the projects include repairing ornamental fountains, the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, covering statues in gold leaf, and others.\n\n\u201cVisitors to our national parks contribute millions of dollars to the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) budget by purchasing recreation passes and digital versions of the America the Beautiful Pass. The American people deserve transparency and a complete explanation of where their money is being directed,\u201d the Senators began.\n\n\u201cThis loss in revenue for our parks could have devastating effects on the future viability of these public natural treasures. As of the end of Fiscal Year 2025, NPS had a backlog of deferred maintenance projects totaling over $24.2 billion. Deteriorating roads, water systems, and other park facilities pose safety concerns for visitors and over time degrade the overall park experience. The redistribution of revenues to D.C. projects could mean multiple millions of dollars lost for individual national parks around the country,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cThe lack of transparency around awards for these beautification projects, as well as the loss in revenue meant for the maintenance and betterment of our national parks threatens the public\u2019s trust and the long-term integrity of our nation\u2019s most beloved public lands. Accordingly, as we investigate the potential waste, fraud, and abuse by the administration, we request a detailed explanation for where the revenue from digital passes is being directed and what percentage of this revenue is supporting the D.C. projects rather than supporting the maintenance of our public parks,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to King, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nAs a lifelong advocate for conservation and Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate\u2019s most prominent voices advocating for our national parks. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) \u201cHero\u201d Award. Since the creation of the LRF, Senator King has pushed park leaders to discuss funding maintenance efforts, maintaining a sufficient NPS workforce, and managing growing park visitation. Senator King\u2019s work on the National Parks Subcommittee is the culmination of more than four decades of work on land conservation efforts in Maine, including helping to establish the Land for Maine\u2019s Future program in 1987 and supporting extensive conservation projects during his time as Governor.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nWe write to inquire about the Trump administration\u2019s allocation of fee revenues paid by Americans for national park recreation passes and America the Beautiful digital passes to support beautification projects in Washington D.C. Visitors to our national parks contribute millions of dollars to the National Park Service\u2019s (NPS) budget by purchasing recreation passes and digital versions of the America the Beautiful Pass. The American people deserve transparency and a complete explanation of where their money is being directed.\n\nThe Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) grants public land management agencies the ability to collect and charge fees for accessing federal recreational lands. FLREA requires that, under normal circumstances, at least 80 percent of the recreation fees paid onsite by taxpayers must be retained and used at the national park where the fees are collected. The remaining 20 percent is to be available to the agency that collected it on an agency-wide basis. This enables the National Park Service to redistribute revenues from popular parks that charge entrance fees to those parks that do not charge fees. This formula helps ensure that fees benefit visitors by creating a funding stream for the upkeep and maintenance of our national parks.\n\nRather than distribute these fee revenues back to our national parks and public lands, it appears that the Department of the Interior has redirected fee revenues to pay for President Trump\u2019s vanity projects around Washington, D.C. Reporting reveals that NPS is spending $60 million in fees paid by national park visitors to repair nine ornamental fountains in Washington, D.C. This is in addition to another $7 million in fees that the administration is using to fund the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, which DOI recently increased to more than $13 million in a no bid contract. President Trump previously promised the Reflecting Pool project would only cost $1.8 million, and the huge spending increases suggests either incompetence or corruption in the project management. The Washington Post has reported that park fee revenues would no longer be available for some park superintendents to use on park upkeep.\n\nA separate analysis of government spending data conducted by NOTUS revealed that the Interior Department is spending a total of $95 million in taxpayer dollars on D.C. beautification projects close to the White House. The President\u2019s D.C. projects include a $5 million sole-source award to cover horse statues in nearly pure gold leaf and another $5 million sole-source award to repave the base of a marble statue. According to USASpending.gov, these particular awards are being drawn from DOI\u2019s Working Capital Fund.\n\nFurther, revenue from the sale of digital America the Beautiful Passes appears to be funding some of these projects, but without any guardrails or transparency. Most Americans would assume that the fees paid for the digital passes would be similarly distributed to parks throughout the country. However, unlike fees collected onsite, FLREA does not mandate a particular formula or means of distribution of revenues collected from digital sales to particular national parks or federal land units. Revenue from online sales is distributed according to agreements between the federal land agencies and with little statutory guardrails or congressional oversight.\n\nCredible sources with direct knowledge of these matters have now reported to Congress that much, if not all, fee revenue from online America the Beautiful Passes is being used to fund the President\u2019s \u201cbeautification\u201d projects in Washington. This means that this revenue is not being directed to national parks across the country. This loss in revenue for our parks could have devastating effects on the future viability of these public natural treasures. As of the end of Fiscal Year 2025, NPS had a backlog of deferred maintenance projects totaling over $24.2 billion. Deteriorating roads, water systems, and other park facilities pose safety concerns for visitors and over time degrade the overall park experience. The redistribution of revenues to D.C. projects could mean multiple millions of dollars lost for individual national parks around the country.\n\nDespite taxpayers\u2019 clear contributions to these projects, the administration has shielded these projects and the contracts from public view. For instance, President Trump awarded a $17.4 million no-bid contract for the repair of two Lafayette Park fountains in Washington, D.C., to the company currently building the White House ballroom. It is troubling that the administration has used sole-source contracts to bypass the fair and impartial open competition process that is typically required under federal law.\n\nConsequently, we ask that you provide responses to the following requests by June 23, 2026:\n\nIs any revenue from online sales of America the Beautiful passes being used to fund D.C. beautification projects? If so, what percentage of revenues from online sales are being used for these projects?\n\nWhat percentage of NPS\u2019s centralized FLREA fund for land management revenue funds is being supplied by online sales of electronic passes? What percentage of funding for the central pool is being supplied by for online sales of America the Beautiful passes versus on-site physical sales of these passes?\n\nFor sales of the interagency national park and federal recreation land passes (America the Beautiful pass), FLREA allows for the revenues to be distributed according to interagency agreement. Please provide any interagency agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other documentation outlining exactly how revenues from online sales of passes are being distributed.\n\nWhen were these interagency agreements last updated? And if after January 20, 2025, please provide the previous agreements.\n\nTo what extent are digital sales of passes displacing sales at specific park sites and displacing the revenue generated and retained at park sites for on-site sales? Please provide relevant data.\n\nHow much of NPS\u2019s recreation fee account has been used for D.C.-based projects since December 2025?\n\nHow much since January 2025?\n\nWhy did NPS repeatedly offer sole-source contracts without a competition process that is typically required under federal law?\n\nIf it is the case that the administration wanted this work done before July 4, why did the administration not offer the contract opportunity sooner?\n\nWhy did NPS reportedly direct contract recipients not to speak to the media? Has NPS issued a similar directive to recipients regarding communication with Congress?\n\nHas NPS calculated how much funding national park units outside of D.C. will lose or which backlogged projects will not be completed as a result of this redistribution of funds? Please provide this information.\n\nPlease provide all contracts awarded by DOI for projects in Washington, D.C., since December 1, 2025.\n\nThe lack of transparency around awards for these beautification projects, as well as the loss in revenue meant for the maintenance and betterment of our national parks threatens the public\u2019s trust and the long-term integrity of our nation\u2019s most beloved public lands. Accordingly, as we investigate the potential waste, fraud, and abuse by the administration, we request a detailed explanation for where the revenue from digital passes is being directed and what percentage of this revenue is supporting the D.C. projects rather than supporting the maintenance of our public parks. Thank you for your response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-13T06:32:19Z", "2026-06-13T06:34:27Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-bill-to-strengthen-rural-hospitals-passes-us-senate", "King Bill to Strengthen Rural Hospitals Passes U.S. Senate", "2026-06-11", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is celebrating Senate passage of bipartisan legislation that would allow hospitals to continue testing innovative hospital payment models under Medicare as they face unprecedented financial challenges in delivering care in rural areas. The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act, cosponsored by Senator King,would extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) for another five years, enabling rural hospitals to continue delivering quality care to the communities across Maine and the country.\n\nRCHD is a program that pays higher reimbursement rates for select small rural hospitals (with fewer than 51 beds) that otherwise do not qualify as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for covered Medicare inpatient hospital services. This program thus protects access to essential healthcare services for local communities in Maine by increasing the hospitals\u2019 financial viability and capacity.\n\n\u201cIn many rural communities, the local hospital is more than a health care provider\u2014it\u2019s a source of good-paying jobs, and often the difference between receiving care close to home or driving hours to get critical medical care,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cBut after the party-line passage of the Big Beautiful Bill last year resulted in shuttered hospitals and limited access to care, America\u2019s rural health care providers are fighting to keep their lights on and communities healthy. The Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act will strengthen access to care in underserved areas while giving hospitals greater financial stability. I\u2019m pleased the Senate has passed this bipartisan legislation to extend the RCHD, and I\u2019ll continue working to ensure rural hospitals in Maine and across the country have the resources they need to serve their communities.\u201d\n\nA 2025 report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found that participating RCHD hospitals significantly improved their Medicare margins and increased capital investments, resulting in stronger financial conditions that helped with staff retention. In addition to Maine, twelve other states have hospitals in the program: Colorado, Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Vermont, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Maine\u2019s two participating RCHD hospitals were previously noted as at risk of financial distress or closure due to the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill last year, making reauthorization of the RCHD even more important.\n\nThe bill now heads to the House of Representatives; the RCHD was previously extended in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (enacted in December 2020).\n\nJoining King on the legislation are U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Peter Welch (D-VT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), James Lankford (R-OK), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).\n\nSenator King has been a staunch supporter of rural healthcare outcomes and opportunities across Maine. Last year, he joined bipartisan legislation to expand telehealth access through Medicare, making it easier for patients to connect with their providers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-12T06:37:16Z", "2026-06-12T06:39:00Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-secures-confirmation-that-whistleblowers-protections-remain-intact-at-the-va", "King Secures Confirmation that Whistleblowers Protections Remain Intact at the VA", "2026-06-05", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), is pressing the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) for confirmation that whistleblowers will remain protected from retribution. In a committee hearing, King secured agreement from Michael Tierney, Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP), that whistleblower protections will be left intact at the VA under his leadership.\n\nThe commitment comes on the heels of reports that federal employees will soon be forced to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in an attempt to quell free speech and silence critics of the administration.\n\n\u201cMr. Tierney, I'm worried about sort of counter currents going on here. One is whistleblower protection, which you've talked about, and, investigating claims and protecting whistleblowers. And, you know, at the same time, last year, it was reported that the VA was requiring their employees to sign a non-disclosure agreement that did not include the legally required exclusion language for whistleblowers. Are you aware of that situation,\u201d said Senator King.\n\n\u201cThank you. Senator, I have read reports about that,\u201d replied Mr. Tierney.\n\n\u201cWell,[\u2026] OPM, just in the last week or so, has talked about [\u2026]new, non-disclosure agreements throughout the federal government. Have you reviewed the language that's being proposed?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cI have not Senator King, but I will 100% say that NDAs and whistleblower activity have no role together. [\u2026]Employees must feel 100% comfortable that they are not going to be restricted in reporting on bad conduct,\u201dsaid Mr. Tierney.\n\n\u201cI would hope as the legal counsel in this situation that you would inform whoever's setting up these NDAs that that language must be in there, that says this does not include whistleblower complaints and the protections are left intact. Will you commit to me that you'll do that?\u201dasked Senator King.\n\n\u201cYes, Senator, and it's also on OAWP's website. It's very clear that any whistleblower statute overrides any type of NDA language. And I agree with that. There's no role for NDA\u2019s and whistleblowers,\u201d confirmed Mr. Tierney.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. Additionally, King has repeatedly advocated for the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce. Earlier this year, he introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the VA to develop a long-term workforce strategy to improve outcomes at the VA. During a SVAC hearing in January, King pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins to release the VA contracts that he canceled, including those canceled in Maine, so that veterans are aware of potential impacts on patient care and benefits. Last year, he sent a letter to Secretary Doug Collins raising concerns about a leaked report that highlighted plans called for by Elon Musk\u2019s DOGE to cut 83,000 VA employees.\n\nEarlier this year, he was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-06T06:16:30Z", "2026-06-06T06:17:47Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bill-to-protect-veterans-from-scams-exploitation", "King Cosponsors Bill to Protect Veterans From Scams, Exploitation", "2026-06-04", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), is cosponsoring legislation to crack down on fraudulent activity that attempts to exploit veterans\u2019 hard-earned benefits. The Stopping Abuse, Fraud, and Exploitation by Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (SAFEGUARD) Veterans Act would clarify that only accredited individuals can assist veterans with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims, reinstating criminal penalties for unaccredited agents who charge veterans extortionate fees for assistance with VA disability claims\u2014a service provided for free by VA and accredited nonprofits. While federal law prohibits this activity, predatory actors have used loopholes to avoid prosecution, and federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce the law without criminal penalties.\n\n\u201cVeterans earned their benefits through service and sacrifice, and no one should be allowed to profit by scamming them out of what they've earned,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThese so-called \u2018claims sharks\u2019 prey on veterans at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. Our SAFEGUARD Veterans Act would close loopholes, strengthen enforcement, and better protect veterans so they can access the benefits they deserve without being exploited by bad actors.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the SAFEGUARD Veterans Act would:\n\nReestablish criminal penalties for unaccredited claims representatives scamming veterans;\n\nProhibit VA accreditation of any person found guilty of unauthorized solicitation, charging, or receiving compensation for assisting with VA benefit claims;\n\nClose loopholes exploited by unaccredited actors to skirt federal prohibitions on unaccredited agents assisting veterans with VA benefit claims;\n\nProhibit the use of robocall technology to obtain VA claims information\u2014targeting claim sharks who spam VA call centers to gain unauthorized access to veterans\u2019 claims information;\n\nRequire VA to establish a system to track accredited agents and where veterans can report scammers; and\n\nIncrease warnings to veterans about claim sharks and other predatory practices of unaccredited agents.\n\nJoining King on the legislation are U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Last year, he introduced the VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act that wouldprotect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-05T06:35:23Z", "2026-06-05T06:36:42Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/under-king-questioning-intelligence-nominee-undercuts-independence-claims", "Under King Questioning, Intelligence Nominee Undercuts \u201cIndependence\u201d Claims", "2026-06-03", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), questioned an administration nominee on his independence and integrity \u2013 stressing that the nation\u2019s most significant national security mistakes occur when \u201cbiased\u201d information is given to leaders. In a SSCI open hearing on the nomination of Mr. Michael Vance to be Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (I&R), Vance first stated that he would act follow the long tradition of independence \u2013void of political motivations \u2013 within the Intelligence and Research branch. However, when Senator King pushed him on credible facts, like if President Biden won the 2020 election, the nominee deflected thus undercutting his independent claims.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cMr. Vance, in your opening statement, you use the word independence 4 or 5 times, which I really appreciate. You use the phrase candid, timely, and free of political influence, integrity and independence. This isn't an academic concern. If you look back over the past 60 years, I think many of our foreign policy disasters that have cost American lives were based upon not faulty intelligence, but intelligence that was that was biased in favor of the views of the policymakers in charge at the time. Vietnam. Bay of Pigs. Iraq. Talk to me about the importance of the integrity of the analytic process and the willingness to tell the president of the United States, or that national director of national intelligence or this committee, something that we don't want to hear that is inconsistent with our, policy preference.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, thank you very much. For that very important question. Analytic integrity, a willingness to speak candidly about the content of the intelligence record is absolutely at the core of intelligence work,\u201d Vance responded. \u201cWe do policymakers no favors by telling them the things that they want to hear. We do them, I think a much greater service when we're able to speak authoritatively about the content of the intelligence record and to share that with them in a respectful and helpful way. I think one thing I can tell you about my own career is that in the course of our nearly 24 years of working in the federal government, one thing I've never been accused of is bending the intelligence record to suit a particular policy narrative. And it's certainly a part of the I&R is long standing organizational tradition, which is speaking candidly about the content of the record.\u201d\n\n\u201cA quick follow up: who won the presidential election in 2020?\u201d Senator King questioned.\n\nVance replied, \u201cSenator, thank you for the question. Joe Biden was certified as president of the United States in January 2021.\u201d\n\n\u201cDid he win the election?\u201d Senator King replied.\n\nVance followed up, \u201cSenator again, Joe Biden was certified as president of the United States in January 2021.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm uncomfortable with your discussion about independence if you won't answer that question directly,\u201d Senator King concluded firmly.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. He has repeatedly questioned Obama, Biden, and Trump Administration officials on their willingness to speak truth to power \u2013 even when the truth is politically inconvenient.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-04T06:38:12Z", "2026-06-04T06:39:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-secure-probe-into-flawed-misleading-tax-filing-program", "King, Colleagues Secure Probe into Flawed, Misleading Tax Filing Program", "2026-06-02", "2026", "2026-06", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 After urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to initiate a probe into the Free File program, a current partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and private tax preparation companies, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), secured confirmation from GAO Acting Managing Director David Pownerthat it will launch a new investigation into the problematic program. The probe comes amidst the Trump administration\u2019s decision to end the Direct File program \u2014 an effort to offer free direct online tax filing assistance to taxpayers without private company involvement.\n\nGAO previously evaluated the Free File program and highlighted the need for the government to develop new ways for lower- and middle-income Americans to file their taxes for free in April 2022. In response, the Biden administration created the Direct File program, which allowed Americans, including taxpayers in Maine, to file their tax returns online, for free with no hidden or surprise fees, and directly with the IRS.\n\n\u201cWe have serious concerns that Free File cannot efficiently, effectively, and securely serve the taxpayers who are statutorily entitled to free tax filing services,\u201d wrote the lawmakers to GAO on May 17th.\n\n\u201cGAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority. We anticipate that staff with the required skills will be available shortly to initiate an engagement,\u201d responded GAO.\n\nThe new GAO investigation will help evaluate the program\u2019s user experience, accessibility, accuracy, and costs, and address broader concerns surrounding Free File\u2019s underperformance and the difficulties that low- and middle- income Americans encounter when trying to truly file their taxes for free.\n\nSenator King has consistently advocated for tax fairness. Earlier this year, he introduced the Stop Corporations and High Earners from Avoiding Taxes and Enforce the Rules Strictly (Stop CHEATERS) Act which would restore and revitalize the IRS with additional funding for tax enforcement focused upon high-income tax evasion, technology operations support, systems modernization, and taxpayer services like free tax-payer assistance. In December last year, Senator King urged the Trump Administration to help Americans get more responsive service and expedited refunds by restoring staff and resources at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), the independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that helps taxpayers resolve issues within the IRS.\n\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 May 17th letter to GAO can be found here.\n\nGAO\u2019s response can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Ron Wyden\n\nRanking Member\n\nCommittee on Finance\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nThe Honorable Angus S. King, Jr.\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nThe Honorable Elizabeth Warren\n\nUnited States Senate\n\nThank you for your letter requesting that the Government Accountability Office update its April 2022 report, \"IRS Should Develop Additional Options for Taxpayers to File for Free.\"\n\nGAO accepts your request as work that is within the scope of its authority. We anticipate that staff with the required skills will be available shortly to initiate an engagement. Your request has been assigned to Mr. Cardell D. Johnson, Managing Director, Strategic Issues. Mr. Johnson or a member of his team will contact the staff points of contact to discuss the request, your needs, and the engagement objectives, scope, and methodology in accordance with GAO\u2019s protocols. As applicable, we will also be in contact with the cognizant Inspector General\u2019s office to ensure that we are not duplicating efforts. If an issue arises during this coordination, we will consult with you regarding its resolution.\n\nSincerely yours,\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-03T06:40:39Z", "2026-06-03T06:42:22Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/over-9-million-views-and-counting-king-goes-viral-for-promoting-money-saving-falls-prevention-measures", "Over 9 Million Views and Counting: King Goes Viral for Promoting Money-Saving Falls Prevention Measures", "2026-05-27", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has ignited a national conversation over a simple and common-sense way to prevent household injuries for older Americans while also saving taxpayers billions of dollars. In fact, his proposal advocating for bathmats is approaching nearly 10 million views across several social media platforms and garnering significant media discussion.\n\nIn a special hearing of the Senate Committee on Aging focused on falls prevention last week, Senator King used the simple, inexpensive example of a bathmat to show that a small investment of $11 per recipient could drastically decrease Medicare and Medicaid payouts associated with the repercussions of dangerous falls\n\n\u201cMuch like an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure, an $11 bathmat sure beats a $30,000 hospital trip,\u201d said Senator King of his trending status online. \u201cFalls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults in the U.S, and it\u2019s reassuring that so many people are drawn to a simple, cost-saving measure that can ensure the health and safety of older Americans. As Americans grow more concerned over the growing federal deficit, it\u2019s irresponsible to not be looking at upfront investments that save taxpayer dollars in the long run.\u201d\n\nDuring his opening remarks at last Wednesday\u2019s hearing\u2013 in the moment that attracted millions of viewers online \u2013 Senator King explained his thinking:\n\n\u201cThis is an $11 bathmat. I\u2019m the Johnny Appleseed of bathmats. Whenever I go to see somebody and they don\u2019t have one of these in their shower, I buy one and send it to them. Now, here is the proposal, though. Why doesn\u2019t [the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)] send one of these to every Medicare recipient in the country? I did the back-of-the-envelope calculation; it would pay for itself in about 9 months. This is $11. I suspect if CMS bought them by the millions, they could get a deal. And it would have a noticeable effect on the number of falls, a very simple idea. Along with that is, and I have some legislation along this line, allow CMS to spend money on prevention things like grab bars and bathmats. Right now, Medicare will pay for a broken hip, but they won\u2019t pay for a grab bar in your shower. That\u2019s just insane. And so, I think, Mr. Chairman, that\u2019s one of the things we need to do, is authorize, Medicare to get much more active in the prevention area. And to provide things like this, I\u2019m not kidding. Send out 20 or 30 million of these, and you will see the hundred-million-dollar cost of falls fall significantly,\u201d said Senator King.\n\nThe cost-benefit case for Senator King\u2019s proposal is straightforward: there are 69 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, meaning an $11 bath mat for each of them would cost $759 million dollars. The cost would also likely be much lower with a price break per bathmat for such a large order.\n\nAccording to a 2024 report from the National Institute of Health, Medicare spent over $50 billion dollars on direct medical expenses related to falls \u2013 with the average fall-related injury costing about $20,000. With as many as 80 percent of falls for older Americans occurring in the shower, and bath mats recommended by the National Institute on Aging, the savings to Medicare (and taxpayers) for falls avoided could be as high as $10 for every single dollar put into bathmats in the first year; the savings over three years would be in excess of 15 billion dollars.\n\nAs the Senate Aging hearing highlighted, falls happen for many reasons and no one-size fits all solution will prevent every older adult fall. Annual physicals, or annual wellness visits under Medicare, are an opportunity for providers to assess these changes and make clinical recommendations, but adding home modifications is another step in preventing falls. For example, Johns Hopkins University\u2019s CAPABLE model is a demonstrated falls prevention cost-saver that, through incorporating home modifications prevented about $30,000 in costs per recipient.\n\nPreventing falls is also about enabling adults to age comfortably in their homes, which is where most Americans want to age. At a time of affordability challenges and when inflation continues to rise, preventing falls is also cost saver for the average American and the taxpayers, with a private nursing home room cost now averaging more than $120,000 per year.\n\nAs an extension of his longtime focus on prevention efforts, Senator King has been leading the charge in the falls prevention space. Senator King introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan. The package also included the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-28T06:29:45Z", "2026-05-28T06:31:18Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-highlights-maine-resident-retired-us-coast-guard-chief-warrant-officer-in-memorial-day-episode-of-answering-the-call", "King Highlights Maine Resident, Retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer in Memorial Day Episode of \u2018Answering the Call\u2019", "2026-05-25", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of \u201cAnswering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices.\u201d In the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress\u2019 Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Leo J. Deon, Jr. of Industry, Maine.\n\nDeon served at various military posts in Massachusetts, Florida, Ohio, Guam, and New Jersey and worked at key sites like the World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks and the U.S. Capitol during the anthrax scare. In the interview, King asked about Deon\u2019s commitment to service and how he continues to provide for veterans in the Maine community long after his retirement from active duty.\n\n\u201cLeo J. Deon Jr. is one of the millions of Americans who selflessly served our country, putting himself in harm\u2019s way to protect Americans\u2014and American interests\u2014at home and abroad,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cHowever, his commitment to service and community extends far beyond the Coast Guard and his missions. Since moving to Maine, he has worked diligently to help Maine\u2019s veterans transition to civilian life. He began supporting veterans through Veteran\u2019s Inc., and eventually the Maine Department of Labor where he worked as a local veteran\u2019s employment representative. Even after retirement, Leo is involved in the Maine Military Community Network and serves on the board of Vet2Vet Maine. Leo represents the best Maine has to offer, and it\u2019s a privilege to help preserve his story in the Library of Congress.\u201d\n\nDeon was born and raised in Elbridge, a small town in western New York. Deon\u2019s interest in military service began at age 14 after he and a friend saw a Coast Guard commercial on late-night television. After graduating high school, the two joined the Coast Guard Buddy Program and were sent to basic training in Alameda, California.\n\nFollowing training, Deon served aboard the West Wind on the Great Lakes before attending navigation school in Florida. After graduating as a quartermaster, he was stationed aboard The Bibb in New Bedford, Massachusetts for three years. While waiting for his next deployment, he visited Maine and met his future wife at the Farmington Fair on September 21st, 1985. They married in December and moved to Guam, where Deon coordinated maritime search and rescue missions across the western Pacific between Guam and Hawaii.\n\nAfter being promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, Deon joined the National Strike Force at Fort Dix, New Jersey where he responded to the 9/11 terrorist attack. He spent six weeks at the World Trade Center overseeing the safety of emergency responders. He also assisted with the anthrax response in Washington, D.C and assisted in the response in the months after 9/11. After retiring from the Coast Guard, Deon moved to Maine where he worked for 12 years at UMaine Farmington. Missing the comradery of the military, he decided to support veterans through Veteran\u2019s Inc., and then transitioned to the Department of Labor, where he worked as a local veteran\u2019s employment representative. Even after his retirement, Deon remains involved in the Maine Military Community Network and serves on the board of Vet2Vet Maine.\n\nThe Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other members of Congress who\u2019ve participated in the project, and was honored by the then-Librarian of Congress on Veterans Day 2022 when she participated in a one-on-one interview with him to talk through his Maine conversations.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation to help reduce suicides among veterans by providing free secure firearm storage to veterans. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. Senator King has also introduced bipartisan legislation to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare.\n\nLast week, Senator King cosponsored the bipartisan Veterans\u2019 Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 which would increase certain veteran\u2019s benefits \u2013 including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children \u2013 to reflect rising everyday costs. King also has introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the VA workforce and improve outcomes for Veterans in the Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act. King has alsocosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act that would provide more combat-injured veterans with their full earned benefits. He also joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, in introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize a program that would expand access to veteran disability claims exams.\n\nYou can watch previous episodes of \u201cAnswering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices\u201d here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-26T06:27:29Z", "2026-05-26T06:29:16Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-memorial-day-senator-king-releases-statement-in-remembrance-of-fallen-service-members", "On Memorial Day, Senator King Releases Statement in Remembrance of Fallen Service Members", "2026-05-25", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, on Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committees (SVAC) released the following statement in remembrance of Maine\u2019s \u2013 and all of America\u2019s \u2013 fallen servicemembers:\n\n\u201cOne of our most solemn and important holidays in this country is Memorial Day. Sometimes we think of it as an opportunity to have a barbecue with our friends at the beginning of summer, but really it\u2019s a time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. Dating back to the Civil War, Memorial Day has become such an important and emotional time for so many people across our country.\n\n\u201cThis Memorial Day, have a great time with friends and family, but stop for a minute to remember the sacrifices of those who made it all possible.\n\n\u201cHappy Memorial Day and happy remembrance of all those who went before that made our lives what they are today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-26T06:27:29Z", "2026-05-26T06:29:16Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-calls-partisan-defense-budget-abdication-of-the-congresss-appropriations-responsibility", "King Calls Partisan Defense Budget \u201cAbdication of the Congress's Appropriations Responsibility\u201d", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns over the \u201cdangerous precedent\u201d being set by a partisan Department of Defense (DoD) budget that suggests bypassing the normal appropriations process. King argued that defense budgets should not circumvent congressional authority, since the defense budget request has been split into a bipartisan bill and a separate one that will be passed with only Republican engagement. Senator King then pressed the Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink on maintenance and military readiness.\n\nThis year\u2019s defense budget, as submitted by the Administration, is divided into two distinct segments, one, a conventional budget submission requiring analysis and approval by the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees and a second section\u2014representing more than 25% of the total budget\u2014to be passed in an entirely partisan reconciliation bill, thus bypassing the usual committee consideration and oversight.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cThere is no such thing as mandatory spending except in areas where there is a legal obligation to expend the money. Mandatory spending is a term of art in government budgeting, and it refers to principally Social Security and Medicare. There's nothing mandatory about part of your budget. It is being put in this budget as a part of reconciliation, which is a bypassing of the normal administration of appropriations and the Congress. It's an abdication of the Congress's appropriations responsibility, but it is also a usurpation of that.\u201d\n\nLater in the hearing, King discussed the concept of \u201cRight to Repair\u201d, securing an agreement that the Air Force will invest in their ability to save time and money by allowing maintainers to make their own parts and repair equipment that would otherwise have to be sent back to the manufacturer.\n\n\u201cMr. Secretary, one thing we have talked about frequently is the right to repair. There's been a lot of talk today about readiness. One way to improve readiness is to repair our aircraft -- I almost said on the fly-- on the ground without waiting for the manufacturer to send a part. In my view we should, A, buy the IP for any platform we buy and, B, we should have 3D printers in every hanger. I hope this is an area you will pursue with your procurement people. Because, as you know, readiness in the air force is an issue depending upon the airframe, 50%-60% readiness, sometimes higher sometimes lower. Do you agree with me that we really need to stress our ability to repair our own equipment and do so in a timely basis?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cAbsolutely, Senator. As we look at the programs going forward, that's a big focus, to make sure we have that right. To some degree back to our discussion already, some of these programs, the decisions made were trying to save costs wherever possible. Those kind of short-term decisions did not prove to be cost-effective long-term. We are trying to reverse a lot of that now and going forward. I believe this is an area with proposals with respect to congressional language associated with access to data rights. I think all those things are necessary to make sure that going down the road we have that right to do that,\u201d Secretary Meink confirmed.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Over the past year, Senator King has been outspoken against the politicization of the Department of Defense. Senator King has also been a strong advocate for the use of 3D printing. He previously supported a $2.8 million congressionally-directed spending award to UMaine for 3D print wind turbine blades, as well as the use of the 3D printer to create two logistics vessels for the U.S. Department of Defense.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-22T06:27:39Z", "2026-05-22T06:29:18Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-demand-answers-on-special-edition-politicized-us-passport-featuring-trumps-portrait", "King, Colleagues Demand Answers on Special-Edition, Politicized U.S. Passport Featuring Trump\u2019s Portrait", "2026-05-21", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined his colleagues in seeking answers on the special-edition, politicization of the official U.S. passport. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, King and his colleagues asked for information on the State Department\u2019s reported plans to issue 25,000 special passports featuring President Trump\u2019s portrait in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our deep concern regarding the State Department\u2019s reported plans to issue a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports featuring a picture of President Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation\u2019s founding. The U.S. passport has never\u2014and should not now\u2014feature an image of a sitting U.S. president. We ask you to halt these plans given the anti-democratic impact this decision will have,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cUsing our nation\u2019s semiquincentennial to elevate the profile of the current president risks turning a unifying national milestone into a vehicle for personal promotion.\u201d\n\nThe Senators also emphasized how unprecedented it would be to put a political figure\u2019s face on the U.S. passport and the potential waste of American taxpayers\u2019 dollars in the process.\n\n\u201cTo our knowledge, no country places the portrait of a sitting leader in its passport,\u201d they stressed. \u201cEven the most authoritarian and autocratic governments have avoided equating national identity to the sitting president in such a way.\u201d\n\nAlso on the letter are U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe write to express our deep concern regarding the State Department\u2019s reported plans to issue a limited number of specially designed U.S. passports featuring a picture of President Trump to commemorate the 250th anniversary of our nation\u2019s founding. The U.S. passport has never\u2014and should not now\u2014feature an image of a sitting U.S. president. We ask you to halt these plans given the anti-democratic impact this decision will have.\n\nUsing our nation\u2019s semiquincentennial to elevate the profile of the current president risks turning a unifying national milestone into a vehicle for personal promotion. The U.S. passport is the country\u2019s primary form of national identification, used daily by Americans of every political, cultural, and religious background. Its imagery has long reflected our shared national heritage through depictions of iconic landscapes and historic moments, not current political figures.\n\nThere is precedent for issuing commemorative passports to mark significant anniversaries. For example, the State Department issued a passport featuring the Liberty Bell for the bicentennial, and in 1993, released a special green passport honoring Benjamin Franklin and 200 years of U.S. consular service. These designs celebrated our shared national history rather than the image of a sitting head of state.\n\nTo our knowledge, no country places the portrait of a sitting leader in its passport. Even the most authoritarian and autocratic governments have avoided equating national identity to the sitting president in such a way.\n\nThe decision to produce a small run of reportedly only 25,000 passports featuring the president\u2019s image raises several questions:\n\nWhat is the production cost associated with redesigning and printing the 250th anniversary commemorative passport?\n\nWere alternative design options considered? If so, how was this option selected?\n\nReports indicate these passports will only be available at the Washington Passport Agency. What will the process be for obtaining one? Will applicants be able to opt-out of receiving this design?\n\nWe urge you to reconsider this plan. Proceeding would risk politicizing a document that is central to our national identity and could result in unnecessary and wasteful costs to the American taxpayer.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-22T06:27:39Z", "2026-05-22T06:29:18Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-outsourcing-shipbuilding-to-asia-worst-idea-since-the-red-sox-traded-babe-ruth", "King: Outsourcing Shipbuilding to Asia \u201cWorst Idea Since the Red Sox Traded Babe Ruth\u201d", "2026-05-19", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns over the possibility that the Navy is considering manufacturing ships outside of the United States. In a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing including Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, King advocated for maintaining America\u2019s domestic shipbuilding industry and resisted any efforts to build vessels outside of the country.\n\nThe hearing comes after former Secretary of the Navy John Phelan told reporters last month that the U.S. Navy may utilize foreign partners to manufacture new warships.\n\n\u201cThere is talk around the budget about building ships and even destroyers in Japan and Korea. That is the worst idea since the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees. It just doesn't make sense to be handing over that level of technology even to our allies. I have two reports I want to submit for the record. Both about substantial, even higher backlogs in Japan and Korean shipyards. Mr. Chairman, I would like, with permission to put these reports in the record,\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cWithout objection. Also, let's put the chart which you just referred to in the record also. Is there objection? Without objection, that is done,\u201d replied Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS).\n\n\u201cThe idea of building Naval Ships in a foreign shipyard I just don't understand. Admiral, every stitch of clothing you have on, is required to be made in the USA under the Barry amendment. If we require our sailors to wear shirts made in the USA but their ships can be made abroad, that doesn't make sense to me. I hope we can revisit this terrible idea of talking about building naval vessels abroad, both for the national security point of view but also rebuilding industrial base means providing the demand signal to allow our industrial base to reconstitute itself and meet the demand we are placing on them. I appreciate your work on this. Admiral, I certainly appreciate, you saw those incredible men and women at Bath that are doing -- building the most complex product in America. We want to strengthen their ability to do that, their productivity. That is happening.\u201d Senator King asked.\n\nEarlier in the hearing Senator King highlighted the importance of steady procurement for Bath Iron Works-built destroyers in an exchange with Acting Secretary Cao.\n\n\u201cWhat puzzles me is the budget that has been submitted only requests one. I don't really understand that. Particularly , as the chairman pointed out, [there] are going to be retirements coming in the future. If there are three retirements and we are only building one a year, we are going into the hole. Every hearing in this committee for the past six months talked about rebuilding the industrial base. The only way to rebuild the industrial base is with consistent demand signals\u2026\u201d Senator King opined.\n\nActing Secretary Cao responded, \u201cThank you for the question. I am with you. This is the backbone of the U.S. Fleet of the workforce. The fact is right now we have 80 ships on contract throughout the various yards. 59 in construction and Bath alone, sir, there are 11 destroyers that are on contract for Bath alone and seven under construction.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). During his nomination hearing, Senator King and former Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, discussed the importance of utilizing lessons from the private sector to maintain best practices for ship designing, building, and maintenance. Under the prior administration, Senator King also strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base \u2013 including Bath Iron Works\u2014to avoid a \u2018trough\u2019 between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-20T06:27:31Z", "2026-05-20T06:28:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/to-help-veterans-better-handle-inflation-king-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-annual-cost-of-living-increase", "To Help Veterans Better Handle Inflation, King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Provide Annual Cost-of-Living Increase", "2026-05-19", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), is cosponsoring legislation to ensure veterans benefits are adjusted to reflect the increasing cost of living. The Veterans\u2019 Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 would increase certain veteran\u2019s benefits \u2013 including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children \u2013 to reflect rising everyday costs. These changes would align the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with annual benefit increases provided by the Social Security Administration.\n\n\u201cVeterans and military families should not see the value of their earned benefits undercut by rising costs,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation helps ensure that disability compensation and survivor benefits keep pace with inflation and continue to provide stability for the men and women who served our country and the families who stand beside them.\u201d\n\nKing is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Boozman (R-AR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Banks (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-20T06:27:31Z", "2026-05-20T06:28:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-africa-commander-on-how-americas-reduction-in-soft-power-is-feeding-an-expansion-of-terrorism", "King Questions Africa Commander on How America\u2019s Reduction in Soft Power is Feeding an Expansion of Terrorism", "2026-05-15", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned a top military general on the reduction of non-military power in Africa and the impact that has had on the expansion of global terrorism. In his exchange with United States Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a hearing centered on the Department\u2019s Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2027, King argued that the cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have contributed to a resurgence of Al-Qaeda and ISIS affiliates intent on attacking the American homeland.\n\nGeneral Anderson testified that the African continent \u201chas become the center of gravity for global jihadism, with West Africa accounting for over 51 percent of global terror-related deaths in 2024.\u201d He is not alone in raising issues. The Council for Foreign Relations addressed this rise in terrorism and acknowledges that the removal of soft power instruments USAID in the Sahel region created a vacuum in which violent extremism can expand \u2013 including groups like Jama\u2019at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), and the Islamic State in the West African Province (ISWAP).\n\nSenator King began, \u201cGeneral Anderson, talk to me about the loss of soft power in Africa, our abandonment of USAID and what has happened with the Chinese and Russians that, my understanding is, are now filling that gap in addition to the other aggressive actions they are taking?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, I would say that we look at all facets of national power and how to bring those to bear on the continent to provide a security outcomes,\u201d General Anderson replied.\n\nSenator King then followed up, \u201cI think one facet of our national power off the table, unilaterally, for no apparent reason. The whim of Elon Musk.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, we work very closely with the state, commerce, and energy in order to look at the security requirements on the continent,\u201dGeneral Anderson replied. \u201cI have a foreign service commercial officer joining staff this summer along with a liaison from Department of Energy.\u201d\n\nSenator King asked again for a straight answer, \u201cIt is a fact is it not that we have essentially left all of the role that USAID played on the continent. That's gone? That\u2019s a yes or no question.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, there are still aid programs that are active on the continent,\u201d General Anderson said. \u201cThey are much reduced from what they were before.\u201d\n\n\u201cMuch reduced. That is a fair way of stating it,\u201d Senator King quipped. \u201cYou mentioned earlier that the Al Qaeda and ISIS have resurged in Africa. The term epicenter has been used several times of world terrorism. You said they have the will and intent to attack the homeland. My question is, do they have the capacity? Are they developing weapons, strategies, other ways to take that will and intent and turn it into something of imminent danger to the American people?\u201d\n\nGeneral Anderson concluded in agreement, \u201cSenator, that is the exact issue that's my top concern.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King has spoken on the Senator Floor several times to discuss the critical importance of USAID. He has also joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration\u2019s attempt to abolish USAID.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-16T06:05:00Z", "2026-05-16T06:06:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/togus-va-police-positions-still-under-review-not-cut", "Togus VA Police Positions Still Under Review, Not Cut", "2026-05-14", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns after the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) recently directed the Togus VA Medical Center in Maine to make cuts to vacant positions. Among those cut were vacant police officer positions, which the medical center had been prevented from filling while the positions underwent reclassification reviews by the VA. In a hearing of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), King asked VA Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration Mark Engelbaum about the unfairness of the VA forcing Togus to cut the positions when remaining vacant was due to a VA required review.\n\nAt the end of the discussion about the pending review, Senator King asked Mr. Engelbaum directly whether the positions in question had necessarily been lost, and Mr. Engelbaum confirmed that they had not.\n\nVA Police are armed and uniformed federal law enforcement officers within the VA responsible for the protection of VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) and other facilities such as Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Health Care Centers (HCCs), annexes, and other facilities operated\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. Additionally, King has repeatedly spoken out against cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce. Last month, he introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the VA to develop a long-term workforce strategy to improve outcomes at the VA. During a SVAC hearing in January, King pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins to release the VA contracts that he canceled, including those canceled in Maine, so that veterans are aware of potential impacts on patient care and benefits. Last year, he sent a letter to Secretary Doug Collins raising concerns about a leaked report that highlighted plans called for by Elon Musk\u2019s DOGE to cut 83,000 VA employees. Earlier this year, he was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-15T06:17:41Z", "2026-05-15T06:18:51Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-blasts-massive-cuts-to-forest-service", "King Blasts Massive Cuts to Forest Service", "2026-05-13", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns over the Administration\u2019s proposed cuts to forest research, partnerships with state and tribal authorities, and maintenance of public lands. In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) committee hearing, King pressed Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) Tom Schultz on the rationale behind cutting vital forest services, drawing a contrast with the President\u2019s White House ballroom project which could be receiving a billion dollars in a bill as soon as next week.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s planned cuts and reorganization of the USFS present serious challenges for logging, mining, and firefighting on 200 million acres of U.S. land, as well as thousands of trails and forests that millions of Americans visit every year.\n\n\u201cBudgets represent priorities, and it's fascinating to me that if you add together the cuts for service operations, forest and rangeland research, and state, private and tribal forestry, that pretty much exactly equals the proposed billion dollars in the reconciliation bill for the ballroom. So, the President's ballroom has a higher priority than forest research, state and tribal forestry, and Forest Service operations.\n\n\u201cSo, another way to look at it in perspective is that number represents 3/10 of 1% of the proposed increase in the defense budget this year to $1.5 trillion. So, I don't understand the priorities here. I just don't think it makes any sense\u2026your statement is that \u201cThe budget eliminates the account for state, private, and tribal forestry funding to ensure fiscal responsibility and to better balance the appropriate roles of federal and state government.\u201d That's a euphemism for we've got the gold mine, you get the shaft. You're shafting the states and the tribes. About ten times today you've used the word partnership. It ain't a partnership if one side has to give up everything, and the other side says, this is what we're going to do, and we're not going to give you any money to do it; why in the world are you seeing the basis for the partnership that you keep talking about? Why should anybody partner with you when, on the one hand, you're saying, well, here are our terms and conditions, but by the way, we're not going to give you the money that we've historically given you year after year? What's the justification for that?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cMr. Chairman, Mr. King, thanks for the question. So, in many cases, the partnerships that we have, they're mutually beneficial. That's how it works. So historically, the state and private funding was about $300 million. And that funding was supporting a lot of different programs for states. What we've seen over time, though, is that there is a need to take a look at those programs and how they're funded and the responsibility of the states and other partners,\u201d replied Mr. Schultz.\n\n\u201cSo, it's a zero value. It's going from $310 million to 0. So, you're saying there was no value in those expenditures whatsoever?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\nMr. Schultz replied, \u201cMr. Chairman, Senator King, when I mentioned I worked in state government for over 25 years before I came into this role, and there has always been concerns and questions about the appropriate role of the federal funding versus state funding. And we've seen different states address that differently. Some states have increased funding for the state and private programs through the state legislatures, and others have not. So, it's something that has been an ongoing issue and a discussion about how much of that burden shifted more states or the federal government.\n\n\u201cWell, how much of the burden? Your budget says zero is for the federal government as far as the states are concerned.\u201d Senator King asked.\n\nAs a lifelong advocate for conservation and Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate\u2019s most prominent voices advocating for conservation of public lands. He has been outspoken regarding cuts to National Parks and conservation services. Last month, in response to budget cuts and reorganization at the USFS, Senator King joined 33 of his Senate colleagues to raise concerns about harmful workforce reductions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-14T06:11:37Z", "2026-05-14T06:12:56Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-puzzled-by-massive-cuts-to-national-parks-budget", "King Critical of Massive Cuts to National Parks Budget", "2026-05-01", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) and Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee, criticized the Administration for drastic cuts to the National Park Service\u2019s budget. In an ENR committee hearing this week, King questioned Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on the rationale behind cutting the chronically-underfunded park service funding by a third when there is a history of a deferred maintenance backlog.\n\n\u201cLet's talk about the National Park Service. You and I talked about this before. [The] National Park Service budget is cut by one third. About $1 billion, which is one day of the Iran war just to put it in context. I don't understand why. In terms of the overall budget, in terms of what is being proposed for expenditures in many other areas, why are we cutting the most popular program the federal government runs? I understand there's always room for rightsizing and analysis of staffing and those kinds of things, but this is not a gotcha question. I'm puzzled why the administration would cut by one third the funding of one of the most important agencies that we have in terms of direct interface with the public? It\u2019s not just about people at the parks. They need the backup from the rest of the organization. Why such a major cut?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\nSecretary Burgum replied, \u201cYou said a number of things that were qualifying in there, but I think there is a belief that we can deliver the services that people desire and the outcomes people are looking for. One thing I found as governor and I\u2019m finding in this role is there is a high degree of interest in inputs and less interest in outcomes. If you said \u2018the goal is, Secretary, please deliver higher customer satisfaction at all of your parks. Go get it done as efficiently as you can, we want to have citizens very satisfied.\u2019 But it\u2019s never about satisfaction. It\u2019s always about the spending like a bigger input somehow implies a better outcome. I just don\u2019t believe that.\u201d\n\nSenator King replied, \u201cI would understand that, but has been an outside consultant's study of the staff size or internal study? If there has been such, I would certainly like to see it. You probably knew I was going to bring this chart. This is FTEs in the National Park Service going back 10 or 15 years. Here's where we are now. We were understaffed back then. The number we were working from was 23,000 and now we are down to about 15,000 I think. So this is where we are going. Again, if there is a study or a rational basis for the cuts being made, I just don't see it.\".\n\nLater in the exchange, Senator King raised concerns about massive staffing cuts and how those, coupled with the budget cuts, could harm visitor satisfaction in the future.\n\nAs a lifelong advocate for conservation and Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate\u2019s most prominent voices advocating for our national parks. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) \u201cHero\u201d Award. Since the creation of the LRF, Senator King has pushed park leaders to discuss funding maintenance efforts, maintaining a sufficient NPS workforce, and managing growing park visitation. Senator King\u2019s work on the National Parks Subcommittee is the culmination of more than four decades of work on land conservation efforts in Maine, including helping to establish the Land for Maine\u2019s Future program in 1987 and supporting extensive conservation projects during his time as Governor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-02T05:53:08Z", "2026-05-02T05:54:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-to-hegseth_-why-are-we-abandoning-ukraine", "King to Hegseth - \u201cWhy Are We Abandoning Ukraine?\u201d", "2026-05-01", "2026", "2026-05", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today raised concerns regarding the administration\u2019s decision to abandon Ukraine by zeroing out military and humanitarian support in this year\u2019s Department of Defense (DoD) budget despite widespread American support for continued financial and military assistance. In the annual SASC committee hearing on the DoD\u2019s fiscal year 2027 budget, King pressed the Under Secretary of Defense and Comptroller Jules Hurst, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, on the complete lack of resources being provided to Ukraine as the countrycontinues to defend itself against Russia\u2019s unprovoked and bloody aggression. The small democratic nation has defended itself over the course of the four year war with the help of American equipment, training, and funding.\n\n\u201cOne of the factors of this budget that has not gotten any publicity is there is zero funding for Ukraine. That is correct, Mr. Hurst?\u201dasked Senator King.\n\nMr. Hurst replied, \u201cThat is correct. There is no USAI funding in this budget.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere was $400 million appropriated last year by a bipartisan bicameral act of Congress. What has become of that money? My understanding is not a dollar of it has been dispersed,\u201d Senator King questioned.\n\n\u201cIt was released very recently. We got these funds, I believe, in March. It takes time for the funds to flow through department, but it\u2019s going to be put to work very shortly. We are going to work with the UCOM to make sure we use these funds in the most appropriate way possible,\u201d Mr. Hurst answered..\n\n\u201cThis [chart] indicates what has happened to our support for Ukraine over the years. The orange bars are US support; the blue is Europe. As you can see, Europe is 99% in the year 2026, same thing with humanitarian and other aid to Ukraine,\u201dSenator King continued. \u201cAnd yet, this is, I believe, an existential struggle for the future of democracy where we had an aggressive country invade a neighboring country without any justification whatsoever. By the way, that invading country is the major winner so far of the war in Iran. Estimates are [Russia has] gotten $40 to $80 billion of additional revenues from oil and the relief of sanctions as a result of the war in Iran. Secretary Hegseth, why are we abandoning Ukraine?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf you would hold that chart back up, I think that is a beautiful chart. That's exactly what we want. We want Europe stepping up and shouldering the burden. They are rich countries worth $20 trillion versus an economy of $2 trillion. Europe can step up, and they have through our [Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL)] initiative and European command. That's exactly what the American people want to see, other countries stepping up. If that is that important to Europe, which I understand why it is, and the incursion of Russia and the bravery of the Ukrainians, then European countries should pay for it. That is exactly what that chart says, and that is the Administration policy,\u201d Secretary Hegseth answered.\n\n\u201cWe don't have any interest in what happens in Ukraine, is what you\u2019re saying? It\u2019s only the Europeans?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\nSecretary Hegseth replied, \u201cI\u2019m saying the threat is far closer to rich and capable countries in Europe and they should step up to lead the charge; and that is why that chart is a good thing to see.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey have stepped up. But I think the American people should understand that we have stepped back,\u201d Senator King finished.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King has been a vocal supporter for Ukraine, voting in support of bipartisan legislation that would help Ukraine defend itself. In the days prior to that vote, he spoke on the Senate floor to his colleague that Ukraine\u2019s fight is a \u201cbattle for the soul of Democracy in the world.\u201d In January 2023, Senator King travelled with Armed Services Chairmen Jack Reed (D-R) in a visit to meet Ukraine President Vladimir Zelenskyy in Kiev.\n\n###", 1, "2026-05-02T05:53:08Z", "2026-05-02T05:54:44Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-iran-war-proving-value-of-diversifying-energy-sources", "King: Iran War Proving Value of Diversifying Energy Sources", "2026-04-29", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), today argued that current\u2014and rising\u2014oil and gas prices due to the war in Iran are demonstrating the economic value of a more diverse energy strategy that includes renewables. In a committee hearing, King pressed Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on the importance of expanding American energy resilience by increasing wind and solar energy production to better shield Americans from worldwide spikes in oil prices,\n\n\u201cEnergy dominance. You use that term 3 or 4 times. If $4.30 gas and almost $6 diesel is energy dominance, I'd rather go back to what we had before. What's going on now, because of the illegal war in Iran, is drastically affecting our national security and will continue to do so in affecting the people of America. And it seems to me that the situation we're in now is a real lesson in the importance of weaning ourselves from fossil fuels, because we can produce all the oil we want, but as you well know, oil is a worldwide commodity and the price is not set in Maine or North Dakota or Texas. It's set on a worldwide basis, and that's exactly what we're suffering from now. So, I believe and I would like your view, that a more diverse energy source, particularly one that's based on resources that we control rather than a worldwide price, would be beneficial to the country. Your thoughts?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\nSecretary Burgum replied, \u201cWell, I think having secure supply chains is essential. But the idea that somehow, going down a path of wind and solar makes things more affordable is just not factually true.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy is that not? Wind and solar are the lowest cost energy sources today by a factor of about two,\u201d Senator King pushed back.\n\nSecretary Burgum answered, \u201cBut I disagree, because we have no ability to dispatch wind and solar. And so we, if you're going to have wind and solar as part of the mix and the over rotation to those and then prematurely shutting down baseload. Every state that has a renewable target has electricity prices about 50% higher.\u201d\n\n\u201cNobody is saying shut down renewable or baseload prematurely,\u201d said Senator King.\n\nLater in the exchange, Senator King added that Burgum\u2019s opposition to renewables lies in stark contrast to his home state of North Dakota, where wind power accounts for 35 percent of its energy supply \u2013 allowing residents a cushion from the instability of global oil and natural gas markets.\n\nSenator King is a national leader in advocating for climate solutions that support Maine communities and has been one of the Senate\u2019s most vocal advocates for improving renewable energy technologies and development as a way to unlock America\u2019s clean energy future. Last week, he criticized the Administration for creating uncertainty by canceling approved clean energy projects \u2013 especially ones officially permitted and under construction. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to unlocking the promise of clean energy development opportunities. He has stressed the importance of streamlining and speeding project timelines while maintaining environmental standards to the Secretaries of Energy and Interior.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-30T06:05:15Z", "2026-04-30T06:07:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/moran-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-strengthen-va-workforce-improve-outcomes-for-veterans", "King, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen VA Workforce, Improve Outcomes for Veterans", "2026-04-29", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), both members of the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, are introducing bipartisan legislation that would require the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) to develop a long-term workforce strategy to improve outcomes at the VA. The Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act would direct the VA to develop, maintain, and provide Congress with a strategic plan that aligns staffing levels with current and projected demand for VA services, down to the local level, and in accordance with industry best practices.\n\nThe VA would further be required to set goals and strategies to improve the productivity of the workforce, recruit and retain veterans, military spouses, veteran caregivers and survivors to fulfill staffing needs and reduce the time it takes to hire and onboard new employees. This legislation also requires VA to notify Congress in advance of significant staffing changes or a reduction in force, with a detailed justification of potential impacts. This comes on the heels of the Department of Government Efficiency\u2019s (DOGE) indiscriminate cuts last year to the VA workforce and its services.\n\n\u201cOur veterans served this country with grit and class, and now it is our turn to return the favor and provide access to the high-quality care and benefits they have rightly earned,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe current workforce shortage at the VA is an unforced error that we must now expeditiously work to mitigate. The bipartisan Optimizing the VA Workforce for Veterans Act would require the VA to produce a long-term workforce strategy that would improve outcomes for our veterans \u2013 going down to the most local level, matching industry best practices, and taking into account the current and future demand for services. I am grateful to work alongside my colleague and friend, Senator Moran, to continue prioritizing our American heroes.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve a VA workforce that is adequately staffed to deliver the healthcare and benefits they have earned through service,\u201d said Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Moran. \u201cBy creating a mandatory workforce strategy focused on improved outcomes, this legislation will help the department more effectively recruit, retain and manage its workforce. Through this legislation, VA will be better equipped to provide veterans, their spouses, dependents and survivors with the timely, high-quality health care and benefits they deserve. I appreciate Sen. King for joining me on this legislation, and I look forward to working toward its passage.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans deserve a VA that works for them, delivering the benefits and services that will make a meaningful difference in their lives after service,\u201d said Joseph R. Chenelly, National Executive Director, AMVETS. \u201cVA\u2019s workforce strategy must track with the needs of veterans across the country in order for VA to meet its mission. I thank Chairman Moran and Senator King for introducing this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) strongly supports Senator Moran and King\u2019s Optimizing the Department of Veterans Affairs Workforce bill,\u201d said Michelle Salazar-Rodriguez, NOVA President. \u201cWe commend the requirement for a comprehensive five-year strategic human capital plan. With this plan, the legislation aims to ensure Veterans and their families receive timely access to high-quality care. By calling for thorough assessments of current and projected demand for each VA benefit and service, along with a workforce gap analysis aligned with industry best practices, the bill takes a thoughtful and forward-thinking approach to building a stronger VA workforce. As nurses who care for Veterans, we believe this balanced approach will benefit Veterans and VA staff and urge Congress to pass the bill quickly.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. Additionally, King has repeatedly spoken out against cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce. During a SVAC hearing in January, King pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins to release the VA contracts that he canceled, including those canceled in Maine, so that veterans are aware of potential impacts on patient care and benefits. Last year, he sent a letter to Secretary Doug Collins raising concerns about a leaked report that highlighted plans called for by Elon Musk\u2019s DOGE to cut 83,000 VA employees. Earlier this year, he was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-30T06:05:15Z", "2026-04-30T06:07:09Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-raise-concerns-about-us-forest-service-reorganization-cuts-to-services", "King, Colleagues Raise Concerns about U.S. Forest Service Reorganization, Cuts to Services", "2026-04-24", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, is joining 33 of his senate colleagues to raise concerns about harmful workforce reductions at the United States Forest Service (USFS). In a to USFS Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden, the Senators expressed their disapproval of the announced reorganization of the USFS which would amount to cuts for forestry research and public and private forest management.\n\n\u201cWe write with strong concerns regarding the announced reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS),\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cWhile we have expressed support for improving the operations of the USFS, we believe the reorganization announced on March 31, 2026, may lead to additional capacity and workforce reductions throughout the agency, harming its ability to deliver on its mission.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe USFS is charged with managing the 193 million-acre National Forest System (NFS), performing world-class forestry research, and delivering forestry assistance to improve the management of the more than 800 million acres of public and private forestlands across the country, including over 141 million acres of urban forests in our cities and towns,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cAfter the deep cuts over the previous year, a 2025 survey by the Partnership for Public Service found that the USFS was significantly worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs and providing quality service than a year earlier. In addition, the sweeping changes being proposed \u2013 potentially impacting more than 6,500 employees \u2013 combined with the thousands of employees already lost through deferred resignation programs threatens to further erode the agency\u2019s ability to complete its mission.\u201d\n\nSenator King is seen as a national leader in efforts to support Maine\u2019s forest products industry. King previously introduced the bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act to help train the next generation of Maine loggers and the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act to improve forest health and support Maine\u2019s rural economy. He also introduced legislation to establish a \u201cFuture of Forests\u201d panel tasked with making recommendations to secure the health of America\u2019s forests. Senators King was key in establishing the Forest Opportunity Roadmap Maine (FOR/ME) Initiative, a participant-led initiative that is helping to diversify the state\u2019s wood products businesses, attract investments, support research and development, and develop greater economic prosperity for rural communities impacted by mill closures.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kristin Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Deputy Secretary Vaden:\n\nWe write with strong concerns regarding the announced reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). While we have expressed support for improving the operations of the USFS, we believe the reorganization announced on March 31, 2026, may lead to additional capacity and workforce reductions throughout the agency, harming its ability to deliver on its mission.\n\nThe USFS is charged with managing the 193 million-acre National Forest System (NFS), performing world-class forestry research, and delivering forestry assistance to improve the management of the more than 800 million acres of public and private forestlands across the country, including over 141 million acres of urban forests in our cities and towns. After the deep cuts over the previous year, a 2025 survey by the Partnership for Public Service found that the USFS was significantly worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs and providing quality service than a year earlier. In addition, the sweeping changes being proposed \u2013 potentially impacting more than 6,500 employees \u2013 combined with the thousands of employees already lost through deferred resignation programs threatens to further erode the agency\u2019s ability to complete its mission.\n\nGiven changes to the USFS in the last year and its ongoing, critical work, it is unclear how the announced reorganization will improve the USFS\u2019s ability to deliver on its statutory responsibilities, including mitigating wildfire risk, executing forest and watershed restoration projects, and increasing trail maintenance. In addition, given the potential for an active and extreme wildfire season the USFS should prioritize preparing for such a wildfire season rather than hastily executing a reorganization that will impact large swaths of its agency. It is likely that this sort of disruption will have lasting impacts on forest management as a whole, and wildfire preparedness and response, specifically.\n\nThis reorganization also jeopardizes the world-class research the USFS produces to improve management of the NFS, assist public and private forest landowners with insect and disease outbreaks, and spur innovative approaches to managing wildfire. The hundreds of USFS Research & Development (R&D) scientists and experienced staff located at the 57 R&D facilities the administration plans to close need to be on the ground in geographically-based federal research facilities. For example, it is impossible to study loblolly pine, redwoods, and 'ohi'a lehua outside of their ecosystems. While the USFS indicated within the proposed reorganization that the NFS and R&D mission areas will be reconfigured but largely maintained, the President\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposes eliminating funding for both these functions of the USFS. For example, the reorganization plan proposes closing 57 R&D facilities while maintaining 20, yet the President\u2019s Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposes fully eliminating funding for USFS R&D altogether. These conflicting proposals only create confusion and underscore the chaos the reorganization could have on critical research across the country.\n\nGiven the importance of this issue, we request responses to each of the following questions no later than May 1, 2026.\n\nHas the USDA analyzed how the announced USFS reorganization will improve the USFS\u2019s ability to plan and execute timber sales, issue special use permits, and engage in public-facing recreation activities like the issuance of recreation passes?\n\nWhat is the USDA timeline for implementing the multiple prongs of the USFS reorganization announced on March 31? Please provide a detailed description of the various steps and required notices when all the changes are expected to occur.\n\nPlease describe the notification USFS afforded unions representing USFS employees subject to reorganization and relocation and how the USFS is considering collective bargaining agreements in planning and executing the USFS reorganization.\n\nWhat data-based criteria did the USDA use to analyze the selection of a new USFS Headquarters in Salt Lake City?\n\nWill staff in Washington Office positions that already report to a different duty station be required to physically relocate to Salt Lake City?\n\nOf the Washington Office and Regional Office (RO) staff subject to reorganization, how many will be reorganized under State Offices, the Operations Service Centers, and individual forest units? Please provide numbers for each.\n\nUnder the reorganization plan, the Region 6 (Portland, OR), Region 8 (Atlanta, GA), and Region 9 (Milwaukee, WI) offices will not be converted to Operations Service Centers or State Offices. How will staff assigned to these ROs be relocated?\n\nWhat will be the function of the new State Offices and Operations Service Centers? Does the USFS have a plan to communicate the functions of these offices to avoid confusion among USFS staff and nonfederal partners regarding these new offices?\n\nThe March 31 announcement indicates the USFS will keep 20 R&D facilities open, close 57 R&D facilities, and the USFS is further evaluating whether to keep open or close the remaining R&D facilities not on either list.\n\nWhat criteria is the USFS using to determine whether these remaining R&D facilities should be open or closed?\n\nPlease provide a list of the remaining R&D facilities that are not subject to closure as part of the March 31 announcement.\n\nFor staff in the 57 R&D facilities subject to closure, how will the USFS determine where they will be transferred? Will R&D facilities slated for closure be reassessed for remaining open if suitable space cannot be found in appropriate geographic areas for the research activities?\n\nWhat specific steps are being taken to ensure that R&D work is not interrupted because of these closures?\n\nThe USFS serves a key role in supporting local economies, stewarding natural resources, and performing world-class research. The workforce reductions over the last year have already diminished the USFS\u2019s ability to deliver its mission and the recently announced USFS reorganization could further exacerbate those losses. We look forward to your timely response on this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-25T05:38:36Z", "2026-04-25T05:40:21Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-demands-answers-from-usps-for-failing-to-pay-rockland-contractor-more-than-349000-jeopardizing-mail-service-for-maine-island-communities", "Maine Delegation Demands Answers from USPS for Failing to Pay Rockland Contractor More Than $349,000, Jeopardizing Mail Service for Maine Island Communities", "2026-04-24", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation is calling on the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to immediately resolve its payment issue with a Maine contractor that serves island communities. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden condemned USPS for failing to pay the Rockland-based Penobscot Island Air (PIA) more than $349,000 for mail-delivery service and demanded answers about why USPS has, according to PIA, repeatedly failed to make timely payments for several years. After PIA announced it would not make its scheduled deliveries on Tuesday in protest, USPS agreed Wednesday to immediately pay 25% of the outstanding balance, and PIA promptly resumed service. But questions and concerns still remain.\n\n\u201cFor decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine\u2019s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide clarification on how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future,\u201d the delegation wrote. \u201cFrom Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities.\u201d\n\nUSPS\u2019s failure to pay PIA is the latest example of recent disruptions to mail delivery in Maine. Over the past several months, delegation offices have received hundreds of complaints from constituents about delayed and inconsistent deliveries\u2014particularly in rural communities.\n\nTogether, these issues underscore the importance of ensuring that USPS has the necessary resources and staff to fulfill its mission of providing all Americans with reliable, affordable, and universal mail service\u2014and that its agreements with contractors like PIA are fully honored.\n\nThe letter is available here and is copied below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Postmaster General Steiner:\n\nWe write to seek clarification regarding reports of Penobscot Island Air\u2019s (PIA) payment issues with the United States Postal Service (USPS). For decades, Penobscot Island Air has helped the USPS deliver essential mail to Maine\u2019s island residents. We urge you to immediately resolve the outstanding back payments and provide an explanation of how these payment lapses occurred, as well as how delays can be prevented in the future.\n\nFrom Matinicus to Vinalhaven, island communities in Maine rely on the USPS to pay bills, receive life-saving medications, and stay connected with friends and family. Penobscot Island Air is an indispensable bridge between the mainland and islands that helps the Postal Service fulfill its promise of reaching every American, even in the most rural communities.\n\nOn April 21, Penobscot Island Air alerted island residents that they would be halting mail deliveries for the day due to the back payments they are owed by the USPS. According to PIA, these back payments amount to over $349,000. While PIA had received partial payments for the balance, the last payment they received was on March 13. They had also made numerous attempts to resolve these payment issues through direct outreach to the USPS. The amount owed, the ongoing delay in payment, and the failure to resolve these issues in a timely fashion are alarming and unacceptable.\n\nMail deliveries for the USPS account for almost a fifth of PIA\u2019s annual revenue. We are concerned that PIA\u2019s operations will continue to be disrupted without reliable processing of this critical stream of income. The USPS cannot afford to jeopardize a dedicated, decades-long partnership, and Maine island residents cannot afford any discontinuation in service, even for a few days.\n\nPenobscot Island Air is one of many contractors in the state that deliver mail to island communities by air and sea. This incident raises concerns over whether the USPS is faithfully fulfilling the terms of all these contracts.\n\nWhile it is promising to hear that the USPS has reached a partial payment agreement to pay Penobscot Island Air about 25% of its outstanding balance, we need greater assurance from the USPS that Maine island contractors will receive fair and prompt compensation for the services they provide. We respectfully request detailed answers to the following questions and ask that USPS continue to work urgently with Penobscot Island Air to resolve these back payments immediately and ensure that future payment processing is timely and consistent.\n\nWhat is the current balance of back payments USPS owes to Penobscot Island Air?\n\nCan you provide a timeline of the USPS payments to PIA over the past three years, including when payments were due and when they were paid?\n\nCan you provide an explanation for these delays in payment to PIA?\n\nWhat specific steps will the USPS take to prevent lapses in payment from occurring in the future and to ensure that payment is processed in a timely and consistent manner?\n\nCan you provide a list of all the USPS contractors in Maine who deliver mail to island communities?\n\nDo any other island contractors have balances owed to them by the USPS?\n\nThank you for your attention to this time-sensitive issue. We look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-25T05:38:36Z", "2026-04-25T05:40:21Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-statement-upon-senates-passage-of-ice-cbp-funding", "Senator King Statement Upon Senate\u2019s Passage of ICE, CBP Funding", "2026-04-23", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement after the Senate passed funding for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a 50-48 vote:\n\n\u201cThe United States Senate just passed a funding bill for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without any meaningful reforms to the conduct of either. It is a shame that it took nearly four months to pass this bill, and even more of an embarrassment that this bill passed on a partisan vote after several attempts at good faith bipartisan negotiations to put in place standards of conduct across federal law enforcement agencies.\n\n\u201cThe recent well-documented conduct of ICE has clearly and repeatedly violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments \u2013 with deeply unfortunate results. In nearly every other law enforcement agency across our nation, the standards of conduct include no masks, name and badge number identification, judicial warrants, required body cameras, training and hiring standards for sensitive locations, and no racial profiling. Maine people, as well as Minnesotans, know too well the abuses that can come from the current lack of such guidelines and restrictions.\n\n\u201cIt was the failure to adopt any reasonable reforms that compelled me to vote against this irresponsible bill.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been outspoken in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and CBP in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE\u2019s activities in Maine and across the country\u2014again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Most recently, King called on former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for a detailed explanation and update about ICE\u2019s presence in Maine, including what their mission was and who they were targeting. When given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard \u2013 holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations \u2013 Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-24T05:51:25Z", "2026-04-24T05:53:00Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-push-back-against-executive-order-positioning-usps-as-elections-regulator", "King, Colleagues Push Back Against Executive Order Positioning USPS as Elections Regulator", "2026-04-22", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and 37 of his Senate colleagues are demanding the United States Postal Service (USPS) uphold existing federal law \u2013 and its own rulemaking and commitments \u2013 to best protect Americans\u2019 constitutional right to vote. In a letter to the Postmaster General and Board of Governors of the USPS, the Senators demand that USPS follow existing federal law instead of an executive order signed by President Trump that would direct the USPS to create and maintain \u201cMail-in Absentee Participations Lists\u201d that would determine which voters are eligible to receive and cast absentee ballots through the mail.\n\nThe order attempts to turn the USPS into an election administrator and regulator, when it is supposed to be a nonpartisan agency whose only priority is to deliver the mail. This directive would have a chilling effect on the eligibility of American voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote by imposing unnecessary barriers and would corrupt the independent mission of the USPS by giving the agency the authority to determine who can vote by mail.\n\n\u201cThe Constitution provides no role for the President in regulating federal elections. And no statute delegates to the President any authority to regulate elections or voter eligibility either, including via USPS,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cBy issuing the executive order, however, the President is attempting to unconstitutionally consolidate power to personally regulate American elections.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cThese directives clearly infringe on the states\u2019 and Congress\u2019 constitutional role to regulate the manner in which federal elections are held and would deny eligible voters their ability to cast a ballot. The prohibition on transmitting ballots from individuals not on the absentee voter list acts as a ban on vote-by-mail for any state unwilling to share its absentee voter lists with USPS or any voter who happens to be excluded from the list. Furthermore, under this executive order, it is the Postal Service who will have the final say about whether to transmit a voter\u2019s absentee ballots to election officials\u2014granting USPS the ability to disenfranchise American voters.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor over 250 years, the Postal Service has bound our country together with a constitutionally recognized mail service, and for 250 years, the American people have democratically elected their leaders. Any attempt to effectuate this order would violate the Constitution, break these bonds, and threaten the foundations of American democracy,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nSenator King has been a vocal supporter of the USPS\u2019s critical role in American society and in Maine, one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most rural states that relies heavily on the services provided by the USPS to receive prescriptions and other necessities. Earlier this year, he joined his Senate colleagues on a letter to USPS Postmaster General David Steiner pushing to protect the timely delivery of mail across the nation\u2014resisting a change that would make it harder for Maine people to access basic services like prescription drug deliveries, bill payments, and votes cast by mail. Last year, he sent a letter to then-Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, urging him to stop any changes to the USPS service standards that would result in job losses and further degrade mail delivery performance. That letter came soon after Maine\u2019s postal workers and elected officials voiced their opposition of the USPS\u2019 plans to move some of the Hampden facility\u2019s processing operations to a facility in Scarborough, nearly 130 miles away \u2014 raising the possibility of needless delays in delivery.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chairwoman McReynolds, Vice Chairman Kan, Governor Stroman, Governor Tangherlini, and Postmaster General Steiner:\n\nWe write regarding an alarming development related to election mail and American democracy. On March 31, President Trumpissued an executive order that seeks to transform the United States Postal Service (USPS) into an election administration agency with the power to determine who can vote by mail and to establish ballot specifications.1 The executive order is a blatant violation of the Constitution and statutes governing postal operations. We demand you follow the law and not implement this executive order.\n\nThe right to vote is the most sacred and cherished right of the American people. It is the bedrock of American democracy. The Framers of our Constitution understood this and accordingly vested the primary authority to regulate the \u201ctimes, places, and manner\u201d of federal elections with the states subject to alterations by statute enacted by Congress.2 The Constitution similarly vests the authority to determine the eligibility of voters with the states.3 The Constitution provides no role for the President in regulating federal elections. And no statute delegates to the President any authority to regulate elections or voter eligibility either, including via USPS.\n\nBy issuing the executive order, however, the President is attempting to unconstitutionally consolidate power to personally regulate American elections. Specifically, the order directs USPS to conduct a rulemaking to establish specifications for election mail and create and maintain a Postal Service Mail-In and Absentee Participation List. Remarkably, the order prohibits the delivery of absentee ballots from individuals that are not on the USPS absentee voter list. These directives clearly infringe on the states\u2019 and Congress\u2019 constitutional role to regulate the manner in which federal elections are held and would deny eligible voters their ability to cast a ballot. The prohibition on transmitting ballots from individuals not on the absentee voter list acts as a ban on vote-by-mail for any state unwilling to share its absentee voter lists with USPS or any voter who happens to be excluded from the list. Furthermore, under this executive order, it is the Postal Service who will have the final say about whether to transmit a voter\u2019s absentee ballots to election officials\u2014granting USPS the ability to disenfranchise American voters. Were the Postal Service to issue such a regulation, it would be a flagrantly illegal and unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal elections and would disenfranchisevoters.\n\nAs you know, the President does not possess the power to manage the operations of the Postal Service or direct USPS or thePostmaster General to enact these requirements or rules. In 1970, when Congress reorganized the Post Office Department into thenow United States Postal Service, it created \u201can independent establishment of the executive branch,\u201d and it bestowed the postal power on the Board of Governors of the Postal Service\u2014not the President.4 This independence is a hallmark of the Postal Service and its operations.\n\nSimilarly, it is universally understood that the Postal Service does not regulate or administer American elections. As the Postal Service acknowledged in a rulemaking just last year, \u201cthe Postal Service does not administer elections, establish the rules or deadlines that govern elections, or determine whether or how election jurisdictions utilize the mail.\u201d5 As the Postal Service hasstated, they do not advocate for particular forms of voting and simply serve to collect and transport the mail to its destination, including election mail.6 This neutral and apolitical role to transmit the mail is critical to ensuring trust in the electorate and facilitating American elections, while respecting the constitutional role of the states. To prepare for the 2026 midterm elections, USPS already released its 2026 Election Mail and Political Mail Guide and issued its 2026 General Election Mail Preparedness Memorandum to every employee in January.7 During the 2024 general election, the Postal Service successfully delivered over 99 million ballots and over 97% were delivered in fewer than three days.8 The Postal Service must continue this proud and successful tradition.\n\nAccordingly, the Postal Service should not implement the President\u2019s unconstitutional executive order. Like the President, the PostalService has no authority to regulate the manner of voting in federal elections, nor who is eligible to vote by mail in such elections. For over 250 years, the Postal Service has bound our country together with a constitutionally recognized mail service, and for 250 years, the American people have democratically elected their leaders. Any attempt to effectuate this order would violate the Constitution, break these bonds, and threaten the foundations of American democracy.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-23T05:48:52Z", "2026-04-23T05:50:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-asks-energy-secretary-how-canceling-approved-permitted-renewable-projects-promotes-certainty-in-marketplace", "King Asks Energy Secretary How Canceling Approved, Permitted Renewable Projects Promotes Certainty in Marketplace", "2026-04-21", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), today criticized the Administration for creating uncertainty by canceling approved clean energy projects \u2013 especially ones actively under construction. In an ENR hearing, King pressed Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Christopher Wright on the current administration\u2019s decisions to revoke energy permits as there is bipartisan agreement that America\u2019s energy portfolio must increase across the board to improve the cost of living.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cDo you feel that certainty is important in permitting and that is an important quality we need to be able to move permitting faster, that is correct, isn't it?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d Secretary Wright agreed.\n\n\u201cHow do you feel about offshore wind projects being canceled that were fully permitted and under construction? What does that say about certainty for investment?\u201d Senator King continued.\n\n\u201cI will come back\u2014 there is some complexities to that issue, both with security concerns with drones that we learned more recently on the wars\u2014,\u201d Secretary Wright started.\n\n\u201cIsn't that a risk of the developer?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cIt is a risk I think we need to manage with the developer just to make sure we are not introducing a critical vulnerability off of our east coast population. To your broader point, yes, Senator, I believe we need the parties to come together, we need a robust dialogue about that, and we need to deliver more certainty\u2014,\u201d Secretary Wright answered.\n\n\u201cThe idea of getting all of your permits, going through the process, being under construction and having the government say you can't do this, you wouldn't like that very much if you were in that position, is that correct?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cThat is correct,\u201d Secretary Wright responded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is a national leader in advocating for climate solutions that support Maine communities and has been one of the Senate\u2019s most vocal advocates for improving renewable energy technologies and development as a way to unlock America\u2019s clean energy future. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to unlocking the promise of clean energy development opportunities created in the historic Inflation Reduction Act . He has stressed the importance of streamlining and speeding project timelines while maintaining environmental standards to the Secretaries of Energy and Interior.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-22T05:46:42Z", "2026-04-22T05:48:06Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/to-fight-robocalls-king-cosponsors-legislation-to-step-up-penalties", "To Fight Robocalls, King Cosponsors Legislation to Step Up Penalties", "2026-04-17", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bicameral legislation cracking down on the enforcement of illegal robocalls. The Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act improves enforcement, and increases penalties for robocallers who violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The legislation would give the TCPA and the Do-Not-Call Registry added enforcement powers by providing all telephone subscribers, including small businesses, the ability to seek damages for all unconsented-to telemarketing calls immediately after such a call.\n\nRobocall scams often target the most vulnerable within our communities, including senior citizens, immigrant communities, and people with disabilities. Small businesses also are bombarded with these illegal calls, creating additional and burdensome costs and interfering with productivity.\n\n\u201cAt best, illegal robocalls are a constant annoyance \u2014 at worst, they\u2019re scams that target our most vulnerable citizens or tie up businesses\u2019 phone lines,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act would enhance enforcement and increase penalties for those who break the law. It\u2019s time telemarketers are held accountable so Americans can live their lives without the flood of scam calls and texts overwhelming our phones.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act would:\n\nAmend TCPA to cover the equipment that scammers and telemarketers use by updating the definition of an Automated Telephone Dialing System to include systems which dial phone numbers from a stored list successively without human intervention.\n\nAllow small businesses to add their numbers to the Do-Not-Call Registry.\n\nProvide landline and cellular consumers, including small businesses, who have telephone numbers on the Do-Not-Call Registry, a private right of action after receiving one telephone call by or on behalf of the same entity in violation of the TCPA.\n\nEnsure that a minimum of $500 can be levied for each violation of the Do-Not-Call Registry.\n\nJoining King on the legislation are U.S Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and U.S Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) and Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15).\n\nSenator King has consistently called for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce regulations on telemarketing calls. In 2024, he cosponsored the Deter Obnoxious, Nefarious, and Outrageous Telephone (DO NOT) Call Act which would crack down on illegal robocalls and robotexts. In 2023, he sent a letter to the FCC calling for issue guidance restating long-held requirements for unwanted telemarketing calls to assist telemarketers and sellers in complying with the rules. In 2019, he also cosponsored Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act which makes it easier for regulators to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking adoption, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally flout laws. The bill was signed into law by the President in 2019.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-18T05:35:53Z", "2026-04-18T05:37:16Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/veterans-committee-witnesses-support-senator-kings-mental-care-legislation", "Veterans Committee Witnesses Support Senator King\u2019s Mental Care Legislation", "2026-04-16", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, today vetted legislationhe recently introduced that would allow the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) to provide mental health services to incarcerated veterans. In a conversation with the Director of the Veterans Justice Commission, Brigadier General David \u201cMac\u201d MacEwen, King confirmed MacEwen\u2019s support \u2013 as well as the support of the entire panel of witnesses \u2013 for King\u2019s bill that would allow the VA to provide mental health care to incarcerated veterans with a service-connected disability for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or military sexual trauma (MST). The hearing panel also included Chief Counsel of All Rise Major General Clyde \u201cButch\u201d Tate, U.S. Army (Ret.), the Honorable Chief Justice (Ret.) of the Kansas Supreme Court Lawton Nuss, U.S. Army Veteran Corey Schramm, and Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Veterans Clinic at the University of Washington School of Law, Rose Carmen Goldberg.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cLet me ask, the bill that was mentioned, the Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME, the pilot program for the V.A. to provide mental health services for incarcerated veterans. To me that is a gimme. That's obvious. But we have to start with a pilot program. I understand the commission is recommending returning to the 1944 G.I. Bill. The plain language [of the \u201944 legislation] would allow most veterans to access V.A. services. Why did the commission make that recommendation? Give me background on that.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you, Senator. The commission made the recommendation because there was a huge discussion, we had researchers look at this as the commission did work. In 1944, the Congress spent weeks looking at who should be eligible for V.A. Benefits when they established the original G.I. Bill and they said only the worst of the worst should not get benefits. Dishonorable discharge that was the cut off. That was the rule and then over time, by rule, not by the intent of Congress, by rule, it has been chipped away. All of a sudden, narrowing the class of citizen who had served, that no longer was eligible for benefits. So what happened over time, those most in need of benefits are denied benefits. So, we said, that doesn\u2019t make sense,\u201d Brigadier General MacEwen responded.\n\n\u201cLike somebody that is incarcerated?,\u201d Senator King clarified.\n\n\u201cSomeone incarcerated with a felony conviction loses it. But an example I would use for you, sir, is someone who had military sexual trauma, and becomes a bad soldier because they are dealing with that military sexual trauma. So they are not showing up to formation. The commander says this isn't a good soldier, so the -- so they administratively discharged him and give him bad paper because he isn't showing up to work, but not because of the underlying condition. Because they don't have an evidence-based process to look at him. They discharge them and he or she doesn't get health care at the V.A,\u201d Brigadier General MacEwen responded.\n\n\u201cJust for the record, do all of you agree that VA mental health benefits should be available to incarcerated veterans?,\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d answered all witnesses.\n\n\u201cThat is a yes from everybody,\u201d Senator King confirmed for the record.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. Last month, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-17T05:47:03Z", "2026-04-17T05:48:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-tax-enforcement-services-against-high-dollar-tax-dodgers", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen Tax Enforcement Services Against High Dollar Tax Dodgers", "2026-04-15", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are introducing legislation to provide additional funding for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to strengthen and expand tax collection services and systems. The Stop Corporations and High Earners from Avoiding Taxes and Enforce the Rules Strictly (Stop CHEATERS) Act would restore and revitalize the IRS with additional funding for tax enforcement focused upon high-income tax evasion, technology operations support, systems modernization, and taxpayer services like free tax-payer assistance \u2013 and is expected to pay for itself several times over, given the extent of tax evasion among high earners and the positive impact of improved services to help lower- and middle-income taxpayers file their taxes. Yale Budget Lab has scored this bill as raising about $998 billion in net revenue over a ten-year window. For every dollar invested by this bill, the federal government will gain approximately $13 dollars in gross revenue.\n\nPrior to receiving historic funding through the Inflation Reduction Act, the IRS suffered from decades of chronic underfunding, leading the agency to disproportionally audit lower income earners. As a result, it is estimated that corporations and high-income individuals with access to high-level accountants \u2013 frequently in the highest-income brackets \u2013have been able to evade the taxes they owe, contributing to $1 trillion in lost revenue. This legislation would allocate over $83 billion to the IRS over the next decade to enable tax auditors to enforce the tax code fairly across the board and at all income brackets and provide crucial services to taxpayers.\n\n\u201cAs Congress seeks ways to fund much-needed policy priorities and address our growing national debt, there is one common sense solution that should have unanimous bipartisan support: let\u2019s enforce the tax laws already on the books,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur legislation will make sure the IRS has the resources it needs to confront the gap between taxes owed and taxes paid \u2013 while ensuring that our tax enforcement professionals are focused on the high-income earners who account for the most tax evasion. This is a serious problem with an easy solution; let\u2019s pass this legislation and make sure every American pays what they owe in taxes.\u201d\n\n\"For decades, billionaires and giant corporations have made tax evasion their hobby, and Republicans have enabled them by gutting the IRS,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cEnough is enough. It\u2019s time to fund the IRS and make the rich pay their fair share.\"\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s cuts to the IRS have made it harder for working Americans to get help with their taxes and easier for wealthy tax cheats to get away with not paying their fair share \u2013 which is unfair to law-abiding taxpayers and reduces funding for critical programs that support American families,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m glad to be introducing this common-sense legislation with my colleagues to restore and expand IRS funding, allowing the agency to provide the level of customer service that Americans deserve and ensure that wealthy Americans don\u2019t get to evade taxes simply because they can hire expensive lawyers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe combination of Republicans\u2019 decimation of the IRS enforcement function and their Beautiful-for-Billionaires Law has made Tax Day a field day for wealthy tax cheats and a tough day for many hardworking families,\u201dsaid Senator Whitehouse. \u201cOur bill would restore the funding the agency needs to enforce the law on the ultra-rich \u2013 who can afford armies of accountants to obscure cheating \u2013 while delivering the refund checks middle-class families wait all year for.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the Stop CHEATERS Act would:\n\nRestore and revitalize the IRS and ensure it is properly funded by providing over $83 billion in mandatory funding through Fiscal Year 2031, reversing both the rescissions to IRA funding and discretionary spending cuts to the IRS budget. This funding would be divided into four spending buckets and provide:\n\n$45.6 billion for Enforcement to audit wealthy taxpayers and large corporations, pursue criminal investigations, and prevent financial crimes. The bill establishes a ramp-up period, increasing funding each year, allowing the IRS to gradually rebuild enforcement operations.\n\n$25.4 billion for Technology and Operations Support to overhaul outdated technology and increase the agency\u2019s capacity to detect fraud and noncompliance.\n\n$3.1 billion for Business Systems Modernization to improve, operate, and maintain internal systems.\n\n$9.6 billion for Taxpayer Services to allow for pre-filing assistance and education, taxpayer advocacy services, and other forms of free taxpayer assistance.\n\nInstruct the IRS Commissioner to issue a report to Congress on the agency\u2019s plan to shift auditing and enforcement resources to high-income individuals and large corporations, a directive first launched under Commissioner Werfel in 2024. In addition, the plan must include efforts to recruit and retain skilled auditors for high-income individuals and large corporations that typically have complicated tax situations. The Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration would be required to issue a report on the effectiveness of this plan.\n\nIn addition to King, Warren, Kaine and Whitehouse, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) joined the legislation.\n\n\u201cRepublican\u2019s continued cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s funding for the IRS has left the agency underfunded and without the tools it needs to fairly enforce our tax laws\u2014letting wealthy individuals and large corporations dodge paying what they owe, while working families are left to foot the bill,\u201d said Leader Schumer. \u201cThe Stop CHEATERS Act is about restoring basic fairness to our tax system. Ensuring wealthy Americans and large corporations pay their fair share is one of the most straightforward ways to both reduce the deficit and rebuild trust in our system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWealthy tax cheats and scofflaw corporations are stealing billions and billions from the American people by refusing to pay what they legally owe, and far too many of them are getting a free pass because Republicans gutted the enforcement capacity of the IRS. A rich tax cheat who shelters mountains of cash among a web of shell companies and passthroughs is likelier to be struck by lightning than face an IRS audit, and Republicans want to keep it that way,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThis bill is about making sure the IRS has the resources it needs to go after wealthy tax cheats while improving customer service for the vast majority of American taxpayers who follow the law every year.\u201d\n\n\u201cSustained funding of and investment in the IRS is critical to the protection of taxpayer rights, including the right to quality service and the right to a fair and just tax system,\u201d said Nina E. Olson, Executive Director for the Center for Taxpayer Rights. \u201cThis bill helps achieve these important goals.\u201d\n\nThe Stop CHEATERS Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Third Way, Progressive Policy Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, National Treasury Employees Union, American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, AFSCME, Americans for Tax Fairness, Americans for Financial Reform, Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, Tax the Greedy Billionaires, Groundwork Action, Take on Wall Street, Public Citizen, Patriotic Millionaires, P Street, and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.\n\nSenator King has consistently advocated for tax fairness. Earlier this year, the Senate failed to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution he and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) proposed to close loopholes in the tax code for large corporations and private equity companies. In December last year, Senator King urged the Trump Administration to help Americans get more responsive service and expedited refunds by restoring staff and resources at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), the independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that helps taxpayers resolve issues within the IRS.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-16T05:48:36Z", "2026-04-16T05:50:08Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-raise-ropeless-gear-concerns-to-federal-policymakers", "Collins, King Raise Ropeless Gear Concerns to Federal Policymakers", "2026-04-07", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) are calling for continued engagement with Maine\u2019s seafood industry stakeholders. In a letter to Eugenio Pi\u00f1ero Soler, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Senators urge NMFS to heed the well-founded concerns expressed by Maine\u2019s lobstermen and fishermen regarding ropeless gear, and to include them in any further regulatory discussions.\n\n\u201cMaine lobstermen\u2019s concerns about ropeless gear are well-documented and deserve serious consideration. It is important to give full and meaningful weight to concerns raised by fishermen regarding ropeless/on demand fishing gear as NMFS\u2019s core strategy for North Atlantic right whale (NARW) conservation. We urge you continue to explore other options such as Dynamic Area Management with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), and strongly encourage you to continue engaging fishermen directly as your agency approaches new rulemaking on this issue,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cYou heard these concerns directly from lobstermen at the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum during the Federal Fisheries Leadership seminar. Lobstermen shared with you firsthand their concerns about the cost of this technology, and the dangers of not knowing where gear is placed in the Gulf of Maine. Small vessels simply would not have access to capital, deck space, crew, or familiarity with high-tech systems to survive a transition to ropeless fishing.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate your willingness to listen, and we encourage NMFS to approach future rulemaking with a genuine commitment to flexibility and co-development directly with stakeholders. A single, uniform solution, particularly one that mandates technology that is not yet proven at scale, is not the right path forward for this fishery or for the conservation goals we share. We look forward to continuing this conversation and welcome the opportunity to work with you and your team directly,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThis action by Senators Collins and King is a continuation of their persistent joint efforts in support of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. In 2022, when NOAA rolled out its Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), the Senators urged the organization to create regulations that are based on the best available evidence and not unfairly target the fishery. According to an estimate by the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association, adopting ropeless gear would cost Maine lobstermen at least $45 million due to the expense of trawling up, acquiring and adding weak points, purchasing specialized rope, lengthening groundlines, marking gear, and hiring additional crew to complete this work.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Administrator Soler:\n\nThank you for taking the time to attend the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum in early March and engaging with Maine\u2019s fishing community directly. As experienced firsthand, the Forum brings together fishermen, sea farmers, gear suppliers, state and federal scientists and regulators, and other stakeholders for education, collaboration, and commerce. We appreciate your attention to the serious issues facing Maine fishermen hearing directly from the industries about the impacts of federal regulation. This includes the ongoing discussion on the use of ropeless/on demand fishing gear in the Gulf of Maine.\n\nMaine lobstermen\u2019s concerns about ropeless gear are well-documented and deserve serious consideration. It is important to give full and meaningful weight to concerns raised by fishermen regarding ropeless/on demand fishing gear as NMFS\u2019s core strategy for North Atlantic right whale (NARW) conservation. We urge you continue to explore other options such as Dynamic Area Management with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), and strongly encourage you to continue engaging fishermen directly as your agency approaches new rulemaking on this issue.\n\nIn 2022, the Maine Delegation secured a six-year regulatory pause for Maine\u2019s lobster industry, saving the industry from a misguided regulatory approach that would have shuttered our fishery. The regulatory pause language included funding to assist with gear modification and configuration, improve scientific understanding of NARW migration patterns, and invest in right whale-related research, monitoring, and conservation. Funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has enabled the Maine DMR to create the Maine Innovative Gear Library (MIGL), which began gear testing with participants in the summer of 2024 and has since expanded to four gear hubs spanning the coast from Brunswick to Addison. The MIGL program now has 33 active testers operating across all seven Maine lobster zones, with more than 3,200 hauls completed as of December 2025. While the sample size is small and does not inform the scalability of the technology, it is meaningful progress, and it speaks to the industry\u2019s willingness to engage and provide critical feedback to NMFS that should be taken into consideration. MIGL expects to publish its full results later in 2026.\n\nThe program has made important strides, allowing our lobstermen to trial a variety of ropeless technologies in real-world conditions, and collect feedback and data on the use of these gear technologies. Initial data and interviews with lobstermen indicate that substantial issues must be resolved before this technology is suitable for broad implementation in Maine\u2019s fishery. Notably, the lobster industry has raised a number of concerns with this technology, which is an important part of what the Maine DMR is documenting and assessing through this work.\n\nCost and increased trip time are among the most significant barriers; a study by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries estimated that a full transition to ropeless gear in the 2015-2019 timeframe would have resulted in an average of $40 million decline in annual revenue and 3.5 million fewer pounds (a 20% decline) of lobster landed for the Massachusetts lobster fishery\u2014notably, a fishery that is considerably smaller than Maine\u2019s fishery. MIGL interview data also identify time burden as one of the Maine lobster industry\u2019s major operational concerns and the research is exploring the extent to which hauling time per trap increases with on-demand gear. With hundreds of traps per trip, that compounds into a material reduction in daily productivity\u2014one that, for certain gear configurations, rivals the purchase cost of the equipment itself.\n\nInteroperability is another unresolved and critical challenge. There are more than a dozen manufacturers currently developing ropeless systems, and currently, there is no demonstrated ability for those systems to communicate or integrate with one another at scale. Research conducted by MITRE determined that acoustic interoperability among on-demand gear systems has not been demonstrated in busy, mixed-gear fisheries alongside mobile groundfish and scallop operations. This matters not only for practical fishing operations, but for safety and enforcement. Without interoperability, it is difficult for fishermen to locate one another\u2019s submerged gear and avoid dangerous conflicts. Yet despite this acknowledged gap, federal communications have at times suggested that the interoperability challenge is closer to resolution than the evidence supports.\n\nAs you are aware, industry groups including the New England Fisherman\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) and the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association (MLA) have consistently and publicly shared their serious concerns about a required transition to ropeless gear as the primary management strategy to avoid conflicts with NARWs. In public comments submitted in response to Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, NEFSA wrote that ropeless fishing gear \u201cpresents serious safety risks to fishermen, increases the likelihood of vessel interactions and gear loss, and is fundamentally incompatible with mixed-use fishing grounds\u201d. MLA has communicated similar concerns to the Senate and House Appropriations Committee, the Maine Delegation, and NMFS directly, warning that requiring full compliance with ropeless gear would result in, \u201ca substantial increase in operating costs\u201d and \u201cwould undermine Maine\u2019s owner-operator model and could create pressure for consolidation of the fishery.\u201d\n\nYou heard these concerns directly from lobstermen at the Maine Fishermen\u2019s Forum during the Federal Fisheries Leadership seminar. Lobstermen shared with you firsthand their concerns about the cost of this technology, and the dangers of not knowing where gear is placed in the Gulf of Maine. Small vessels simply would not have access to capital, deck space, crew, or familiarity with high-tech systems to survive a transition to ropeless fishing.\n\nWe believe a patchwork of flexible, dynamic, adaptive approaches that reflect real-world conditions, ongoing technology development, and meaningful stakeholder input offers the best opportunity to maintain a successful fishery, protect right whales, and preserve the working waterfronts and coastal communities that depend on it. We are supportive of the state-federal partnership through which NMFS has been providing support and cooperation to Maine DMR to develop a dynamic management strategy that includes development of a monitoring plan. We encourage NMFS to provide additional engagement from the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office to make this a feasible management option, prior to the drafting and publication of future rulemaking.\n\nWe appreciate your willingness to listen, and we encourage NMFS to approach future rulemaking with a genuine commitment to flexibility and co-development directly with stakeholders. A single, uniform solution, particularly one that mandates technology that is not yet proven at scale, is not the right path forward for this fishery or for the conservation goals we share. We look forward to continuing this conversation and welcome the opportunity to work with you and your team directly.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-07T15:46:19Z", "2026-04-07T20:08:52Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-rising-tensions-between-us-iran", "King Statement on Rising Tensions Between U.S., Iran", "2026-04-06", "2026", "2026-04", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released a statement as tensions grow in the Middle East after the President\u2019s Easter Morning threat to escalate the U.S. bombing campaign to include civilian targets if Iran refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz.\n\n\u201cThe President\u2019s unhinged post Easter Sunday morning saying that Tuesday is \u201cPower Plant Day\u201d in Iran followed by an interview where he continued, \u201cI am blowing up everything over there\u201d are gravely dangerous to our country on two levels.\n\nThe first is moral and legal. Attacking civilian infrastructure without a direct military purpose but with a disproportionate impact on civilians is a war crime and puts the United States in the same category as Putin\u2019s Russia. It also hastens our transition from the unquestioned leader of the free world to a lonely pariah state without allies or even friends.\n\nThe second outcome is more practical and immediate. Iran\u2019s response to such an attack will almost certainly be major strikes on oil infrastructure throughout the Middle East which will make the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz look like child\u2019s play. $8.00 a gallon gas and world-wide recession would be just the start. And remember, the Strait of Hormuz was open before we started this war.\n\nThe best result now would be for the President to declare victory (as he has half a dozen times already), cease the bombing, and let the international community sort out the aftermath. No more risk to our brave troops, no greater damage to our economy, no perpetration of war crimes, and no more blows to our tattered reputation.\u201d", 1, "2026-04-07T05:38:05Z", "2026-04-07T05:39:14Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-murkowski-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-american-fisheries", "King, Murkowski Introduce Legislation to Strengthen American Fisheries", "2026-03-27", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced legislation to strengthen the American seafood industry by treating it the same as the nation\u2019s farmlands. The American Seafood Competitiveness Act would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. The legislation would also expand Farm Credit eligibility to businesses providing services to fisherman and fish processors.\n\n\u201cWhether your crops have seeds or scales, America\u2019s food producers are essential to our economy and food supply, so we should seek economic parity for the men and women who work in the seafood industry,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe American Seafood Competitiveness Act would help level the playing field and ensure our lobstermen and shellfish growers have access to the resources they need to grow and compete. That way, we can ensure the \u2018Way Life Should Be\u2019 for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Alaska, agriculture isn\u2019t just cattle and livestock in Delta Junction or carrot farms in Palmer\u2014it also includes kelp farms in Douglas, oyster operations on Prince of Wales Island, and gillnetters in Bristol Bay harvesting our world-class salmon,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cThese uniquely Alaska enterprises have been left out of some of America\u2019s agricultural landscape, yet they play a vital role in our food security across the state. It\u2019s past time our fishing and mariculture industries can access the same financing opportunities as farmers in the heartland.\u201d\n\nMore specifically the American Seafood Competitiveness Act would:\n\nAmend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to include commercial fishing and fish processing as eligible agricultural activities under USDA programs.\n\nInclude wild-caught fish and shellfish as eligible agricultural products under USDA\u2019s Local Agricultural Market Program and allow USDA to waive or reduce matching fund requirements, lowering barriers for small and rural operators.\n\nUpdate USDA regulations to ensure seafood processors can access financing to acquire or upgrade processing facilities and address significant operating costs.\n\nExpand eligibility for USDA farm ownership and operating loans to allow fishermen to purchase permits, acquire vessels, make capital improvements, and cover operating and maintenance costs.\n\nBroaden Farm Credit eligibility to businesses that support fishermen and fish processors, providing access to lending from Farm Credit institutions similar to that available to farm-related businesses.\n\nCreate additional financing options for coastal businesses and rural communities that rely on the seafood economy, in the same manner as those supported by traditional agriculture.\n\nThe American Seafood Competitiveness Act would recognize the seafood industry\u2019s role as \u201cfarmers of the sea\u201d by ensuring they have the same opportunities as traditional farmers.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-hhs-director-kennedy-to-return-to-data-based-cost-effective-preventive-health", "King, Colleagues Urge HHS Director Kennedy to Return to Data-Based, Cost-Effective Preventive Health", "2026-03-25", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) led several of his Senate colleagues in calling for a return to evidence-based, cost-effective preventative health services after a key federal oversight group has been dormant for over a year. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Senators raise concerns that the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has not met for a full year, which is delaying critical decisions that directly affect health outcomes. The scientifically independent volunteer panel is responsible for reviewing evidence in preventive medicine to help guide clinical practice and improve the health of the American people.\n\nMore specifically, the USPSTF helps people of all ages stay healthy and live well for years to come, as setting up healthy practices ahead of time often result in longer lives and better outcomes. Its evidence-based recommendations empower patients and their clinicians to make informed choices based on what works\u2014and what doesn\u2019t\u2014in preventive care. The USPSTF systematically reviews the evidence on preventive services to make a conclusion about the benefits and harms of preventive services. Each step of the recommendation development process\u2014from topic nomination to publication of the final recommendation\u2014is transparent.\n\n\u201cSince its inception in 1984, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) has issued nearly 300 evidence-based recommendations across 90 different topics to support preventive care, ensure that health care services are affordable, and help people live longer, healthier lives,\u201d the Senators began. \u201cThe independence and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and we urge that the future work of USPSTF, including meetings, agendas, appointments of new Task Force members, and revisions of recommendations, continues to adhere to principles of independence and scientific rigor.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cAs a result of Task Force recommendations, preventive health services are accessible for all Americans and save lives through screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical, and lung cancer, folic acid supplements forpregnant women to prevent birth defects, behavioral counseling, prevention of maternal depression, childhood vision screenings, adult diabetes screenings, and many more.\u201d\n\n\u201cPreventive services can help people avoid acute illness, identify and treat chronic conditions, prevent cancer as well as lead to earlier detection, improve health outcomes, and reduce the burden of end-stage chronic disease. To that end, we look forward to hearing from you in response to these questions, and urge that the administration prioritize resuming the cost- and life-saving work of the Task Force,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThis letter to USPSTF builds on earlier efforts by Senator King to support USPSTF, including introducing the a Senate Resolution affirming support for the Task Force. Known as the \u2018Prevention Senator,\u2019 Senator King has also long worked on policy solutions that keep Maine people healthy and lower the costs for patients and providers alike. Last year, he introduced the Preventive Health Savings Act which would instruct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to fully study the costs and benefits that could be seen with proposed preventive health care legislation. He has previously introduced legislation require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits, without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In doing so, this legislation also would catch smaller, or early health symptoms before they become larger threats requiring more extensive and expensive treatments.\n\nPreviously, Senator King also introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan, the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.\n\nIn addition to King, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D- IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Jackie Rosen (D-NV).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nSince its inception in 1984, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF or Task Force) has issued nearly 300 evidence-based recommendations across 90 different topics to support preventive care, ensure that health care services are affordable, and help people live longer, healthier lives. Section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act (as added by the Affordable Care Act) mandates thatUSPSTF recommendations that receive an \u201cA\u201d or \u201cB\u201d rating be provided to enrollees at no cost. The USPSTF recommendations impact access and affordability for these life-saving interventions for all Americans. The Task Force has not met for a full year \u2013 the first time it\u2019s not met consistently in at least a decade \u2013 delaying critical decisions that directly impact the health of Americans. Itshould restart its work immediately and without political interference. The independence and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and we urge that the future work of USPSTF, including meetings, agendas, appointments of new Task Force members, and revisions of recommendations, continues to adhere to principles of independence and scientific rigor.\n\nUSPSTF is a scientifically independent volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that is established in law. The mission of the Task Force is to systematically review the best available evidence to develop recommended preventive services, such as cancer screenings and more, to help guide clinical practice and improve the health of the American people. The independent and scientifically-backed nature of the Task Force is paramount to its operations, and was recently affirmed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (P.L. 119-75), which provided over $11.5 million in funding for the Task Force and directed members of the USPSTF to \u201ccontinue to uphold their mission and commitment to scientific evidence, transparency, and ensuring that Americans have access to affordable preventive health services.\u201d\n\nBased on USPSTF recommendations, insurers must provide coverage without cost-sharing for preventive services that have been proven to prevent disease based on evidence and empirical research. As a result of Task Force recommendations, preventive health services are accessible for all Americans and save lives through screenings for heart disease, screenings for breast, colorectal, cervical,and lung cancer, folic acid supplements for pregnant women to prevent birth defects, behavioral counseling, prevention of maternal depression, childhood vision screenings, adult diabetes screenings, and many more.\n\nUSPSTF recommendations have directly impacted millions of Americans, enabling them to have potentially fatal or debilitating conditions diagnosed at much earlier stages, thereby affording them a greater chance of living longer, healthier lives.\n\nThe Task Force membership historically has been comprised of experts in clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health. Itsmembers are extensively vetted for conflicts of interest, and their service is completely voluntary and uncompensated. USPSTF\u2019sprocess for developing recommendations and its agenda is transparent to the public and based on high quality, methodologicallysound, scientifically defensible, reproducible, and unbiased scientific evidence that is rooted in a clearcut process laid out in the Task Force\u2019s procedure manual.1 Thus, the Task Force\u2019s recommendations can be considered neutral, unbiased and evidence-based by all stakeholders: policy makers; payers; providers; and most importantly the public.\n\nHowever, we are particularly troubled by actions that have effectively rendered the Task Force dormant, and brought its life-saving work to a grinding halt. While the procedure manual clearly dictates that it is supposed to meet three times per year,2 the Task Force only met once last year. The July meeting was abruptly cancelled two days before USPSTF was scheduled to meet, and the November meeting was cancelled amidst the government shutdown. And HHS just recently confirmed that the March 2026 meeting has been cancelled.3 Without these meetings, the Task Force cannot vote on or move forward on its work, including recommendations and research plans. CNN has reported that in addition to previous departures due to Reduction in Force and Deferred Resignation Program efforts, much of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) staff that support the Task Force have left in recent weeks, further reducing the ability of the Task Force to function.4 As noted in the procedure manual, USPSTF meetings are used for formal votes for procedural and methodological decisions, for draft and final recommendations, and to reconsider the grade of previously voted recommendations.5 As the work of the Task Force languishes absent meetings, we are extremely concerned that the Administration is allowing the incredibly important work of USPSTF to stagnate.\n\nAdditionally, the terms of five of the sixteen Task Force members expired in December without any indication from the Department about the process to extend appointments or replace the members. Going back to at least 2002, HHS under Democrats and Republicans(including under President Trump\u2019s first term6) has consistently used either the Federal Register or the Task Force\u2019s website to announce and solicit requests for nominations.7\n\nHowever, previous reporting from the Wall Street Journal suggests that you may look to remove the entirety of the Task Force.8 While the Supreme Court affirmed the Secretary\u2019s authority to appoint and remove Task Force members at will in Kennedy v. BraidwoodManagement, Inc., we are concerned that you may appoint unqualified members to the Task Force, as you have done with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Doing so could undermine longstanding preventive health coverage policies, totally abandon any sense of continuity or institutional memory on the Task Force, and could directly harm patients by limiting access to cost- and life-saving preventive services.\n\nFollowing the repeated cancellation of meetings and with a diminished workforce for USPSTF, we are deeply concerned that the work of the Task Force will be irreparably hindered\u2014jeopardizing critical access to new or updated preventive interventions, services, and guidance, and potentially leading to worse health outcomes for the American people. In addition to an inability to finalizerecommendations and research plans that are languishing, the Task Force has failed to submit an annual report to Congress for the first time since it was statutorily required to.9 While the Department must now implement minimum staffing levels as a result of the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill,10 previous staffing cuts to AHRQ undoubtedly curtailed USPSTF\u2019s work in 2025. Together, these developments leave us extremely worried about the work of the Task Force going forward.\n\nGiven the diminished activities last year, potential for detrimental upheaval within the Task Force, and possibility that USPSTF may no longer be guided by integrity, independence, scientifically-backed processes, or evidence-based recommendations, we requestanswers to the following questions by April 15, 2026:\n\n1. As required by the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 299b-4(2)(F)), the Task Force is required to submit an annual report to Congress identifying gaps in research, such as preventive services that receive an insufficient evidence statement, and recommending priority areas that deserve further examination, including areas related to populations and age groups not adequately addressed by current recommendations.\n\nWhen does the Department and the Task Force plan to release the 2025 statutorily required annual report?\n\nWith two-thirds of the Task Force meetings cancelled and AHRQ\u2019s staff cut significantly last year, what components ofHHS were involved in developing the annual report?\n\ni. Were experts on clinical medicine, scientific research, and public health involved?\n\n2. The Task Force\u2019s authorizing statute stipulates that the AHRQ Director shall convene an independent Task Force to be composed of individuals with appropriate expertise.\n\nThe Task Force has not met since March of last year, and the July and November meetings were not rescheduled. Please share the justification for the cancellation of the March 2026 meeting, and when the Task Force will next meet.\n\nThe Task Force has had five vacancies since December 2025. Will the Task Force or Department solicit through the Federal Register or Task Force website a request for nominations? If so, when will that process begin? If not, will the process otherwise provide opportunity for public review and input?\n\nUnless it is already underway, when new potential Task Force members are undergoing vetting, will their qualificationsbe transparently judged on previous metrics and relevant expertise?\n\n3. As stipulated within the authorizing statute, the Task Force shall review the scientific evidence related to the effectiveness, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of clinical preventive services for the purpose of developing recommendations for the health care community, and updating previous clinical preventive recommendations, forindividuals and organizations delivering clinical services.\n\nIn making changes for vaccine coverage, you and your hand-picked ACIP have baselessly and without evidence madechanges to vaccine schedules including for SARS-CoV-2 and the Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule, resulting in professional societies making their own declarations for appropriate vaccine schedules and policies. A preliminary ruling in American Academy of Pediatrics v. Kennedy found that your previous efforts to dismantle ACIP and make changes to the childhood vaccine schedule were likely illegal.\n\ni. How will the Task Force make recommendations going forward?\n\nii. When, if not now, will the Task Force or HHS determine whether to re-examine existing evidence-based recommendations?\n\niii. Will USPSTF continue to rely on the processes and guidelines laid out and prescribed under the Task Force\u2019s procedures manual?\n\niv. If there are changes to the procedures manual processes, will you look to maintain transparency, scientificrigor, and independence of the process by requesting public input for any process changes?\n\n4. On President Trump\u2019s first day in office, he issued a number of Executive Orders including an Executive Order on Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing. This has led to the cancellation of grantsand programs across HHS related to gender- and racial-based work.\n\nMany USPSTF recommendations incorporate age-, gender-, or race-specific guidance because the evidence and data clearly demonstrate that there are risks for these specific populations, and that targeted interventions can preventdisease. Of note, recommendations that incorporate factors such as age, gender, race etc. do not do so as a matter of \u201cDEI\u201d, but rather because the scientific evidence suggests that certain populations are at greater risk for the disease of concern. Population-based recommendations allow policymakers, payers and providers to target screening interventions in the most cost-effective manner possible. Will there be changes to these existing recommendations to align with the President\u2019s Executive Orders on DEI?\n\nWill the Task Force continue to make recommendations based on the evidence and data, even when the evidence anddata require those recommendations to be age-, gender-, or race-specific?\n\nWe are concerned that the Task Force, under your guidance, may re-examine recommendations for the prescribing ofpreexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Please share if you plan to direct them to do so.\n\nYou have said you aim to \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d by addressing chronic disease; however, you are not prioritizing themaintenance, support, and continuation of the USPSTF. As you know, the most common causes of chronic disease in the United States include tobacco use, obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol, and the Task Force has made recommendations regarding prevention of all of those causes for both children and adults.\n\nPreventive services can help people avoid acute illness, identify and treat chronic conditions, prevent cancer as well as lead to earlier detection, improve health outcomes, and reduce the burden of end-stage chronic disease. To that end, we look forward to hearing from you in response to these questions, and urge that the administration prioritize resuming the cost- and life-saving work of the Task Force.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-ricketts-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-to-provide-mental-health-services-to-incarcerated-veterans", "King, Ricketts Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Provide Mental Health Services to Incarcerated Veterans", "2026-03-25", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and U.S. Representatives Herb Conaway, MD (D-NJ) and Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) are introducing bicameral, bipartisan legislation to support mental health services for incarcerated veterans. The Get Justice-Involved Veterans Behavioral Assistance and Care for Key Health Outcomes to Maintain Empowerment (BACK HOME) Act would create a pilot program to allow the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA) to provide mental health services to incarcerated veterans, with a priority given to providing services to veterans with a service-connected disability for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or military sexual trauma (MST).\n\nCurrently, the VA is prohibited from providing hospital or inpatient care to veterans who are patients or inmates in an institution of another government agency with a duty to provide care or services, such as prisons. Additionally, veterans who are convicted of a felony and sentenced to more than 60 days have their disability compensation payments reduced during their imprisonment. The Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act would create a pilot program that allows the VA to provide mental health services to incarcerated veterans, with a priority to those with a service-connected disability for PTSD, TBI, or MST. The bill also encourages prison facilities to establish dedicated veteran housing units, where possible, to provide an environment more conducive to the discipline, structure, and order familiar to veterans and facilitate more effective treatment, peer support, and rehabilitative efforts.\n\n\u201cToo many of our veterans carry invisible wounds from their service, and far too often those wounds go untreated\u2014especially for those who become incarcerated,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act meets veterans where they are and ensures they receive the care they\u2019ve earned. Expanding mental health services to incarcerated veterans helps give individuals a better path toward stability and rehabilitation.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,\u201d said Senator Ricketts. \u201cWe owe them real support. That means confronting PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse head-on before those invisible wounds lead to bigger challenges. The Get Justice-Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act supports incarcerated veterans by providing sustainable access to mental health services and a guarantee of resumption of benefits upon their release. Our veterans fought for us. I will keep fighting for them.\u201d\n\n\"Every veteran makes a sacred commitment to this nation, and we have a duty to stand by them, no matter where life takes them after their service,\" said Representative Luttrell. \"PTSD, TBI, and the invisible wounds of war don't disappear in difficult circumstances, and neither should our commitment to those who've worn the uniform. That means confronting these challenges head-on and making sure these men and women have a real shot to rebuild their lives and successfully reintegrate into the communities they once swore to defend.\"\n\n\u201cService to our country does not end at incarceration, and neither should our commitment to care,\u201d said Congressman Conaway. \u201cAs a physician, I\u2019ve seen how untreated conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma can shape the course of a veteran\u2019s life. The Get Justice Involved Vets BACK HOME Act is about closing a dangerous gap in care by ensuring that justice-involved veterans can still access the mental health services they need to heal, rebuild, and successfully reenter their communities. If we are serious about honoring their service, we must also be serious about meeting them with dignity, treatment, and a real pathway forward.\u201d\n\nAs of 2023, there were an estimated 15.8 million veterans in the United States, with about 200,000 additional servicemembers transitioning to civilian life each year. In 2016, it was estimated that 107,400 veterans were serving time in state or federal prison. Combat exposure and associated mental and physical health problems, including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), mood disorders, and substances use disorders, are associated with a greater likelihood of involvement with the criminal justice system amongst veterans. Some studies have suggested that veterans with PTSD are 61% more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system than those without PTSD, and 59% more likely to be arrested for violent offenses.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner, the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Correctional Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.\n\n\u201cAs a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major, who served in Fallujah, I have seen firsthand the psychological impact of war,\u201d said Maine Department of Corrections Commissioner Randy Liberty. \u201cWhile serving as Sheriff of Kennebec County, as Warden of the Maine State Prison, and now as the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Corrections, I have witnessed many incarcerated Veterans who required mental health treatment related to their service, that was unavailable. This legislation will provide critical services by the Veterans Administration that the Veterans have earned, allowing them successful reentry back into the community.\u201d\n\n\"On behalf of our 1.5 million members, The American Legion applauds Senator King\u2019s leadership on the Get Justice Involved Vets BACK HOME Act,\u201d said American Legion Executive Director Mario Marquez. \u201cPost-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and military sexual trauma are often significant factors for veterans who become involved in the criminal justice system. Ensuring these veterans have access to qualified clinicians who are equipped to address their unique needs is essential to facilitate successful re-entry in society.\"\n\n\"Vietnam Veterans of America salutes Senator King for his efforts in advancing the 'Get Justice Involved Veterans BACK HOME Act,'\" said Dominick Yezzo, General Counsel at Vietnam Veterans of America. \"This congressional mandate provides immediate comprehensive Veterans Administration support to military men and women upon their return to civilian life. VVA thanks Senator King for undertaking our creed-'Never Again will one generation of veterans abandon another.'\"\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nOn the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cramer-take-action-to-reduce-federal-budget-deficit-avoid-passing-down-debt-to-next-generation", "King, Cramer Take Action to Reduce Federal Budget Deficit, Avoid Passing Down Debt to Next Generation", "2026-03-20", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) are introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to spur Congress to reduce the federal budget deficit and avoid passing down large sums of debt to the next generation. The 3% Resolution would support the goal of reducing the federal budget deficit to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.\n\n\u201cRestoring fiscal discipline isn\u2019t about politics\u2014it\u2019s about responsibility,\u201d said King. \u201cOur 3% Resolution sets a clear, achievable target to benchmark progress on the deficit to stabilize our economic growth trajectory. Sound economic policy will take members of both parties working together to evaluate spending and revenues to create a better future for the next generation.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt sure doesn\u2019t take an economist to recognize the fiscal path we\u2019re on is unsustainable, we all know that,\u201d said Cramer. \u201cCongress controls the purse and it\u2019s long past time we address this imbalance of our ledgers. It is not going to happen without laser focus on economic growth and a willingness to look at every facet of the federal budget. Our 3% Resolution is a roadmap to what I consider fiscal sustainability, and I\u2019m looking forward, and plead with my colleagues to work together on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol, as we focus our efforts to deliver greater economic growth, for our country, for our people, and ultimately, our fiscal situation.\u201d\n\nThe 3% Resolution is also supported by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) Action group.\n\n\u201cThe best way to tackle a daunting fiscal challenge is to set a clear, achievable goal and then build a practical plan to reach it,\u201d said Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. \u201cSenators Cramer and King, joined by Senators Peters and McCormick, are taking an important step by putting forward a 3 percent deficit-to-GDP target to help stabilize the nation\u2019s fiscal trajectory. We hope their colleagues will come together to meet this moment and begin the real bipartisan work of putting our budget on a more sustainable path.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe nation\u2019s large and growing debt hurts everyday Americans \u2014 driving up costs for families and weighing down future growth,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, President of BPC Action. \u201cBy rallying around a 3%-of-GDP deficit target, Senators Cramer, King, McCormick, and Peters are charting a bipartisan path toward a brighter economic future. BPC Action urges Congress to get serious about our unsustainable debt and adopt this goal.\u201d\n\nJoining King and Cramer as cosponsors are U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Gary Peters (D-MI). U.S. Representatives Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04) and Scott Peters (D-CA-50) introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nSenator King has long been an advocate for reducing the federal deficit to protect the next generation from financial harm. Earlier this month, Senator King introduced the Fiscal Commission Act to create a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission tasked with finding legislative solutions to stabilize spending and decrease the national debt, which now exceeds $38.8 trillion. In June, he sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Billy Long suggesting that plans to slash IRS funding would balloon the federal deficit and result in $2.4 trillion in lost revenue over the next decade. That same month, King also voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said would add $3.3 trillion dollars to the federal deficit over the next ten years, while also cutting $1.1 trillion from Medicaid over the same time, resulting in 11.8 million Americans losing healthcare.\n\nMore information on the 3% Resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-curtis-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-administration-to-reverse-course-on-new-policy-limiting-path-to-homeownership", "King, Curtis Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Reverse Course on New Policy Limiting Path to Homeownership", "2026-03-20", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) are pressing the Trump Administration to reverse course on its decision to limit the path to home ownership for rural Americans. In a bipartisan letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, the Senators asked that recent updates limiting additional access to the Rural Development Section 502 Direct Loan program are rescinded. Unfortunately, the new revisions drastically reduce the loan limits and add in new layers of administrative complexity.\n\nThe Senators began, \u201cThe Section 502 Direct Loan program administered by the Department has been instrumental in this success, financing homes for millions of families across the country. This program has also helped incentivize housing development in the rural communities that need it most. Unfortunately, the revisions issued to the handbook on February 10, 2026, PN655, severely curtail program eligibility and make it more difficult for non-profit partners to place rural families in homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the most concerning changes is the reduction of Section 502 loan limits from 80 to 60 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 203(b) limit,\u201d they continued in the letter. \u201cThis revision is coupled with another that prohibits loans from being issued when the appraised value of the house exceeds the loan limit. For families participating in the USDA Mutual Self-Help housing program, whose sweat equity lowers the total of the Section 502 loan but increases the value of the house, this change is especially problematic.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinally, we are perplexed by new requirements that will make the loan review process less efficient for USDA. Namely, loan reviews must now go through two separate rounds of review by Rural Development State Directors before approval. In addition, the changes will limit the ability for non-profit organizations to package loans, which USDA cannot do on its own. These changes are not only burdensome but also create uncertainty for families navigating this process,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThe 502 loan program assists low- and very-low-income applicants obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing in eligible rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant\u2019s repayment ability. The amount of assistance is determined by the adjusted family income.\n\n\"Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Maine work closely with families who rely on the Section 502 Direct Loan program to access homeownership in rural communities. USDA\u2019s recent changes to the program handbook\u2014particularly lower loan caps, reduced income eligibility limits, and stricter appraisal rules\u2014will make it far more difficult for these families to finance modest homes in many communities,\u201d said Amy Nucci, Executive Director at Habitat for Humanity of Maine. \u201cThese shifts would slow Habitat\u2019s ability to build new homes and support rural homebuyers, reducing much needed housing supply. Restoring the previous rules would keep this vital program working for the families and communities that depend on it.\"\n\n\"Avesta urges reconsideration of the new cap on rural home loans,\u201d said Jennifer Hawkins, President & CEO of Avesta Housing, northern New England's largest affordable housing provider. \u201cAt this time of high prices, USDA should be using all of its tools to support homeownership, not make it more difficult for first-time buyers,\"\n\nAlso joining King and Curtis on the letter are U.S Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), James Risch (R-ID), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rolllins:\n\nWe write today to express our concerns with the recent revisions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Section 502 Direct Loan handbook. Homeownership is the cornerstone of the American Dream, but all too frequently, it is out of reach for rural Americans. While we applaud all efforts to properly steward taxpayer dollars, we believe these revisions make the program less efficient and may leave families in our states without a path to homeownership.\n\nSince 1949, USDA has been helping rural Americans become homeowners. The Section 502 Direct Loan program administered by the Department has been instrumental in this success, financing homes for millions of families across the country. This program has also helped incentivize housing development in the rural communities that need it most. Unfortunately, the revisions issued to the handbook on February 10, 2026, PN655, severely curtail program eligibility and make it more difficult for non-profit partners to place rural families in homes.\n\nOne of the most concerning changes is the reduction of Section 502 loan limits from 80 to 60 percent of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 203(b) limit. This revision is coupled with another that prohibits loans from being issued when the appraised value of the house exceeds the loan limit. For families participating in the USDA Mutual Self-Help housing program, whose sweat equity lowers the total of the Section 502 loan but increases the value of the house, this change is especially problematic. Under the revised handbook, families who reduce risk to the federal government through their own labor may nonetheless be disqualified. Further, these changes present a fundamental misalignment with current home values, which are already soaring due to stubborn inflation, construction costs, and other supply-side challenges. We fear that reducing loan limits without exception will render the 502 Direct program inaccessible to countless rural households.\n\nFinally, we are perplexed by new requirements that will make the loan review process less efficient for USDA. Namely, loan reviews must now go through two separate rounds of review by Rural Development State Directors before approval. In addition, the changes will limit the ability for non-profit organizations to package loans, which USDA cannot do on its own. These changes are not only burdensome but also create uncertainty for families navigating this process.\n\nIn closing, we respectfully request that USDA immediately rescind the February 10 revisions and restore prior guidance. We also ask that USDA work closely with Congress and the public to ensure that any future revisions to the handbook align with the statutory intent of the program and reflect the realities of rural housing markets. We are grateful for your attention to this matter, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss practical alternatives that preserve both program integrity and ensure the Section 502 Direct Loan program remains accessible to eligible rural families.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-receives-pentagon-confirmation-of-us-greenland-denmark-cooperation-with-arctic-operations", "King Receives Pentagon Confirmation of U.S.-Greenland-Denmark Cooperation with Arctic Operations", "2026-03-19", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned Pentagon officials on the status of military operations in the Arctic, specifically those involving collaborations with Greenland and Denmark. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King asked General Francis Donovan, United States Marine Corps Commander of United States Southern Command whether Greenland was continuing to support American national security interests under the 1951 treaty.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cI want to follow-up on Senator Shaheen's questions with regard to discussions, consultations, negotiations with Denmark and Greenland with regard to additional security assets in Greenland. Number one, are there to discuss is taking place? And number two, are they productive? Number three, are you meeting any resistance to establishing additional security assets in Greenland?\n\n\u201cSenator, we are pursuing with Denmark expansion on the defense areas, which we are allowed in the 1951 agreement,\u201d General Donovan replied.\n\nSenator King agreed, \u201cThe 1951 agreement is quite comprehensive. We don't really need a new treaty.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is very comprehensive and frankly very favorable to our operations or potential operations in Greenland,\u201d General Donovan answered, \u201cWorking with the Department of State, we have three areas that we would like to negotiate with Denmark and Greenland to see if we can expand the defense areas from Pituffik where we are now into these other areas which would help our homeland defense mission.\u201d\n\nSenator King followed up, \u201cMy final question is are you meeting any resistance, are they being cooperative and receptive to these discussions?\u201d\n\nGeneral Donovan confirmed, \u201cSenator, very cooperative with both Greenland and Denmark, very eager to discuss ways to move forward to improve our defense capabilities.\u201d\n\nLast month, Senator King led a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Greenland to reinforce relations and respect with the people of the Arctic nation. The trip came as the American administration was threatening to annex, buy or otherwise take over the island nation. Weeks before that trip, Senator King hosted a delegation from the Kingdom of Denmark to emphasize the importance of deescalating tensions following recent comments from the executive administration about acquiring Greenland.\n\nAs Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus, Senator King is an advocate for Maine and America\u2019s interests in the North Atlantic and Arctic region \u2014 as Maine is the first port in the contiguous 48 states that will see increased traffic via activity in northern waters. He has been calling for the appointment of an Arctic Ambassador since 2015, and pushed for the confirmation of the first Arctic Ambassador last year. As a Congressional authority on High North policy, King also laid out the challenges and opportunities of a warming Arctic in an article in the Wilson Quarterly, and in last year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act, he successfully secured the inclusion of provisions including funding authorizations for University of Maine to increase America\u2019s activity and opportunities in the Arctic.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/intelligence-officials-tell-senator-king-they-assessed-iran-would-likely-hold-the-strait-of-hormuz-as-leverage", "Intelligence Officials Tell Senator King They Assessed Iran Would Likely Hold the Strait of Hormuz as Leverage", "2026-03-18", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch or download the exchange, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) pressed administration officials on known intelligence that Iran could consider a blockage of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage if the United States attacked Iran. In the annual Worldwide Threats hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), King specifically pressed Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, and John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, on whether the potential blockade, and other retaliatory consequences, were communicated to the President prior to his decision to follow through with airstrikes in an attempt to cripple the regime. President Trump has maintained in public remarks that Iran halting activity in the region wasn\u2019t fully considered ahead of the missile strikes and Operation Epic Fury.\n\nThe Strait of Hormuz is a critical passageway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in which a large percentage of the global oil supply and liquified natural gas (LNG) passes through shipping lanes on an annual basis. Because of the blockade, global oil prices have risen globally with prices in Maine rising more than 20% since the military operation began at the beginning of the month.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cThere seems to be a discrepancy between what the intelligence community has reported over the years and what the President has said in terms of this action. For example, Senator Wyden read the report from a year ago that strikes against neighboring state and action to close the Strait of Hormuz was predicted by the Intelligence Community. And the President says nobody knew. My question is, did you tell him? Anybody want to answer that question?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will answer the question. So, with regard to briefings, the President gets briefings constantly about intelligence. The comment that you talked about, I have not heard, but what I can tell you is that Iran had specific plans to hit U.S. interests in energy sites across the region and that is why the Department of War and the Department of State took measures for force protection and personal protection in advance of Operation Epic Fury. I think that is what is most important,\u201d replied Director Ratcliffe.\n\n\u201cAny prediction to the President about the Strait of Hormuz? All you have to do is look at a map and see the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz. Was that part of the briefing, Director Gabbard?,\u201d Senator King followed up.\n\n\u201cDirector Radcliffe made the point here that this has long been an assessment of the IC that Iran would likely hold the Strait of Hormuz as leverage,\u201d said Director Gabbard.\n\n\u201cMy question is, was that communicated to the President in the lead up to the action?,\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cBecause of that long-standing assessment that the IC has continued to report that the Department of War took the preemptive planning measures that it did,\u201d replied Director Gabbard.\n\n\u201cWell, they stated that they did not plan for the Strait of Hormuz. The President said, \u2018who knew that was going to happen?\u2019\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes Iran, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. Senator King is also a co-sponsor to the a war powers resolution S.J. Res 104.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-hoeven-fight-for-potato-farmers-call-for-investigation-into-canadian-trade-practices", "King, Hoeven Fight for Potato Farmers, Call for Investigation into Canadian Trade Practices", "2026-03-18", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Hoeven (R-ND) led a bipartisan effort calling for an investigation into unfair Canadian trade practices that are harming U.S. potato producers. In a letter to U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Chair Amy Karpel and Commissioners David Johanson and Jason Kearns, the senators outline how Canadian federal and provincial policies impose competitive disadvantages on U.S. producers. In the letter also signed by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the senators also raise concerns regarding recent antidumping duties imposed by the Province of British Columbia on U.S. fresh potatoes, noting the antidumping policies do not reflect any realistic market conditions.\n\nAntidumping laws intend to prevent foreign producers from undercutting domestic potato farmers by selling at a cheaper price, however the senators argue current Canadian antidumping laws are misguided and harming U.S. producers.\n\n\u201cCanada is one of the most important export markets for U.S. fresh and processed potatoes, with annual trade valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A stable, transparent, and rules-based trading relationship with Canada is therefore essential to the continued viability of potato producers in our states. Unfortunately, recent developments have raised concerns among U.S. growers regarding whether current trade conditions are fair, and consistent with international law and trade agreements,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cProducers in the Upper Midwest and Northeast in particular, have emphasized the importance of understanding whether these policies are materially affecting competition, investment decisions, and long-term market balance in regions where U.S. and Canadian potato industries have historically been closely integrated,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cWe believe that Congress, the administration, and U.S. potato producers would benefit from a clear, objective, and comprehensive assessment of the facts provided by a Section 332 investigation. A Commission investigation could examine trade flows, pricing trends, cost structures, and government support measures, as well as the cumulative effects of these factors on U.S. producers, processors, and rural economies in potato-producing states,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to King and Hoeven, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nSenator King is a staunch advocate for the Maine agriculture industry. Earlier this year, he called on the Trump Administration to ensure its relief for specialty crop farmers addresses the needs of blueberry, potato, and apple farmers across Maine. He also introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) programs, which help farmers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing, or conservation practices. Last year, he introduced the American Grown Act , bipartisan legislation to prioritize domestic horticulturists and farmers, and strengthen the American floral industry. Senator King cosponsored the Honor Farmer Contracts Act which released withheld federal funding and allocated it back to farmers as Congress had intended. Additionally, he is an original sponsor of the bipartisan Dairy PRIDE Act which combats the mislabeling of non-dairy products and requires accurate labeling of dairy and non-dairy products as mislabeling is harmful to dairy farmers selling their products in a crowded marketplace. Senator King also cosponsored the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give milk producers a greater voice in dairy pricing.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chair Karpel and Commissioners Johanson and Kearns:\n\nWe write as United States Senators representing states with significant potato production to respectfully request that the United States International Trade Commission initiate a fact-finding investigation pursuant to Section 332 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to examine the trade conditions affecting the U.S. potato industry in relation to Canada.\n\nCanada is one of the most important export markets for U.S. fresh and processed potatoes, with annual trade valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A stable, transparent, and rules-based trading relationship with Canada is therefore essential to the continued viability of potato producers in our states. Unfortunately, recent developments have raised concerns among U.S. growers regarding whether current trade conditions are fair, and consistent with international law and trade agreements.\n\nPotato producers across the Upper Midwest, the Northeast, and other potato-producing regions have long raised concerns about competitive disadvantages in the U.S. market that may be linked to Canadian federal or provincial policies. These concerns include the potential impact of government programs, freight or transportation advantages, and other structural supports that may affect production costs or pricing behavior. When combined with exchange rate dynamics, these factors may be contributing to market distortions that allow Canadian potatoes to be sold in the United States at prices U.S. growers struggle to match.\n\nProducers in the Upper Midwest and Northeast in particular, have emphasized the importance of understanding whether these policies are materially affecting competition, investment decisions, and long-term market balance in regions where U.S. and Canadian potato industries have historically been closely integrated.\n\nAs well, we are concerned by the continued application\u2014and recent escalation\u2014of antidumping duties imposed by the Province of British Columbia on certain U.S. fresh potatoes. Although these duties stem from an antidumping determination made more than four decades ago, changes implemented in mid-2025 dramatically increased the applicable trigger price. Growers in Washington State report that the new trigger price exceeds any recent market price for the affected varieties, sizes, and packaging, effectively shutting U.S. potatoes out of the British Columbia market and resulting in millions of dollars in lost exports. These actions raise serious questions, and We believe it is appropriate for the Commission to examine the origins, administration, and present-day impacts of this long-standing antidumping measure.\n\nWe believe that Congress, the administration, and U.S. potato producers would benefit from a clear, objective, and comprehensive assessment of the facts provided by a Section 332 investigation, particularly ahead of the upcoming USMCA joint review. A Commission investigation could examine trade flows, pricing trends, cost structures, and government support measures, as well as the cumulative effects of these factors on U.S. producers, processors, and rural economies in potato-producing states.\n\nThank you for your consideration of this request, and we appreciate the Commission\u2019s longstanding role in providing Congress with rigorous, nonpartisan trade analysis.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-risch-seek-to-correct-veteran-burial-benefits-disparity-through-bipartisan-bill", "King, Risch Seek to Correct Veteran Burial Benefits Disparity Through Bipartisan Bill", "2026-03-17", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, and Jim Risch (R-ID) are introducing bipartisan legislation to correct a disparity in funeral and burial benefits for veterans who die from service-connected injuries when compared to non-service related causes. The Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act would make sure that veterans who pass away due to service-related causes get the recognition they deserve for the sacrifices they made by receiving higher burial benefits compared to non-service-related deaths.\n\nIn 2020, Congress passed legislation that increased burial benefits for non-service-connected deaths and tied them to inflation. As a result, the benefit amount for non-service-connected deaths now exceeds that for service-connected deaths, which is capped at $2,000. The Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act corrects this imbalance by increasing service-connected benefits from $2,000 to $3,000 and tying them to the same inflation adjustment as the non-service-connected benefit.\n\n\u201cVeterans who die as a result of their service to our nation deserve to be honored appropriately, and their families deserve our full support,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act corrects an unintended disparity between service and non-service related deaths to even out the burial benefits for these veterans who served our country. On behalf of a grateful nation, it is the least we can do for these families.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur nation\u2019s veterans answered the call to serve and made unimaginable sacrifices for our freedoms,\u201d said Senator Risch. \u201cMy Veteran Burial Benefit Correction Act ensures our veterans who are injured or wounded during their service are laid to rest with honor and dignity.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d On the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in TAP classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-re-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expanding-resources-for-public-health-emergency-preparedness", "King, Colleagues Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill Expanding Resources for Public Health Emergency Preparedness", "2026-03-16", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is re-introducing legislation to strengthen and expand wastewater monitoring systems as a method to track and prevent serious public health emergencies. The Public Health Response and Emergency Detection through Integrated Wastewater Community Testing (PREDICT) Act would authorize wastewater infectious disease surveillance efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\n\nWastewater monitoring analyzes sewage to detect viruses and bacteria circulating in a community. Individuals infected with diseases such as measles, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A can shed viral or bacterial material through everyday activities, even if they do not show symptoms. Tracking wastewater helps public health officials identify potential outbreaks earlier and respond quicker to protect communities.\n\n\u201cProtecting the health of Maine people\u2014and all Americans\u2014is essential to the health of our communities, and information and research is the key to getting and staying ahead of threats,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cBy building on the lessons we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the PREDICT Act will expand the scope of wastewater study to better detect infectious diseases from our communities before they become widespread. I am proud to re-introduce this bill and work together with my colleagues across the aisle on smart, science-focused legislation that will work to prevent dangerous public health emergencies.\u201d\n\nMore specifically, the PREDICT Act would:\n\nDirect the CDC to award grants to state, tribal, and local health departments, educational institutions, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships to establish, maintain, or improve wastewater monitoring activities..\n\nSupport advanced testing capabilities so laboratories can detect new pathogens quickly and simultaneously track multiple infectious diseases using consistent testing methods.\n\nImprove coverage and transparency by ensuring nationwide geographic representation and create a timely, accessible data dashboard for state and local public health officials.\n\nPromote innovation and flexibility by directing the CDC to issue guidance supporting new technologies and adaptable surveillance systems.\n\nRequire a national strategic plan outlining how the CDC will strengthen wastewater monitoring nationwide and maintain an early-warning system capable of detecting emerging health threats.\n\nIn addition to King, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Corey Booker (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Budd, Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tim Scott (R-SC).\n\n\u201cAs we\u2019ve seen in recent years, the threat of infectious disease and public health crises remains an ongoing challenge that requires a well-prepared public health system. Wastewater surveillance systems are vital tools that help warn communities early,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead the charge and work across the aisle to reintroduce this legislation so we can continue protecting our communities from the spread of disease and ensure public health officials have the tools they need to detect threats early and keep people safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving our ability to track the spread of infectious diseases through our wastewater systems is becoming increasingly important for not only the health and the safety of American families, but also our national security. I am proud to join Senators Booker and Scott in introducing this critical legislation to strengthen our nation\u2019s readiness and increase public transparency to help prevent serious public health emergencies,\u201d said Senator Budd.\n\n\u201cWastewater often provides early warning signs that infectious diseases could be spreading through our communities. Early detection tools are the first line of defense for families and public health officials. We must keep these monitoring capabilities up-to-date. This legislation would improve current methods to track the spread of infectious diseases and put better measures in place to prepare for public health emergencies,\u201d said Senator Wicker.\n\n\u201cWastewater monitoring provides communities with an early warning when infectious diseases are spreading,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cAs South Carolina continues responding to the measles outbreak, it\u2019s clear that early detection tools are critical to protecting families and helping public health officials respond quickly to emerging threats. The PREDICT Act builds on proven methods to track infectious diseases, improve transparency, and ensure our nation is better prepared for future public health emergencies.\u201d\n\n\u201cVerily is proud to support the PREDICT Act as a vital step toward ensuring a robust national public health capability that provides transparent and trusted real-time data for decision-making. This legislation bolsters the tools every community needs to identify infectious disease threats to prevent illness across the nation,\u201d said Dr. Andrew Trister the Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Verily.\n\nSenator King is a leader on improving our infectious disease monitoring and prevention efforts. In addition to being a previous author of the PREDICT Act, Senator King has led previous letters in Fiscal Years (FY) 2026, 2025, and 2024 advocating for increased funding and improvements to the CDC\u2019s infectious disease wastewater surveillance work. Senator King also successfully included in the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (Sec. 733) a provision that would require the Department of Defense to initiate an infectious disease wastewater surveillance pilot program. Senator King is a co-lead on the Kay Hagan Tick Act, which has improved tickborne disease monitoring efforts under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, Senator King has previously authorization efforts of the SMASH Act, which has provided authorities for CDC to fund mosquito prevention programs.\n\nSenator King also worked to strengthen public health infrastructure and provide the necessary healthcare and medical resources to Maine communities. King worked to negotiate the American Rescue Plan which provided critical funding for vaccine distribution efforts, in addition to helping states and communities survive the economic toll of the pandemic. He also stressed the need to continue exercising the Defense Production Act (DPA) authorities to boost domestic manufacturing of critical COVID-19 resources when demand wanes to ensure the country can respond to unforeseen pandemic developments in the future, and he similarly urged the administration recently to better address domestic capacity to manufacture supplies for future response to infectious disease threats.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-expiration-date-nears-king-and-colleagues-demand-hhs-immediately-release-federal-funding-for-family-planning-services", "As Expiration Date Nears, King and Colleagues Demand HHS Immediately Release Federal Funding for Family Planning Services", "2026-03-12", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Patty Murray (D-WA) are leading dozens of their Senate colleagues in pushing for the release of federal funding that supports comprehensive, confidential family planning and related preventive health services. In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Senators demand that HHS take immediate action to protect Americans\u2019 uninterrupted access to these services by awarding a one-year full funding extension for all current Title X grantees. In their letter, the senators highlight the importance of Title X, helping to provide broader access to important services that have resulted in improved health outcomes like lower maternal and infant mortality, fewer premature births, and lower rates of cancer.\n\nLast year, the Trump Administration withheld millions in funding from almost one in five Title X grantees, placing over 840,000 people at risk of losing access to Title X-funded care and forcing some sites to close. While the administration restored funding to these groups by December 2025, many grantees were forced to serve the same need with reduced funding. Now, Title X grantees\u2019 current funding is set to lapse on March 31, 2026.\n\nTitle X funds support the 18 clinics Maine Family Planning (MFP) operates, MFP\u2019s mobile medical unit, subcontracts with Planned Parenthood\u2019s four sites in Southern Maine, 31 Federally Qualified Health Centers, and 8 school-based health centers, collectively serving roughly 30,000 patients annually. If HHS fails to act and funding for these Title X grants lapses on March 31, Maine Family Planning would lose access to nearly $2 million in previously-approved, annual funding in addition to funding cuts because of the Republican-passed H.R. 1 last July.\n\n\u201cIn short, these services not only make our communities healthier, but also improve educational and economic attainment for women and their families,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cAny gap in Title X funding could result in over two million patients losing access to contraception and preventative care, worsen maternal health outcomes, and increase sexually transmitted infections,\u201d the senators continued. \u201cIt will also risk layoffs of essential health care providers and staff who provide care for patients at thousands of Title X clinics nationwide, worsening the national maternal and reproductive health care crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cA lapse in funding caused by this administration would deny patients and their families the dignity of affordable health care and irreparably worsen the health care crisis that President Trump and Republicans in Congress have already exacerbated by enacting the largest cuts to health care in American history,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cIt is imperative that the Department act now and issue a one-year extension of Title X funding.\u201d\n\nSince 1970, the Title X Family Planning Program has provided lifesaving family planning and preventive health services for low-income or uninsured patients. Title X services include contraception, cervical cancer screenings, pregnancy testing and counseling, and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment.\n\n\u201cFor the entirety of his career in the U.S. Senate, and during his two terms as Governor of the State of Maine, Senator King has been a staunch supporter of Title X, the nation's family planning program. As the Title X grantee for the state, Maine Family Planning is grateful for Senator King\u2019s willingness to express his support for this vital health care program by co-leading the letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy. The letter seeks to answer the simple questions: Why has HHS withheld guidance to Title X grantees nationwide on standard applications for the fifth year of our five-year contracts, and when will they provide it? The clock is ticking, and funding for an essential program that serves roughly 30,000 Mainers annually will run out at the end of March,\u201d said George Hill, President and CEO of Maine Family Planning.\n\nIn addition to King, Murray, and, Hirono the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nFor nearly 60 years, the Title X Family Planning Program (\u201cTitle X\u201d) has provided millions of working Americans with access to family planning and essential preventive care services, like cancer screenings. Congress recently renewed its longstanding support for the program in the latest funding package. But under your leadership, the Department of Health and Human Services (\u201cHHS\u201d) has so far failed to release annual funding for Title X clinics across the country, as it ordinarily would have by this point in the year. Existing awards are set to lapse on March 31, 2026, and any loss of congressionally appropriated Title X funding will hurt millions of patients and significantly weaken communities\u2019 access to comprehensive family planning services. As such, we demand that the Department take immediate action to protect Americans\u2019 uninterrupted access to these critical services by awarding a one-year full funding extension for all current Title X grantees.\n\nTitle X is the only dedicated source of funding for domestic family planning services and preventive health care. Since its establishment in 1970, this program has provided vital reproductive health care services to patients at little to no cost, covering services like contraception, cervical cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and pregnancy testing and counseling. Access to these services improves health outcomes, resulting in lower maternal and infant mortality, fewer premature births, and lower rates of cancer.[1] In short, these services not only make our communities healthier, but also improve educational and economic attainment for women and their families.[2] Title X funding also saves taxpayer dollars elsewhere in the health care system, with every dollar spent on public funding for family planning programs saving at least seven dollars in Medicaid costs.[3]\n\nIn 2022, HHS awarded five-year grants to over 85 Title X grant recipients to deliver affordable, patient-centered family planning and preventive health services across the United States and its territories. Without immediate action, funding for grants will lapse on March 31, 2026. Title X grantees were told that non-compete continuation application guidance was required to be released by HHS no later than December 31, 2025. As of current date, that guidance has not been released, creating widespread uncertainty for grantees, patients, and providers with less than a month of funding remaining. If the administration fails to meet the April 1, 2026, deadline for releasing Title X funding to the current grantees, the repercussions for critical health care will be catastrophic. Any gap in Title X funding could result in over two million patients losing access to contraception and preventative care, worsen maternal health outcomes, and increase sexually transmitted infections. It will also risk layoffs of essential health care providers and staff who provide care for patients at thousands of Title X clinics nationwide, worsening the national maternal and reproductive health care crisis.\n\nThese harms are not hypothetical. In 2019, the first Trump administration finalized regulations, which had lasting consequences for the program. Over 1,000 clinics became ineligible for funding. Last April, the Trump administration withheld all or partial funding from a quarter of all Title X grantees for months, cutting off over 840,000 patients\u2019 access to contraceptive care and forcing Title X sites to close.[4] When funding was finally restored, clinics were forced to try to meet the same need but with significantly reduced funding.\n\nThis delay is already causing costly uncertainty for clinics across the country and the patients that they serve. A lapse in funding caused by this administration would deny patients and their families the dignity of affordable health care and irreparably worsen the health care crisis that President Trump and Republicans in Congress have already exacerbated by enacting the largest cuts to health care in American history. It is imperative that the Department act now and issue a one-year extension of Title X funding.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-highlights-impacts-of-extraordinary-military-resources-moving-to-middle-east", "King Highlights Impacts of Extraordinary Military Resources Moving to Middle East", "2026-03-12", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), emphasized Russia\u2019s current warfare capabilities in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Baltics, and the far-reaching impacts of America\u2019s heightening military strikes in Iran. In a conversation with General Alexus Grynkewich, United States Air Force Commander of United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, King also questioned the impacts to Ukraine\u2019s fight against Russia\u2019s illegal invasion as American assets are moved into the Middle East theater for the campaign against Iran.\n\nSenator King began his questioning by asking whether the Russians are using the Iran military operation as an opportunity to conduct cyber attacks against NATO allies.\n\nSenator King began his questioning, \u201cGeneral Grynkowich, to what extent are the Russians -- there has been discussion about this -- probing in eastern Europe and doing asymmetric warfare in the Baltics, for example, in Poland? Disinformation, cyber-attacks, even drone incursions what are the Russians up to, are they building troops up along their western border?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes Senator, right now we see a fairly robust amount of what we call Russian hybrid activities or asymmetric activities,\u201d General Grynkewich replied. \u201cYou mentioned some of those whether it is information operations or sabotage and those types of things. There have been several incidences in the Baltics, and Poland in particular, in the last several months since I have been in command. As far as conventional true buildups, most of the Russian ground forces are focused on Ukraine. We do not see significant Russian buildups right now. But I know there are concerns those could be coming at some point in the future. Particularly once Russia is able to reconstitute its forces.\u201d\n\nSenator King then asked the General about the primary positions of air defense capabilities in the EUCOM theater and how that impacts Ukraine\u2019s defense.\n\nSenator King continued, \u201cAnd if President Zelenskyy was here, what would be the one thing he would he tell us that he needed right now? I suspect you hear that regularly.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe would ask for air defense capability based on the Russian attacks on his heating and electrical infrastructure,\u201d General Grynkewich replied.\n\nSenator King followed up, \u201cA great deal of capability is now tied up in the Gulf region, is that correct?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator yes, we have a robust defense set of air capability in the Middle East,\u201d General Grynkewich confirmed. \u201cAnd I have used some of our EUCOM defense capabilities to defend some of our NATO allies as well.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the Middle East?\u201d Senator King clarified.\n\n\u201cNear the Middle East if you will, the eastern Mediterranean,\u201d General Grynkewich answered.\n\nSenator King clarified again, \u201cOkay so, air defense capability has been moved towards the Middle East as a result of this conflict?\u201d\n\nGeneral Grynkewich replied, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes Iran, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. Senator King is also a co-sponsor to the a war powers resolution S.J. Res 104.\n\nSenator King has also been a vocal supporter for Ukraine, voting in support of bipartisan legislation that would help Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan defend themselves. In the days prior to that vote, he spoke on the Senate floor to his colleague that Ukraine\u2019s fight is a \u201cbattle for the soul of Democracy in the world.\u201d In January 2023, Senator King travelled with Armed Services Chairmen Jack Reed (D-R) in a visit to meet Ukraine President Vladimir Zelenskyy in Kiev. Most recently, he joined CBS\u2019 60 Minutes to explain why walking away from Ukraine would be the nation\u2019s greatest geopolitical mistake since World War II.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-murphy-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-small-farmers-from-financial-risk", "King, Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Small Farmers from Financial Risk", "2026-03-11", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) have introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) programs, which help farmers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing, or conservation practices. The Agriculture Management Assistance Act would boost funding for the AMA to $30 million, increase funding limits for farmers to $200,000 over five years, and expand the eligible uses for these funds to include: soil health improvements, composting, implementing organic farming, developing value-added processing, and food safety certification in addition to existing authorized uses such as water management structure and soil erosion control.\n\nThe AMA is only available to 16 states\u2014including Maine\u2014that have historically low rates of participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s farmers are the backbone of our rural communities, and they deserve the same safeguards and assistance that we provide other industries across the country,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Agricultural Management Assistance Act will help ensure that Maine farms have the tools they need to manage financial risks, handle nature\u2019s evolving challenges, and continue to produce the food that supports our local economies and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cConnecticut\u2019s small farmers are really important to the diversity of our state\u2019s food supply, but they face unique challenges, especially as climate change worsens,\u201d said Senator Murphy. \u201cOur bill provides small farmers with the support they need to navigate financial risks and invests in making their farms more resilient and efficient in the long term.\u201d\n\nTo be eligible for Agriculture Management Assistance Act, producers must:\n\nBe engaged in livestock or agricultural production.\n\nHave an interest in the farming operation associated with the land being offered for AMA enrollment.\n\nHave control of the land for the term of the proposed contract.\n\nBe in compliance with the provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including the provisions for sharing AMA payments on a fair and equitable basis.\n\nBe within appropriate payment limitation requirements.\n\nSenator King is a staunch advocate for the Maine agriculture industry. Earlier this year, he called on the Trump Administration to ensure its relief for specialty crop farmers addresses the needs of blueberry, potato, and apple farmers across Maine. Last year, he introduced the American Grown Act , bipartisan legislation to prioritize domestic horticulturists and farmers, and strengthen the American floral industry. Senator King cosponsored the Honor Farmer Contracts Act which released withheld federal funding and allocated it back to farmers as Congress had intended. Additionally, he is an original sponsor of the bipartisan Dairy PRIDE Act which combats the mislabeling of non-dairy products and requires accurate labeling of dairy and non-dairy products as mislabeling is harmful to dairy farmers selling their products in a crowded marketplace. Senator King also cosponsored the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give milk producers a greater voice in dairy pricing.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/the-american-people-can-handle-the-truth-king-lashes-out-at-administration-efforts-to-erase-american-history-at-national-parks", "\u201cThe American People Can Handle the Truth!\u201d King Lashes Out at Administration Efforts to Erase American History at National Parks", "2026-03-11", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "To watch the floor speech, click here\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate Floor to criticize the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to whitewash American history at our national parks.\n\nThe floor speech comes on the heels of a letter he sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, King requests information pertaining to Executive Order 14253 \u201cRestoring Truth and Sanity to American History,\u201d and Secretarial Order 3431, \u201cRestoring Truth and Sanity to American History\u201d which together directs the Department to remove or alter properties that present American history in a negative light. He also previously shared remarks on social media last week after a rally to support truth-telling at America\u2019s National Parks.\n\nThe full transcript of Senator King\u2019s floor speech from this afternoon is below.\n\n+++\n\n\u201cMr. President, I'd like to begin by talking a little bit about history generally, rather than the topic that has been the subject of the prior remarks, and then get into the question that's been raised today. There are several cliches about history and one of the problems with cliches is, you hear them so often that they lose their meaning, and you just sort of slough them off, but these two, I think, do have some meaning, and they have become cliches because they're true.\n\n\u201cOne is, if you ignore history, you're doomed to repeat it. I've been hearing that all my life. If you don't know your history and if you ignore history, you're doomed to repeat it. The second is attributed to mark Twain, who said, history doesn't always repeat itself, but it usually rhymes. And that means that things that have happened in the past may not be exactly what happens in the future, but the history predicts the future. I recently finished a biography of Cicero, the great Roman statesman, and he said something about history that really stuck with me, which is, if you don't know the history of your civilization, you live your whole life as a child. I thought that was a really important insight, because what that's really sayings, all you have is your life, if you're 50 years old, or 40 years old 25 years old, that' your sum knowledge, if you don't know the history that goes back five years, ten years, 100 years, or 1,000 years. If you don't know your history, you live your whole life as a child.\n\n\u201cAnd what we're seeing in this process at our national parks is a kind of lie to try to erase history, to try to keep us from understanding the historical events that shaped this country, is a lie. It's not true if our parks and our historical sites are supposed to enrich our lives and tell us about the background and the history of our country, if you leave out the important parts, it's a damned lie, and that's what's happening today. We have a fantastic history. We have a great history. We have an extraordinary history in this country of triumphs, of achievements, but we also have dark periods of our history. And indeed I would argue one of our great triumphs is overcoming those dark periods in our history, to try to whitewash, and eliminate, and cover-up the history of our slavery is to ignore the first third of our country's history altogether and the cause of the greatest cataclysm that this country has ever faced. And to eliminate, for example, a display about slavery at Harper's ferry is just flat ridiculous. Harpers Ferry is there because of slavery because that's where John Brown's raid was and that was the issue at that moment. It's like saying you can't have a model rocket at cape Kennedy. I mean, it's just ridiculous to try to make that kind of change. And the problem is if we don't know our history, as I go back to my early cliches, we may be doomed to repeat it or some dark version thereof.\n\n\u201cThe President and the secretary have talked about not wanting people to be uncomfortable and feel bad about their history. People should feel uncomfortable about slavery. They should understand that was part of the first third of the history of this country and they should understand the evils. One of the most moving experiences I ever had when I went on a civil rights pilgrimage several years ago, and we went to Montgomery. And in Montgomery there was a monument to lynching and hanging from the ceiling of this building, they looked like large coffins, and they had the names on them from virtually every state, all the way up until the 1950s, where people were lynched by mobs. It was a shock, but it was something that educated me and made we understand the depth of this issue and how important it was to the early part of the history of this country. I had an experience that directly informs what I'm talking about today.\n\n\u201cSeveral years ago, I was on a trip with a group of members of this body to Europe to I think it was a NATO conference and on the way back we stopped at the Frankfurt airport and there was a fellow there who worked at the airport who was sort of guiding us through to get to our gate to come home. And I got to chatting with him, and he told me something amazing. He said when he was in high school in Germany, he was required to go to a concentration camp. He was required to see what his country had done the Jews and others in that incredibly dark period of German history. The Germans are requiring their people to face their dark history and we're trying to cover up our dark history. I just find the contrast extraordinary. You learn from your history. You learn from the dark periods. And here's a perfect example, the greatest sentence ever written in English, \u201cwe hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,\u201d was written on a desk by a slaveholder and the desk was built by a slave at Monticello. That's an irony, that's perplexing, that\u2019s difficult, it's uncomfortable, but it's part of the reality. It's part of the reality of our history of our country and it's something we have to conjure with.\n\n\u201cWhen I was a boy growing up, I used to go to rotary club meetings with my father and the prize for the people who came the furthest for the rotary meeting was a copy of George Washington's will, which is a very interesting document because in his will he freed his slaves. Again, that\u2019s a part of our history and we need to understand that. We need to understand that people who came before us went through difficult periods and had to face difficult issues. Whitewashing history, throughout history, is part of the authoritarian's playbook. To try to manipulate history to have all glory go to the leader, all glory go to the government and have people not be uncomfortable about what went on with the past so they won't be uncomfortable about what is being done to them by an authoritarian government. The glory of our country is a journey to a more perfect union. Ever since I first read the constitution in law school, it was very telling that the framers used the term more perfect union. They didn't say perfect union or toward a union, they saw America as a journey. They saw America as moving through time by moving through and progressing over time. When the constitution was first written, the only people that could vote were white male property owners. Since that time, through tremendous struggle, and sometimes violence, ask John Lewis or the early suffragettes who were imprisoned. That circle of who could vote, of who could participate, has gradually grown and that is the heart of the American journey and that's the heart of what we must understand and recognize in order to know our history and not live our entire lives as a child. What is going on now, I believe, is an affront to the American people. And what it's really saying is that the American people can't handle the truth like Jack Nicholson in the movie, you can\u2019t handle the truth. The American people can handle the truth, they can understand what happened, they can understand why it was evil and how the struggles that took place in order to overcome the dark portions of our history. It's underestimating our people. They need to understand. We all need to understand from whence we came. And I'll conclude by saying again, the glory of our country is the journey, including the hard parts, toward a more perfect union.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-curtis-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-cut-national-debt-and-strengthen-americas-fiscal-health", "King, Curtis, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Cut National Debt and Strengthen America\u2019s Fiscal Health", "2026-03-10", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) are introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen America\u2019s fiscal health and stabilize the nation\u2019s finances for future generations. The Fiscal Commission Act bill would create a bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission tasked with finding legislative solutions to stabilize spending and evaluate revenues with the goal of decreasing the national debt. The commission would be required to hold field hearings and complete a public awareness and education campaign on its work.\n\nThe national debt now exceeds $38.8 trillion, which is approximately 124% of the entire U.S. economy. Both parties are responsible\u2014fiscal policies enacted by both Democrats and Republicans have led to soaring annual budget deficits, which totaled $1.7 trillion in calendar year 2025 alone. It\u2019s projected that the federal government will spend more than $1 trillion on interest on the debt alone in 2026, making it a larger expenditure than Medicare and national defense, and second only to Social Security.\n\n\u201cRight now, the national debt breaks down to over $113,000 for every man woman and child in this country \u2013 that\u2019s overwhelming and unsustainable. To add insult to injury, payments on interest alone\u2014just this year\u2014have become a larger source of spending than both Medicare and national defense spending,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Fiscal Commission Act will ensure that our government works in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to find legislative solutions that stabilize spending and decrease the national debt, since both parties dug this hole and we need to work together to get out of it. This bill is an important step forward in fiscal responsibility for future generations and most importantly moves the country in a direction where the government is a more responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur national debt has ballooned to over $38 trillion\u2014a staggering figure that threatens higher costs for families, fewer economic opportunities, and a heavier burden for future generations,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cOur children and grandchildren need real reform, which is why we\u2019re introducing the Fiscal Commission Act. This legislation creates a bipartisan, bicameral process to develop meaningful solutions to confront our unsustainable debt, safeguard our economic strength, and ensure fiscal stability well into the future.\u201d\n\nJoining Curtis and King as cosponsors of the legislation are Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Todd Young (R-IN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mark Warner (D-VA).\n\nMore specifically, the legislation would:\n\nEstablish a 16-member bipartisan, bicameral commission consisting of 12 elected officials and four outside experts.\n\nThe Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, Senate Majority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader each appoint four individuals to the Commission, of which three must be members from their respective chambers and one must be an outside expert.\n\nRequire that the commission produce a report and propose legislation aiming to improve the long-term fiscal condition of the Federal Government, stabilize the ratio of public debt to GDP within a 15-year period, and improve the solvency of Federal trust funds over a 75-year period.\n\nThe Commission would also be required to vote on approval of the report and legislative language by May 17, 2027.\n\nNecessitate any report or legislative language produced by the Commission be approved by a majority of the 12 elected official members, with at least two being from each party.\n\nIf the Commission approves proposed legislative language, it will receive expedited consideration in both chambers.\n\nEnsure only a simple majority would be needed for the motion to proceed, which would be privileged. However, 60 votes would be required to invoke cloture prior to final passage in the Senate.\n\nCompanion legislation with more than 40 bipartisan cosponsors has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nA one-pager on the legislation is available here, and the full bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-golden-collins-demand-irs-re-open-bangor-and-augusta-tax-assistance-centers", "King, Golden, Collins Demand IRS re-open Bangor and Augusta Tax Assistance Centers", "2026-03-10", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representative Jared Golden are calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to immediately reverse the closure of its Augusta and Bangor Tax Assistance Centers (TAC).\n\nTACs are physical offices which offer assistance to Mainers who lack stable internet access, need help navigating technology, or otherwise need in-person assistance. With the Presque Isle TAC having previously been shuttered and Downeast Maine long lacking its own TAC, some rural Mainers already traveled hundreds of miles to access the IRS\u2019 services in Bangor. If the Bangor and Augusta offices \u2014 the only locations available in the Second District \u2014 were to remain closed, a resident of Fort Kent could face a roughly ten-hour, 600-mile trip to Maine\u2019s only remaining TAC in South Portland.\n\nThe trio recently contacted the IRS after receiving reports from constituents that the TACs they planned on using this filing season had closed. Following confirmation of the closures from the agency, the lawmakers are now making the case that rural Maine deserves the same quality of assistance as those living in the southern part of the state \u2014 especially for navigating the new tax provisions created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n\u201cTACs provide critical services to rural communities and seniors,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201c...We ask that you restaff and re-open the TACs in Bangor and Augusta in a timely manner, and work with the Maine Congressional Delegation on a longer-term strategy to avoid future prolonged disruptions to these services in Maine.\u201d\n\nIn addition to asking for a long-term plan to re-open the Presque Isle TAC, the lawmakers are also pressing the IRS for answers on how the federal hiring freeze affected TAC staffing in Maine, whether Mainers who are unable to access tax assistance will receive an extended deadline to file, and what the agency\u2019s plans are to help affected Mainers in the meantime.\n\nLast year, the IRS rolled back a previously scheduled closure of its Bangor TAC after outreach from Maine\u2019s delegation.\n\nThe full letter can be found here, and is included in full below:\n\n+++\n\nMarch 10, 2026\n\nThe Honorable Scott Bessent\n\nSecretary and Acting IRS Commissioner\n\nU.S. Department of the Treasury\n\n1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20220\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nWe write to share our concerns regarding the closures of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TAC) in Bangor and Augusta, Maine. TACs provide critical services to rural communities and seniors. Now, with the 2026 filing season in full swing, many of our constituents must travel for four and a half hours and over nearly 300 miles to Portland for in-person services. We urge you to reopen the Augusta and Bangor TACs without delay.\n\nRecently, the Maine Congressional Delegation received outreach from constituents reporting the closures of the Augusta and Bangor TACs. Previously, the Bangor TAC was at risk of closure in December 2024. The Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the IRS urging reconsideration of this decision. We deeply appreciate that the IRS ultimately kept the Bangor TAC in service through the 2025 filing season. However, unfortunately, we received confirmation from the IRS Office of Legislative Affairs that both the Bangor and Augusta TACs will be closed during this tax filing season, absent the rapid hiring and onboarding of new staff. South Portland is now the only city in Maine with a TAC that provides in-person services.\n\nSome of Maine\u2019s most rural counties relied on the Bangor and Augusta TACs as their primary service center. Residents in Piscataquis County, which is 100 percent rural, regularly used Bangor and Augusta as their major service centers. Augusta was the closest TAC for residents of Washington County, the easternmost county in the United States, after the closure of the Bangor TAC. Washington County residents had to commute over two hours to Augusta to receive basic tax services and now will have to drive over three hours to South Portland. The same is true for Aroostook County, the second largest county east of the Mississippi River by total area, where some Mainers traveled over 200 miles to receive assistance from the Bangor TAC. Although the Office of Legislative Affairs indicated that taxpayers can use online resources, such as IRS.gov, for tax filing guidance in the interim, we fear that these resources may not be sufficient for taxpayers with complicated situations or those seeking to better understand the changes to the tax code as a result of the new tax provisions Congress approved last July in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Further, many of these communities have limited Internet and broadband access, making in-person TAC services essential.\n\nAs you know, the Office of Management and Budget announced a federal government-wide freeze on hiring, which also affects the IRS. This hiring freeze does not have a clear end date, creating uncertainty for our constituents in the middle of tax season. For these reasons, we ask that you restaff and re-open the TACs in Bangor and Augusta in a timely manner, and work with the Maine Congressional Delegation on a longer-term strategy to avoid future prolonged disruptions to these services in Maine. In addition, the Congressional Delegation would also value the opportunity to work with you to find a long-term solution that would reopen the Presque Isle TAC in Aroostook County and ensure that it can sustainably provide in-person services.\n\nTo get a better understanding of how the IRS plans to provide adequate taxpayer services to our constituents throughout this filing season and beyond, please provide us answers to the following questions by Tuesday, March 31st, 2026:\n\nIs the IRS committed to meeting the demand and providing the same level of service in person, online, and by phone?\n\nWhat is the IRS\u2019s in-person assistance strategy?\n\nHow many Mainers have utilized services at the following TACs since 2008? Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, and South Portland.\n\nWhat steps is the Southern Portland TAC taking to meet increased volume of service inquiries, including those which are in-person that go beyond the services offered online and by telephone?\n\nWill residents be eligible for an extension to file their taxes if they are unable to receive in-person services at the South Portland TAC that goes beyond the automatic October 15th exemption that taxpayers can request?\n\nWhile the Bangor and Augusta TACs are closed, how does the IRS plan to provide sufficient taxpayer services to rural Mainers with limited or no broadband access?\n\nDid Treasury include TACs in their request for exemptions to the federal hiring freeze? If not, is there an indication when the federal hiring freeze will be lifted so the Bangor and Augusta TACs can be restaffed? Does the IRS have any plans to temporarily staff the Bangor and Augusta TACs in the interim?\n\nHow can the IRS prevent future TAC closures that are a result of staffing shortages?\n\nWhat plans, if any, does the IRS have to expand TACs in Maine?\n\nThank you for considering our request, and we appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-bicameral-amicus-brief-challenging-trumps-plans-for-illegal-monument-on-national-park-service-land", "King Leads Bicameral Amicus Brief Challenging Trump\u2019s Plans for Illegal Monument on National Park Service Land", "2026-03-09", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, is joining several of his Senate and House colleagues in filing an amicus brief that would put a stop to President Trump\u2019s plan to construct a commemorative arch on federal property. The amicus brief argues that the President\u2019s plan is illegal unless Congress authorizes it. Joining Senator King as the House of Representatives leader in this challenge is Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA2), who serves as Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee. The amicus brief supports a lawsuit brought by a group of Vietnam War veterans and a retired architectural historian to block construction of the proposed arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.\n\nSpecifically, the case concerns whether President Trump can bypass federal law requiring congressional approval for monuments on federal land in Washington, D.C. The Commemorative Works Act and 40 U.S.C. \u00a7 8106 both require express authorization from Congress before any monument or structure is built on federal reservations, parks, or public grounds in the nation's capital. The Independence Arch, slated for Memorial Circle in Lady Bird Johnson Park, has received no such authorization. In response to an inquiry from Senator King on this matter, the independent Congressional Research Service found that \u201cthe CWA would appear to govern the construction of the arch. Likewise, \u00a7 8106 would appear to require congressional authorization to construct a memorial arch in Memorial Circle.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a straightforward example of checks and balances, and an exercise of Congressional authority \u2013 the Commemorative Works Act could not be clearer: any structure on grounds like this must be approved by Congress on behalf of the American people,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWhether it is an arch, an obelisk, a ballroom, or a statue, this is a decision that cannot be made unilaterally when it is on public lands and protected by statute.\u201d\n\nThe Independence Arch would be constructed in Memorial Circle within Lady Bird Johnson Park, which falls under Area I of the Commemorative Works Act, requiring additional congressional approval for any new commemorative works. Since the CWA's enactment in 1986, Congress has authorized more than 40 commemorative works through the statutory process. The law establishes consultation requirements with expert commissions and multiple layers of review to ensure new monuments reflect lasting national significance and preserve the integrity of the city\u2019s original layout.\n\nIn addition to King and Huffman, the amicus brief is being supported by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and U.S Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), and Maxine Dexter (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the amicus brief can be found here. The full findings of the Congressional Research Service can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-america-must-improve-drone-capabilities-as-technology-changes-cost-and-agility-of-war", "King: America Must Improve Drone Capabilities as Technology Changes Cost and Agility of War", "2026-03-06", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) emphasized the critical need to improve drone manufacturing capabilities as changing technologies impact the cost and methods of 21st century wars. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King questioned Mr. Travis Metz, Drone Dominance Program Manager at the Department of Defense (DoD) and Major General Steven Marks, Director at the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group at the DoD, on the research and acquisition of cost-effective drone technology and the impact of these drones on the severity and type of military injuries.\n\nSenator King began the conversation with Metz to discuss the economic realities and current contracting system of the American defense industrial base \u2013 by pointing out that Ukraine is making drones at a fraction of the expense.\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to see a chart of number of units produced per month, in price, from the Ukrainian industry, versus what we are projecting. You mentioned that there have been -- you put out effectively a bid with a proposed price. I want to see the numbers. Can you give us that off the top of your head? How many are the Ukrainians producing a month and what do they costs, versus what we are projecting for this section one production that you have now bidding?,\u201d King questioned.\n\nMetz responded, \u201cIt's an excellent question. So, the Ukrainians last year built roughly 4.5 million drones in total, 4.4 million of them were this, in this size range. We think that they will build about 6 million this year, so 500,000 a month. Historically, most Ukrainian drones are made from components primarily from China, although as I mentioned before they are also concerned about their supply chain vulnerabilities on that. And we think that there per unit pricing, depending on the nature of the FPV, is somewhere between $500 on the low end and the low thousands on the high-end. Our program is designed to, over the six-month cycles, lower prices.\u201d\n\n\u201cLower prices from what? What are the prices now?\u201d King asked in response.\n\nMetz answered, \u201cWe are going to pay $5,000 per drone in phase one, the ones we are going to place orders this week. We intend by the end of this program -- our goal is to get down to less than $2000 for a one-way kamikaze attack drone.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou understand why this is a legitimate question. They are doing it for $500-$1,000, We are talking about $5,000. Do you believe there's a realistic path to getting it down to $2000?\u201d asked King.\n\n\u201cI do. I'm an optimist about the efficacy of the American industrial base when given a good framework and given real orders to go achieve it. I am confident that we will scale the prices down. Where the exact endpoint is, I think that's hard to know a priori. It's fair to say that I would not expect, given the way that the U.S. economy works in terms of labor rates and so forth, I would not expect us to match Chinese drone prices, \u201d Metz responded.\n\nKing concluded, \u201cI understand that, but my experience with large-scale contracting is that if you establish a number up front, miraculously, the companies find a way to meet it. Rather than waiting for them to give you the number.\u201d\n\nSenator King then shared with Chairman Wicker the high percentage of casualties in Ukraine caused by drone technologies.\n\nSenator King said, \u201cThe Wounded Warrior Project has pointed out to me that drone injuries are different than IED injuries, they\u2019re head and upper body as opposed to lower extremities. That's not necessarily a part of your mission, but I hope it is something the department is looking at, the nature of injuries, and the training necessary.\u201d\n\nChairman Wicker followed up, \u201cDo any of you want to weigh in on the question about upper body injuries and what Senator King learned from the Wounded Warrior [Project]? Any of you have any insight on that?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is something that we definitely have to go and look at, Senator. I would be interested to know a bit more about that. That is something that we've got to address as we continue to scale out these autonomous systems,\u201d General Marks replied.\n\n\u201cWell for whose ever is listening in DOD, the point that the Senator made, that someone needs to look at it,\u201d Chairman Wicker responded.\n\nSenator King concluded, \u201cSomething like 75% of the casualties in Ukraine are caused by drones.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King has previously spoken up about the emerging threats of Russia and China\u2019s development of \u201cnightmare weapon\u201d hypersonic missiles, as technology is changing the face of modern warfare around the globe. He previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-curtis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-attract-the-next-generation-of-rural-health-care-workers", "King, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Attract the \u201cNext Generation\u201d of Rural Health Care Workers", "2026-03-05", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced bipartisan legislation to help address the physician shortage that is harming the quality-of-life in rural areas. The Community TEAMS Act would expand clinical training opportunities for medical students in medically underserved communities in Maine and across the country by creating new federal grants to support partnerships between medical schools and community-based health care providers, allowing medical students to complete clinical training in rural areas where physicians are needed most. This new Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant program would enable medical schools (MD and DO) to expand clinical rotations through partnerships with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), Rural Health Clinics (RHC), and other healthcare facilities in medically underserved communities\n\n\u201cFor many people in Maine, especially in rural parts of our state, accessing basic medical care can mean driving hours for an appointment,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Community TEAMS Act will help attract the next generation of health care workers from the ground up and improve access to care for families across Maine. That\u2019s not just smart policy, that\u2019s a people-first approach that will positively impact the health, safety, and economy of our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many rural communities in Utah and across the country struggle to recruit and retain physicians,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will help train the next generation of doctors while strengthening our rural health systems and improving families\u2019 access to care.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) applauds Senators Curtis and King for their leadership in expanding clinical training opportunities where they are needed most,\u201d said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. \u201cMedical students who train in underserved communities are nearly three times more likely to remain there to practice. The Community TEAMS Act would strengthen the physician workforce while helping communities address persistent access-to-care challenges.\u201d\n\nMore specifically the Community TEAMS Act would:\n\nEstablish grants to support community-based clinical rotations for medical students in rural areas and medically underserved communities.\n\nEnable such grants to be available for consortiums that consisted of medical schools and one or more health facilities that included RHCs, FQHCs, or health facilities located in medically underserved communities.\n\nRepresenting a state with a high percentage of both rural and senior Americans, Senator King has supported increasing Maine people\u2019s access to affordable and accessible healthcare. Last year, he introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act to expand telehealth access in Maine and across the country. Additionally, Senator King introduced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, which a service that provides roughly 2.7 million veterans with access to free transportation services to VA-authorized health care appointments.\n\nRepresenting a state with a high percentage of both rural and senior Americans, Senator King has supported increasing Maine people\u2019s access to affordable and accessible healthcare. Last year, he introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act to expand telehealth access in Maine and across the country. Additionally, Senator King introduced the bipartisan Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act, which a service that provides roughly 2.7 million veterans with access to free transportation services to VA-authorized health care appointments.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-urges-administration-to-deliver-targeted-data-driven-economic-relief-for-states-blueberry-potato-apple-farmers", "Maine Delegation Urges Administration to Deliver \u201cTargeted, Data-Driven\u201d Economic Relief for State\u2019s Blueberry, Potato, Apple Farmers", "2026-03-04", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are calling on the Trump Administration to ensure its relief for specialty crop farmers addresses the needs of blueberry, potato, and apple farmers across Maine. In a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the Maine Congressional Delegation urges the administration to continue delivering targeted, data-driven support for Maine\u2019s specialty crop farmers, foresters, and fisheries so that they can withstand the economic impacts of on-the-ground, environmental realities.\n\nThe Delegation began, \u201cWe write to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that payment rates under the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program fully and accurately reflect the economic realities facing Maine producers. Given the absence of reliable, up-to-date cost-of-production and farm-gate pricing data for many specialty crops, it is essential that USDA work directly with Maine\u2019s specialty crop stakeholders to establish payment rates that meaningfully address current losses. Failure to do so risks leaving critical sectors of Maine\u2019s agricultural economy without adequate relief during a period of extraordinary financial strain.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs USDA evaluates current and future relief efforts, we strongly urge the Department to ensure that Maine\u2019s lumber and fisheries industries are not overlooked,\u201d they continued in the letter. \u201cEquity in federal relief requires that industries facing comparable trade-driven harm receive comparable support. The Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP) offered by the USDA in 2020 was invaluable for Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate USDA\u2019s prior engagement with Maine\u2019s potato, blueberry, and apple stakeholders. However, continued consultation is not simply beneficial, it is necessary to ensure that federal assistance reflects on-the-ground conditions. We urge USDA to adjust payment methodologies where needed, account for crop-specific production cycles, and expand eligibility where appropriate so that relief is both fair and economically meaningful,\u201d the Delegation wrote.\n\nThe Delegation concluded, \u201cMaine\u2019s producers are resilient, but resilience alone cannot offset sustained market disruption and escalating costs. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that USDA programs deliver the targeted, data-driven support that Maine\u2019s agricultural, forestry, and fishing sectors urgently need.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rollins:\n\nWe write to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that payment rates under the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program fully and accurately reflect the economic realities facing Maine producers. Given the absence of reliable, up-to-date cost-of-production and farm-gate pricing data for many specialty crops, it is essential that USDA work directly with Maine\u2019s specialty crop stakeholders to establish payment rates that meaningfully address current losses. Failure to do so risks leaving critical sectors of Maine\u2019s agricultural economy without adequate relief during a period of extraordinary financial strain.\n\nMaine produces nearly all of the nation\u2019s wild blueberries\u2014an industry that contributes hundreds of millions of dollars annually to the state\u2019s economy and sustains rural communities. In 2024, Maine produced approximately 85 million pounds of wild blueberries. In 2025, however, an exceptionally wet spring that disrupted pollination, followed by severe drought conditions, reduced production to roughly 54 million pounds\u2014representing an estimated $28 million loss in revenue. These losses compound years of declining markets and rising labor and input costs. Moreover, because wild blueberries operate on a biennial crop-and-prune cycle, basing ASCF payments solely on reported 2025 planted acres will disproportionately disadvantage Maine growers. We strongly urge USDA to adjust ASCF Program\u2019s methodology to account for the unique production cycle of this crop so that relief is not diminished for one of the nation\u2019s most distinctive agricultural industries.\n\nMaine\u2019s potato industry, the largest agricultural sector in the state, with an estimated $1.3 billion economic impact, faces similarly acute pressures. Retaliatory tariffs, trade uncertainty, elevated input costs, labor shortages, and drought-related yield reductions are expected to result in approximately $30 million in lost revenue this year alone. Maine growers operate in an integrated cross-border market with Canada, our state\u2019s largest trading partner. Growers rely heavily on Canadian suppliers for equipment, fertilizer, and other inputs, while also shipping a significant share of their crop across the border for processing. Growers have shared with our offices that current trade disruptions have led to an estimated 10 percent decline in export volume. This is a major decrease in income for those growers and unfortunately for some, there is no other avenue for them to sell their potatoes. Without targeted federal support that reflects these unique cross-border dynamics, Maine\u2019s potato growers will continue to absorb disproportionate losses.\n\nMaine\u2019s apple industry, though smaller in scale comparatively, plays a vital role in sustaining family farms, agritourism, and regional food systems. The 2025 harvest declined to approximately 600,000 bushels, well below the typical 800,000 to 1 million bushels annually produced, resulting in an estimated $10 million loss for growers. Even where crop quality held steady, reduced volume combined with rising labor, transportation, and other input costs have significantly compressed margins. Specialty crop producers cannot simply offset these costs through scale; they require targeted and responsive relief mechanisms.\n\nBeyond specialty crops, Maine\u2019s forest products and commercial fishing industries are foundational to our rural and coastal economies and have experienced significant market disruption tied to trade volatility and retaliatory tariffs. Softwood lumber disputes and cross-border tariff escalation continue to undermine investment and pricing stability in the forest products sector. Likewise, retaliatory tariffs in key seafood markets have reduced demand and depressed dockside prices for Maine lobster, all while fuel, bait, and equipment costs have surged. Despite facing many of the same market distortions that justified federal assistance for other commodities, these industries were excluded from both the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and the ASCF Program.\n\nAs USDA evaluates current and future relief efforts, we strongly urge the Department to ensure that Maine\u2019s lumber and fisheries industries are not overlooked. Equity in federal relief requires that industries facing comparable trade-driven harm receive comparable support. The Seafood Trade Relief Program (STRP) offered by the USDA in 2020 was invaluable for Maine\u2019s lobster fishery.\n\nWe appreciate USDA\u2019s prior engagement with Maine\u2019s potato, blueberry, and apple stakeholders. However, continued consultation is not simply beneficial, it is necessary to ensure that federal assistance reflects on-the-ground conditions. We urge USDA to adjust payment methodologies where needed, account for crop-specific production cycles, and expand eligibility where appropriate so that relief is both fair and economically meaningful.\n\nMaine\u2019s producers are resilient, but resilience alone cannot offset sustained market disruption and escalating costs. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that USDA programs deliver the targeted, data-driven support that Maine\u2019s agricultural, forestry, and fishing sectors urgently need.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-whether-us-has-now-delegated-war-decisions-to-other-countries", "King Questions Whether U.S. Has \u201cNow Delegated\u201d War Decisions to Other Countries", "2026-03-03", "2026", "2026-03", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today questioned whether the United States\u2019 decision to strike Iran was heavily influenced because American decision makers knew Israel was planning to take in the immediate future. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King questioned Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, for answers regarding the military operation being carried out in Iran despite widespread agreement from the President and his administration that Iran didn\u2019t present an imminent threat to the United States or American interests.\n\nThe Senator\u2019s questioning comes in response to Secretary of State Marco Rubio\u2019s public statement that suggested American strikes on Iran were preventative in nature to protect American assets in the Middle East and defend against retaliation from the Iranian regime in the event of an attack on Iran by Israel or another ally. Rubio told reporters Monday that \u201cwe knew there was going to be an Israeli action\u201d and that the United States military was motivated to act because an Israeli strike would likely lead to Iranian counterattacks on Israel and American locations in the Middle East.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cWhen I woke up Saturday morning to the news, the first question that popped into my mind was why now. Why now? What was the precipitating factor? There was discussion of an imminent threat of missiles, there was discussion of rebuilding the nuclear capacity but none of those were imminent in any way. Yesterday Secretary Rubio told us why now, in a stunning statement. \u201c \u2018We knew there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that would precipitate an attack against American forces and we knew if we did not preemptively go after them before they launched these attacks we would suffer higher casualties.\u201d \u2018Have we now delegated the most solemn decision that can be made in our society, the decision to go to war to another country? That\u2019s the implication. That is the breathtaking implication of Secretary Rubio's statement which to me is the only explanation I have seen as to why this action was taken when it was. There were no objective facts on the ground that said this is something we have to do now. There were no missiles being loaded on launchers, there was not a nuclear bomb being rolled out. I would like some response on policy. Is it now the policy on the United States that we are going to be taken into a war by the prime minister of another country?\u201d\n\n\u201cWell sir, what I would say and I think Secretary Hegseth and General Caine did this yesterday, and the President has talked about this as well, is the very rapid buildup and reconstitution of Iran's missile, ballistic missile, cruise missile, and one way attack drones,\u201d replied Under Secretary Colby.\n\n\u201cThat has been going on for some time. The question is why was it Saturday or Sunday?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\nUnder Secretary Colby responded, \u201cWell I think there was a perception that this threat has been manifest. They've, as the President said, they\u2019ve been killing Americans for 47 years and this is something where we can see where this is going and they are going to be able to have, with have this missile shield.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes Iran, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. Senator King is also a co-sponsor to the a war powers resolution S.J. Res 104 that is expected to come up for a vote this week in the U.S. Senate.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 4411, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Independent", "p1": "ME"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Independent&state=ME", "results": [{"value": "Independent", "label": 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