{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Independent\" and year = 2022 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-holiday-podcast-senator-king-discusses-the-virtues-of-community-service", "In Holiday Podcast, Senator King Discusses the Virtues of Community Service", "2022-12-31", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Listen to the November edition of Senator King\u2019s podcast here or on Apple Podcasts.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the December episode of Senator King\u2019s \u201cInside Maine\u201d podcast \u2013 a special holiday season edition that features a timely discussion about community service, volunteerism, and how Maine people can give back to their communities this holiday season. Senator King was joined by Charley Martin-Berry, the Director of Community Caring Collaborative (CCC); Vassie Fowler, the Executive Director of Seeds of Hope; David Patch, the Commander of American Legion Post 36, Veterans Resource Center and Mid-Coast Veterans Council; and Sarah Duncan, the Executive Director of United Way Aroostook.\n\nDuring the conversation, Senator King and his guests share how volunteerism has helped Maine communities weather the economic and social challenges that unfolded over the past year. Specifically, his guests highlighted the affordable housing crisis and the need for organizations to cut through red tape and bureaucracy to connect Maine people in need with food banks, shelters, and other nonprofits. Senator King and his guests also discussed the role Congress can play in promoting more community service across the country.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s nonprofits and volunteers have always stepped up to support our neighbors and communities in need,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIn the face of daunting obstacles, these leaders have responded with energy, joy, and compassion \u2013 bringing light in dark moments. Their work has been critical to Maine people. During this holiday season, I hope everyone will continue to build on this work by finding a local volunteer opportunity near them. Each of us can do something to make someone\u2019s day a little brighter. I\u2019m deeply thankful for everything that my guests this month do for our communities, it was a pleasure to learn more about their organizations and what volunteer opportunities they offer.\u201d\n\nCharley Martin-Berry is the director of the Community Caring Collaborative (CCC). She leads the collaboration of state, local, and tribal partners working to improve outcomes for vulnerable Washington County community members. She previously worked at Family Futures Downeast, and led the CCC Hope Fund and Dream Fund.\n\nVassie Fowler is the Executive Director of Seeds of Hope. She previously served as the Assistant Director for the organization and is a long time Biddeford resident. She\u2019s previously done work for both Community Partnerships Protecting Children and York County Community Action.\n\nDavid Patch is a retired US Navy commander. He now serves as the commander of American Legion Post 36, and works with the Veterans\u2019 Resource Center, the Mid-Coast Veterans Council, Honor Flight Maine, and Veterans No Boundaries. He also works with Congress on veterans\u2019 issues. In his free time, he serves as a registered Maine Guide. David served in Vietnam and was also assigned to the Pentagon, where he was in charge of experimental vessels such as hydrofoils and surface-effect ships.\n\nSarah Duncan is the Executive Director of United Way Aroostook. She was born and raised in Presque Isle and holds a bachelor\u2019s degree in Liberal Arts and History from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. She previously worked at WAGM and Townsquare Media. She is on the board of directors for 211 Maine, the Drug Free Coalition, and is a member of the Going Places Network and multiple other organizations.\n\nIn addition to his volunteer work in personal capacities, Senator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the importance of community service, and the need to promote community service opportunities across the country \u2013 especially AmeriCorps. He recently cosponsored the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, which would fund 750,000 national service positions over a three-year response and recovery period, to meet the projected need for as many as 300,000 public health workers. Under the bill, the number of AmeriCorps and national service positions could expand from 75,000 to 150,000 the first year and double to 300,000 in years two and three. He also cosponsored the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery from the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act, similar legislation that would expand national service programs significantly to help the country recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 public health emergency.\n\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on the last Saturday of every month.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-approval-of-over-250-million-in-congressional-funding-for-140-projects-across-maine", "King Celebrates Approval of Over $250 Million in Congressional Funding for 140 Projects Across Maine", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Download an Excel spreadsheet of the 140 projects HERE and view a map of projects HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today celebrated the final Congressional approval of 140 Maine projects that will be receiving $250,083,018 from his Congressionally-Directed Spending (CDS) requests included in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package. The funding will be used by a broad range of state, local, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen Maine communities.\n\n\u201cFrom food banks and hospitals to job training programs and infrastructure upgrades, Maine\u2019s 2023 Congressionally-Directed Spending supports important projects across the state that will improve the lives of Maine people and invest in the future of our communities. These historic investments are going directly to the local organizations who need them the most and can effectively provide economic opportunities, personal enrichment, and other vital public services,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cMaine people have always looked out for each other, and the 140 nonprofits and local governments receiving these funds are no different \u2013 they have proven track records of success in our communities and will use this support to expand and improve their efforts. I\u2019m grateful that Congress approved so many of my CDS requests, and deeply appreciate all of the Maine organizations who submitted projects for consideration. I look forward to seeing these investments support people across our state for years to come.\u201d\n\nCDS funding is included in annual federal appropriations legislation and provides a specific amount of discretionary funding to a state, locality, or nonprofit organization for projects with demonstrated civic and community value. Last year, Senator King secured over $137 million in Congressionally-Directed Spending for 93 Maine projects.\n\nSenator King will begin accepting preliminary requests for FY24 Maine-based Congressionally-Directed Spending projects in upcoming months.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-golden-led-downeast-national-heritage-area-legislation-passes-congress-heads-to-presidents-desk", "King, Golden Led Downeast National Heritage Area Legislation Passes Congress, Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2022-12-23", "2022", "2022-12", "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, Chairman of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, and Representative Jared Golden announced that their bipartisan, bicameral bill to designate a Downeast Maine National Heritage Area has passed Congress and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. The legislation, which is cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins and Representative Chellie Pingree, will designate all of Hancock and Washington counties as an area with national importance, qualifying the counties for additional federal investment and helping to drive economic activity to the rural Maine region. The bill specifically recognizes the contributions of Downeast Maine\u2019s agriculture industry \u2013 including wild blueberry growers \u2013 as well as the impacts of heritage fishing and forestry.\n\n\u201cFor much of the year, the rocky coasts of Downeast Maine greet the first rays of sunshine to reach the United States,\u201d said Senators King and Collins and Representatives Golden and Pingree. \u201cThe region literally starts America\u2019s day, and its rugged coastline, rolling mountains and lush forests are a fundamental part of the American identity. There is nowhere more deserving of a heritage area designation. Making Hancock and Washington counties a National Heritage Area will open the door for critical federal funding, and drive important economic activity and investments to support Downeast communities and the hardworking, resilient people who call these counties home. We are deeply grateful to our colleagues in both chambers who helped us get this bill past the finish line and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts of this new designation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people of Downeast Maine are fiercely proud of their heritage and are motivated to develop quality opportunities that carry us into the future while being rooted in our historic values,\u201d said Crystal Hitchings, Director of Community Infrastructure at Sunrise County Economic Council. \u201cDesignation as a National Heritage Area provides Downeast communities with more resources to support coordinated efforts in economic and community development and education initiatives that matter locally.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/annual-spending-bill-passes-senate-with-king-backed-initiatives-to-support-maine-jobs-bolster-national-defense", "Annual Spending Bill Passes Senate with King-Backed Initiatives to Support Maine Jobs, Bolster National Defense", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine) today voted along with sixty-seven of his Senate colleagues to pass the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which funds government programs through next September and advances a number of Senator King\u2019s policy priorities. The annual funding bill will support Maine jobs, increase affordability for working families, and invest in our national security. The bill is expected to pass the House by the end of the week.\n\n\u201cThe 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes a wide range of provisions to strengthen Maine communities, protect our economy, and improve life for people across the state,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis forward-thinking legislation supports high-paying jobs for Maine people, whether it be at Bath Iron Works or one of our craft breweries, and will help working Maine families afford essential needs, like housing and child care. The bill also takes important steps to enhance our national security by funding shipbuilding priorities, stopping illegal drug imports, and bolstering America\u2019s leadership in global public health. Finally, it invests in Maine\u2019s greatest outdoor natural resources by designating the York River as \u2018wild and scenic,\u2019 expanding affordable worker housing on Mount Desert Island, and increasing the amount of staff at National Parks. There is so much worth celebrating in the bill, and all told, I\u2019m grateful to see this bipartisan product pass the Senate. I am eager to continue working across the aisle with my colleagues in the coming year on more policies that help Maine people.\u201d\n\nProvisions supported by Senator King included in the legislative package include:\n\nDefending Democracy and Securing Elections. Nearly two years after insurrectionists on January 6th tried to use the 1887 Electoral Count Act to overturn a free and fair election, the spending bill modernizes the outdated law to protect the will of voters by updating procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency. This effort incorporates many proposals from Senator King\u2019s discussion draft Electoral Count Act reforms from February.\n\nPausing Devastating Lobster Gear Regulations. Senator King and the Maine Delegation secured a provision in the bill to pause looming lobster gear regulations that would have damaging impacts on thousands of Maine families and businesses. As King explained on the Senate Floor earlier this week, the proposed regulations were not based on any substantial evidence, ignored conservation efforts by lobstermen, and would have been an economic death sentence for thousands of Maine families that make up the lobster industry.\n\nAiding Local Maine Nonprofits. The FY23 Omnibus spending bill includes 140 of Senator King\u2019s Congressionally Directed Spending items, totaling over $250 million. This money will go to nonprofits and local governments in Maine to fund a broad range of community projects, including expanding workforce development initiatives, supporting health care providers, fixing roads, upgrading fire stations, and preserving historical sites.\n\nFunding Shipbuilding and Coast Guard Priorities. The legislation appropriates funding for the procurement of 3 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in fiscal year 2023, which Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build. The package also funds advanced procurement of a fourth DDG-51 and $380 million to enhance shipyard infrastructure for ongoing and future shipbuilding programs. The bill also invests in the Maine Coast Guard with $11.6 billion for USCG operations and assets like increased fuel costs, acquisitions, vessels, aircraft, facilities related to USCG\u2019s mission, search and rescue, drug interdiction, marine safety, environmental protection, and fisheries enforcement.\n\nSupporting Ukraine\u2019s Fight for Freedom. With Russia\u2019s bloody, unprovoked attack on Ukraine in its tenth month and winter setting in, the legislation includes an additional $45 billion in aid to help brave Ukrainians continue to fight for their freedom and stop Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s empire-building ambitions.\n\nProtecting Veterans\u2019 Physical and Mental Health. The bill makes significant steps towards meeting America\u2019s commitment to those who served. Along with providing funding for the veterans healthcare expansions in the PACT Act, it expands support for Department of Veterans Affairs rural healthcare, mental health programs, women\u2019s health programs, homelessness prevention, and IT services benefiting Maine Veterans\n\nSpotlighting and Supporting the York River. The bill would designate portions of the York River as part of the National Park System\u2019s \u201cWild and Scenic\u201d Rivers program. This designation helps protect the river from future development and provides federal funding to the region. Senator King introduced the study bill in 2013, and the designation is the result of more than decade of community-driven efforts to designate and protect the river.\n\nSupporting National Park Staffing and Addressing Employee Housing. The legislation transfers an undeveloped parcel of land in the Village of Town Hill from Acadia National Park to the Town of Bar Harbor to develop affordable housing; the remainder of the parcel will be used by NPS to construct staff housing for park service employees. The bill also provides funding for an additional 500 full time equivalents (FTEs) at the National Park Service.\n\nReauthorizing and Expanding the National Park Foundation. The bill reauthorizes the National Park Foundation (NPF) through FY2030 and expands its authorized funding from $5 million to $15 million \u2013 a continued priority for National Parks Subcommittee Chairman King. NPF uses its funding to match private donations, so this expanded federal funding will likely result in increased private, matched donations to protect America\u2019s greatest treasures substantially.\n\nAddressing the Climate Crisis. The omnibus includes the Growing Climate Solutions Act which will help Maine forest owners and farmers access existing carbon markets that will provide financial benefits for sustainable farming practices. Through the program, USDA will help connect landowners to private sector groups who can assist the landowners in implementing the practices that capture carbon, reduce emissions, improve soil health, and make operations more sustainable.\n\nSupporting Maine Families and Children. The bill extends nutrition programs including a $13.4 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $28.5 billion for Child Nutrition Programs, and $6 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The bill also includes a $7.67 billion investment for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and nearly $12 billion for Head Start. The bill includes increases for the maximum Pell Grant award to over $7,000, allocates $18.387 billion for Title I-A grants, and delivers $1.2 billion for TRIO to support more than 800,000 low-income first generation students get into college and succeed when they\u2019re there.\n\nMaking Housing More Accessible and Affordable. With Maine facing an affordable housing crisis, the omnibus provides housing assistance including $3.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $2 billion for the Rural Housing Service, $1.5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $1.435 billion for the Housing for the Elderly and Housing for Persons with Disabilities program, and new incremental Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers to support over 11,700 additional low-income households. These funds will support renters in Maine\u2019s towns, help retain the stock of rental housing in rural Maine, and construct and rehabilitate new rural rental properties. The bill also provides $5 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help families address the rising cost of energy.\n\nBoosting the Tourism Industry. The legislation includes the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, which Senator King led with a bipartisan group of colleagues. This includes the King-led Visit America Act, which would coordinate national tourism policy, develop the tourism workforce for Maine, and bring more visitors, ultimately fueling the state economy.\n\nImproving National and Global Health Infrastructure. The omnibus makes bold investments in health care and research including $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $9.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $1.5 billion for ARPA-H (President Biden\u2019s initiative to develop cutting edge treatments against cancer and other illnesses), and $950 million for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. As a member of the NIH Caucus, Senator King routinely advocates for the agency and it\u2019s vital work to improve our understanding of, and capacity to, treat disease and illness.\n\nEnsuring Access to Healthcare and Telehealth in Rural Communities. The bill increases Medicare payments to healthcare providers, and avoids across the board cuts to Medicare programs, ensuring vital healthcare services remain viable in rural communities. The legislation also extends telehealth flexibilities that are currently tied to the pandemic until the end of 2024. Without this extension, the policies that have enabled the rapid rise of telehealth would expire with the existing public health emergency. Senator King pushed for this continuation and will continue to advocate for permanent expansions.\n\nStrengthening Law Enforcement and Improving Public Safety. The bill provides $231 million for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office grant programs related to police-community relations. The bill contains $700 million, the highest funding level ever, for grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). The legislation also includes $4.9 billion to address the opioid crisis, including funding for the Opioid Response Grant, and the CDC overdose surveillance and prevention program. The bill also provides extra funding to the Department of Defense for anti-drug operations and coordination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-passage-of-electoral-count-act-reforms-to-protect-democracy", "King Celebrates Passage of Electoral Count Act Reforms to Protect Democracy", "2022-12-22", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight of federal elections, today celebrated the Senate passing a package of democracy protections to ensure election results can\u2019t be exploited by bad-actors and prevent another January 6th, 2021. The bipartisan Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act \u2013 which contains several policy recommendations from Senator King\u2019s ECA discussion draft released in February \u2013 clarifies ambiguities in the outdated 1887 Electoral Count Act (ECA) to protect the will of voters and updates procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency.\n\nThe ECA Reform Act passed the Senate in a bipartisan 68-29 vote as part of the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Package.\n\n\u201cToday, the Senate took a necessary, historic, and commonsense step to remove dangerous ambiguities from the process governing presidential elections and protect our fragile American democracy. The Electoral Count Reform Act is the most important piece of legislation we\u2019ve passed this Congress because it protects the foundation of our entire democratic system,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAfter attempts to overturn a free and fair election in 2021 exposed dangerous vulnerabilities in the antiquated Electoral Count Act, this bill was essential to defuse the ticking timebomb at the heart of our system of government. Now, as some continue to raise doubts about our electoral system, the bill ensures the ECA can never again be used as a weapon by disappointed candidates. The bipartisan Electoral Count Reform Act we passed today prevents abuse of the 1887 law by making the process for certifying a presidential election clearer and more resistant to manipulation and mischief.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, this bill is no substitute for the comprehensive voting rights and process reforms we need to confront the wider challenges facing our democracy,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cWhile I continue to look for ways to better protect the democratic process for all Americans, this effort will further guarantee that the will of the voters cannot be undermined once they\u2019ve made their choice. After over a year of work on this bill, I\u2019m proud my colleagues and I could find bipartisan consensus to stave off a looming crisis in our presidential election process. I want to thank Senators Durbin and Klobuchar who partnered with me on our first draft of the bill, the dozens of historians, lawyers, and experts who shared their knowledge, and all my Senate colleagues, particularly Senators Collins and Manchin, who helped get this critical effort across the finish line.\u201d\n\nThe Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act updates the outdated and vague 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect the will of the voters in each state. The bill replaces ambiguous provisions with clear procedures to ensure the counting of electoral votes can\u2019t be exploited. Key provisions in the bill include:\n\nClarifying the Role of the Vice President.\n\nAffirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President in the counting of electoral votes is ceremonial, with no power to adjudicate conflicts that might arise.\n\nRaising the Objection Threshold.\n\nRaises the threshold to object to a state\u2019s electors to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate \u2013 up from one member of each chamber.\n\nEnsuring a Single, Accurate Slate of Electors.\n\nDesignates each state\u2019s governor as responsible for submitting a single slate of electors to Congress.\n\nEnsures a state\u2019s executive can\u2019t submit a slate of electors in violation of state and federal law.\n\nExpediting Judicial Review.\n\nProvides an expedited review process, including a three-judge panel with appeal to the Supreme Court, of certain claims related to a state\u2019s slate of electors.\n\nPreventing Moving or Canceling of Elections.\n\nRequires \u201cextraordinary and catastrophic\u201d events for a state to move their election, and removes a provision that allows states to declare failed elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/an-economic-death-sentence-averted-king-champions-provision-to-pause-lobster-gear-regulations-on-senate-floor", "\u201cAn Economic Death Sentence\u201d Averted, King Champions Provision To Pause Lobster Gear Regulations on Senate Floor", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King\u2019s full floor speech HERE and download broadcast quality HERE.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King today delivered remarks from the Senate Floor on the importance of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery to the state\u2019s communities and the devastating implications that proposed lobster gear regulations would have on thousands of Maine families and small businesses. In his speech, King lays out the lack of evidence backing the arbitrary regulations and explains how the six-year regulatory pause secured by Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills in the annual omnibus spending bill will avert an \u201ceconomic death sentence\u201d for the state.\n\nEarlier today, the Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills released a joint statement HERE announcing the successful inclusion of the regulatory pause into the annual spending bill. The bill is expected to be passed and signed into law later this week.\n\nKing began his remarks by laying out the serious crisis facing the Maine lobstering community and the state\u2019s economy.\n\n\u201cMy state is facing its most serious crisis, in my view, in my 18 years of public service on behalf of Maine. There is a provision in the bill that we'll be voting on tomorrow that is of vital, critical importance to Maine and I believe the country,\u201d began Senator King. \u201cIn November, a federal court here in Washington issued a ruling under the Endangered Species and Marine Mammal Protection Acts that effectively shuts down the entire Maine lobster fishery in two years. It issues requirements that simply can't be met in that time frame. The only choice will be to shut down the fishery.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat does that mean? What is the fishery? What is the lobster industry? The lobster industry is this guy right here \u2013 thousands of small, independent businesses. These boats aren't owned by Amazon or Walmart or Whole Foods. They're owned by individual people, families, generations in a town like this. That's what we're talking about. We're talking about the livelihoods of thousands of Maine people that will be cut off by virtue of this decision within two years.\n\n\u201cIs it a real threat? People are already canceling orders for boat. The business of the people that make lobster traps is down 25% or 30%. People are starting to put their boat on the market because they see this closure coming of an industry that's been a mainstay of the Maine economy for 150 years,\u201d explained Senator King. \u201cWell over a billion and a half dollars a year is based upon this unique, iconic product that comes from the cold waters of Maine.\u201d\n\nContinuing his remarks, King explains how the crisis is based on faulty premises that ignores the data in Maine waters.\n\n\u201cThis decision of the court that effectively closes our lobster industry down is based upon the idea of protecting the North Atlantic right whale \u2013 which needs protection, it is indeed an endangered species. The question is whether the remedy, in this case the closure of the Maine fishery, will actually help in the preservation of the right whale,\u201d continued Senator King.\n\n\u201cI want to start with a couple of data points. Here's the first. This is the number of right whale deaths ever attributed to Maine lobster gear: zero. Here's another data point. The number of right whales even being entangled in Maine lobster gear in almost the last 20 years: zero,\u201d Senator King exclaimed. \u201cSo the question is, is there sufficient evidence for this draconian remedy, the shutdown of the entire industry?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe other data point is that according to the maps of whale sightings based upon data from the Department of Commerce and NOAA, the whales are moving away from Maine.\u201d\n\nKing continues by highlighting the lack of evidence on which the \u201ceconomic death sentence\u201d is based.\n\n\u201cSo we're talking about an economic death sentence for an entire way of life, for the town of Stonington, for the thousands and I mean between 5,000 and 10,000 people who work on the water and thousands more that work in processing and involved in this industry, over a billion and a half dollars a year of economic impact in the state of Maine.\n\n\u201cIf you were in court and you said we're going to impose an economic death sentence, well, here's the way the law looks at things like that. If it's a criminal case to take away somebody's liberty beyond a reasonable doubt. No beyond a reasonable doubt in this case. It's not even close to beyond a reasonable doubt,\u201d emphasized Senator King. \u201cIn a civil case you have to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence. Is there a preponderance of evidence that fishery is contributing to the loss of right whales? No, there's no preponderance of evidence. How about any evidence? Zero. Zero.\u201d\n\nKing goes on to explain how the provision authored by the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills will support the Maine lobster industry.\n\n\u201cNow, a solution to this crisis is in the bill that we'll be voting on tomorrow. It's one that the Maine Delegation, myself and Senator Collins, Congresswoman Pingree, Congressman Golden have been working on since this decision,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cWhat it is a compromise that's been negotiated between the various people interested in this issue in this body.\u201d\n\n\u201cImportantly, it provides funding for two purposes. One is the development of gear that will reduce the risk even further,\u201d explained Senator King. \u201cThe other funding is for data to know where the whales are. To know because the problem is, would data we have indicates there are practically none along the Maine coast. But we don't know that for sure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe third thing it does is pause the economic death sentence. It pauses the ruling that says this has to be finished in two years because that means the industry, the lobster fishing, the lobster families, the lobster towns are finished within two years. We're talking about a six-year pause as time to collect the data and develop the gear,\u201d concluded King. \u201cSo what we're doing, what we compromise was a six-year period that will give us time to develop the technology and to develop the data and we may find that there are different solutions or that the data may show no additional restrictions beyond what is already being done are necessary.\u201d\n\nConcluding his remarks, King emphasizes that this is not a choice between conservation and the lobster industry, and that the bill will protect both in a sensible way.\n\n\u201cWe don't have to choose between lobsters and whales. We don't have to choose between the men and women of Stonington or Cutler or Corea or Georgetown or Freeport or Cape Elizabeth and whales. We just have to be sensible about approaching this in a way that will protect the whales but also protect the way of life of these wonderful people.\n\n\u201cThat's why I'm here tonight. That's what we've done in this bill. It is in no way a diminution of the standards of the Endangered Species Act or the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It merely pauses that economic death sentence until we have time to know how to navigate the solution and what the real definition of the problem is,\u201d concluded Senator King. \u201cTo me, that's good policy. It's what we should do here on all the complicated issues we face.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-urges-passage-of-most-important-bill-this-congress-protections-for-the-peaceful-transfer-of-power", "Senator King Urges Passage of \u201cMost Important\u201d Bill this Congress: Protections for the Peaceful Transfer of Power", "2022-12-21", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King\u2019s full floor speech HERE.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, gave a speech on the Senate floor to highlight what he considers the most important bill under Senate consideration: the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act which provides democratic protections for the peaceful transfer of power. During his speech, King explained why his top priority for the remainder of this Congress is this bill and why it is needed to clarify the ambiguous 19th century law that spurred the January 6th insurrection.\n\nSenator King underscored that while other policies are important, all of them are negligible without serious protections for our democratic system.\n\n\u201cThe bill that we have before us now is, I believe, one of the most important pieces of legislation in this Congress. Because it deals with the structure of democracy itself. All of our policy issues, whether it's the Defense Department, Ukraine, all of the policy issues, health care, all of those things are critically important, but the infrastructure that underlies the system is even more important. We can't do good policy if we don't have a solid underpinning of a structure of our democracy,\u201d Senator King said.\n\nSenator King also highlighted the bipartisan nature of the bill and of the desire for electoral protections.\n\n\u201cAnd that's why the bill that is now part of the budget bill, the omnibus bill, is so important. The bill is bipartisan. I think that's critically important. I sat in the Rules Committee. It passed 14-1. Supported by Leader McConnell, supported by Leader Schumer. 14-1. I rarely see votes like that in that committee,\u201d Senator King continued, \u201cBut because there was universal realization that we needed to do something about this, we had a hearing on it and I remember Senator Blunt speaking at the end of that hearing and saying this is something we need to take care of before the end of this Congress. And that was a very important announcement and it led us to this moment.\u201d\n\nThe Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act includes many provisions proposed by Senator King in an initial discussion draft for reform released in February. The legislation updates the outdated and vague 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect the will of the voters in each state. The bill replaces ambiguous provisions with clear procedures to ensure the counting of electoral votes can\u2019t be exploited. Key provisions in the bill include:\n\nClarifying the Role of the Vice President.\n\nAffirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President in the counting of electoral votes is ceremonial, with no power to adjudicate conflicts that might arise.\n\nRaising the Objection Threshold.\n\nRaises the threshold to object to a state\u2019s electors to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate \u2013 up from one member of each chamber.\n\nEnsuring a Single, Accurate Slate of Electors.\n\nDesignates each state\u2019s governor as responsible for submitting a single slate of electors to Congress.\n\nEnsures a state\u2019s executive can\u2019t submit a slate of electors over the objections of the judiciary or in violation of state and federal law.\n\nExpediting Judicial Review.\n\nProvides an expedited review process, including a three-judge panel with appeal to the Supreme Court, of certain claims related to a state\u2019s slate of electors.\n\nPreventing Moving or Canceling of Elections.\n\nRequires \u201cextraordinary and catastrophic\u201d events for a state to move their election, and removes a provision that allows states to declare failed elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-governor-mills-announce-lifeline-for-maines-lobster-industry-secured-in-government-funding-package", "Maine Delegation, Governor Mills Announce Lifeline for Maine\u2019s Lobster Industry Secured in Government Funding Package", "2022-12-20", "2022", "2022-12", "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. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills announced that they were successful in securing a regulatory pause for Maine\u2019s lobster industry in the omnibus appropriations bill that is expected to pass the Senate and House this week.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen and women have long demonstrated their commitment to maintaining and protecting a sustainable fishery in the Gulf of Maine. They have invested in countless precautionary measures to protect right whales, including removing more than 30,000 miles of line from the water and switching to weaker rope to prevent whales from being entangled. And the fact is \u2014 there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear. We know the right whale population can be protected along with a thriving fishery because Maine lobstermen are already doing it,\u201d said the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills. \u201cDespite our industry\u2019s good stewardship and compliance with NMFS\u2019 most recent regulations to protect right whales, our lobstermen and women are now faced with further punitive regulations that will not meaningfully protect the right whale, but will threaten the livelihoods of thousands of Maine families and small businesses.\n\n\u201cWe have always said that we will pursue any and all policy solutions to protect our hardworking lobstermen and women along Maine\u2019s coast,\u201d they continued. \u201cOur provision, which relies upon the expertise of the professionals at the Maine Department of Marine Resources, was included in the government funding bill released this morning. It will enable our lobster fishery to continue to operate while still complying with NMFS\u2019 most recent right whale rule. Without our provision, Maine\u2019s iconic industry could be facing a complete shutdown\u2014and the ripple effects across our state would have been widespread.\u201d\n\nAlthough there has never been a right whale death attributed to Maine lobster gear, misguided environmental groups have been seeking actions that would end lobstering in Maine, all based on the theoretical possibility that a right whale could be killed.\n\nThe provision is a simple compromise that would protect the livelihoods of the men and women who make their living from one of the best managed and sustainable fisheries on earth.\n\nSpecifically, the provision in the omnibus:\n\nDeems the current right whale rules sufficient to ensure the continued operation of the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries for six years (through December 31, 2028).\n\nProvide that new regulations for the lobster and Jonah crab fisheries would take effect in six years (by December 31, 2028).\n\nAuthorizes a new grant program that could fund innovative gear technologies and the monitoring necessary to support the dynamic management of fisheries. Fishermen and other participants within the maritime industry would be eligible for this funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-senate-passes-2023-defense-bill-with-king-backed-provisions-to-invest-in-maine-shipbuilding-strengthen-national-security-and-support-jobs", "ICYMI: Senate Passes 2023 Defense Bill with King-Backed Provisions to Invest in Maine Shipbuilding, Strengthen National Security and Support Jobs", "2022-12-16", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), celebrated the Senate\u2019s passage of the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), yearly legislation which has now passed 62 times on a bipartisan basis, and which focuses on strengthening American national security and improving the lives of servicemembers and their families.\n\nThe 2023 legislation authorizes 3 DDG-51 destroyers that Bath Iron Works can compete to build, bolsters America\u2019s nuclear defenses, and supports other key defense technologies that protect the nation. Also included are significant pay raises for servicemembers and steps to improve mental healthcare for America\u2019s armed forces.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 named after my friend and colleague Senator Jim Inhofe \u2013 is a bipartisan bill that will address the pressing national security challenges facing our country and strengthen Maine\u2019s role in contributing to our national defense,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bill authorizes one of the largest-ever multi-year procurement of DDG-51 destroyers, which Bath Iron Works can compete to build, bringing important stability to the Maine shipyard\u2019s planning, and allowing them to scale up their production in the years to come. These ships \u2013 known as the workhorse of the Navy \u2013 are absolutely critical to our national security, and are an important economic driver for Maine communities.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s legislation provides the backbone of our national defense, including key provisions to ensure our nation can counter growing and rapidly changing threats. It also contains new authorizations to address Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and supporting the brave Ukrainians fighting for their sovereignty. This bill improves our defensive and offensive hypersonic capabilities, bolsters key cyber defenses, and will help modernize how we assess the capabilities of our enemies and allies alike,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cMost importantly, the legislation also makes significant investments in the essential core of our Armed Forces \u2013 our brave men and women in uniform. Along with a 4.6% pay raise to help servicemembers keep up with rising costs of living, the NDAA will study the suicide epidemic in our military so the Department is better equipped to address this urgent crisis. This bill will make our country safer, strengthen our economy, and reward the men and women who serve in our military \u2013 I\u2019m grateful that we could get this bill through the Senate and onto President Biden\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nSenator King previously spoke on the Senate Floor in support of the National Defense Authorization Act, explaining the pressing need to modernize the nation\u2019s nuclear arsenal, support Ukraine as it fights for freedom, and improve resources for America\u2019s servicemembers with pay raises and mental health care.\n\nSenator King successfully advocated for the inclusion of many provisions that will improve national security, support Maine jobs, and take care of servicemembers and veterans, including:\n\nFUND SHIPBUILDING PRIORITIES. Along with three DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for FY2023, the legislation authorizes a multi-year contract for the Navy to procure up to fifteen DDG-51s, which Bath Iron Works (BIW) can compete to build \u2013 one of the largest forward commitments of its kind. The bill will require the incorporation of a workforce development incentive in Navy shipbuilding contracts, and the bill authorizes additional funds for DDG supplier development. The bill contains the King-led, forward-looking provision that prescribes that the Navy utilize best practices and a collaborative approach for the DDG(x) program, positively impacting BIW and their future work on the next large surface combatant.\n\nINVEST IN MAINE INSTALLATIONS. The bill authorizes full funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) upgrades as part of the Navy\u2019s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program's (SIOP). The bill also authorizes $2.5 million for planning and design of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.\n\nINCREASE MILITARY PAY. The legislation authorizes a 4.6 % pay raise for military servicemembers and the DoD civilian workforce.\n\nSUPPLY MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH HIGH-QUALITY, MAINE-MADE EQUIPMENT. The NDAA authorized additional funds for Joint Strike Fighters including additional funds for seven F-35A aircraft. Other defense programs including submarine and helicopter procurement received full funding. Maine businesses support these important programs that contribute to our National Defense.\n\nCONFRONT SERVICEMEMBER SUICIDE. As the epidemic of servicemember and veteran suicide continues, the bill requires a review and report on the rates of suicides in the Armed Forces by military occupational specialty during the time period beginning after September 11, 2001, and continuing to the present day, broken down by military occupational specialty, service, and grade. This legislative provision is based on input from a Maine constituent.\n\nREWARD AND ACKNOWLEDGE MAINE\u2019S LEADERSHIP IN COMPOSITES AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING. The NDAA authorized additional funds for the University of Maine including several million dollars in additional funding for high-performance computing-enabled large-scale advanced manufacturing. The SASC Bill requires the Secretary to produce a report on additive manufacturing and make recommendations regarding establishing centers of excellence such as the 101st Air Refueling Wing in Bangor. The NDAA further recognizes the need for rapidly deployable, rigid-wall shelters, with integration protection capabilities like the ones developed by Compotech, based in Brewer, ME. These shelters are already employed by the joint force by USEUCOM, USAFRICOM, and USNORTHCOM.\n\nTAKE ON THE PFAS CRISIS. As Maine people struggle with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination that includes thousands of diverse chemicals, the NDAA includes significant provisions to address the crisis. It will provide resources to restore PFAS exposed facilities that the National Guard uses to train or operate in; restrict the DoD from purchasing turnout gear for DoD firefighters containing PFAS materials; amend public law to disclose DoD PFAS testing results for private water wells; and require the DoD to provide a report on the schedule for PFAS remediation efforts in drought-stricken areas.\n\nCOUNTER RUSSIAN AGGRESSION AND SUPPORT UKRAINE. With Russia\u2019s unprovoked attack on Ukraine in its fifth month, the legislation extends and modifies the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and authorizes $800 million in fiscal year 2023 to provide security assistance to Ukraine via this authority. Senator King included a Government Accountability Office audit of the allocation and use of this security assistance.\n\nADDRESS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC BY FIGHTING DRUG TRAFFICKERS. Senator King has consistently urged the Pentagon to step up in the war on drugs, by taking a more active role in stopping drugs from entering the country. The bill increases funding for the military\u2019s counter narcotics missions. The bill also includes a GAO audit of the Department of Defense\u2019s Counterdrug efforts that includes the organization, cross-agency efficiencies, and audit of the use of funds to improve the Department\u2019s ability to stop drug shipments before they reach America\u2019s shores. The bill provides important oversight on U.S. NORTHERN Command, requiring a report on their efforts to support this important mission.\n\nPROMOTE SMALL BUSINESS INTEGRATION. Across the country, Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) help small business get and navigate Department of Defense contracts. In addition to securing additional funds, the bill included legislation based on valuable input from Mr. Ken Bloch of Eastern Maine Development Corporation (EMDC) and the Director of Maine PTAC. This resulted in legislative changes that would enable these centers to better serve small businesses by increasing the state funding cap and align the program under the Office of the Secretary of Defense.\n\nSTREGTHEN CYBERSECURITY PROTECTIONS. The bill strengthens and supports the cybersecurity posture of the DoD, the defense industrial base, and America\u2019s critical infrastructure. Among the cyber policies advanced by this legislation are a King-led provisions to increase support for U.S. Cyber Command\u2019s (CYBERCOM) Hunt Forward Operations and \u201cred team\u201d efforts, and for CYBERCOM to release biennial, unclassified reports through the 2032 election cycle on their efforts to ensure election security and counter election threats. As co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Senator King is a leading Congressional voice on cybersecurity.\n\nMODERNIZE CRITICAL NUCLEAR DETERRENTS. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senator King is a leader in working to modernize the nation\u2019s nuclear triad and address the threats posed by new hypersonic weapons. The FY23 NDAA includes recommended approaches the Defense Department should take towards improving offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities, along with new funding to counter these threats.\n\nIMPROVE AMERICA\u2019S PRESENCE IN THE ARCTIC. With climate change opening the waters of the Arctic, the bill authorizes $167.2 million to continue acquisition of a third Polar Security Cutter Ice Breaker, along with $1 million to establish the Arctic Security Cutter program office to support the future of maritime commerce, climate research and environmental protection in the High North. The bill includes King-led provision requiring the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a crosscut report on Arctic research programs. Additional Arctic reporting includes assessing the ability and timeline to conduct transit in the Northern Sea Route and periodic transits of the Northwest Passage; also, the GAO is directed to conduct an audit of the U.S. Coast Guard arctic operations and infrastructure.\n\nSUPPORT NEW JETTY AND BEACH NOURISHMENT AT SACO. The bill increased funding for building a new perpendicular jetty at Camp Ellis in Saco Maine to $45 million and eliminated cost share requirements for the city of Saco, Maine. This helps restore a long-standing beach erosion problem.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-22-million-in-funding-to-ease-fish-migration-patterns", "Collins, King Announce More Than $22 Million in Funding to Ease Fish Migration Patterns", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "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 announced that two Maine organizations will receive a total of $22,381,297 in funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve fish migration in Maine rivers. The Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Maine Department of Marine Resources will use this funding to remove two dams that are no longer in use and install fish ladders at two additional dams in the Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers, allowing the endangered Atlantic salmon, along with other fish species and wildlife, to move along migrations routes with ease.\n\n\u201cAllowing unimpeded fish migration along Maine\u2019s rivers will help to preserve species that have long held cultural and economic significance to our state. Rivers like the St. Croix and the Penobscot \u2013 which is home to the largest Atlantic salmon run in the United States \u2014 have proven to be invaluable to the health of Maine\u2019s environment and our tribal communities,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis funding, along with the hard work of both the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, will help strengthen Maine\u2019s long conservation legacy and preserve sea-run habitats. We remain committed to protecting these species and look forward to our continued work with Maine organizations that dedicate themselves to protecting the culture and economy of our state.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be allocated as follows:\n\nThe Atlantic Salmon Federation will receive $7,554,797\n\nThe Maine Department of Marine Resources will receive up to $14,826,500 over three years\n\nThe removal of the dams will reconnect more than 9,700 suitable habitat units towards the delisting criteria of 30,000 units for the Penobscot Basin Salmon Habitat Recovery Unit. Additionally, the projects will provide access to 600 miles for all migratory fish species and 60,000 acres of habitat for alewife. This is a top priority for the State of Maine and the Passamaquoddy people to significantly improve fish populations in the region.\n\nThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an agency within the Department of Commerce that manages fishing and works to protect marine mammals and endangered American species. This funding is part of a nationwide project, totaling $105 million for 36 fish passage projects, as well as $61 million in future funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/essential-to-ensure-america-does-not-fall-behind-king-lauds-bipartisan-passage-of-ndaa-with-key-nuclear-and-cyber-provisions", "\u201cEssential to Ensure America Does Not Fall Behind,\u201d King Lauds Bipartisan Passage of NDAA With Key Nuclear and Cyber Provisions", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today praised the Senate\u2019s 83-11 passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023. With rising threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries, the annual bipartisan defense bill contains King-led provisions to modernize America\u2019s nuclear defenses, better assess the \u201cwill to fight\u201d of allies and enemies, and improve international cyberdefenses. The bill also includes increased support for Ukraine as it fights Russia\u2019s illegal, unprovoked invasion along with improvements to ensure the aid receives proper oversight and does not dangerously deplete America\u2019s own stockpiles.\n\nKing also worked to secure provisions to better support the wellbeing of America\u2019s servicemembers. With military suicide rates at an all-time high, the bill requires the Department of Defense to study and release data on suicides by military occupation, and the Government Accountability Office to study how to improve the transition from military to civilian life.\n\n\u201cThis year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 named after my friend and colleague Senator Jim Inhofe \u2013 is a bipartisan bill that will meet the pressing 21st century national security challenges facing our country,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs threats from adversaries like Russia and China grow, the legislation is absolutely essential to ensure America does not fall behind. Along with new authorizations to address Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, this bill improves our defensive and offensive hypersonic capabilities, bolsters key cyberdefenses, and will help modernize how we assess the capabilities of our enemies and allies alike. Without these provisions, the credibility of America\u2019s bedrock principle of peace through deterrence would have been put at risk.\n\n\u201cAll told, Congress and the Armed Services Committees have once again produced an important, strong, and bipartisan bill,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cMost importantly, the legislation makes significant investments in the essential core of our Armed Forces \u2013 our brave men and women in uniform. Along with a 4.6% pay raise to help servicemembers keep up with rising costs of living, the NDAA will study the suicide epidemic in our military so the Department is better equipped to address this urgent crisis. Today\u2019s overwhelming 83-11 passage of the bill is a testament to the importance of this effort, the selfless service of our Armed Forces, and the dedication of all the Americans who are working to protect our nation.\u201d\n\nThe James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 includes King-backed provisions to:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-failed-permitting-reform-vote", "King Statement on Failed Permitting Reform Vote", "2022-12-15", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee \u2013 and an advocate for pragmatic, realistic, and rapid permitting reform to reach America\u2019s clean energy goals \u2013 released the following statement after he supported permitting reform as an amendment to the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\u201cThe world is literally in a race with climate change. We cannot afford to waste valuable time \u2014 time which we really don\u2019t have \u2014 to implement viable, efficient solutions in our transition to renewable energy,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cFor example, it takes fifteen years just to permit a mine producing the minerals needed for batteries of electric vehicles given all the red tape and bureaucracy \u2013 and that\u2019s just one project of hundreds that are needed. By failing to pass commonsense permitting reform, the Senate has sent the country\u2019s clean energy future back to the drawing board and potentially put us years behind where we should be. I have always advocated for strict environmental standards, but also for a timely and predicable environmental process \u2013 that is exactly what this bill was all about.\n\n\u201cI think that we\u2019ve reached a point where most Americans realize that climate change is real. The fishermen, farmers, and loggers in Maine know the urgency of this threat, and it\u2019s deeply disappointing that some of my Senate colleagues do not share this understanding,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cThis bill should not be controversial. It would have made simple changes that both sides of the aisle have long called for to expedite energy projects without diluting environmental standards in the slightest. Despite the frustrating partisan games today, I will keep working on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues to find a path forward so that we can make our clean energy future a reality.\u201d\n\nSenator King recently spoke from the Senate floor on the need for permitting reform, and the tradeoffs that will be required in the transition to renewable energy, which can be watched HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/65000-additional-h-2b-visas-to-be-issued-following-push-from-senators-collins-king", "65,000 Additional H-2B Visas to be Issued Following Push from Senators Collins, King", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "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. \u2014Following a push led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that they are issuing a temporary final rule that makes available 64,716 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2023. This rule implements the supplemental H-2B visa allocations announced on October 12, 2022. This is the first time that the Departments have issued a single rule making available H-2B supplemental visas for several allocations throughout the entire fiscal year.\n\nSenator Collins and Senator King had previously called on the agencies to increase the number of H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2023 to the maximum number, approximately 65,000 visas, to help small businesses hire workers. These visas are on top of the 66,000 H-2B visas that are normally available each fiscal year. Notably, the rule reserves a portion of the additional visas to help meet the demand for workers during the peak summer season.\n\n\u201cThese 65,000 additional H-2B visas will provide much-needed relief for small businesses that are continuing to face extreme difficulty finding workers in a tight labor market,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cWithout these visas, many small businesses, particularly hotels and restaurants in our hospitality industry, would be unable to open or would have to curtail their operations, hurting local communities and Maine employees. We must improve the H-2B program to ensure Maine small businesses do not continue to suffer from a lack of workers.\u201d\n\nSenators Collins and King have long led efforts to address workforce shortages. Following a push in May, DHS and DOL announced that a temporary rule had been finalized that provided an additional 35,000 H-2B visas to help small businesses fill seasonal job openings during the busy summer season. These visas supplemented the previous supply of 33,000 H-2B visas for the second half of Fiscal Year 2022.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-500000-in-funding-to-support-small-businesses-in-rural-maine", "Collins, King Announce More Than $500,000 in Funding to Support Small Businesses in Rural Maine", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "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 today announced a total of $528,563 in new funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will expand development and training opportunities for small businesses in rural areas of Maine. The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Sunrise County Economic Council will use this funding to provide business training, technical help, and loan assistance to small businesses in Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington counties.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are vital to our rural communities \u2013 it means something more when the shopkeeper or the vendor is your neighbor, friend or fellow PTA member \u2013 this funding will help dozens of small businesses throughout the state continue to operate and contribute to Maine\u2019s economy,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThe incredible staff at the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and Sunrise County Economic Council are a driving force in providing economic development, business financing, job creation, and many other services. This investment will pay off in the form of meaningful jobs and technical training, and it will improve the livelihoods of families across rural Maine.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be allocated as follows:\n\nAndroscoggin Valley Council of Governments will receive $12,884\n\nEastern Maine Development Corporation will receive $500,000\n\nSunrise County Economic Council will receive $15,679\n\nThe United States Department of Agriculture works to provide leadership on issues related to food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues. USDA consists of 29 agencies and offices and employs nearly 100,000 people.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/parks-chairman-king-presses-biden-administration-on-inadequate-parks-maintenance-budget-and-staffing-shortages", "Parks Chairman King Presses Biden Administration on \u201cInadequate\u201d Parks Maintenance Budget, and Staffing Shortages", "2022-12-13", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Senator cites Acadia visitor surge as example of hiring necessary; view questioning HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chair of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, today pressed a top Biden administration official on two of his top priorities for the National Park Service (NPS): securing enough funding for necessary park maintenance and ensuring sufficient staffing of America\u2019s greatest treasures. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, King questioned Department of Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau on the Department\u2019s plans to address both of these issues as it processes the NPS funding of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Deputy Secretary agreed that more needs to be done to support the Parks System.\n\nThis builds on the Chairman\u2019s recent pushes to expand maintenance funding and increase NPS staffing in the forthcoming fiscal year 2023 budget bill.\n\nBeginning his remarks, Chairman King highlighted the administration\u2019s recent budget requests and the need for additional funding to ensure maintenance and upkeep of our National Parks\n\n\u201cWhat bothered me is the administration's budget for maintenance in the national parks was inadequate. The general rule of thumb is 2 to 4% of capital value for maintenance every year. I think the budget this year is about 1%. That's not an indictment of this administration. That's been the pattern for the past 25 or 30 years. That's how we got into this hole,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis committee and the Congress worked very hard on the Great American Outdoors Act to tackle the maintenance backlog. But it's pretty frustrating to see that we're still digging the hole. So I hope you'll take back to the department the point that we can't expect Congress to come to the rescue of the maintenance backlog every four or five years, if indeed the budget is inadequate and makes the hole deeper every four or five years.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you. And thank you for your leadership and partnership on these issues. I will definitely take that back, including to OMB,\u201d the Deputy Secretary replied.\n\n+++\n\nAfter securing funding in the Inflation Reduction Act, the Chairman also asked about the department\u2019s hiring plan to staff National Parks:\n\n\u201cAnother area of increased funding has been in the Inflation Reduction Act for staffing at the national parks. And I wanted to inquire if the department is moving toward implementation. Senator Daines and I have called for 23,000 FTEs at the national parks because we're having a huge increase in visitation and in fact, we have lower staffing than we had 15 years ago. 10 or 15 years ago. Do you have a hiring plan and will you be able to get to the 23,000 figure in the reasonably foreseeable future,\u201d Senator King asked.\n\nThe Deputy Secretary responded, \u201cThank you. And thank you again for these investments. The Park Service has developed internal guidance and hiring plan directed towards this summer. As you know, Senator, the largest demand period and largest stress on our national parks is during the summer season.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast summer, we had 4 million people at Acadia National Park,\u201d the Senator replied.\n\nThe Deputy Secretary concluded, \u201cSo part of our strategy to take advantage of these resources is focused on seasonal hiring in the coming year. And the Park Service has developed guidance disseminated to the parks for exactly that purpose.\u201d\n\n+++", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/healthcare-provisions-in-the-inflation-reduction-act", "Healthcare Provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Overview\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act has laid the groundwork for\u2014and in some cases already implemented\u2014long-term changes in federal policy that will keep people healthier and deliver higher quality care at lower cost to patients. Even better, 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.\n\nIt\u2019s a well named bill. The IRA will provide lasting relief and protection from inflation for years to come, especially with regards to healthcare.\n\nIt was a long process to get the bill passed\u2014taking more than a year\u2014but the final product is something to be proud of.\n\nImmediate Impact\n\nExtend Affordable Care Act premium subsides. The Inflation Reduction Act makes a three year extension of premium subsidies for American\u2019s who receive their healthcare through the Affordable Care Act \u2013 more than 100,000 Maine people \u2013 Congress extended enhanced premium assistance for ACA marketplace plans through 2025; 80 percent of Maine ACA enrollees saved on insurance, and average savings per enrollee were more than $600 in 2022.\n\nBeginning in 2023\n\nProvide free vaccines for seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act makes all vaccines free in Medicare for seniors, the only population for which vaccines were not already free.\n\nInstitute a new \u201cinflation rebate\u201d under Medicare. Drug companies should not be allowed to make arbitrary and rapid price increases on products that are not changing year-to-year. The Inflation Reduction Act requires drug companies rebate back the difference to Medicare if they raise prices higher than inflation.\n\nLimits insulin copays to $35/month. For too long, Maine seniors have faced uncertainty when paying for insulin which could costs hundreds of dollars out of pocket. The Inflation Reduction Act ensures no senior will pay more than $35/month for this life-sustaining medication.\n\nBeginning in 2024\n\nCaps Medicare Part D Premium Growth. For seniors on fixed incomes, increasing Medicare premiums can be a massive burden; the Inflation Reduction Act, in 2024, will prohibit premiums increasing more than 6% per year.\n\nExpand premium and co-pay assistance on prescription drugs for low-income individuals. Currently, the low-income subsidy program (LIS) under Medicare Part D is fully available to all seniors earning less than 135% of the federal poverty level, and partially available to seniors earning less than 150% of the federal policy level. The Inflation Reduction Act eliminates the partial subsidy status, giving those seniors the full low-income subsidy under Medicare Part D.\n\nBeginning in 2025", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-maine-2023-nominees-to-the-united-states-military-service-academies", "Senators Collins, King Announce Maine 2023 Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies", "2022-12-12", "2022", "2022-12", "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 today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress. Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination.\n\n\u201cWe are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation\u2019s distinguished service academies,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThe young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character.\u201d\n\nThe following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King:\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy \u2013 Colorado Springs\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nJarek Fryzlewicz Alfred Massabesic High School\n\nAustin Sellinger Auburn Edward Little High School\n\nAvery Theriault Augusta Cony High School\n\nBenjamin Beckerman Bethel Burke Mountain Academy\n\nNora Spratt Castine George Stevens Academy\n\nThomas Brearly East Baldwin Sacopee Valley High School\n\nSarah Neal East Machias Washington Academy\n\nCamden Hamilton Falmouth Falmouth High School\n\nMatthew Bellatoni Gorham Cheverus High School\n\nLeonardo Mlynski Hampden Hampden Academy\n\nEmma Richard North Yarmouth Greely High School\n\nJames Jones Oakland Messalonskee High School\n\nKatelynn Kinney Sebec Bangor Christian Schools\n\nRoman Thomas Windham Windham High School\n\nRyan Cole Woodland Washburn District High School\n\nJonathan \u201cJack\u201d Curtis Woolwich North Yarmouth Academy\n\nJoseph Neal York York High School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nAddison \u201cTadd\u201d Nelson Bath Cheverus High School\n\nJulian Henderson Camden Camden Hills Regional High School\n\nJameson Buck Hampden Hampden Academy\n\nBenjamin Cloutier Lewiston Lewiston High School\n\nNicholas Biberstein Orrington Bangor High School\n\nAmber Scholten St. Albans Nokomis Regional High School\n\nKatherine Mason Whitefield Lincoln Academy\n\nUnites States Military Academy - West Point\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nWilliam Price Anson Carrabec High School\n\nTaylor Coombs Bangor Bangor High School\n\nThomas Brearly East Baldwin Sacopee Valley High School\n\nSarah Neal East Machias Washington Academy\n\nMatthew Bellantoni Gorham Cheverus High School\n\nNolan Garey Minot Poland Regional High School\n\nEmma Richard North Yarmouth Greely High School\n\nNicholas Biberstein Orrington Bangor High School\n\nMaclain Lowe Saco Thornton Academy\n\nKatelynn Kinney Sebec Bangor Christian Schools\n\nJonathan \u201cJack\u201d Curtis Woolwich North Yarmouth Academy\n\nCora Birknes Yarmouth St. Andrew\u2019s School\n\nJoseph Neal York York High School\n\nUnited States Naval Academy - Annapolis\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nAustin Sellinger Auburn Edward Little High School\n\nAvery Theriault Augusta Cony High School\n\nLiam Sullivan Berwick St. Thomas Aquinas\n\nLeonard \u201cMichael\u201d Kenyon Brunswick Brunswick High School\n\nNora Spratt Castine George Stevens Academy\n\nCarolyn Carter Freeport Freeport High School\n\nMatthew Bellantoni Gorham Cheverus High School\n\nJameson Buck Hampden Hampden Academy\n\nBenjamin Cloutier Lewiston Lewiston High School\n\nNolan Garey Minot Poland Regional High School\n\nNicholas Biberstein Orrington Bangor High School\n\nMalachi Cummings Presque Isle Presque Isle High School\n\nScott Turney Readfield Kents Hill School\n\nJacob Lavi South Thomaston Oceanside High School\n\nGeorge Ferland Stockholm Caribou High School\n\nKatherine Mason Whitefield Lincoln Academy\n\nCora Birknes Yarmouth St. Andrew\u2019s School\n\nSteven Fulton Yarmouth Yarmouth High School", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-collins-introduce-legislation-lowering-costs-of-home-heating-options", "King, Collins Introduce Legislation Lowering Costs of Home Heating Options", "2022-12-09", "2022", "2022-12", "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 Angus King and Susan Collins introduced a bipartisan bill to help more Maine families afford residential home heating technologies that can save them thousands a year. The BTU Tax Credit Expansion Act incentivizes the purchase of these innovative heating sources by increasing the maximum rebate for biomass stoves and boilers from $2,000 to $8,000. Once purchased, the stoves only cost a few hundred dollars a year to fuel and maintain \u2013 significantly lower than other heating options.\n\n\u201cWith heating costs on the rise, and global temperature norms changing due to climate change, it is vital that we make home heating options like pellet stoves more affordable for Maine families,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe BTU Tax Credit Expansion Act will add financial benefits for families trying to find less expensive alternatives to traditional home heating systems \u2013 helping them to enjoy significant long-term savings. This tax credit is a win-win for Maine families that will cut utility costs, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and prevent tough choices like paying for heating, or putting food on the table.\u201d\n\n\u201cWood biomass is a cost-effective, renewable, and environmentally friendly source of energy that helps individuals heat their homes in the winter months, supports our forest products industry, and creates jobs here in Maine,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cBy increasing the credits available for biomass stoves and boilers to more closely align with incentives provided for other energy systems, this legislation would encourage the use of this proven and highly efficient heating technology.\u201d\n\nThe bill was also cosponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The initial clean energy rebates were included in the Inflation Reduction Act which passed the Senate in August 2022.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-3-million-in-funding-for-head-start-in-maine-1222", "Collins, King Announce Nearly $3 Million in Funding for Head Start in Maine", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "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 announced that two Maine organizations will receive a total of $2,913,484 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to strengthen Head Start programs and promote early childhood development opportunities for children in poverty. Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care in Lewiston and Downeast Community Partners in Ellsworth will use the funding to develop new approaches to learning, strengthen social and emotional development programs, and expand physical health education.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s Head Start programs empower both parents and their children. From kickstarting educations to promoting positive parent-child relationships, Head Start\u2019s opportunities are invaluable to Maine students\u2019 success,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThe dedicated teachers and staff at Androscoggin Head Start and Downeast Community Partners work hard to support Maine families and help our children grow. This significant new investment will improve access to critical development resources in Maine communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cDown East Community Partners\u2019 Head Start program is a critical flagship service in Hancock and Washington Counties. This funding provides the foundation of DCP\u2019s efforts and partnerships with parents, local public schools, and community organizations,\u201d said Rebecca Palmer, Executive Director of Downeast Community Partners. \u201cIt has never been more critical to serve the families and children in our respective counties living in poverty needing school readiness supports of physical and health development, language and literacy development, social and emotional development, and cognition of literacy and approaches to learning.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be allocated as follows:\n\nAndroscoggin Head Start and Child Care will receive $1,704,790 for its Early Education Center\n\nDowneast Community Partners will receive $1,208,694 for its quality of life and poverty reduction programs", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cyberspace-solarium-co-chairs-applaud-critical-timely-cybersecurity-provisions-in-annual-defense-bill", "Cyberspace Solarium Co-Chairs Applaud \u201cCritical, Timely\u201d Cybersecurity Provisions in Annual Defense Bill", "2022-12-08", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), Co-Chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today applauded the inclusion of several key cybersecurity provisions in the final version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The joint House and Senate version of the annual defense bill released this week includes legislation to establish a Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy to coordinate international cyber affairs at the U.S. Department of State \u2013 a top recommendation of the CSC.\n\nThe released text also requires U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) to research its methods for responding and deterring cyberattacks and recommends that the Navy create a cyber officer position. As Co-Chairs of the commission, King and Gallagher pushed for these provisions to be included in the final version of the bill.\n\n\u201cAs threats from Russia, China, and other adversaries grow, the United States must continue to invest in strong cyberdefenses. That\u2019s why the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act includes critical, timely provisions to improve the Pentagon\u2019s cyber coordination and ensure that CYBERCOM has the tools it needs to successfully deter any foe,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bill\u2019s creation of a Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy is another important step towards the Cyberspace Solarium Commission\u2019s goal of giving cyber a voice at the table both in our government and on the world stage. When the Solarium released our list of recommendations, we made it clear this was an action document, not a report designed to collect dust. I\u2019m proud of the significant progress we\u2019ve made over the last few years and look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis NDAA takes another important step towards better securing our country in cyberspace,\u201d said Rep. Gallagher. \u201cFrom the inclusion of the Cyber Diplomacy Act, which ensures the State Department is structured to promote our values in cyberspace, to continued guidance on CYBERCOM on force generation, readiness, and acquisition, the Cyber Solarium Commission continues to enact critical legislation to defend our country.\u201d\n\nSignificant cybersecurity provisions in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act include:\n\nNew guidance for U.S. Cyber Command to improve force readiness, force structure and acquisition efforts, along with clarification on the authority to conduct offensive operations in response to foreign power cyber campaigns against U.S. critical infrastructure.\n\nThe Cyber Diplomacy Act establishing a Bureau of International Cyberspace Policy at the U.S. Department of State, a major CSC recommendation.\n\nAn increase of $44.1 million to support CYBERCOM\u2019s Hunt Forward Operations.\n\nA strategy for converged cyber and electronic warfare conducted by and through deployed military and intelligence assets operating in the radio frequency domain to provide strategic, operational, and tactical effects in support of combatant commanders.\n\nA biennial, unclassified report through the 2032 election cycle on CYBERCOM efforts to ensure election security and counter election threats\n\nA study on the military services' responsibilities for organizing, training, and presenting forces to CYBERCOM and recommendations on a future force generation model for cyberspace operations forces\n\nRecommendations to the Navy on establishing a Cyber Operations officer career designation, similar to all the other branches of the Armed Forces.\n\nThe creation of an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber at the Department of Defense. The new Senate-confirmed individual will be responsible for ensuring America\u2019s cyber forces are effectively trained, maintained and equipped across all services.\n\nAn assessment of the DOD's new competitive cyber hiring policy to determine if it would be effective and feasible for other federal agencies. The \u201ccyber exception\u201d policy allowed DOD to hire cyber experts at competitive, market-rate salaries and with less unnecessary red tape than the typical federal hiring guidelines.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-collins-king-resolution-recognizing-december-17-2022-as-wreaths-across-america-day", "Senate Unanimously Passes Collins, King Resolution Recognizing December 17, 2022, as \u201cWreaths Across America Day\u201d", "2022-12-07", "2022", "2022-12", "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 The Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Saturday, December 17, 2022, as \u201cWreaths Across America Day.\u201d A convoy of volunteers will travel from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the headstones of fallen American soldiers.\n\nOver the past 31 years, Wreaths Across America has sent more than 14.4 million wreaths to various locations, including national cemeteries and veterans\u2019 memorials in all 50 states and overseas.\n\n\u201cFrom Arlington National Cemetery that overlooks our nation\u2019s capital, to Normandy American Cemetery above the beaches that Allied troops stormed on D-Day, the wreath laying ceremonies on December 17th are a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cFor more than thirty years, the fields of Maine-made wreaths have served as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices of America\u2019s veterans. The longevity of this event is a testament to the spirit of Maine people, our overwhelming gratitude to our nation\u2019s servicemembers, and the extraordinary dedication of all those who have made the tribute possible. This resolution remembers and honors America\u2019s veterans this holiday season, while also teaching younger generations of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty.\u201d\n\nThe general public can register to participate in Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery HERE.\n\nThousands of volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at 3,100 locations nationwide.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-king-joins-checks-and-balance-podcast-to-discuss-need-for-electoral-count-act-reform", "ICYMI: King Joins \u201cChecks and Balance\u201d Podcast to Discuss Need for Electoral Count Act Reform", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Listen to the Checks and Balances podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts\n\nWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, joined The Economist\u2019s weekly \u201cCheck and Balances\u201d podcast to discuss democratic protections that must be passed in the last month of the congressional session. During the episode, King explains why his top priority for the remainder of this Congress is the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act \u2013 informed by his February reform proposal \u2013 to clarify ambiguous 19th century laws that spurred the January 6th insurrection. King also highlights the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and annual omnibus appropriations package as two other key priorities.\n\nSpeaking about his priorities in the last month of the Congressional session, King lays out why \u201cthe infrastructure of democracy\u201d is his top priority.\n\n\u201cI list[ed] the Electoral Count Act first because that goes to the infrastructure of democracy itself. And everything else in terms of budgets and marriage equality, all of those things are basically policy questions that are important. But if the structure of the system isn't working, nothing else works. So that's why I put Electoral Count Act at the top of the list.\u201d\n\nKing continued by explaining the historical need for the proposed reforms in the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act.\n\n\u201cI hope you'll allow me a bit of historical digression. It rests in the provision of the Constitution that establishes the Electoral College. And if you go back and read the Federalist 68 \u2013 which is Hamilton's justification for the Electoral College \u2013 I don't often disagree with Hamilton, but he got it wrong. The framers were of two minds. They liked the idea of public participation and democracy with a small d, but only so far. They were very concerned about what they called the mob. The only body in the US Constitution at the time of its adoption that was popularly elected directly by the people, was the House of Representatives. The Senators were elected by the state legislatures, and the President was elected by this thing called the Electoral College.\n\n\u201cHamilton's theory \u2013 which looks naive in retrospect \u2013 was the Electoral College would be a kind of filter, a council of wise people who would be elected by the popular vote in their state, but then they would exercise some kind of independent judgment. As I see it now, we have the worst of both worlds. We have a system that intermediates between the people and the Presidency. But it's a system that's subject to manipulation and mischief.\u201d\n\nThe Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act updates the outdated and vague 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect the will of the voters in each state. The bill replaces ambiguous provisions with clear procedures to ensure the counting of electoral votes can\u2019t be exploited. Key provisions in the bill include:\n\nClarifying the Role of the Vice President.\n\nAffirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President in the counting of electoral votes is ceremonial, with no power to adjudicate conflicts that might arise.\n\nRaising the Objection Threshold.\n\nRaises the threshold to object to a state\u2019s electors to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate \u2013 up from one member of each chamber.\n\nEnsuring a Single, Accurate Slate of Electors.\n\nDesignates each state\u2019s governor as responsible for submitting a single slate of electors to Congress.\n\nEnsures a state\u2019s executive can\u2019t submit a slate of electors over the objections of the judiciary or in violation of state and federal law.\n\nExpediting Judicial Review.\n\nProvides an expedited review process, including a three-judge panel with appeal to the Supreme Court, of certain claims related to a state\u2019s slate of electors.\n\nPreventing Moving or Canceling of Elections.\n\nRequires \u201cextraordinary and catastrophic\u201d events for a state to move their election, and removes a provision that allows states to declare failed elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-over-1-million-for-upgrades-to-maine-recreation-facilities", "Senators Collins, King Announce Over $1 Million for Upgrades to Maine Recreation Facilities", "2022-12-05", "2022", "2022-12", "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 announced that the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has received $1,077,257 to support four projects across Maine. Each of the projects will use the funding to repair, renovate, or improve existing recreational facilities. This funding was awarded through the National Park Service\u2019s Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program.\n\n\u201cIncreasing access to outdoor recreational opportunities helps people stay active and healthy, and it benefits the entire region,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThis investment through the Land and Water Conservation Fund will repair and upgrade existing facilities for tennis, basketball, football, and baseball as well as other community resources that will be used by current residents as well as by future generations.\u201d\n\nThe funding was allocated as follows:\n\nCherryfield received $40,000 to renovate existing town-owned tennis and basketball courts. The parking area will be updated with gravel, barriers, and a handicap accessible ramp. The project also includes installing raised vegetable beds for a community garden as well as a picnic area.\n\nJay received $206,624 to demolish existing, obsolete tennis courts and construct three new, ADA-compliant courts in their place. Jay also will install new LED lighting and ADA-compliant walkways leading to the courts.\n\nSkowhegan received $330,633 to upgrade infrastructure at an existing football field complex, install new dugouts at the Carl Wright Baseball Complex, and increase ADA accessibility at the Skowhegan Recreation Complex.\n\nThe Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands received $500,000 to make improvements to Recreation Hall, an existing building at the Lake George Regional Park in Canaan. The updates include roof and flooring renovations, general maintenance, safety feature installations, and increased ADA access. A new road with tiered parking and handicap spaces will also be installed.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/icymi-on-fox-news-sunday-king-says-putin-growing-more-dangerous-to-ukraine-and-nato-speaks-of-chinese-threat", "ICYMI: On Fox News Sunday, King Says Putin Growing \u201cMore Dangerous\u201d to Ukraine and NATO, Speaks of Chinese Threat", "2022-12-04", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch the interview here\n\nWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, today joined Fox News Sunday for a bipartisan interview with Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on some of the most pressing national security issues facing the United States, including growing threats from adversaries like Russia and China. During the interview, conducted by Shannon Bream at the annual Reagan National Defense Forum, King stressed the urgency of confronting Vladimir Putin, explained why the Free World must continue to support Ukraine\u2019s fight for freedom, and laid out the dangers of Chinese-controlled tech products like TikTok.\n\nDuring the interview, Bream asked Senator King about President Vladimir Putin\u2019s next steps in his illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s talk about Ukraine, that is another hot topic. You will receive I understand a briefing on Wednesday that will update you where we are,\u201d said Shannon Bream. \u201dThe President said he would being willing to talk with Mr. Putin, but that they would have to leave Russia. Kremlin says that is no-go, they can't have that kind of conversation, how does this end?\"\n\n\u201cI think Putin is extremely dangerous right now. The ironic situation that we\u2019re in is that the better the Ukrainians do, the more dangerous Putin becomes \u2013 because he is running out of options. And what we\u2019re seeing now is actually his go-to option in Syria, in Grozny, where he is just bombing the hell out of the civilian population and the problem is that is just below the level where he knows we'll get into it in a more serious way. So we're in a very difficult situation,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cI think what we've supplied to Ukrainians has been enormously important and we need to continue to do so. Putin number one priority is to divide the West in terms of our support for Ukraine, we can't fall for it.\u201d\n\nBream continued by asking about America\u2019s commitment to the conflict, and why we need to support Ukraine in their fight for freedom.\n\n\u201cSo the White House has now asked for another $38 billion dollars in next tranche of potential spending and are Republicans who are asking for more transparency and over on the House side especially there is talk of a resolution that would allow for tracking these dollars. They are taxpayer dollars, hardworking citizens want to know where it is going,\u201d Bream continued. \u201cCongresswoman Kat Cammack out of Florida says this: \u2018I liken it to the airline videos you do before you take off: you need to put on your own oxygen mask before helping others, I don't think as a legislator, I could support billions and billions of funding going overseas when we have such dire needs here.\u2019 Does she have a point?\n\n\u201cShe has a point and it is wrong. I suggest she Google Rhineland, 1936 and Sudetenland 1938, Hitler could have been stopped at those two times when he began aggression in Eastern Europe. He wasn't and 55 million people died,\u201d explained Senator King. \u201cDespots want to expand. Putin has told us who he is, Maya Angelou says if someone tells you who you they are, you should believe them. He wants to reestablish the Soviet Empire \u2013 he\u2019s said that. I have no doubt that if he had been able to sweep into Kyiv in a week \u2013 which is what he thought he could do \u2013 we\u2019d now be talking about probes into the Baltic States or Poland. He\u2019s gotta be stopped, it\u2019s in the national interest to stop him. The only thing more expensive than helping Ukraine is a World War.\u201d\n\nMoving on to discuss threats from China, Bream asked Senator King \u2013 Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission \u2013 about the cyberthreats posed by the popular video app TikTok.\n\n\u201cYou've been talking about that here at the Reagan Library [about cybersecurity], there are a number of concerns that that front. People across the agencies are talking about an app million have downloaded voluntarily and happily \u2013 TikTok. The Washington Post says it is a compromising information on millions of Americans which can later use for national security or commercial espionage and for strategic influence operations against our country,\u201d explained Bream. \u201cIt\u2019s been banned in some places, India bans it, should the U.S. consider a ban?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe definitely should consider it,\u201d responded Senator King. \u201cThe problem is with China, there is no distinction between the government and private sector \u2013 everybody works for the government one way or another. TikTok can say we're an independent company \u2013 nonsense. Second piece, the Chinese are really into collecting data and stealing data and this is one huge way to do that. They have every keystroke, everything you enter, every comment. I think it is very dangerous and if this were Austria or Australia, I don't think we need to worry about it, but this is a country with a demonstrated propensity to intrude into our affairs and to use cyber to do so.\u201d\n\nContinuing discussions on China, King explained how 21st century dictators use technology to repress dissent.\n\n\u201cChina is top of mind this weekend, what do you make of the ongoing protests there?\u201d asked Bream. \u201cWhat is appropriate role for the U.S. at this inflection point?\n\n\u201cHere is one of the real problems \u2013 the 21st century technology of repression, you can have widespread dissent in China, Russia, Iran \u2013 whether they can get out from under the thumb of despotic government that has pervasive surveillance, tapping phones, you name it, they are under total control,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cSo the real question to me is no matter how serious the unrest is, can they ever throw off the yolk of the governments?\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-warn-chinese-government-against-violent-crackdown-on-protesters", "Collins, King Warn Chinese Government Against Violent Crackdown on Protesters", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "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, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, are warning the Chinese Communist Party against a violent crackdown on the country\u2019s growing pro-freedom protests. In a bipartisan letter with nearly half of their Senate colleagues, Collins and King tell the Chinese ambassador to the United States that violence by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) against the peaceful protesters will cause extraordinary damage to the US-China relationship.\n\n\u201cThe protests in China, and the subsequent crackdowns, are clear evidence that the Chinese Communist Party is not listening to the will of its people. The United States Senate understands the importance of democratic principles\u2014like freedom of expression and freedom of speech\u2014and will always stand up for those values,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cWe applaud the Chinese people for their bravery and urge the Chinese Communist Party to refrain from violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters as we have seen in the past.\u201d\n\nThe letter is signed by a bipartisan group of forty-two Senators.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read HERE and below.\n\n###\n\nAmbassador Qin Gang\n\nEmbassy of the People\u2019s Republic of China\n\n3505 International Place NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20008-3025\n\nDear Ambassador Qin:\n\nWe are following the current peaceful protests in China over your government\u2019s policies very carefully. We are also closely watching the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) reaction to them.\n\nIn 1989, the Chinese Communist Party and People\u2019s Liberation Army undertook a violent crackdown on peacefully protesting Chinese students, killing hundreds, if not thousands.\n\nWe caution the CCP in the strongest possible terms not to once again undertake a violent crackdown on peaceful Chinese protesters who simply want more freedom. If that happens, we believe there will be grave consequences for the US-China relationship, causing extraordinary damage to it.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-welcomes-5-million-to-aid-passamaquoddy-impacted-by-climate-change", "Maine Delegation Welcomes $5 Million to Aid Passamaquoddy Impacted by Climate Change", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden welcomed a $5 million planning grant for the Passamaquoddy Tribe to respond to climate-related environmental threats. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of the Interior\u2019s newly announced Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation program and funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cFrom rising sea levels to warming waters, the impacts of climate change are already threatening communities across Maine. This federal program, one of the first of its kind, will help the Passamaquoddy Tribe prepare for climate change with long-term resilience measures,\u201d the Maine Delegation said. \u201cAs proud supporters of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we\u2019re thrilled to see its investments are working to protect tribal communities in Maine and across the nation.\u201d\n\nThe Passamaquoddy Tribe is one of eight Tribal communities nationwide receiving a total of $40 million for planning grants.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s funding announcement was made during the 2022 White House Tribal Nations Summit, which provides an opportunity for the Administration and Tribal leaders from the 574 federally recognized Tribes to discuss ways the federal government can invest in and strengthen nation-to-nation relationships as well as ensure that progress in Indian Country endures for years to come.\n\nAlaska Native villages and Tribal communities in the contiguous 48 states are at risk of severe infrastructure damage due to climate-related environmental impacts, including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme weather events threats, and threats from flooding, drought, and wildland fire. A 2020 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) study estimated that up to $5 billion will be needed over the next 50 years to address Tribal relocation infrastructure needs in response to climate change impacts.\n\nThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a total of $466 million to the BIA over five years, including $216 million for climate resilience programs, provided as $43.2 million annually for five years. Of that funding, $130 million is provided for community relocation and $86 million is provided for Tribal climate resilience and adaptation projects. The Inflation Reduction Act provides BIA with an additional $220 million for climate adaptation and resilience, of which the Department anticipates spending $40 million to support Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation efforts, with the remainder supporting broader Tribal climate resilience activities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-800000-to-support-refugee-mental-health-services-in-maine", "Senators Collins, King Announce $800,000 to Support Refugee Mental Health Services in Maine", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "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 announced that Spurwink has received $800,000 to support their ShifaME Trauma Systems Therapy for refugees. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Center for Mental Health Services. This federal funding will help to expand the trauma therapy capabilities of ShifaME, Spurwink\u2019s refugee service provider. The organization currently offers case management and counseling services to refugees across the state.\n\n\u201cNo community is immune from mental health crises, but refugees who fled violence, disasters, or persecution in their home countries often experience unique traumas in addition to the challenges of adjusting to a new life in the United States,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cSpurwink provides vital support to Maine\u2019s refugee population, and this funding will help the dedicated staff expand access to mental health services for youth and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpurwink is grateful for the ongoing commitment of Senators Collins and King, and SAMHSA, to support our critical work with refugees in Portland,\u201d said Eric Meyer, President & CEO of Spurwink. \u201cRefugees contribute to a thriving economy in Maine and add a richness to our community, and our team is committed to working with them on a path to better health.\u201d\n\nThe Spurwink Refugee Mental Health Project is a multi-tiered mental health promotion model used to improve access to trauma-informed mental health services for refugee children and adolescents in Maine. The project is based on work with the Refugee Trauma and Resiliency Center at Boston Children\u2019s Hospital and multiple partners in Maine including schools, community providers and immigrant and refugee-led organizations. The initiative includes broad-based prevention and community resilience building, community-based skill-building groups for youth, and intensive home-based family therapy for those with significant mental health needs.\n\nSpurwink\u2019s project will increase access to effective trauma-focused services for participants by improving community awareness of the trauma-related needs of refugee youth and increasing acceptance of mental health services among refugee families.\n\nAs a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, in fiscal year 2022, Senator Collins helped secure a $394 million increase to expand mental health research, treatment, and prevention programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/strategic-forces-chair-king-ranking-member-fischer-celebrate-launch-of-next-generation-bomber", "Strategic Forces Chair King, Ranking Member Fischer Celebrate Launch of Next-Generation Bomber", "2022-12-02", "2022", "2022-12", "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-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today celebrated the launch of America\u2019s new nuclear-capable B-21 bomber. The next-generation stealth plane, unveiled by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, will replace parts of the nation\u2019s aging bomber fleet and help modernize the United States\u2019 nuclear defense against growing aggression from Russia and China.\n\nFor the last several years, Chairman King and Ranking Member Fischer have worked to modernize America\u2019s land, air, and sea nuclear defenses \u2013 known as the Triad. Currently, only 10 percent of America\u2019s bomber force is capable of penetrating advanced air defenses. As enemies continue investing in sophisticated technologies and weapons platforms like hypersonics, the capabilities of the new B-21 aircraft will be a critical deterrent for potential adversaries.\n\n\u201cAs history has shown time and again, the cost of defense can be high, but the cost of war is much higher. To prevent war, we must invest in modern defense systems, like the B-21, that can meet the rapidly growing threats of our adversaries,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis new next-generation aircraft sends a clear signal of deterrence to our adversaries and is a significant step in the critical process of updating our nation\u2019s ability to address, prepare, and respond to potential threats. As Russia continues its unprovoked assault on Ukraine and China rapidly grows its nuclear arsenal, it is vitally important that the United States is not left relying on our current Cold War-era deterrents. I\u2019m grateful for all the hard work done by the Air Force and Northrop Grumman to develop this aircraft, and will continue to conduct the oversight necessary to make this project and the rest of the triad modernization a success.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarlier this week, a public report from the Dept. of Defense stated China will at least triple its nuclear arsenal by 2035. This is just the latest example of how the global threat environment we face is becoming more difficult. Tackling these challenges will require continued investments in the modernization of our nuclear triad, which is the bedrock of our national security. Thanks to the partnership between the Air Force and Northrop Grumman, the new B-21 will provide a significant capability upgrade to our aging bomber fleet. I look forward to continuing to build on the progress we\u2019ve made through our work on the Armed Services Committee,\u201d said Senator Fischer.\n\nThe U.S. Air Force has stated plans to acquire at least 100 aircraft which have been named \u201cRaider\u201d after the World War II \u2018Doolittle Raiders\u2019 that conducted a surprise attack on Japan. The planes will be a modern, next generation replacement for the current Cold War-era B-1 and B-2 bombers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-750000-to-increase-mental-health-resources-alleviate-pressure-on-law-enforcement-services", "Collins, King Announce Nearly $750,000 to Increase Mental Health Resources, Alleviate Pressure on Law Enforcement Services", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "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 announced that $746,562 has been awarded to emergency service providers in Cumberland, Knox, and Waldo counties to enhance their ability to safely respond to mental health crises. The funding will also help to divert more mental health calls to the appropriate service providers. This funding was awarded through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program.\n\n\u201cWhen Mainers experience a mental health crisis, it\u2019s important they can get quality and efficient assistance. Too often the only option available is to call 911 \u2013 this creates a missed opportunity to connect these individuals with long-term treatment services, and it puts unnecessary strain on law enforcement officers who are overwhelmed with calls and may not have the appropriate training for these types of situations,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe welcome this important funding, which will help local law enforcement agencies to do their jobs more effectively, strengthen resources for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders, and promote public safety.\u201d\n\n$203,319 will help the Cumberland County Sheriff\u2019s Office address a dramatic increase in mental health-related services, which have risen from 220 calls in 2019 to 648 calls in 2021. A significant number of these calls are for repeat subjects, thus putting a significant strain on the resources of the agency to answer routine calls for service. The Cumberland County Sheriff\u2019s Office believes that an embedded mental health professional would provide targeted assistance to persons with mental health disorders by directing the individuals to local resources.\n\n$543,243 will help support ongoing efforts in Knox and Waldo counties to reduce encounters between law enforcement officers and those suffering with behavioral health issues. The funding will be used to expand the Co-occurring Community Connection (CCC) Project, which promotes effective strategies to identify and reduce the risk of harm to individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, propose interventions that have been shown to reduce recidivism, and improve access to treatment services.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-to-reduce-global-hunger", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Global Hunger", "2022-12-01", "2022", "2022-12", "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 is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to reduce global hunger and continue the United States\u2019 worldwide leadership in combatting food insecurity as Russia\u2019s war on Ukraine imperils global food supply chains. The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the nation\u2019s Feed the Future hunger and agriculture initiative through 2028, improve food aid oversight, and require the Biden administration to develop a whole-of-government strategy to address global food challenges. Feed the Future is an initiative led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to combat global food insecurity. The program addresses the root causes of hunger and poverty by boosting agriculture-led growth and nutrition in countries with great need and opportunity for improvement.\n\n\u201cAs dictators like Vladimir Putin seek to use hunger as a weapon, we must make sure that people have access to basic food and nutrition, regardless of the country or continent they live in,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIt\u2019s imperative the United States helps people around the world access nutritious meals. The Global Food Security Reauthorization Act would strengthen our international leadership and global stability by building on the successful Feed the Future program that provides critical support for countries to develop agriculture and improve nutrition. I\u2019m grateful for the broad bipartisan support the bill has already received, and hope we can get it passed for the sake of all the world\u2019s most vulnerable communities.\u201d\n\nThe Global Food Security Act was first passed into law in 2016 and is set to expire in 2023. The bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Senator King is currently expected to be included as an amendment in the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, and would extend the law for another five years. The bill also:\n\nRequires the Administration to develop a whole-of-government strategy to address global food insecurity and hunger. The strategy would emphasize agricultural development, improving maternal and child nutrition, building the resilience of communities, and civil society engagement.\n\nEnsures the alignment of U.S. assistance with country-owned strategies to enhance agricultural productivity, household income, local economies, and food and nutrition security to work toward the ultimate goal of transitioning countries and communities away from the need for U.S. assistance under this Act.\n\nImproves upon existing monitoring and evaluation practices to ensure the effective use of U.S. taxpayer dollars.\n\nRequires that the Administration report to Congress and to the American people annually about the strategy, its results and the use of foreign assistance funds.\n\nAuthorizes appropriations through 2028 to carry out international development assistance programs and activities under the strategy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-winter-looming-king-and-new-england-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-develop-energy-and-heating-plan", "With Winter Looming, King and New England Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Develop Energy and Heating Plan", "2022-11-30", "2022", "2022-11", "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 and a group of his New England Senate colleagues are urging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a plan that will prevent blackouts or price hikes for New England households this winter; a serious concern given Russia\u2019s continued disruptions to global energy markets. In a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the Senators ask the Secretary to work with key stakeholders and local governments to mitigate the risk of price hikes and shortages of natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and heating oil.\n\n\u201cWith the upcoming winter season comes a real threat to energy reliability for residents and businesses in New England. Global events caused by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine are exacerbating the risk that the region will not have the fuel supplies needed to maintain heat and power during an extended cold snap,\u201d wrote King and his New England colleagues. \u201cWe write to ask that you work with federal, regional, state, and local stakeholders to identify actions available to prevent energy disruption during the coldest months of the year.\u201d\n\n\u201cISO New England, the region\u2019s grid operator, has warned that colder-than-usual conditions could put the reliability of the grid at risk - perhaps even leading to extreme measures like rolling blackouts,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cThis could be devastating, particularly during the coldest days of winter. While the region\u2019s overreliance on natural gas has long been an issue, the continued global disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine means the risk is more urgent than ever,\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the gravity of these concerns, we urge you to convene key stakeholders, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), ISO New England, New England governors, public utility officials, generators, suppliers, and utilities to mitigate these risks. Additionally, we ask that you leverage resources within the Department of Energy to identify barriers to bringing non-fossil fuel energy online as quickly as possible. Lastly, we ask that you work across the Executive Branch to review the emergency powers available to the Department of Energy and other agencies to ensure New England has the resources needed to get through the winter without major supply disruptions or price spikes,\u201d the Senators conclude.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Read the full letter below or here.\n\nSenator King has consistently worked to ensure Maine people have low, reliable energy and heating costs. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, he spoke out against increasing exports of LNG when more natural gas is desperately needed in Maine and across New England. Senator King has also been one of the Senate\u2019s most vocal advocates for the Low Income Heating Aid Program (LIHEAP). He urged the administration to include LIHEAP aid in the American Rescue Plan, and announced that Maine would receive over $90 million \u2013 twice the average allocation \u2013 in 2022 LIHEAP funding thanks to increased investments included in the American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Granholm,\n\nWith the upcoming winter season comes a real threat to energy reliability for residents and businesses in New England. Global events caused by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine are exacerbating the risk that the region will not have the fuel supplies needed to maintain heat and power during an extended cold snap. We write to ask that you work with federal, regional, state, and local stakeholders to identify actions available to prevent energy disruption during the coldest months of the year.\n\nLeaders in the region are working hard to reduce our reliance on natural gas by bringing clean energy resources like offshore wind and hydropower online, and the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act will be a huge boost to those efforts. Replacing fossil fuels with clean energy alternatives is the only way to ensure adequate supply and to achieve U.S. energy independence. Building out this new, carbon-free generation, however, will take time. As a result, the region remains reliant on natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and heating oil to bridge supply gaps during the coldest stretch of New England winters.\n\nISO New England, the region\u2019s grid operator, has warned that colder-than-usual conditions could put the reliability of the grid at risk - perhaps even leading to extreme measures like rolling blackouts. This could be devastating, particularly during the coldest days of winter. While the region\u2019s overreliance on natural gas has long been an issue, the continued global disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine means the risk is more urgent than ever. In retaliation for Western sanctions following the invasion, Russia has weaponized energy supplies, reducing gas exports to Europe by 88% compared to 2021. This had led European nations to seek supplies elsewhere, further tightening the global supply. As a result, New England states will face serious challenges as they seek to secure LNG supply.\n\nEven if the lights stay on throughout our winter months, the price instability caused by the region\u2019s reliance on the spot market could have devastating impacts on New England residents who already face some of the highest energy costs in the continental U.S.\n\nGiven the gravity of these concerns, we urge you to convene key stakeholders, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), ISO New England, New England governors, public utility officials, generators, suppliers, and utilities to mitigate these risks. Additionally, we ask that you leverage resources within the Department of Energy to identify barriers to bringing non-fossil fuel energy online as quickly as possible. Lastly, we ask that you work across the Executive Branch to review the emergency powers available to the Department of Energy and other agencies to ensure New England has the resources needed to get through the winter without major supply disruptions or price spikes. We stand ready and willing to assist you in any way.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these concerns and look forward to working with you on this critical issue\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-after-senate-passes-protections-for-marriage-equality", "King Statement After Senate Passes Protections for Marriage Equality", "2022-11-29", "2022", "2022-11", "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 released the following statement after the United States Senate passed the Respect For Marriage Act on a bipartisan 61-36 vote. The bill, cosponsored by Senator King, expands federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages by requiring federal recognition of valid state marriages. The bill also guarantees that all marriages are given full legal status regardless of the couple\u2019s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.\n\n\u201cMarriage is one of life\u2019s great gifts; it brings companionship, support, love, and joy. The decision to get married is a deeply personal choice between two people who love each other, it\u2019s not an easy decision, and it\u2019s not one where the government should have a say,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Respect For Marriage Act is a historic, long-overdue step to ensure Americans can marry the person they love without government interference while receiving significant tax and other benefits that come from the legally-recognized partnerships.\n\n\u201cMy decades-long marriage to my wife has been among the greatest privileges of my life. We were lucky that our marriage did not face legal barriers, and there shouldn\u2019t be for others who share the same love. Maine has long understood this fundamental right \u2013 it\u2019s why we were the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex civil marriage by popular vote, and it\u2019s why I was a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that a law protecting the right to marry the person you love is even necessary. But with an activist Supreme Court that has repeatedly imposed their own religious views on the country and indicated it was open to reconsidering marriage equality rights, I feel this effort was critical to defend current and future loving couples. I\u2019m deeply grateful that the Senate was able to come together and pass a commonsense, bipartisan law that carefully enshrines the right to same-sex and interracial marriage while respecting religious freedoms.\u201d\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act, cosponsored by Senator King, will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-5-million-to-restore-fish-habitat-on-the-st-croix-river", "Collins, King Announce $5 Million to Restore Fish Habitat on the St. Croix River", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "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 announced that Maine is receiving $5,000,000 to improve fish migration at the Milltown and Woodland dams on the St. Croix River. The funding was allocated under the bipartisan infrastructure law through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation\u2019s America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC).\n\nThe Maine Department of Marine Resources\u2019 project will expand aquatic connectivity for river herring and other at-risk species. The project will also help to enhance watershed health and local economic vitality in the St. Croix River and the Bay of Fundy. The project will significantly improve fish passage in historic spawning habitat and continue collaboration between U.S. federal agencies, Canadian agencies, Tribal Nations, the State of Maine and other conservation partners.\n\n\u201cThe St. Croix River and its watershed play a key role in sustaining the health of the ecosystem and the economy in Eastern Maine,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cBy improving fish passages along the river, this project will help restore critical habitat to protect native fish populations, while also supporting migratory birds and other wildlife. We welcome this investment to preserve the environment and benefit current and future generations of anglers.\u201d\n\nATBC grants support projects that conserve, restore, and connect habitats for wildlife while improving community resilience and access to nature. These grants are highly competitive. This year, applicants submitted 527 proposals requesting a total of $1.1 billion, and 55 were selected.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nov-22-pod", "Arctic Caucus Co-Chair King Discusses Challenges and Opportunities of the High North in November Podcast", "2022-11-28", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Listen to the November edition of Senator King\u2019s podcast here or on Apple Podcasts.\n\nWASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the November episode of the Senator\u2019s \u201cInside Maine\u201d podcast, in which he and his guests discuss the opportunities and challenges of a warming Arctic. King, Co-Chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, was joined by President of the Maine International Trade Center, Wade Merritt, and former Alaska Lieutenant Governor and US Arctic Research Commission Chair, Fran Ulmer. Together, the Senator and his guests lay out the local and global implications of the shifting region; including the changing environment, better shipping routes and trade opportunities, and expanded competition with Russia and China.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s an unfortunate reality that the Arctic is warming, but it\u2019s critical we realize that the region\u2019s rapid changes are creating historic opportunities and challenges,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cFrom new trade routes to military instillations, the United States, Maine, and our global partners must be ready for this growing area of competition and collaboration \u2013 countries like China and India are already making major moves to gain leverage in the High North. It was great to be joined by Wade Merritt and Fran Ulmer to discuss the implications of the newly accessible region. I\u2019m grateful for the work they are doing to study and seize Arctic opportunities and look forward to our continued efforts together to ensure Maine is well positioned in our Arctic future.\u201d\n\nThe Arctic is one of the world\u2019s most rapidly changing bodies of water \u2013 warming 5\u00b0 Fahrenheit since the mid-1960s, three times faster than the global average. The melting sea ice opens northern shipping lanes for northern ports in Alaska and Maine, while also increasing the potential for territorial disputes and greater militarization in the region. Currently, Russia is far outpacing the U.S. in the region, having already invested billions of dollars in military infrastructure along its northern Arctic coast. Without proper investment, the U.S. risks falling further behind in the critical, shifting region.\n\nFormer Alaska Lieutenant Governor and Mayor of Juneau, Fran Ulmer served as chair of the US Arctic Research Commission (USARC) from March 2011 to July 2020 where she led a biennial report to the President and Congress outlining recommended scientific research goals and objectives for the Arctic. Ms. Ulmer also served as chancellor of Alaska\u2019s largest public university, the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and is now a Senior Fellow in the Arctic Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.\n\nSince 2017, Wade Merritt has served as the President of Maine International Trade Center (MITC) and State Director of International Trade within the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development. In this role, he is responsible for the directing the trade and investment policy for the state, including the delivery of international trade services to Maine\u2019s business and academic community. His appointment is the culmination of 22 years at MITC, progressing up the organization from frontline staff to regional office director, followed by 11 years as Vice President. During his time, Wade has served Maine\u2019s business community through the creation and development of several major subprograms including the Canada Desk and Invest in Maine, MITC\u2019s investment attraction initiative.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Armed Services Committee, and 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. Along with Caucus co-chair Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), King introduced the Arctic Commitment Act earlier this year to improve America\u2019s posture and opportunities in the Arctic. He\u2019s been calling for the appointment of an Arctic Ambassador since 2015, and has continued to press the Administration on the effort this year. King also recently laid out the challenges and opportunities of a warming arctic in an article in the Wilson Quarterly, and in this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act, he successfully secured the inclusion of provisions to increase America\u2019s activity and opportunities in the Far North.\n\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. typically on the last Saturday of the month.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-ensure-students-arent-forced-to-choose-between-housing-and-education", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Ensure Students Aren\u2019t Forced to Choose Between Housing and Education", "2022-11-22", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "BRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) have introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure students are not forced to choose between housing or pursuing an education. The Housing for Homeless Students Act would update current law to ensure students, including veterans, who have experienced homelessness or are currently homeless, can access affordable housing while pursuing their education. The legislation would also benefit youth who age out of foster care who experience higher rates of homelessness and unemployment.\n\nCurrently, individuals pursuing full-time education are not eligible for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program and can lose access to scholarships and grants if they switch to part-time education in order to retain access to affordable housing.\n\n\u201cIt should go without saying \u2013 no one should have to choose between getting an education or keeping a roof above their head,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur youth and veterans pursuing higher education are there to improve their lives and invest in their future and it\u2019s completely unfair for them to lose federal housing support because they are investing their time and energy in seeking a college degree. The Housing for Homeless Students Act is a necessary, commonsense, and bipartisan step to right this wrong and ensure America\u2019s youth and veterans have equal opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudents and veterans who have experienced homelessness shouldn\u2019t be forced to choose between pursuing an education and access to affordable housing,\u201d said Senator Brown. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with Sens. King and Portman on the Housing for Homeless Students Act to ensure the housing tax credit works for students investing in their futures.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudents shouldn\u2019t have to choose between stable housing and going to school full-time,\u201d said Senator Portman. \u201cThis legislation will provide low-income students access to affordable housing while they attend school. With secure housing we can help to ensure that they are able to focus on their education, graduate, and achieve their God-given potential.\u201d\n\nThe LIHTC Program provides tax incentives to developers who build or rehabilitate affordable housing units. Currently, the program does not allow tenants enrolled in the program to be full-time students. If students pursue a part-time education, they risk losing out on scholarships and grants available to full-time students only. The original intent of the rule was to prevent LIHTC funding from being used to construct student housing for students who have temporarily low-incomes at the expense of low-income families with long-term needs. However, current law provides no exception for homeless or formerly-homeless students.\n\nThe Housing for Homeless Students Act would also benefit homeless veterans and young people who age out of foster care and often experience higher rates of homelessness and unemployment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-celebration-of-waterville-downtown-revitalization-project", "Collins, King Join Celebration of Waterville Downtown Revitalization Project", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Waterville, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined representatives from the Maine Department of Transportation, the City of Waterville, and Colby College to celebrate the completion of the Downtown Waterville Revitalization Project. The project improved roadways, sidewalks, intersections, and public green spaces. In addition, traffic was reconfigured from one-way to two-way, and intersections and gateways were reconstructed to be safer for pedestrians and motorists. Colby College is also making significant downtown investments that will help the town draw more visitors.\n\nSenators Collins and King both strongly supported a $7.4 million federal grant for the project, and Senator Collins secured the funding through this highly competitive grant program as a leader of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\n\u201cThis transformational project will contribute to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Waterville, expand access to the arts and education, create jobs, and bring the community together. The improvements to roadways, sidewalks, and public spaces we are celebrating are the result of the strong partnerships that have been forged among the city, Colby, and MaineDOT,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cAs a leader of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I was delighted to secure a $7.4 million BUILD grant to help move this remarkable project forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cWaterville has historically been the center of activity in northern Kennebec County and neighboring communities in Somerset; it\u2019s a cornerstone of the economy for the region,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe new two way-traffic on Main Street will bring more customers to small businesses, improve traffic flow, and make foot traffic better for pedestrians. Today\u2019s ribbon cutting is a testament to the hard work of the city and to the value of the partnerships they\u2019ve formed with Colby College and the MaineDOT. I\u2019m proud to have supported funding for this significant project and look forward to seeing its impacts for years to come.\u201d\n\nConstruction on the Downtown Waterville Revitalization Project began in March 2021. Work involved converting Main Street and Front Street to two-way traffic, which will direct local traffic into the downtown commercial area to spur more economic activity. At the same time, state numbered routes that previously traversed Main Street have been rerouted away from Waterville\u2019s center to divert through-traffic from Main Street. These traffic changes\u2014coupled with wider sidewalks, updated traffic signals, new streetlights, and new trees\u2014will make downtown Waterville a safer and more attractive environment for pedestrians.\n\nThis city-led project complements investments by Colby College to bring new life to downtown Waterville, catalyze economic activity, and create a stronger connection between Colby\u2019s Mayflower Hill campus and the city center. Recent building projects include Colby\u2019s Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons, a mixed-use street level commercial building and student apartment complex; the contemporary world-class Lockwood Hotel, the arts-centered Greene Block + Studios that transformed a historic hardware store building; and the soon-to-open Paul J. Schupf Art Center, which will house the core of Waterville\u2019s creative and performing arts community. This will include the Maine Film Center and the Maine International Film Festival, Ticonic Gallery and Studios, and the Colby Museum of Art Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art. The new Paul J. Schupf Art Center will also connect to the 120-year-old Waterville Opera House via an elegant and accessible skywalk.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-bipartisan-group-of-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-address-winter-season-worker-shortage", "King, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Address Winter Season Worker Shortage", "2022-11-18", "2022", "2022-11", "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-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to call on the Biden administration to expedite H-2B work visas as many of Maine\u2019s businesses prepare for the approaching winter ski and tourism season in Maine. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Labor (DOL) Marty Walsh, the Senators highlight the urgent need for workers across the nation\u2019s ski and winter tourism industry and stress that failure to quickly provide H-2Bs will cause harm to Maine skiing communities.\n\nOver the last several years, the seasonal tourism industry has struggled to hire enough American workers to meet demand. The H2-B work visa program allows U.S. employers to fill these open roles with foreign nationals in temporary nonagricultural jobs when the local workforce is not applying for them.\n\n\u201cH-2B workers are especially vital to the ski and winter tourism industry nationwide, which is anticipating severe workforce shortages ahead of hiring for its busiest season,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cAccording to the National Ski Areas Association, 81% of all ski areas in the U.S. had unfilled winter jobs in the 2022 ski season. Additionally, the average number of winter positions that went unfilled at ski areas was 76 \u2013 a steep increase from an average of 55 unfilled positions in 2021.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe urgency of addressing these workforce shortages cannot be overstated. In addition to ski and winter tourism businesses themselves, the rural mountain communities who host them depend heavily on winter tourism and recreation visitors for their overall economic health and growth. Because employment start dates for ski area employees typically occur in early December, the statutory H-2B cap has been met too early for the industry to effectively utilize the program every year since 2018,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cGiven the lengthy timelines involved in securing H-2B visa slots and hiring and onboarding recipients, each day that passes without action contributes to the risk of those challenges repeating themselves. Releasing the recently-announced 65,000 supplemental H-2B visas as soon as possible will ensure that major winter employers like ski areas, and the mountain communities that depend on them, have a fair shot at accessing the program when H-2Bs are needed most,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThe Maine ski and winter tourism season traditionally runs from late-fall through early-spring.\n\nSenator King has long led efforts to address workforce shortages with the H-2B program. Following a push earlier this year, DHS and DOL announced that they will increase the number of H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2023 to the maximum number, approximately 65,000 additional visas, to help small businesses hire workers. These visas are on top of the 66,000 H-2B visas that are normally available each fiscal year.\n\nSenator King was joined on this letter by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\n\nThe letter can be found here or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas and Secretary Walsh:\n\nWe write to urge you to address serious labor shortages affecting the ski and winter tourism industry in our states by providing H-2B visa cap relief. Specifically, we ask that the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor move expeditiously to issue the temporary final rule for the previously-announced 65,000 supplemental Fiscal Year 2023 H-2B visas.\n\nOn September 15th, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the first half H-2B visa cap for FY23 had been reached \u2013 more than two weeks earlier than the same limit was met in FY22, which was previously the fastest this occurred. We thank your agencies for moving quickly to combat this shortage by announcing the release of 65,000 supplementary visas. However, should implementation and application guidelines for those additional visas not be issued quickly, not all industries will be able to benefit.\n\nH-2B workers are especially vital to the ski and winter tourism industry nationwide, which is anticipating severe workforce shortages ahead of hiring for its busiest season. The industry has sought to address these shortages independent of H-2B hiring, including through significant wage increases, with overall ski wage rates increasing by 28% in the past five years across the 37 states containing ski areas.[i]\n\nDespite this, vacancies and workforce shortages remain widespread even as demand for outdoor recreation continues to grow. According to the National Ski Areas Association, 81% of all ski areas in the U.S. had unfilled winter jobs in the 2022 ski season. Additionally, the average number of winter positions that went unfilled at ski areas was 76\u2013 a steep increase from an average of 55 unfilled positions in 2021.\n\nThe urgency of addressing these workforce shortages cannot be overstated. In addition to ski and winter tourism businesses themselves, the rural mountain communities who host them depend heavily on winter tourism and recreation visitors for their overall economic health and growth. Because employment start dates for ski area employees typically occur in early December, the statutory H-2B cap has been met too early for the industry to effectively utilize the program every year since 2018. And while your agencies have traditionally released supplemental visas, in the past, they have come too late to mitigate severe workforce shortages that delayed openings and limited operational capacity.\n\nGiven the lengthy timelines involved in securing H-2B visa slots and hiring and onboarding recipients, each day that passes without action contributes to the risk of those challenges repeating themselves. Releasing the recently-announced 65,000 supplemental H-2B visas as soon as possible will ensure that major winter employers like ski areas, and the mountain communities that depend on them, have a fair shot at accessing the program when H-2Bs are needed most. We thank you in advance for your consideration of this request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-veterans-from-benefits-fraud", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Protect Veterans from Benefits Fraud", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "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\u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to protect veterans from benefits fraud. The Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited scam benefit representatives who charge unauthorized fees while helping veterans file a disability claim \u2013 something prohibited under current law, but without criminal charges in the statutes.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s veterans have served, sacrificed, and fought for their benefits and it is reprehensible that scammers would take advantage of servicemembers during their time of need,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cUnfortunately, while the shameful act of charging veterans fake \u2018fees\u2019 to file a disability claim is illegal, there are currently no legal penalties to deter bad actors. The GUARD VA Benefits Act would fix this oversight and ensure that scammers and unauthorized organizations are held responsible for exploiting our heroes. This is a commonsense bill to protect out veterans and I hope it can continue to receive bipartisan support across Congress.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan measure has the support of numerous veterans advocacy organizations including the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars and it Auxiliary are very happy that Senator Angus King has signed on as a Cosponsor to the GUARD Act,\u201d said Steven Sanpedro, VFW Department of Maine Legislative Chairman. \u201cThese predatory unaccredited companies have taken advantage of our Veterans and their families way too long. This law will create penalties on these business that over charge our Veterans. More importantly this will put them on notice that they are being watched and will no longer be allowed to take advantage of our Veterans and their families. Thank you Senator King for signing on to this very important bill!\u201d\n\n\"The American Legion Department of Maine is proud hear Senator King is supporting and cosponsoring the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act. Providing claims assistance should be about service to veterans and their families,\" said Kirk Thurston, Commander of the Maine American Legion. \"The American Legion has been assisting the veterans\u2019 community for more than a century, and we are committed to ensuring Maine veterans receive the care they have earned, not turning a profit.\"\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of more than a dozen Senators and companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives. Click here to read the GUARD VA Benefits Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-182-million-contract-awarded-to-bath-iron-works", "Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $182 Million Contract Awarded to Bath Iron Works", "2022-11-17", "2022", "2022-11", "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 Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) a $181,983,583 contract modification to a previously awarded contract for Planning Yard Services for the DDG-51 Class Guided Missile Destroyer program.\n\n\u201cTime and time again, the hardworking, highly-skilled men and women at Bath Iron Works demonstrate that Bath built is best built. This new funding is a testament to the shipyard\u2019s expertise that will strengthen Maine\u2019s economy and allow BIW\u2019s engineers, designers, and planners to continue producing their world-class ships,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cArleigh Burke-class destroyers are the workhorses of the Navy. We will continue our efforts to ensure that the shipyard has the resources it needs to construct these critical elements of our national security that protect our interests around the globe.\u201d\n\nThis funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for planning yard services. The work will be performed in Bath and is expected to be completed by January 2024.\n\nSenator Collins is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Senator King is a member of the Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-5-million-to-help-expand-broadband-in-rural-maine-communities", "Collins, King Announce $5 Million to Help Expand Broadband in Rural Maine Communities", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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) announced that the Maine Connectivity Authority will receive a total of $5,000,000 to support the development of a Five-Year action plan to close the broadband gap in rural Maine. This funding was authorized through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and provided through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program that was created and funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law.\n\nSenator Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was part of the core group of 10 Senators who negotiated the text of the bipartisan infrastructure law. Senators Collins and King both worked to negotiate and pass this historic legislation, which will deliver billions of dollars to Maine for investments in broadband, roads, bridges, and more.\n\n\u201cAccess to high-speed Internet is critical to the vitality of rural communities, which is why I have long championed expanding access to broadband across Maine,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cFrom spurring job creation to supporting telemedicine and education, the Internet unlocks almost endless benefits and possibilities. I co-authored the broadband section of the law to help bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas, and I am pleased that this funding will help Maine to take another step forward to extend its high-speed network to ensure that families have a reliable connection to their loved ones, co-workers, schools, and medical services.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigh-speed, affordable broadband access is essential for small businesses, telehealth patients, families, and students across rural and urban Maine,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve internet speeds and bring important new opportunities to communities that need it most. I\u2019m proud to see the continued impact of this bipartisan bill, and will continue working with my colleagues on programs that close the digital divide and help rural Maine thrive.\u201d\n\nThe BEAD Program is a formula grant program that provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all states and territories. The first phase, the Planning Grants, allows states and territories to develop their high-speed Internet deployment plans to make sure all residents of the state are covered before receiving their allocation for capacity building.\n\nThe Maine Connectivity Authority will use this grant to close the broadband availability gap and support the development of a Five-Year Action Plan. The following planning and pre-deployment activities will be taken:\n\nResearch and data collection, including identification of unserved and underserved locations;\n\nPublications, outreach, and communications support;\n\nEstablishing a broadband office that oversees broadband programs and deployment;\n\nMapping of broadband adoption, affordability, equity, access, and deployment activities; and", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-msc-response", "Maine Delegation and Governor Mills Respond to Suspension of Lobster Fishery Certification by Marine Stewardship Council", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills today released the following statement after the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced plans to temporarily suspend their certification of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. In their decision, MSC acknowledges that while the Maine fishery meets standards for sustainability and environmental impact and is unlikely to cause harm to right whales, it is unable to certify any fishery that is not in compliance with federal regulations \u2013 a standard MSC believes the fishery does not meet due to the ongoing litigation in CBD v. Ross.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Marine Stewardship Council to temporarily suspend certification of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery is the result of a years-long campaign from misguided environmentalist groups who seem to be hellbent on putting a proud, sustainable industry out of business without regard to the consequences of their actions. While the Maine industry met the highest standards for environmental sustainability and impact, the current pending CBD v. Ross court case led by the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States made certification impossible. This litigation is based more on activism than evidence and is putting livelihoods in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cTo be clear, this decision is not a reflection on the Maine lobster industry. As the MSC clearly states, \u2018there is no recent evidence that the Maine lobster fishery is responsible for entanglements or interactions with right whales.\u2019 The temporary suspension is purely because activists with an axe to grind have weaponized the court system and the Endangered Species Act to target the livelihoods of thousands of Maine lobstermen, their families, and the communities who work responsibly to maintain the delicate balance in Maine\u2019s waters. The Maine lobster fishery has always complied with National Marine Fisheries Service regulations, and had the agency issued valid regulations, Maine\u2019s lobster fishery would not have been in a position to lose its certification. It\u2019s extraordinarily frustrating and incredibly unjust.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply disappointed by this action, and hope that the MSC will reconsider the decision as litigation is ongoing in the matter. Any companies purchasing Maine lobster, or people deciding to enjoy a lobster roll, should view MSC\u2019s decision purely as a result of a continuing legal process that is no fault of the fishery or lobstermen. MSC\u2019s own independent review found the industry to be operating sustainably. In the meantime, we will continue doing everything in our power to support the iconic Maine industry and ensure that they have the resources they need to continue complying with any federal regulations.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-ensure-federal-broadband-grants-are-delivered-in-full-not-taxed", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Federal Broadband Grants Are Delivered in Full, Not Taxed", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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, has cosponsored a bipartisan bill to maximize the historic broadband funding for residents across Maine. The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (BGTTA) would classify broadband funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) as non-taxable income, ensuring that the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband in Maine can be used wholly for that purpose, rather than going back to the government through taxes.\n\nCurrently, grants awarded to industry for broadband deployment are factored into a company\u2019s income unless Congress acts to address the problem. This new bipartisan legislation moves to exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and ARP from an organization\u2019s income.\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and American Rescue Plan made once-in-a-generation investments to help every Maine household get an affordable, reliable broadband connection. Now, we have to ensure the funding is delivered in full to accomplish our connectivity goals,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cTaxing federal broadband grants as income undermines the purpose of these historic internet connectivity programs and creates unnecessary hurdles for companies looking to invest in Maine. The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act (BGTTA) is a commonsense step to make the most of the new broadband funding. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s signing, I hope Congress will pass this bipartisan effort to further improve legislation that is providing game changing opportunities for Maine communities.\u201d\n\n\"This is smart and focused legislation that will amplify the impact of both the BIL and ARP directly benefiting small businesses, communities, and consumers,\u201d said Andrew Butcher, President of the Maine Connectivity Authority. \u201cMaine's Internet Service Providers, contractors, and consumers have a huge job to build modern, world class high speed internet infrastructure and the BGTTA will help ensure that the federal investment reaches as far as possible to ensure internet for all. \"\n\nAs Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus, Senator King has been a strong advocate for expanding affordable broadband access as a way to increase economic opportunity in rural Maine. After Senator King\u2019s advocacy and negotiation, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest $65 billion in broadband infrastructure across the nation. The bills historic broadband provisions include over $40 billion in block grants to states and $2 billion for tribal governments, mirroring Senator King\u2019s bipartisan BRIDGE Act and the Digital Equity Act, he championed to invest $2.75 billion in an array of projects at the state and local level that promote \u201cdigital equity.\u201d This is in addition to securing $10 billion in funding for broadband in the American Rescue Plan, as well as more than $7 billion to close the digital divide for students nationwide. Together, these constitute the largest investment in broadband in the nation\u2019s history.\n\nRecently, King also celebrated a $5 million grant to the Maine Connectivity Authority, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in rural Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-after-senate-votes-to-advance-protections-for-marriage-equality", "King Statement after Senate Votes to Advance Protections for Marriage Equality", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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 released the following statement after the United States Senate advanced the Respect For Marriage Act on a bipartisan 62-37 vote. The bill, cosponsored by Senator King, expands federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriages by requiring federal recognition of valid state marriages. The bill also guarantees that all marriages are given full legal status regardless of the couple\u2019s sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.\n\n\u201cMarriage is one of life\u2019s great gifts; it brings companionship, support, love, and joy. The decision to get married is a deeply personal choice between two people who love each other, it\u2019s not an easy decision, and it\u2019s not one where the government should have a say,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Respect For Marriage Act is a historic, long-overdue step to ensure Americans can marry the person they love without government interference while receiving significant tax and other benefits that come from the legally-recognized partnerships.\n\n\u201cMy decades-long marriage to my wife has been among the greatest privileges of my life. We were lucky that that our marriage did not face legal barriers, and there shouldn\u2019t be for others who share the same love. Maine has long understood this fundamental right \u2013 it\u2019s why we were the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex civil marriage by popular vote, and it\u2019s why I\u2019m a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that a law protecting the right to marry the person you love is even necessary. But with an activist Supreme Court that has repeatedly imposed their own religious views on the country and indicated it was open to reconsidering marriage equality rights, I feel this effort was critical to defend current and future loving couples. I\u2019m deeply grateful that the Senate was able to come together and craft a commonsense, bipartisan law that carefully enshrines the right to same-sex and interracial marriage while respecting religious freedoms.\u201d\n\nThe Respect for Marriage Act, cosponsored by Senator King, will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-blasts-inconsistencies-of-noaas-vessel-strike-rule-that-treats-lobster-industry-unequally", "Maine Delegation Blasts Inconsistencies of NOAA\u2019s Vessel Strike Rule that Treats Lobster Industry Unequally", "2022-11-16", "2022", "2022-11", "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.\u2014In response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) favoring the shipping industry over the lobster industry in its attempts to reduce the risk of right whale deaths, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to express their opposition to imposing stricter regulations on fishermen compared to other groups.\n\nSince 2019, there were six documented right whale deaths due to vessel strikes. NOAA recently proposed expanding the current mandatory seasonal vessel speed restrictions of 10 knots or fewer in designated ocean areas, which would reduce the risk of vessel strikes by only 27.5 percent. By contrast, NOAA is moving forward with implementing an onerous and unnecessary lobster gear rule that would purportedly reduce the risk of right whale mortalities by nearly 90 percent, even though there has never been a single right whale death or serious injury attributed to Maine\u2019s lobster industry.\n\n\u201c[T]this rule imposes different requirements on vessel traffic than it does commercial fisheries,\u201d the Maine Delegation wrote. \u201cThrough this proposed rule, it is clear that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is holding Maine\u2019s lobster industry to a much more stringent standard than other sectors\u2026We encourage NMFS to take a hard look at the disparate regulatory treatment of vessel traffic and commercial fisheries before moving forward with additional rules for both sectors.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the Maine Delegation outlined the numerous steps that Maine lobstermen have taken to reduce risks to right whales, and they renewed their push for NOAA to work with its Canadian counterpart to protect this fragile population. They also pointed out a number of contradictions of the new rule. For instance, unlike the lobster gear rule, which is based on estimated rather than confirmed deaths caused by entanglements, the vessel speed rule is confined to documented mortalities caused by ship strikes. Moreover, the vessel speed rule will not apply to the Gulf of Maine. Ironically, this amounts to a tacit admission that Maine waters pose a low risk to right whales.\n\nThe Maine Delegation also asked NOAA several pointed questions to explain these discrepancies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-king-touts-historic-urgency-of-2023-defense-bill", "On Senate Floor, King Touts Historic Urgency of 2023 Defense Bill", "2022-11-15", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King\u2019s full floor speech HERE and download broadcast quality HERE.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, today delivered remarks from the Senate Floor on the importance of protecting peace through strong military deterrence and passing the bipartisan 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In his speech, King explained the need to modernize the nation\u2019s nuclear arsenal, support Ukraine as it fights for freedom, and improve resources for America\u2019s servicemembers with pay raises and mental health care.\n\nBeginning his speech, Senator King explained the historic importance of preserving peace through strong military deterrence:\n\n\u201c[The National Defense Authorization Act] is important because the essence of our defense policy since World War II has been deterrence. Deterrence means maintaining the capacity to inflict unacceptable costs on any potential adversary and the will to impose those costs if necessary,\u201d began Senator King. \u201cWhat we're really talking about in the National Defense Authorization Act is the capacity that we have at our disposal that can impose costs on our potential adversaries such that they will refrain from aggression and initiating a conflict, a conflict which in this day and age would be catastrophic.\u201d\n\n\u201cI would urge anyone who questions this assumption to Google Rhineland, 1936, Sudetenland, 1938, those were places Hitler could have been stopped, not with an enormous expenditure or enormous investment of troops or material, but by almost token resistance from the Western European powers that they utterly failed to do,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cHad Hitler been confronted earlier before he completely rebuilt the Nazi war machine, World War II could have been avoided and all of those losses \u2013 tremendous losses in this country and around the world would have never happened\u2026 the only way to avoid war is to be prepared.\u201d\n\nKing, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s Strategic Forces Subcommittee with oversight of the nation\u2019s nuclear arsenal, continued by sharing the critical need to maintain a modern nuclear deterrent and updating the nation\u2019s \u201ctriad\u201d to better meet growing threats like hypersonic weapons.\n\n\u201cDeterrence is also a key to nuclear weapons,\u201d stressed King. \u201cNuclear weapons haven't been used in a confrontation or a conflict since 1945. Why? Because of the concept of deterrence that those other countries which have them realized that if they are used they will pay an enormous and unacceptable price. That has been the policy of this country for over 70 years and it's worked. It's worked \u2013 but it only works as long as the adversary believes that we do in fact have the capacity to inflict that kind of punishment.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeterrence is a matter of credibility and you have to have a credible deterrent in terms of the actual capacity, and you also have to be credible in terms of your will to use it,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cIndeed, at this point in our history, we're talking about deterring the potential use of nuclear weapons in regard to the Ukraine conflict by Vladimir Putin.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeterrence means that capacity has to be credible and the problem is here in this country, we have allowed our nuclear deterrent to deteriorate and age to the point where we're having to, in effect, rebuild it, not from scratch, but rebuild it substantially all at the same time,\u201d warned Senator King. \u201cThe triad: bombers, missiles, submarines \u2013 we have to rebuild them and it's happening at the same time and it's expensive. It's because this work was deferred for the prior 25 or 30 years that we're now having to do all three legs of the triad at one time which adds substantially to the defense budget, but it's necessary in order to maintain the deterrent that keeps the peace.\u201d\n\nKing continued by laying out how supporting Ukraine\u2019s fight for freedom against Vladimir Putin is key to deterring a future conflict that is \u201cmuch worse.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don't get a lot of this, but occasionally people say, why send money to Ukraine? Well, Putin has told us who he is. He\u2019s told us he feels the greatest tragedy of the 20th century was the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He wants to rebuild the Soviet Union and Ukraine is the first piece,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cI don't think there is any doubt if he was allowed to march in and take over Ukraine in a matter of weeks without any significant resistance, the next irritant for him would be the Baltics, and then Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Poland.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaya Angelou says, if someone tells you who they are, you should believe them. He has told us who he is: he wants to rebuild the Soviet Union. That's why Ukraine is so important, and that's why what we have done and what we have provided and the leadership this administration and our country has provided to other countries in the world in order to resist that aggression is so important and critical to avoiding a worse \u2013 much worse confrontation involving all of our countries down the road,\u201d King stressed. \u201cThat's why it is so important.\"\n\nConcluding his speech, King highlighted key provisions in the bipartisan bill to support America\u2019s servicemembers by providing them better pay, improving the transition out of service, and investing more in suicide prevention.\n\n\u201cThere's a raise for the troops. There's more money for the people defending our country, which they deserve in a time of inflation, they deserve a significant raise and that's in the bill,\u201d Senator King concluded. \u201cAnother piece that's in the bill that I think is very important in terms of our veterans, and of course we're just coming out of the Veterans Day observance last weekend, is funding and attention in the Defense Department to the transition from active duty service to veteran status. I believe that we should be spending as much, or the Defense Department should be spending as much time, money, and effort on the transition out of the service as they spend on recruiting to bring people into the service. The data is that the tragedy of suicide among our veterans is most acute in the first two or three years after separation, and that's where we should focus additional attention and in fact that's in this bill.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Senator King announced that Senate Armed Services Committee\u2019s markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 contained a number of key provisions he advocated for to strengthen national security. King worked as Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee to include critical investments that modernize the nation\u2019s nuclear triad and address the threats posed by new hypersonic weapons.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congressionally-directed-funding-secured-by-king-pingree-awarded-to-create-4-h-club-foundations-innovation-lab-in-bridgton", "Congressionally-Directed Funding Secured by King, Pingree Awarded to Create 4-H Club Foundation\u2019s Innovation Lab in Bridgton", "2022-11-14", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced that $450,000 in Congressionally-Directed Spending secured by the Maine leaders is headed to the Maine 4-H Club Foundation. The Maine 4-H Club Foundation intends to use the investment to leverage the purchase of Bridgton\u2019s historic Magic Lantern Theater and operate an Innovation Lab and Learning Center.\n\nRun by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Innovation Lab and Learning Center is the most recent addition to the 4-H Foundation\u2019s family of learning centers across Maine and will serve as a hub of creative activity for rural youth in the Maine Lakes Region. The center will engage 3,000-4,000 students annually in activities encompassing STEAM, theater, engineering, small business management, marketing and culinary arts, raising student performance in Bridgton and the surrounding Cumberland and Oxford County communities. This is the first award of Congressionally-Directed Spending to be announced in Maine since the signing of the FY 2022 Appropriations Bill by President Biden.\n\n\u201cMaine 4-H Club Foundation\u2019s Innovation Lab and Learning Center will transform an underused historic Bridgton landmark into a place for young people to be creative and engaged outside of the classroom. This community hub will createnew enrichment opportunities for local youth, catalyze economic development in the region by providing workforce development opportunities, and provide resources to parents and teachers,\u201d King and Pingree said. \u201cThis project showshow beneficial Congressionally-Directed Spending has been to Maine. We\u2019re proud to have fought for and secured federal funding to support this rural youth initiative and hundreds of other vital projects across Maine.\u201d\n\nIn 2021, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees brought back Congressionally-Directed Spending after a decade-long hiatus. A study by the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress found that congressionally directed spending boosted bipartisanship, facilitated member-to-member cooperation, and gave members an equal stake in the success of appropriations bills.\n\nKing\u2019s 93 submitted Maine projects received over $137 million in the FY22 Appropriations bill.\n\nPingree is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, serving as Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies since January 2021. In contrast to the Senate, members of the House were permitted to submit only 10 community project requests for FY 22. All 10 of Pingree\u2019s requested projects were funded, totaling nearly $8 million.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-15-million-for-atlantic-salmon-habitat-restoration-projects", "Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $1.5 Million for Atlantic Salmon Habitat Restoration Projects", "2022-11-14", "2022", "2022-11", "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 announced that four conservation organizations will receive a total of $1,569,333 to restore habitats for coastal and marine species in Maine, help support our nation\u2019s fisheries, contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and build resilient coastal ecosystems and communities. The funding was awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\n\u201cWe welcome this funding, which will help to conserve and restore marine habitats and ecosystems for endangered Atlantic Salmon in waterways across Maine,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cIn addition to making substantial ecological improvements, these projects will also produce significant benefits to private landowners and local communities, improve public safety, enhance opportunities for recreational and commercial fisheries, and create jobs in rural areas of the state.\u201d\n\nThe funding was allocated as follows:\n\nThe Nature Conservancy received $570,000 to complete the final designs to remove Guilford Dam and restore the adjacent floodplain, which will reconnect habitat for Atlantic salmon in the Piscataquis River watershed. The Nature Conservancy will also restore access to high-quality habitat by improving fish passage at three high-priority road crossings over streams.\n\nProject SHARE received $444,237 to replace undersized culverts at 13 sites, connecting habitat for Atlantic salmon across multiple watersheds. Project SHARE will also conduct fish passage feasibility studies at the Great Works Dam and Marion Falls fishway, as well as perform freshwater habitat restoration work in the Narraguagus River watershed.\n\nThe Atlantic Salmon Federation received $401,514 to implement five projects to restore access to Atlantic salmon spawning and rearing habitats in the Kennebec River watershed. They will also conduct a fish passage feasibility study at the Chesterville Wildlife Management Area Dam on Little Norridgewock Stream.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-honoring-veterans-day-2022", "King Statement Honoring Veterans Day", "2022-11-11", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King\u2019s Veterans Day video message and download broadcast quality HERE\n\nBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day.\n\n\u201cIn 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation declaring November 11th as a day of \u2018common purpose\u2019 for all Americans to \u2018remember the sacrifices of those who fought so valiantly to preserve our freedoms.\u2019 Nearly 70 years later, we are still bound by this common purpose \u2014 to honor our servicemembers and to care for those who have shouldered the burden of our nation\u2019s defense.\n\n\u201cThis sacrifice has resonated in our state from the nation\u2019s earliest days as Maine people have embodied the Dirigo motto and proudly fought for the United States. With one of the nation\u2019s highest rates of veterans per capita, those who served are woven into the fabric of every town and city across our state. So today at the dinner table, the grocery store, or the local veterans memorial, be sure to stop and thank a veteran \u2013 for their service and for their continued commitment to our communities.\n\n\u201cWhile thanks are important and well deserved, that\u2019s just the start. We also must commit to supporting our veterans in deeds as well as words. That means delivering stronger benefits, better healthcare, and improved educational and economic opportunity for those who served. These are all areas where, historically, the country has not done enough. We\u2019ve made a lot of progress over the last few years, including with the passage of the PACT Act to support veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic hazards; but there is more work to be done. Today and every day, we must recommit ourselves to improving the lives of American veterans.\n\n\u201cOn this Veterans Day, it is my privilege to thank the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen who served and those that continue to serve our nation. I hope all Americans can join together in common purpose to honor these veterans and serve them just as they have served us. May God bless America, and may God bless all those who serve.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-veterans-day-senator-king-interviews-librarian-of-congress-on-importance-of-preserving-veterans-history", "On Veterans Day, Senator King Interviews Librarian of Congress on Importance of Preserving Veterans History", "2022-11-11", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch the interview and download broadcast quality HERE\n\nBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 Today, on Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a conversation with Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden on the importance of preserving veteran history. In the interview, King and Dr. Hayden discussed Senator King\u2019s ongoing contributions to the Library\u2019s Veterans History Project (VHP) and the urgent need to save the stories of veterans for future generations.\n\nThe conversation was recorded after King submitted nine of his Answering the Call Maine veteran interviews to the VHP. The project is an effort by the Library 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 what it means to serve our country.\n\n\u201cThe first interview I did for our Veterans History Project in Maine was with a fellow named Carmine Pecorelli,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cCarmine enlisted at 17 in the Navy and World War Two. He then came back into service in the Air Force in Korea and came back into service in the Army in Vietnam. Three wars, three different services. We just lost him a few months ago \u2013 so that's a piece of history that would have been lost but is preserved because of this project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat's the whole point, really \u2013 capturing those stories while you can and having them for future generations. There are so many veterans that will say, \u2018well, I didn't do that much.\u2019 Well, everyone did something,\u201d replied Dr. Hayden. \u201cThat\u2019s the difference with the Veterans History Project from a lot of the other histories written about wars: we tell the individual story.\u201d\n\n\u201cUsually history is about generals and presidents and dictators, but the history, as seen through the eyes of the people who actually had to execute those policies, was very powerful,\u201d added Senator King.\n\nContinuing their conversation, Senator King explained to Dr. Hayden how lessons from his Answering the Call interviews have informed his work in Congress and inspired current legislation. King recently included a servicemember suicide report recommended to him during a veteran interview in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cThis has been a learning experience for me. I'm on the Armed Services and the Intelligence Committee, so I spend a great deal of time with the policies that our veterans, when they were in active duty, were executing,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIt's been very educational for me. One of the things, for example, that I've noticed is the incredible importance and value of the GI Bill. Practically everybody I interviewed said \u2018I joined the military because of the GI Bill, because I couldn't pay for college and I knew this would be a way to do that.\u2019\u2026 That sort of educated me about the importance of these programs. You know, it's one thing to be in Congress reading papers and passing papers back and forth and voting, but it\u2019s another thing to see the actual impact in real people's lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-applaud-sappi-north-americas-investment-in-skowhegan-paper-mill-2022", "Senators Collins, King Applaud Sappi North America\u2019s Investment in Skowhegan Paper Mill", "2022-11-10", "2022", "2022-11", "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 (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the announcement of a $418 million investment from Sappi North America, Inc. at the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan. The significant investment will help the mill convert?Paper Machine No. 2 to diversify its specialty product line and double its production capacity. Construction of the expansion is expected to support 1,000 contractor jobs across Maine.\n\n\u201cThe forest products industry is a vital part of our state\u2019s economy and identity, particularly in rural communities,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cAs the industry embraces new opportunities, it\u2019s essential that companies make the necessary investments to evolve with the market and secure long-term success. Sappi has done just that with their recent upgrades at the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, which supports hundreds of Maine jobs. This investment will help Sappi reach new customers, support their hard-working employees, and keep the local economy strong. We are excited about this upcoming project and look forward to working alongside Sappi and other state leaders to find new opportunities and markets for Maine\u2019s forest products industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis move complements our long-term Thrive25 strategy, which focuses on growing our portfolio in packaging and specialty papers, pulp and biomaterials,\u201d said Mike Haws, President and CEO of Sappi North America. \u201cBy investing in our business to pursue growing areas of demand, we can remain profitable and competitive in the global marketplace\u201d\n\nWith this investment, Sappi will convert?its Paper Machine No. 2 from a mix of coated wood-free graphics paper and coated one-sided label papers to solid bleached sulphate (SBS) board. The machine capacity will increase from 235,000 metric tons to 470,000 metric tons per year. The project will be phased in and is expected to be completed in early 2025. Currently, the Somerset Mill supports approximately 800 jobs in Skowhegan and 1,300 jobs in Maine.\n\nSenators Collins and King are strong supporters of Maine\u2019s forest economy. In 2016, they called on the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT), which would work across agencies and sectors to create strategies for job growth and economic development in Maine\u2019s rural communities. The creation of the EDAT and subsequent federal funding from the EDA and U.S. Forest Service established the 2018 FOR/Maine Initiative, an industry-led effort that released recommendations to grow Maine\u2019s forest economy through five priorities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-pingree-announce-12-million-to-strengthen-maines-lobster-industry-hold-noaa-accountable", "Collins, King, Pingree Announce $1.2 Million to Strengthen Maine\u2019s Lobster Industry, Hold NOAA Accountable", "2022-11-04", "2022", "2022-11", "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 Representative Chellie Pingree, announced today that two Maine organizations will be receiving a total of $1.2 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative to support the health of Maine\u2019s lobster industry and help lobstermen adapt to any potential regulatory changes.\n\nThe funding will be used by the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to research new, innovative gear technology, and by the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation to improve information and communications systems for lobstermen. These grants come after the Maine Delegation included language in the 2022 appropriations package that required Sea Grant to utilize this funding to support gear modernization.\n\n\u201cThe lobster industry is an integral part of Maine\u2019s economy, plays a central role in our communities, and represents our state around the world. It is more than a fishery \u2013 it\u2019s part of our identity,\u201d said Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree. \u201cWith the industry facing new regulatory challenges from NOAA, these funds are a critical step to give our lobstermen the resources and gear options they need to stay in business. It is simply unacceptable for NOAA to demand changes of the Maine lobster industry without providing them the resources to do so \u2013 that is why we secured this funding in last year\u2019s appropriations bill, and why we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the country\u2019s most valuable and iconic fishery. There\u2019s more to be done to secure the long-term health and success of our coastal communities, but this is real progress.\u201d\n\n\u201cTesting of new gear technology is critically important since it is currently far from a viable option for industry and managers,\u201d said Maine Department of Marine Resource Commissioner Patrick Keliher. \u201cThis award will support the evaluation of different gear retrieval and location systems, all of which must work for this technology to be a feasible part of the future of this fishery. With the courts applying pressure to NMFS to reduce risk, it is imperative that we know what works and what doesn\u2019t.\u201d\n\nThe funding will be distributed as follows:\n\n$750,000 for the Maine Department of Marine Resources to test and evaluate various lobster gear modification technologies. The project will collect information on the performance of these systems by outfitting voluntary lobster industry participants across multiple fishing areas with the prototype gear. The data will be used to determine the implications of NOAA\u2019s Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and develop adaptations to help lobstermen meet compliance with the plan.\n\n$404,564 for the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation to provide lobstermen with new data imaging and communications tools needed to navigate a changing environmental and regulatory landscape. The researchers will outfit dozens of commercial vessels with micro-computers, sensors, and various ship-to-shore communication modes that can help lobstermen provide real-time data to the shore and the rest of the fleet.\n\nThe Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative, funded by NOAA\u2019s National Sea Grant College Program, addresses critical knowledge gaps about American lobster and its iconic fishery in a dynamic and changing environment. The initiative, which began in 2019 after Sen. Collins and Representative Pingree secured its inclusion through their work on Senate and House Appropriations Committees, supports both scientific research and a regional Sea Grant extension program in the Northeast. Together, the research and extension components of this initiative develop and share new knowledge and understanding with industry stakeholders and resource managers from Maine to New York.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-2-million-to-assist-native-american-crime-victims", "Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $2 Million to Assist Native American Crime Victims", "2022-11-03", "2022", "2022-11", "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 announced that Maine tribes will receive a total of $2,074,901 from the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Office for Victims of Crime and Office on Violence Against Women to fund victim assistance programs and to help compensate Native American victims for crime-related losses.\n\n\u201cWe all have a responsibility to ensure that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault receive the resources they need for their safety, wellbeing and recovery,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThis important investment will provide greater access to necessary services for Native American victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault, who are disproportionately affected by these crimes. In addition, this funding will help Maine Tribes to strengthen their response to these crimes and protect vulnerable members of their communities.\u201d\n\nThe funding was allocated as follows:\n\nMi'kmaq Nation received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.\n\nThe Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians received $408,408 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.\n\nThe Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions.\n\nPenobscot Nation received $410,246 to implement services for victims of crime that meet needs identified by the community and reflect tribal community values and traditions and $100,000 to expand Back to Traditional Values. The goal of this youth program is to provide purpose and meaning for Penobscot youth by building a learning community grounded in cultural traditions, environmental stewardship, and creative expression that fosters mentorship, peer-to-peer support, intergenerational exchange, and leadership that results in better decision making, pro-social behavior, and an improved quality of life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-golden-celebrate-announcement-of-new-lp-houlton-mill-production-line", "Collins, King, Golden Celebrate Announcement of New LP Houlton Mill Production Line", "2022-11-02", "2022", "2022-11", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Houlton, ME \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Jared Golden today celebrated Louisiana Pacific Building Solutions\u2019 (LP) announcement that a new siding production line will be constructed at their Houlton facility. The $400 million investment will increase LP Houlton\u2019s capacity by 340 million square feet of SmartSide siding a year and is expected to create approximately 100 jobs at the plant. This significant investment is in addition to the $150 million SmartSide facility LP Houlton announced earlier this summer.\n\n\u201cLP Houlton\u2019s new siding production line is a huge investment in the future of Northern Maine and its people. The $400 million expansion will create an estimated 100 additional jobs at LP and increase opportunities across the forest products industry \u2013 benefiting loggers, haulers, and everyone else in between who relies on Maine forests,\u201d said Senators Collins and King and Representative Golden. \u201cFor over a generation, LP Houlton workers have embodied The County\u2019s work ethic and spirit as they\u2019ve manufactured modern wood products used around the globe. The new line will build on this proud legacy of excellence, grow the region\u2019s economy, and help LP reach emerging markets with their world-class products. We\u2019re grateful for this vote of confidence in the skill and dedication of LP\u2019s workers and look forward to seeing the positive effect it will have across Aroostook communities.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:24:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-discusses-challenges-facing-maine-lobster-industry-in-october-podcast", "Senator King Discusses Challenges Facing Maine Lobster Industry in October Podcast", "2022-10-31", "2022", "2022-10", "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 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the October episode of Senator King\u2019s \u201cInside Maine\u201d podcast, in which Senator King and his guests discuss the current regulatory challenges facing Maine lobstermen and what the state and Congressional delegation are doing to support the industry. Senator King was joined by Pat Keliher, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), and Curt Brown, a second-generation lobsterman and marine biologist. Together, King and his guests lay out the implications of new proposed lobster regulations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect right whales and explain how the regulations completely miss the facts on the ground \u2013 including sustainability measures already taken by lobstermen and the lack of any whale entanglements since 2004 or deaths attributed to the fishery.\n\nThe Maine leaders also react to the harmful decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s Seafood Watch to \u201cRed List\u201d Maine lobster without any real scientific evidence.\n\n\u201cMaine lobstermen are fighting for their livelihoods. Between the possibility of harmful new federal regulations and baseless attacks from Seafood Watch, the iconic industry that supports countless coastal communities and contributes over $1 billion to our economy is facing serious challenges,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs NOAA continues to move forward with its unreasonable lobster regulations, Maine leaders like Commissioner Pat Keliher and lobsterman Curt Brown are doing vital work to debunk the faulty science behind the proposed restrictions. Together, the state and Congressional Delegation will continue to oppose unfair and unwarranted burdens on the fishery and protect Maine\u2019s future. There are no professionals more committed to the sustainability of Maine\u2019s fisheries than Pat and his team, nor those who work the water and want to hand off a thriving future to children. It was a privilege to have these knowledgeable leaders join Inside Maine \u2013 I\u2019m deeply thankful for their partnership and for their work supporting Maine\u2019s 5,600 lobstermen.\u201d\n\nAs Commissioner of Maine\u2019s Department of Marine Resources, Patrick \u201cPat\u201d Keliher is charged with conserving and developing Maine\u2019s marine resources and coastal fishing industries, and working to advise local, state, and federal officials concerning activities in coastal waters. Keliher, a native of Gardiner, previously worked as a registered Maine hunting guide and charter boat captain. He also served as Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maine, the Executive Director of the Maine Atlantic Salmon Commission, and Acting Commissioner of the Marine Resources Department before being appointed to serve as Maine's Department of Marine Resources Commissioner in 2012. He was re-appointed by Governor Mills in 2019 after serving in the same role in the prior administration.\n\nCurt Brown is a second-generation lobsterman. A marine biologist, he graduated from UMaine with an MS in Marine Policy in 2007, MS in Marine Biology, and also holds undergraduate degrees in history and biology from Union College. He is currently a marine biologist at Ready Seafood, one of the largest wholesale lobster businesses and the largest lobster processing facility in Maine. His main focus at Ready Seafood is \u201cfocusing on collaborative research projects that improve the sustainability and value of Maine lobster.\u201d Curt is also the industry co-chair of the Seafood Economic Accelerator for Maine (SEA Maine), an economic development administration funded initiative \u201cbringing together industry leaders and committed partners dedicated to developing a roadmap for economic growth, workforce development, and greater resiliency in Maine\u2019s economy.\u201d He now lobsters with his two children \u2013 a 7-year old son and 5-year old daughter.\n\nSenator King has strenuously opposed undue burdens that would threaten the lobster fishery without meaningfully protecting whales. Following the release of NOAA\u2019s final Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan in late August 2021, the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills issued a statement in opposition to the rule and highlighting the Maine lobster fishery\u2019s record of repeatedly making significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales. He has also backed legislation that would offset costs of the proposed regulations and worked to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry. King has also pushed back on the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d and introduced a bill that would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the organization.\n\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. typically on the last Saturday of the month.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-33-million-for-23-maine-fire-departments", "Collins, King Announce More Than $3.3 Million for 23 Maine Fire Departments", "2022-10-27", "2022", "2022-10", "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 announced that 23 fire departments and organizations in Maine have received a total of $3,311,791 to upgrade equipment and support personnel. This funding was awarded through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the FY 2021 Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins champions annual funding for these grant programs within the budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.\n\n\u201cFirefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect Maine residents, homes, and businesses,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cThis funding will allow Maine firefighters to acquire updated equipment so they have the best tools available to protect themselves as they serve our families and communities.\u201d\n\nThe funding was allocated as follows:\n\nBangor Fire Department received $273,021 for paramedic training\n\nBelgrade Fire Department received $104,905 to purchase firefighter breathing apparatus\n\nBoothbay Harbor Fire Department received $30,000 to purchase a vehicle exhaust removal system\n\nCasco Fire Rescue Department received $14,362 to purchase fit testers for firefighter breathing apparatus facepieces\n\nClinton Fire Department received $62,527 to purchase a breathing air compressor and fill station\n\nEddington Fire Department received $26,948 to purchase firefighting hose and equipment\n\nFalmouth Fire-EMS received $165,713 for firefighter training\n\nGorham Fire Department received $84,000 to purchase vehicle exhaust removal systems\n\nGray Fire Rescue received $18,321 to purchase a firefighter breathing air cylinder fill station.\n\nMaine Fire Service Institute in South Portland received $108,609 for firefighter turnout gear, portable radios, training props and equipment.\n\nMed-Care Ambulance Service in Mexico received $82,739 to purchase portable radios and mobile repeaters.\n\nOakland Fire and Rescue received $47,159 to purchase firefighter turnout gear and a turnout gear dryer\n\nOrono Fire Department received $36,010 to purchase a turnout gear washer and dryer and $733,956 to hire 3 firefighters\n\nPortland Fire Department received $200,409 to purchase a fire station sprinkler system and support a firefighter wellness program\n\nSabattus Fire Department received $1,152,792 to hire four firefighters\n\nScarborough Fire Department received $65,045 to support firefighter training\n\nSanford Fire Department received $174,545 to support firefighter training\n\nSedgwick Volunteer Fire Department received $40,000 to purchase firefighter breathing apparatus and a gear dryer\n\nSouthwest Harbor-Tremont Ambulance Service received $32,381 to purchase power cots and a power lift system\n\nSweden Volunteer Fire Department received $84,706 to purchase mobile and portable radios\n\nVan Buren Fire Department received $176,190 to purchase a brush truck\n\nWesley Volunteer Fire Department received $36,171 to purchase vehicle extrication tools and $203,236 to purchase a brush truck\n\nWest Gardiner received $295,238 to purchase a pumper truck\n\nAs a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Senator Collins has been a longstanding advocate for Maine's first responders. She annually leads a bipartisan letter, signed by Senator King, to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging robust funding for FEMA\u2019s firefighter grant programs, which she helped create.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-over-725000-to-support-law-enforcement-officers-in-five-communities-across-maine", "Senators Collins, King Announce Over $725,000 to Support Law Enforcement Officers in Five Communities Across Maine", "2022-10-26", "2022", "2022-10", "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 announced that four Maine municipalities and Penobscot County have received a total of $726,492 to hire law enforcement officers. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program.\n\n\u201cIn Maine and throughout the country, the dedicated men and women of our nation\u2019s law enforcement community put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe welcome this important funding, which will help provide our local law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources and officers to protect families and promote public safety.\u201d\n\nThe funding was allocated as follows:\n\nThe City of Biddeford received $125,000\n\nThe Town of Brunswick received $125,000\n\nThe City of Caribou received $125,000\n\nThe Town of Mexico received $101,492\n\nPenobscot County received $250,000\n\nThe COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers. The program provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-nearly-350000-to-increase-school-safety-in-franklin-county", "Senators Collins, King Announce Nearly $350,000 to Increase School Safety in Franklin County", "2022-10-25", "2022", "2022-10", "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 announced that $347,495 has been awarded to the Franklin County Sheriff\u2019s Office to increase school safety across western Maine. The funding will be used to improve coordination with local law enforcement, train local law enforcement officers to prevent school violence, upgrade infrastructure such as lighting, acquire technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency, and other measures.\n\nThe Franklin County Sheriff\u2019s Office collaborated on the grant application process with the Jay, Farmington, Rangeley, Wilton, and Carrabasset Valley Police Departments. The school districts that will receive funding include: RSU 73, RSU 9, RSU 58, Rangeley Schools, and Stratton Schools.\n\n\u201cProtecting students and ensuring that Maine schools remain safe learning environments are of paramount importance,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cWe welcome this investment, which will increase school safety by assisting communities with installing security measures and enhancing connections between schools and law enforcement to ensure that potential threats can be rapidly addressed.\n\nThis funding is provided through the Department of Justice\u2019s Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP): School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), a competitive grant program that assists schools in purchasing and installing technology to increase safety in schools throughout the country through evidence-based school safety programs. The nearly $72 million in grants awarded during 2022 will fund 235 projects.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-maine-locations-for-2022-drug-take-back-day", "Senators Collins, King Announce Maine Locations for 2022 Drug Take-Back Day", "2022-10-24", "2022", "2022-10", "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 U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency\u2019s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 29, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced the locations of the Maine collection sites.\n\n\u201cUnused prescription drugs that collect in our homes can accidentally fall into the wrong hands, creating unintended gateways to opioid addiction,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cMaine is one of the top 10 states disposing prescription drugs through the DEA\u2019s Drug Take-Back Program, and we are confident that our state will continue to lead efforts to stop the misuse of unused drugs that pose a serious threat to our children, our homes, and our environment.\u201d\n\nNational Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. In 2020, the collection sites began accepting vaping devices and associated substances.\n\nAt a previous Take-Back Event in April 2022, federal, state, and local government entities took back more than 721,000 pounds of unused, expired, or unwanted drugs at more than 5,100 locations across the United States. Over the course of the program, more than 15.9 million pounds of prescription drugs have been safely collected across the country, including over 525,000 pounds of medication in Maine alone.\n\nFederal regulations allow pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other authorized collectors to serve as collection points for unused prescription medication. In 2014, following a bipartisan effort led by Senators Collins and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the Department of Justice granted the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) the ability to participate in prescription drug take-back programs at DoD and VA facilities. This initiative has helped to address the role of prescription drug abuse in many military and veteran suicides.\n\nIn 2018, a sweeping opioids package known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act was signed into law. Senator Collins, a member of the Senate Health Committee, authored two provisions included in the final legislation that help ensure that unused prescription drugs do not fall into the wrong hands and bolster peer support networks for long-term recovery. The legislation also included provisions championed by Senator Collins and Senator King to expand opioid treatment capabilities, including a permanent authorization for nurse practitioners and physicians assistants to provide medication-assisted treatment and a provision that removes an arbitrary limit to allow residential treatment facilities to expand their efforts to save lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-45-million-to-rehabilitate-and-replace-maine-bridges", "Collins, King Announce $45 Million to Rehabilitate and Replace Maine Bridges", "2022-10-19", "2022", "2022-10", "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) announced that Maine will receive a total of $45,000,000 to maintain and reconstruct bridges across the state. This funding was authorized through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).\n\nSenator Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, was part of the core group of 10 Senators who negotiated the text of the bipartisan infrastructure law. Senators Collins and King both worked to negotiate and pass this historic legislation, which will deliver billions of dollars to Maine for investments in roads, bridges, broadband, and more.\n\nThis funding will help to address the backlog of repairs needed for Maine\u2019s transportation network. Maine currently has more than 300 bridges considered to be \u201cstructurally deficient.\u201d\n\n\u201cImproving Maine\u2019s infrastructure is one of my top priorities as Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThis $45 million investment to replace and rehabilitate deteriorated bridges will benefit residents and local economies across the state, particularly in rural communities. Without adequate funding for maintenance, bridges that fall into disrepair become unsafe and subject to eventual closure, resulting in substantial detours and economic harm. By supporting projects that will strengthen bridge reconstruction programs, this funding through the bipartisan infrastructure law will help ensure that Mainers can reach their homes and jobs quickly and safely.\u201d\n\n\u201cGo for a drive basically anywhere in the State of Maine, and you\u2019ll see the need for investments in roads and bridges. Whether it\u2019s potholes, erosion damage, or rust, these vital arteries of our communities are aging \u2013 creating unsafe conditions, hampering our economy, and inflicting an average of more than $500 in annual repair costs for Maine drivers. Fortunately, thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, historic investments are on the way,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis funding to maintain and reconstruct bridges will improve our state\u2019s infrastructure for decades, create good-paying jobs, and ensure that Maine people can travel without undue risks or expenses. I\u2019m pleased to see this significant investment in Maine\u2019s needs and look forward to the legislation\u2019s continued support for our state\u2019s communities.\u201d\n\nFHWA announced that it is providing $59.9 billion in funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. This apportioned funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 provides a $15.4 billion increase as compared to Fiscal Year 2021 for Federal-aid Highway Program apportionments. This funding is distributed annually by FHWA for the Federal-aid Highway Program based on a statutory formula contained in the bipartisan infrastructure law. This investment will help reduce the backlog of major repairs for highways and bridges and support communities\u2019 efforts to reduce traffic deaths, serious injuries and carbon emissions.\n\nFederal-aid Highway Program funds are authorized periodically by Congress in multi-year laws to assist the States in providing for construction, reconstruction, and improvement of highways and bridges on eligible Federal-aid routes and for other special purpose programs and projects. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law establishes or continues FHWA programs and authorizes funding for those programs from the Highway Trust Fund.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/65000-additional-h-2b-visas-to-be-issued-to-support-small-businesses-and-address-worker-shortage", "65,000 Additional H-2B Visas to be Issued to Support Small Businesses & Address Worker Shortage", "2022-10-17", "2022", "2022-10", "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. \u2014Following a push led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) announced today that they will increase the number of H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2023 to the maximum number, approximately 65,000 additional visas, to help small businesses hire workers. These visas are on top of the 66,000 H-2B visas that are normally available each fiscal year. Notably, the announcement made clear that a portion of these additional visas will be \u201creserved to meet the demand for workers during the peak summer season.\u201d DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called Senator Collins and Senator King to inform them of the additional visas.\n\n\u201cAs small businesses in Maine and America continue to face severe workforce shortages, these 65,000 additional H-2B visas will help our employers find the help they urgently need, \u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cAlthough this relief is welcome news to many Maine small businesses, there is still an overwhelming need given the current tight labor market and record low unemployment. We must improve the H-2B program to ensure Maine small businesses do not continue to suffer from a lack of workers.\u201d\n\nSenators Collins and King have long led efforts to address workforce shortages. Following a push in May, DHS and DOL announced that a temporary rule had been finalized that provided an additional 35,000 H-2B visas to help small businesses fill seasonal job openings during the busy summer season. These visas supplemented the previous supply of 33,000 H-2B visas for the second half of Fiscal Year 2022.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-governor-call-on-noaa-to-hold-additional-scoping-meetings-for-lobstermen-in-downeast-maine", "Maine Delegation, Governor Call on NOAA to Hold Additional Scoping Meetings for Lobstermen in Downeast Maine", "2022-10-07", "2022", "2022-10", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Governor Janet Mills sent a letter today to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging them to hold at least one additional in-person scoping hearing in Downeast Maine as the agency initiates Phase 2 of its heavily criticized Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and corresponding regulations. The letter was sent following Wednesday evening\u2019s widely attended public scoping meeting held by NOAA in Portland to gather community input to develop modifications to the ALWTRP.\n\n\u201cAs we have previously expressed to you, if implemented, the 90 percent risk reduction target NOAA Fisheries is pursuing in just two years would be a death knell for our nation\u2019s lobster industry,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cIt would close off thousands of miles of prime fishing areas and require lobstermen and women to make significant changes to how they harvest the resource, including the use of \u2018ropeless\u2019 fishing gear when it is not technologically or economically viable. Given these possible outcomes, it is unacceptable that your agency is only holding one in-person meeting hours away from some of our state\u2019s largest lobster ports, forcing lobstermen to spend time off the water, which is their primary if not only source of income. This decision to knowingly limit opportunities to directly engage with the lobstermen and our coastal communities speaks volumes about your concern for their future.\u201d\n\nAs the lawmakers wrote in their letter, the site of Wednesday evening\u2019s scoping meeting was hours away from some of the state\u2019s most heavily trafficked lobster ports, the largest of which is in Stonington, a community over three hours away. The meeting was so highly attended that many of those present were not afforded the opportunity to speak in the time allotted for the meeting.\n\n\u201cThere is still time for NOAA officials to demonstrate their commitment to engaging with the people they are supposed to serve,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cWe implore you to schedule an additional in-person hearing so that the voices of all of those impacted by these new regulations can be heard.\u201d\n\nThis action by the Maine congressional delegation and the governor is a continuation of their persistent efforts to support Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. Members of the delegation, the governor, and their staff were present at Wednesday evening\u2019s scoping meeting in Portland. Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d the delegation introduced and the governor backed a bill that would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As NOAA has worked to roll out their Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), the congressional delegation has continually urged the organization to create regulations that are based on the best available evidence and don\u2019t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, the delegation has also backed legislation that would offset costs and worked to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/golden-king-to-introduce-bill-that-blocks-federal-funding-for-monterey-bay-aquarium-seafood-watch", "Golden, King to Introduce Bill that Blocks Federal Funding for Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 Following the unsubstantiated and speculative decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to place Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Senator Angus King (I-ME) today announced that they will be introducing the Red Listing Monterey Bay Aquarium Act in the House and Senate. This bill would prohibit federal taxpayer funds from going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which has received nearly $197 million in federal taxpayer dollars since 2001, and demonstrated a lack of adherence to transparency and basic scientific methods [source, source].\n\nSenator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) will sign on as cosponsors of the legislation.\n\n\u201cInstitutions like Monterey Bay Aquarium that claim to be scientific but openly flout available evidence and data should not receive taxpayer funds. It\u2019s that simple,\u201d said Congressman Golden. \u201cThis organization\u2019s red list designation of American lobster could have a serious impact on the livelihoods of thousands of hard-working lobstermen, and I believe Congress must do something about it. There has never been a serious injury or death of the endangered North Atlantic right whale attributed to the Maine lobster fishery and to make recommendations or regulations in spite of that fact is a slap in the face to lobstermen and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Monterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s \u2018Red Listing\u2019 of Maine lobster is a baseless attack on a proud, sustainable fishery and a clear attempt to put thousands of Maine people out of work. By refusing to provide any evidence supporting their harmful decision and ignoring facts that undercut their conclusion, the Aquarium has made it clear that they are not a serious scientific organization, and certainly not one that deserves taxpayer funding,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Red Listing Monterey Bay Aquarium Act would ensure that Maine people\u2019s hard-earned tax dollars aren\u2019t funding the Aquarium\u2019s pseudoscientific assault on our lobstering communities. It sends a clear message that we will not stand for this outrageous approach to scientific research.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur lobstermen are incredible conservation leaders, and our iconic Maine lobster industry is sustainable,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThere is zero evidence to justify this absurd decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. Taxpayer dollars shouldn\u2019t be funding this kind of activism, which aims to deter restaurants and retailers from selling Maine lobster, threatening the livelihoods of hardworking men and women across the state of Maine.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobster industry is sustainable, period. Our lobstermen have been outstanding stewards who have complied with every single regulation thrown their way,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cMonterey Bay\u2019s Seafood Watch program\u2019s unscientific \u2018red list\u2019 decision is not rooted in facts or data. That\u2019s why I have urged them to revoke this harmful mischaracterization of our gold standard lobster industry.\u201d\n\nAdvocates and members of the Maine lobster fishery voiced their support for the bill.\n\n\u201cLobster is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world due to the effective stewardship practices handed down through generations of lobstermen. These include strict protections for both the lobster resource and right whales. Decisions not based in sound science have the potential to seriously harm the men and women who work so hard to make our industry thrive. It defies logic that a group claiming to care about conservation and sustainability would give a poor rating to a fishery that has led the way in innovating safer gear and has not had a documented interaction with a right whale in nearly 20 years,\u201d said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen's Association.\n\n\u201cMaine lobstermen have led the fishing industry in sustainability for more than 150 years, working together to keep lobster stock and the marine environment healthy through strict take and gear regulations. Now an organization thousands of miles away with no real understanding of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery or evidence to justify their decisions is condemning our fishermen. Monterey Bay Aquarium's actions are an insult that is not grounded in science and should not be supported by the American taxpayer. The Maine Lobstering Union strongly supports this legislation from Congressman Golden and Senator King,\u201d said Virginia Olsen, commercial lobsterman and Director of the Maine Lobstering Union.\n\nThere hasn\u2019t been a whale entanglement attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and no documented right whale death has ever been attributed to Maine lobster gear. The majority of right whale deaths since 2017 have been due to vessel strikes in Canada, and of the 33 right whale mortalities occurring between 2017 and 2020, 24 of those whales were confirmed to be attributed to entanglements in Canadian fishing gear and vessel strikes in Canadian waters.\n\nGolden, King, Senator Collins, and Congresswoman Pingree wrote to the Monterey Bay Aquarium shortly after the red listing decision was made public to call on the organization to immediately reverse the decision and to remedy the significant harm they have already caused the iconic industry. The Congressional Delegation also published an open letter to retailers setting the facts straight and urging them to continue selling lobster. Senator King continued these calls in a press conference he held shortly after the Red Listing decision.\n\nSince his election to Congress, Golden has been a tireless advocate for the Maine lobster fishery. In the wake of new proposed regulations that would threaten the livelihoods of Maine lobstermen, Golden introduced a bold amendment to block the regulations until the underlying data had undergone a scientific peer review process. He has worked closely with the lobstering community to ensure that they have a voice in the process and has joined the Maine Delegation in urging NOAA to create regulations that are based on the best available evidence and don\u2019t unfairly target the fishery. To help lobstermen bear the costs of complying with the regulations, Golden introduced legislation that would offset costs and worked with Senator King and members of the Maine Delegation to secure $17.1 million in funding for the industry in a yearly appropriations bill. He also led the Delegation to urge the president to intervene directly.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-kings-remarks-as-prepared-for-delivery-at-noaa-lobster-regulation-meeting", "Senator King\u2019s Remarks as Prepared for Delivery at NOAA Lobster Regulation Meeting", "2022-10-05", "2022", "2022-10", "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 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released a copy of Senator King\u2019s remarks that will be delivered by a staff member at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) 6:00 PM, Wednesday, October 5th, Portland scoping meeting where the agency will receive feedback on their Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan and the impacts it would have on Maine lobstermen. In his remarks, Senator King directly addresses NOAA Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Coordinator Marisa Trego and urges her to better engage with lobstermen to prevent significant harm from the proposed regulations.\n\nSenator King\u2019s remarks begin by laying out the importance of the scoping meeting, the potential harm of the 90% risk reduction proposed by NOAA, and the need for better engagement with the Maine lobstering community.\n\n\u201cI appreciate NOAA hosting this in-person meeting tonight to discuss modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The 90% risk reduction that NOAA has proposed will have a devastating impact on our fishing industry, working waterfronts, and coastal communities\u2014it is critical that NOAA receive input from all of the impacted communities,\u201d begins Senator King. \u201cOne additional in-person meeting, however, is simply not enough. Tonight\u2019s meeting in Portland is hours away from our coastal communities like Stonington where the majority of lobster is landed.\u201d\n\nThe Senator\u2019s remarks continue by highlighting the longstanding commitment to sustainability shared by Maine lobstermen.\n\n\u201cFor decades, [Maine] lobstermen have committed themselves to the sustainability and long-term health of our waters\u2014because they know that one day, just like those who came before them, it will be the turn of future generations to take to these tides. NOAA\u2019s proposed 90% risk reduction clouds that future though,\u201d Senator King\u2019s remarks continue. \u201cAs part of ongoing collaboration with NOAA, lobstermen have already spearheaded a number of efforts\u2014at cost to their bottom-line\u2014to reduce the risk the industry may pose to right whales. Lobstermen have applied gear markings; implemented sinking ground lines; have moved to weaker lines; inserted \u201cweak links\u201d into vertical lines; and increased the size of their trawls to reduce the number of vertical lines in the water. Through these efforts, the Maine lobster fishery has removed an estimated 30,000 miles of line from the water in order to protect whale species.\u201d\n\nContinuing his remarks, the Senator calls on NOAA to ensure their Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan is based on real evidence and does not unfairly target the lobster fishery.\n\n\u201cIt is also critical that NOAA is basing these proposed regulations on the best available evidence and ensure they do not unfairly target the lobster fishery,\u201d the Senator continues in his remarks. \u201cIf there are any figures that NOAA takes away from tonight\u2019s meeting, it is ZERO and ZERO. There has been ZERO whale entanglements attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and there has been ZERO documented right whale deaths attributed to Maine lobster gear.\u201d\n\nIn concluding his remarks, the Senator calls for more efforts from NOAA to ensure Maine lobstermen are not put out of business by the Reduction Plan.\n\n\u201cTo conclude, while I appreciate NOAA\u2019s efforts to work with Maine\u2019s fishing community, more needs to be done to ensure these regulations do not unfairly target our fisheries,\u201d Senator King concludes. \u201cNOAA must hold additional meetings to hear from these fishermen directly to understand their concerns about operational challenges, costs and safety. NOAA needs to ensure that the measures being developed are practical and feasible, and the process needs to be defensible. To date, that is not the case.\u201d\n\nSenator King has been steadfastly opposed to undue burdens that would threaten the lobster fishery without meaningfully protecting whales. Following the release of the final Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan in late August 2021, the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills issued a statement in opposition to the rule and highlighting the Maine lobster fishery\u2019s record of repeatedly making significant improvements to their practices and modifications to their gear to protect right whales. In October 2021, they wrote to Secretary Raimondo to urge her to rescind the rule, and in February 2022 called for a postponement of the rule due to difficulties lobstermen were having obtaining the necessary gear.\n\nYou can read the full remarks HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Ms. Trego,\n\nI appreciate NOAA hosting this in-person meeting tonight to discuss modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The 90% risk reduction that NOAA has proposed will have a devastating impact on our fishing industry, working waterfronts, and coastal communities\u2014it is critical that NOAA receive input from all of the impacted communities. One additional in-person meeting, however, is simply not enough. Tonight\u2019s meeting in Portland is hours away from our coastal communities like Stonington where the majority of lobster is landed. The least NOAA should do, given the demonstrable understanding of the potential impacts on Maine fishermen, their families and their communities, and the need for careful crafting of these measures, is to extend the current scoping period and to hold additional in-person sessions to hear directly from Maine fishing communities.\n\nWhen we speak about the Maine lobster industry, this is not about large corporate conglomerates reaping the delicious rewards of our waters with disregard to the environmental consequences. The \u201cindustry\u201d is a loose collection of roughly five thousand sole proprietors who own their own boats, set their own traps, and sell their haul to make ends meet. For decades, these lobstermen have committed themselves to the sustainability and long-term health of our waters\u2014because they know that one day, just like those who came before them, it will be the turn of future generations to take to these tides. NOAA\u2019s proposed 90% risk reduction clouds that future though.\n\nAs part of ongoing collaboration with NOAA, lobstermen have already spearheaded a number of efforts\u2014at cost to their bottom-line\u2014to reduce the risk the industry may pose to right whales. Lobstermen have applied gear markings; implemented sinking ground lines; have moved to weaker lines; inserted \u201cweak links\u201d into vertical lines; and increased the size of their trawls to reduce the number of vertical lines in the water. Through these efforts, the Maine lobster fishery has removed an estimated 30,000 miles of line from the water in order to protect whale species.\n\nIt is also critical that NOAA is basing these proposed regulations on the best available evidence and ensure they do not unfairly target the lobster fishery. If there are any figures that NOAA takes away from tonight\u2019s meeting, it is ZERO and ZERO. There has been ZERO whale entanglements attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and there has been ZERO documented right whale deaths attributed to Maine lobster gear.\n\nIn fact, according to NOAA, the majority of right whale deaths since 2017 has been due to vessel strikes in Canada, and of the 33 right whale mortalities occurring between 2017 and 2020, 24 of those whales were confirmed to be attributed to entanglements in Canadian fishing gear and vessel strikes in Canadian waters. NOAA must ensure that they are working with their counterparts in Canada to certify they are doing their part to reduce risk to right whales, otherwise, these regulations are falling on an industry that does not have documented harm to right whales.\n\nRight whales are also moving due to climate change. Right whales have been chasing migrating feed north and spending more time in Canadian waters (the Gulf of St. Lawrence and into the Labrador Sea), and less in the waters used by Maine fishermen. The overwhelming majority of lobsters caught in Maine come from outside of right whale critical habitat, which represents less than three percent of the overall risk to the species. I would hope that NOAA is using new data to ensure they know where right whales are and where the actual risk to these right whales lies\u2014which is not in Maine waters.\n\nLastly, the current scoping period extends from September 9 to October 11. This timeframe is exceptionally short, particularly when the most recent scoping period on the Phase II fisheries lasted over two months (August 11 \u2013 October 21, 2021). I ask that NOAA extend the current scoping period to ensure all concerns are heard from the community.\n\nTo conclude, while I appreciate NOAA\u2019s efforts to work with Maine\u2019s fishing community, more needs to be done to ensure these regulations do not unfairly target our fisheries. NOAA must hold additional meetings to hear from these fishermen directly to understand their concerns about operational challenges, costs and safety. NOAA needs to ensure that the measures being developed are practical and feasible, and the process needs to be defensible. To date, that is not the case.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/continuing-their-advocacy-for-maines-small-dairy-farmers-collins-king-call-for-review-of-federal-milk-pricing-system", "Continuing Their Advocacy for Maine\u2019s Small Dairy Farmers, Collins, King Call for Review of Federal Milk Pricing System", "2022-10-03", "2022", "2022-10", "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 called on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to evaluate the federal milk pricing system\u2019s effectiveness, as it currently leaves many of Maine\u2019s small and mid-sized dairy farmers at risk of inadequate pay. The requested GAO report would provide important information to help modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order system (FMMO) and ensure that it is working in the best interests of all farms, regardless of the size of its operations.\n\n\u201cWe would like to ensure that the FMMO Program is being administered in a manner that accounts for the interests of smaller-scale operations, particularly in the regions of the country that are dependent on smaller-scale farms to provide stable and adequate supplies of milk,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cWe would also like to ensure that the FMMO Program is being administered in a manner that does not cause undue burden and cost for state dairy regulatory and support programs that maintain the viability of small-scale farms.\u201d\n\nSenators Collins and King are longstanding advocates for dairy farmers and have consistently worked to reform the FMMO system, which is one of the most complicated economic systems in the country and, in its current form, forces farmers to contend with potentially volatile milk prices and the risk of inadequate pay. These challenges, in addition to rising costs and intensifying competition, have forced many small dairy farmers to leave the industry. The U.S. has lost nearly 60% of its licensed dairy operations since 2003.\n\nThe letter is a follow-up to a bill Senator Collins introduced and Senator King co-sponsored, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would pave the way for reforming and modernizing federal milk pricing. The bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to initiate the process of holding FMMO hearings within six months, allowing producers and industry to consider and review proposals that could change Class I skim milk pricing and other topics deemed necessary for reform by the dairy industry. This would ensure that producers who understand these dynamics firsthand will have a voice in formulating any potential changes in calculating the price of Class I milk and additional policy proposals.\n\nIn order to have complete information to reform the FMMO system, Senators Collins and King are requesting that the GAO answer the following questions:\n\nCan the FMMO Program be administered under its current statutory authorization to maintain operation of smaller-scale farms, or must the enabling legislation be amended in order to achieve this objective?\n\nIf needed, how should the FMMO Program\u2019s enabling language be revised to best assure the sustainability of small and mid-size dairy farm operations while still accounting for the importance of larger scale farms?\n\nShould the enabling language replace the uniform national Class II-IV pricing series with differing pricing formulas and pooling provisions that reflect the distinct marketing conditions among the nation\u2019s regional dairy markets?\n\nIs a tiered producer payment structure reflecting the different costs of production for different-sized operations a viable method of achieving the policy objective?\n\nIs incorporation of cooperative base excess plans into the FMMO Program, or some other form of governmental regulation of milk production, together with pooling and price regulation, necessary to achieve the policy objective?\n\nWould such revision to the FMMO program also reduce the costs for states that have implemented programs to maintain operation of small and mid-size dairy farms?\n\nIn addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Roger Marshall (R-KS).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-calls-for-strong-implementation-of-corporate-minimum-tax-in-inflation-reduction-act", "King Calls For Strong Implementation of Corporate Minimum Tax in Inflation Reduction Act", "2022-10-03", "2022", "2022-10", "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 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King today announced that Senator King is urging the United States Department of the Treasury to strongly implement the 15 percent corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations included in the Inflation Reduction Act. In a letter to U.S Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Representative Donald Beyer (D-Virginia), King lays out the deficit-cutting need for strong corporate minimum tax enforcement, and highlights how the important new tax-fairness provision prevents companies like Amazon from paying less in federal taxes than a welder at BIW. The provision was based on King\u2019s Real Corporate Profits Minimum Tax Act that he introduced in October 2021.\n\n\u201cWe write to urge you to pursue strong implementation of the 15 percent corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,\u201d the lawmakers write. \u201cAfter nearly three decades of corporate tax cuts, this historic legislation will prevent the largest, most profitable corporations from paying less in taxes than small businesses and middle-class families, while helping to pay down the deficit, lower energy and healthcare costs, and fight inflation.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, many of America\u2019s largest and most profitable corporations have paid far less than the statutory federal tax rate, or even nothing at all,\u201d the lawmakers continue. \u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act will put a floor on this tax avoidance and limit the ability of these corporations that report at least $1 billion in profits to their shareholders to pay less than a minimum 15 percent federal tax rate, still well below the statutory rate of 21 percent. The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation projected that the tax would raise more than $222 billion over the next ten years and impact only approximately 150 taxpayers annually.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations has the strong support of hardworking Americans and businesses that do pay their fair share,\u201d the lawmakers conclude. \u201cAs the leaders in Congress who championed passage of the corporate minimum tax as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Administration as the tax is implemented. Strong implementation necessitates standing firm against requests to dilute the regulations in such a way as to undermine the clear intent of the law.\u201d\n\nIn October 2021, Senators King, Warren, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced the Corporate Profits Minimum Tax \u2013 an adapted version of which was included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which resulted in the historic legislation producing deficit reduction. The provision imposes a 15% minimum tax on corporations with profits of more than $1 billion and is expected to raise more than $220 billion in the next 10 years.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nWe write to urge you to pursue strong implementation of the 15 percent corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. After nearly three decades of corporate tax cuts, this historic legislation will prevent the largest, most profitable corporations from paying less in taxes than small businesses and middle-class families, while helping to pay down the deficit, lower energy and healthcare costs, and fight inflation. We look forward to continuing to partner with you in the implementation of the corporate minimum tax to limit the ability of corporations that report $1 billion or more in profits to their shareholders to minimize or eliminate their federal income tax liability.\n\nFor years, many of America\u2019s largest and most profitable corporations have paid far less than the statutory federal tax rate, or even nothing at all. In the first three years following the 2017 corporate tax cuts, FedEx, Salesforce, and thirty-seven other profitable corporations in the S&P 500 or Fortune 500 paid $0 in federal income taxes. Meanwhile, Amazon has paid only 5.1 percent in federal tax on its $78.6 billion in U.S. profits from 2018 to 2021.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act will put a floor on this tax avoidance and limit the ability of these corporations that report at least $1 billion in profits to their shareholders to pay less than a minimum 15 percent federal tax rate, still well below the statutory rate of 21 percent. The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation projected that the tax would raise more than $222 billion over the next ten years and impact only approximately 150 taxpayers annually. This corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations has the strong support of hardworking Americans and businesses that do pay their fair share.\n\nPresident Biden originally proposed a minimum tax on the corporate profits of the largest corporations during his campaign and then in the Treasury Green Book, and the final minimum tax provision included in the Inflation Reduction Act was developed based on close partnership between the Biden Administration and Congress.\n\nAs the leaders in Congress who championed passage of the corporate minimum tax as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Administration as the tax is implemented. Strong implementation necessitates standing firm against requests to dilute the regulations in such a way as to undermine the clear intent of the law. While the Treasury Department has regulatory authority to implement the corporate minimum tax, that should be understood to relate to the proper functioning of the corporate minimum tax, including by \u201cprevent[ing] the omission or duplication of any items\u201d in the calculation of the tax. The legislation also makes clear that the starting point for determining the profits subject to the corporate minimum tax are those listed in annual financial statements, most importantly those used for reporting to shareholders, such as a 10-K form. Although the statute provides authority for determining the financial statements to be used, such authority should be understood to ensure that corporations cannot escape the tax by avoiding or manipulating specified types of financial reporting, not to facilitate escape of the tax. The Treasury Department\u2019s authority to implement this statute should not be used to allow corporations to report over $1 billion in profits to their shareholders and yet avoid paying this tax.\n\nWe look forward to continuing our partnership with you and working to ensure this tax fulfills its intended purpose of limiting the ability of billion-dollar corporations to pay less than a minimum 15 percent of their profits in federal income tax, and urge you to develop strong implementing regulations that prevent undermining of this purpose.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-cyberthreats-on-the-rise-king-joins-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-healthcare-cybersecurity", "With Cyberthreats on the Rise, King Joins Bipartisan Bill to Improve Healthcare Cybersecurity", "2022-10-03", "2022", "2022-10", "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 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King today announced that Senator King, Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, has joined bipartisan legislation to strengthen cybersecurity in the healthcare and public health sectors. As cyberthreats from Russia, China, and other bad actors increase, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services on improving cybersecurity and combatting risks across public health infrastructure. Cyberattacks on healthcare systems \u2013 like the attacks on MaineHealth and Central Maine Medical Center \u2013 have become increasingly frequent; they pose serious risks to Americans\u2019 health and sensitive personal medical information.\n\n\u201cIn just the last years alone, two of Maine\u2019s major healthcare providers have been the victims of cyberattacks. This new threat to America\u2019s critical infrastructure is real, and could literally mean the difference between life and death \u2013 we must take proactive steps to enhance the cybersecurity of our healthcare and public health sectors,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would create a coordinated federal program to help healthcare systems across the country better understand and respond to the cyberthreats they face. This would mean less breaches, a better organized government response, and a greater peace of mind for Maine people seeking healthcare. As cyberthreats from our adversaries grow, this is a commonsense effort to keep our critical health infrastructure safe and I hope it can continue to get broad, bipartisan support.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe protection of patient health information is essential to meeting MaineHealth's vision of supporting healthy communities,\u201d said Daniel Nigrin, Chief Information Officer for MaineHealth. \u201cWe are grateful to Senator King and his co-sponsors for taking action through this bill to leverage existing federal resources in training and planning to protect our critical health care infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill would pave the way for increased effectiveness and efficiency in automated cyber threat information sharing and help the healthcare sector deal with a major cyber workforce shortage,\u201d said Peter Wright, Senior Vice President of Central Maine Healthcare \u201cThe current situation challenges our ability to effectively defend against the daily barrage of cyber-attacks we face. We see this as a natural partnership on this common national security and public health and safety threat.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would increase information sharing and improve cybersecurity in the Healthcare and Public Health Sector. The bill:\n\nDirects the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate on improving cybersecurity\n\nRequires CISA to coordinate with all relevant non-Federal entities in the Healthcare and Public Health Sector and share information relating to cyberthreats and defensive measures.\n\nAuthorizes CISA and HHS to provide cybersecurity trainings to the Healthcare and Public Health Sector.\n\nRequires CISA and HHS to update the Healthcare and Public Health Sector-Specific Plan to include analysis of how cybersecurity risks specifically impacts the critical sector.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:20:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cornyn-kaine-introduce-legislation-to-create-a-china-grand-strategy-commission-to-navigate-growing-competition", "King, Cornyn, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Create a China Grand Strategy Commission to Navigate Growing Competition", "2022-09-30", "2022", "2022-09", "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 Angus King (I-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) are introducing bipartisan legislation to establish a China Grand Strategy Commission tasked with developing a comprehensive whole-of-government approach for how the United States should address the economic, security, and diplomatic challenges posed by China. The proposed 2-year commission is modeled after the recent, successful Cyberspace Solarium Commission and President Eisenhower\u2019s Solarium Commission that addressed the significant shift in global affairs at the end of World War II. The idea has already been praised by top military leaders.\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jackie Rosen (D-Nevada), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tom Young (R-Indiana), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Sasse (R-Nebr.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). The bipartisan group intends to add the bill as an amendment to the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cThe world is undergoing a period of significant change: economies are shifting, alliances are changing, and national security threats are rapidly evolving. At almost every turn, the United States is facing new challenges from an increasingly aggressive China. If we want to maintain our global status we must be able to answer the question I\u2019ve been asking witnesses in the Armed Services Committee for years: \u2018What Does China Want?\u201d said Senator King, Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. \u201cMuch like the successful Cyberspace Solarium Commission, it would harness the smartest public and private sector minds to study, and evaluate on how our nations interact \u2013 striking the balance between avoiding conflict and fully pursuing our national interest. Most vitally, this commission isn\u2019t putting a report on a shelf to collect dust; it will make actionable recommendations to develop a grand strategy across the entire government; this commission is to not admire the problem but make recommendations to address the needs of our national interests. There is too much at stake to face this threat shortsightedly \u2013 we simply cannot afford an ad hoc China policy that lacks a long-term strategy without accounting for all the instruments of power.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party is increasingly aggressive and well resourced, and its ambitions paint an alarming picture for our economic and national security,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cConfronting threats from China is the greatest security imperative of our generation and a strategic, whole-of-government approach is the only way forward. The China Grand Strategy Commission will provide invaluable recommendations to guide our long-term approach toward China.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the years, the U.S-China relationship has evolved in ways few could have predicted. America has called out the PRC for its ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang, invested in our economic competitiveness through the CHIPS and Science Act, and rallied our partners around the world in defense of democracy, including Taiwan\u2019s. To remain the world\u2019s preeminent power, the United States must take a more deliberate approach to its relations with the PRC,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cA China Grand Strategy Commission would help accomplish that by creating a long-term, comprehensive strategy to manage this consequential relationship.\u201d\n\nThe China Grand Strategy Commission would develop recommendations over the next two years for a comprehensive grand strategy and whole-of-government approach with respect to the United States\u2019 relationship with the People\u2019s Republic of China for purposes of:\n\nEnsuring a holistic approach toward the People\u2019s Republic of China across all federal departments and agencies;\n\nDefining specific steps necessary to build a stable international order that accounts for the People\u2019s Republic of China participation in that order;\n\nProviding actionable recommendations with respect to the United States\u2019 relationship with the People\u2019s Republic of China, which are aimed at protecting and strengthening United States national security interests.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bill-to-promote-electric-school-buses-improve-grid-stability", "King Introduces Bill to Promote Electric School Buses, Improve Grid Stability", "2022-09-30", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "BRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced legislation to promote electric school buses and improve electrical grid stability and reliability for Maine towns. The BIDIRECTIONAL Act would create a Department of Energy program dedicated to deploying electric school buses with \u201cbidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) flow capability,\u201d or the ability to use the bus batteries to power the electrical grid when they\u2019re not in use. Electric school buses work well for vehicle-to-grid because they have large batteries, sit idle for long, predictable periods, and operate in fleets. If properly deployed, the technologies have the possibility to discount the upfront cost of an electric school bus by returning energy to a school district or town.\n\n\u201cVehicle-to-grid school buses are another common sense tool that can help to create a reliable grid, promote clean energy, and cut costs for local towns and school districts,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe BIDIRECTIONAL Act will assist school districts across Maine and America transition to electric buses and make sure these vehicles provide greater stability to their communities. Combined with electric bus investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, this will be an important step towards unlocking America\u2019s clean energy future. It\u2019s a simple, win-win bill and I hope it can get bipartisan support across Congress.\u201d\n\nThe BIDIRECTIONAL Act is supported by Advanced Energy Economy, Blue Bird, bp Pulse Fleet (formerly Amply), Community Organization for Resource Efficiency (CORE), EDF, Electrification Coalition, Environment America, Highland Electric, Lion Electric, La Plata Electric Association, NRECA, Nuvve, PIRG, Proterra, and Xcel Energy. For quotes from supporting organizations, CLICK HERE.\n\nThe BIDIRECTIONAL Act would:\n\nCreate a Department of Energy program dedicated to deploying electric school buses with bidirectional energy flow capability with priority given to applications that demonstrate economic viability and seek to use V2G buses in regions or applications where V2G is promising but not yet deployed.\n\nThese buses could be used for V2G, vehicle-to-building (V2B), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications, which includes grid balancing, microgrid services, offsetting building energy use, and resiliency applications such as using an electric bus as a mobile power station after natural disasters.\n\nRequire DOE to provide a report on the existing V2G school bus pilot programs, and would require states\u2019 public utility commissions to consider measures to promote V2G integration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-submits-first-maines-veteran-voices-interviews-to-library-of-congress", "King Submits First \u201cMaine\u2019s Veteran Voices\u201d Interviews to Library of Congress", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King present the interviews HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King today submitted his first nine interviews with Maine veterans to the Library of Congress where they will be preserved as part of their Veterans History Project (VHP) for future generations. During the presentation ceremony, Senator King and VHP Director Monica Mohindra highlighted the importance of preserving the firsthand stories of America\u2019s veterans; stressing that this history is essential to honoring and understanding the sacrifices of America\u2019s brave servicemembers. The Senator also discussed how his interviews with Maine veterans have helped him shape legislation and better understand the issues facing those who served. King recently included a servicemember suicide report recommended to him during a veteran interview in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cWe are literally recording history that can inform our future. One of my favorite sayings from Mark Twain, everybody has one, is history doesn't always repeat itself, but it usually rhymes. That means we all have something to learn from history,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cFor example, the first interview I did was with a fellow named Carmine Pecorelli. Carmine served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam \u2013 he served in the Navy, the Air Force, and the Army all in one career. But sadly, a few months ago, we lost him. Without the [Veterans History Project] his history and stories would have been lost.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe other thing that I think is important about these interviews is that they can inform policy,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cA veteran made a point to me in our interview that he thought it would be worthwhile to ask the military to look at veteran suicide by job classification. That is [now] an amendment in the National Defense Act that will be on the floor of the US Senate in a few weeks, and it came out of that interview. We\u2019re asking the Defense Department to study the issue of veteran suicide by job classification to see if there are places with additional danger that we should address. People in my business don\u2019t listen enough, and that\u2019s what this program is all about, is listening to veterans from a variety of backgrounds, a variety of conflicts, and a variety of experiences.\u201d\n\nDuring the presentation ceremony, VHP Director Mohindra thanked Senator King for his work on the project and for submitting the nine Maine interviews.\n\n\u201cThank you so very much Senator King and everyone in your office who helped organize the interviews and collect the stories,\u201d said VHP Director Mohindra. \u201cYou have ensured that the voices of veterans you interviewed will live on. We tend to think of that as being something that lives on because we're speaking to individual veterans. But the truth is that legacy of service and that life, living property of that legacy is not just because you're taking these individual personal narratives. It's because of the use and what happens to them once they're here. They don't sit on dusty shelves, but they're used every day. Countless communities across Maine and the nation will benefit from this.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/liheap-disaster-relief-ukraine-support-government-spending-bill-passes-senate", "LIHEAP, Disaster Relief, Ukraine Support, Government Spending Bill Passes Senate", "2022-09-29", "2022", "2022-09", "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 today applauded the Senate\u2019s bipartisan 72-25 passage of HR 6833, a federal government funding package that included significant support for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), nationwide disaster relief, and Ukraine\u2019s fight against Russian aggression. LIHEAP is receiving an additional $1 billion dollars in the package \u2013 millions of which will go to Maine to help the thousands of families across the state who rely on the program. The package is expected to receive final approval by the House of Representatives this week.\n\n\u201cThe Senate has taken a significant step today to provide aid to those across our country and the world and who need it the most,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWith heating costs on the rise, this critical LIHEAP funding will help thousands of Maine families keep warm this winter and avoid tough choices between paying for heating, or putting food on their table. The package also supports millions of Americans who have experienced the devastation of extreme weather events like floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. Beyond our shores, the bill includes more essential assistance for the brave Ukrainian men and women fighting to protect their country from Putin\u2019s unprovoked invasion \u2013 it\u2019s a relatively small investment with huge dividends for global democracy and the security of Europe. All told, this funding will save and improve countless lives and I hope the House can pass it quickly.\u201d\n\nThe package funds the federal government through December 16th, 2022 and includes:\n\n$1 billion for LIHEAP, which helps families afford their heating and utility bills during the coldest winter months;\n\n$12 billion in critical emergency aid for Ukraine as the country continues to defend itself from Putin\u2019s vicious attacks, and $35 million to promote nuclear nonproliferation efforts in the region;\n\nBillions in disaster aid to Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and New Mexico to recover from floods, wildfires, and other disasters;\n\nReimbursement benefits for veterans traveling to access mental health services at Vet Centers until September 2023;\n\n$2.8 billion to support continued national security efforts and ensure our servicemembers continued to get paid.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-bill-to-give-maine-same-sex-couples-tax-refunds-they-should-have-received", "Collins, King Join Bill to Give Maine Same-Sex Couples Tax Refunds They Should Have Received", "2022-09-27", "2022", "2022-09", "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 are co-sponsoring legislation allowing same-sex couples to claim tax refunds that were denied to them before nationwide recognition of their marriages occurred. The Refund Equality Act would give same-sex couples in states like Maine who were able to marry before the Supreme Court\u2019s Windsor decision the larger federal tax refunds received by similarly situated, heterosexual married couples during those years. During the years between the first state legalization of same-sex marriage in 2004 and federal recognition for tax benefits in 2013, straight couples who filed jointly could claim multiple standard deductions that same-sex couples were not eligible for.\n\n\u201cMaine voters legalized same-sex marriages in our state nearly a decade ago, and since Obergefell, all Americans have had the right to marry the person whom they love,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cWe should not have a situation where married couples are treated differently from other married couples. This bill is another important step to promote equality and prevent discrimination.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarriage is one of life\u2019s great gifts; it brings companionship, love, and support. Along with the obvious personal and emotional benefits of partnership, marriage is also supposed to present financial benefits and the ability to claim joint deductions that can result in significant tax savings,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAll married couples who qualify for these tax refunds deserve them, but for too many years, legally wedded same-sex couples in Maine and across the nation were not eligible. The Refund Equality Act would right this wrong and allow same-sex couples to receive the tax refunds that were withheld before they received federal recognition of their marriages. This bill is purely about fairness, giving people what they are owed, and recognizing the many promises of marriage.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-votes-to-advance-electoral-count-act-reforms-in-key-committee", "King Votes to Advance Electoral Count Act Reforms in Key Committee", "2022-09-27", "2022", "2022-09", "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-Maine) today joined with a bipartisan group of Senators in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee to advance a package of comprehensive Electoral Count Act (ECA) reforms by an overwhelming vote of 14-1. The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act \u2013 which contains several policy recommendations from Senator King\u2019s ECA discussion draft released in February \u2013 seeks to update procedures for the counting and certification of electoral votes for the presidency. Before the committee vote, Senator King identified two amendments he declined to offer during today\u2019s proceedings: one that would randomize judges to review challenges, in order to avoid \u201cforum shopping\u201d; the other, a clarifying amendment that would state that votes can only be rejected due to legitimate procedural issues, not due to a member disliking the outcome of the election.\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.\n\n\u201cToday, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee took a critical step to better protect American democracy and remove dangerous ambiguities from our presidential elections,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe need for these reforms could not be more clear. In 2021, factions attempted to exploit the outdated Electoral Count Act to overturn the results of a free and fair election and stoke violence at our capitol. Now, as some continue to raise doubts about our electoral system, we must ensure that the ECA cannot used as a weapon against our democracy by disappointed candidates of either party. The Electoral Count Reform Act prevents abuse of the 1887 law by clarifying the Vice President\u2019s role in counting electoral votes, raising the threshold needed for Congressional objection to the elections, and ensuring that there are not multiple slates of electors submitted by a state. All told, this makes the process for certifying a presidential election clearer and more resistant to attack.\n\n\u201cMake no mistake, this bill is no substitute for the comprehensive voting rights and process reforms we need to confront the wider challenges facing our democracy,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cWhile I continue to look for ways to better protect the democratic process for all Americans registered to vote before and on election day, this effort will better guarantee that the will of the voters cannot be undermined after votes are cast. I\u2019m heartened to see the bipartisan support this package received and I look forward to the full Senate passing these reforms before the conclusion of this Congressional session.\u201d\n\nThe Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act updates the outdated and vague 1887 Electoral Count Act to ensure that electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect the will of the voters in each state. The bill replaces ambiguous provisions with clear procedures to ensure the counting of electoral votes can\u2019t be exploited. Key provisions in the bill include:\n\nClarifying the Role of the Vice President.\n\nAffirmatively states that the constitutional role of the Vice President in the counting of electoral votes is ceremonial, with no power to adjudicate conflicts that might arise.\n\nRaising the Objection Threshold.\n\nRaises the threshold to object to a state\u2019s electors to at least one-fifth of the duly chosen and sworn members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate \u2013 up from one member of each chamber.\n\nEnsuring a Single, Accurate Slate of Electors.\n\nDesignates each state\u2019s governor as responsible for submitting a single slate of electors to Congress.\n\nEnsures a state\u2019s executive can\u2019t submit a slate of electors over the objections of the judiciary or in violation of state and federal law.\n\nExpediting Judicial Review.\n\nProvides an expedited review process, including a three-judge panel with appeal to the Supreme Court, of certain claims related to a state\u2019s slate of electors.\n\nPreventing Moving or Canceling of Elections.\n\nRequires \u201cextraordinary and catastrophic\u201d events for a state to move their election, and removes a provision that allows states to declare failed elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/with-threats-on-rise-king-backs-legislation-to-protect-election-workers", "With Threats on Rise, King Backs Legislation to Protect Election Workers", "2022-09-26", "2022", "2022-09", "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, a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, is cosponsoring comprehensive legislation to address the rise in threats targeting election workers. The Election Worker Protection Act would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure these workers\u2019 safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield election workers from intimidation and threats. The bill includes provisions that were developed with input from election officials across the nation \u2013 including Maine\u2019s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.\n\n\u201cDemocracy doesn\u2019t run itself \u2013 it takes thousands of hardworking people working across the country to ensure Americans\u2019 voices are heard,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs threats against election officials rise, we have a responsibility to protect these patriotic Americans as they work to maintain the foundation of our historically rare democracy. Along with funding for additional training and recruitment, the Election Worker Protection Act will give election workers the support they need to do their jobs and stay safe from those seeking to undermine our very system of government. It is sad and deeply frustrating that this bill even needs to be discussed, but with the continuing prevalence of anti-democracy conspiracy theories pushed by extreme political factions, I fear it has become a necessity.\u201d\n\nA group of 15 Secretaries of State, including Maine\u2019s Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, joined a letter supporting the Election Worker Protection Act and calling on Congress to take action to protect election workers.\n\n\u201cAdditional action is needed at the federal level to ensure that all election workers have the necessary support and protection to do their jobs. The Election Worker Protection Act makes clear that these attacks on election workers will not be tolerated,\u201d wrote the Secretaries. \u201cWe know what tools are needed to protect election workers, and we look forward to working with Congress to advance this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Election Worker Protection Act would:\n\nEstablish grants to states and certain local governments for poll worker recruitment, training, and retention, as well as grants for election worker safety;\n\nDirect the Department of Justice to provide training resources regarding the identification and investigation of threats to election workers;\n\nProvide grants to states to support programs protecting election workers\u2019 personally identifiable information;\n\nEstablish threatening, intimidating, or coercing election workers as a federal crime;\n\nExpand the prohibition on voter intimidation in current law to apply to the counting of ballots, canvassing, and certification of elections;\n\nExtend the federal prohibition on doxing to include election workers; and\n\nProtect the authority of election officials to remove poll observers who are interfering with or attempting to disrupt the administration of an election.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-celebrate-national-lobster-day", "Senators Collins and King Celebrate National Lobster Day", "2022-09-25", "2022", "2022-09", "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 are today celebrating \u201cNational Lobster Day\u201d and the contributions of Maine\u2019s iconic, sustainable lobster industry. The Senate unanimously passed the Senators\u2019 bipartisan resolution earlier this year designating the day and recognizing the economic and cultural importance of this crustacean species, which is a major economic driver for Maine. Senators Collins and King have sponsored similar legislation every year since 2015.\n\n\u201cLobster is an inseparable part of Maine\u2019s history, heritage, and identity. This signature industry is a cornerstone of our economy, plays a central role in our coastal communities, represents us around the globe \u2013 and is woven into the fabric of our state,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cNational Lobster Day is a chance to recognize the thousands of Maine people who power the state\u2019s iconic industry \u2013 from the men and women who work on the docks, to those who catch, process, and cook the exceptional crustacean. These hardworking folks are all authors of Maine\u2019s success story and have been responsible stewards of our waters for generations. As lobster and the proud people who rely on it face absurd, unfounded attacks, we hope everyone can join us today and enjoy a delicious, healthy, sustainable Maine lobster.\u201d\n\n\u201cLobster is an icon of the state of Maine and an integral part of our state\u2019s culture, traditions, and economy. For the men and women who make their living hauling traps, lobstering is not a job, it\u2019s a way of life. The future of our coastal communities depends on the continued success of the Maine lobster fishery, and MLA applauds Senators Collins and King for introducing this resolution that recognizes the vital importance of preserving Maine\u2019s lobstering heritage,\u201d said Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen\u2019s Association.\n\n\u201cThis National Lobster Day, we want people to know they can feel good about eating Maine Lobster and supporting the small business owners who make up the fishery,\u201d said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. \u201cMaine\u2019s economy relies on a thriving lobster industry, and we want do our part to educate consumers everywhere on the legacy of lobsters, unique ways to enjoy the product, and how sustainability drives everything the fishery does, and has done for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine Lobstermen are incredibly proud that we\u2019ve maintained a sustainable fishery for generations. We take a lot of pride in doing things the right way \u2013 from practices to preserve the lobster stock, to protecting marine life,\u201d said Steve Train, a lobsterman from Long Island, ME. \u201cNational Lobster Day is a chance for more people locally and around the country to enjoy Maine Lobster, and celebrate the independent lobstermen who are working hard to carry on a heritage industry that supports Maine island and coastal communities.\u201d\n\nLobster is the single most valuable fishery in the country, and a fundamental economic driver for Maine communities throughout the state. In 2021, Maine lobstermen caught more than 100 million pounds of lobster, worth more than $700 million. Senators Collins and King are vocal advocates for the Maine lobstermen and have been pushing back against activist attacks on the industry.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-kings-september-podcast-highlights-inflation-reduction-act-benefits-to-maine", "Senator King\u2019s September Podcast Highlights Inflation Reduction Act Benefits to Maine", "2022-09-24", "2022", "2022-09", "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 The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the September episode of Senator King\u2019s \u201cInside Maine\u201d podcast, in which Senator King and his guests discussed the significant benefits coming to Maine communities from the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 a historic package to address rising energy and healthcare costs, fight climate change, create jobs and cut the deficit. Senator King was joined by four expert guests who helped to explain key commonsense provisions in the bill: Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), AARP Maine State Director Noel Bonam, Executive Director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association Jeremy Payne, and Maine Society of CPAs Treasurer Mike Santo. During the conversation, Senator King and his guests discussed how the fully-paid-for bill will reduce drug costs for seniors, support America\u2019s affordable energy future, and make the IRS work better for Maine taxpayers.\n\n\u201cThe Inflation Reduction Act is a historic effort to lower healthcare and energy costs, fight climate change, and reduce the deficit,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIncluded in the package are commonsense provisions that will save Maine people thousands of dollars a year on their energy bills, and reduce drug costs for seniors by capping Medicare recipients\u2019 out-of-pocket drug costs and allowing Medicare to finally negotiate the price it pays for pharmaceuticals. The law also includes my provisions to reduce the deficit by trillions by fully funding the IRS and making sure massive corporations are paying their fair share. It was great to be joined by four experts on Inside Maine this month who helped preview the tangible benefits this bill will have for Maine people. I look forward to keeping in touch with them to hear their continued work on the issues facing Maine.\u201d\n\nSenator King was first joined by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) who worked with Senator King on many of the bill\u2019s key provision \u2013 including to go after wealthy tax cheats and invest in clean energy. Senator Kaine gave an overview of the package, and highlighted several of the key parts of the bill that will make a difference for working people in Maine and Virginia.\n\nNext, King spoke with AARP Maine State Director Noel Bonam who had previously urged Senator King to ensure Medicare drug price negotiation was included in the bill. Bonam explained the importance of the drug pricing provisions, and what it will mean for Maine seniors. He specifically pointed to the out-of-pocket cost cap as a \u201cgamechanger.\u201d\n\nContinuing the episode, King was joined by Executive Director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association Jeremy Payne who helped explain the clean energy provisions in the bill. Payne laid out how the historic clean energy investments will fight climate change, create more affordable and reliable American energy, and create thousands of new energy jobs in Maine.\n\nSenator King closed out the episode with Maine Society of CPAs Treasurer Mike Santo who laid out the serious funding and staffing shortage facing the IRS, and the hurdles this has caused Maine people and small businesses. Santo detailed how the new IRS funding will mean better tax service for working people, and debunked several myths about new audits going after middle class Americans.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act will:\n\nLOWER HEALTH CARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS\n\nEmpower Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs. The Inflation Reduction Act allows Medicare to negotiate a significantly discounted price for the prescription drugs they buy from pharmaceutical companies. This will save taxpayers hundreds-of-billions.\n\nCap Medicare patients\u2019 out of pocket drug costs at $2,000 per year. Today, there is no cap on spending for prescription drugs seniors buy from pharmacies. The Inflation Reduction Act caps Medicare\u2019s out of pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year, ensuring that devastating diagnoses, like cancer, will never again mean paying tens of thousands for just one drug.\n\nInstitute a new \u201cinflation rebate\u201d under Medicare. Drug companies should not be allowed to make arbitrary and rapid price increases on products that are not changing year-to-year. The Inflation Reduction Act requires drug companies to rebate back the difference to Medicare if they raise prices higher than inflation.\n\nProvide free vaccines for seniors. The Inflation Reduction Act makes all vaccines free in Medicare for seniors, the only population for which vaccines were not already free.\n\nExpand premium and co-pay assistance on prescription drugs for low-income individuals. Currently, the low-income subsidy program (LIS) under Medicare Part D is fully available to all seniors earning less than 135% of the federal poverty level, and partially available to seniors earning less than 150% of the federal policy level. The Inflation Reduction Act eliminates the partial subsidy status, giving those seniors the full low-income subsidy under Medicare Part D.\n\nExtend Affordable Care Act premium subsides. The Inflation Reduction Act makes a three year extension of premium subsidies for American\u2019s who receive their healthcare through the Affordable Care Act \u2013 more than 100,000 Maine people.\n\nCUT ENERGY COSTS AND ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE\n\nMake the largest ever investment in clean energy. The Inflation Reduction Act includes $260 billion in clean energy tax credits \u2013 the largest investment ever in renewable energy technologies. This will reduce carbon emissions by 40% in just a few years, and create countless manufacturing and production jobs across the country.\n\nSupport energy efficiency and cost-saving programs. Included in the Inflation Reduction Act is $80 billion for energy saving rebates. This will help Maine people purchase cost-saving technologies like heat pumps, better insulation, or home solar panels.\n\nInvest in the production of American oil and gas. The Inflation Reduction Act expands leasing of oil and gas on federal lands to increase the supply of American fossil fuels and drive down prices for consumers as the country transitions to clean energy.\n\nBoost efforts to fight climate change. Along with support for a clean energy transition, the Inflation Reduction Act contains several major provisions to address climate change. The bill has $1.5 billion in rewards for cutting methane emissions, $27 billion for a \u201cgreen\u201d technology bank, and significant support for clean transportation.\n\nREDUCE THE DEFICT AND CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES\n\nFund the IRS to go after high-earning tax cheats to improve tax compliance. Some of America\u2019s wealthiest have taken advantage of an underfunded Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to avoid paying the taxes they owe. The Inflation Reduction Act boosts IRS funding by $80 billion for better enforcement that will net $125 billion in deficit reduction over the next 10 years. This bill reflects the same priorities as the STOP Cheaters Act that Senator King introduced in May 2021.\n\nEnforce a 15% Corporate Minimum Tax. Many of America\u2019s largest companies exploit loopholes to pay little to no taxes \u2013 it\u2019s not fair to taxpayers. The Inflation Reduction Act includes a corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) provision, based on Senator King\u2019s Real Corporate Profits Minimum Tax Act, that imposes a 15% minimum tax on corporations with profits of more than $1 billion, raising more than $220 billion in the next 10 years.\n\nReduce the deficit for years to come. In total, the Inflation Reduction Act is projected to reduce the deficit by $1.9 trillion over the next two decades.\n\nThe \u201cInside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King\u201d is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator King\u2019s work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator King\u2019s podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. typically on the last Saturday of every month.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-legislation-to-ensure-recognition-of-ukraines-sovereign-borders", "Collins, King Join Legislation to Ensure Recognition of Ukraine\u2019s Sovereign Borders", "2022-09-23", "2022", "2022-09", "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 After Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to annex parts of Ukraine into the Russian Federation, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined bipartisan legislation to ensure the United States does not recognize any Russian claim over Ukraine\u2019s sovereign territory. The Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act stands with the brave men and women fighting for their freedom in Ukraine by prohibiting any U.S. government department or agency from taking action that would validate Russia\u2019s claims to Ukrainian lands. It also serves to counter Putin\u2019s land ownership lies that he could use to justify potential military escalations.\n\n\u201cVladimir Putin\u2019s push to annex parts of Ukraine is a blatant attempt to give his brutal and unjustified invasion a veneer of legitimacy,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cThe Ukrainians have inspired the world with their determination to defend their democracy, and their recent advances in the eastern part of the country demonstrate their ability to succeed when they have the support of the United States and our allies. By refusing to acknowledge Russian claims on Ukraine\u2019s territory, this legislation would reaffirm our solidary with Ukraine and help the Ukrainians to preserve their sovereignty. I will continue to support doing everything in the United States\u2019 power to give the courageous Ukrainians the tools they need to fight for their freedom and pressure Russia to bring an end to its terrible war.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo matter what Vladimir Putin says, every single inch of Ukraine belongs to Ukrainians. No sham election, fake proclamation, or attempted annexation will change Ukraine\u2019s internationally-recognized borders,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThis bill is an important effort to reaffirm Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and sends a strong, bipartisan message to the brave men and women in Ukraine that the United States Senate stands with them in their fight for freedom. Make no mistake, Ukraine will continue to push back Putin\u2019s delusions of a new Russian Empire and fight for the land that is theirs.\u201d\n\nThe bill is backed by a bipartisan group of nearly thirty of the Senators.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pushing-pentagon-for-increased-action-to-address-pfas", "King Pushing Pentagon for Increased Action to Address PFAS", "2022-09-23", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is pushing the Department of Defense (DoD) to expand efforts to combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances?(PFAS) at current and former military instillations. In a bipartisan letter with almost forty of his Senate colleagues, Senator King calls on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to improve PFAS-related planning and to better implement the budget Congress has appropriated to address the growing issue. The efforts would help the military identify and remediate PFAS contamination at Maine\u2019s former Brunswick Naval Air Station \u2013 what is now the Brunswick Executive Airport.\n\n\u201cAs you know, PFAS chemicals have emerged as widespread contaminants to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country largely due to their presence in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF),\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cMembers of the military, veterans and civilians who have served at military installations and/or live in the surrounding communities found to have been contaminated with PFAS face health risks related to exposure to PFAS chemicals, as these materials are found in AFFF, in personal protective equipment used by firefighters and in standard consumer products.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past six years, Congress has increased funding by $1 billion for the Department to accelerate PFAS testing and remediation, more than doubling the amount requested in the annual budget request during that time frame,\u201d continued the Senators. \u201cWe are, however, concerned that DoD has failed to adequately prepare for additional funding being made available. It is our understanding that one of the major obstacles in the way of Congress putting more resources toward this problem is a lack of planning by the Department on how to execute a higher funding level.\u201d\n\n\u201cDoD has a responsibility to place greater emphasis on addressing these pollutants impacting service members, military families and defense communities. Therefore, we strongly urge the Department to match Congress\u2019 urgency for addressing testing and remediation by developing requirements-based plans, policies, and programs and appropriately increasing DoD\u2019s annual budget requests for PFAS-related activities, including for PFAS destruction,\u201d the Senators conclude. \u201cOur service members, military families, veterans and defense communities deserve the Department\u2019s full attention to appropriately address the scope and severity of PFAS contamination. We ask you to honor that responsibility and take the steps necessary to prioritize this hazard impacting our communities.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has worked to address PFAS contamination across America\u2019s communities, especially where it has been caused by the Department of Defense. He recently secured multiple PFAS-fighting provisions in the draft 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, and secured millions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to combat PFAS in water.\n\nThe letter can be read in full here and below.\n\n++\n\nDear Secretary Austin:\n\nWe write with continued concern about the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) efforts to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Nearly 700 military installations nationwide have known or suspected PFAS contamination, exposing service members and their families, and civilian communities near DoD installations to these toxic chemicals[1]. Given Congress\u2019 continued commitment to provide funding to address PFAS contamination, we respectfully request that the Department similarly prioritize planning and programming for PFAS testing and remediation.\n\nAs you know, PFAS chemicals have emerged as widespread contaminants to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country largely due to their presence in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used by the military. Members of the military, veterans and civilians who have served at military installations and/or live in the surrounding communities found to have been contaminated with PFAS face health risks related to exposure to PFAS chemicals, as these materials are found in AFFF, in personal protective equipment used by firefighters and in standard consumer products. The prevalence of PFAS allows for multiple pathways for exposure. The recently released National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report calls for expanded access to PFAS testing for Americans with a history of exposure to the chemicals and points to health risks such as high cholesterol, decreased fetal and infant growth and increased risks of kidney cancer for those exposed to PFAS[2]. These health concerns pose a significant hazard to the safety of our communities, and individuals either previously or currently exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals, underscoring the urgency of reducing exposure.\n\nOver the past six years, Congress has increased funding by $1 billion for the Department to accelerate PFAS testing and remediation, more than doubling the amount requested in the annual budget request during that time frame. As evidenced by the historic $517 million authorization for PFAS-related activities included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Congress has indicated a willingness to provide even greater funding to address these challenges. We are, however, concerned that DoD has failed to adequately prepare for additional funding being made available. It is our understanding that one of the major obstacles in the way of Congress putting more resources toward this problem is a lack of planning by the Department on how to execute a higher funding level. Simply put, DoD is not sufficiently prioritizing PFAS testing, remediation and disposal as part of its annual budget process, nor is the Department adequately developing the appropriate plans to utilize even higher funding levels as provided by Congress.\n\nDoD has a responsibility to place greater emphasis on addressing these pollutants impacting service members, military families and defense communities. Therefore, we strongly urge the Department to match Congress\u2019 urgency for addressing testing and remediation by developing requirements-based plans, policies, and programs and appropriately increasing DoD\u2019s annual budget requests for PFAS-related activities, including for PFAS destruction. Further, we expect that, as a part of this analysis, the Department will address past planning and programming deficiencies that DoD has claimed limits their ability to execute higher levels of funding, and we request that DoD provide a plan to Congress no later than upon the release of the President\u2019s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024 on how the Department is prepared to execute increased funding levels for PFAS-related activities. Finally, we support DoD\u2019s cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency on PFAS, including collaboration on research and testing efforts, and encourage the Department to continue investing in joint efforts to address PFAS.\n\nOur service members, military families, veterans and defense communities deserve the Department\u2019s full attention to appropriately address the scope and severity of PFAS contamination. We ask you to honor that responsibility and take the steps necessary to prioritize this hazard impacting our communities.\n\n[1] United States Government Accountability Office. (June, 2021). DoD is Investigating PFAS and Responding to Contamination, but Should Report More Cost Information. Report to Congressional Committees. Retrieved from https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-421.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-1-million-to-support-mainers-with-alzheimers-in-aroostook-county", "Collins, King Announce Nearly $1 Million to Support Mainers with Alzheimer\u2019s in Aroostook County", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "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 announced that the Aroostook Agency on Aging has received a total of $977,135 to create a Memory Care Center that will offer improved resources and care for Alzheimer\u2019s patients and their families. This competitive funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Administration For Community Living.\n\n\u201cNearly 40,000 Mainers are living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cWhen they receive this devastating diagnosis, many patients and their families are understandably worried that they will not be able to find the support and resources they need close to home. This funding for the Aroostook Memory Care Center will be invaluable to families in Northern Maine dealing with this harsh illness and provide exceptional, quality services to patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we age, we may need a variety of supports to enable us to live and engage in our community,\u201d said Joy Barresi Saucier, executive director of the Aroostook Agency on Aging. \u201cThe Aroostook Agency on Aging is thrilled by the announcement of this important grant funded project that addresses a growing need in our region related to memory loss, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and related dementias.\u201d\n\nThe Aroostook Agency on Aging will use the funding to create the Aroostook Memory Care Center, which will bring services and partners together to create a county-wide resource hub to help individuals impacted by memory loss and those who support them. The center will provide comprehensive services through in-person and virtual options, including brain health education, dementia friendly community support, early diagnosis/treatment, service coordination, adult day respite, and family/caregiver support.\n\nSenator Collins is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-highlights-how-ukraine-conflict-shows-need-for-clean-energy-independence", "King Highlights How Ukraine Conflict Shows Need for Clean Energy Independence", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch or download Senator King\u2019s remarks HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today spelled out how the conflict in Ukraine and Europe\u2019s resulting energy crisis demonstrates the urgent need for America to have a clean energy future that does not rely on foreign adversaries. In a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, King questioned Spencer Nelson, Managing Director of Research and New Initiatives at ClearPath Clean Energy Foundation, on the importance of expediting the construction of domestic energy and mining infrastructure that will allow the country to independently achieve its energy goals. The Senator pointed to comprehensive permitting reform as an important, necessary step to reach these goals. Last week, King spoke from the Senate floor on the importance of permitting reform and America\u2019s clean energy future.\n\n\u201cWe've got to understand that in order to get to a clean energy future, we have to rationalize and correct the deficiencies in the permitting or we'll never get there, because we're going to need to permit transmission, we're going to need to permit pump storage projects, we're going to need to permit mining operations. And so you can't be for electronic vehicles and be against lithium mining in the US. We\u2019ve just got to resolve that,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cSeven to ten years [to permit a mine]. What I say to people when they tell me something is going to take years is that Eisenhower retook Europe in eleven months. Don't tell me it's going to take ten years \u2013 that's ridiculous. I hope we're going to really make some serious inroads into those deadlines. Meaningful deadlines and coordination of agency consideration and conclusions within a reasonable period of time; otherwise we'll never get there. We will simply not get to the clean energy future that we desire.\u201d\n\n\u201cI think deadlines are important, and the other piece is domestic supply chain. I met yesterday with two heads of state from European countries. We have in front of us the all-time example of how dangerous it is to rely on other countries for critical supplies. Europe is facing a really huge challenge this winter because of their reliance on Russia,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cYou look back and you say, what were they thinking? I don't want to be in that position ten years from now saying, what were they thinking about getting critical minerals from China that power our country? Mr. Nelson, am I right about that? I mean, it just seems to me we not only can see the problem, we can see the real impact of it right before our eyes this winter in Europe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe more that our future energy system relies on other countries, the less control we have over it. We've certainly seen that our increase in oil and gas production has put us in a very strong position in terms of global energy production because we're now a net producer of oil and gas, and that's been helpful,\u201d replied Mr. Nelson. \u201cI think we can also be a net producer of energy storage technologies and all types of clean energy technologies as well.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-votes-for-cleaner-elections-and-clearer-campaign-ads-to-improve-democratic-process", "King Votes for Cleaner Elections and Clearer Campaign Ads to Improve Democratic Process", "2022-09-22", "2022", "2022-09", "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-Maine), today voted for the DISCLOSE Act, comprehensive legislation to strengthen the democratic process by creating more transparency in political spending and elections. The legislation, which failed to gain any Republican votes and reach the necessary sixty-vote threshold, would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, help get foreign money out of elections, and require all election ads to state by whom they are funded. The effort was cosponsored by Senator King, and builds on his continued efforts to create a more transparent, fair democratic process.\n\n\u201cThe foundation of American democracy is that everyday people can make their voices heard and hold their leaders accountable. Dark money is a real and present threat to these democratic values \u2013 it removes accountability from our political process, and drowns out the voices of voters with those of anonymous special interests,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cNot only are incessant ads paid for by \u2018Americans for Green Grass\u2019 frustrating, they\u2019re a real threat our democratic principles. If a nurse in Stonington donates $75 dollars to their political candidate it\u2019s disclosed, but if a billionaire wants to pour millions into an election they can do it anonymously \u2013 it simply makes no sense, and it\u2019s not fair.\n\n\u201cThe DISCLOSE Act would have ended this disparity and brought long overdue transparency to our political process by requiring dark money groups to finally disclose who is backing them. It also would have taken a much-needed step to keep foreign money out of American elections,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cSunlight is the best disinfectant, especially for dark money\u2019s corrosive effects on our democratic process. I\u2019m disappointed that my Republican colleagues didn\u2019t support this commonsense effort; I honestly don\u2019t understand why it could be even slightly controversial.\u201d\n\nCitizens United and subsequent Supreme Court rulings currently permit super PACs and certain types of tax-exempt groups, such as 501(c)(4) nonprofits, to spend unlimited sums in elections. Many of those groups are not required to disclose their donors, allowing wealthy corporations and individuals to spend unlimited, undisclosed \u2013 or \u201cdark\u201d \u2013 money without being publicly tied to the television attack ads and other election activity the groups carry out.\n\nThe Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act includes provisions to:\n\nStrengthen Dark-Money Disclosure\n\nRequires super PACs, 501(c) \u201cdark money\u201d groups, corporations, and other organizations spending more than $10,000 in elections and on judicial nominations to promptly disclose donors who contribute more than $10,000.\n\nShuts down the use of transfers between organizations to cloak the identity of the source contributor.\n\nAllows organizations to establish a segregated fund from which to pay for election spending, in which case only donors to the fund would need to be disclosed.\n\nClose Loopholes in the Foreign Money Ban\n\nStrengthens prohibitions against foreign actors participating in election spending in the United States, including in state and local referenda.\n\nProhibits the establishment of corporations to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign actors.\n\nPromote transparency in Election Ads\n\nExpands \u201cstand by your ad\u201d disclosure requirements to online ads and ads that may promote or attack a candidate but stop short of expressly advocating for a vote for or against a candidate.\n\nRequires identification of top funders of outside groups paying for video, text, or audio political ads.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/parks-chairman-king-hears-testimony-on-katahdin-woods-and-waters-access-bill", "Parks Chairman King Hears Testimony on Katahdin Woods and Waters Access Bill", "2022-09-21", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch or download Senator King\u2019s opening remarks HERE, and testimony from Steve Richardson HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chair of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, today held a hearing on his bill to expand access to the Katahdin Woods and Waters (KWW) National Monument and bring more economic activity to the region. The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act, cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), would authorize the expansion of KWW by giving the National Park Service (NPS) permission to acquire land from willing donors or sellers that better connect the Monument to the Millinocket region and major roadways. View a map of the proposed parcels HERE.\n\nDuring the hearing, Chairman King received testimony from Steve Richardson of Shin Pond \u2013 a prominent leader in the Katahdin region business community \u2013 on the benefits of the effort, its impact on Millinocket and the surrounding communities, and potential changes that could improve the bill.\n\nBeginning the hearing, Chairman King gave an opening statement laying out the significant benefits his bill would bring to the Katahdin community.\n\n\u201cThis bill will allow specific parcels to be added to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument from willing donors or sellers, improving access to the Monument from the south, and the Millinocket region. This new access will make it easier for visitors to enter the monument and will help towns like Millinocket and East Millinocket capture some of the economic opportunities from these visitors,\u201d began National Parks Chairman King. \u201cVisitors will benefit because many services they are looking for\u2014restaurants, hotels, retail shops, and more\u2014already exist to the south and are not as readily available to the north, where you currently enter the Monument.\n\n\u201cLand will only be added to the monument if willing landowners sell or donate their land. Additionally, we have included language to explicitly protect the continued access to many important uses, including snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and foraging for fiddleheads,\u201d added Senator King.\n\nKing continued by laying out some of the community feedback he\u2019s received on the bill, and detailed how he is improving the bill through local engagement efforts.\n\n\u201cSince I put out this bill, I have heard from groups that have additional concerns I intend to address, specifically the use of ATVs and logging,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cLocal ATV clubs have been working for years to build a connector trail that crosses one of the parcels that is covered by this legislation. My intention is for this bill to maintain existing uses and access, and when we consider this bill in markup, I will make sure language is included to protect ATV access to this trail.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve also heard concerns about making sure that log trucks can still travel safely and efficiently through these parcels. This is important because as we grow the recreation economy we also must make sure the traditional forest products sector continues to function unimpeded, and continue to promote a more diversified forest products sector in the region,\u201d Senator King emphasized. \u201cCurrently logging trucks travel through the monument and the Park Service has worked with stakeholders in the region to make sure there is appropriate signage \u2013 and the on website it says, \u2018Logging trucks always have the right of way.\u2019 I am confident that we can make clarifications and amendments that will fully retain current access while improving safety and supporting the forest economy.\u201d\n\nAfter his opening statement, Senator King turned to testimony on the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act from Steve Richardson of Shin Pond who explained the significant economic boost KWW has brought the Katahdin area, and how the bill would expand on these successes.\n\n\u201cTo me, this legislation is about the future. It's about making it possible for our kids to stay in the region and thus in Maine. Millinocket, a town south of the monument, was once home to the largest paper mill in the world. Families made their living in the woods and in the mills, and there were good jobs with benefits for anyone willing to work hard. But that changed, through no fault of the good men and women of the Katahdin region. Our communities have had to adapt to a new reality and take new approaches to our natural resources and our economy,\u201d said Steve Richardson. \u201cThe monument is an important part of that transition. It is a beacon of hope, drawing new people, more visitors, and increased investment to our communities, all the while protecting a very special place for the enjoyment of generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation you're considering is all about connecting all people with the Monument. The Monument is paying off for the communities in the region,\u201d continued Mr. Richardson. \u201cMy son recognized that with the creation of the monument, our store had an opportunity to serve new types of customers. It was a risk, but he believed that once people learned about the beautiful history of our region and about the monument, they would come. He began to stock kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, camping gear and the like. I'm happy today to say that he was correct. The store has experienced minimum 20% year over year increases over the past six years. This is true for many businesses in the Katahdin region as more people have come to take advantage of what is offered and some visitors have luckily become full time residents.\n\n\u201cThere is a need in our region to improve access to Katahdin Woods and Waters. The legislation from Senators King and Collins protects traditional recreational uses, allows the National Park Service to work with willing sellers, promotes greater investment in our region, and will help businesses and working people,\u201d Mr. Richardson concluded. \u201cI appreciate their support on this matter and ongoing support for the monument and hope the Senate will support this bill as well.\u201d\n\nDuring his questioning, National Parks Chairman King asked Michael Caldwell, Associate Director for Park Planning at the National Park Service, to ensure that any park expansion would respect local heritage industries like logging.\n\n\u201cMr. Caldwell, I understand the importance that working forests have access to get their woods out. Can you talk about how the Park Service deals with this issue in other parts of the country to have the safe cohabitation, if you will, of visitors and the forest products industry?\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cWe honor all the agreements that we have, and I think you alluded to that earlier when you identified even the signs and the website. But we're authorized elsewhere in the country for commercial use, say, in places, parts of the Foothills Parkway and the Smokies or Delaware Water Gap, for example. The Park Service balances those needs with those commercial uses versus the needs of the visitors on those roads,\u201d assured Associate Director Caldwell. \u201cSo it is something that we do elsewhere when we have those authorizations in places similar to Katahdin Woods.\n\nConcluding the hearing, Steve Richardson highlighted the need for this effort now as Americans embrace the great outdoors.\n\n\u201cWe have a nation now that has turned to the outdoors rather than sitting home and looking at the screen,\u201d said Mr. Richardson. \u201cThat's going to help the National Parks all over this country. It has helped businesses because we have people every week. Last week I talked to a gentleman from West Virginia and another one from Texas. That was in northern Maine, and I'm sure they would have never been there if it weren't for the fact that they now are outdoors. They're trying to find places to go and thank goodness they're picking our area.\u201d\n\nThe Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Access Act, cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), would authorize the expansion of KWW by giving the National Park Service (NPS) permission to acquire land from willing donors or sellers that better connect the Monument to the Millinocket region and major roadways. View a map of the proposed parcels HERE. The bill also includes provisions to allow the NPS to acquire buildings for Monument administration and visitor services outside of park boundaries. All expansions will occur with the cooperation of willing landowners, and will protect traditional hunting, fishing and snowmobile usage on the acquired property.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-golden-statement-on-closure-of-androscoggin-mill", "Collins, King, Golden Statement on Closure of Androscoggin Mill", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "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 and Congressman Golden released the following statement today in response to the announcement that Pixelle Specialty Solutions plans to close the Androscoggin Mill early next year:\n\n\u201cThe announcement of the Androscoggin Mill\u2019s closure is devastating news for the dedicated employees and their families as well as for the Town of Jay and the surrounding communities.\n\n\u201cFollowing the catastrophic explosion at the mill in 2020, the employees and management team accomplished the incredible feat of reopening two paper machines within just eight days. They have worked so hard for so long to keep the mill running despite enormous obstacles and strong headwinds, making the news of the closure even more disheartening.\n\n\u201cOur offices stand ready to connect affected workers with resources that can help provide employment training and job search assistance.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-casey-highlight-dangers-of-senior-fall-incidents-call-for-stronger-prevention-efforts", "King, Casey Highlight Dangers of Senior Fall Incidents, Call for Stronger Prevention Efforts", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "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 As part of Fall Prevention Awareness Week, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, today urged the Biden administration to improve senior fall-prevention efforts. In a letter to Center for Disease Control Director (CDC) Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Acting Administrator of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Alison Barkoff, the Senators call for better data on the risk and prevalence of falls, collaboration with this data to shape fall-prevention, and a more proactive effort to share fall risks with seniors and people with disabilities. In 2019 alone, falls were responsible for more than 3 million emergency room visits for adults aged 65 and older, and more than 34,000 deaths.\n\n\u201cWe know that you are aware of the often avoidable tragedy of falls injuries that occur hundreds of times every single day across America, and that a significant portion of these falls are preventable,\u201d said Senators King and Casey. \u201cYour agencies have developed research and information that can reduce the numbers of these preventable falls and therefore, better protect the health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities. In 2019, as part of the Supporting Older Americans Act, the most recent reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, Congress required the Comptroller General to conduct an inventory of federal programs \u2018an inventory of federal programs\u2026 that support evidence-based fall prevention,\u2019 \u2026 as well as to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a set of recommendations.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn light of this information, we believe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) can each enhance efforts to protect seniors and people with disabilities from avoidable falls,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cWe write to you to draw attention to the findings of the GAO report and to request details of your plans to incorporate the recommendations of the report into the prevention activities of your agencies in the coming months of 2022 and beyond.\u201d\n\nThe Senators then lay out the three provisions they would like to see implemented:\n\n1. The Director of the CDC should expand the scope of its analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to include the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults under age 65 who may be at higher risk of falls.\n\n2. The Administrator of ACL should identify a collaborative mechanism to facilitate sustained information sharing on all populations at risk of falls and in need of evidence-based fall prevention, home modifications, or home assessments.\n\n3. The Administrator of ACL should share and highlight information on falls risk and related resources for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60 more prominently among its disability network to inform state and local planning efforts.\n\n\u201cAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By further investing in fall prevention, we can reduce serious injuries for the hundreds of thousands of individuals who experience preventable falls each year,\u201d conclude the lawmakers.\n\nThe full letter can be read HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Director Walensky and Acting Administrator Barkoff\n\nIn 2019, falls were responsible for more than 3 million emergency room visits for adults aged 65 and older, and more than 34,000 deaths. We know that you are aware of the often avoidable tragedy of fall injuries that occur hundreds of times every single day across America, and that a significant portion of these falls are preventable. We thank you both for your efforts to ensure those at-risk for falls and associated health consequences have access to information and care that can prevent fall occurrences. Your agencies have developed research and information that can reduce the numbers of these preventable falls and therefore, better protect the health and well-being of older adults and people with disabilities.\n\nIn 2019, as part of the Supporting Older Americans Act (P.L. 116-131), the most recent reauthorization of the Older Americans Act, Congress required the Comptroller General to conduct \u201can inventory of federal programs\u2026 that support evidence-based fall prevention, home assessments, and home modifications for older individuals and individuals with disabilities,\u201d as well as to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a set of recommendations from their reporting. On July 28, 2022, the GAO issued their report, titled: \u201cOlder Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited.\u201d[1]\n\nIn this report, GAO identified three recommendations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), and we would like to know your plans to carry out these recommendations, and what steps your agencies are already taking to reduce the incidence of avoidable falls.\n\nAs you know, accidental falls are the single leading injury-related cause of death among adults aged 65 or older, and a leading source of health care expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid. It has been estimated medical costs for fall-related injuries were $50 billion for 2015 alone, and three quarters of that cost was borne by Medicare and Medicaid.[2] As a larger number of people age into Medicare, these figures are only expected to rise. It is also well documented that most falls occur at home and that many are preventable. In light of this information, we believe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) can each enhance efforts to protect seniors and people with disabilities from avoidable falls. We also believe the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) must take additional steps as a payor to reduce falls. With collaborative efforts, CMS, ACL, and CDC fall prevention programs can be complementary to one another and prevent serious injuries to hundreds of thousands of Americans. By working together, across government, we can tackle this preventable threat to the health and independence of older adults and people with disabilities.\n\nWe write to you to draw attention to the findings of the GAO report and to request details of your plans to incorporate the recommendations of the report into the prevention activities of your agencies in the coming months of 2022 and beyond.\n\nThe recommendations from the GAO report were as follows:\n\nThe Director of the CDC should expand the scope of its analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to include the prevalence of falls and fall-related injuries among adults under age 65 who may be at higher risk of falls, including adults with disabilities, and, as appropriate, share findings with ACL and other agencies overseeing relevant programmatic efforts. For example:\n\nCDC could analyze existing BRFSS data on adults aged 45 to 64 and share findings, as appropriate.\n\nCDC could propose asking adults aged 18 to 44 the two BRFSS fall-related questions, as part of the survey update process.\n\nThe Administrator of ACL should identify a collaborative mechanism to facilitate sustained information sharing on all populations at risk of falls and in need of evidence-based fall prevention, home modifications, or home assessments. For example, this could be accomplished by establishing an interagency working group or by building upon the existing efforts to expand the reach of the Housing and Services Resource Center.\n\nThe Administrator of ACL should share and highlight information on falls risk and related resources for adults with disabilities who are younger than 60 more prominently among its disability network to inform state and local planning efforts. For example, to the extent possible and appropriate, ACL could work with CDC to highlight relevant falls data and leverage existing resources on fall prevention.\n\nPlease provide us with the following information about your plans to address the GAO recommendations:\n\nOn what timeline will the CDC and the ACL carry out these recommendations?\n\nWhat additional steps, beyond those recommended by the GAO, are the CDC and ACL taking to improve falls prevention?\n\nWhat Congressional action is needed to improve CDC\u2019s and ACL\u2019s implementation efforts to prevent falls for seniors and adults with disabilities?\n\nAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By further investing in fall prevention, we can reduce serious injuries for the hundreds of thousands of individuals who experience preventable falls each year. Your efforts to communicate prevention strategies and coordinate across federal agencies has the potential to save lives, reduce costs borne by the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and help older adults and people with disabilities continue to live the highest quality of life in their own homes and communities. We look forward to your responses, and we look forward to working with you to promote health, safety and independence among the country\u2019s seniors and people with disabilities.\n\nSincerely,\n\n[1] https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105276", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-outlines-evolving-nuclear-threat-landscape-assesses-americas-defenses", "King Outlines Evolving Nuclear Threat Landscape, Assesses America\u2019s Defenses", "2022-09-20", "2022", "2022-09", "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-Maine), chair of the Senate Strategic Forces Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the nation\u2019s nuclear arsenal, today highlighted the wide range of evolving nuclear challenges threating America\u2019s national security. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King pressed Franklin Miller, Principal of the Scowcroft Group, and Eric Edelman, Director of the United States Institute of Peace, on how to wisely address new 21st century threats including nuclear terrorism, hypersonics, and Russia\u2019s possible use of tactical nuclear weapons.\n\nSenator King began his questioning by calling attention to the serious threat of nuclear weapons in the hands of non-state actors and terrorists and discussing possible ways to prevent the nightmare scenarios.\n\n\u201cHere's my concern: terrorists with nuclear weapons. Deterrence depends upon the other side having a fear of death and a fear of destruction and a fear of the loss of their country and their infrastructure and their capital city. What about people who, A, don't care about dying and B, have no capital city?\u201d asked Senator King. \u201cWe need another theory or an adjunct to the theory of deterrence to deal with the threat of terrorists with nuclear weapons. We've got countries, Iran and North Korea, probably the most likely with building with fissile material. Iran's a week or two away from enough fiscal material. How do we deal with this threat? Mr. Miller, your thoughts? It seems to me this is a whole new category that, frankly, I don't think we're addressing.\u201d\n\n\u201cI think [terrorists] are outside the realm of nuclear deterrence. That's the realm of special operations forces, it's the realm of intelligence, it's the realm of conventional forces. It\u2019s also the realm of prevention, it's the [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons], it's working with allies and likeminded states to prevent those people from getting the fissile material and from getting the weapons knowledge,\u201d replied Mr. Miller. \u201cAs you pointed out, you can get the weapons knowledge, but that's different than classic deterrence.\u201d\n\n\u201cI agree. That's the problem. The theory of deterrence doesn't apply to the situation, which I think is one of the most serious likely threats,\u201d continued Senator King.\n\n\u201cWe need to hunt those people,\u201d Mr. Miller assessed.\n\n\u201cI would suggest perhaps a Manhattan Project to figure out how to detect nuclear material from space or from a distance as our best defense because deterrence won't work,\u201d Senator King hypothesized.\n\nContinuing his questioning, Senator King explored how the threat of hypersonic weapons \u201cchanges the strategic balance,\u201d and how the United States should prepare for the new threats.\n\n\u201cIt seems to me, Mr. Miller, that hypersonics changes the strategic balance altogether. And you suggested, I think it was you that was talking about the danger, you can have a nuclear weapon essentially dwelling in low Earth orbit over Washington,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIf the President, the Vice President and the leadership of Congress is gone, we're decapitated. There's no one to make the decision to launch, which undermines the deterrence because of the lack of a second strike, as you outlined. Should we have the Vice President live somewhere else in the country? Should we disperse our leadership in some way? Because I think you raise a very important point. Without the threat of a second strike, of a retaliatory strike, deterrence doesn't work.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be very careful in answering your question, because once upon a time I was involved in continuity of government programs. We need a survivable continuity of government to include nuclear command and control. Even a fractional orbital ballistic system would not come out of the clear blue sky. It would not come in a time of total peace,\u201d replied Mr. Miller. \u201cIn a time of building tension I think it is incumbent on the government to establish a survivable nuclear command and control system which may include dispersing senior officials to more remote locations than Washington, DC. I think the government has practiced that in the past. It can always be improved. But I think the point that you raise is particularly important.\u201d\n\nConcluding his questioning, Senator King raised the discussion that has surrounded President Putin\u2019s potential consideration of tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine.\n\n\u201cMr. Edelman, what is our doctrine with regard to response to the use of a tactical nuclear weapon?\u201d asked Senator King. \u201cThe President made a statement to Mr. Putin. Is that a doctrine? What is our deterrent strategy for the use of a low yield nuclear weapon, either as a demonstration in the middle of the Arctic Ocean or in terms of a strike on a city in Ukraine?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, I think our deterrent posture has always been based on the notion of calculated ambiguity that we would determine at the time of use how we would respond to a weapon and a use of a weapon. I think that remains very useful today,\u201d replied Mr. Edelman. \u201cI think this goes back to some of the foundational thinking about deterrence in the Cold War, and in particular the work of Thomas Schelling, who, famously, in Strategy of Conflict, wrote in 1960 that the risk that leaves something to chance in the mind of your adversary, the notion that if they do this, they're moving down a road, the consequences of which they cannot calculate, is perhaps the strongest deterrent that we have in that regard. I thought the President's statement to Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes on Sunday was exemplary.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-governor-mills-pen-open-letter-urging-retailers-restaurants-to-continue-selling-maine-lobster", "Delegation, Governor Mills Pen Open Letter Urging Retailers, Restaurants to Continue Selling Maine Lobster", "2022-09-19", "2022", "2022-09", "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.\u2014Following the unsubstantiated decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to include Maine lobster on its seafood \u201cRed List,\u201d Senator Susan Collins, Congressman Jared Golden, Senator Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and Governor Janet Mills published an open letter to retailers setting the facts straight.\n\nOn behalf of the 4,500 Maine lobstermen and women who will be adversely affected by this unfair and unfounded designation, the Maine Delegation and Governor Mills encouraged retailers and restaurants to consider for themselves the overwhelming proof that Maine\u2019s lobster industry is not responsible for the decline of North Atlantic right whales and does not pose an existing threat to the fragile population. The Maine leaders also highlighted the lobster industry\u2019s long history of sustainability and commitment to protecting the endangered right whale.\n\n\u201cMonterey Bay\u2019s Seafood Watch Program has produced recommendations based on claims and false assumptions that ignore scientific principles that should underpin any legitimate ratings,\u201d the Maine leaders wrote. \u201cTo impose a \u2018red\u2019 designation grounded in inaccurate and incomplete information severely undermines the credibility of the report\u2019s recommendation.\u201d\n\nThe letter points out that Seafood Watch ignored basic evidence, such as:\n\nMaine\u2019s lobstering community has used weak links since 1997 and gear marking since 2002; implemented sinking ground lines in 2009; and reduced vertical lines since 2015, with further reductions in 2021;\n\nOver the past decade, the industry has removed an estimated 30,000 miles of line from the ocean;\n\nNOAA Fisheries\u2019 own data show that out of the ten right whale entanglements in U.S. lobster gear occurring from 1997 through 2017, eight occurred before 2009 and the other two involved gear from Massachusetts that was successfully removed;\n\nThere has not been a known right whale entanglement with Maine lobster gear since 2004;\n\nRight whale deaths or serious injuries have never been attributed to Maine lobster gear;\n\nThe majority of known right whale deaths since 2017 have been attributed to vessel strikes in Canada;\n\nOf the thirty right whale mortalities occurring between 2017 and 2019, twenty-three of those whales were found in Canadian waters or were killed as a result of entanglement in Canadian fishing gear; and\n\nSightings of right whales have declined in the Gulf of Maine over the past decade, corresponding with the dramatic decline of the whales\u2019 primary food source in the eastern Gulf of Maine.\n\n\u201cDespite having spent nearly two decades implementing significant, responsible changes to its harvesting practices and gear in order to protect the North Atlantic right whale, including extensive new measures in 2022, lobstermen are being told it is still not enough,\u201d the Maine leaders continued. \u201cMoreover, Seafood Watch ignores the work that has been done to create a sustainable industry. This damages the reputation of its own certification process by misleading retailers and consumers. Maine\u2019s lobstermen remain committed to conserving the resource about which they care deeply and to finding solutions that protect both right whales and the industry on which the state and their communities rely. Spreading misinformation about the sustainability of the lobster fishery and issuing recommendations that ignore the facts risks setting back our shared sustainability goals.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe urge you to consider these facts as you seek to provide customers with seafood options that are not only caught in the U.S., but also from a sustainable fishery,\u201d they concluded. \u201cThe Monterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s recommendations lack credible evidence, but if followed, will have real world implications for the thousands of hardworking lobstermen and women, their families, and our businesses across Maine.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to read the letter.\n\n+++", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/delegation-announces-385-million-to-support-maine-farmers-loggers-and-mitigate-climate-change", "Delegation Announces $385 Million to Support Maine Farmers, Loggers and Mitigate Climate Change", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "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.\u2014U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing up to $385 million in nine projects that will benefit Maine\u2019s forest products and agriculture industries while helping to combat climate change.\n\nThe grants, which were awarded under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities funding opportunity, will be used to support pilot programs that will create market opportunities for American commodities produced using climate-smart production practices. These initial projects will expand markets for climate-smart commodities; leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production; and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.\n\n\u201cBy supporting innovative and environmentally friendly logging and farming practices as well as expanding market opportunities, this funding is a win-win for producers as well as our climate,\u201d said Senators Collins and King and Representatives Pingree and Golden in a joint statement. \u201cWe are particularly pleased that USDA is investing in two projects that are being spearheaded in Maine. This funding will allow Wolfe\u2019s Neck Farm to launch an initiative to help farmers implement climate-smart techniques and access the marketplace for climate-smart commodities. Moreover, this funding will benefit our forest products industry by supporting the New England Forestry Foundation\u2019s effort to help landowners and loggers improve forest health and market locally-grown, healthy, low-carbon building materials. In addition to mitigating the impact of climate change, these projects will provide substantial economic benefits to our rural communities.\u201d\n\nTwo of the projects with a direct impact on Maine include:\n\n$35,000,000 for Wolfe's Neck Farm\u2019s initiative to promote climate-smart agriculture (CSA), particularly for beef, dairy, wheat, rice, and specialty crops. This project will develop the tools and approaches necessary to catalyze change by: equipping and training technical service providers for CSA implementation, creating transition finance incentives for producers, and developing a robust and self-sustaining marketplace for climate-smart commodities.\n\n$30,000,000 for the New England Forestry Foundation\u2019s New England Climate-Smart Forest Partnership Project. This project will implement forest management practices with large commercial producers and smaller woodlot owners to store more carbon in the forest, quantify the resulting carbon gains, and build markets for climate-smart forest products to store carbon in wood products and substitute wood products for fossil fuel-based materials.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to the Maine Delegation for their support of our project,\u201d said Alec Giffen with the New England Forestry Foundation. \u201cIn our view, this is a transformational opportunity to pay landowners and loggers for practices that will both mitigate climate change and improve productivity of the land while benefitting wildlife.\u201d\n\nFunding for other projects that cover multiple states, including Maine, and will support Maine farmers include:\n\n$90,000,000 for a project that will leverage a network of 3,000 conservation districts throughout the nation to grow and advance grassroots efforts to ensure producers and local communities are prepared to meet the demand and have access to climate-smart commodity markets.\n\n$60,000,000 for a project that will build climate-smart markets and increase capital investments in tree planting that will increase the supply of agroforestry commodities utilizing a network of leaders in forestry. Working directly with manufacturers and retailers to connect potential buyers with producers.\n\n$55,000,000 for a project that will bring together 20 farming and agroforestry organizations, serving over 20,000 small to mid-scale and underserved farmers who are uniquely impacted by climate change. The project will include soil health and financial benchmark community science; peer-to-peer learning and support; expanded implementation of climate-smart practices; carbon benefits calculation and verification; and, income stream innovations that result in increased sales from farms and forest lands that use and promote climate-smart practices.\n\n$45,000,000 for a project that will help dairy farmers reduce methane emissions and sequester carbon while receiving credit for doing so. Through this project, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) climate-smart pilots will directly connect the on-farm greenhouse gas reductions with the low-carbon dairy market opportunity. DFA will use its cooperative business model to ensure that the collective financial benefits are captured at the farm, creating a compelling opportunity to establish a powerful self-sustaining circular economy model benefiting U.S. agriculture.\n\n$35,000,000 for a multi-year project that will pilot, test, and evaluate how the supply chain can be optimized for value and climate performance from farm and ranch to markets, starting with the greenhouse gas benefits of grazing systems.\n\n$25,000,000 for a project to expand climate-smart markets and help finance partnerships and incentivize farmers to advance the Organic Valley Carbon Insetting Program. The funding will support two strategies to reduce supply chain emissions: mitigate GHG emissions and maximize opportunities for carbon sequestration, focusing specifically on dairy and eggs as the climate-smart commodities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/from-cyberthreats-to-hypersonics-senator-king-urges-top-dod-nuclear-nominee-to-address-evolving-threats", "From Cyberthreats to Hypersonics, Senator King Urges Top DOD Nuclear Nominee to Address Evolving Threats", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch Senator King\u2019s questioning HERE, and download broadcast quality HERE\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, today urged the Pentagon\u2019s top nuclear nominee to ensure the United States\u2019 nuclear arsenal and deterrents are adapting to confront evolving threats. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, King questioned U.S. Air Force General Anthony Cotton, nominee to be Commander of United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM), on the growing challenge posed by hypersonic missiles and cyberattacks \u2013 stressing the importance of STRATCOM staying ahead of the 21st century weapons. Senator King, Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, specifically asks General Cotton to routinely test their systems for cyber weakness, a process known as \u201cred teaming.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnother area of strategic change has happened in the last four or five years, and that is hypersonics,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWe've thought of strategic forces as nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence. Hypersonics are a new threat that is a strategic threat, particularly, for example, the Chinese putting a hypersonic glide vehicle in orbit, which radically changes things like how much time we might have to react to an attack. Do you view hypersonics as a serious strategic challenge?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator I do, and I see it as a warning challenge,\u201d replied General Cotton. \u201cI think as far as when we have a conversation, if confirmed, I think my fellow combatant commanders will have to have a discussion and understand how to kind of relook missile defense, relook missile warning, understand what a sensor layer looks like that can achieve those effects to give time, because I need to give decision space to the decision maker.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, I think it's safe to say that the bullet on bullet theory of missile defense is out the window when you're talking about hypersonics,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cAnother area is cyber. You've talked about it. You've indicated how important it is, particularly with [nuclear command, control, and communications]. Will you commit to red teaming and pen-testing and hackers for hire to test the security of the systems that you're developing? I don't think you really know how secure you are until somebody attacks you. And I hope, I want it to be a friendly attack.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, if confirmed, that would be one of the first directions I would give to the [National Intelligence Council],\u201d affirmed General Cotton.\n\n+++\n\nContinuing his questioning, Senator King also highlighted the increasing threat of nuclear non-state actors who are not dissuaded by typical nuclear deterrents and asked General Cotton to carefully evaluate the nightmare scenario.\n\n\u201cA new strategic challenge or a different strategic challenge and I don't expect really an answer, but perhaps you could consider this for the record. That is non-state actors with nuclear weapons,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe deterrent theory doesn't work if you don't have a capital city and if you don't care about dying, and we have a proliferation of nuclear weapons and we have rogue states developing nuclear weapons and nuclear materials, the chances of those materials falling into the hands of a terrorist organization, it seems to me, are increasing gradually but steadily. I hope you will give this some thought, because it's a major strategic challenge that doesn't fit within the ambit of what has been our historic deterrence strategy for dealing with nuclear threats.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-celebrates-historic-confirmation-of-maine-resident-as-nations-first-cyber-ambassador", "King Celebrates \u201cHistoric\u201d Confirmation of Maine Resident as Nation\u2019s First Cyber Ambassador", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "BRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King, Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), today applauded the Senate\u2019s unanimous confirmation of Cape Elizabeth resident Nathaniel Fick to be the State\u2019s Department\u2019s first -ever Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. In the role, which was recommended by the CSC, Fick will coordinate America\u2019s international response to cyberthreats and shifting cyber dynamics. Senator King previously introduced Ambassador Fick to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and urged his urgent confirmation.\n\n\u201cToday, with the confirmation of Cape Elizabeth\u2019s Nate Fick, the United States has taken a historic, long overdue step to address our rapidly-changing cyber environment. With Ambassador Fick coordinating our global cyberdiplomacy, America will be better positioned to respond to growing threats, inform the development of global rules of engagement, and create desperately needed international norms for cyber,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur country has lagged behind in shaping policies beyond our shores to defend us in this war without borders. I hope that ends today. This unanimous confirmation is a testament to the importance of the role and to Nate\u2019s impressive qualifications. I look forward to seeing the Ambassador\u2019s work, and to our continued partnership on the cyber issues facing our country.\u201d\n\nNathaniel Fick is a Cape Elizabeth, Maine resident and was previously the general manager of Elastic Security, where he led Elastic\u2019s information security business. He also served as CEO of Endgame, a cybersecurity software company, from 2012 through its acquisition by Elastic in 2019. Fast Company magazine named him one of the One Hundred Most Creative People in Business, and under his leadership, Forbes selected Endgame as one of the one hundred best cloud companies in the world. Fick started his career as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry and reconnaissance officer, including combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fick holds a BA in classics from Dartmouth College, an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.\n\nThe Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) began operations in April 2022 after its creation was recommended by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The Bureau leads and coordinates the State Department\u2019s work on cyberspace and digital diplomacy. Fick is the first Ambassador at Large for the Bureau where he will now build on the CDP\u2019s work to encourage responsible state behavior in cyberspace and advance policies that protect the integrity and security the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cornyn-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-keep-national-defenses-on-cutting-edge-of-technology", "King, Cornyn, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Keep National Defenses on \u201cCutting Edge\u201d of Technology", "2022-09-15", "2022", "2022-09", "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-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced bipartisan legislation to help keep America\u2019s national defenses keep up with rapidly changing technologies. The American Defense Programs, Logistics, and Acquisitions for our Nation\u2019s Security (American Defense PLANS) Act would study the Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) acquisition and modernization efforts and create recommendations for how DOD programs can continue to modernize with evolving defense challenges.\n\n\u201cTechnology wins wars. From the long bow at the Battle of Agincourt to nuclear weapons in World War Two, technological advancements frequently turn the tides of battle and define conflicts,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs America faces growing threats from global adversaries like Russia and China, our defense technology must keep up with the times, and prevent our enemies from gaining a competitive advantage. This bipartisan bill will help the Department of Defense stay on the cutting edge of rapidly-evolving capabilities, keep our warfighters well equipped, and make sure our nation is ready to address any potential threat. It\u2019s a critical step in keeping America safe \u2013 and without it, I fear we could someday pay the price.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring America has the most technologically advanced military in the world is a matter of survival, plain and simple,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cBy seeking out recommendations for modernizing our military, we work towards making sure our national defense is well-positioned for success in this rapidly-changing threat environment.\u201d\n\nIn order for the United States to match threats posed by China and Russia, Department of Defense (DOD) programs and acquisitions need to keep pace with rapidly-changing critical defense technologies and evolving adversary capabilities. The American Defense PLANS Act legislation directs the Office of the Secretary of Defense to conduct an outside study of DOD programs to make recommendations for how these programs and acquisitions can keep up with an shifting technological landscape. The study would be led by independent organizations that are established leaders in national security and technology.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-25-million-to-strengthen-maines-forest-economy", "Collins, King Announce Nearly $2.5 Million to Strengthen Maine\u2019s Forest Economy", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "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 today announced $2,498,588 in federal funding to strengthen Maine\u2019s forest products sector and expand markets for the industry. The investment from the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Wood Innovations Grant and Community Wood Grant programs will help four businesses across the state invest in high-demand 21st century forest products like cross-laminated timber, new pine resources, and wood biomass fuels. The funding was requested by Senators Collins and King earlier this year and builds on the work of the state\u2019s Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR/Maine) Initiative, which has worked to expand economic opportunities for the forest products industry.\n\n\u201cThe future of Maine\u2019s forest products industry is bright. With new technologies like cross-laminated timber and biomass energy, the historic sector has a chance to overcome the obstacles of the last few decades and restore jobs in our state\u2019s logging communities,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis new funding from the Forest Service will build on the momentum of the Maine forest industry\u2019s comeback and provide critical support to four innovative companies that are finding new customers for our high-quality wood products. It\u2019ll mean more jobs, more economic growth, and more Maine products around the globe. We\u2019re proud to have supported this investment and look forward to seeing its impact in partnership with the FOR/Maine Initiative.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are very excited to receive this grant and are grateful for the Senators\u2019 continued support of Robbins Lumber and Maine\u2019s forest products industry in general,\u201d said Alden Robbins, Vice President of Robbins Lumber and Chairman of the North Eastern Lumber Manufacturers Association. \u201cThis grant will be instrumental in getting the maximum value out of the White Pine resource, keeping Maine manufactured lumber competitive in the global market, and retaining good paying, foundational jobs in our area.\u201d\n\nWood Innovations Grants are being awarded as follows:\n\n$250,000 for Dirigo Center Developers in Westbrook to build a cross-laminated timber tower and retail demonstration that will expand markets for Maine\u2019s new forest products.\n\n$250,000 for Maine Woods Company in Portage to generate high-efficiency steam energy from wood biomass.\n\nCommunity Wood Grants are being awarded as follows:\n\n$998,588 for Standard Biocarbon Corporation in Enfield for two PYREG pyrolysis units that can produce wood biomass for use in steam kilns.\n\n$1,000,000 for Robbins Lumber in Searsmont to help them maximize the forest product opportunities of White Pine through advanced value-based scanning.\n\nThe U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Wood Innovations Grant and Community Wood Grant programs work with state and local partners to support projects that reduce fuels, improve forest health, reduce forest management costs, and promote the economic and environmental health of communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kings-office-presents-south-bristol-veteran-unreceived-medals-for-honorable-service", "King\u2019s Office Presents South Bristol Veteran Unreceived Medals for Honorable Service", "2022-09-14", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "AUGUSTA, ME \u2013 Today, a Constituent Service Representative for U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) presented South Bristol resident and U.S. Army veteran Michael Cunningham unreceived medals from his service in Vietnam. Mr. Cunningham served in the Army from 1969-1971 including in combat in Vietnam and Cambodia where he earned high honors for his valor and exemplary service.\n\nSenator King\u2019s Constituent Service Representative provides Michael Cunningham his service medals\n\n\u201cMichael Cunningham served his nation with bravery, valor, and distinction. The medals he earned are a testament to this extraordinary service, and an important physical representation of the debt of gratitude he is owed by all Americans,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful for Michael\u2019s service, and glad we could award him the medals he earned.\u201d\n\nMichael Cunningham received the following medals for his service:\n\nBronze Star Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster\n\nAir Medal\n\nArmy Commendation Medal\n\nNational Defense Service Medal\n\nVietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars\n\nRepublic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon\n\nMr. Cunningham earned the medals in the Vietnam War, but did not receive them until today due a shortage of medals available in Vietnam.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-on-senate-floor-permitting-reform-needed-to-reach-clean-energy-future", "King on Senate Floor: Permitting Reform Needed to Reach Clean Energy Future", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today delivered a forceful speech on the Senate Floor explaining the need for pragmatic, realistic, and rapid permitting reform to reach America\u2019s clean energy goals \u2013 calling on energy and environmental organizations to break free of entrenched stances. In his comprehensive address, where he detailed his decades of experience in renewable energy and conservation, he cited the words of Abraham Lincoln in seeking to reset the tone in DC, \u201cwe must disenthrall ourselves \u2026 and we will save the planet.\u201d\n\nKing began his speech by highlighting four key lessons he learned from his decades of experience in the renewable energy industry:\n\n\u201cI learned some lessons when I was working in the field of developing alternative or renewable energy. The most important lesson is there\u2019s no free lunch when it comes to energy. There are always costs and benefits. There are always impacts that some people think are terrific, other people think are not so good. There are always trade-offs,\u201d Senator King began. \u201cThe second lesson I learned is that you may have global goals, renewable energy, but local impacts, and you often have a controversy about a particular project. The third thing I learned is that change is hard. Everybody\u2019s for progress, nobody\u2019s for change. Change is difficult, whether it\u2019s for a local community, a state, or a nation.\n\n\u201cThe fourth thing, permitting is hard,\u201d added Senator King. \u201cPeople have to understand that this is a major, a major change that\u2019s going to require trade-offs, that\u2019s going to require us to make decisions and to understand, again, to go back to my basic premise, there\u2019s no free lunch.\u201d\n\nHe continued by laying out the serious threats of climate change, and the challenge that presents the country:\n\n\u201cWe are now undertaking the largest and most far-reaching energy transition in human history,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cThe transition to fossil fuels took about 150 years, going back to around 1800. You can see the graph, it goes up, but we really got into the real heart of the fossil fuel economy in the mid-20th century \u2013 150 years. We\u2019re talking about transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewables over 15 years. Not 150, but 15. We have to grasp that this is an enormous undertaking, and it\u2019s going to involve change.\n\n\u201cSo, we are literally in a race with climate change. That\u2019s why it\u2019s going to have to happen in the next 10, 15, 20 years, because the consequences of not doing it are catastrophic, and we\u2019re already seeing that. I think that we\u2019ve reached a point where most Americans realize that climate change is real. The fishermen in Maine know it. The loggers know it. The farmers know it. The people who work with the land and the sea and the atmosphere understand what\u2019s happening. They see it. The animals know it. They know what\u2019s happening. And that\u2019s why we have to make this transition. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we make this transition, and it\u2019s got to be fast. We don\u2019t have time to do it for over 150 years, or even 50 years. It\u2019s a huge change. It\u2019s going to involve dislocation, and it\u2019s going to involve trade-offs.\u201d\n\nSenator King went on to explain how the clean energy and climate challenge is only possible with tradeoffs:\n\n\u201cHowever, and this is what I want to really stress, you can\u2019t be in favor of electrification, you can\u2019t be in favor of renewable power, you can\u2019t be in favor of electric vehicles if you\u2019re not in favor of mining the lithium that you need for the batteries. Or covering a lot of farmers\u2019 fields with solar panels. You can\u2019t have those things without paying a price,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIt would be nice if you could. I would love it if I could wave a wand and say we\u2019re going to get rid of fossil fuels and we\u2019re going to have an all-renewable future. Yes, I want that. But we have to recognize that in order to get there, there are some things we have to do that, heretofore, we really haven\u2019t been very likely to like.\n\n\u201cGeography is a problem. Technology is a problem. This will require trade-offs. But we have to keep in mind that we\u2019re talking about a global goal. We\u2019re talking about literally saving the Earth, but we have to understand that there are going to be costs to do so.\u201d\n\nThe Senator concluded his remarks with a direct appeal to the environmental community, urging them support the necessary tradeoffs to fight climate change:\n\n\u201cHistorically, and if you go back to the beginning of the environmental movement in the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s and lord help me, I was there, the environmental movement was about stopping things. The environmental movement began with a proposed oil refinery on our coast. People wanted to stop it because they didn\u2019t think it was the appropriate place. But if you think about that, a lot of the environmental movement has been about stopping things, stopping projects, stopping highways, stopping whatever. What we have to do now is think about facilitating getting things done in order to get to the renewable future that we want,\u201d emphasized Senator King. \u201cI\u2019m not saying lower the standards, but I\u2019m saying the process itself should not be used as a weapon to undermine projects that are necessary to achieve our ultimate climate goal.\u201d\n\n\u201cLincoln said \u2018the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty. Therefore, we must rise with the occasion. As our cases new, we also must think anew and act anew.\u2019 And then here\u2019s the key line, \u2018we must disenthrall ourselves,\u2019 Lincoln said, \u2018and then we shall save our country.\u2019 We must disenthrall ourselves and save our country. It means think in new and different ways, let go of the way you thought about these kinds of issues in the past. Disenthrall ourselves, Mr. President, and then we shall save our planet,\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has advocated for climate solutions that support Maine communities and has been one of the Senate\u2019s most vocal advocates for improving energy technologies and development as a way to unlock America\u2019s clean energy future. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is also among the Senate\u2019s loudest voices advocating for conserving public lands and encouraging outdoor recreation. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act \u2013 a bill led by Senator King \u2013 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act. Over the course of his time in the Blaine House, Governor King was responsible for conserving more land across Maine than all Governors before him combined.\n\nSenator King\u2019s full speech can be watched HERE and a transcript can be read below.\n\n+++\n\nThis is an unusual set of comments for me because I will start out with personal history which I hope will make sense in terms of what I want to address. I started working in the alternative energy industry in 1983. When I say industry, actually very small company developing hydro projects in Maine and New England. We then worked on biomass projects. Later on, worked on wind power. And also the development of large-scale conservation. My professional life has largely been occupied with energy, and particularly with renewable energy.\n\nAt the same time, I have a deep history in Maine in environmental matters. I represented the environmental community in Maine before the Maine legislature in the 1970\u2019s \u2013 if you can believe anybody around here was still doing things in the 1970s. I also as Governor was very active in conservation matters and am proud to say during my eight years as Governor of Maine we put aside and set into conservation and protection status more land than in the prior 175-year history of Maine combined. This has been a passion of mine, the protection of the environment, for my entire life.\n\nSo, history of renewable energy development and also environmental advocacy. I learned some lessons when I was working in the field of developing alternative or renewable energy. The most important lesson is there\u2019s no free lunch when it comes to energy. There are always costs and benefits. There are always impacts that some people think are terrific, other people think are not so good. There are always trade-offs. In fact, I will never forget going to hearings on hydro projects and having people object, saying \u2018we like hydro but not on our river, not on this side. By the way, we don\u2019t really think you should be ruining the rivers. Why don\u2019t you go do wind power?\u2019 Low and behold, 20 years later, I worked in the area of wind development, wind power, and people came to our hearings and said, \u2018we don\u2019t really need to spoil the view in our mountains, do more hydro.\u2019 I\u2019m not making that up, Mr. President. I actually lived that kind of sort of conflict.\n\nThe second lesson I learned is that you may have global goals, renewable energy, but local impacts, and you often have a controversy about a particular project. The third thing I learned is that change is hard. Everybody\u2019s for progress, nobody\u2019s for change. Change is difficult, whether it\u2019s for a local community, a state, or a nation.\n\nThe fourth thing, permitting is hard. Getting permits for renewable energy projects were lengthy, time-consuming and expensive. This was a serious learning that I had during this period, that if you want to develop even the most beneficial project, you\u2019re going to have to go through an often arduous permitting process, and somebody isn\u2019t going to like it. Always will be trade-offs.\n\nThese were sporadic, small projects, and indeed in New England today, and I just checked this morning, about 10% of our electricity comes from renewables. This is after almost 40 years of development of these projects \u2013 about 10%. We\u2019re now talking about a transition in energy to fully renewable future. Well, if you do the math that means 10 times the amount of renewable energy development that we\u2019ve done in the last 40 years, in the next 10 to 15 years.\n\nPeople have to understand that this is a major, a major change that\u2019s going to require trade-offs, that\u2019s going to require us to make decisions and to understand, again, to go back to my basic premise, there\u2019s no free lunch.\n\nWe are now undertaking the largest and most far-reaching energy transition in human history. The transition to fossil fuels took about 150 years, going back to around 1800. You can see the graph, it goes up, but we really got into the real heart of the fossil fuel economy in the mid-20th century \u2013 150 years. We\u2019re talking about transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewables over 15 years. Not 150, but 15. We have to grasp that this is an enormous undertaking, and it\u2019s going to involve change.\n\nSo, we are literally in a race with climate change. That\u2019s why it\u2019s going to have to happen in the next 10, 15, 20 years, because the consequences of not doing it are catastrophic, and we\u2019re already seeing that. I think that we\u2019ve reached a point where most Americans realize that climate change is real. The fishermen in Maine know it. The loggers know it. The farmers know it. The people who work with the land and the sea and the atmosphere understand what\u2019s happening. They see it. The animals know it. They know what\u2019s happening. And that\u2019s why we have to make this transition. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that we make this transition, and it\u2019s got to be fast. We don\u2019t have time to do it for over 150 years, or even 50 years. It\u2019s a huge change. It\u2019s going to involve dislocation, and it\u2019s going to involve trade-offs.\n\nThat\u2019s really the question that I want to address today. There\u2019s broad agreement, I believe, that we need change, that we need to develop responses to the global climate change crisis. There\u2019s certainly agreement in the environmental community, as far as that question is concerned. There\u2019s nobody in the environmental community that I know that doubts climate change or doubts the necessity of taking dramatic action to meet it. Climate change is as real as it gets, and we have to address it. How do we address it? Non-fossil fuel electrification. If we do that, we can address the CO2.\n\nWe\u2019re talking about emissions of CO2. Is it a problem? Well, the average over the past million years of CO2 in the atmosphere is about 280 parts-per-million. It varies up and down. People say it\u2019s a natural cycle. Yeah, it varies up and down about 250, 300 parts-per-million. It\u2019s now at about 420 parts-per-million it\u2019s gone up 20 in the last two, three years. The last time we were over 400 parts-per-million of CO2 in the atmosphere, the oceans were 60 feet higher. We are in uncharted territory in human history right now, and we have to deal with it, and we have to deal with it in a hurry.\n\nWhere\u2019s all that CO2 coming from? Well, here\u2019s a rough breakdown of the CO2 budget, about 30% from the generation of electricity \u2013 30% to 35%. Another 30% to 35% from transportation, the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles. The last 30% to 35% comes from space heat and industrial use. So that\u2019s the budget we have to deal with. How do we tackle that? Electronification with electricity from renewable sources.\n\nIf you have an electric vehicle and you\u2019re feeling really good about saving the environment, you\u2019re not saving the environment if the power for that electric vehicle comes from fossil fuels. You\u2019re saving the environment if the power for that electric vehicle comes from renewables. So that\u2019s what we\u2019re talking about. But there are problems with renewables. Remember, I said I worked in the wind power business. The wind doesn\u2019t blow all the time. The sun doesn\u2019t shine all the time. The term is intermittency. That\u2019s the issue, that\u2019s the issue with renewables, is intermittency, the fact that there has to be something to supply power when the sun doesn\u2019t shine, the wind doesn\u2019t blow. The answer to that is storage.\n\nMr. President, the real green new deal is energy storage. If we can solve that problem in a cost-effective way, then we really can have a realistic, all-renewable future, because what you have with energy storage plus renewables is essentially baseload power without CO2, and that\u2019s really the direction that we\u2019re moving in.\n\nHowever, and this is what I want to really stress, you can\u2019t be in favor of electrification, you can\u2019t be in favor of renewable power, you can\u2019t be in favor of electric vehicles if you\u2019re not in favor of mining the lithium that you need for the batteries. Or covering a lot of farmers\u2019 fields with solar panels. You can\u2019t have those things without paying a price. It would be nice if you could. I would love it if I could wave a wand and say we\u2019re going to get rid of fossil fuels and we\u2019re going to have an all-renewable future. Yes, I want that. But we have to recognize that in order to get there, there are some things we have to do that, heretofore, we really haven\u2019t been very likely to like.\n\nOne of the other issues is renewable power is a lot of the renewable power is in places where there aren\u2019t people. So we have to get that renewable power to the places where there are people. You know what that means? Transmission, new transmission lines, new rights of way. People aren\u2019t going to be too crazy about that, but you can\u2019t have a renewable energy future without having transmission. And you can\u2019t have a renewable energy future without having batteries or some storage technology that, chances are, is going to require minerals and Earth minerals that you have to mine.\n\nGeography is a problem. Technology is a problem. This will require trade-offs. But we have to keep in mind that we\u2019re talking about a global goal. We\u2019re talking about literally saving the Earth, but we have to understand that there are going to be costs to do so.\n\nSo, let\u2019s talk about permitting. One of my favorite stories is when God came to Moses and said, Moses, I have good news and bad news. Moses says, \u2018God, give me the good news.\u2019 God says, \u2018I\u2019m going to empower you to part the waters of the Red Sea, allow my people to go free, then have the waters come back and inundate the Pharaoh\u2019s army.\u2019\n\nMoses says, \u2018that\u2019s wonderful, God. What\u2019s the bad news?\u2019 God says, \u2018you have to prepare the environmental impact statement.\u2019 We\u2019ve got to understand that permitting it is part of the process of going to a renewable future. Now, when I was governor of Maine I had a very clear policy \u2013 no diminution, no cutting, no cutting corners of environmental standards, but I wanted the most timely and predictable environmental permitting process in the country.\n\nI don\u2019t think those two things are in any way mutually exclusive. When I talk here and work with my colleagues here about permitting reform, I\u2019m talking, we\u2019re talking, about the process, not the standards. We\u2019re not talking about lowering the standards, saying you can emit more or you don\u2019t have to meet clean water standards. I sit at Edmund Muskie\u2019s desk in my office. Lightning would strike me if I was lowering the water quality or air quality standards. But we\u2019ve got to talk about a process that\u2019s timely and predictable \u2013 predictable.\n\nThe estimates are that to permit a mine in this country takes about ten years, about ten years. Mr. President, we don\u2019t have ten years to spend on a permitting process if we\u2019re going to solve this problem in time to save the country and the planet. We\u2019ve got to figure out how to do this in a more timely way.\n\nHow are we going to do it? I don\u2019t know the details of the various discussions that are going on here, but I have some thoughts that I\u2019ve suggested to Senator Manchin and others. One is one-stop shopping. You shouldn\u2019t have to go to five agencies. Go to one agency in charge of the permitting process and let them lead it. Don\u2019t make the applicant go to five, six, seven different agencies.\n\nSecondly, deadlines, real deadlines, deadlines that mean something. So that the agencies, if it says 180 days, they\u2019ve got to have a decision in 180 days. Eisenhower retook Europe in 11 months. There\u2019s no reason that we can\u2019t get decisions out of some of these agencies in less than a year. So deadlines and reasonable time frames, I think, is part of this process. Accelerated appeal process, where an appeal from an environmental decision on a renewable energy project or related to a renewable energy future can go to the courts, get a fair hearing, but in a timely basis, not go through a long process that takes, again, years.\n\nAnother suggestion I have, this goes back to my experience of working on renewable energy projects, there should be credit given for the nature of the project you\u2019re doing. In other words, if you\u2019re doing a project that is going to contribute to the solution of the problem of global climate change, you shouldn\u2019t be treated as a strip mall. Some weight should be given to the import and the value, the environmental value of the project vis-\u00e0-vis the incidental environmental cost and I could be criticized for using the word incidental but the small costs that may be involved in getting there.\n\nI think that\u2019s got to be how we approach this whole permitting question. So why am I here today? I\u2019m here today to talk to my friends in the environmental community. And I do mean friends, people I\u2019ve worked with all my life. To have them change the way they think about the environmental process and what they have conventionally and historically thought about this kind of action.\n\nHistorically, and if you go back to the beginning of the environmental movement in the 60\u2019s and 70\u2019s and lord help me, I was there, the environmental movement was about stopping things. The environmental movement began with a proposed oil refinery on our coast. People wanted to stop it because they didn\u2019t think it was the appropriate place. But if you think about that, a lot of the environmental movement has been about stopping things, stopping projects, stopping highways, stopping whatever. What we have to do now is think about facilitating getting things done in order to get to the renewable future that we want.\n\nI think that\u2019s a very, very important way to look at this process. You can\u2019t be for EVs if you\u2019re against mining lithium. Let me give you just a couple of numbers on what I\u2019m talking about. Copper \u2013 remember I talked about transmission \u2013 copper, copper wires to transmit electricity. The estimate is we\u2019re going to need as much copper annually by 2050 as has been mined in the entire prior history of the world. One year we\u2019re going to need that much.\n\nThe estimate is that in order to achieve our climate goals, we\u2019re going to have to triple, triple the grid, the wires, the rights of way, the towers, the grid infrastructure has to be tripled in order to absorb the new and transmitted and distribute the new energy that\u2019s going to be needed. If you have electric vehicles, you\u2019re going to need more wires to get the power. That\u2019s going to be a huge increase. Between doubling and tripling is the estimate of the strength of the grid.\n\nThe international energy agency, not me and not some commercial group, but the international energy agency \u2013 says that by 2040 \u2013 that\u2019s not that long from now, barely over 15 years, we\u2019re going to need 42 times the amount of lithium that we have; 25 times more graphite; 21 times more cobalt; 19 times more nickel, 7 times more rare earth elements.\n\nWe have two choices, Mr. President. We can buy those things from other countries, particularly countries that may be potential adversaries. Do we really want to be dependent on China for this kind of essential material to our environmental future? I don\u2019t think so. But if we\u2019re going to say we don\u2019t want to import it, we\u2019ve got to get it out of the ground here. And we can\u2019t spend ten years deciding it.\n\nI\u2019m not saying lower the standards, but I\u2019m saying the process itself should not be used as a weapon to undermine projects that are necessary to achieve our ultimate climate goal.\n\nMr. President, this is a change. This is a change of thinking that\u2019s required by the reality that we face. And I\u2019m here because I want to face that reality. I want to do something about climate change. I want to take the action that\u2019s necessary, not token actions but the real deal. But it\u2019s going to involve these enormous commitments of time, effort, and money and also our understanding particularly in the environmental community that there\u2019s no free lunch.\n\nOn December 2, 1862, Abraham Lincoln came to this congress to talk about the progress of the Civil War. His problem was that the Congress was being the Congress. They were doing politics, and they really he didn\u2019t feel were taking it seriously or understood the massive change that was sweeping over the country. And at the end of that speech, the afternoon of December 2, 1862, Abraham Lincoln gave what I think is still the best analysis of how you deal with change that I\u2019ve ever encountered. And I think it applies exactly in this situation.\n\nLincoln said \u2018the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty. Therefore, we must rise with the occasion. As our cases new, we also must think anew and act anew.\u2019 And then here\u2019s the key line, \u2018we must disenthrall ourselves,\u2019 Lincoln said, \u2018and then we shall save our country.\u2019 We must disenthrall ourselves and save our country. It means think in new and different ways, let go of the way you thought about these kinds of issues in the past. Disenthrall ourselves, Mr. President, and then we shall save our planet.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-presses-fisheries-agency-for-fair-treatment-of-maine-lobster-fishery", "Maine Delegation Presses Fisheries Agency for Fair Treatment of Maine Lobster Fishery", "2022-09-13", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 After the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) gave lobster industry participants just two business days to submit proposals for a new risk reduction plan to protect right whales and denied lobstermen and their allies access to a key data tool, Maine\u2019s congressional delegation pushed back today against these decisions by the agency.\n\nIn their letter to NMFS, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) called out the agency for drastically accelerating the timeline for proposals in the aftermath of a recent decision by the U.S. District Court invalidating a biological opinion for the North Atlantic Right Whale.\n\n\u201cNMFS should not prioritize expediency when doing so compromises the very survival of Maine\u2019s lobster fishery. This approach will also undermine stakeholder faith in the process and may ultimately yield a new regulatory framework that does not provide additional protections for right whales while potentially shutting down the entire lobster industry,\u201d wrote the members of Congress.\n\nThe Maine delegation also urged NMFS to provide immediate access to the Decision Support Tool (DST), a data model used by the agency to determine how much risk is associated with a specific state or fishery, to state fisheries regulators and industry members.\n\n\u201cGiven the DST will be used to determine future regulatory actions by your agency on the lobster fishery,\u201d continued the Members of Congress. \u201cWe strongly urge you to make it available to stakeholders immediately or change the timeline of the scoping period to ensure that state fisheries regulators and industry have had time to contemplate measures using the DST to identify proposals that protect right whales and preserve the lobster fishery.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-bill-to-replenish-americas-defense-weaponry-replace-arms-sent-to-ukraine", "King Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Replenish America\u2019s Defense Weaponry, Replace Arms Sent to Ukraine", "2022-09-12", "2022", "2022-09", "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, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to rapidly replenish stockpiles of weapons and defense technologies provided to Ukraine. The Securing American Acquisitions, Readiness, and Military Stockpiles Act (Securing American ARMS Act), would give the Department of Defense (DOD) enhanced procurement authorities to refill America\u2019s stocks of artillery, anti-tank weapons, and other systems that are being used to support Ukraine in their fight against Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion. The bill is an important effort to ensure the United States can defend itself against all threats, while also aiding Ukraine\u2019s defense against Vladimir Putin\u2019s barbaric war.\n\n\u201cWith an Arsenal of Democracy from the free world, Ukraine\u2019s brave armed forces are repelling Russia\u2019s unprovoked invasion and thwarting Putin\u2019s delusions of a new Soviet Union. It\u2019s imperative the United States has the necessary weapons stockpiles to continue supporting Ukraine, while also ensuring our country is fully equipped to address the global threat landscape we face,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bipartisan Securing American ARMS Act would give the Department of Defense the rapid procurement tools they need to both maintain our own defenses and aid allies like Ukraine. It\u2019s a commonsense step to improve our national security, support the industrial base, and further stymie Putin\u2019s empire-building ambitions. I\u2019m glad the bill has already received broad, bipartisan support, and hope we can get it passed quickly.\u201d\n\nThe Securing American ARMS Act would amend the DOD\u2019s emergency acquisition authorities to allow them to use non-competitive procedures to quickly award a contract in order to replenish defense article stocks sent to an ally or partner after an attack by a foreign adversary of the U.S. While the DOD can use expedited procedures to speed up defense procurement in certain situations, backfilling depleted stockpiles is not one of them. This legislation lays out an exemption to permit the DOD to expedite the acquisitions process and decrease the time it takes to send aid in case of such an attack, subject to the following conditions:\n\nThis authority can only be used when the U.S. is not a party to hostilities;\n\nThe defense articles procured via this authority must be like the articles that spent from U.S. stocks;\n\nThis authority may also be used for contracting for the movement or delivery of defense articles transferred from the U.S. to an ally or partner;\n\nAnd DOD must report to Congress within one week after deciding to use the authority.\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-anniversary-of-september-11th-attacks", "King Statement On Anniversary of September 11th Attacks", "2022-09-11", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "BRUNSWICK, ME. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on the 21st anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks:\n\n\u201cTwenty-one years ago, on September 11th, 2001, a heinous act of political violence took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans, and the nightmare of terrorism struck our nation,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAcross the country, we watched together in horror as everyday Americans simply going about their daily business were targeted. It was one of the darkest days our nation has ever faced, but also one that showed the strength, values, and resilience of our people. As these vicious zealots sought to tear apart our nation and intimidate our people, the essence of America shone through \u2013 with countless undertaking heroic efforts to help their countrymen in need.\n\n\u201cToday, we must remember all those who were lost on that terrible morning: from everyday New Yorkers and Pentagon workers, to the brave first responders and passengers of Flight 93 who sacrificed their lives to save thousands when it mattered most. In recent months, America continued to demonstrate the endurance of our response, and brought justice to one of the last living conspirators of the attack.\n\n\u201cI also hope we can use this day to reflect on the shared values that make us Americans, and the national unity that shone so brightly in the aftermath of these attacks. Twenty-one years ago, we banded together to as a nation to reject hate, division, and fear \u2013 with the deep divisions we face at this moment in time, I believe we can do it once again.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/seafood-watch-reverse", "Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills Call on Seafood Watch to Immediately Reverse Lobster Red List Designation or Provide Evidence to Back Claims", "2022-09-09", "2022", "2022-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 Senator Angus King, Governor Janet Mills, Senator Susan Collins, and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden are calling on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to immediately reverse the controversial listing of Maine lobster on their seafood \u201cRed List\u201d and to remedy the significant harm they have already caused the iconic industry. In a letter to the Aquarium\u2019s board led by Senator King, the Maine leaders highlight the significant factual omissions of Seafood Watch\u2019s lobster report, criticize the organization for holding the Maine lobster industry to an impossible \u201cguilty until proven innocent\u201d standard, and call for answers on several key questions.\n\n\u201cThe recent decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to \u201cRed List\u201d Maine lobster with scant evidence of impacts on right whales is a reckless piece of activism that will inflict substantial negative real-world consequences on an important and iconic industry in Maine,\u201d write the Maine Congressional Delegation and Governor Mills. \u201cIn a courtroom, we require evidence before convicting someone of a crime; but you are seeking to sentence Maine\u2019s lobstermen with conjecture, assumptions, and guesswork instead of hard facts. If anything, the publicly available facts rebut this aggressive action that will impact the livelihoods of thousands of people in Maine, and make it clear that you should immediately reverse the irresponsible designation.\u201d\n\nThe Maine leaders then lay out three key facts left out of Seafood Watch\u2019s \u201cRed List\u201d assessment:\n\nThere has not been a right whale entanglement with Maine lobster gear since 2004, and right whale deaths or serious injury have never been attributed to Maine lobster gear.\n\nThe majority of right whale deaths since 2017 have been due to vessel strikes in Canada. In fact, 23 of the 30 whales that died between 2017-2019 were found in Canadian waters or were a result of entanglement in Canadian fishing gear.\n\nThe Maine lobstering community has taken many measures, including eliminating all floating rope (the type of rope most likely to entangle whales) and removed more than 30,000 miles of line from the water, facts your report conveniently ignores.\n\n\u201cBy ignoring these clear facts, Seafood Watch isn\u2019t encouraging safe fishing; instead, you are damaging the reputation of your certification process by misleading consumers. There\u2019s an easy way to fix this \u2013 now that you\u2019ve seen the facts, reverse your decision and take lobster off the \u2018Red List,\u2019\u201d continued the Maine leaders.\n\nIf the decision is not reversed, the leaders call for answers on five key questions:\n\nHow does harming an already challenged lobstering community with little to no evidence of right whale entanglements promote the safety of right whales?\n\nMonterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s Seafood Watch listed Maine Lobster as a \u201cGood Alternative\u201d in 2014. Since then, the Maine Lobster fishery has implemented even more changes to protect right whales. Why does the new report fail to take these actions into consideration?\n\nClaiming that any fishery with rope in the water as an equal threat to right whales undermines efforts by Maine lobstermen to make gear safer, as well as Seafood Watch\u2019s purpose to distinguish between fisheries working to improve sustainability measures and those that aren\u2019t. Why does Seafood Watch use a blanket assessment rather than putting in the effort to be specific and accurate?\n\nIn presenting its pseudoscientific claims, why did Seafood Watch omit objective facts that would present a more comprehensive view of the reality?\n\nWhat steps is Seafood Watch prepared to take to remedy the significant harm they have already inflicted on the Maine lobster industry?\n\n\u201cIn any fair system of justice or public proceeding, it\u2019s required to provide evidence of wrongdoing before a verdict can be rendered \u2013 innocent until proven guilty. The process you have undertaken turns this principle on its head. How would you like to be the defendant in a process where the standard is guilty until proven innocent?\u201d the Maine leaders conclude. \u201cYou have appointed yourself Judge, Jury, and Executioner of the Maine lobster industry \u2013 ignoring clear facts, and not meeting even the most basic burden of proof before coming to a conclusion.\u201d\n\nYou can read the full letter HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nJennifer Dianto Kemmerly\n\nVice President of Global Ocean Initiatives\n\nMonterey Bay Aquarium\n\n886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940\n\nTo the Board of Monterey Bay Aquarium:\n\nThe recent decision by Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch to \u201cRed List\u201d Maine lobster with scant evidence of impacts on right whales is a reckless piece of activism that will inflict substantial negative real-world consequences on an important and iconic industry in Maine \u2013 which as noted in your report, is the single most valuable fishery in the United States.\n\nIf you are going to make claims that will do concrete harm to a proud, responsible industry, you should have \u2013 and present \u2013 concrete facts to support these claims; not assumptions, not inferences, not possibilities, but evidence. But as you admit in your report, \u201cdue to a lack of information, it is often not possible to assign entanglements to a specific fishery.\u201d[1]\n\nIn a courtroom, we require evidence before convicting someone of a crime; but you are seeking to sentence Maine\u2019s lobstermen with conjecture, assumptions, and guesswork instead of hard facts.\n\nIf anything, the publicly available facts rebut this aggressive action that will impact the livelihoods of thousands of people in Maine, and make it clear that you should immediately reverse the irresponsible designation:\n\nThere has not been a right whale entanglement with Maine lobster gear since 2004,[2] and right whale deaths or serious injury have never been attributed to Maine lobster gear.\n\nThe majority of right whale deaths since 2017 have been due to vessel strikes in Canada.[3] In fact, 23 of the 30 whales that died between 2017-2019 were found in Canadian waters or were a result of entanglement in Canadian fishing gear.\n\nThe Maine lobstering community has taken many measures, including eliminating all floating rope (the type of rope most likely to entangle whales) and removed an estimated 30,000 miles of line from the water,[4] facts your report conveniently ignores.\n\nYet, none of these demonstrable, objective facts were considered in Monterey Bay\u2019s Seafood Watch \u201cRed Listing\u201d decision.\n\nNot only that, your assessment fails to make the critical distinction between the Maine lobster fishery and Canadian fisheries. Since 2017, NOAA data has shown that the majority of mortalities in right whale population has been attributed to vessel strikes in Canada. These vessel strikes are not at the hand of the lobstermen in Maine.\n\nWith ocean waters continuing to warm due to climate change, the omission of this distinction becomes even more unacceptable. The overwhelming majority of lobsters caught in Maine come from outside of right whale critical habitat, which represents less than three percent of the overall risk to the species. Right whales have been chasing migrating feed north and spending more time in Canadian waters (the Gulf of St. Lawrence and into the Labrador Sea), and less in the waters used by Maine fishermen, but you chose to ignore this development in your assessment.\n\nMaine lobstermen have long been committed to environmentally conscious, sustainable fishing. Your evaluation ignores the work they have been taking with the Maine Department of Marine Resources since the 1990s to support the sustainably of several large whale species.\n\nAs part of ongoing collaboration with NOAA and other regulators, lobstermen have agreed to gear markings; implemented sinking ground lines; have moved to weaker lines; inserted \u201cweak links\u201d into vertical lines; and increased the size of their trawls to reduce the number of vertical lines in the water. Through these efforts, the Maine lobster fishery has removed an estimated 30,000 miles of line from the water in order to protect whale species.\n\nAccording to data collected by NOAA, these efforts have been effective, but it seems you just don\u2019t care. Out of the ten right whale entanglements in U.S. lobster gear from 1997 through 2017, for which the set location and type of gear are known, eight occurred before 2009 and the other two involved gear from Massachusetts that was successfully removed. In your report, you refused to take these efforts into account, saying that the \u201ceffects on mitigation of whale entanglement have yet to be determined.\u201d5 This overlooks the progress Maine lobstermen have made and is a sweeping, arbitrary assumption that all fisheries using lines and traps are a risk.\n\nBy ignoring these clear facts, Seafood Watch isn\u2019t encouraging safe fishing; instead, you are damaging the reputation of your certification process by misleading consumers. There\u2019s an easy way to fix this \u2013 now that you\u2019ve seen the facts, reverse your decision and take lobster off the \u201cRed List.\u201d\n\nIf not, you owe Maine people an explanation to several key questions about your harmful \u201cRed Listing\u201d decision:\n\nHow does harming an already challenged lobstering community with little to no evidence of right whale entanglements promote the safety of right whales?\n\nMonterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s Seafood Watch listed Maine Lobster as a \u201cGood Alternative\u201d in 2014. Since then, the Maine Lobster fishery has implemented even more changes to protect right whales. Why does the new report fail to take these actions into consideration?\n\nClaiming that any fishery with rope in the water as an equal threat to right whales undermines efforts by Maine lobstermen to make gear safer, as well as Seafood Watch\u2019s purpose to distinguish between fisheries working to improve sustainability measures and those that aren\u2019t. Why does Seafood Watch use a blanket assessment rather than putting in the effort to be specific and accurate?\n\nIn presenting its pseudoscientific claims, why did Seafood Watch omit objective facts that would present a more comprehensive view of the reality?\n\nWhat steps is Seafood Watch prepared to take to remedy the significant harm they have already inflicted on the Maine lobster industry?\n\nYour accusation that Maine lobstermen are to blame for the troubles of North Atlantic Right Whales is flat out wrong. Right whales are not dying in Maine lobster gear and the report blindly ignores everything that Maine lobstermen have done to create a sustainable industry. Make no mistake, your designation will have a real world impact \u2013 with the industry already facing challenges, the inaccurate designation will hurt the thousands of hardworking lobstermen, their families, and businesses across our state.\n\nIn any fair system of justice or public proceeding, it\u2019s required to provide evidence of wrongdoing before a verdict can be rendered \u2013 innocent until proven guilty. The process you have undertaken turns this principle on its head. How would you like to be the defendant in a process where the standard is guilty until proven innocent?\n\nYou have appointed yourself Judge, Jury, and Executioner of the Maine lobster industry \u2013 ignoring clear facts, and not meeting even the most basic burden of proof before coming to a conclusion. Your report repeatedly confesses that there is not any hard evidence to back your claim, and admit that Maine lobster is being \u201cRed Listed\u201d not on a factual basis, but \u201cuntil there is more specific information available regarding which fisheries are responsible for the unattributed entanglements.\u201d[5]\n\nThat\u2019s not science, that\u2019s irresponsible conjecture, a baseless smear, and an egregious violation of the scientific principles you claim to stand for. This is among the most irresponsible actions we have ever seen in our years of public service, and we are deeply disappointed that you have allowed this action to \u2013 perhaps irreparably \u2013 tarnish the name of your previously-respected institution.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this incredibly important matter, and await your prompt reply. Each day which goes by with this designation in effect compounds the damage to the lobster industry and the good people of Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-co-sponsor-bill-to-address-hazing-on-college-campuses", "Collins, King Co-Sponsor Bill to Address Hazing on College Campuses", "2022-09-06", "2022", "2022-09", "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.\u2014As college students across the country return to campus for the new academic year, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King are co-sponsoring legislation to prevent and respond to hazing. The Report and Educate About Campus Hazing (REACH) Act would require these incidents to be reported as part of a college\u2019s annual crime report and establish a definition of hazing to clarify what constitutes a reportable offense. The legislation would also require institutions to establish a campus-wide, research-based program to educate students about the dangers of hazing.\n\n\u201cHazing is a harmful, far too common practice that damages students\u2019 mental health and wellbeing, and in some tragic cases it has even led to serious injuries or death,\u201d said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. \u201cStudents have a right to feel safe and accepted so that they can focus on their studies and fully participate in the college community. This bill would increase accountability and transparency as well as require colleges to take steps to help reduce these dangerous incidents.\u201d\n\n\"With college students across the country experiencing mental health challenges at record rates, it has never been more important to promote the safety and well-being of our campus communities,\u201d said University of Maine Vice President for Student Life and Inclusive Excellence and Dean of Students Robert Dana. \u201cWe applaud Senators Collins and King for their bipartisan support of the REACH Act. This legislation will leverage the nationally recognized, evidence-based hazing prevention education we offer at the University of Maine and our transparent reporting about any hazing incidents that unfortunately occur at postsecondary institutions.\u201d\n\n\"Findings from our national studies about student hazing reveal an urgent need for more attention to hazing as a campus safety issue,\" said Dr. Elizabeth Allan, Professor of Higher Education at the University of Maine. \"Although we know hazing is a campus-wide issue and impacts thousands of students involved in groups and teams each year, most are unaware of the warning signs and how to report hazing when it does occur. Policy initiatives are a vital part of a comprehensive approach to prevention and the REACH Act combines both evidence-informed education as well as a reporting mechanism for all institutions to standardize hazing incident tracking in a transparent way. Together, these policy components will support hazing prevention while bolstering campus safety, student belonging and well-being.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-from-senator-king-on-absurd-seafood-watch-designation", "Statement from Senator King on \u201cAbsurd\u201d Seafood Watch Designation", "2022-09-06", "2022", "2022-09", "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, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today released the following statement after Seafood Watch added Maine lobster to their \u2018Red List\u2019.\n\nToday's decision by Seafood Watch to 'Red List' Maine lobster is simply absurd and flies in the face of common sense. The Maine lobster industry \u2013 one of our state's most important economic drivers and a source of pride \u2013 has long been committed to environmentally conscious, sustainable fishing. There hasn\u2019t been a whale entanglement attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and no documented right whale death has ever been attributed to Maine lobster gear. By ignoring these facts, Seafood Watch isn\u2019t encouraging safe fishing; all they\u2019re doing is damaging what\u2019s left of their reputation and hurting Maine people unnecessarily in the process.\n\nMake no mistake, this decision will have a real world impact \u2013 with the industry already facing challenges, the accusations of the designation will hurt thousands of families and businesses across our state. I hope the millions around the world who enjoy the delicious crustacean will see through this farce, continue to support the iconic industry, and join me in pushing for Seafood Watch to reverse this irresponsible decision and take lobster off the so-called 'Red List'.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:08:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-visits-gulf-of-maine-research-institute-for-first-hand-look-at-congressional-support-for-maines-marine-economy-and-climate-change-efforts", "King Visits Gulf of Maine Research Institute for First-Hand Look at Congressional Support for Maine\u2019s Marine Economy and Climate Change Efforts", "2022-08-31", "2022", "2022-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "PORTLAND, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today visited the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to see how the organization plans to use $1,382,000 in Congressionally-Directed Spending (CDS) to support the long-term health of Maine\u2019s waters and ocean economy. During the visit, Senator King met with GMRI leaders to discuss how their Climate Center Project and Blue Economy Initiative will help the state\u2019s coastal communities overcome 21st century challenges like climate change, a rapidly shifting economy, and more competition from around the globe. He also joined GMRI President and CEO Don Perkins for a tour of the site where CDS investments are expanding their efforts. Senator King secured this federal funding in the recently-passed 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Package.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s coastal communities are changing. From a warming climate to an evolving economy, the Gulf of Maine faces both historic opportunities and challenges that will define our state\u2019s success for generations. In partnership with the federal government and non-profits like the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, we can adapt in order to grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and address the threats of climate change,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThese two new Congressionally-Directed Spending investments will provide GMRI the tools it needs to expand their important climate efforts and help the seafood industry adapt to these rapidly shifting dynamics. This will mean a brighter future for Maine\u2019s coast and all the people who rely on it. Today\u2019s visit was a powerful reminder of how Congressionally-Directed Spending is being responsive to our state\u2019s needs and the hard work that is being done to secure a better Maine. I\u2019m incredibly proud that we were able to help GMRI receive this funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout a doubt, climate change is the foremost ocean challenge of our time,\u201d said GMRI President/CEO Don Perkins. \u201cWith support for our Climate Center and Gulf of Maine Ventures work, we\u2019ll help coastal communities mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, while also realizing emerging economic opportunities in our region.\u201d\n\nBased in Portland, GMRI is a leading research nonprofit focused on the marine ecology of the Gulf of Maine and the many challenges of ocean stewardship and economic growth in the region. They received two Congressionally-Directed Spending investments from Senator King in the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Package:\n\n$632,000 for the GMRI Blue Economy Initiative that will make the region's seafood industry more internationally competitive, generate high quality sustainable jobs, and usher in a new generation of Blue Economy entrepreneurship.\n\n$650,000 for the GMRI Climate Center Project that will support resilient waterfront economies all along Maine's coasts and enhance planning for a future with higher seas, stronger storms, and warming and acidifying waters.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-interviews-trailblazing-air-force-linguist-about-her-time-in-the-air-force-during-the-cold-war", "Senator King Interviews Trailblazing Air Force Linguist About Her Time in the Air Force During the Cold War", "2022-08-29", "2022", "2022-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "Watch the interview HERE.\n\nBRUNSWICK, ME \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released his latest episode of \u201cAnswering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices,\u201d Senator King\u2019s interview series in which he shares the stories of the lives, service, and sacrifices of Maine\u2019s veteran community. In the ninth interview of the series, conducted in partnership with the Library of Congress\u2019 Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with Gardiner resident Auta Main, who served in the Air Force as a Russian Linguist during the height of the Cold War. During the interview, Auta shared with the Senator her story of joining the military to support her family, the high-stakes work of linguistics and communications during the Cold War, and what it was like serving as a closeted gay woman during the 70s.\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to speak with Auta Main and hear the story of her courageous service in this episode of \u2018Answering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices.\u2019 From joining the Air Force to support her family, to her current work with veterans, Auta has continuously shown what it means to selflessly defend our nation and the principles of our founders,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAlong with her critical work as a Russian linguist during the Cold War, Auta has helped the country live up to our promises of equality and opportunity. As a gay woman serving in the 70s, she paved the way for the current generation of LGBTQ+ servicemembers to live openly without fear. Her lifetime of dedication is a true inspiration, and I am grateful she could join me to share her story.\u201d\n\nAuta Main grew up in Dresden, Maine with her seven siblings in a three bedroom house with just one bathroom. They were a rural, working class family, with her father working as a pipe fitter at BIW. Auta had two uncles who had served in Korea, but she never considered military service until she realized her college scholarships weren\u2019t going to be enough and that her older sister was struggling to pay her college bills. So when an Air Force recruiter approached Auta, it was a path to support both herself and her family and she enlisted in 1976.\n\nLeaving the state for the second time in her life, Auta took her first flight ever to basic training in San Antonio and recalls the physical, mental, and emotional tests that left little time for homesickness or anxiety. Even more importantly, she remembers a strong sense of purpose, camaraderie, and duty she quickly came to love. As she and her fellow recruits began choosing their fields, Auta, who knew members of the Russian community in Dresden, decided to become a Russian linguist. The Air Force linguists received trainings in intercepting and translating Russian radio frequencies, a post that would take Auta to Germany.\n\nAuta served for almost 3 years in Augsburg, Germany where she worked to intercept Soviet radio messages. While the frequencies she intercepted were primarily military exercises and counter-intelligence, she became skilled in recognizing the types of vehicles they were using by the background noise alone. In the height of the Cold War, it was clear this work was being closely watched by USSR intelligence, and was critical to maintaining peace.\n\nAuta\u2019s time in the Air Force was also a time of personal discovery. She had enlisted with a male fianc\u00e9 waiting for her back in Maine, but the first time she fell in love was in the Air Force, with a woman. As she began to fully understand her sexual orientation, she faced the threat of expulsion if she was ever outed. Auta saw other queer women threatened and pushed out, and said that the homophobia was a large part of why she decided to leave the Force. Auta married her wife just two weeks after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, and they now live happily together in Maine. As she reflects on LGBTQ+ rights in the military she remarks, \u201cLet people who want to serve, serve!\u201d and is glad to see so many service members today being able to celebrate their identities without shame or fear. She now works to help veterans transition from military to civilian life.\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.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 117, "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 \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Independent", "p1": "2022"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 117, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2022", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 117, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 117, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022&state=ME", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022", "results": [{"value": "2022", "label": "2022", "count": 117, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Independent", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2022-08-29,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-king-interviews-trailblazing-air-force-linguist-about-her-time-in-the-air-force-during-the-cold-war", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Independent&year=2022&_next=2022-08-29%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fsenator-king-interviews-trailblazing-air-force-linguist-about-her-time-in-the-air-force-during-the-cold-war&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 845.3628439456224, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}