{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"ME\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-staff-up-irs-for-better-service-swifter-refunds", "King, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Staff Up IRS for Better Service, Swifter Refunds", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "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, alongside 23 of his Senate colleagues, wrote a letter urging the Trump Administration to help Americans get more responsive service and expedited refunds by restoring staff and resources at the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), the independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that helps taxpayers resolve issues within the IRS. TAS has faced dramatic attrition since this administration began, and at its current staffing level, it faces significant challenges handling its current caseload and helping taxpayers in Maine and across the country. The Senators are urging Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent to stop hiring freezes, reduction-in-force efforts, and properly staff TAS.\n\n\u201cTAS ensures the American people have a voice within the IRS [\u2026] We are concerned that the recent personnel cuts at TAS and the ongoing hiring freeze will greatly hinder these advocates' ability to provide quality, timely service to taxpayers who need help,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\n\u201cSince January, the Trump Administration's deferred resignation programs and efforts to reduce the federal workforce have resulted in nearly one in four TAS advocates departing the IRS [\u2026] According to the National Taxpayer Advocates FY2026 Report to Congress, these losses of IRS customer service personnel have created \"vulnerabilities in service delivery\u2026and taxpayer assistance.\" We are concerned that the rapid decrease in staff will increase remaining advocate\u2019s case load and taxpayers\u2019 wait times for service,\u201d the Senators continued.\n\n\u201cAccording to the January 20, 2025, Presidential Memorandum, the IRS hiring freeze will remain in place until the Secretary of the Treasury determines that ending it is in the \"national interest.\" [\u2026] We expect you agree with us that ensuring Americans can access their full tax benefits in a timely manner falls squarely within the \u201cnational interest,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (D-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).\n\nThe letter text can be found here and below.\n\n###\n\nDear Secretary Bessent,\n\nWe write to urge you to lift the freeze on hiring additional staff at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and ensure that both the IRS and the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) have enough staff to ensure they meet the needs of the American taxpayers.\n\nDedicated TAS advocates resolve over 230,000 taxpayer issues with the IRS every year.[1] From helping a disabled first responder receive their refund[2] to resolving a decade-long problem with a taxpayer\u2019s railroad worker\u2019s retirement tax that was holding up his refund,[3] TAS ensures the American people have a voice within the IRS.\n\nAlthough we understand there may be some isolated instances of hiring for internal positions at TAS, we are concerned that the recent personnel cuts at TAS[4] and the ongoing hiring freeze[5] will greatly hinder these advocates\u2019 ability to provide quality, timely service to taxpayers who need help. Moreover, the IRS operating divisions need enough employees to be able to implement TAS\u2019s requests for their assistance in resolving taxpayer problems.[6]\n\nSince January, the Trump Administration\u2019s deferred resignation programs and efforts to reduce the federal workforce have resulted in nearly one in four TAS advocates departing the IRS.[7] To further compound staffing issues, the Trump Administration\u2019s freeze[8] on hiring additional personnel across the IRS remains in place, making it impossible to appropriately backfill TAS staff at the levels needed to address the workload.\n\nAccording to the National Taxpayer Advocates FY2026 Report to Congress, these losses of IRS customer service personnel have created \u201cvulnerabilities in service delivery . . . and taxpayer assistance.\u201d[9] We are concerned that the rapid decrease in staff will increase remaining advocates\u2019 caseloads and taxpayers\u2019 wait times for service.\n\nOur Congressional casework teams are already seeing delays in responses and case resolution. For example, in January, a taxpayer in Georgia reached out to TAS about an issue with a tax return. Despite submitting the correct paperwork in a timely manner and multiple inquiries from Congressional caseworkers, the most recent update as of December was that the case was still being processed. This is too long for a taxpayer to wait for answers.\n\nMany IRS employees who accepted deferred resignation offers were required to stay to support the 2025 tax filing season,[10] so we have not seen the full detrimental effects of the staffing cuts. If these shortages are not addressed, the repercussions will likely be felt during the 2026 tax season.[11]\n\nAccording to the January 20, 2025 Presidential Memorandum, the IRS hiring freeze will remain in place until the Secretary of the Treasury determines that hiring additional IRS employees, including TAS caseworkers, is in the \u201cnational interest.\u201d[12] The complex nature of TAS\u2019s work demands an intense training process[13] and requires current advocates to limit their existing casework to assist.[14] With significant changes to the tax code for this upcoming filing season,[15] hiring for TAS position must begin as soon as possible.\n\nWe expect you agree with us that ensuring Americans can access their full tax benefits in a timely manner falls squarely within the \u201cnational interest.\u201d We urge you to immediately lift the IRS hiring freeze and to respond to the questions below by January 23, 2026, to provide additional clarity to the American people regarding IRS administration and service:\n\nWhat criteria are you using to evaluate what is in the \u201cnational interest\u201d with respect to the TAS hiring freeze? Do these criteria include case backlogs, current wait times, demand on caseworkers, and increased complexity due to new tax laws? If not, why?\n\nWhat is the current average caseload of tax advocates?\n\nWhat is the average wait time for tax advocates to resolve taxpayers\u2019 cases?\n\nAt the end of the last filing season victims of identity theft had to wait 20 months to resolve their cases, on average.[16] What is a reasonable wait time for taxpayers to receive assistance on issues like late tax returns or identity fraud from TAS? What is the current wait time for these cases, and what is the IRS doing to reduce it?\n\nIf TAS is unable to meet its casework demands or if the IRS is unable to process all of TAS\u2019s requests for operational assistance, what cases will be prioritized? Which taxpayers will have longer to wait to have their problems resolved?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###\n\n[1] Improvements to Taxpayer Advocate Case Processing Would Result in Better Customer Service, 2025-100-024, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (Jun. 11, 2025), https://www.tigta.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2025-08/2025100024fr.pdf at 3 (Figure 2: Case Advocacy Receipts, Closures, and Cycle Time for FYs 2020 through 2024).\n\n[2] TAS Advocates for a First Responder, Taxpayer Advocate Service (Nov. 18, 2024), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/success-stories/tas-advocates-for-a-first-responder/2024/11.\n\n[3] Taxpayer Advocate Service Helps Taxpayer Resolve 15 Years of Hardship, Taxpayer Advocate Service (Sept. 20, 2021), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/success-stories/success-story-taxpayer-advocate-service-helps-taxpayer-resolve-15-years-of-hardship/2021/09.\n\n[4] Objective Report to Congress Fiscal Year 2026, National Taxpayer Advocate (Jun. 25, 2025), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/JRC26_FullReport.pdf at 19 (Figure 1.3, IRS Personnel Losses by BOD/Function (as of June 4, 2025)) [FY26 Report to Congress].\n\n[5] Hiring Freeze Presidential Memorandum, White House (Jan. 20, 2025), https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze.\n\n[6] 2024 Annual Report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate (Jan. 8, 2025), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/2024-annual-report-to-congress/full-report at 74 (\u201cDue to underinvestment in the IRS and critically low staffing levels over the past decade, taxpayers have faced: prolonged wait times for assistance; delays in processing returns and refunds; reduced access to knowledgeable IRS employees; and inconsistent application of tax laws and increasing errors.\u201d).\n\n[7] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4.\n\n[8] White House, supra note 5.\n\n[9] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4, at 30.\n\n[10] Jory Heckman, Some IRS Employees Required to Work Longer Under Deferred Resignation Offer, Federal News Network (May 8, 2025), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/05/some-irs-employees-required-to-work-longer-under-deferred-resignation-offer (\u201cBut IRS taxpayer services employees and some call center representatives have been told they must remain on the job through June 30\u201d).\n\n[11] National Taxpayer Advocate Issues Mid-Year Report to Congress, IR-2025-71, Internal Revenue Service (Jun. 25, 2025), https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-taxpayer-advocate-issues-mid-year-report-to-congress (\u201cBut with the IRS workforce reduced by 26% and significant tax law changes on the horizon, there are risks to next year\u2019s filing season. It is critical that the IRS begin to take steps now to prepare.\u201d).\n\n[12] White House, supra note 5.\n\n[13] TAS is Taking Steps to Better Serve Taxpayers, National Taxpayer Advocate Blog (Sept. 19, 2024), https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/news/nta-blog/tas-is-taking-steps-to-better-serve-taxpayers/2024/09 (\u201cIt takes months, even years, to train newly hired case advocates, because they work cases that involve a wide range of procedural and technical issues, including returns processing, identity theft, audits, collection matters, and Appeals.\u201d).\n\n[14] Id. (\u201cTo compound the challenges, we have to temporarily reassign experienced case advocates to provide training and supervision for the new hires, further straining our resources to work current cases.\u201d).\n\n[15] Ellis Chen and Vanessa Williamson, The New Tax Bill Burdens an Already Overburdened IRS, Brookings (Jul. 17, 2025), https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-new-tax-bill-burdens-an-already-overburdened-irs.\n\n[16] FY26 Report to Congress, supra note 4, at 14.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-highlights-biddeford-resident-former-air-force-bomber-pilot-in-new-episode-of-answering-the-call", "King Highlights Biddeford Resident, Former Air Force Bomber Pilot in New Episode of \u2018Answering the Call\u2019", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs (SVAC) and Armed Services Committees (SASC), released his latest episode of \u201cAnswering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices.\u201d In the series, produced in partnership with the Library of Congress\u2019 Veterans History Project, Senator King spoke with U.S. Air Force pilot Colonel Jen Fullmer of Biddeford, Maine.\n\nFullmer served at various military posts around Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and flew 90 combat missions while serving on active duty. During the interview, King asked about Fullmer\u2019s commitment to service and how she continues to provide for veterans in the community after her retirement from the service.\n\n\u201cJen Fullmer was one of the millions of Americans who has selflessly served our country, putting herself in harm\u2019s way to protect Americans \u2014 and American interests \u2014 at home and abroad,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cHowever, her commitment to service and community extends far beyond the Air Force and her combat missions. Since moving to Maine, she has worked diligently to help Maine\u2019s veterans transition to civilian life. Even more nobly, she spent countless hours helping to evacuate an Afghan national and his family, eventually resettling in Maine, who was at great risk after the United States pulled out of Afghanistan. Jen Fullmer is the very best of America and I am glad we can now preserve her story in the Library of Congress for posterity.\u201d\n\nJen Fullmer grew up in Wilton, Connecticut before enrolling at the University of Connecticut. While studying at UConn, Fullmer made friends with a Marine who served in Beirut. She was inspired by the camaraderie he had with his fellow Marines. This inspired her to apply \u2014 and being accepted \u2014 into a summer Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Vandenberg AFB in California. After completing the program and going back to Connecticut, she took a gap year and worked at the Connecticut State Capital.\n\nFollowing her year at the Connecticut State House, Fullmer enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado where she was an ROTC cadet with the goal of becoming a pilot. Fullmer received her pilot slot during her junior year in ROTC and she graduated and got commissioned in 1991. However, in 1991 the Air Force having an abundance of pilots and Fullmer was redirected to personnel work at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas, while she waited to be called for pilot training. She served as a personnel officer for three years and it was during this time the Air Force announced women would be eligible to fly combat missions. During this time, she met her future husband who was also a servicemember.\n\nAfter getting a date for pilot training, Fullmer was sent to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, where she learned to fly T-37s and T-38s, which prepared her to fly bomber and fighter aircraft. After completing pilot training, Fullmer was stationed at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas, where she learned to fly the B-1 and six months later she arrived at her first operational B-1 squadron at Mountain Home AFB near Boise, Idaho.\n\nFullmer, now with a few hundred flight hours in the B-1, went on to be accepted to Air Force Weapons School at Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City, South Dakota. She graduated from Weapons School in December of 2000, and after the September 11, 2001, attacks, was deployed to Diego Garcia before returning to Randolph AFB when she was called to serve as an aide to a 4-star General. She then attended the Naval War College, returned to flying, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, two years ahead of schedule. She was deployed several times and then took command of the 9th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas, in January of 2008. In that role, she once again was deployed to Qatar and resumed flight operations in Afghanistan.\n\nAfter that assignment, she served as the Deputy Operations Commander and then attended the Air War College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama, where she was promoted to Colonel. Fullmer then became Chief of Staff at the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS), based in Key West, Florida, where she worked on countering illicit drug trafficking. Her next duty station would be at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar where she served as Vice Wing Commander form 2013 \u2013 2014. She officially retired in 2015. Notably, during her career, Fullmer flew 90 combat missions over Afghanistan and Iraq, working to defend freedoms at home and abroad.\n\nFullmer and her husband retired in Biddeford, Maine, after stumbling upon a house during a vacation. In retirement, she built and was the founding executive director of Boots2Roots, a Maine-based nonprofit organization that helps members of the active duty military transition back to civilian life in Maine \u2014 she served as the organization\u2019s executive director until 2020 and board chair until 2022. In the summer of 2021, Fullmer received word from her colleague from the Afghan Air Force she had met while at Air War College in Alabama that he and his family needed help leaving his home country because of safety concerns. Through a couple of veteran friends and a critical connection through the War College \u2014 Fullmer was able to lead efforts to help her friend and 10 of his family members safely leave Afghanistan and resettle in Maine. Today, Fullmer continues to be an active member of the Biddeford community, volunteering her time with her church and organizations that serve the local addicted and unhoused neighbors.\n\nThe Veterans History Project is an effort by the Library of Congress to collect, preserve and distribute the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. The interviews and primary documents from the project are then used by researchers, historians, students, and filmmakers across the country. Senator King joins many other members of Congress who\u2019ve participated in the project, and was honored by the then-Librarian of Congress on Veterans Day 2022 when she participated in a one-on-one interview with him to talk through his Maine conversations.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation to help reduce suicides among veterans by providing free secure firearm storage to veterans. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. Senator King has also introduced bipartisan legislation to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare.\n\nEarlier this year, he cosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act that would provide more combat-injured veterans with their full earned benefits. He also joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, in introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize a program that would expand access to veteran disability claims exams. Most recently, Senator King teamed up with Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) to introduce a bipartisan bill that would make the veterans\u2019 benefit claims process more streamlined and fair.\n\nYou can watch previous episodes of \u201cAnswering the Call: Maine\u2019s Veteran Voices\u201d here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/crapo-king-introduce-bill-to-streamline-state-veterans-home-inspections", "Crapo, King Introduce Bill to Streamline State Veterans Home Inspections", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), both members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), have introduced bipartisan legislation to streamline redundant inspection requirements for State Veterans Homes (SVHs) nationwide. Under current law, all SVHs must undergo an annual inspection survey by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides a comprehensive assessment of safety protocols, facility condition, clinical care practices and other standards required for certification.\n\nHowever, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also conduct a nearly identical annual inspection of SVHs serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries\u2014resulting in a roughly 75 percent overlap in the number of SVHs that face an audit from both agencies. The State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act would allow SVHs to forgo the CMS survey if they have met all the requirements of the annual VA survey.\n\n\u201cMaine Veterans Homes and state veterans\u2019 homes across the country are a lifeline to the brave men and women who served,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cHowever, redundant inspections hamper their ability to deliver critical services and support. The State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act is commonsense legislation that will ensure we continue to provide the highest quality of care to our veterans while streamlining administrative processes. Keeping our promise to veterans everywhere \u2014 from Maine to Idaho \u2014 should never be partisan and I\u2019m grateful to partner with Senator Crapo on this issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cOverlapping survey requirements take time and resources away from the core mission of State Veterans Homes \u2014 providing care to our nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said Crapo. \u201cWe must remove unnecessary administrative burdens and allow for a more streamlined certification process, all without compromising the quality of care veterans deserve.\u201d\n\nThe CMS survey has been found to be 90 percent identical to the clinical life and safety sections of the VA inspection survey. The VA survey is considered more comprehensive as it accounts for domiciliary care and adult day health care, whereas the CMS survey does not.\n\nKey Provisions of the State Veterans Home Inspection Simplification Act:\n\nEliminate duplication: Reduce unnecessary, overlapping annual survey requirements by the VA and CMS.\n\nResource Efficiency: Free up SVH staff time and resources to focus more on veteran well-being and care.\n\nCost Savings: Cut redundant inspection expenses for taxpayers.\n\nMaintain Quality: Enable CMS to rely on robust, comprehensive VA inspection report findings.\n\nStreamline Reporting: Use VA inspection reports for the CMS Compare website to support informed consumer decision-making.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This fall, President Trump also signed his bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act into law.\n\nSenator King has introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bipartisan-permitting-reform-bill-passes-house", "Golden\u2019s bipartisan permitting reform bill passes House", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today celebrated the House\u2019s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. The bill, which he first introduced with Republican House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July, would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects.\n\nThe SPEED Act passed 221-196. It is endorsed by more than 300 local, state, and national organizations, including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast. The City of Bangor previously submitted a letter of support to the House Natural Resources Committee to describe the bill\u2019s benefits to airport operations at Bangor International Airport.\n\n\u201cThe simplest way to make energy, housing, and other essentials more affordable is to make it possible to actually produce enough of it at a reasonable cost. America\u2019s broken permitting system is standing in the way,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe SPEED Act has united workers, businesses, and political forces who usually oppose each other because scarcity hurts everyone, and these reforms represent the lowest hanging fruit in a permitting reform debate that\u2019s been happening for years. I\u2019m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his good-faith partnership throughout this process, and today\u2019s vote sends a clear message to the Senate: The window is finally open to fix our permitting process, so let\u2019s meet the moment.\u201d\n\nThe legislation includes a Golden amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of \u2014 even those in the final stages of completion. His amendment followed feedback from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, which helped boost the bill\u2019s bipartisan support.\n\nGolden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America\u2019s broken permitting system, including during the bill\u2019s initial hearing in September.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill \u2014 as well as a recent history of permitting reform \u2014 from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years.\n\nAccording to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/kings-bipartisan-mapwaters-act-heads-to-presidents-desk", "King\u2019s Bipartisan MAPWaters Act Heads to President\u2019s Desk", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "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. Senators Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), and John Barrasso (R-WY) expressed their appreciation to their Senate colleagues for unanimously passing their bipartisan legislation that will increase public access to all available information about federal waterways. The MAPWaters Act will standardize, consolidate, and publish the digital data related to public recreation on America\u2019s federal waterways.\n\nThe MAPWaters Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, and it now heads to the president\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cMaine people across the state, and Americans across the country, enjoy recreating on federal waterways like those in Acadia National Park,\u201d said Senator King, Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Caucus. \u201cThe bipartisan MAPWaters Act would combine all the available information about federal waterways into a one-stop resource containing information about recreation and navigation that you can hold in the palm of your hand. This legislation ensures that every person seeking adventure in Maine\u2019s federal waterways can do so safely and responsibly.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday is a great day for all Americans who enjoy recreating on our federal lands and public waterways,\u201d said Senator Barrasso. \u201cWyoming is home to more than 108,000 miles of rivers, and countless more lakes, ponds, and streams that help create our state\u2019s unique system of waterways. The bipartisan MAPWaters Act will ensure the most accurate information is available and easily accessible to everyone who visits our federal lands. Sportsmen and women who enjoy Wyoming\u2019s waters will benefit from access to up-to-date data of this wonderful resource.\u201d\n\nInformation about access to federal waterways, including restrictions on boating, commercial and sport fishing, and seasonal or tidal depth changes, can be difficult or impossible to access in a timely and convenient fashion. The MAPWaters Act will synthesize this important data, allowing the private sector to create products like smartphone applications to inform the public.\n\nSenator King is among the Senate\u2019s leading voices for conservation of our nation\u2019s outdoor treasures. In 2022, his bipartisan MAPLand bill to modernize park and public land mapping was signed into law. He also helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act \u2014 a bill led by Senator King \u2014 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backed-legislation-strengthening-national-security-and-maine-economy-signed-into-law", "King-Backed Legislation Strengthening National Security and Maine Economy Signed into Law", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "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 The bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate in a 77-20 vote and now heads to the White House to be signed into law. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), and cofounder of the Senate Arctic Caucus, has been working with his colleagues this entire year to secure strong investments in Maine\u2019s economy and America\u2019s national defense. This final legislation will support servicemembers and their families and boost the Maine economy through support for the hundreds of businesses that serve the military\u2019s technological and manufacturing needs. Earlier this year, Senator King led the Senate Armed Services Committee in supporting bipartisan measures for the finalized legislation for the Senate version of the bill.\n\nThe legislation includes several provisions that Senator King backed, including a 3.8% pay raise for servicemembers, continued monitoring of brain health among servicemembers, aggressive policies to strengthen America\u2019s cybersecurity, and provisions to address the security threats posed by artificial intelligence.\n\n\u201cFor over six decades, Congress has taken a bipartisan approach to ensure that America\u2019s military and defense forces have the training and equipment to carry out their missions and protect our interests at home and abroad. This year, the Senate is continuing that tradition in passing a defense bill for the Department of Defense (DoD) that will make our nation safer and stronger,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs our country faces some of its greatest challenges, the bill makes important investments in Maine people and businesses that are critical to the safety and security of our country.\n\n\u201cThere are many important provisions in this legislation \u2013 including support for troops and their families, investment in Maine research, and needed oversight of the Department of Defense,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cAll told, this year\u2019s defense bill will make our country safer, strengthen our economy, and support the men and women who fight for our freedoms.\u201d\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 includes King-backed provisions to:\n\nINVESTS IN MAINE SHIPBUILDING AND INSTALLATIONS.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA authorizes $450 million towards the future procurement of a destroyer that Bath Iron Works can compete to build.\n\nIt also authorizes additional $450 million in funding for investments in private shipyard infrastructure like Bath Iron Works.\n\nThis legislation also authorizes the funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) modernization efforts \u2013 including power reliability and water resilience upgrades and the final phases of the massive drydock construction.\n\nThe bill includes an effort cosponsored by Senator King that empowers shipyards across the country, like Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, to make their own hiring decisions based on the workforce needs of their property. This is in response to previous reductions in force in early 2025 made on a political basis.\n\nPROTECTS EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES.\n\nIncludes $9 million for the University of Maine System to continue vital research and workforce development training. The research will also include tests intended to scale automated manufacturing.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA also includes a new provision that helps protect university research funding and prohibits the Department of Defense from making unilateral changes to indirect cost rates without collaborating with universities and certifying a plan to the Congress.\n\nSCRAPS OUTDATED WAR POWERS AUTHORIZATION.\n\nThe legislation ends the outdated authorization for the use of military force that was used as a basis for the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, and several conflicts in the years since the original designation.\n\nINCLUDES FUNDING FOR MAINE\u2019S BUSINESSES SUPPORTING THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE.\n\nThe bill authorizes funding for Maine\u2019s large and small businesses that provide parts and components to F15 engines, F35 engines, helicopters, submarines, army vehicles, hypersonics and missiles.\n\nThe FY26 legislation also provides stable contracts and demand signals by granting multiyear procurement authority for missiles and hypersonics which have \u2018Made in Maine\u2019 components.\n\nPROVIDES THE COAST GUARD WITH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.\n\nThe NDAA includes the Coast Guard Authorization Act in which Senator King led several provisions including mental health. One provision is a pilot program embedding behavioral health technicians in Coast Guard clinics and authorization of additional counselors to serve Coast Guard personnel in remote and maritime communities such as Maine\u2019s coastal boat stations.\n\nAlso included in the bill is language to strengthen the Coast Guard\u2019s leadership role in maritime cybersecurity by allowing unannounced cyber exercises at ports.\n\nINVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE SECURITY OF THE ARCTIC REGION.\n\nThe legislation officially establishes the position of the US Ambassador to the Arctic to represent and protect American interests in this vitally important and increasingly volatile region.\n\nIt also includes language encouraging the Department of Defense to invest in infrastructure that will bolster Arctic shipping lanes.\n\nPROHIBITS THE PURCHASE OF SPECIAL METALS FROM FOREIGN ADVERSARIES.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA includes language to prohibit the acquisition of special metals from non-allied foreign nations including China. Several of these special metals are manufactured right here in Maine.\n\nPREVENTS AND PROTECTS BRAIN HEALTH.\n\nIncluded in this legislation is a report specifically requested by Senator King to protect servicemembers from blast exposure and address TBI through weapons sensor development led by a Maine business.\n\nAlso included is a provision encouraging the DOD to maintain robust oversight and ensure timely implementation of suicide prevention recommendations, particularly those of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee.\n\nHELPS ADDRESS HOUSING ALLOWANCE SHORTFALLS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA will require the DOD to publish how housing allowances are calculated, what housing types are covered, and to pilot a new calculation method based on rental costs by bedroom size. This is on the heels of last year\u2019s Defense bill which increased Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. Maine servicemembers, including members of the Coast Guard, will benefit.\n\nIMPROVES THE \u201cWARM HANDOFF\u201d SHIFT FROM ACTIVE DUTY TO CIVILIAN.\n\nIncluded in this bill is a signature priority of Senator King\u2019s that improves sharing of information between the Defense Department and State Veterans Agencies. Maine Bureau of Veterans Services advocated for this reform that will impact all servicemembers and help address the proven high-risk period when servicemembers leave the military.\n\nPUSHES BACK ON RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE AND EUROPE.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to assist Ukraine in maintaining a credible defense and deterrence capability and to bolster defense and security cooperation with Ukraine to build a Ukrainian military that can defend Ukraine and deter future aggression.\n\nIt also includes oversight measures on the reduction of U.S. forces based in Europe an authorizes $175 million towards the Baltic Security Initiative.\n\nENHANCES DETERRENCE THROUGH CYBERSECURITY.\n\nThe bill includes the King-led provision to require the DOD conduct a study and report on reducing incentives for cyber attacks on defense critical infrastructure of the United States. As Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Senator King has long advocated for a strong and serious range of American responses to counter aggressive moves by adversarial nations and rogue actors.\n\nMODERNIZES OUR NUCLEAR DETERRENT.\n\nAs Co-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senator King is a Congressional leader working to ensure the bipartisan effort to provide oversight of strategic programs from the nuclear triad to missile defense. Senator King advocated to include important provisions addressing nuclear non-proliferation were included.\n\nThe bill strengthens the nuclear triad and nuclear command and control including cyber protections and addressing concerns with artificial intelligence.\n\nThe bill also includes important oversight of the NNSA and nuclear modernization programs, and missile defense programs to help address cost and defense industrial base concerns.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-lashes-out-at-dishonest-va-staffing-cuts", "King Lashes Out at \u201cDishonest\u201d VA Staffing Cuts", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "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 (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC) released the below statement following exclusive new reporting in the Washington Post claiming that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will be eliminating as many as 35,000 mostly unfilled healthcare positions, including some in Maine:\n\n\u201cAfter months of deflecting, dissembling, and doublespeak, there are now reports of damaging staffing cuts at the Veterans Administration (VA) \u2013 and as many as 35,000 health care positions could be eliminated in the upcoming weeks.\n\n\u201cAbraham Lincoln outlined the mission of the VA in his second inaugural address when he said it is America\u2019s responsibility \u2018to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.\u2019 And since its founding in 1930, the VA has worked to repay the debt we, as a country, owe to the servicemembers who defend our principles.\n\n\u201cThat is why the news that this administration is hollowing out this hallowed agency is a disservice to everyone who has worn the uniform. Cutting staff means more than cutting positions \u2013 it means cutting services and denying timely care to those who have earned these benefits. And it means asking the selfless medical professionals and support staff at the VA to do more with less. The VA has never enjoyed the budget it deserves or a smooth agency-wide, integrated process, but to be rewarded with crippling staffing cuts will cause serious physical and mental harm to our veterans.\n\n\u201cNow that they are being questioned about these cuts, the administration is trying to claim these are merely vacant positions that are going to be done away with. But to anyone who has walked into any business with a \u2018help wanted\u2019 sign on the window and faced slow or shoddy service, we know that an unfilled job is not an unnecessary job \u2013 especially when the VA Inspector General\u2019s office found a severe nationwide staff shortage earlier this year. So rather than stepping up for our veterans, this White House is cutting back. That\u2019s unacceptable.\n\n\u201cOn more than one occasion this past year in the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I have asked administration representatives point blank whether they had plans to cancel contracts or cut staff. In those exchanges, they would claim they wouldn\u2019t fire direct care workers, but didn\u2019t address whether they would or would not fill direct care vacancies. Their responses at the time seemed incomplete or evasive; in the light of these new reports, the VA staff\u2019s denials seem outright dishonest.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-led-legislation-signed-into-law-will-help-military-life-insurance-keep-up-with-inflation", "King-led Legislation Signed into Law, Will Help Military Life Insurance Keep Up with Inflation", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME), a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) are celebrating the signing into law of their bipartisan bill, which to help adjust military life insurance for servicemembers and their families to account for cost-of-living increases and inflation.\n\nThe Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act will help ensure the maximum group insurance available to servicemembers and veterans account for increases in cost of living. From 2006 to 2023, the maximum insurance value available for servicemembers and veterans remained static, lagging far behind inflation rates. This law will strengthen the financial safety net for veterans, servicemembers, and their families by requiring a report to the U.S. Veterans\u2019 Affairs Department, the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs, and the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs regarding cost-of-living increases and inflation rates every five years to ensure they don\u2019t go years without assessing inflation rates.\n\n\u201cOur servicemembers, veterans and their families make countless sacrifices every day to protect our nation, and we are indebted to their selfless service,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cWith the bipartisan Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act, we can ensure life insurance packages for military members adjust with the rising cost of living \u2014 giving more peace of mind to military families as they increasingly face the difficulties of an unstable economy. I\u2019m grateful to my colleagues, and the President for signing a bill into law that honors our commitment to the brave men and women who have given so much to our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to make sure service members, veterans, and their families have the financial support they need and deserve,\u201d said Senator Cornyn. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to President Trump for his unwavering support of our brave men and women in uniform and for signing this bill into law, which will help ensure the Veterans Affairs Department can offer competitive life insurance packages that keep pace with the current cost of living.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile we can never fully repay the debt that we owe to those who serve our country, we should work each and every day to get them the benefits that they deserve,\u201d said Senator Hassan. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will help ensure that the life insurance offered for our veterans and servicemembers is keeping pace with real-world costs to help protect the financial security of the families of those who serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe our servicemembers and their families a debt we can never repay, and we have a straightforward obligation to ensure they are financially secure,\u201d said Senator Cruz. \u201cThis bill brings us one step closer to fulfilling that goal, and I\u2019m thankful to President Trump for signing into law.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This fall, President Trump also signed his bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act into law.\n\nSenator King has introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-collective-bargaining-rights-passes-house-in-bipartisan-231-195-vote", "Golden\u2019s bill to restore federal workers\u2019 collective bargaining rights passes House in bipartisan 231-195\u00a0vote", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 231-195 to pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers.\n\nTwenty Republicans joined all Democrats in supporting the bill\u2019s final passage. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate in September with bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cFederal workers show up on the job every day to do the people\u2019s work, and their limited collective bargaining rights are critical to protecting them from unfair treatment and political interference,\u201d Golden said after the bill\u2019s passage. \u201cI\u2019m proud of the strong, bipartisan coalition that came together to pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act in the House, and I urge the Senate to quickly take up this bill and join us in standing up for workers.\u201d\n\n(Click here for video of Golden\u2019s remarks on the floor during initial debate on Wednesday)\n\n\u201cToday, the House took an important bipartisan step on behalf of America\u2019s workers. The right to be heard in one\u2019s workplace may appear basic, but it carries great weight \u2014 it ensures that the people who serve our nation have a seat at the table when decisions shape their work and their mission,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cThis bill moves us closer to restoring that fundamental protection for nearly one million federal employees, many of them veterans. I will always fight for our workers, and I call on the Senate to help ensure these protections are fully reinstated.\u201d\n\nGolden and Fitzpatrick introduced PAWA in April. After months of inaction by House majority leadership, they shepherded the bill\u2019s passage via discharge petition \u2014 a legislative maneuver that allows members to bring popular bills to the House floor when House leadership refuses to schedule a vote. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nWhile successful discharge petitions are historically rare, members of the House are increasingly turning to them to call up legislation.\n\nLast year, discharge petitions on disaster relief and the Social Security Fairness Act led to successful passage of both by the House. Earlier this year, a bill to compel release of the Epstein files was brought to the floor and passed via discharge. This week, Golden and Fitzpatrick initiated a discharge petition to force the House to take action on expiring ACA tax credits \u2014 an issue that Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to address.\n\n\u201cRight now, leadership \u2014 no matter who they are in both parties, House and Senate \u2014 should pay attention to what\u2019s going on with the discharge petitions,\u201d Golden said Wednesday. \u201cIf you\u2019re not going to open up the process, if you\u2019re not going to give people the opportunity to at least take a vote one way or the other on where they stand on issues \u2026 then increasingly I think you\u2019re going to see rank-and-file members taking matters into their own hands.\u201d\n\nUnion leaders praised passage of the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump betrayed workers when he tried to rip away our collective bargaining rights. In these increasingly polarized times, working people delivered a rare bipartisan majority to stop the administration\u2019s unprecedented attacks on our freedoms,\u201d said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \u201cWe commend the Republicans and Democrats who stood with workers and voted to reverse the single largest act of union-busting in American history. Americans trust unions more than either political party. As we turn to the Senate \u2014 where the bill already has bipartisan support \u2014 working people are calling on the politicians we elected to stand with us, even if it means standing up to the union-busting boss in the White House.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote marks an historic achievement for the House\u2019s bipartisan pro-labor majority, courageously led by Rep. Jared Golden of Maine,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cWe need to build on today\u2019s seismic victory in the House and get immediate action in the Senate \u2014 and also ensure that any future budget bills similarly protect collective bargaining rights for the largely unseen men and women who keep our government running for the American people.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-on-senate-votes-to-extend-healthcare-tax-credits-for-americans", "King Releases Statement on Senate Votes to Extend Healthcare Tax Credits for Americans", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "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 (I-ME) released the following statement after two votes both failed to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which will now result in increased healthcare costs for all Americans:\n\n\u201cAmericans of all regions and political views agree that health care costs are already too high. Yet, healthcare premiums will increase yet again in just 20 days.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s votes represented a choice: a simple extension of the current health care insurance tax credits to stabilize costs or a complicated proposal that will not address the impending premium increases and threatens reproductive health.\n\n\u201cAs I have made clear, my priority is helping Maine people manage their healthcare costs and lower their cost of living. That is why one of the first bills I cosponsored this year was the Health Care Affordability Act to permanently extend the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (PTCs) \u2014 tax subsidies that lower monthly premiums for people buying their own health insurance, which will expire at the end of this year.\n\n\u201cIt is estimated that without an extension, nearly 20,000 Maine people could lose insurance, the uninsured rate would increase by 5%, and the average annual premium increase for Maine people relying on PTCs would be $3,100.\n\n\u201cWe must not let that happen. I will continue to seek a bipartisan solution.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-fitzpatrick-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-clears-key-house-hurdle-teeing-up-final-votes-tomorrow", "Golden-Fitzpatrick bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights clears key House hurdle, teeing up final votes tomorrow", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-200 tonight to approve an effort by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), his bipartisan bill to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from roughly 1 million federal workers.\n\nThe House began debate tonight following the vote on Golden\u2019s Motion to Discharge the bill. A vote on the final passage of PAWA is expected to take place tomorrow.\n\nTonight\u2019s vote is the culmination of months of work with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), the bill\u2019s lead GOP cosponsor. Together, they garnered 226 cosponsors for PAWA and assembled a majority of Members to sign a discharge petition forcing floor action.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump said ending collective bargaining was about protecting our national defense. But in my District, many affected workers build our warships and care for our veterans. These workers make our country safer and stronger every day. America did not vote to silence these workers, but this bill gives all of us a chance to restore their voices,\u201d Golden said. \u201c... If the majority we built over the past few months sticks together, we can overturn this union-busting executive order, and we can show America that this body will protect workers' rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote is a reminder of what this House can accomplish when we honor its purpose and allow the people\u2019s will to move forward. A bipartisan majority affirmed that protecting America\u2019s security and respecting America\u2019s workers are not competing priorities \u2014 they are inseparable,\u201d Fitzpatrick said. \u201cFederal workers, many of whom are veterans, are the backbone of our public service. When they have a voice in the decisions that shape their work, our government is more stable, more capable, and better prepared to serve the American people. I\u2019m proud to work alongside Congressman Golden in leading this bipartisan effort. Tomorrow, let\u2019s carry this unity across the finish line, and restore the rights that keep our federal workforce \u2014 and the nation they serve \u2014 strong.\u201d\n\nGolden and Fitzpatrick introduced PAWA in April. After months of inaction on the floor, in July they initiated a discharge petition and set to work building support to force a vote in the House. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nSignatories to the discharge petition included nearly the entire Democratic caucus and five Republicans who cosponsored the bill: Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17). Four additional Republicans did not sign the discharge petition but are cosponsors of PAWA: Reps. Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cTime and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-support-servicemembers-shipbuilding-by-passing-national-defense-authorization-act-ndaa", "Golden votes to support servicemembers, shipbuilding by passing National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House in a 312-112 vote.\n\nIn addition to providing authorization for funds necessary to protect America and provide for our troops, the bill increases troop pay and includes funding for the construction of destroyers built at Bath Iron Works.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s heartening to see Congress support not only our troops, but American shipbuilding and the critical role it plays in our national security,\u201d Golden said. \u201cOur service members deserve salaries that let them keep up with the cost of living. And when Maine shipbuilders are awarded work, they can ensure the Navy gets more of the best ships on the planet. Now that the House has passed this critical legislation, I hope the Senate moves quickly and sends it to the president.\u201d\n\nThe bill provides a 3.8 percent pay raise for all service members and increases the additional pay they receive when separated from their families by deployment. It also includes a $1.4 billion increase for new construction of barracks and family housing, and increases access to specialty medical care by lowering the threshold for travel reimbursement from 100 miles to 75 miles.\n\nIt also includes multiple wins for Maine that Golden secured in the waning hours of committee negotiations last month, such as funding for two DDG-51 destroyers that are typically built by Bath Iron Works (BIW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-led-effort-to-restore-transparency-in-public-health-passes-first-procedural-hurdle", "King-Led Effort to Restore Transparency in Public Health Passes First Procedural Hurdle", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME) spoke on the Senate floor to restore transparency in public health via a congressional disapproval resolution. Senator King led the effort to reverse the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) April 2025 decision to halt public comment in a Senate procedure under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Today\u2019s bipartisan, procedural vote passed 50-49 and will lead to a final Senate vote on the motion.\n\nBefore the vote, Senator King stood on the Senate floor and encouraged his colleagues to stand up for open government and against \u201cradical obfuscation\u201d of public health decisions.\n\n\u201cMr. President, this is a nonpartisan CRA, which doesn't happen around here all that often. This is basically just public participation and good government.\n\n\u201cWhen the Administrative Procedure Act was passed in 1947, the Department of Health and Human Services didn't exist. And for about a dozen years, it didn't have much in the way of responsibility. And so, it was exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act that apply to public comment and public input on significant decisions, in agencies that apply throughout the federal government.\n\n\u201cIn the early 70's, Elliott Richardson who was the Secretary of Health and Human Services for President Nixon, issued a waiver for the exemption. Basically, what we found is that the Health and Human Services Department was vastly expanded after Medicare, Medicaid, and the other responsibilities that had been placed in that department, so, he said, in effect, we will we subject to the Administrative Procedure Act, and we'll notice the major activities that we're going to do to the public, and we'll allow public comment. It's not a veto, it's just a simple transparency of, here's what our activity is going to entail, and allow the public to comment. And that's been the law for 54 years. Through six Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan and the first administration of Donald Trump.\n\n\u201cIn March of this year, Secretary Kennedy chose to repeal this waiver, this rule that was adopted 54 years ago, and close the processes of the Department of Health and Human Services, to the public and essentially, obscure activities that they were making so the public only learned about them after they happened. There was no opportunity, there was no notice, and there was no opportunity for the public to comment. So, we're not really talking about politics here, we're not talking about democrats and republicans, we're just talking about a fundamental rule of how our government works, in an effort to be in touch with the public, to allow them to know what's going on in these important decisions, and to have a role.\n\n\u201cNow, it's ironic, because Secretary Kennedy, in his confirmation hearing, used a term that frankly I had never heard before, but he used it repeatedly. Radical transparency. He said, we're going to have radical transparency, and we went back and looked, he used the term transparency something like 100 times in his response to questions in either in his hearing or written responses. This is the opposite of radical transparency. It's radical obfuscation. It's a deliberate action. He had to take an action to rescind this -- what had been the rule for the Department of Human Services, as they say, for 54 years, under presidents of both parties and different administrations.\n\n\u201cAnd what we're really talking about is simply allowing the public to know what these proposed actions will be and ability to comment. What's wrong with that? What's objectionable about that? It doesn't slow things down appreciably. It's not a huge impediment to executive action. And we're not talking about emergency actions. We're talking about fundamental policy decisions being made by the department.\n\n\u201cNow, here's what we're talking about. Basically, it's called the Richardson Waiver, and it was the waiver of the -- of the exemption of the department that was in the original Administrative Procedure Act. By rescinding it, which is what they did, the CRA that we're talking about today would rescind the rescission. It would basically overturn the decision of the Secretary to close the processes of the department to the public. So, it basically says, the public can't weigh in. And again, we're not talking about a veto or some extraordinary opportunity for things to be obstructed, it's just notice and comment. That's sort of the basic work that we do here in Washington. So, no ability for people to weigh in on major health care policy changes. He reorganized the entire department without any notice, without any studies or analysis or public notice of what they were doing and why. Clearly, the executive can make changes in the staffing arrangements and that kind of thing, they can \u2013 they can work on how to organize their departments, but there should be some -- when it's a wholesale reorganization, there should be some notice of, here's what we're going to do, here's the basis, here's the study we've done, here's why we need these jobs, we don't need these jobs. None of that happened after the rescission of this rule. And there was no public comment, there was no public input on really a fundamental reorganization of one of the most important -- the second-largest department we have in the United States government.\n\n\u201cHHS reduction in force and mass firings. Tremendous changes in the organization and the ability of this department, created by the congress, to meet the needs of the people that -- that the congress had in mind when they funded these programs and created this agency. They canceled thousands of grants and billions of dollars of research funds. Again, without any notice, without any opportunity to comment. Just gone. Including, believe it or not, research into Alzheimer\u2019s. Research into some of the most serious diseases that we have in this country, that are ravaging our people, cutting off research -- again, if that's what they're going to do, they should do it, but they should let the people know that they're doing it and why. And allow people to say, no, no, we think this is important. We think this area is particularly important, just to have the input. To do it arbitrarily and behind closed doors and with no notice and no opportunity for people to have input is a disservice to the American people. And that's what this has done.\n\n\u201cThousands of grants, billions of dollars, and I'm talking about, like, $11 billion in medical research. Imagine what might be in that research that's now been canceled. And people were in clinical trials, canceled. That\u2019s one of the most, I believe, one of the most important functions of the federal government, is research and supporting research. And here we are, canceling these with no notice, no opportunity for people to comment.\n\n\u201cAnother point, appoint members of important advisory committees with no public input. In the past, there was a notice posted that we're going to appoint these advisory committees and we're going to -- and come forward, make nominations, give us names. None of that happened. And we all know that there have been some pretty questionable decisions recently by these purged advisory committees. So, again, this really -- this is good government. This isn't an attack on Secretary Kennedy, or President Trump, this is just getting us to the place where the public has some input and knowledge of these major decisions that are being made that effect the health and welfare of the people of the United States. So, I hope that we can have a bipartisan vote on this today, because again, this is -- this is just a sort of wonky process vote, but it protects the public's ability to know what's going on in one of the most important departments in our government, and to have a chance to have a little say in those decisions.\n\n\u201cSo, I hope that we can have a significant bipartisan vote today. I think this will make a difference. I think it will help the country. I don't think it will hamstring the department or the Secretary in any way, and it will, in fact, improve the health and welfare of the people of the United States. Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-to-the-united-states-military-service-academies", "Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "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\nBenjamin Abbott Winslow Winslow High School\n\nThomas Carmack Veazie John Bapst Memorial High School\n\nCourtney Christoforo Saco Thornton Academy\n\nAdrian Dyer Easton Lee Academy\n\nToby Foelix Camden Lexington High School, MA\n\nConnor Grant Houlton Houlton High School\n\nNathan Hersom Rockland Oceanside High School\n\nPatrick Hopkins Winslow Winslow High School\n\nJacob Lennon Albion Lawrence High School\n\nJennifer Lorbeski Richmond Gardiner Area High School\n\nJames Mannette Windham Windham High School\n\nRyan Moore Bangor Phillips Exeter Academy, NH\n\nJohn Pepin Rumford Mountain Valley High School\n\nIra Toracinta Kittery St. Thomas Aquinas High School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nEthan Roger Boucher Rumford Mountain Valley High\n\nAndrew Cloutier Lyman Massabesic High School\n\nKeenan Collett Orono Orono High School\n\nThomas Lawson Gorham Cheverus High School\n\nJacob Lennon Albion Lawrence High School\n\nJames Mannette Windham Windham High School\n\nDylan Roberts Cape Elizabeth Cape Elizabeth High School\n\nAdam Sciretta Bath Annandale High School, VA\n\nUnites States Military Academy \u2013 West Point\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nBenjamin Abbott Winslow Winslow High School\n\nEmma Begin Chelsea Hall-Dale High School\n\nJoshua Burns Bangor International School of Stavanger, Norway\n\nThomas Carmack Veazie John Bapst Memorial High School\n\nKeenan Collett Orono Orono High School\n\nHailey Davis Liberty Mount View High School\n\nSeth Davis Liberty Mount View High School\n\nKayla Eddy Kittery St. Thomas Aquinas High School\n\nMaxwell Heathco Freeport Freeport High School\n\nSamuel Jamison Windsor Erskine Academy\n\nEmily Mikoud Dover-Foxcroft Foxcroft Academy\n\nRyan Moore Bangor Phillips Exeter Academy, NH\n\nRyan Rosado Freeport Freeport High School\n\nKaren Yurek Bath Morse High School\n\nUnited States Naval Academy- Annapolis\n\nName Home Town High School\n\nThomas Carmack Veazie John Bapst Memorial High School\n\nKeenan Collett Orono Orono High School\n\nHoward Francis Lee Lee Academy\n\nMaxwell Heathco Freeport Freeport High School\n\nNathan Hersom Rockland Oceanside High School\n\nOwen Kelley Gorham Millbrook School, CT\n\nJacob Lennon Albion Lawrence High School\n\nEloise Lienert Brunswick Brunswick High School\n\nTrajdan MacFadyen Greenville Greenville High School\n\nMax Santagata Dover-Foxcroft Foxcroft Academy\n\nAdam Sciretta Bath Annandale High School, VA\n\nAnna Sewall East Millinocket Schenck High School\n\nTimothy Small South Portland South Portland High School\n\nIra Toracinta Kittery St. Thomas Aquinas High School\n\nEdward Vatcher Kennebunk Berwick Academy\n\nJack Venden Yarmouth Yarmouth High School\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-moves-to-force-vote-this-week-on-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights", "Golden moves to force vote this week on bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) took the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide notice to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of his intent to force a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), his bipartisan bill to repeal a presidential executive order that stripped union rights from federal workers.\n\n\u201cThis bill\u2019s cosponsors, Democrats and Republicans alike, know that collective bargaining brings fairness, dignity and respect to the workplace. They also know that without these rights, federal workers are more vulnerable to unfair treatment and political interference,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m calling on Speaker Johnson to hold a clean, up-or-down vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act, so that Congress can show workers that we\u2019ve got their backs.\u201d\n\nGolden introduced PAWA in April, with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) as the lead GOP cosponsor. After months of inaction on the floor, in July Golden and Fitzpatrick initiated a discharge petition and set to work building support to force a vote in the House. In November, the discharge petition obtained its 218th signature, clearing the threshold to bring PAWA up for a vote over the Speaker\u2019s objections.\n\nThe Speaker now has two legislative days to hold a vote on the motion to discharge PAWA. If that motion is successful, the House will consider the bill.\n\nSignatories to the discharge petition included nearly the entire Democratic caucus and five Republicans who cosponsored the bill: Fitzpatrick, Don Bacon (NE-02), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17).\n\nFour additional Republicans did not sign the discharge petition but are cosponsors of PAWA: Reps. Mike Turner (OH-10), Chris Smith (NJ-04), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07).\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union-busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing,\" said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \"We commend Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick for leading us to a vote on the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act and urge every lawmaker to support this bill. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms and livelihoods. Now it\u2019s time for a clean, standalone vote so the House of Representatives can show the country it will defend workers' fundamental rights on the job.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE will forever be grateful to Congressman Golden for his tireless efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). \u201cTime and again, he has answered the call to defend the working men and women who keep this country safe and secure, healthy and prosperous. I urge all members of Congress to support the bipartisan Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act offered by Reps. Golden and Fitzpatrick and enact it into law.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture. The order affected hundreds of thousands of federal workers.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time it was made.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-blasts-national-park-services-aim-to-whitewash-our-history", "King Blasts National Park Service\u2019s Aim to \u201cWhitewash Our History\u201d", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "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, in a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Angus King (I-ME), co-chair of the National Parks Subcommittee, laid out his concerns over the rewriting and whitewashing of history within the National Park Service by the Trump Administration. During his opening remarks, he noted that while it is important to celebrate the triumphs of America, it is just as crucial to recognize \u2014 and learn from \u2014 our mistakes as a nation. Earlier this year, the Administration moved to scrub signs from national park and historic sites that could cast a \u201cnegative light\u201d on American history. Additionally, the Administration announced this past week that Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Juneteenth would be removed as free entry days and replaced with President Trump\u2019s birthday.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cI'm also worried and concerned about the effort to whitewash our history - to rewrite history within the National Park system. Our history is a country of 250 years. We have had triumphs. We have had great, prideful moments. We have had accomplishments, heroism, a lot to be proud of, relish, and learn about. But we also have some dark parts of our history. Like any history. We are not too excited about those, but they have to be addressed. Slavery, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, segregation, the treatment of Native Americans in our history. Those are things we can't avoid \u2013we can't forget \u2014 and we don't want to forget. I recently finished a biography of the Roman statesman Cicero, and he had something that stuck with me. He said, \u201cto not know your history, to not know history is to live your whole life as a child.\u201d In other words, you are giving away a lot of human knowledge if you don't understand history. These chapters in our history, which we aren't proud of, we have to understand and learn from them and never repeat them.\n\n\u201cA couple of years ago I was at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. I met a young man, and we were chatting. He shared something that was amazing that touched exactly on what I'm talking about today. He said when he was in high school in Germany he was required to go to a concentration camp. He was required to study the Holocaust. Talk about a dark portion of a nation's history. We are doing just the opposite. We are telling people and young people who go to our parks, \u2018We don't want to bother you about slavery. It was uncomfortable. It might make you feel uncomfortable.\u2019 We need to learn from our history, so that we learn from it and we don't repeat it,\u201d said Senator King.\n\nSenator King continued his remarks, observing that the United States should follow Germany\u2019s lead and teach historical truths that might be difficult to reckon with. He observed that an early tactic used by authoritarian regimes is to remove signs or displays showcasing dark moments in history in order to change citizens\u2019 understanding of what happened.\n\n\u201cThe administration is trying to rewrite history, and when you compare it to Germany where young people are required to learn about their dark history because they don't want to repeat it, because they want to learn something from it, and we should take a lesson from that. At Fort Polaski national monument in Georgia, the departments ordered the removal of the scourged back photograph-you\u2019ve probably all seen it-of the slave with the awful scars on his back where he had been whipped. That was removed. For what purpose? Are we trying to erase the awful legacy of slavery, that it occurred? At Harpers Ferry the department targeted the removal of several displays on slavery and the abolitionist movement. Harpers Ferry! That\u2019s why it was a monument! It was all about John Brown and slavery and abolition. To remove a display about slavery at Harpers Ferry is like removing model rockets from Cape Kennedy. It is astonishing that they should do such a thing. The Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge in New York, they removed signage which addressed Japanese internment and the forced dispossession of Native people from their traditional homelands. This does not contribute to our citizens' understanding of their history and appreciation of their history. It doesn't change the history. It doesn't change what happened. It only changes our citizens' understanding of those things. This is what happens under authoritarian governments. If you go back in history, authoritarian governments, one of the things they try to do is change their history, whitewash it, they change the story,\u201d concluded Senator King.\n\nAs a lifelong advocate for conservation and Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate\u2019s most prominent voices advocating for conservation. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) \u201cHero\u201d Award. Since the creation of the LRF, Senator King has pushed park leaders to discuss funding maintenance efforts, maintaining a sufficient NPS workforce, and managing growing park visitation. Recently, Senator King pressed a Department of the Interior.\n\nSenator King\u2019s work on the National Parks Subcommittee is the culmination of more than four decades of work on land conservation efforts in Maine, including helping to establish the Land for Maine\u2019s Future program in 1987 and supporting extensive conservation projects during his time as Governor. Under King\u2019s leadership in his eight years as Maine governor, he put more Maine land under conservation than in the state\u2019s 175 year history.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-65-million-for-economic-development-projects-across-maine", "Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $6.5 Million for Economic Development Projects Across Maine", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "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\u2014Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee\u2014and Angus King announced that 10 Maine organizations will receive a total of $6,541,337 to support important development projects. The funding comes from the Northern Border Regional Commission\u2019s (NBRC) Fiscal Year 2025 Catalyst Program, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA). Senator Collins was one of 10 senators who negotiated the IIJA.\n\n\u201cThe NBRC has long helped provide rural regions with the economic tools they need to prosper,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis funding will help improve critical infrastructure in communities across our state while strengthening our workforce and creating economic opportunities for Mainers.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the funding is allocated as follows:\n\nBangor YMCA - $1,000,000\n\nCaribou Utilities District - $1,000,000\n\nMonmouth Water Association - $1,000,000\n\nOutdoor Sports Institute - $1,000,000\n\nTown of Jonesport - $799,615\n\nFriends of Veterans Memorial Library - $606,691\n\nMaine Development Foundation - $500,000\n\nCenter for Entrepreneurial Studies - $499,869\n\nEastern Maine Healthcare Systems - $100,000\n\nHancock County Planning Commission - $35,162\n\nA detailed description of all funded projects can be read here.\n\nThe NBRC was established by Congress in 2008, with Senator Collins\u2019 and King\u2019s support, to fund a broad range of development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York aimed at alleviating economic distress and encouraging private sector job creation. In 2023, Senator Collins introduced and Senator King co-sponsored legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the NBRC.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-maine-fishermen-push-trade-commission-for-fair-fishing-rules-in-gray-zone", "Golden, Maine fishermen push trade commission for fair fishing rules in Gray Zone", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Ahead of two Maine fishermen\u2019s testimonies to the International Trade Commission (ITC) today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) submitted a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling for fairer fishing rules between Maine and Canadian fishermen in the Gray Zone \u2014 a 277 square-mile area of ocean near Machias Seal Island that is fished by both countries and remains one of America\u2019s only contested maritime borders.\n\nThe push comes as the ITC gathers stakeholder input from across industries to inform the White House and Congress on potential changes needed to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade deal, set to expire in 2036, requires the countries to explore a potential 16-year extension to preserve the arrangement until 2052. This review is mandated for July 2026. Golden voted against the USMCA in 2019, and is pushing for more parity between American and Canadian fishing regulations in the Gray Zone as a condition of any extension.\n\n\u201cThe United States government should do everything in its power to ensure that our fishermen are not at a competitive disadvantage and deprived of economic opportunity,\u201d Golden wrote in his letter to Greer. \u201cMaine\u2019s seafood harvesters have been awaiting a resolution to the Gray Zone for too long and at great consequence to their safety, their businesses, and the natural resources they depend on.\u201d\n\nGolden has previously written to President Trump about the steeper regulations Maine fishermen face compared to their Canadian competitors in the Gray Zone. Some of these rule disparities include the lack of a maximum size limit for catchable lobster for Canadians; Canada\u2019s refusal to follow Mainers\u2019 practice of marking egg-bearing females as off-limits; the American-only requirement to use expensive, weaker fishing gear to prevent right-whale entanglements; and a months-longer season for scallop harvesting for Canadians.\n\nGolden submitted his letter along with testimony from Virginia Olsen and Dustin Delano, two Maine harvesters who serve as the Political Director of the Maine Lobstering Union (MLU) and Chief Strategist of Policy and Operations for the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), respectively.\n\nOlsen and Swan\u2019s Island fisherman and NEFSA board member Jason Joyce spoke today before the ITC, regarding the ways Canada\u2019s less sustainable harvesting practices have harmed the fishery and Maine\u2019s working waterfront.\n\n\u201cAmerican fishermen have sacrificed more than most people will ever understand. They\u2019ve rebuilt stocks, innovated gear, protected habitat, and carried the weight of conservation on their backs\u2026.\u201d Joyce told the commission. \u201c...We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fair rules, equal competition, and respect for the sacrifices American fishermen have made to protect this shared ocean. The Gray Zone can no longer remain a gray area.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe MLU believes that a bilateral committee is needed to discuss the ongoing issues between both countries about the Gray Zone, conservation, seasons, and enforcement \u2026\u201d Olsen said. \u201c... I feel we need to bridge the gap between what harvesters are seeing daily on the water to the observations by scientists. Until we do, the lack of trust will continue.\u201d\n\nThe ITC is an independent, nonpartisan federal government agency. The commission oversees a wide range of trade-related mandates and provides analysis of international trade issues to the president and Congress. The ITC is led by a group of commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate to nine-year terms.\n\nGolden, who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee, has fought fiercely on behalf of Maine\u2019s fishing industry throughout his career. Last year he was the only representative from New England to join the effort to overturn a U.S.-only increase to the minimum catchable size of lobster. He also helped pass a six-year pause on new lobster gear regulations in 2022 \u2014 a moratorium he submitted legislative language to extend in July. He has submitted bipartisan legislation, the Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act, which would prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in the critical, highly productive Maine fishing grounds of Lobster Management Area 1.\n\nGolden\u2019s full letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nThe Honorable Jamieson Greer\n\nUnited States Trade Representative\n\nOffice of the United States Trade Representative\n\n600 17th Street NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20230\n\nRE: Request for Public Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Relating to the Operation of the Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada\n\nDear Ambassador Greer:\n\nThe Office of Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) submits the following public comment on behalf of various constituents in the Maine lobster industry: Virginia Olsen, the political director of the Maine Lobstering Union, and Dustin Delano, Chief Strategist of Policy and Operations for the New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association (NEFSA). These leaders in the Maine lobstering community view the potential renewal of the United States \u2013 Mexico \u2013 Canada Agreement (USMCA) as an appropriate venue to implement co-management fisheries practices with Canada around the Gray Zone, a 277 square mile maritime area in the Bay of Fundy over which both the United States and Canada claim sovereignty. Doing so would strengthen the economic well being of American fishermen by both preserving the sustainability of integral Gulf of Maine fish stocks, while also ensuring that they are not at a competitive disadvantage compared to their Canadian counterparts.\n\nThe Gray Zone has been claimed by both the United States and Canada since the Revolutionary War. For centuries, the lobstermen and fishermen of Downeast Maine have relied on this marine area to harvest lobster, scallops, and halibut, often competing with the Canadians who utilize these same fishing grounds. Frustratingly, while the long-term viability of these stocks are essential to the economic success of both American and Canadian harvesters, it is our fishermen and lobstermen who are required to adhere to the highest standards of conservation. Maine lobstermen abide by a maximum size limit for harvesting lobster and Halibut; Canadian lobstermen do not. Maine lobstermen mark the tails of egg-bearing females with a v-notch and toss them back so they can spawn; Canadian lobstermen do not. Maine fishermen use less durable gear with weak links to reduce lethal entanglements with endangered North Atlantic right whales; Canadian lobstermen do not.\n\nPast attempts to resolve this territorial dispute to support the competitiveness of U.S. fishermen have been ineffective. A 2023 U.S. Department of State Report written for Congress titled \u201cProgress Toward an Agreement with Canadian Officials Addressing Territorial Disputes and Collecting Fisheries Management Measures in the Gulf of Maine\u201d incorrectly states:\n\n\u201cThe status quo benefits the United States by keeping the Gray Zone aligned with the more favorable measures applicable to the broader U.S. lobster management area within which it sits. Current cooperation has proved effective in managing the area. Negotiations to resolve the dispute would require significant dedicated resources. In the absence of a resolution of the territorial dispute, an agreement to resolve differing fisheries management measures in the Gray Zone could impact U.S. claims to sovereignty by creating regulations that differ from those applicable to the broader Gulf of Maine jurisdiction in which the Gray Zone lies.\u201d\n\nIn reality, as management currently exists, there is no cooperation in managing this area.\n\nThis report \u2013 and past U.S. federal government assessments of the Gray Zone \u2013 are misleading, and the fishermen I represent have told me repeatedly that the current regulatory framework in the area does not benefit American fishermen; it hurts them.\n\nThe implementation of a co-management practice in a renewed USMCA would address this harmful, unfair regulatory disparity. That is why the renewal of the USMCA provides a reasonable forum to discuss and potentially implement a co-management agreement, which should include Canadian and American fishermen working together to determine and follow the same regulations.\n\nThe United States government should do everything in its power to ensure that our fishermen are not at a competitive disadvantage and deprived of economic opportunity. Maine\u2019s seafood harvesters have been awaiting a resolution to the Gray Zone for too long and at great consequence to their safety, their businesses, and the natural resources they depend on.\n\nThese constituents are prepared to provide testimony at the International Trade Commission on November 17th on the merits of a co-management practice in a renewed USMCA agreement.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-slam-latest-efforts-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education", "King, Colleagues Slam Latest Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "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 joined a letter with a number of his colleagues to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon slamming the Department\u2019s recent announcement that it has signed interagency agreements (IAAs) to illegally outsource core functions that students and their families rely on to four other federal agencies. In the letter, the senators called on the Secretary to reverse these latest steps that would further erode the Department of Education. Earlier this year, Senator King criticized an executive order from the Trump Administration to dismantle the Department of Education, saying \u201cit could cost our children untold damage in their lives.\u201d\n\nThe senators began, \u201cThe actions you announced on November 18th to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department\u2014including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding\u2014will undermine public education.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cWe expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing. \u2026 Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case,\u201d added the senators.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cUnfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges\u2014and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-ME), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nThe actions you announced on November 18 to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education (\u201cthe Department\u201d) are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department\u2014including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding\u2014will undermine public education. This is the latest example of this administration\u2019s complete lack of regard for our laws and its failure to provide the certainty, clarity, and stability that students and schools deserve when it comes to the federal government\u2019s approach and commitment to properly implementing federal education laws and appropriations.\n\nLet\u2019s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students. We expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing.\n\nThe Department of Education is the only federal agency whose sole mission is to help children learn and improve their educational outcomes. The Department delivers much-needed federal funding and enforces basic educational guardrails and civil rights protections so that every child can get the quality public education that they are entitled to under the law, no matter who they are or where they live. Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case. When Congress wants another agency to administer a program or function, it has expressly said so\u2014and in some cases, it has provided authority to transfer funds to allow this to happen. By contrast, Congress has not expressly authorized any other agency to administer the programs established under the previously mentioned laws, nor has it provided the authority for the Department to transfer these programs and associated funding to another agency.\n\nThe November 18 announcement outlines six interagency agreements (IAAs) with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to transfer major responsibilities out of the Department of Education. The authorities cited in the IAAs do not enable the Department to do an end-run around the relevant authorizing and appropriating statutes. For example, the Department cites the Economy Act to justify its use of the IAA framework. While the Economy Act is routinely used by other federal agencies to enter into IAAs for the procurement of discrete goods and services that a particular agency might have expertise in and authority to provide, such as DOJ\u2019s fingerprinting authority, this authority was never contemplated to allow the transfer of major program functions or entire offices to another agency with the express stated purpose of eventually dismantling the agency or putting the Secretary \u201cout of a job.\u201d Federal resources outlining the purpose of the Economy Act make this clear. This view is further affirmed by the Department\u2019s inability to cite a single instance of using this statute or any others in a similar way prior to this year.\n\nYou have expressed your interest in working with Congress on these issues, but these IAAs were developed in secret without outside input. The fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department makes no reference to administering these programs at other agencies and the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for example, makes no reference to administering them either. The Secretaries of Labor, Interior, State, and HHS have similarly never testified to Congress on how they would carry out and administer these critical education programs.\n\nSince you were nominated to lead the Department, you have routinely misled the public about the level of involvement the Department has long had in the day-to-day management of schools\u2014inaccurately suggesting that the Department was depriving states and families from making choices about their children\u2019s education, shackling teachers with burdensome regulations and paperwork and causing K-12 and college students to experience \u201cdrudgery caused by administrative burdens.\u201d On the basis of these false assertions, you have strangely claimed that we need to \u201cReturn Education to the States.\u201d In fact, states and local communities have\u2014since the founding of our republic\u2014had the primary responsibility for educating our students and the establishment of the Department in 1979 did nothing to change that fact. In fact, there are numerous federal laws that prevent the Department from being involved in the day-to-day decision making in schools and colleges as it relates to curriculum, teaching, and programs.\n\nUntil your arrival at the Department, its role has been to provide funding, support, and oversight as authorized by federal education laws to ensure students from all walks of life and in every part of the country can get a high-quality public education. The Department\u2019s programs ensure that parents get timely, accessible information about how their kids\u2019 schools are doing. They ensure students with disabilities\u2019 rights are enforced, so that they can get the education they are entitled to. The Department administers programs to help under-resourced rural school districts and allocates Impact Aid for more than 1,000 school districts with a reduced revenue base or increased costs due to a federal presence, such as a military base. It also administers programs to help first-generation and low-income students pursue and succeed in college. These are just a select few examples of the indispensable supporting role that the federal government\u2014and the Department, in particular\u2014plays in advancing educational outcomes for students.\n\nTo justify these new IAA\u2019s, you say federal funding will keep flowing to states, school districts, and colleges. But we have already seen funding held up and seriously delayed because of this administration\u2019s chaotic changes\u2014and its extreme policies\u2014and the moves you announced last week are certain to further jeopardize these funds.\n\nYou claim these actions will improve student achievement, yet your actions will significantly weaken federal monitoring of states\u2019 K-12 accountability and school improvement systems. Before Congress mandated that states develop these systems with key guardrails in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, several states had weak or no school improvement systems, which allowed vulnerable students to slip through the cracks. As part of ESEA and subsequent appropriations directives, Congress has charged OESE with improving state compliance in state and local school report cards requirements, school improvement, and more. But without the staff expertise from OESE, it is likely that DOL will be ineffective in holding states accountable for improving student outcomes.\n\nThe Department also provides deep policy expertise to ensure programs support improved student outcomes, such as through expert guidance to colleges and universities to improve college access, retention, and completion through programs like TRIO, GEAR UP, the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program, and others. Now, DOL, who lacks the necessary expertise, is tasked with managing these programs and students will suffer as a result.\n\nDOL has no prior experience in administering education programs at this scale and complexity and will need to develop the capacity and processes to allot billions of dollars in funding to state and local educational agencies. States will also have to make changes to receive any funds distributed through DOL\u2019s grant system while continuing to draw down prior year grant funding in the Department\u2019s system. Your IAA also seems to suggest the Department will still retain some authorities over Title I-A, which means that states will now have to work with two federal agencies when they need help navigating this complex and absolutely critical program. These changes solve exactly zero problems but manage to create an onslaught of new ones. We are very concerned that these changes will mean funds our constituents rely on will not continue to flow as intended under federal education laws.\n\nIn addition to its scope and complexity, the Title I-A program primarily funds instruction and activities in elementary schools. We do not believe kindergartners or other elementary school students should be the focus of efforts to integrate workforce programming and education activities, activities that are better suited to older students. Instead of improving students\u2019 readiness for the workforce, the move of Title I-A to DOL is much more likely to deprive states and school districts of the technical assistance and support they need to effectively implement federal education funding in their schools and provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students.\n\nDOL already has a comprehensive workload to support the nation\u2019s workers and workforce programs. It is authorized and funded to administer workforce training and enforce worker protection programs for which Congress appropriates $13.5 billion in discretionary funding annually, including for roughly a dozen workforce training grant programs totaling approximately $4 billion in annual funding. In addition to lacking the subject area expertise needed to administer the Department\u2019s programs, DOL does not have the grant administration capacity to take on the work outlined in the IAA; the approximately $30 billion in the Department\u2019s funding across approximately 50 discrete formula and competitive education grant programs that you seek to transfer now to DOL dwarf its current grant administration and oversight work. Transferring basic and significant responsibilities for administering education programs to DOL creates very significant risks of delays in funding and other administrative challenges for states, school districts, institutions of higher education, and other organizations through Impact Aid, rural education programs, afterschool programs, TRIO, and foundational education formula grant programs that tens of thousands of schools count on to help provide a quality education to millions of students.\n\nUnfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges\u2014and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL. In fact, as your own staff reportedly concluded in its analysis after this transfer, \u201cThe size and scope of OCTAE's programs are miniscule [sic] compared to other [Education Principal Operating Components] and programs\u2026Larger formula grants and competitive grants are going to be much more difficult to migrate.\u201d States and districts faced delays in accessing their Perkins CTE funding, and advocates report delays in guidance and training issued by DOL. Moreover, a CTE expert recently testified before the House of Representatives, \u201cAt a time of scarce resources, it\u2019s hard to understand why the Department is paying Labor to do work that it can do for itself.\u201d The fiscal year 2025 funding level for Perkins CTE and adult education was $2.18 billion, whereas the other programs DOL will now be responsible for are funded at roughly $30 billion. If the administrative costs balloon under these new IAAs as the administrative costs under the CTE IAA have, not only will these IAAs be terrible for students, their families, and educators, they will also be a catastrophic waste of time and money for the American taxpayer.\n\nThe Department has provided no substantive detail or even basic information about how the significant changes envisioned by these IAAs would be implemented. The other federal agencies that will suddenly have significant responsibilities in administering billions in education funding\u2014have provided no information about their roles or their capacity to carry out these programs and activities. The plan seems clear\u2014to jam these changes through for a talking point, whatever the consequences may be for states, school districts, schools, students, and families.\n\nWe once again demand that you reverse these detrimental plans and refocus your efforts on supporting state and local efforts by properly implementing federal laws intended to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, especially those who count on the Department doing its job most.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-introduces-bill-to-support-farmers-affected-by-pfas-0", "Maine Delegation introduces bill to support farmers affected by PFAS", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 In a bipartisan, bicameral effort to provide vital assistance to farmers affected by toxic \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) reintroduced the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act. The legislation would authorize grants for states to provide financial assistance to affected farmers, expand monitoring and testing, remediate PFAS, or even help farmers relocate. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-Maine) are original cosponsors of the legislation.\n\nPFAS are man-made chemicals that are used in industry and consumer products and can lead to serious health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harms, and weakened immune systems. In Maine, there have been more than 30,000 records of PFAS at close to 250 sites across the state. Maine farmers have had their livelihoods disrupted due to PFAS contamination, which originated in sludge that was spread as fertilizer by farmers who were told by the government that it was safe to use.\n\n\u201cUSDA must provide support to our nation\u2019s farmers, who through no fault of their own are at risk of losing their livelihoods,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cIn the past, the federal government\u2019s response has failed to keep pace with this growing problem. Our bipartisan legislation would direct USDA to help by providing financial assistance and expanding PFAS monitoring and testing where it is needed most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe PFAS crisis isn\u2019t some theoretical or distant problem. It\u2019s here, it\u2019s growing, and it\u2019s putting real pressure on farmers in Maine and across the country,\u201d said Pingree, a longtime farmer and senior member of the House Agriculture Committee. \u201cFor farmers already navigating thin margins, discovering \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 on their land can mean lost income, unusable land, and questions about the safety of their crops and livestock. They deserve federal support that matches the scale of the crisis. Our Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act creates a dedicated USDA program to test for contamination, compensate affected farmers, and advance the research and remediation strategies we need to protect our food supply and rural economies. This bill is a critical step in giving farmers the tools to safeguard their operations while federal and state agencies work to fully confront PFAS.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s hardworking farmers are losing crops, land, and their livelihoods to \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 at an alarming rate,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act is a crucial step towards creating a federal safety net that provides impacted farms with financial relief. The monitoring, testing, and remediation provisions would be a gamechanger in our work to protect Maine\u2019s agricultural communities from PFAS contamination. The state of Maine has been on the forefront of these efforts, but additional federal investments are vitally needed. I hope this bipartisan, bicameral legislation receives broad support across Congress to protect the future of Maine farming.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs awareness of PFAS contamination has increased, Maine farmers have borne heavy costs to protect consumers from harmful chemicals,\u201d Golden said. \"The Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act will provide local farmers with the support they need to keep their lights on while continuing to mitigate risk and protect the public from a health issue that isn\u2019t farmers\u2019 fault.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the funds authorized by the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act could be used for a variety of purposes at the state level, including:\n\nProviding financial assistance to affected farmers;\n\nBuilding capacity for PFAS testing for soil or water sources;\n\nMonitoring blood for individuals to make informed decisions about their health;\n\nUpgrading or purchasing equipment to ensure a farm remains profitable during or after known PFAS contamination;\n\nDeveloping alternative production systems or remediation strategies;\n\nDeveloping educational programs for farmers experiencing PFAS contamination; and\n\nResearching soil and water remediation systems, and the viability of those systems for farms\n\nThe bill would also create a task force at USDA charged with identifying other USDA programs to which PFAS contamination should be added as an eligible activity. This would help bring even more resources to farmers through existing programs. Additionally, the task force would provide technical assistance to states to help them coordinate their responses effectively.\n\n\u201cMaine farmers, residents and policymakers are leading the country on tackling PFAS contamination in our food and water,\u201d said Sarah Alexander, executive director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). \u201cMaine has created essential policies to help farmers who have suffered consequences of forever chemicals through no fault of their own. Senator Collins\u2019 and Congresswoman Pingree's bill signals a critical opportunity for the federal government to coordinate a response so that farmers across the country will have the support they need to address PFAS contamination.\u201d\n\n\u201cPFAS contamination of agricultural land is a nationwide challenge that has been met with an inconsistent patchwork of policy and program responses to date. What is needed in response to the challenge of PFAS contamination of agricultural land is dependable and comprehensive support so that farm families, the agricultural sector, and our food system are not in jeopardy. This bill seeks to do just that. Maine Farmland Trust is grateful for the introduction of the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act and the strong federal safety net of support that it would provide. Maine farmers stand with farmers nationwide who deserve comprehensive support and solutions,\u201d said Shelley Megquier, Policy and Research Director of Maine Farmland Trust.\n\n\u201cAmerican Farmland Trust (AFT) applauds the reintroduction of the bipartisan Farmers Hit with PFAS Act,\u201d said Tim Fink, Vice President of Policy for AFT. \u201cThe discovery of PFAS contamination can be devastating for farms, farmers, and their families \u2013 all through no fault of their own. However, the experience of the Maine relief program has shown that with the right financial and technical support, most farms can return safely to operation. It\u2019s time that this essential financial, technical, healthcare, and research support be available to impacted farmers across the nation.\u201d\n\n\"PFAS contamination poses a significant threat to our farms, wildlife, and food,\" said Rebecca Meuninck, Ph.D., Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. \"Farmers are being put out of business because they unknowingly spread biosolids containing PFAS on their land or had their water contaminated from neighboring military or industrial sites. The reintroduction of this legislation is a big step forward in supporting farmers and ensuring their resilience against the impacts of PFAS.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-vas-electronic-records-are-a-debacle", "King: VA\u2019s Electronic Records Are a \u201cDebacle\u201d", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), spoke with Alyssa Hundrup, Director of Health Care at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), about the importance of streamlining information-sharing between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and community care providers. During the exchange, Senator King pointed toward the difficulties associated with the current electronic medical records system used by the VA, calling it a \u201cdebacle,\u201d asking why proven private sector methods aren\u2019t being used, and raised the question of what role artificial intelligence (AI) could play in helping create a more cohesive information stream. Director Hundrup agreed with Senator King\u2019s analysis that AI has the potential to create a more efficient system that would benefit veterans\u2019 care.\n\n\u201cThank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to emphasize what Sen. Sheehy just said. As I looked over my notes and questions, it comes back to decent electronic medical records. We talked about coordination with community care. Good electronic medical records. Coordination with veterans coming out of the defense department. Decent electronic medical records. And everything comes back to that. Overprescribing, or prescribing polypharmacy where there's conflicts and danger, that\u2019s where you get \u2014 that won't happen if you have decent medical records. So, every practitioner that sees a veteran sees the same information about what they\u2019re taking, what they\u2019ve been prescribed, what their history is, all of that necessary background. The development of electronic medical records for the Department of Defense and the VA has been a national debacle. We are spending billions of dollars, it is still not working, it hasn\u2019t been tested, people don't like it. I never understood frankly while we did not use the same system that is already on the shelf for thousands of hospitals across the country. Why are we inventing a new system for these patients? Sorry about the speech, but Senator Sheehy provoked it because he's absolutely right,\u201d began Senator King.\n\nSenator King continued,\u201d A personal story. Just recently I talked to an elderly friend. In our conversation I realized she was much sharper and more engaged and with it than had been the case a month or two before. I didn't really think too much about it until I later talked to her husband who said she had a fall, she had a broken knee, she went into the hospital, and her physicians looked at her prescription record and changed the prescriptions and she is a different person. Nothing else happened other than taking her off certain drugs, putting her on others, and adjusting the volume, if you will. So, this was totally obvious, and all it was was somebody seeing cohesively what the prescription record was, and I\u2019m sure that\u2019s happening with thousands of veterans. One question I have is it seems to be a primary where AI could help. AI could tell you whether there are contradictions and problems. I think that is one area where everyone is talking about AI and all the problems. But this is something where AI could quickly and instantly analyze, and would have every drug in the world, and you put in what would happen if these persons are taking these three drugs and we do this, we get an instant answer. You are nodding, nodding doesn\u2019t show up in the record. You have to say \u2018yes, senator, that was a brilliant comment.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, senator. That is not a topic we have looked at in depth, but I do think you are absolutely right in terms of just even some of the record sharing. We understand from VA in terms of them stating their intent to implement our recommendations that they do anticipate using medical technologies like AI. So, I think just to loop back to the need for oversight and the need for more people, I do think there is promise that AI could alleviate some of that. We are very early and that is not something the GAO has looked at specifically, so I need to stop there but I think it has a lot of promise,\u201d responded Director Hundrup.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This fall, President Trump signed the bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act into law, legislation championed by Senator King.\n\nSenator King has introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-the-passing-of-world-war-ii-veteran-charles-shay", "King Statement on the Passing of World War II Veteran Charles Shay", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "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-ME) released the following statement following the passing of Charles Shay, a member of the Penobscot tribe who served as an Army medic during World War II. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery carrying critically wounded soldiers to safety during the D-Day invasion in 1944, and was a recipient of the Legion of Honor, France\u2019s highest award. Shay passed away at 101 at his home in Bretteville-L\u2019Orgueilleuse in France\u2019s Normandy region.\n\n\u201cI was honored to meet and get to know Charles Shay both at his home on Indian Island and on the beaches of Normandy, at the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Charles Shay was a world-class individual who gave honor to his home state, to his tribe, to his family, and to the people of America. I know he's going to be missed by his many friends and admirers around the country, but especially on Indian Island. My warmest wishes go out to his many family and friends, and it was an honor for me to have an opportunity to meet and get to know one of Maine's most distinguished citizens.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-push-for-faster-release-of-liheap-funds", "Golden, bipartisan group of lawmakers push for faster release of LIHEAP funds", "2025-11-25", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan group of 44 lawmakers calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to distribute Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to states by November 30, 2025.\n\nStates typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. However, the recent government shutdown delayed disbursement of these critical funds that help roughly 6 million Americans \u2014 including 45,000 Mainers \u2014 heat their homes.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the agency\u2019s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cIt is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cGiven that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste\u2026 The risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.\u201d\n\nGolden has pushed back against Secretary Kennedy repeatedly this year for his management of LIHEAP, particularly regarding his decision to fire the program\u2019s entire staff this spring. He helped lead a letter with more than 80 colleagues calling for the protection of LIHEAP and the rehiring of the staff who manage it.\n\nIn light of concerns about LIHEAP\u2019s ability to operate without dedicated staff, the lawmakers wrote, \u201cIf disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.\u201d\n\nGolden has successfully led several efforts to increase Mainers\u2019 access to heating assistance throughout his time in Congress. He helped secure $6.1 billion for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2023, and worked with the rest of Maine\u2019s Congressional Delegation to win an additional $38 million for Mainers in fiscal year 2024 \u2014 including $1.4 million for Maine\u2019s tribes.\n\nThe full letter can be found here, and is included below in full:\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy,\n\nAs the federal government resumes the administration of essential programs, we write to you regarding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). We appreciate the agency\u2019s notification that LIHEAP funds should be received by LIHEAP recipients by the end of the month, especially as parts of the country begin to experience colder weather and temperatures below freezing. It is vital that LIHEAP funds are delivered as quickly as possible to the nearly six million households that rely on this assistance.\n\nAs you know, states typically receive their LIHEAP allocations in early November following the beginning of the fiscal year in October. This four-week delay between appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and disbursement to states is usually attributed to the amount of time it takes HHS to calculate each state\u2019s apportionment of LIHEAP funding. Given that the heating season has already started in many parts of the country, we agree that there is no time to waste. If the HHS does not marshal all available resources to get LIHEAP funds out the door, it risks putting households across the U.S. in jeopardy of not receiving heating assistance in time.\n\nThe risk is especially great for households that rely on home heating oil or propane to warm their homes. While many states include moratoriums on utility shutoffs during winter months, they cannot require independent heating oil or propane suppliers to continue deliveries without payment before or upon delivery.\n\nIn the agency\u2019s notification to LIHEAP Grant recipients and stakeholders, HHS noted that the Office of Community Services\u2019 (OCS) would use special authority to release the funds. Should the agency require additional action from Congress to ensure these funds are disbursed expeditiously, we request that you notify us without delay.\n\nAdditionally, we request that HHS take the following actions:\n\nContinue to carry out all necessary steps to accelerate the typical four-week timeline for LIHEAP disbursement.\n\nTap additional staff as needed to ensure that funds are disbursed rapidly.\n\nMaintain regular contact with LIHEAP recipients about expected timelines for release of funds and any estimated delays as soon as possible.\n\nIf disbursement is expected to be delayed past November 30, 2025, as indicated by the agency, we request that HHS immediately distribute an initial, upfront portion of LIHEAP funds to all states to allow households to receive benefits as soon as possible, followed by the disbursement of remaining funds no later than December 10.\n\nWe continue to have serious concerns about the LIHEAP program\u2019s capacity to operate effectively without dedicated staff. We urge you to ensure that necessary personnel and resources are in place to support LIHEAP's continued success.\n\nWe urge you to do everything possible to distribute LIHEAP funds to states and families without delay. With home heating costs expected to rise faster than inflation this winter , families should not have to choose between staying warm and other essential items like food, medication, or rent. We appreciate your attention on this urgent matter and stand ready to support the agency in assisting the American people.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-track-benefits-of-preventive-health-care-legislation", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Track Benefits of Preventive Health Care Legislation", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "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. Senator Angus King \u2014 with a number of his bipartisan colleagues \u2014 has introduced bipartisan legislation to better measure the cost savings that come with improved investments in preventive health care for Maine people. The Preventive Health Savings Act would instruct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to fully study the costs and benefits that could be seen with proposed preventive health care legislation. CBO analyses are essential benchmarks that members of Congress use to determine the cost of legislation to the American taxpayer. By taking a longer-term view into consideration past the current 10-year window and incorporating prevention interventions into CBO scoring, Congress could make more informed decisions and better measure the return on investment of Americans getting ahead of health problems before they get more serious and costly.\n\n\u201cI often say, \u2018an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.\u2019 Preventive care is one of the most effective ways to keep Maine people healthy and save money for patients and taxpayers alike, and as we work to expand this care, we must first learn how we can best measure it,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bipartisan Preventive Health Savings Act will allow Congress a more complete view of how preventative healthcare legislation can help patients stay healthy and cut costs. The cheapest surgery or treatment is the one that we avoid by getting ahead of the issue, and this bill is a simple step to reduce health care expenses, save taxpayer dollars and support Americans\u2019 long-term health.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is important we have a clear, long-term picture of the return on investment from preventive health care measures,\u201d said Senator Crapo. \u201cRemoving current CBO limitations benefits any future health care reform and helps pave the way for additional preventive measures that save lives and reduce costs.\u201d\n\n\u201cPreventive care and early detection can help patients live longer and healthier lives while also saving on long-term costs for everything from treatments to hospital visits,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen. \u201cBy accounting for preventive care, we can make smarter health care policy decisions that work better for patients and taxpayers alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cPreventive health care measures allow Americans to live longer, healthier lives and substantially lower the costs passed along to the taxpayer,\u201d said Senator Cramer. \u201cOur bill updates existing CBO rules to better allow Congress to account for long-term savings generated by investments in preventive care.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation brings together budget policy and health policy to reflect the benefits of tackling chronic disease,\u201d said American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. \u201cNot only will our patients live longer and healthier because of federally funded health initiatives, but taxpayers will benefit from savings resulting from treating chronic diseases. Allowing CBO to assess long-term savings from prevention legislation is a prescription for bending the health care cost curve.\u201d\n\nChronic diseases are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, and treating affected patients accounts for over 90 percent of America\u2019s $3.3 trillion annual medical expenditures. Many of these diseases \u2014 including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity \u2014 are easily detected and largely avoidable through screenings, routine testing, and early interventions.\n\nUnder current law, however, the CBO does not take into account the long-term cost-savings associated with preventive health initiatives. The Preventive Health Savings Act would direct the CBO to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive health care legislation by allowing Congressional Committees to request additional analyses of the budgetary impact of preventive healthcare legislation. By allowing the CBO to widen its budget window to better capture the costs-savings from preventive care, the legislation encourages a sensible review of health policy in order to promote public health and incentivizes Congress to invest in proven methods of saving lives and money.\n\nSenator King, known as the \u2018Prevention Senator,\u2019 has long worked on policy solutions that keep Maine people healthy and lower the costs for patients and providers alike. He has previously introduced legislation require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits, without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In doing so, this legislation also would catch smaller, or early health symptoms before they become larger threats requiring more extensive and expensive treatments. Previously, he introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan, the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious. This fall, he introduced a Senate Resolution affirming support for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which is charged with making recommendations about preventive services to inform medical practices across the United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bipartisan-permitting-reform-bill-passes-house-natural-resources-committee", "Golden\u2019s bipartisan permitting reform bill passes House Natural Resources Committee", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today celebrated the House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s passage of his bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, which he first introduced with Republican Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in July.\n\nThe bill, which would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate federal approval of energy development and other construction projects, was approved with bipartisan support by a vote of 25-18.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s broken permitting system is delaying investments in the basics we need \u2014 energy, transportation and housing. These delays keep costs high and hold back America\u2019s economy,\u201d Golden said. \u201cBoth parties have agreed on this problem for years, and today\u2019s support from the Committee gives me hope that Congress is finally ready to take the win. I\u2019m grateful to Chairman Westerman for his commitment to earning bipartisan support for our bill, and I\u2019m ready to get this passed on the House floor.\u201d\n\nIn an effort to create certainty for all forms of energy production, Golden also submitted an amendment that would block the executive branch from revoking energy permits after approval. Both Presidents Trump and Biden have embraced this tactic to block projects they disapprove of \u2014 even if the projects are in the final stages of completion. His amendment passed the Committee unanimously.\n\nBefore the vote, the City of Bangor submitted a letter of support to the Committee, describing how many of the bill\u2019s provisions would benefit airport operations around the country, including at Bangor International Airport (BGR):\n\n\u201cThese reforms would directly support airports such as BGR by enabling timely progress on projects ranging from traditional safety-and capacity-driven infrastructure to energy-resilience initiatives such as our planned on-airport solar farm,\u201d wrote Airport Director Jose Saavedra, C.M. \u201cStreamlining NEPA requirements, while preserving necessary environmental protections, will help ensure that airports can advance essential improvements that support safe operations, economic competitiveness, and the aviation needs of the communities we serve.\u201d\n\nGolden has previously spoken at length about the need to fix America\u2019s broken permitting system, including during the bill\u2019s initial hearing in September.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here, and an analysis of the bill \u2014 as well as a recent history of permitting reform \u2014 from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years.\n\nAccording to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-collins-urgently-request-certainty-on-tariffs-for-maines-forest-products-industry", "King, Collins Urgently Request Certainty on Tariffs for Maine\u2019s Forest Products Industry", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "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 Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are urgently requesting tariff relief for Maine\u2019s forest products industry. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the Maine Senators called for prompt support to Maine\u2019s forest product manufacturers, many of whom are struggling with added costs because of the tariffs.\n\nThe Maine forest products industry is deeply interconnected with Canada. Last year alone, Maine exported roughly 2 million tons of wood. Similarly, and within the same time frame, Maine imported 2.3 million tons of wood.\n\n\u201cWe are gravely concerned about the impact of the tariffs imposed on imports of timber and lumber on the forest products industry. This industry is part of Maine\u2019s heritage, boosting our state\u2019s economy, creating thousands of good-paying jobs in rural communities, and providing essential products to consumers across the United States. As such, we request that the Administration provide immediate and meaningful relief to this industry, which is already struggling to survive,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThey continued, \u201cWe are aware that the Administration is considering measures to provide aid to agricultural industries that cannot weather the headwinds in global markets as a result of the tariffs. Accordingly, we believe that the forestry products industry should be eligible and included in any relief program. Maine\u2019s mills require certainty and predictability to plan, and the added costs from the tariffs are raising prices that they cannot absorb in a competitive global marketplace. The potential of retaliatory tariffs also poses a devasting threat.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn closing, we are supportive of the Administration\u2019s goal to strengthen domestic manufacturing and the U.S. forestry industry. However, as trade negotiations continue, we ask that you provide prompt relief to our hardworking forestry product manufacturers so they can thrive now and for years to come,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King is seen as a national leader in efforts to support Maine\u2019s forest products industry. Senators King and Collins previously introduced the bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act to help train the next generation of Maine loggers and the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act to improve forest health and support Maine\u2019s rural economy. He also introduced legislation to establish a \u201cFuture of Forests\u201d panel tasked with making recommendations to secure the health of America\u2019s forests. Senators King and Collins were key in establishing the Forest Opportunity Roadmap Maine (FOR/ME) Initiative, a participant-led initiative that is helping to diversify the state\u2019s wood products businesses, attract investments, support research and development, and develop greater economic prosperity for rural communities impacted by mill closures. In July, Senators Collins and King introduced the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would establish a new program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support loggers who have lost income due to natural disasters.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Bessent, Secretary Rollins, Secretary Lutnick, and Ambassador Greer,\n\nWe are gravely concerned about the impact of the tariffs imposed on imports of timber and lumber on the forest products industry. This industry is part of Maine\u2019s heritage, boosting our state\u2019s economy, creating thousands of good-paying jobs in rural communities, and providing essential products to consumers across the United States. As such, we request that the Administration provide immediate and meaningful relief to this industry, which is already struggling to survive.\n\nOver the years, the forest products industry has faced enormous challenges. Due to Maine\u2019s geographic proximity, our forest economy is deeply intertwined with our neighbor, Canada. Each day, our sawmills and pulp and paper mills move wood products across the United States-Canada border. Last year alone, Maine exported roughly two million tons of wood and imported 2.3 million tons, mostly to and from Canada. Shortly after the timber and lumber tariffs went into effect on October 14, 2025, forestry products and shipments from Maine exporters were unable to reach their destination, causing widespread confusion and disrupting supply chains.\n\nWe are aware that the Administration is considering measures to provide aid to agricultural industries that cannot weather the headwinds in global markets as a result of the tariffs. Accordingly, we believe that the forestry products industry should be eligible and included in any relief program. Maine\u2019s mills require certainty and predictability to plan, and the added costs from the tariffs are raising prices that they cannot absorb in a competitive global marketplace. The potential of retaliatory tariffs also poses a devasting threat. Our mills are holding back on future investments, and some are also cancelling planned expansions. We fear that it has already become financially unfeasible for some of our mills to operate at full capacity, and this challenge will only be exacerbated as time goes on. Our state has already lost more than half our mills over the past thirty years from our peak, and risk of future mill closures is high. The impact of these closures will be felt acutely by Maine people, nearly 30,000 of whom rely on this industry for their jobs, as well as Americans struggling with the ongoing affordability crisis and lack of adequate housing supply.\n\nIn closing, we are supportive of the Administration\u2019s goal to strengthen domestic manufacturing and the U.S. forestry industry. However, as trade negotiations continue, we ask that you provide prompt relief to our hardworking forestry product manufacturers so they can thrive now and for years to come. We welcome the opportunity to continue working with the Administration to ensure that the American forest products industry can compete, grow, and prosper. Thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-effort-to-repeal-provision-allowing-lawmakers-to-sue-justice-department-for-phone-surveillance", "King Cosponsors Effort to Repeal Provision Allowing Lawmakers to Sue Justice Department for Phone Surveillance", "2025-11-19", "2025", "2025-11", "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. Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside 27 of his colleagues, has introduced legislation to prevent the special protection of lawmakers in federal investigations. The Anti-Cash Grab Act would repeal a provision \u2014 quietly added at the last minute into the Senate government funding bill \u2014 that would award $500,000 or more in damages to senators whose records were lawfully obtained by the Department of Justice (DOJ) if their cases are successful in a court of law.\n\nThe bill comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee released FBI records related to \u201cArctic Frost,\u201d a 2021 investigation into efforts to overthrow the 2020 election. During the investigation, former Special Counsel Jack Smith legally subpoenaed the phone records of eight Republican senators, as well as hundreds of Republican officials, activists and organizations.\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve transparency and accountability, and that\u2019s what we ought to be delivering \u2014 not sneaking 11th hour provisions into a bill to end the longest running government shutdown in our nation\u2019s history,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Anti-Cash Grab Act makes it crystal clear that lawmakers should not be granted special privileges when federal investigations legally look into their activities. Period. This was a bad faith provision that has created a bipartisan outcry, and I\u2019m urging all my colleagues to support efforts to overturn it.\u201d\n\nThe Anti-Cash Grab Act is sponsored by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI.), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT.), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Brain Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-release-epstein-files", "Golden votes to release Epstein files", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today for H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would require the Department of Justice to publicly release all unclassified materials from its investigation of Jeffrey Epstein. The bill passed the House by a vote of 427-1.\n\nToday\u2019s vote was forced by a discharge petition signed by Golden and a majority of the House after months of resistance from President Trump and House Republican leaders.\n\n\u201cThese files should obviously be released. And it never should have been this hard,\u201d Golden said.\n\nThe Epstein Files Transparency Act mandates the Department of Justice to publish a searchable, downloadable compilation of all its files on Epstein within 30 days. Within 15 days, the Department must report to Congress on any information redacted to protect victims\u2019 personal information and active federal investigations.\n\nGolden has long called for the release of the Epstein files as a means of transparency and accountability. He praised a subpoena against the Department of Justice by a House Oversight subcommittee this summer, and later reiterated the need for a public release while questioning the Trump Administration\u2019s resistance to doing so.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-call-on-majority-leader-thune-to-immediately-bring-epstein-files-transparency-act-to-floor-for-vote", "King, Colleagues Call on Majority Leader Thune to Immediately Bring Epstein Files Transparency Act to Floor for Vote", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "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-ME) today joined dozens of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging Republican leadership to immediately vote on legislation aimed at releasing the Epstein files. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), the Caucus calls on the Majority Leader to bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which passed the House of Representatives earlier today 427-1, to the Senate floor as soon as possible for a vote. The bill would require the Department of Justice to release all documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, ensuring transparency with the American people and justice for the victims.\n\n\u201cAs you know, despite promises from then-candidate Donald Trump, the current Trump Administration DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), President Trump, and his subordinates have obfuscated, misdirected, and obstructed efforts in both the Senate and the House to secure release of the Epstein files. In 2024, President Trump stated on the campaign trail that he would \u201cdeclassify\u201d the Epstein files. Attorney General Bondi, once confirmed by the Senate, indicated that the Epstein client list was \u201csitting on my desk right now to review.\u201d However, President Trump and his Administration have not kept their promises,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cNewly released emails raise serious questions about President Trump\u2019s knowledge of, and possible complicity in, Epstein\u2019s crimes. In 2011, Epstein emailed Maxwell, \u2018that dog that hasn\u2019t barked is trump.. [victim] spent hours at my house with him ,, [sic] he has never once been mentioned.\u2019 In 2019, Epstein again referenced President Trump, stating \u2018of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop.\u2019 These revelations further demonstrate the urgent need for the Trump Administration to provide transparency and release the full Epstein files,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cNow that a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives has responsibly acted to provide transparency on this matter \u2013 we call on you to quickly hold a vote in the U.S. Senate to help deliver the accountability that was promised and that so many Americans are demanding,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Majority Leader Thune:\n\nWe call on you to immediately bring the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 185) to a vote on the Senate floor. This bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 18th with bipartisan support, would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to make documents and records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell publicly available and provide much-needed transparency to the American people.\n\nAs you know, despite promises from then-candidate Donald Trump, the current Trump Administration DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), President Trump, and his subordinates have obfuscated, misdirected, and obstructed efforts in both the Senate and the House to secure release of the Epstein files. In 2024, President Trump stated on the campaign trail that he would \u201cdeclassify\u201d the Epstein files. Attorney General Bondi, once confirmed by the Senate, indicated that the Epstein client list was \u201csitting on my desk right now to review.\u201d3 However, President Trump and his Administration have not kept their promises.\n\nAs Members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Leader Schumer made clear earlier this year in multiple letters to Attorney General Bondi, \u201c[a]fter missteps and failed promises by your Department regarding these [Epstein] files, it is essential that the Trump Administration provide full transparency.\u201d Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Durbin has disclosed that, according to FBI whistleblowers, FBI personnel were instructed to \u201cflag\u201d any Epstein records in which President Trump was mentioned. When Senator Durbin asked Attorney General Bondi about this during a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, Bondi stonewalled, saying, \u201cI\u2019m not going to discuss anything about that with you.\u201d Despite multiple Senate oversight requests and House subpoenas for release of the full and complete Epstein files, DOJ and the FBI have refused to produce any information to the Senate and have failed to provide the complete set of files to the House.\n\nHouse Republican leadership has tried to provide cover for the Trump Administration by not backing efforts to require the documents to be released. Speaker Johnson refused to swear in U.S. Representative Adelita Grijalva for seven weeks to block her from signing the discharge petition that ultimately forced the House vote on the bill.\n\nNewly released emails raise serious questions about President Trump\u2019s knowledge of, and possible complicity in, Epstein\u2019s crimes. In 2011, Epstein emailed Maxwell, \u201cthat dog that hasn\u2019t barked is trump.. [victim] spent hours at my house with him ,, [sic] he has never once been mentioned.\u201d In 2019, Epstein again referenced President Trump, stating \u201cof course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop\u201d. These revelations further demonstrate the urgent need for the Trump Administration to provide transparency and release the full Epstein files.\n\nThe U.S. Senate has the chance to show strong leadership and swiftly pass this legislation. We urge you to promptly proceed to the consideration of H.R. 185 on the Senate floor pursuant to Senate Rule XIV, so that the legislation can be immediately placed on the Senate Calendar.\n\nThe victims of Jeffrey Epstein \u2013 and the American people \u2013 deserve answers, accountability and the truth. So far, they have only seen empty promises from President Trump and his Administration. Now that a majority of the U.S. House of Representatives has responsibly acted to provide transparency on this matter \u2013 we call on you to quickly hold a vote in the U.S. Senate to help deliver the accountability that was promised and that so many Americans are demanding.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-bill-to-restore-federal-workers-union-rights-clears-threshold-to-force-house-action", "Golden\u2019s bill to restore federal workers\u2019 union rights clears threshold to force House action", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 A bipartisan bill by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) to repeal an executive order that stripped federal workers\u2019 union rights is on track for a vote in the House after months of delay by Speaker Mike Johnson.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act of 2025, which has enough cosponsors to indicate it would easily pass a floor vote, has languished since Golden introduced it with Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) in April. In June, Golden launched a discharge petition for the bill, which allows a majority of the House to force a vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of Congress signs it.\n\nToday, GOP Congressmen Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) signed the petition, bringing the total number of signatures to 218 \u2014 the number required to force House action.\n\n\u201cAmerica never voted to eliminate workers\u2019 union rights, and the strong bipartisan support for my bill shows that Congress will not stand idly by while President Trump nullifies federal workers\u2019 collective bargaining agreements and rolls back generations of labor law,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Reps. LaLota and Lawler for bringing this discharge petition over the finish line, and I\u2019m calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a clean, up-or-down vote on this bill.\u201d\n\nThe bill would nullify President Trump\u2019s March 27th Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for roughly 1 million unionized federal employees across several agencies. Since Golden introduced the bipartisan bill in April, it has garnered bipartisan support from 222 members of Congress, including seven Republicans. Five of those Republicans \u2014 Reps. Fitzpatrick, LaLota, Lawler, Don Bacon (NE-02) and Robert Bresnahan (PA-08) \u2014 crossed the aisle to join House Democrats in signing the discharge petition.\n\n\u201cThe labor movement fought back against the largest act of union busting in American history by doing what we do best: organizing. Working people built a bipartisan coalition to restore union rights to federal workers in the face of unprecedented attacks on our freedoms. We commend every Democrat and Republican who signed the discharge petition to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to a vote, but the fight isn\u2019t over,\u201d said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. \u201cIt\u2019s time to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to a vote and restore federal workers\u2019 right to collectively bargain and have a voice on the job.\u201d\n\n\"It is unconscionable that the Trump administration has illegally stripped thousands of federal employees of their right to bargain for fair wages and safe working conditions. The President's executive order is a lawless attack on federal public servants providing crucial services to our nation, from servicing Navy submarines and caring for our veterans to providing Social Security benefits to older Mainers, surviving families and people with disabilities,\u201d said Cynthia Phinney, President of the Maine AFL-CIO. \u201cWe are thrilled that Congressman Jared Golden has been able to collect enough signatures to force a vote on this critical workers\u2019 rights legislation. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership on this issue and thank him for continuing to fight for Maine workers and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cAFGE expresses its profound thanks to Rep. Golden for his herculean efforts to bring the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to the floor for a vote,\u201d said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 800,000 federal employees. \u201cThis bill has been called labor\u2019s top priority in Congress and for good reason \u2013 it seeks to undo the largest loss of collective bargaining rights in U.S. history. The right to speak out in the workplace and have concerns fairly addressed is a human right and a democratic cornerstone. We urge the House to pass the Golden-Fitzpatrick bill without delay.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the AFL-CIO and AFGE, the bill has support from a wide range of unions representing federal employees, including: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-rounds-lead-bipartisan-push-for-release-of-visas-to-support-small-businesses", "King, Rounds Lead Bipartisan Push for Release of Visas to Support Small Businesses", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "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 Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) are leading a bipartisan push for the release of supplemental H-2B seasonal employment visas to support small businesses across the United States. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer that Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) also joined in signing, King, Rounds and their colleagues call on the Administration to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for fiscal year (FY) 2026. H-2B visas fill workforce needs for American small businesses that are unable to hire enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions \u2013 and bipartisan research shows employing these workers boosts wages across the board.\n\nAs required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, the H-2B visa program is seen as a necessary tool to support local economies. With Maine continuing to experience a shortage of seasonal and temporary employees, these nonimmigrant visas provide a lifeline for the economy and ensure small businesses can meet the demand for their products and services.\n\n\u201cThese visas will allow employers to supplement their U.S. workforce to keep their businesses open, as well as provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cChronic labor shortages\u2014faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation\u2019s history\u2014have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce. As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers\u2019 workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that \u201ccounties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.\u201d] Issuing the extra discretionary H-2B visas in a timely manner will help alleviate these workforce shortages and, in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their duties during their peak seasons,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nH-2B workers support American job growth and small businesses, by filling seasonal labor shortages. Bipartisan research has found a direct correlation between increased numbers of H-2B workers and a rise in pay across the board for all employees. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions. H-2B visas fill needs for American small businesses when there are not enough able and willing American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions.\n\n\u201cThe H-2B worker program is vital resource for hotel owners and operators to meet seasonal demands, while also supporting local employment. Each H-2B worker supports about three to five local U.S. jobs. With major events like the World Cup and America 250 on the horizon, we urge the Department of Homeland Security to release supplemental visas immediately so hotels can plan for the influx of travel demand and show the world what American hospitality looks like,\u201d said American Hotel & Lodging President & CEO Rosanna Maietta.\n\nKing and Rounds were joined on the letter by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).\n\nYou can find the letter HERE and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Noem and Secretary Chavez-DeRemer,\n\nWe write on behalf of the seasonal businesses in our states who lack sufficient employees to support their operations and sustain their businesses. In light of these labor shortages, we respectfully urge that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), utilize the authority provided by Congress in the current Continuing Resolution to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B for Fiscal Year 2026. These visas will allow employers to supplement their U.S. workforce to keep their businesses open, as well as provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months.\n\nChronic labor shortages\u2014faced by seasonal U.S. employers throughout the nation\u2019s history\u2014have been exacerbated by the post-pandemic evolution of the American workforce. As this need grows, so does the pressure on U.S. workers, whose employers\u2019 workforce needs cannot be met with American workers alone. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that \u201ccounties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.\u201d Issuing the extra discretionary H-2B visas in a timely manner will help alleviate these workforce shortages and, in doing so, will help create and sustain the jobs of American workers who rely on the H-2B workers to support their duties during their peak seasons.\n\nIt is important to note that supplemental visas are set aside specifically for either returning workers or workers from Northern Central American (NCA) countries. Many returning workers are those who return to their qualified employer each year and are core members of their respective organizations, supplementing and supporting U.S. workers. NCA workers are carved out with a special tranche of visas to help foster regional stability in these impoverished nations. In addition, H-2B workers return to their home country at the end of the season and then use the legal process to return to the qualified U.S. employer for the next season. This exemption for NCA countries was initially introduced during President Trump\u2019s first term, allowing many seasonal businesses to invest in these workers, even as they continue to work with the returning workers eligible under the parameters of the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas.\n\nAn efficient analysis, issuance of a rule, and release of these visas allows the supplemental tranche of H-2B visas to meet the seasonal market demand during the market cycles when they are most needed. We thank you for your continued support\u2014in recognizing the vital benefit to the economy of these seasonal, temporary work visas\u2014and we are hopeful the maximum allowable FY26 supplemental visas will promptly be released pursuant to Congressional authority and in the same manner as in the three previous years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-warn-of-dangerous-spike-in-street-homelessness-if-administration-makes-proposed-changes-to-homelessness-support-system", "King, Colleagues Warn of \u201cDangerous Spike in Street Homelessness\u201d if Administration Makes Proposed Changes to Homelessness Support System", "2025-11-13", "2025", "2025-11", "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-ME) joined dozens of his Senate colleagues urging the Trump Administration to reconsider anticipated changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, federal assistance that provides a wide range of housing and services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In a letter to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner, King his colleagues urged HUD to immediately halt these harmful \u2013 and potentially illegal \u2013 changes that could result in nearly 200,000 Americans being forced back onto the streets.\n\n\u201cHUD must immediately reconsider these harmful and potentially illegal changes that could result in nearly 200,000 older adults, chronically homeless Americans with disabilities, veterans, and families being forced back onto the streets. As Secretary, you have the authority to avoid this worst-case scenario by carrying out the previously planned and Congressionally authorized two-year [Notice of Funding Opportunity], and we strongly urge you to do so expeditiously,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cFor months, we have heard from countless front-line workers, faith-based and non-profit service providers, mayors, and governors who have been frantically attempting to navigate HUD\u2019s actions and anxiously waiting for HUD to provide details around the fiscal year 2025 NOFO changes. For months, our staffs have sent HUD countless questions about its intents and actions around CoC funding that have remained unanswered, undermining Congress\u2019s ability to carry out its legislative and oversight functions. Real people in every community across the country rely on these funds to address homelessness. The funding competition process for fiscal year 2025 has not begun, and with CoC project awards beginning to expire in less than two months, HUD is simply out of time.,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cHUD\u2019s current path risks causing a dangerous spike in street homelessness and creating chaos in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike by forcing nearly 200,000 chronically homeless Americans with disabilities and families back onto the streets. We implore you to make the better choice and expeditiously renew current CoC grants for fiscal year 2025 as authorized by Congress to protect communities and avoid displacing thousands of our nation\u2019s most vulnerable individuals,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and John Fetterman (D-PA).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Turner:\n\nWe write to express our deep concerns regarding the instability the entire homeless support system could face if funding delays, uncertainty, and rushed policy changes continue. Reports indicate that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) intends to issue a new fiscal year 2025 Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and make substantial changes to how funds are awarded. HUD must immediately reconsider these harmful and potentially illegal changes that could result in nearly 200,000 older adults, chronically homeless Americans with disabilities, veterans, and families being forced back onto the streets. As Secretary, you have the authority to avoid this worst-case scenario by carrying out the previously planned and Congressionally authorized two-year NOFO[1], and we strongly urge you to do so expeditiously.\n\nThe Continuum of Care program is the largest source of Federal grant funds for providing a wide range of housing and services for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness that are responsive to local community needs. On September 29, 2025, Politico reported that the Department intends to make wholesale changes to the fiscal year 2025 CoC NOFO.[2] The most troubling of these changes is a new, arbitrary cap on the amount of funds that may be used for permanent housing. Currently, 87 percent of CoC funds support permanent housing, but the new NOFO reportedly limits the amount of funding for permanent housing to only 30 percent. This appears to be in contravention of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act[3], undermines local decision-making authority, and ignores decades of research that has proven that permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing are less costly and more likely to be successful in providing long-term stability than other strategies, particularly for chronically homeless people and families. Today, CoC funds serve over 750,000 Americans experiencing homelessness each year, and every community will feel the impact of this dramatic cut. The cut will be largest for major cities in absolute terms, but rural communities\u2014who experienced a 12 percent increase in homelessness between 2023 and 2024[4] and are more reliant on Federal funding\u2014are likely to feel the impacts most severely[5].\n\nIn your written testimony for the June 2025 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on HUD\u2019s fiscal year 2026 budget request, you stated that your budget aimed to \u201cbetter serve the American people while maintaining necessary assistance for the elderly and disabled.\u201d[6] However, seniors are the fastest-growing demographic among people experiencing homelessness. The share of the homeless population aged 60 years and older in 2020 was 2.6 times higher than it was in 1990.[7] By dramatically cutting funding for permanent housing, tens of thousands of older adults and people with disabilities who currently reside in CoC funded permanent supportive housing could soon lose their homes and lose access to the supportive services they need to take care of their physical and mental health needs.\n\nEach new administration can make policy changes when they take office. While we may not always agree on those policy changes, we should never have to question whether agency officials will faithfully follow the law and work to minimize harm to our constituents and communities when implementing those new policies. Reports of HUD intentionally blocking staff from examining the legality of the fiscal year 2025 NOFO changes with its own attorneys are deeply troubling. We are also concerned by HUD\u2019s lack of communication with grantees, especially as any new NOFO at this point in the year would not provide grantees with adequate time or opportunity to plan for sweeping changes before some projects begin to run out of CoC funds in January 2026. Over the past decade, HUD has always issued the annual CoC NOFO by mid-August and provided on average 82 days for CoCs to develop applications. Without a NOFO published as of November 12, 2025, thousands of CoC project grants that expire between January and June 2026 will be at risk of funding disruptions or shuttering operations.\n\nFurther, HUD has taken several steps since January 20, 2025 to spark chaos and disrupt grantee operations, including applying new and likely illegal conditions to previously awarded CoC grants[8], repeatedly recompeting the fiscal year 2023 CoC Builds funding[9], proposing to eliminate the CoC program altogether[10], repeating rhetoric used by the President to villainize homeless people, and gutting the HUD workforce that implements the CoC and other community development programs[11]. All these actions raise serious questions and concerns about whether HUD is intentionally violating the law to prevent Congressionally appropriated funds from reaching the people and communities they were intended to support.\n\nFor months, we have heard from countless front-line workers, faith-based and non-profit service providers, mayors, and governors who have been frantically attempting to navigate HUD\u2019s actions and anxiously waiting for HUD to provide details around the fiscal year 2025 NOFO changes. For months, our staffs have sent HUD countless questions about its intents and actions around CoC funding that have remained unanswered, undermining Congress\u2019s ability to carry out its legislative and oversight functions. Real people in every community across the country rely on these funds to address homelessness. The funding competition process for fiscal year 2025 has not begun, and with CoC project awards beginning to expire in less than two months, HUD is simply out of time.\n\nThere is a better way forward. Congress already authorized HUD to compete CoC funds on a two-year basis for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, and communities already went through a two-year planning process. The shift to a two-year funding cycle had strong bipartisan support and aimed to reduce the burden on communities and provide greater predictability of funding, and members on both sides of the aisle support this approach.[12] HUD should make the responsible choice to renew current CoC grants, proactively work with communities to promote other proven strategies \u201cbased on research and after notice and public comment\u201d[13], and work to ensure any policy changes meet all legal requirements to avoid more funding delays.\n\nHUD\u2019s current path risks causing a dangerous spike in street homelessness and creating chaos in urban, suburban, and rural communities alike by forcing nearly 200,000 chronically homeless Americans with disabilities and families back onto the streets. We implore you to make the better choice and expeditiously renew current CoC grants for fiscal year 2025 as authorized by Congress to protect communities and avoid displacing thousands of our nation\u2019s most vulnerable individuals.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-reopen-government-continue-bipartisan-negotiations-on-renewing-aca-tax-credits", "Golden votes to reopen government, continue bipartisan negotiations on renewing ACA tax credits", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today for the bipartisan Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government. The legislation passed in the House 222-209.\n\nGolden\u2019s vote supported the reopening of the federal government, and once again gets critical food and heating assistance funds flowing to Mainers who rely on them. Now, with the shutdown ended, Golden called on Congress to take immediate action to extend expiring ACA premium tax credits that keep health insurance plans affordable for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cCongress still has a window to pass bipartisan legislation to extend the ACA premium tax credits,\u201d Golden said. \u201cIn September, I joined a bipartisan coalition in the House to put forth legislation to extend the credits for one year and now, with the shutdown now over, I urge members of both parties who care about affordable health care to come back to the table so we can get the job done.\u201d\n\nIn addition to extending President Biden\u2019s last budget through January 30, 2026, the legislation also passes three of the 12 Fiscal Year (FY26) appropriations bills for the full fiscal year: Agriculture, Legislative Branch; and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs.\n\nThe spending package includes several of Golden\u2019s priorities, including the funding of SNAP through the entirety of FY26, the reversal of the Trump administration\u2019s mass firing of thousands of federal employees during the shutdown, and Golden\u2019s Community Project Funding Requests for the towns of Holden and Surry.\n\n\u201cThe Town of Holden extends its sincere gratitude to our congressional and senatorial leadership for their dedication and bipartisan effort in moving the ball forward to reopen the federal government and ensure the wheels of progress continue to turn for communities across our nation. Their commitment to supporting local governments and investing in infrastructure directly benefits small towns like Holden. We are especially thankful for the funding directed toward constructing a new garage for the Holden Police Department and making vital infrastructure upgrades that will strengthen our community for years to come,\u201d said Benjamin R.K. Breadmore, Town Manager of Holden. \u201cOn behalf of our residents, staff, and Town Council, we thank you for recognizing the importance of investing in public safety and local infrastructure \u2014 key components that keep towns like Holden safe, resilient, and ready for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cSurry is a small town with a large land mass. Wildfires pose a significant risk in our area, especially in dry periods. This new truck is replacing a 40-year-old vehicle. We will soon be able to fight fires more effectively and efficiently,\u201d said Mary Allen, Chair of the Surry Select Board. \u201cRep. Golden and his staff have been concerned with our outdated trucks and agreed to support our efforts to modernize our fire department. The Town of Surry is grateful to Rep. Golden and his staff for their work on our behalf.\u201d\n\nThe House vote follows the Senate\u2019s 60-40 passage of the measure on Monday. Once signed into law by President Trump, it will end the longest federal government shutdown in American history.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nCongressman Golden is an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act. The bill would extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits for one year, creating time for negotiation over a permanent solution to reduce the cost of premiums on the individual marketplace.\n\nGiven the makeup of the Senate, where Republicans need Democratic votes to pass legislation through regular order, bipartisanship is the only path forward to address the looming price spikes on the individual marketplace. Golden\u2019s bill was introduced in September by a coalition that spans members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, the Republican Main Street Caucus, and the bipartisan Problem Solvers\u2019 Caucus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-vote-toward-ending-shutdown-is-the-opening-of-an-opportunity", "King: Vote Toward Ending Shutdown is \u201cThe Opening of an Opportunity\u201d", "2025-11-09", "2025", "2025-11", "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. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today voted to advance debate on a Senate spending bill that could eventually reopen the government in a 60-40 vote. The vote comes as the shutdown became the longest federal government shutdown in American history at 40 days. From federal furloughs to cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding, the shutdown caused incredible harm to Maine families and people across the country.\n\nAt a nationally-televised press conference toward the end of the vote joined by his colleagues Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Senator King shared the following remarks:\n\n\u201cThose of us here, and those of us certainly are participating in the Democratic Caucus, are 100% committed to working on the issue of the ACA premium tax credits and preserving access to healthcare for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cSo, the question before us, before those of us here, who decided to vote yes tonight, the question was, does the shutdown further the goal of achieving some needed support for the extension of the tax credits?\n\n\u201cOur judgment was that it will not produce that result. And the evidence for that is almost seven weeks of fruitless attempts to make that happen. Would it change in a week or another week or after Thanksgiving or Christmas? And there's no evidence that it would.\n\n\u201cWhat there is evidence of is the harm that the shutdown is doing to the country. What it's doing to millions of federal workers, but also what is doing to tens of millions of recipients of SNAP benefits. This is a true crisis for those individuals. Soup kitchens, kitchens can't fill the gap, food pantries can't fill the gap. SNAP is an essential part of the food, the food provision program in this country. So, we were faced with a series of steps that weren\u2019t working to achieve the goal we wanted with regard to the ACA, but it was at the same time creating hardship and difficulty for millions of people across this country.\n\n\u201cSo, I believe that we are closer tonight to a vote on the ACA tax credits than we were this morning. Because part of this agreement, and you heard the Majority Leader on the floor today say he has committed to putting a bill on the floor before the second weekend in December, that would be drafted by the Democrats concerning health care in the ACA.\n\n\u201cThat is a big step, because otherwise there's no way for the minority to get a bill onto the floor of the U.S. Senate. It has to be through the Office of the Majority Leader. So, that was a major step to get the Majority Leader to agree to make that commitment tonight on the Senate floor. After tonight\u2019s vote, we are closer to the possibility of work on the ACA tax credits for the people of this country than we were yesterday, and that we were a week ago, two weeks ago, or a month ago.\n\n\u201cSo, this agreement tonight is a win for the American people, and it's a win for those people that are so insistent that I'm hearing from all the time, protect our health care. Our judgment is the best way to do that is to get a bill on the floor \u2026 and we have that expression from Republican senators who are interested in working on a bill that will deal with the ACA issue and perhaps additional health care issues at the same time.\n\n\u201cSo, what happened tonight is not the closing of a chapter. It's the opening of an opportunity. What the chapter does close is the damaging shutdown that is only getting worse, that is only going to impact more and more people. It\u2019s an opportunity for us to move forward on behalf of all the people of this country on the issue of health care, but also on making the federal government function.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-experts-on-improving-veterans-shifting-to-civilian-life", "King Questions Experts on Improving Veterans Shifting to Civilian Life", "2025-11-06", "2025", "2025-11", "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. Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke with Jared Lyon, National President and Chief Executive Officer of Student Veterans of America, and retired Colonel Barbara Carson, the Managing Director of Programs and Services at Syracuse University\u2019s D\u2019Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, in a hearing of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC) about the importance of ensuring a smooth transition from active duty to veteran status. During the exchange, Senator King offered simple fixes \u2014 such as having servicemembers\u2019 contact information automatically shared with state department of veterans\u2019 affairs so that new veterans can be connected to resources in their home communities \u2014 that would ensure veterans are properly equipped with the information and resources needed to successfully resume civilian life. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), approximately 200,000 servicemembers make the transition to civilian life each year.\n\n\u201cReally what we are talking about is transition,\u201d Senator King began. \u201cI believe the Department of the Defense and the V.A. combined should spend as much time, money, and effort on transition as they do on recruiting. There was a lot of activity, and it has improved recently, but it still is not where it wants to be. There are two or three issues I have been involved with, and I would like your quick thoughts. One is pre-enrolling in V.A. healthcare before you leave active duty. You are nodding. Is that a good idea?\u201d\n\nCaron replied, \u201cYes, senator.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo, there is not that gap,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cSecondly, Form 2648 has a box on it that says, \u2018if you opt-in, [do you] want your contact information shared with a state veterans agency?\u2019 We would like to change that to an opt-out because people often do not check boxes. [We want to] reverse the presumption so that people, unless they object to it, can have their contact [shared with state veterans agency]. My idea is if you get a state veterans organization structure in connection with VSOs, I would like someone to meet the new veteran when they are coming to the airport. That won't happen unless you have this, unless you reverse this presumption. Is that something you think is a good idea?\u201d\n\nLyon answered, \u201cYou can envision the honor flights we have to take the same concept to a newly returning veteran to a community. All politics is local, all transition is local. To the extent we can meet them at the airport that would be phenomenal.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut we can't do it unless we know they are coming, and the only way to know is if their contact info is conveyed. You would support that change?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cWe would support that change, the opt out,\u201d Lyon concluded.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This fall, President Trump signed the bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act into law, legislation championed by Senator King.\n\nSenator King has introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-pressure-trump-administration-to-fully_not-partially--fund-snap-benefits", "King, Colleagues Pressure Trump Administration to Fully \u2014 Not Partially \u2014 Fund SNAP Benefits", "2025-11-04", "2025", "2025-11", "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 After benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for roughly 42 million Americans were stopped over the weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside, 45 of his colleagues, introduced a resolution calling on the Trump Administration to immediately use all congressionally approved funding to keep families from going hungry. Though the Trump Administration relented to court rulings yesterday and announced plans to partially distribute the contingency funds available to them, Senator King and his colleagues reminded the White House of the billions available to them and that half-measures are not sufficient. In Maine, nearly 170,000 people \u2014 over 12 percent of the state \u2014 receive SNAP benefits. Several counties across the state are approaching or surpassing 20 percent of their population relying on these critical benefits.\n\n\u201cAmericans going hungry during a government shutdown is not inevitable \u2014 it\u2019s a choice,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cIn all our history, a government shutdown has never meant that Americans can\u2019t put food on their tables because Congress has appropriated contingency funds for this exact purpose. I\u2019m proud to stand with my colleagues to demand that this Administration fully fund SNAP for the month of November by using the billions of dollars at its disposal. Maine families, children and seniors rely on these critical programs and it\u2019s our responsibility to make sure they receive the help they deserve.\u201d\n\nSNAP benefits lapsed on November 1 because the Administration initially refused to use a SNAP contingency fund of $6 billion previously appropriated by Congress. After two federal judges ruled that SNAP must continue to be funded, the Administration agreed to use the $4.65 billion left in the contingency fund to finance the program. However, the contingency fund will only cover half of SNAP benefits for the month of November, and the Administration is refusing to use additional available funds using an agreement established to spend Section 32 revenue \u2014 which dedicates a portion of tariffs to support the farm sector and nutrition programs \u2014 to fully fund SNAP in the month of November.\n\nLast week, Senator King cosponsored legislation that would prevent the Trump administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the government shutdown. He also cosponsored legislation from Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) that would disburse SNAP benefits after its expiration, but not WIC resources. Last month, Senator King joined 45 of his colleagues in writing a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November.\n\nRead the full resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backed-legislation-would-keep-maine-families-fed-during-government-shutdown", "King-Backed Legislation Would Keep Maine Families Fed During Government Shutdown", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today cosponsored new legislation that would prevent the Trump administration from illegally withholding available funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during the government shutdown. The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act directs the USDA to immediately release billions of dollars in available funds to ensure SNAP and WIC benefits continue uninterrupted, as the nation faces \u201cuncharted territory\u201d that could put America\u2019s most vulnerable at risk. The legislation also requires the federal government to reimburse states for covering SNAP benefits during a shutdown.\n\n\u201cMaine families, children, veterans and seniors shouldn\u2019t have to worry about losing access to food assistance because of political tactics,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cNo one in this country should ever have to choose between paying the electric bill and putting dinner on the table. The Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act is about decency and plain common sense, and it keeps faith with the Maine people who count on us most. In all our history, a shutdown has never meant Americans go hungry \u2014 and it shouldn\u2019t start now.\u201d\n\nBy law, the administration is required to use billions in available funding to keep SNAP benefits flowing in November; guidance from the USDA confirms the authority to use available funding during a shutdown. Nearly 170,000 Maine people \u2014 more than 12 percent of the state\u2019s population \u2014 receive SNAP benefits. Several counties across the state are approaching or surpassing 20 percent of their population relying on these critical benefits. Nationwide, approximately 42 million Americans rely on this critical program. In 2024, over 18,000 Maine people received WIC benefits. As it stands, if the current government shutdown extends into November, nutrition assistance would not be issued.\n\nSenator King has also cosponsored legislation from Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) that would disburse SNAP benefits after Friday\u2019s deadline, but not WIC resources. Last week, Senator King joined 45 of his colleagues in writing a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-strategic-command-nominee-on-presidents-missile-test-claims", "King Questions Strategic Command Nominee on President\u2019s Missile Test Claims", "2025-10-30", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today questioned Vice Admiral Richard Correll, nominee for the rank of Navy Admiral and to serve as Commander of United States Strategic Command, on whether foreign adversaries Russia and China are in the process of testing nuclear weapons. The hearing comes the morning after President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing through a late night announcement on the social media platform Truth Social. During the exchange with Senator King, Vice Admiral Correll confirmed neither country is currently testing nuclear weapons.\n\nSenator King began, \"We have been talking about this phrase the president used yesterday \u2014 I feel like we\u2019re doing Talmudic analysis here of the words \u2014 \u2018Because of other countries\u2019 testing programs, I\u2019ve instructed the Department of War \u2014 Department of Defense \u2014 to start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.\u2019 Are any other countries doing explosive testing of nuclear warheads?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, I want to thank you for the time in your office. I really appreciated your time and the conversation. To my knowledge, the explosive testing, the last explosive nuclear testing was by North Korea, or DPRK (Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea), and that was in 2017 to be publicly confirmed,\u201d replied Vice Admiral Correll.\n\n\u201cBut Russia and China have not done explosives that we know of, is that correct,\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cNo, for China, the last publicly acknowledged test was in 1996,\u201d replied Vice Admiral Correll.\n\nKing continues, quoting the President, \u201c\u2018We are testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis.\u2019 It could be that what he is talking about is delivery systems. Is that not correct? Just recently we learned about the new Sky Fall Russian missile. Is that a reasonable interpretation of what he is saying, rather than explosive testing of weapons.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don't have insight into the president's intent. I agree that could be an interpretation,\u201d responded Vice Admiral Correll.\n\nSenator King concluded, \u201cWe hope that is clarified in the coming days.\u201d\n\nThe last time the United States tested a nuclear weapon was 33 years ago in a 1992 test in Nevada, which is still operated today by the U.S. government but not currently authorized for nuclear weapons testing. In the past two weeks, Russia has confirmed testing of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, held a nuclear readiness drill and tested a nuclear-powered autonomous torpedo \u2014 but a nuclear weapon itself has not been tested. Over the past five years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has roughly doubled China\u2019s nuclear warhead arsenal, but also has not initiated active testing.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King co-leads the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, where he provides oversight on nuclear enterprise and missile defense. The subcommittee provides oversight to ensure the country has a safe, secure, effective, and credible nuclear force. He has previously spoken up about the emerging threats of Russia and China\u2019s development of \u201cnightmare weapon\u201d hypersonic missiles and the need to protect against terrorists obtaining a nuclear weapon. Senator King has been a steady voice on the need to address the growing nuclear capacity of our adversaries. He remains committed to a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile and the longstanding policy and treaty that bans atmospheric, underground, underwater, and exoatmospheric (or high-altitude) explosive testing of nuclear weapons.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-presses-usda-to-immediately-release-billions-in-snap-funds-to-help-feed-maine-families", "King Presses USDA to Immediately Release Billions in SNAP Funds to Help Feed Maine Families", "2025-10-23", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014 Senator Angus King (I-ME) today joined 45 of his colleagues in writing a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November.\n\nNearly 170,000 Maine people \u2014 over 12 percent of the state \u2014 receive SNAP benefits. Several counties across the state are approaching or surpassing 20 percent of their population relying on these critical benefits. Nationwide, approximately 42 million Americans rely on this critical program. As it stands, if the current government shutdown extends into November, nutrition assistance would not be issued.\n\nThe senators began, \u201cWe were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will \u2018run out of money in two weeks.\u2019 In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown,\u201dwrote the senators.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cIn the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA\u2019s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption.\u201d\n\nThis letter is co-signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here or below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nThe Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation\u2019s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.\n\nWe were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will \u201crun out of money in two weeks.\u201d In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.\n\nAmericans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA\u2019s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-trump-administrations-unauthorized-demolition-of-the-historic-east-wing-of-the-white-house", "King Statement on Trump Administration\u2019s Unauthorized Demolition of the Historic East Wing of the White House", "2025-10-23", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration carrying out unauthorized demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House in order to build a $200 million, 90,000 square-foot ballroom:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s desecration of the White House is an insult to the American people and a betrayal of his obligation to safeguard our history and heritage. While each President has left some mark on the building, none has attempted to so drastically alter its fundamental structure and purpose. The proposed outsized ballroom will be twice as big as the entirety of the current White House and cover more than two acres.\n\n\u201cThe White House does not belong to President Trump; it belongs to the American people \u2013 he is but a temporary resident with no right to despoil this iconic landmark on his personal whim. The house was purposefully never intended to be a palace, but rather a residence befitting a democratically-elected leader, and an important symbol of our rejection of the trappings of royalty.\n\n\u201cEchoing Ronald Reagan, my first thought is, \u2018Mr. Trump, don\u2019t tear down this house.\u2019\u201d\n\nOriginally, the Trump Administration claimed the ballroom expansion would not interfere with the existing structure of the White House. Presidents have the authority to make minor changes such as redecorating the private residence and Oval Office, but major structural changes must be reviewed by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). As of October 22, no plans have been filed with the NCPC to demolish the East Wing and build the new structure. Prior to the demolition, the East Wing housed the Office of the First Lady and served as the primary public entrance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-call-out-va-secretary-for-lack-of-responsiveness-during-shutdown", "King, Colleagues Call Out VA Secretary for Lack of Responsiveness During Shutdown", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "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. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), joined members of the Committee to criticize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for unnecessarily ending critical services for veterans during the government shutdown. In a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, King and his colleagues also called out the VA for politicizing the lapse in appropriations to end communication with Congress and halt operations, even though the Department has already been funded in a multi-year appropriations bill that remains unaffected by the current government shutdown.\n\n\u201cCongress has provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with multi-year funding, which ensures a government shutdown has minimal impact on veterans\u2019 health care and benefits,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThat is why we are deeply concerned that your Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) refuses to initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional inquiries on behalf of our veteran constituents. Every single day, veterans and their families come to our offices for help in getting their health care and benefits from VA. Often, they come to us as their last resort. We take those concerns or their specific cases directly to VA and advocate on their behalf. Thus, any delay in responding to this outreach or dispatching their cases will cause harm to the veterans we serve\u2026The Department must revisit this prioritization scheme and dedicate sufficient staff and resources necessary to accomplish the task of responding in a timely manner to ALL constituent casework requests initiated by Congress.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201c\u2026[W]e know that previous administrations planned to continue dispatching and responding to congressional inquiries during government shutdowns by utilizing non-furloughed employees. The fact that VA has chosen not to prioritize communication with Congress on policy matters is clearly a leadership decision and a direct affront to our constitutional duty to oversee the work of the Department.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo make matters worse, it appears that leaders within your Department have used congressionally appropriated funds to send politically charged messages to veterans and VA staff about the shutdown in what seem to be clear violations of the Hatch Act. We remind you and your leadership team that we are tracking these violations and taking them very seriously. While the Trump Administration may not enforce the Hatch Act currently, we will not hesitate to investigate these violations,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nJoining King on this letter are U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and U.S. Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Herb Conaway (D-NJ), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL).\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nMost recently, Senator King\u2019s legislation to improve customer service at the VA was signed into law by the President. He also introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the lawmakers\u2019 letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Mr. Secretary:\n\nWe write to urge you to reverse your weaponization of the current lapse in appropriations and restore vital congressional communications to ensure our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve, which are covered by multi-year appropriations and should not be affected by the current shutdown.\n\nCongress has provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with multi-year funding, which ensures a government shutdown has minimal impact on veterans\u2019 health care and benefits. That is why we are deeply concerned that your Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs (OCLA) refuses to initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional inquiries on behalf of our veteran constituents. Every single day, veterans and their families come to our offices for help in getting their health care and benefits from VA. Often, they come to us as their last resort. We take those concerns or their specific cases directly to VA and advocate on their behalf. Thus, any delay in responding to this outreach or dispatching their cases will cause harm to the veterans we serve.\n\nWe understand that a lapse in appropriations requires certain nonessential functions to cease. However, it is imperative that the Department continue to be fully open, transparent and communicative with elected representatives in Congress. This is why we find the October 2, 2025, communication from OCLA Assistant Secretary Don Bergin to our Committees so troubling.\n\nNot only does it show a lack of commitment to the relationship with Congress in overseeing the work that we have mandated to continue during a shutdown, but it also diminishes the role of Senators and Representatives in protecting the health and welfare of our veterans, a concern which we know you share. And nowhere is this lack of prioritization more acutely felt than with respect to casework submitted to OCLA by Member offices. While we understand that, according to Assistant Secretary Bergin, \u201c\u2026casework involving the health and welfare of veterans will be prioritized\u2026\u201d during this lapse in appropriations, it is difficult to rationalize how EVERY veteran-related casework would not be categorized as necessary to protect the life and property of veterans. The Department must revisit this prioritization scheme and dedicate sufficient staff and resources necessary to accomplish the task of responding in a timely manner to ALL constituent casework requests initiated by Congress.\n\nMoreover, we are troubled that Assistant Secretary Bergin asserts that, \u201cVA cannot initiate, dispatch, or respond to congressional request\u2026\u201d during this shutdown. The use of the word \u201ccannot\u201d is likely intentional in this context. It is also greatly misleading. We know that OCLA has carryover funding at its disposal during this shutdown and may choose which activities to prioritize with that funding. Additionally, we know that previous administrations planned to continue dispatching and responding to congressional inquiries during government shutdowns by utilizing non-furloughed employees. The fact that VA has chosen not to prioritize communication with Congress on policy matters is clearly a leadership decision and a direct affront to our constitutional duty to oversee the work of the Department.\n\nTo make matters worse, it appears that leaders within your Department have used congressionally appropriated funds to send politically charged messages to veterans and VA staff about the shutdown in what seem to be clear violations of the Hatch Act. We remind you and your leadership team that we are tracking these violations and taking them very seriously. While the Trump Administration may not enforce the Hatch Act currently, we will not hesitate to investigate these violations.\n\nTo that end, we respectfully request the following information as soon as possible:\n\nPlease provide us with a \u201cstatus of funds\u201d report for the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, along with a specific breakdown of prior fiscal year carryover and a delineation of which activities within OCLA this funding has been dedicated toward.\n\nPlease provide a breakdown of current staffing levels within OCLA, disaggregated by function. Additionally, we would like a breakdown of how many staff have left OCLA since January 3, 2025, disaggregated by reason for their departure to include retirement (regular or VERA), Delayed Resignation Program, termination, reassignment or other.\n\nAccording to Assistant Secretary Bergin\u2019s message, OCLA staff is \u201c\u2026committed to working on government shutdown activities.\u201d Please provide a detailed description of those activities, along with a list of which specific staff are assigned what duties during this shutdown.\n\nWhich if any staff of OCLA are involved in planning for the White House\u2019s planned Reductions in Force during this lapse in appropriations, which appear to violate the law?\n\nWhich if any staff of OCLA have been involved in the shutdown-related messages sent to employees and veterans on behalf of the Department in apparent violation of the Hatch Act?\n\nIt has come to our attention that information has continued to be shared with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (HVAC) Majority, which has not been shared with either the HVAC Minority or the Senate Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs Majority and Minority, even after the shutdown commenced, contrary to Mr. Bergin\u2019s message. Please provide us with all communications sent to the HVAC Majority of which the Minority was not copied or provided.\n\nMr. Secretary, we respect that you have the difficult task of maintaining access to care and benefits during an uncertain funding environment. However, it is crucial that you view the Congress as a partner in this effort, and not the enemy. Therefore, we encourage you to continue robust communication with Congress and dedicate sufficient time, both staff and your own, to the task.\n\nThank you in advance for your attention to this matter. And we look forward to your timely response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-king-backed-legislation-supporting-maine-economy-and-strengthening-national-security", "Senate Passes King-Backed Legislation Supporting Maine Economy and Strengthening National Security", "2025-10-10", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014 Today, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 77-20 vote. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), had previously worked with his colleagues to secure strong investments in Maine\u2019s economy and America\u2019s national defense. This legislation will support servicemembers and their families and boost the Maine economy through support for the hundreds of businesses that serve the military\u2019s technological and manufacturing needs. Earlier this year, Senator King led the Senate Armed Services Committee in supporting bipartisan measures for the finalized legislation that passed out of committee.\n\nThe legislation includes several provisions that Senator King backed, including: support for servicemembers an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer for Bath Iron Works (BIW), a comprehensive new approach to monitoring brain health, aggressive policies to strengthen America\u2019s cybersecurity, provisions to address the security threats posed by artificial intelligence, and measures to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country. The bill will now be conferenced with the House of Representatives before heading to the President\u2019s desk for signature.\n\n\u201cFor over six decades, Congress has taken a bipartisan approach to ensure that America\u2019s military and defense forces have the training and equipment to carry out their missions and protect our interests at home and abroad. This year, the Senate is continuing that tradition in passing a defense bill for the Department of Defense (DoD) that will make our nation safer and stronger,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cAs our country faces some of its greatest challenges, the bill makes important investments in Maine people and businesses that are critical to the safety and security of our country.\n\n\u201cThere are many important provisions in this legislation \u2013 including support for troops and their families, investment in Maine research, and needed oversight of the Department of Defense,\u201d continued Senator King. \u201cAll told, this year\u2019s defense bill will make our country safer, strengthen our economy, and support the men and women who fight for our freedoms.\u201d\n\nThe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 includes King-backed provisions to:\n\nINVEST IN MAINE SHIPBUILDING AND INSTALLATIONS.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA authorizes $5.4 billion for two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including one that Bath Iron Works will build beyond the previously approved funding in the continuing resolution. $450 million in additional funding is provided for investments in shipyard infrastructure that will also benefit Bath Iron Works and Huntington Ingalls.\n\nThis legislation also authorizes the funding for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) modernization efforts \u2013 including the final phase of funding for the Dry Dock extension that will allow PNSY to continue to maintain the Navy\u2019s submarine fleet.\n\nThe bill includes an effort co-sponsored by Senator King that empowers shipyards across the country to make their own hiring decisions based on the workforce needs of their property and not leave these determinations for military officials to make from a distance.\n\nPREVENT AND PROTECT BRAIN HEALTH. Included in this legislation is a report specifically requested by Senator King to protect servicemembers from blast exposure and address TBI through weapons sensor development led by a Maine business. Also included is a provision encouraging the DOD to maintain robust oversight and ensure timely implementation of suicide prevention recommendations, particularly those of the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee.\n\nHELP ADDRESS HOUSING ALLOWANCE SHORTFALLS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS. The FY26 NDAA will require the DOD to publish how housing allowances are calculated, what housing types are covered, and to pilot a new calculation method based on rental costs by bedroom size. This is on the heels of last year\u2019s Defense bill which increased Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. Maine servicemembers including members of the Coast Guard will benefit.\n\nIMPROVE THE \u201cWARM HANDOFF\u201d SHIFT FROM ACTIVE DUTY TO CIVILIAN. Included in this bill is a signature priority of Senator King\u2019s that improves sharing of information between the Defense Department and State Veterans Agencies. Maine Bureau of Veterans Services advocated for this reform that will impact all servicemembers and help address the proven high-risk period when servicemembers leave the military.\n\nSUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. The FY26 NDAA reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to assist Ukraine in maintaining a credible defense and deterrence capability and to bolster defense and security cooperation with Ukraine to build a Ukrainian military that is capable of defending Ukraine and deterring future aggression.\n\nENHANCE DETERRENCE THROUGH CYBERSECURITY. The bill includes the King-led provision to require the DOD create a credible cyber deterrent strategy against cyberattacks by mid-2026.\n\nMODERNIZE OUR NUCLEAR DETERRENT. As Cochairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senator King is a Congressional leader working to ensure the bipartisan effort to provide oversight of strategic programs from the nuclear triad to missile defense. Sen King advocated to include important provisions addressing nuclear non-proliferation were included. The bill strengthens the nuclear triad and nuclear command and control including cyber protections and addressing concerns with artificial intelligence. The bill also includes important oversight of the NNSA and nuclear modernization programs, and missile defense programs to help address cost and defense industrial base concerns.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-ukraines-defense-against-russia-proving-modern-value-of-drone-warfare", "King: Ukraine\u2019s Defense Against Russia Proving Modern Value of Drone Warfare", "2025-10-09", "2025", "2025-10", "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. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), questioned General Kenneth Wilsbach, nominee to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force, on the importance of prioritizing America\u2019s drone warfare capabilities, as well as supporting technologies such as 3-D printing to drive down production costs. During the exchange, Senator King highlighted Ukraine\u2019s extensive use of drones for aerial reconnaissance and attacks and noted that the United States military should be investing similarly in the unmanned warfighting technology. General Wilsbach agreed with Senator King\u2019s assessment, calling it a useful military tactic.\n\n\u201cA question about drones: to me it underlines the cumbersomeness of our military procurement system\u2026.Ukraine is now producing 200,000 drones a month at an average price of $500. We don't have remotely that capacity here. And I believe we are missing, I think, the major lesson of Ukraine, which is the importance of drone warfare. I would hope that this might be, again, a place of new emphasis. Not only defensive, which you have mentioned, but also offensive. I find it astounding what the Ukrainians have been able to do. Think of that, 200,000 drones produced a month, average cost $500. We've got to have a major initiative in this area, in my view. Do you agree,\u201d asked Senator King.\n\nGeneral Wilsbach replied, \u201cI do, senator. And we have come to the same lessons learned that you have, that this is a tactic that would be useful for us, and it creates massive dilemmas for your adversary, because they have to honor those 200,000 a month. They don't know what they are up to. They might have a weapon on them, there might be a decoy, but they have to honor them, and you end up overwhelming their defenses, and then you eventually get one to the target and you achieve objectives. We\u2019re learning that lesson, and by the way, 3D printing \u2014 you can 3-D print one-way attack drones at scale. So, we should invest in that, I believe.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Senator King has previously spoken up about the emerging threats of Russia and China\u2019s development of \u201cnightmare weapon\u201d hypersonic missiles. He previously urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies and encouraged the (DoD) to reevaluate its acquisition process of defense technologies. Senator King has also been a strong advocate for the use of 3-D printing. He previously supported a $2.8 million congressionally-directed spending award to UMaine for 3-D print wind turbine blades, as well as the use of the 3D printer to create two logistics vessels for the U.S. Department of Defense.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-shares-updated-thoughts-on-the-ongoing-federal-government-shutdown", "King Shares Updated Thoughts on the Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown", "2025-10-08", "2025", "2025-10", "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 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement providing an update to the ongoing federal government shutdown:\n\n\u201cThe imminent expiration of the tax credits which make health insurance affordable for millions (including tens of thousands in Maine) is a totally avoidable crisis. They could and should have been extended earlier this year when the Republican-only tax bill was passed\u2014which extended (and made permanent) tax breaks for billionaires.\n\n\u201cBut it didn\u2019t happen and the dramatic increase in health insurance premiums will hit in the next several weeks.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I have been working intensely with Senators on both sides of the aisle to find a solution to this problem while at the same time trying get us out of the current increasingly dangerous government shutdown, so far without success.\n\n\u201cI intend to continue that work and as long as there are Republican Senators willing to talk, I\u2019ll be at the table\n\n\u201cBut as serious as the health insurance crisis is, I believe the shutdown itself and the additional powers it conveys to Donald Trump and his henchmen, is the greater risk. The greatest challenge our country faces right now is the accelerating slide toward authoritarianism. Troops in our cities, ignoring the law, defying the courts, trampling on the free press, weaponizing the legal system, and more examples everyday, have brought our country to the most dangerous moment in my lifetime.\n\n\u201cAnd this shutdown has the potential to make all this worse by further empowering Donald Trump, Steven Miller, and Russell Vought.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I have decided to stick with my vote to reopen the government rather than continue the shutdown in the hopes of coming to a resolution on health insurance. This is not an easy decision\u2014made more so by the Republicans\u2019 refusal to even discuss the health insurance issue\u2014but in the end, I have determined that preserving our democracy has to be the highest priority.\n\n\u201cI hope I\u2019m wrong about this risk, but the stakes are too high to take that chance.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-government-shutdown", "Golden statement on government shutdown", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement regarding the government shutdown, which began at 12:01 a.m. today because of Congress\u2019 failure to enact legislation funding continued government operations:\n\n\u201cThis government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president. This fight is ostensibly about health care, so let me be clear: I opposed the GOP\u2019s Medicaid cuts and I want to extend the ACA tax credits. But some of my colleagues in the majority party have reasonable concerns about tax credits going to high-income households. There\u2019s room and time to negotiate. But normal policy disagreements are no reason to subject our constituents to the continued harm of this shutdown.\u201d\n\nCongressman Golden has published an FAQ on his website with information regarding the effects of the government shutdown on Mainers. The FAQ will be updated as more information becomes available on how President Trump is implementing the lapse in government funding across federal agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-votes-to-block-trump-administration-attempt-to-gut-the-federal-government-and-essential-services", "King Votes to Block Trump Administration Attempt to Gut the Federal Government and Essential Services", "2025-09-30", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) voted to keep the government open because a shutdown will give President Trump the ability to do far greater damage \u2013 plans he shared in public comments earlier today. A full statement can be found below:\n\n\u201cI just came from the Senate floor where I took one of the most difficult votes I've taken since I've been in the Senate. I voted to keep the government open for a continuing resolution. The irony of this vote is, many feel that this was an opportunity to stand up to Donald Trump, to vote no and to fight back.\n\n\u201cThe irony \u2013 the paradox is \u2013 by shutting the government, we're actually giving Donald Trump more power. And that was why I voted yes. I did not want to hand Donald Trump and Russell Vought and Stephen Miller additional power to decimate the federal government, to decimate the programs that are so important to so many people.\n\n\u201cHere is what Donald Trump said just this afternoon: \u2018We can do things during a shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them. He means the Democrats like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like. We can do things medically in other ways, including benefits we can cut numbers of people out.\u2019\n\n\u201cMaya Angelou once said, \u2018If someone tells you who they are, you should believe them.\u2019 Donald Trump, in this quote, tells us what he plans to do if there's a shutdown and it will not be good for the American people. This was a difficult vote, but in the end, I could not, in good conscience, vote to shut the government down and hand even greater power to the trio of Donald Trump, Stephen Miller and Russell Vought. This was a vote of conscience on behalf of the State of Maine and the people of the United States.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/maine-delegation-urges-department-of-education-to-continue-funding-usm-umf-upward-bound-programs", "Maine Delegation Urges Department of Education to Continue Funding USM, UMF Upward Bound Programs", "2025-09-26", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging her to reverse the Department of Education\u2019s decision to terminate funding for two federally funded TRIO Upward Bound programs in Maine: the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the River Valley Upward Bound Program at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). The TRIO Upward Bound program helps prepare low-income and first-generation students for success in higher education by providing academic support, mentoring, and other college readiness services. Both the USM and UMF programs were awarded five-year TRIO grants in 2022 and expected funding to continue through 2027, but the Department recently notified them that funding would end prematurely on September 30, 2025. Both programs have filed formal requests for reconsideration.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s decision to terminate funding for these Upward Bound programs is deeply upsetting, and the negative impact on the students enrolled in these two programs cannot be overstated,\u201d the Delegation wrote.\n\n\u201cUpward Bound has proven its effectiveness in the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students who often face barriers to accessing a college education,\u201d they continued. \u201cWe have seen the lives of many young people changed by the TRIO program. In fact, some of our own staff members went through TRIO and tell us that they would not have pursued higher education but for the support and opportunities it provided.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than terminate funding after the third year of this five-year grant, we urge you to use all available authorities to work with these programs and allow them to operate with continued funding in full compliance with the current Administration\u2019s priorities. Given the importance of these TRIO programs to the students they serve, we are hopeful you will work with them achieve this outcome,\u201d the Delegation concluded.\n\nThe Veterans Upward Bound Program at USM currently serves 125 veterans and has a waitlist of additional veterans seeking services. Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the nation. The River Valley Upward Bound Program at UMF serves roughly 60 students in Oxford County and, together with a partner program, supports 139 students across 14 high schools in Maine.\n\nThere are six other Upward Bound programs in the university system that have already received their continuation awards.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-urges-department-of-education-to-continue-funding-usm-umf-upward-bound-programs", "Maine Delegation Urges Department of Education to Continue Funding USM, UMF Upward Bound Programs", "2025-09-26", "2025", "2025-09", "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 U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging her to reverse the Department of Education\u2019s decision to terminate funding for two federally funded TRIO Upward Bound programs in Maine: the Veterans Upward Bound Program at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the River Valley Upward Bound Program at the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF). The TRIO Upward Bound program helps prepare low-income and first-generation students for success in higher education by providing academic support, mentoring, and other college readiness services. Both the USM and UMF programs were awarded five-year TRIO grants in 2022 and expected funding to continue through 2027, but the Department recently notified them that funding would end prematurely on September 30, 2025. Both programs have filed formal requests for reconsideration.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s decision to terminate funding for these Upward Bound programs is deeply upsetting, and the negative impact on the students enrolled in these two programs cannot be overstated,\u201d the Delegation wrote.\n\n\u201cUpward Bound has proven its effectiveness in the lives of countless first-generation and low-income students who often face barriers to accessing a college education,\u201d they continued. \u201cWe have seen the lives of many young people changed by the TRIO program. In fact, some of our own staff members went through TRIO and tell us that they would not have pursued higher education but for the support and opportunities it provided.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than terminate funding after the third year of this five-year grant, we urge you to use all available authorities to work with these programs and allow them to operate with continued funding in full compliance with the current Administration\u2019s priorities. Given the importance of these TRIO programs to the students they serve, we are hopeful you will work with them achieve this outcome,\u201d the Delegation concluded.\n\nThe Veterans Upward Bound Program at USM currently serves 125 veterans and has a waitlist of additional veterans seeking services. Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the nation. The River Valley Upward Bound Program at UMF serves roughly 60 students in Oxford County and, together with a partner program, supports 139 students across 14 high schools in Maine.\n\nThere are six other Upward Bound programs in the university system that have already received their continuation awards.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-king-collins-celebrate-national-lobster-day", "Senators King, Collins Celebrate National Lobster Day", "2025-09-25", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins are celebrating Maine\u2019s iconic lobster industry after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution recognizing September 25, 2025 as \u201cNational Lobster Day.\u201d The resolution recognizes the crustacean as a foundational part of Maine\u2019s economy and culture, as well as highlights the environmental and economic impact of this important industry.\n\n\u201cLobsters are synonymous with Maine\u2019s identity, history, and culture,\u201d said Senator King and Collins. \u201cFueling the lobster\u2019s iconic status are the hardworking men and women who wake up early every morning in towns across our coastline to carry on the proud lobstering tradition. Together, they work to ensure the long-term health, resiliency, and sustainability of our waters. Today is an opportunity to not only honor Maine\u2019s favorite crustacean, but to also recognize the success of our lobstermen and women who contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to our local economy, bringing immeasurable pride to our great state.\u201d\n\n\u201cNational Lobster Day is a chance to honor the tradition and impact of Maine Lobster \u2014 an industry that has sustained generations of families and coastal communities,\u201d said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. \u201cWe\u2019re grateful to Senator King and his office for recognizing the hardworking men and women who make this fishery possible and for helping ensure Maine Lobster remains a source of pride for Maine and a favorite on tables nationwide.\u201d\n\nLobster is a top economic driver for the state of Maine, and in 2024, the industry brought in over $709,000,000. Senators King and Collins have been top advocates for the Maine lobster industry, securing more than $1.9 million for lobster research in 2024 to address critical knowledge gaps and improve fisheries. In 2022, Senators Collins and King secured a provision in the annual appropriations spending bill which included a regulatory reprieve to protect Maine\u2019s sustainable lobster industry from misguided regulations that would have been devastating for the industry.\n\nRead the full resolution here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-urges-regulators-to-drop-unnecessary-new-ropeless-lobster-gear-proposal", "Golden urges regulators to drop unnecessary new ropeless lobster gear proposal", "2025-09-23", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is urging the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) to abandon a proposed regulatory framework that would push Maine lobstermen toward using costly, unproven ropeless or on-demand gear.\n\nThe framework, independent of ongoing work authorized by Congress to study the necessity and viability of such gear, would greenlight its use in some or all federal waters off the coast of New England. The NEFMC will consider it at its upcoming meeting on September 25.\n\nIn a Monday letter to NEFMC\u2019s executive Director, Dr. Cate O\u2019Keefe, Golden called the proposal \u201cpremature and unnecessary\u201d and noted that it flies in the face of Congress\u2019s clear intent in pausing these kinds of regulatory changes until 2028.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobstermen are facing tremendous uncertainty, with various agencies operating in parallel considering new regulations that would fundamentally alter what it looks like to haul traps off the coast of Maine,\u201d Golden said. \u201cCongress enacted a moratorium on requiring this kind of gear, and that moratorium is still in effect while more data is gathered and studied. This framework, if adopted, would muddy the waters about what is required of Maine\u2019s harvesters, and there\u2019s no need for it.\u201d\n\nCongress\u2019 2023 budget included a provision championed by Golden and the rest of Maine\u2019s federal delegation that paused the development of new gear requirements until 2028. The law also empowered the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) by giving it more time to determine what new regulations \u2014 if any \u2014 are needed. Work is already underway at the federal and state levels to compile and assess relevant data and craft solutions.\n\n\u201cIf adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress,\u201d Golden wrote in his letter.\n\nMaine fishermen have consistently raised concerns about the viability of ropeless and on-demand gear, including a lack of reliable testing, the lack of interoperability between various manufacturers of ropeless systems, and the high cost it would require of the small, independent businesses that make up Maine\u2019s lobster industry.\n\n\u201cForcing unproven ropeless gear onto our industry without reliable testing, interoperability or regard for safety would devastate small operators and coastal communities,\u201d said Dustin Delano, chief strategist of policy and operations at the New England Fisheries Stewardship Association. \u201cNEFSA stands with Congressman Golden in calling on the Council to respect congressional intent and reject this framework. Our fishermen deserve regulations rooted in sound science and practical realities, not politically driven experiments that threaten the survival of America\u2019s historic fisheries.\u201d\n\nThe Maine Lobstering Union Local 207 also opposed the NEFMC's proposed framework.\n\n\"There are still so many questions about this technology, but there's one thing we know for sure: If we had to adopt it today, it would put Maine fishermen out of business,\" said Ginny Olsen, executive liaison and political director of the Maine Lobstering Union.\n\nGolden\u2019s letter is included in full below, and can also be found here.\n\n###\n\nDr. Cate O\u2019Keefe\n\nExecutive Director\n\nNew England Fisheries Management Council\n\n50 Water Street, Mill 2\n\nNewburyport, MA 01950\n\nDear Dr. O\u2019Keefe,\n\nI am writing to share my strong opposition to the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework (Framework) that will be considered by the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC) at its September 25th meeting. This premature and unnecessary proposal ignores congressional intent and could adversely impact the livelihoods of thousands of Maine fishermen that I represent.\n\nAs you are aware, Congress, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L. 117-328), paused the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) until December 31, 2028. This provision was included out of the dire need to preserve the existence of our nation\u2019s lobster fishery and to provide both state and federal regulators with more time to improve the data that informs the future management of this resource. In response to this congressional directive, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) delayed its own process until 2026, with no new rulemaking expected before 2028 in order to fully incorporate additional science and analyses. If adopted, the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework would not only undermine the TRT process and confuse fishery stakeholders, but it would also defy the explicit will of Congress.\n\nAdditionally, it appears to me that this Framework pushes the lobster fishery into utilizing ropeless or on-demand fishing gear despite the lack of reliable testing of this technology and potential risks to crew safety. There are also numerous outstanding issues raised by fishermen regarding gear reliability and the potential for conflicts between the lobster industry and other fisheries that will not use this same gear but occupy the same waters. The technology does not yet exist to enable interoperability between the various manufacturers of these ropeless systems, and the excessive replacement costs that small operators would incur to replace lost equipment have yet to be addressed. In an industry already struggling with narrow financial margins and regulatory uncertainty, these are not trivial concerns. Absent more robust testing and input from fishing stakeholders, adopting the Framework could put thousands of fishermen out of business and destroy the communities along Maine\u2019s coast whose economies depend on a viable fishery.\n\nFor these reasons, I urge you to reject the Joint Alternative Gear-Marking Framework and instead adopt Alternative 1A. Doing so will ensure that the NEFMC is adhering to congressional intent and reassure the fishing industry that you will pursue an approach that is grounded in sound science and the lived realities of those whose livelihoods would be most impacted.\n\nI appreciate your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-combat-political-redistricting-abuse", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Combat Political Redistricting Abuse", "2025-09-22", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA), is introducing legislation to combat partisan efforts to gerrymander congressional districts ahead of the next census in 2030. The Redistricting Reform Act would prohibit states from mid-decade redistricting and would require every state to adopt a nonpartisan, independent redistricting commission (IRC), similar to the advisory commission that Maine currently uses. The legislation comes amid partisan efforts to redraw congressional districts ahead of the competitive 2026 midterm elections, particularly in Texas and California.\n\n\u201cAbusing the redistricting process is one of the most serious threats to democracy and our Constitution,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cNot only does partisan and off-schedule redistricting damage and disenfranchise American citizens\u2019 fundamental right to vote, but it also contributes to rising polarization in Congress and further diminishes public faith in our political process. I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this critical piece of legislation that will ensure the American people are accurately represented by their elected officials and hope that we can begin to discourage hyper partisan politics. Voters should choose their officials, not the other way around.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Redistricting Reform Act would require IRCs to have 15 commissioners, evenly divided into three groups \u2014 majority party, the minority party and unaffiliated/minor party. The composition of each commission would be representative of the state\u2019s demographic and geographic diversity, with enough members from racial, ethnic, and language minority communities to allow meaningful participation in the redistricting process.\n\nTo comply with the legislation, each state redistricting plan must:\n\nComply with the U.S. Constitution;\n\nComply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and all applicable federal laws;\n\nEnsure minorities receive equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect their preferred candidates; and\n\nRespect communities of interest, including shared interests and representational needs based on common ethnic, racial, economic, Tribal, social, cultural, geographic, or historic identities, or arising from similar socioeconomic conditions.\n\nUnder the bill, IRCs may not unduly favor or disfavor a party on a statewide basis and cannot use political data for determining districts, except to make sure that any plan complies with the first three criteria above to ensure it does not lead to partisan political bias. The legislation also mandates that IRCs hold at least three noticed public hearings and receive a majority vote, including a vote from all three political affiliation subgroups, before enacting a plan. A three-judge court would help ensure IRCs are established by the necessary deadlines and enact their plans in line with the required deadline and public engagement opportunities. The bill also affords the U.S. Attorney General and private citizens the right to sue to remedy IRC issues that arise.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\nSenator King has long championed increasing civic engagement and historical literacy, especially among younger Americans. As a former member of the Senate Rules Committee, he previously introduced a bipartisan bill, the Civics Secure Democracy Act, which would make a $1 billion annual investment in civics and history at K-12 and higher education institutions across the country. He also introduced bipartisan legislation to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day to encourage school districts nationwide to help high school seniors register to vote. Most recently, he introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-avoid-harmful-government-shutdown-pledges-continued-work-to-prevent-health-care-price-spikes", "Golden votes to avoid harmful government shutdown, pledges continued work to prevent health care price spikes", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today voted in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep government funded until November 21, preventing a government shutdown on October 1, when the current funding law expires.\n\nUnlike many previous stopgap funding bills, the CR contains no major changes to federal policies, programs or current spending levels. The bill passed the House 217-212.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of important work to be done in Congress, none of which will be any easier if Mainers are suffering the harms of a government shutdown,\u201d Golden said. \u201cAt the top of my mind are critical conversations around the need to prevent health care price spikes and lost coverage for millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cWith the Republican trifecta, there's no path forward on health care without GOP support. That\u2019s why I remain focused on my bipartisan effort to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that make coverage affordable for Mainers,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis clean, short-term CR will keep the lights on and give us more time to set policies and funding levels for the future.\u201d\n\nA federal government shutdown would have immediate effects on Mainers, particularly the more than 11,000 federal employees who would be either furloughed or forced to work without pay. Acadia National Park would likely be forced to close, jeopardizing the shoulder season for small businesses and workers, while federal food assistance, housing assistance, small business support and other programs could be paused.\n\nA shutdown also would give President Donald Trump and the executive branch extraordinary leeway in determining which aspects of government are \u201cessential,\u201d and which can be shuttered.\n\nMeanwhile, Mainers are facing massive health care cuts as a result of the partisan reconciliation bill enacted by Republicans this summer. The most immediate concern is spiking premiums on track to hit tens of thousands of Mainers who buy health insurance on the state\u2019s individual marketplace, coverME.gov, when enhanced premium tax credits expire in January.\n\nRoughly 85 percent of Mainers who buy coverage on the marketplace use tax credits to help afford their coverage. If Congress does not act, those Mainers face a $180 average monthly premium increase in January, with rural Mainers aged 60-64 facing the sharpest increase.\n\nGolden is leading efforts to extend the tax credits through 2026.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-urge-administration-to-continue-issuing-paper-checks-for-americans", "King, Colleagues Urge Administration to Continue Issuing Paper Checks for Americans", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is leading several of his Congressional colleagues in urging the leaders of the Treasury Department and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to delay the implementation of a federal executive order requiring the federal government to eliminate paper checks. President Trump issued an Executive Order requiring the Treasury Department to stop issuing paper checks by September 30 for all payments across the federal government \u2013 including Social Security benefits, vendor payments, tax refunds, and more. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and OMB Director Russell Vought written by Senator King and signed by the Maine Delegation as well as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the lawmakers share how cutting off access to paper checks will disproportionately affect older and rural Americans \u2014 as well as the domestic forest products industry \u2014 if not implemented in a strategic manner.\n\nThousands of individuals rely on paper checks \u2014 many of whom live in rural areas, or may be elderly, disabled, or low-income. Although individuals can apply for a waiver to receive paper checks, the process is needlessly bureaucratic and there is little information if the Department of Treasury office has the workforce available to process waivers applications. It is also unclear as to whether those with existing waivers will need to re-apply to maintain the status quo and if people need to apply for multiple waivers across different agencies.\n\n\u201cThe domestic forest products industry manufactures over $435 million worth of products and directly employs more than 925,000 people across the country, many of whom live in rural areas,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThis industry produces essential items that Americans use every day, from paper to packaging. As you know, E.O. 14247, issued on March 25, 2025, requires the Treasury Department to stop issuing paper checks for all payments across the federal government, including benefits payments, vendor payments, and tax refunds, by September 30, 2025. We believe that digital delivery and paper checks can exist in a complementary manner. Not only do paper checks support our domestic pulp and paper industry, many individuals and businesses do not have access to digital financial services and rely solely on paper checks.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cWe are concerned that the accelerated implementation schedule of E.O. 14247 does not provide adequate time for our constituents to transition to electronic payments and may impede them from receiving their hard-earned benefits and other critical payments from the federal government. Over 5 million households across the United States do not have a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union. These rates are particularly high among low-income households which cannot meet minimum balance requirements, as well as those who opt not to use these financial institutions due to trust or privacy concerns. As a result, these households are reliant on cash and paper checks. Overwhelmingly, older adults use cash and paper checks to conduct regular financial transactions.\u201d\n\n\u201cFurther, rural Americans and those living on Tribal lands have geographic and digital infrastructure challenges that prevent them from using traditional and technology-based financial services. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 22.3 percent of Americans in rural areas and 27.7 percent of Americans in Tribal lands lack reliable broadband coverage, which limits their ability to use internet-based financial services. In addition, rural and Tribal areas often lack easy geographic proximity to brick-and-mortar banking branches and automated teller machines, making it difficult to access financial services, including bank accounts. Farmers, small business owners, and others in these areas frequently rely on paper checks to conduct their regular business with associates and the government alike,\u201d the Members of Congress concluded.\n\nJoining King on the letter are Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) as well as Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1) and Jared Golden (D-ME-2).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Bessent and Director Vought:\n\nWe write to express our concerns regarding the implementation of Executive Order (E.O.) 14247, Modernizing Payments to and from America\u2019s Banking Account, and its impact on the United States forest products industry, as well as to older and disabled Americans, small business owners, and farmers.\n\nThe domestic forest products industry manufactures over $435 million worth of products and directly employs more than 925,000 people across the country, many of whom live in rural areas. This industry produces essential items that Americans use every day, from paper to packaging. As you know, E.O. 14247, issued on March 25, 2025, requires the Treasury Department to stop issuing paper checks for all payments across the federal government, including benefits payments, vendor payments, and tax refunds, by September 30, 2025. We believe that digital delivery and paper checks can exist in a complementary manner. Not only do paper checks support our domestic pulp and paper industry, many individuals and businesses do not have access to digital financial services and rely solely on paper checks.\n\nWe are concerned that the accelerated implementation schedule of E.O. 14247 does not provide adequate time for our constituents to transition to electronic payments and may impede them from receiving their hard-earned benefits and other critical payments from the federal government. Over 5 million households across the United States do not have a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union. These rates are particularly high among low-income households which cannot meet minimum balance requirements, as well as those who opt not to use these financial institutions due to trust or privacy concerns. As a result, these households are reliant on cash and paper checks. Overwhelmingly, older adults use cash and paper checks to conduct regular financial transactions. Hundreds of thousands of older and disabled adults frequently opt to receive government benefits, including earned benefits like Social Security, through paper checks. More than 120,000 veterans and survivors receive their disability compensation, survivor benefits, and other compensation through paper checks.\n\nFurther, rural Americans and those living on Tribal lands have geographic and digital infrastructure challenges that prevent them from using traditional and technology-based financial services. According to the Federal Communications Commission, 22.3 percent of Americans in rural areas and 27.7 percent of Americans in Tribal lands lack reliable broadband coverage, which limits their ability to use internet-based financial services. In addition, rural and Tribal areas often lack easy geographic proximity to brick-and-mortar banking branches and automated teller machines, making it difficult to access financial services, including bank accounts. Farmers, small business owners, and others in these areas frequently rely on paper checks to conduct their regular business with associates and the government alike.\n\nWe urge the Administration to extend the timeline for the implementation of E.O. 14247 and conduct frequent outreach to individuals and businesses regarding this transition. Further, we request that you respond to the following questions in writing by no later than September 26, 2025:\n\nWhat new procedures has Treasury developed to grant additional waivers for electronic payment and collection methods?\n\nWhat steps have been taken by federal agencies to communicate the transition to the digital delivery of federal payments, the process to receive an exception through waiver request, and eligibility criteria for waivers?\n\nHave Treasury or other federal agencies engaged with stakeholder groups through a public campaign to raise awareness of the transition to electronic funds transfer? If so, please disclose the groups which have participated and the communication channels utilized, such as direct mail, community events, public service announcements, social media, or traditional media.\n\nWhat financial institutions, financial technology applications, or other banking methods have federal agencies promoted during the implementation of this Executive Order?\n\nHow many requests for waivers have been received since March 25, 2025, broken down by type?\n\nWhat is the average wait time to process waiver applications from submission to approval or denial, and how are individuals or businesses alerted of the final decision?\n\nDoes the waiver application process require individual applications for each payment type? If so, what steps are being taken to better coordinate between agencies to reduce the need to apply for a waiver multiple times for different payment types?\n\nHow many personnel at Treasury are staffing the Electronic Payment Solution Center and its Waiver Line?\n\nIf individuals or businesses are still going through the waiver exemption application process after September 30, 2025, will they continue to receive paper checks in the interim?\n\nIf a taxpayer has filed their 2024 tax return but has not yet received it by September 30, 2025, will they be able to get their return by paper check if they have already elected this method?\n\nWhat steps are federal agencies already taking and plan to take in the future to further safeguard individual and business financial data and reduce fraudulent payments made through electronic payment?\n\nPlease share any documentation related to the implementation of this Executive Order, including compliance plans submitted by heads of agencies to the Office of Management and Budget and the implementation report submitted to the President through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.\n\nPlease list all financial institutions, consumer groups, and other stakeholders that Treasury has consulted on implementation of this Executive Order since March 25, 2025, including information on the nature of these discussions.\n\nWe thank you for your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-and-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-bolster-civics-education", "King and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Civics Education", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has introduced bipartisan legislation to bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States. Introduced to mark Constitution Day, the Constitution education Is Valuable In Community Schools (CIVICS) Act would require elementary and secondary education federal grant recipients to include U.S. Constitution education\u2014through hands-on programming for teachers and students\u2014to be eligible for continued funding. The bill recognizes the importance of teaching American history, government, geography, and the importance of the Constitution to basic civic literacy.\n\nSenators James Lankford (R-OK), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined King on the legislation.\n\n\u201cGood civics education creates good citizens. The U.S. Constitution is the blueprint for democracy and freedom, and its survival relies on each generation understanding our history and the values Americans have held sacred since our founding,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cOur democratic system of governance is an anomaly in world history, and if we truly want a government of, by, and for the people, we must make sure people have the perspective and knowledge required to do their part in protecting it. I hope this bipartisan legislation allows young Americans to better understand and engage with America\u2019s foundational principles.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Constitution isn\u2019t just paper and ink. The soul of our nation rests in what our Constitution represents: the rule of law, personal responsibility without government coercion, protection of humanity, and a limited federal government,\u201d Senator Lankford said. \u201cWe must continue to safeguard those values and defend the Constitution\u2019s carefully crafted guarantees of our freedoms and rights. Our children will only live our American values if we intentionally commit to pass down our Constitutional values to the next generation.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Reagan said that freedom is 'never more than one generation away from extinction.' Through civics education, we teach American students to value our country\u2019s history and principles. The founders\u2019 ideals were revolutionary in their time, and they are no less important today. I am glad to see Republicans, Democrats, and Independents unite around this important legislation,\u201d said Senator Wicker.\n\n\u201cSince 1788, the U.S. Constitution has withstood the test of time\u2014serving as the basis of our nation\u2019s government and the supreme law of the land,\" said Senator Kaine. \"As a former civil rights attorney and constitutional law professor, I\u2019ve had critical discussions with my fellow Americans about this cornerstone document. Those kinds of conversations are critical to our ability to uphold the values our country was founded on, and the future of our democracy and rights. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation to foster more of those discussions and strengthen students\u2019 understanding of the Constitution.\u201d\n\nConstitution Day was established in 1952 and Congress expanded recognition in 2004, requiring public schools and federal agencies to teach the Constitution and civics lessons. The American History and Civics Education program was established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, and created grants for institutions of higher learning and other organizations to develop evidence-based approaches to improve the quality of American government, history, and civics. However, these entities are not required to include educational programs regarding the Constitution or Bill of Rights. Under the CIVICS Act, the institutions that receive these grants would be required to develop programming that teaches the Constitution.\n\nSenator King has long championed increasing civic engagement and historical literacy, especially among younger Americans. As a former member of the Senate Rules Committee, he cosponsored a bipartisan bill, the Civics Secure Democracy Act, which would make a $1 billion annual investment in civics and history at K-12 and higher education institutions across the country. He also introduced bipartisan legislation to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day to encourage school districts nationwide to help high school seniors register to vote.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-military-nominees-on-legal-authority-for-caribbean-attacks", "King Questions Military Nominees on Legal Authority for Caribbean Attacks", "2025-09-18", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), pressed Derrick Anderson, nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict in the Department of Defense (DoD), about his views on the legality of the recent unprecedented lethal strikes on vessels in the Caribbean ordered by the Trump Administration. Earlier this month, a first strike on an alleged drug boat killed 11 people. A second strike was carried out just days ahead of the hearing and claimed three lives. The Administration has not publicly disclosed evidence of drugs or weapons onboard the ships, nor provided a full legal or military justification for why this deadly strike was the preferred option.\n\n\u201cMr. Anderson, what is the authority for the lethal strikes on the ships in the Caribbean that have recently been carried out by the administration, that I believe would fall under your jurisdiction and the new position you are being nominated for,\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cSenator, I appreciate the question. I was not involved in the operation, nor do I know any of the details but what I have seen on the news in small clips, Senator, and what I can tell you is that in my capacity as a green beret, I understand the complexities of operations, planning operations, and all the different factors, but again Senator I was not involved in it,\u201d replied Mr. Anderson.\n\n\u201cBut don't you think that one of the early things that you should assess \u2014 you listed all those things \u2014 and the first is, \u2018Is this a legal action of the United States government?\u2019 Wouldn\u2019t that be part of your calculation,\u201d questioned Senator King.\n\n\u201cSenator, again, I was not involved in that operation,\u201d stated Mr. Anderson.\n\n\u201cI understand that, but I am talking in the future. You might be in this job in three weeks and be ordered to strike another ship in the Caribbean. Are you going to ask a question about what is the legal authority for that strike,\u201d asked Senator King.\n\n\u201cSenator, certainly, and even in my capacity as a Green Beret team leader on the ground, we always had legal opinions and legal chops on our operations. So, if confirmed, Senator, I will comply with all laws and regulations and ensure that we have input from all portions of the Department,\u201d responded Mr. Anderson.\n\n\u201cAnd make no mistake, I have been urging in this Committee for years: stronger interdiction of drug smuggling coming in through the Southern Ocean. But interdiction is different than a lethal strike. I think it is just a question of, \u2018What is the authority?\u2019 We should have notification back and forth to Congress, that\u2019s the way this process is supposed to work. Under the War Powers Act, and under the Constitution, it is our job to declare war and it is the president's job to be Commander in Chief, so I hope you\u2019ll take that question seriously and it will be one of the first I hope you\u2019ll look into should you be confirmed for this position,\u201d concluded Senator King.\n\nEarlier in the hearing, Senator King pressed Platte Moring, nominee to serve as the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (DoD), on his ability to remain objective and provide factual guidance without fear of influence or retribution from the Administration. Inspector Generals serve a unique role given they are embedded within a federal agency but are required to provide objective reporting to agency heads and Congress to better ensure accountability and improve government operations\n\nSenator King began, \u201cMr. Moring, you're being appointed to a position that is an anomaly in any government \u2013 that is an independent watchdog over the government itself. And I guess my first question is, do you need this job? Because your predecessor was summarily fired without cause and without the statutorily required notice to Congress. So, will you take the necessary actions to look at waste, fraud, and abuse and abuse of illegal actions by the Department in your job without fear of retribution?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, Senator. I will, in an independent and objective manner as required by the statute,\u201d said Mr. Moring.\n\n\u201cYou understand that that is a solemn obligation because we cannot be in the Department every day. We cannot be in touch with whistleblowers, people that are of concern. You are performing an essential function in the Department, and I believe that you are eminently qualified to do so, and I think you understand that responsibility, but I would like a renewal of that commitment of independence, fearlessness, and calling them as you see them,\u201d requested Senator King.\n\n\u201cSenator King, as we discussed in your office yesterday, you have my commitment to be everything that you just described. It has been a hallmark of my legal career to provide independent, unbiased legal advice whether it is to a client, commander, or the general counsel of the Department,\u201d replied Mr. Moring.\n\n\u201cI believe you will do that, and for that reason I will support your nomination,\u201d finished Senator King.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security, foreign policy issues, and an active, vocal supporter of the importance of democratic values and defeating terrorism. Senator King traveled to the Middle East earlier this year, to get a closer look at the threats to stability in the region, calling for continued American engagement in the region. This summer, Senator King pressed a Department of Defense (DoD) nominees on his thoughts about the current role of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terrorists groups in the African region.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-calls-on-armed-services-chairman-to-hold-hearing-on-urban-militarization-plans", "King Calls on Armed Services Chairman to Hold Hearing on Urban Militarization Plans", "2025-09-17", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is calling on SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) to hold a hearing on President Trump\u2019s deployment of American troops into American cities. More specifically, the letter he sent with several SASC colleagues encourages Wicker to work with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership to evaluate these ongoing military deployments to American cities and their impact to military readiness, American civil liberties, and public trust in our military.\n\n\u201cWe request that you convene an Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the deployment of members of the Armed Forces to American cities and efforts to increasingly dedicate DoD forces, assets, resources and personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cConcerningly, DoD has deployed members of the Armed Forces to Los Angeles and the District of Columbia and the President has openly stated that an expansion to other cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans and Memphis is imminent. In response, state and local leaders are actively protesting the Administration\u2019s actions and attempting to remove these military personnel from their streets. These deployments could have devastating effects on our military readiness and trusted relationship between the public and the servicemembers who are meant to protect them from external threats.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American people deserve clarity on the chosen priorities and missions of the Department of Defense and the short- and long-term implications for national security and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars of this new focus on a mission usually reserved for law enforcement professionals,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201c\u2026We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that the use of military power remains lawful, constitutional, strategically justified and responsible and transparent to the American public.\u201d\n\nAlong with King, the letter is cosigned by SASC Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Slotkin (D-MI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security, foreign policy issues, and an active, vocal supporter of the importance of democratic values.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Chairman Wicker:\n\nWe request that you convene an Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the deployment of members of the Armed Forces to American cities and efforts to increasingly dedicate DoD forces, assets, resources and personnel to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).\n\nConcerningly, DoD has deployed members of the Armed Forces to Los Angeles and the District of Columbia and the President has openly stated that an expansion to other cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans and Memphis is imminent. In response, state and local leaders are actively protesting the Administration\u2019s actions and attempting to remove these military personnel from their streets. These deployments could have devastating effects on our military readiness and trusted relationship between the public and the servicemembers who are meant to protect them from external threats. The Washington Post reported on September 9 that the National Guard, in measuring public sentiment about President Trump\u2019s federal takeover of D.C., assessed that its mission is perceived as \u201cleveraging fear,\u201d driving a \u201cwedge between citizens and the military,\u201d and promoting a sense of \u201cshame\u201d among troops and veterans. In July, the New York Times reported that the retention rate for the National Guardsmen deployed to Los Angeles was projected to be 21 percent, far lower than the Guard\u2019s typical 60 percent rate.\n\nSince January 20, 2025, DoD has surged its assistance to DHS across the country. The military has fielded platforms and systems that are much more expensive than their civilian alternatives, such as using military aircraft for deportations and relying on warships and Army surveillance systems for detection and monitoring along the border and in U.S. territory. There has been no official public accounting of how the costs of using these assets compare to more affordable alternatives, which military missions these assets have been redirected from in order to support another agency and whether the DoD has been reimbursed for its services or is effectively siphoning its resources, intended for use by the military, to non-military agencies and missions. DoD has also designated at least five military installations for detentions or support to Federal agents, and detailed DoD and military personnel in rising numbers to provide administrative and logistical assistance for interior law enforcement, with undisclosed impacts to the kind of tough, realistic training required to build lethality and readiness for core military missions.\n\nAdditionally, in many public statements since his confirmation, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has regularly prioritized the southern border over the Indo-Pacific, despite a bipartisan consensus that U.S. defense policy should focus on the complex security challenges in that region. Just last week, press reported that the upcoming National Defense Strategy will formalize this priority order.\n\nThe American people deserve clarity on the chosen priorities and missions of the Department of Defense and the short- and long-term implications for national security and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars of this new focus on a mission usually reserved for law enforcement professionals.\n\nWe request the opportunity of a public hearing to help Congress and the public better understand the implications of such large-scale redirection of the U.S. military and defense apparatus for support to traditionally non-military missions. We call on the Department to explain to Congress and the American people how it plans to resource, execute and justify such a campaign, and how doing so will impact military readiness, the U.S. military\u2019s execution of core missions of deterring and preparing for war, public trust in our military, implications for servicemembers and their families across the United States and the safety of the American people.\n\nAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our solemn responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, authorized, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its mission of defending the nation -- without distraction, inefficiency or partisanship. At the same time, our Constitution based our democracy on maintaining clear boundaries between the military and domestic functions of civilian law enforcement, expressed especially in the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments that responded to British Army overreach. We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that the use of military power remains lawful, constitutional, strategically justified and responsible and transparent to the American public.\n\nFor these reasons, we urge the Committee to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity to examine these issues directly with Department of Defense leaders.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-aim-to-designate-september-as-national-literacy-month", "King, Colleagues Aim to Designate September as National Literacy Month", "2025-09-16", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside a bipartisan group of his colleagues, is cosponsoring a resolution recognizing the importance of literacy, as well as encouraging more Maine people and Americans of all ages to pick up a good book. The resolution establishes September 2025 as \u201cNational Literacy Month.\u201d\n\n\u201cReading will open your eyes to new worlds and ideas,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cFor people of all ages, literacy not only expands economic opportunities and growth, but also encourages us to think more and be more skeptical consumers of information. When we invest in literacy, we invest in our families, communities and our society. I\u2019m proud to work with my colleagues to cosponsor this resolution highlighting the importance of literacy, and I remain committed to advocating for literacy awareness for all Maine people, and people across our nation.\u201d\n\nReading is a cornerstone for personal growth, economic opportunity, and a strong society. Reading proficiency by third grade is one of the most important predictors of whether a student will graduate high school and succeed in a career, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. According to a 2020 study by Gallup in partnership with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, it is estimated that low levels of adult literacy could be costing America as much as $2.2 trillion a year.\n\nIn recognition of National Literacy Month, throughout the month of September, schools, libraries, non-profits, and other organizations will host a variety of activities, events, and free workshops highlighting the importance of building and strengthening literacy skills and the benefits of reading on healthy development.\n\nThe resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Justice (R-WV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Katie Britt (R-AL), James Lankford (R-OK), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Supporters of the resolution include the National Parents Union, Ed Trust and Educators for Excellence.\n\nSenator King has been steadfast champion of literacy programs for Maine people, and previously cosponsored a resolution recognizing the lifelong impact childhood literacy programs have on the success of Maine children and their communities.\n\nFull text of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-king-led-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-ocean-navigation-and-safety", "Senate Passes King-led Bipartisan Bill to Improve Ocean Navigation and Safety", "2025-09-12", "2025", "2025-09", "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. \u2014The U.S. Senate passed bipartisan legislation to improve ocean navigation and safety in federal waters. The Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act (MAPOceans) led by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen\u2019s Caucus, and Ted Cruz (R-TX), would modernize mapping information on public oceans to improve public safety and provide navigation guidance through a user-friendly smartphone app. If passed into law, the MAPOceans Act would create a one-stop shop that would help to ensure sportsmen and women can recreate in a safe and responsible manner.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s Atlantic coastline is an incredible natural treasure that attracts outdoor enthusiasts from around the country,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe bipartisan, and now Senate-passed, MAPOceans Act combines all the available information about ocean recreation and navigation into a one-stop resource \u2014 a phone app \u2014 containing information about ocean recreation and navigation. From deep-sea anglers to sailors and lobstermen, this legislation ensures that every person seeking adventure in Maine can do so safely and responsibly.\u201d\n\n\u201cRecreational fishing and boating are a favorite pastime of many families who cherish the outdoors. But far too often, a relaxing day on the water can turn into a frustrating time when you can\u2019t navigate waterways and restricted areas,\u201d said Senator Cruz. \u201cThat is why I introduced MAPOceans Act, alongside Sen. King, to ensure fishery information is easily and centrally accessible. This is commonsense legislation, and I urge my House colleagues to take up this legislation so anglers and boaters can spend more time enjoying America\u2019s beautiful waterways instead of deciphering confusing data sources.\u201d\n\nSenator King is among the Senate\u2019s leading voices for conservation of our nation\u2019s outdoor treasures. In 2022, his bipartisan MAPLand bill to modernize park and public land mapping was signed into law. He also helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation includes the Restore Our Parks Act \u2014 a bill led by Senator King \u2014 and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act. The historic legislative package continues Senator King\u2019s career-long focus on conservation efforts, dating back to his work prior to running for elected office through his years as Governor and his service in the Senate. 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\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-the-24th-anniversary-of-the-september-11tth-attacks", "King Statement on the 24th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in recognition of the 24th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks:\n\n\u201cTwenty-four years ago, nearly 3000 innocent lives were taken by terrorists who sought to shake the foundations and values of our nation. Across our country, we watched in shock and horror as everyday Americans going about their daily business became victims in one of the darkest days \u2014 and deadliest attacks \u2014 in American history. The tragic events of that day are seared into the memory of so many of us, as well as the heroic response from our first responders.\n\n\u201cToday, we honor and remember those we lost on September 11th, 2001. From the everyday New Yorkers, firemen, policemen, Pentagon workers, and the brave passengers of Flight 93 who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. We are forever in debt to those who ran towards danger that day, and in the days, weeks and years afterwards. Those men and women embody the very best of the American spirit, and they deserve our full respect and gratitude.\n\n\u201cWe must never forget the attacks and the lives lost that day, as well as how our nation united around our shared values. Today is a solemn opportunity to remind ourselves of the words on our currency and buildings: E Pluribus Unum \u2014 from many, one \u2014 and how we are always stronger when we stand together. The values of democracy and freedom we defended twenty-four years ago continue to bond us together and the years since have proven that no enemy \u2014 foreign or domestic \u2014 will be able to destroy the defining principles of our country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-you-just-lost-my-vote-after-he-grills-va-nominee-over-cuts", "King: \u201cYou Just Lost My Vote,\u201d After He Grills VA Nominee Over Cuts", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), questioned a Trump Administration nominee about the reckless approach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken with regard to contract reductions. In a tense exchange with Dr. Karen Brazell, the nominee to serve as the VA Under Secretary for Benefits, Senator King directly asked if she had been involved with the contract cancellation process. Throughout the line of questioning, Dr. Brazell refused to provide a straightforward answer, even after several attempts from Senator King, to find out whether she could be credited with helping create the framework for the murky contract cancellation process.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cAsking you a pretty straightforward question. Did you have anything to do whatsoever with the review of the contract of your former employer? That is a pretty straightforward yes or no question: I did, or I didn't.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, I have not reviewed the contracts with my former employer\u201d said Dr. Brazell.\n\n\u201cThat is not what I asked. I asked, did you have anything to do whatsoever with that review,\u201d Senator King repeated\n\n\u201cSenator, I have not reviewed any contracts of my former employer. Again, I am not a contracting authority,\u201d replied Dr. Brazell.\n\nSenator King asked again, \u201cThat\u2019s the third time you\u2019ve given me that answer and for the third I\u2019m going to say, \u2018that\u2019s not what I\u2019m asking.\u2019 I\u2019m asking were you involved anyway whatsoever with the review with the contract of your former employer.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator King, I have answered that. I am not a contracting official or contracting authority. I have not reviewed the contracts of my former employer,\u201d responded Dr. Brazell.\n\n\u201cYour failure to answer that question \u2014 you just lost my vote on this nomination,\u201d said Senator King.\n\nFailing to receive an adequate answer to his initial line of questioning, Senator King moved on by asking Dr. Brazell about what she meant in an earlier statement about \u201ctaking risks\u201d regarding how the VA handles veterans care and disperses benefits.\n\nSenator King continued, \u201cIn your opening statement, you used the term \u2018risk\u2019 three or four times or five times with regard to people under your supervision. I don't want the people under your supervision that are making decisions about benefits for veterans taking risks. What in the world did you mean by taking risks?\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator, when you employ new technology, and I think you know that from your time at L.L Bean per our discussion when I visited you, there are opportunities for folks when we \u2014 you have got to learn your mistakes. You have to fail fast. You do that in a test environment, understanding the constraints of the technology and how it is going to interface with the legacy systems when you go to a live environment. So, test it in a production environment. Fail fast, learn faster,\u201d said Dr. Brazell.\n\n\u201cI just don't like the idea of a test environment and risks being taken with people's lives and disability compensation. If you are talking about working a model, that is one thing. But if you are talked about real people and real decisions, the idea of risks and experimenting is not acceptable,\u201d responded Senator King.\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act.\n\nRecently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nIn February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of wounded, ill and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-s-permitting-reform-bill-gets-first-hearing-before-house-natural-resources-committee", "Golden\u2019s permitting reform bill gets first hearing before House Natural Resources Committee", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) today held an initial hearing on the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, bipartisan legislation spearheaded by Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and HNRC Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) that would reduce red tape and put the United States back in the business of building.\n\nThe SPEED Act would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose as a procedural statute for assessing the environmental impact of federal actions.\n\n\u201cOur country needs modern infrastructure to keep our people and our economy moving. We need robust power production and transmission to achieve energy dominance and lower costs. We need housing for families. But NEPA has been warped over time to become a law that allows endless lawsuits and bureaucracy that make it harder to build the things we need at the pace we need them,\u201d Golden said. \u201cBy reforming NEPA while standing firm in our commitments through the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, we can be good stewards of our environment while ending a permitting status quo that is onerous, overly complex and ripe for litigation abuse.\u201d\n\nDuring the hearing, Golden spoke about the ways the bill would retain the ability of any interested party to weigh in on proposed projects, and about the delays NEPA has allowed for the development of all types of energy production \u2014 including clean energy.\n\n\u201cThe problems with the NEPA process are energy-neutral,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThey can be detrimental to both fossil fuel and renewable energy projects. \u2026 These problems with NEPA can cut both ways and so too should the solutions. This is a pro-energy bill that takes an all-of-the-above, technology-neutral approach.\u201d\n\nIn response to questions from Golden, Jeremy Harrell, CEO of ClearPath \u2014 a nonprofit working to reduce global energy emissions \u2014 said America\u2019s broken permitting system is \u201cthe single largest barrier to deploying new clean energy in this country.\u201d Harrell pointed to the fact that solar energy projects face the highest rate of NEPA litigation of any energy source in the country.\n\nWHAT\u2019S IN THE BILL:\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. It will:\n\nensure environmental reviews focus on direct, significant impacts rather than hypothetical or tenuously connected effects;\n\ncreate reasonable timelines for agency decisionmaking while protecting public comment and thorough environmental review;\n\nstreamline judicial review to create more certainty for those working to build and to reduce opportunities for frivolous litigation; and\n\nimprove efficiency and ease burden on agencies, including by clarifying when NEPA is triggered by refining the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action\u201d \u2014 a category that has grown so broad that nearly any federal action or funding can trigger a lengthy, complex review.\n\nAn independent review of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center can be found here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-questions-white-house-about-legal-authority-for-strike-in-the-caribbean", "King Questions White House About Legal Authority for Strike in the Caribbean", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "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. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is pressing the White House for additional information on a strike against what it claimed was a \u201cnarcoterrorist\u201d threat to America in the Caribbean. In a letter to President Donald Trump, King and several of his SASC colleagues point out that the Constitution gives the Congress the authority to declare war \u2013 and no declaration has been made for the use of lethal force against this potential target in the Caribbean. In the letter, they pose ten questions about the strike and why traditional interdiction tactics used effectively for decades were not deployed.\n\nThe strike on an alleged drug boat killed 11 people. Despite its claims in press and social media, the Administration has not substantiated them with evidence of drugs or weapons onboard the ship, nor provided a full legal or military justification for why this deadly strike was necessary.\n\n\u201cOn September 2, 2025, the U.S. military at your direction struck a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, hundreds of miles from the United States and reportedly killing all 11 individuals onboard. Your Administration has asserted, without evidence, that the individuals on the vessel and the vessel\u2019s cargo posed a threat to the United States,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThis strike followed press reports in early August that your Administration had secretly signed a directive for the use of U.S. military force across Latin America \u2013 despite the lack of any legal basis for such use of military force. Your September 4th War Powers Report to Congress following the strike noted \u2018the potential for future such actions,\u2019 but provided no legitimate legal justification and was scant in details regarding the legal or substantive basis for this or any future strikes.\u201d\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cOn issues of national security, our top priorities are protecting Americans, American interests, and our servicemembers who put their lives on the line every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the interest of ensuring that Congress\u2019s response to this unprecedented step is consistent with these priorities, we assert that Congress made no declaration of war nor did it authorize the use of military force for future similar operations,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cClassifying a clear law enforcement mission as counterterrorism does not confer legal authority to target and kill civilians.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security, foreign policy issues, and an active, vocal supporter of the importance of democratic values and defeating terrorism. Senator King traveled to the Middle East earlier this year, to get a closer look at the threats to stability in the region, calling for continued American engagement in the region. This summer, Senator King pressed a Department of Defense (DoD) nominees on his thoughts about the current role of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terrorists groups in the African region.\n\nJoining King on the letter are Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Corey Booker (D-NJ).\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear President Trump:\n\nOn September 2, 2025, the U.S. military at your direction struck a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, hundreds of miles from the United States and reportedly killing all 11 individuals onboard. Your Administration has asserted, without evidence, that the individuals on the vessel and the vessel\u2019s cargo posed a threat to the United States. This strike followed press reports in early August that your Administration had secretly signed a directive for the use of U.S. military force across Latin America \u2013 despite the lack of any legal basis for such use of military force. Your September 4th War Powers Report to Congress following the strike noted \u201cthe potential for future such actions,\u201d but provided no legitimate legal justification and was scant in details regarding the legal or substantive basis for this or any future strikes.\n\nOn issues of national security, our top priorities are protecting Americans, American interests, and our servicemembers who put their lives on the line every day. In the interest of ensuring that Congress\u2019s response to this unprecedented step is consistent with these priorities, we assert that Congress made no declaration of war nor did it authorize the use of military force for future similar operations. Classifying a clear law enforcement mission as counterterrorism does not confer legal authority to target and kill civilians.\n\nFurther, we request immediate answers from your Administration to the following questions:\n\n1. Your Administration has confirmed multiple times in multiple venues that the Department of State\u2019s designation of an entity as a sanctioned Foreign Terrorist Organization does not confer authority for the Department of Defense to use military force against that entity. In light of this legal fact, please clarify the legal and substantive basis for targeting and killing civilians suspected of being affiliated with a designated entity. Please also provide a copy of all legal assessments conducted by the White House, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, or any other entity prior to the strike.\n\n2. As noted above, in your September 4th War Powers Report to Congress, you note the \u201cpotential for further such actions.\u201d However, you do not specify in that report, nor have you specified elsewhere, any legal authority to take military action to target and kill civilians, including those suspected of committing crimes. What is your legal authority to conduct lethal military operations against civilians at sea, within Venezuela or within other Latin American countries?\n\n3. Please confirm whether you intend to comply with the reporting and withdrawal requirements of sections 4(a)(1) and 5(b) of the 1973 War Powers Resolution. If not, why not?\n\n4. Who were the individuals targeted in the strike, and what intelligence does the Administration have regarding their identities, any imminent threat they did or did not pose, what crimes they were accused or suspected of, and what alleged affiliations they had with a narcotrafficking criminal organization?\n\n5. How were the individuals targeted in the strike positively identified as lawful targets for lethal military force? What legal review was conducted for assessing whether the use of lethal force in this context and against these particular criminal suspects was lawful under both domestic and international law?\n\n6. Your Administration initially stated that the vessel \u2013 reportedly a speedboat \u2013 was in transit to Trinidad & Tobago, but then later asserted it was en route to the United States. What was the reason for this discrepancy? Can the Administration clarify the expected destination of the vessel?\n\n7. Did the individuals on that vessel pose an imminent threat to the lives of others? If so, what was the nature of that threat and what other measures short of lethal force were available to avert that threat? Were any escalation of force measures, including interdiction of the vessel, conducted or attempted prior to the strike? If not, what rationale was utilized to support the assessment that standard interdiction tactics\u2014such as boarding, seizure, and arrest\u2014were insufficient or inapplicable in this scenario? If no assessment was conducted, why not?\n\n8. What assessment, if any, was conducted regarding whether the use of lethal force in this context could undermine intelligence-gathering opportunities that would come from capturing potential traffickers alive?\n\n9. What assessment, if any, was conducted regarding whether the use of lethal force in this context and against the individuals killed would violate any U.S. laws or place U.S. personnel in jeopardy of violating domestic or international law?\n\n10. Has the intelligence community conducted an assessment of the potential responses by Tren de Aragua or other Latin American criminal entities to lethal strikes by the U.S. military, including the potential for violent action in the United States? If so, please provide a copy of that assessment.\n\nWe request that you provide urgent responses to these questions no later than the close of business on Wednesday, September 17.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-warren-call-for-end-of-trickery-by-large-corporations-avoiding-paying-taxes", "King, Warren Call For End of \u201cTrickery\u201d by Large Corporations Avoiding Paying Taxes", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are leading a bicameral group of their colleagues in a letter urging Treasury Secretary and Acting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Scott Bessent to strongly implement a tax law passed by Congress that requires the largest American corporations to pay their fair share in taxes. The corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) requires that companies reporting over $1 billion in profits to their shareholders must pay at least 15 percent of those profits in taxes, applying to approximately 150 of America\u2019s wealthiest corporations.\n\nFrom 2018 to 2020, 39 Fortune 500 companies generating $122 billion in profit paid $0 in federal income tax. One of the most profitable companies in the United States secured a 4.3 percent effective tax rate on its $43.4 billion income during the same period, less than one-third of the rate paid by the average American taxpayer. The CAMT, which was included as a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), imposed a 15 percent minimum tax based on financial income reported to investors and creditors for corporations earing over $1 billion beginning in tax year 2023. However, as of recent under the Trump Administration, Treasury and the IRS have started to loosen certain requirements to help fewer corporations become subject to the tax, further eroding the Congressional intent of the law.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our concern about the Trump Administration's recent publication of multiple interim guidance notices that create new loopholes in the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) for the largest and wealthiest corporations. These notices will allow major corporations to circumvent the law by using accounting trickery to pay zero taxes on their massive profits,\u201d the lawmakers began.\n\n\u201cPrior to CAMT\u2019s enactment, corporations worth billions of dollars would routinely pay little or no federal income tax. From 2018 to 2020, 39 Fortune 500 companies generating $122 billion in profit and paid $0 in federal income tax. One of the most profitable companies in the United States secured a 4.3 percent effective tax rate on its $43.4 billion income during the same period, less than one-third of the rate paid by the average American taxpayer,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cThe Trump Administration has announced its intent to completely redo the 2024 proposed CAMT regulations, signaling openness to making even more changes and delaying a final regulation indefinitely. In combination, these actions indicate that under President Trump, the IRS is at best delaying the full implementation of CAMT to allow the largest corporations to avoid paying taxes, and at worst abandoning its legal responsibility to administer and enforce CAMT altogether.\u201d\n\n\u201cCAMT is the law of the land, passed by Congress with the strong support of the American people and largely left in place as President Trump and the Republican Congress rewrote the nation\u2019s tax laws earlier this year. The Administration is required to faithfully and punctually implement CAMT consistent with Congressional intent,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ed Markey (D-MA), as well as Representative Don Beyer (D-VA).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here, and is included in full below:\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Bessent:\n\nWe write to express our concern about the Trump Administration's recent publication of multiple interim guidance notices that create new loopholes in the corporate alternative minimum tax (CAMT) for the largest and wealthiest corporations. These notices will allow major corporations to circumvent the law by using accounting trickery to pay zero taxes on their massive profits.\n\nPrior to CAMT\u2019s enactment, corporations worth billions of dollars would routinely pay little or no federal income tax. From 2018 to 2020, 39 Fortune 500 companies generating $122 billion in profit and paid $0 in federal income tax. One of the most profitable companies in the United States secured a 4.3 percent effective tax rate on its $43.4 billion income during the same period, less than one-third of the rate paid by the average American taxpayer.\n\nCongress passed the corporate alternative minimum tax as part of the Inflation Reduction Act to put an end to this chicanery. CAMT requires that companies reporting over $1 billion in profits to their shareholders must pay at least 15 percent of those profits in taxes, applying to approximately 150 of America\u2019s wealthiest corporations.\n\nBut since CAMT became the law of the land, Congressional Republicans have been doing everything they can to get rid of it, including introducing a law to repeal the CAMT just six weeks after it was enacted. Accountable.US reported that large financial firms and industry groups have also spent more than $1 million lobbying Congress on the CAMT during the first half of 2023 alone. The oil and gas industry secured a carveout from CAMT in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). And now, after failing to repeal CAMT entirely in the OBBBA, the Trump Administration is attempting to further erode the CAMT through the Internal Revenue Service\u2019s (IRS) two new interim guidance notices. These notices weaken CAMT under the cover of bureaucratic rulemaking and give the largest and wealthiest corporations yet another get-out-of-paying-taxes-free card.\n\nMost troubling, Notice 2025-27, issued this June, allows companies to avoid CAMT if their income\u2014under a simplified accounting method\u2014is below $800 million. The Biden Administration previously set the safe harbor threshold precisely at $500 million in its proposed CAMT rule after calculating that a higher safe harbor threshold would risk exempting corporations that should be subject to CAMT under statute. Now, less than nine months later and with zero justification, this new guidance summarily asserts that an $800 million safe harbor will not run that risk. We are seriously concerned that this cursory loosening of CAMT enforcement will simply allow more wealthy corporations to avoid paying their legally owed share.\n\nFurther, this notice also indicates future potential erosion of the CAMT tax base by stating that Treasury and the IRS will reconsider the treatment of unrealized capital gains. This signals a possible reversal of the Biden Administration\u2019s decision to reject industry requests to exempt unrealized capital gains from adjusted financial statement income (AFSI), laying groundwork for an even weaker final rule.\n\nNotice 2025-28, issued in July, introduces a number of additional methods for calculating a corporate partner\u2019s distributive share of partnership AFSI, expanding taxpayer discretion. Though the guidance is framed as simplifying the application of CAMT to partnerships, it creates additional complexity for tax administrators and risks enabling gaming and inconsistent outcomes across similarly situated taxpayers.\n\nThe Trump Administration has announced its intent to completely redo the 2024 proposed CAMT regulations, signaling openness to making even more changes and delaying a final regulation indefinitely. In combination, these actions indicate that under President Trump, the IRS is at best delaying the full implementation of CAMT to allow the largest corporations to avoid paying taxes, and at worst abandoning its legal responsibility to administer and enforce CAMT altogether.\n\nCAMT is the law of the land, passed by Congress with the strong support of the American people16 and largely left in place as President Trump and the Republican Congress rewrote the nation\u2019s tax laws earlier this year. The Administration is required to faithfully and punctually implement CAMT consistent with Congressional intent. Accordingly, we urge the IRS to rescind Notice 2025-27 and Notice 2025-28 and finalize the Biden Administration\u2019s proposed CAMT regulations without delay, and request that you respond to the following questions in writing by September X, 2025:\n\nHow many corporations do you project will utilize the $800 million safe harbor compared to the $500 million safe harbor?\n\nHow many corporations do you project will elect to utilize one of the new methods of calculating distributive shares of partnership AFSI described in Notice 2025-28 as compared to the existing methods described in Proposed \u00a71.56A-5 and \u00a71.56A-20?\n\nWhat external input did Treasury and the IRS receive to support its drafting of Notice 2025-27?\n\nWhat external input did Treasury and the IRS receive to support its drafting of Notice 2025-28?\n\nPlease list all corporate officials or representatives that Treasury and the IRS have spoken to about the CAMT since January 20, 2025, including information on the nature of these discussions.\n\nWhen do Treasury and the IRS expect to release the new proposed CAMT rule?\n\nWhen do Treasury and the IRS expect to release the final CAMT rule?\n\nAside from the safe harbor provision and treatment of partnerships, what other provisions do Treasury and the IRS plan to change in the new proposed CAMT rule?\n\nWhat new evidence or input will Treasury and the IRS solicit and use to inform its rulemaking?\n\nHow many personnel at the IRS are working on the CAMT rule?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/during-suicide-prevention-month-king-and-colleagues-urge-secretary-of-va-to-reinstate-funding-for-suicide-prevention-efforts", "During Suicide Prevention Month, King and Colleagues Urge Secretary of VA to Reinstate Funding for Suicide Prevention Efforts", "2025-09-09", "2025", "2025-09", "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. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), led his colleagues in urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reinstate funding for suicide prevention efforts that has been terminated for the upcoming fiscal year and protect remaining, unspent funds from being clawed back. In a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, King and his colleagues argue that the VA should be using every tool available to prevent the unnecessary deaths of veterans who risked their lives in service to the nation.\n\nAt present, Maine is one of only 10 states (and 2 territories) that received this funding. However, the VA has haphazardly determined that these suicide prevention efforts are not a \u201cgood return on investment\u201d and are therefore terminating the funding.\n\nThe Senators began the letter, \u201cWe write regarding the recent notification that funding to our states to plan and develop Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Committees will not be renewed for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and regarding the potential that any unused FY2025 funds may be clawed back. You have repeatedly stated that veteran suicide and suicide prevention is a top priority for you personally and for the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA), and we are concerned that cutting funding for the SMR projects in our states will make it harder to address veteran suicide.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur states know the severe impacts of veteran suicide all too well,\u201d they continued. \u201cThat is why they were awarded cooperative agreements to plan and develop SMR Committees to help address veteran suicide through a public health lens. SMR is grounded in evidence-based methods that are championed by the VA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This initiative prioritizes a review of veteran suicide deaths to identify systematic gaps and implement strategies to address suicide prevention for veterans in their communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe encourage the VA to continue with year two of funding to give our states the opportunity to implement their plans, allowing them to demonstrate the value of SMR committees. The VA can\u2019t possibly be accurately evaluating the return on investment of this funding if they are only considering the planning phase and not allowing time for implementation. Additionally, in line with the President\u2019s February 18 directive to all agency heads (\u201cRadical Transparency About Wasteful Spending\u201d), we urge you to \u201cmake public\u2026the complete details of every terminated program, cancelled contract, terminated grant, or any other discontinued obligation\u201d (emphasis added) of the VA funds used for these cooperative agreements. The public has a right to know why the VA is cutting services intended to save veterans\u2019 lives and support veterans\u2019 families,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nJoining King on this letter are Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nMost recently, Senator King\u2019s legislation to improve customer service at the VA was signed into law by the President. He also introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Collins:\n\nWe write regarding the recent notification that funding to our states to plan and develop Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Committees will not be renewed for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and regarding the potential that any unused FY2025 funds may be clawed back. You have repeatedly stated that veteran suicide and suicide prevention is a top priority for you personally and for the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA), and we are concerned that cutting funding for the SMR projects in our states will make it harder to address veteran suicide.\n\nOur states know the severe impacts of veteran suicide all too well. That is why they were awarded cooperative agreements to plan and develop SMR Committees to help address veteran suicide through a public health lens. SMR is grounded in evidence-based methods that are championed by the VA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This initiative prioritizes a review of veteran suicide deaths to identify systematic gaps and implement strategies to address suicide prevention for veterans in their communities.\n\nThese cooperative agreements were meant to help our states evaluate veteran suicide from a new perspective and try to determine if there are related factors influencing these deaths. These efforts take time, coordination, and a multi-disciplinary approach from a large number of community members. However, our states agreed to undertake these efforts because they believed that lives could be saved. The VA funded planning efforts, only to end funding after one year and before implementation could begin.\n\nWe encourage the VA to continue with year two of funding to give our states the opportunity to implement their plans, allowing them to demonstrate the value of SMR committees. The VA can\u2019t possibly be accurately evaluating the return on investment of this funding if they are only considering the planning phase and not allowing time for implementation. Additionally, in line with the President\u2019s February 18 directive to all agency heads (\u201cRadical Transparency About Wasteful Spending\u201d), we urge you to \u201cmake public\u2026the complete details of every terminated program, cancelled contract, terminated grant, or any other discontinued obligation\u201d (emphasis added) of the VA funds used for these cooperative agreements. The public has a right to know why the VA is cutting services intended to save veterans\u2019 lives and support veterans\u2019 families.\n\nAccording to the 2024 National Veterans Suicide Prevention Annual Report, an average of 17.6 veterans die by suicide each day. We should be using every available tool to prevent these deaths. Without this funding from the VA, our states will not be able to continue their critical work to meet federal and state suicide prevention goals to help save lives.\n\nWe look forward to continuing to work together on this important issue and we thank you for your attention to this matter that greatly impacts veterans in our states.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-help-the-american-horticulture-industry-bloomlegislation-would-plant-the-seeds-to-encourage-government-entities-to-exclusively-buy-flowers-cut-greens-from-american-growers", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help the American Horticulture Industry Bloom", "2025-09-08", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), alongside Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), has introduced bipartisan legislation to prioritize domestic horticulturists and farmers, and strengthen the American floral industry. The American Grown Act would require the Executive Office of the President, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of State to only purchase flowers and cut greens grown in the United States.\n\n\u201cWhen the federal government spends taxpayer dollars on American-made products, those funds help small businesses, including many Maine people, succeed right here at home,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cUnder the current system, the vast majority of flowers and cut greens purchased by the U.S. government are foreign grown, meaning the economic benefits are flowing to foreign markets. The American Grown Act is an opportunity to prioritize American-grown flowers, a simple fix that will boost both our flower industry and economy at large.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf there\u2019s one cause that can bring members of Congress together, it\u2019s the commitment to Buy American,\u201d Senator Sullivan said. \u201cEvery year, our federal agencies purchase millions of dollars\u2019 worth of flowers and greenery for official events and ceremonies using taxpayer dollars. This money should benefit our American farmers and growers. By making this straightforward, patriotic principle the law of the land, we can support the men and women who power this industry \u2014 including the hundreds of hardworking growers right here in Alaska.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska\u2019s floriculture industry has rightfully garnered global recognition, as we grow the largest, most vibrant peonies in the world. It is well past time that our domestic federal agencies \u2014 particularly the White House, State Department, and Department of Defense \u2014 support American cut-flower growers and strengthen local economies that benefit from this industry,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cI am proud to co-sponsor this legislation once again, and sincerely hope my colleagues join us in standing up for American grown and domestic jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American flower industry, and California in particular, grows vibrant flowers and greenery, and it\u2019s important that the hard work of our country\u2019s growers is supported,\u201d said Senator Schiff. \u201cOur bipartisan bill ensures that the federal government continues to boost this robust industry while creating jobs and promoting American grown products.\u201d\n\nSenator King is a staunch advocate for the Maine agriculture industry. Earlier this year, Senator King cosponsored the Honor Farmer Contracts Act which released withheld federal funding and allocated it back to farmers as Congress had intended. He is an original sponsor of the bipartisan Dairy PRIDE Act which combats the mislabeling of non-dairy products and requires accurate labeling of dairy and non-dairy products as mislabeling is harmful to dairy farmers selling their products in a crowded marketplace. Senator King also cosponsored the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give milk producers a greater voice in dairy pricing.\n\nAdditionally, Senator King is an annual cosponsor of the federal \u2018National Dairy Month\u2019 resolution. Earlier this year, he introduced the bipartisan Innovative Feed Enhance and Economic Development (FEED) Act to help cut red tape in the livestock feed sector. This summer, alongside Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), he introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for small farms and ranches to provide locally produced meats to consumers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-leads-effort-to-extend-aca-marketplace-tax-credits", "Golden leads effort to extend ACA marketplace tax credits", "2025-09-05", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is leading a bipartisan effort to protect Maine families, seniors and small business owners from massive health care premium price spikes by extending tax credits that help individuals afford health insurance plans on the state\u2019s Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, CoverME.gov.\n\n\u201cLetting the ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expire would raise costs on Maine families. That\u2019s simply not an option,\u201d Golden said. \u201cMainers who buy private insurance on the ACA marketplace are staring down an average $180 monthly premium increase in January if Congress doesn\u2019t extend these credits, with rural Mainers aged 60-64 facing the steepest increase. Many are likely to lose coverage in the face of this price spike.\u201d\n\nGolden is an original cosponsor of the Bipartisan Premium Tax Credit Extension Act, introduced last night by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02). Under current law, the enhanced Premium Tax Credit \u2014 established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanded during COVID under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and later extended through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) \u2014 is set to expire at the end of this year. The bill would extend the credit through 2026.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve always said I\u2019ll work with anyone \u2014 Democrat or Republican \u2014 to serve my constituents. I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Kiggans and this bipartisan coalition to protect Mainers from increased health care costs,\u201d Golden said.\n\nBecause of this income-based premium tax credit, a record 24.2 million people signed up for coverage during open enrollment in 2025. In fact, middle-income enrollees increased from 140,000 in 2021 to 900,000 in 2024. Without this extension, millions of self-employed workers and small business owners will see their premiums increase by more than $11,000 a year.\n\nAccording to CoverME.gov, 85 percent of people purchasing plans through Maine\u2019s ACA marketplace receive financial savings through the ACA Premium Tax Credits, and \u201cnearly all CoverME.gov consumers will likely see higher monthly premiums if Congress does not take action to extend, or make permanent, the enhanced tax credits.\u201d\n\nOther original cosponsors include: Democratic Reps. Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Don Davis (NC-01) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), David Valadao (CA-22), Young Kim (CA-40), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Thomas Kean (NJ-07), Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27). The group spans members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, the Republican Main Street Caucus, and the Bipartisan Problem Solvers\u2019 Caucus \u2014 all of which are dedicated to pragmatic legislating and bipartisanship.\n\nFull bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-bill-signed-into-law-veteran-customer-service-office-becomes-permanent", "King Bill Signed into Law, Veteran Customer Service Office Becomes Permanent", "2025-09-05", "2025", "2025-09", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), today applauded the signing into law of his bipartisan Improving Veteran Experience Act by President Donald Trump. Under the new law, the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) will become a permanent part of the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA), ensuring it can continue to provide consistent and quality care for the veteran community. Established in 2015 the VEO collects veterans\u2019 feedback through surveys and uses that data to continuously improve the VA\u2019s website and other resources used by veterans interacting with the VA. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) was an original cosponsor of the legislation.\n\n\u201cVeterans across Maine and our nation consistently and courageously answer the call of duty when serving, and we owe it to them to deliver the very best care,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cSupporting our veterans should never be partisan, and customer service should not be reserved just for the private sector. The signing into law of the Improving Veteran Experience Act is a perfect example of government providing a necessary public service. I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to Senator John Cornyn for his work helping get this important legislation over the finish line. Today, we celebrate codifying a long-awaited and much-needed office that is laser focused on improving veterans\u2019 ability to access their hard-earned benefits.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nRecently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-patient-access-to-drug-information", "Golden, bipartisan colleagues introduce bill to protect patient access to drug information", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Cliff Bentz (OR-02) today introduced the Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act \u2014 legislation designed to block recent efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to stop including hard copies of medical information with prescription drugs.\n\nDetailed labels of a drug\u2019s appropriate dosage, possible side-effects, and other necessary details are commonly included when a patient receives their prescription from a pharmacist. However, this printed information is not legally required, and the pharmaceutical industry has pushed to replace hard copies with digital landing pages to reduce expenses and boost profits \u2014 despite barriers it would create for patients, including those with limited internet access.\n\n\u201cMainers shouldn\u2019t have to go out of their way to get the information they need about how their medicine works,\u201d Golden said. \u201cRequiring hard copies of instructions to be included with medicine is a no-brainer to make prescription drugs safer, make treatment easier for families and their pharmacists, and prevent large pharmaceutical corporations from cutting corners at the expense of quality health care.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn rural Oregon, access to reliable internet or to a pharmacist is not always guaranteed. But what should be guaranteed are clear, printed instructions on how to take your medication safely,\u201d Bentz said. \u201cIf enacted, this bill will provide patients with accurate, FDA-approved information. This would ensure fewer mistakes, fewer expensive hospital trips, and less strain on families and our small, local pharmacies. Additionally, this is at no cost to the government or to the rural pharmacies. It is a practical improvement that will help rural communities.\u201d\n\nThe Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act would mandate drug manufacturers to provide printed, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved information about medicine to all patients picking up a prescription. These hard copies would be limited to a one-page standardized format, and required to be updated as new information becomes available.\n\nTwin Rivers Paper in Madawaska, which employs more than 500 people in northern Mainers, is a leading manufacturer of the paper that medical information is printed on.\n\n\u201cWe fully support the Patients\u2019 Right to Know Their Medication Act to help safeguard prescription medicine safety for patients and pharmacists,\u201d Twin Rivers Paper CEO Tyler Rajeski said. \u201cAll of us at Twin Rivers greatly appreciate Congressman Golden's continued leadership and support on this important issue.\u201d\n\nGolden has repeatedly stepped up to defend Maine manufacturing jobs in the forest products industry. In 2021, Golden successfully worked to defeat a pharmaceutical industry-backed amendment to the FDA appropriations bill that would have required prescription medicine information to be distributed electronically instead of physically.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-science-not-ideology-should-drive-national-energy-policy", "King: Science, not \u201cIdeology\u201d Should Drive National Energy Policy", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "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. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), today questioned Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) nominees on their commitment to cost effective, renewable energy technologies. In the hearing with FERC nominees Laura Swett and David LaCerte, King pressed for support to wind and solar energies as they are significantly cheaper energy options than fossil fuels, and swifter to develop. King also asked the nominees about the importance of batteries in the longevity and success of stabilizing the electric grid.\n\nSenator King began his questioning by asking the nominees about the cheapest forms of electricity generation.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cMs. Swett, what is the cheapest form of electricity generation today in the country?\n\n\u201cThank you for the question, Senator. I have not looked into that issue, but I am happy to look into it and answer any questions you may have,\u201d Swett replied.\n\nSenator King followed up on his question, \u201cWell, I\u2019ll help you. It is wind and solar by a mile, by a factor of two. The fellow who left here under difficult circumstances was correct. The cheapest form of energy today is wind and solar by a long shot. Let's take a case study in Iowa. Any idea how much wind power supplies to the electricity supply of Iowa?\u201d\n\n\u201cI don't know the specific number,\u201d Swett answered.\n\n\u201cSixty percent,\u201d Senator King responded. \u201cIowa is the fifteenth lowest electricity cost in the country and in the past year we have already learned average electricity prices across the country have gone up between six percent and ten percent. In Iowa, it has actually gone down a half a percent. The point is: you both have talked about being agnostic. I hope you will hold to that because we cannot ignore the reality around us that this administration is extremely hostile \u2013 and that is a mild term \u2013 to renewable energy. And the second point \u2013 I talked about price \u2013 is speed. There is no question that wind and solar are the quickest to deploy. Senator Heinrich mentioned if you wanted a new gas plant today, it would be seven years between permitting and the fact there is a five-year wait time for turbine. A major solar project should go online in a year or a year and a half. So, I just hope that you all will be true to your word today and not follow what amounts to an ideology that says we cannot have wind and solar.\u201d\n\nSenator King then asked the nominees about the important role batteries play in transmission and stabilizing the electric grid.\n\nSenator King then asked, \u201cRenewables plus batteries is a baseload, batteries can also have an important role to play in transmission. Ms. Swett, can you discuss that? Stabilizing the grid?\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you for the question, Senator,\u201d Swett responded. \u201cI have not looked into the battery engineering components as they relate to the grid, but I would absolutely be open to any type of technology that would stabilize or enhance our existing grid if I had the honor of being confirmed.\u201d\n\nSenator King questioned, \u201cMr. LaCerte, thoughts on batteries?\u201d\n\nLaCerte replied, \u201cThank you, Senator. I agree with the premise that batteries could be an important component of increasing the reliability of baseload. I think as our technologies evolve, that those batteries will become more and more efficient and effective. I think it\u2019s definitely worth continued monitoring, and usage is something that should be looked at by FERC.\u201d\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. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to unlocking the promise of clean energy development opportunities created in the historic Inflation Reduction Act . In addition to a recent discussion with FERC, he has stressed the importance of streamlining and speeding project timelines while maintaining environmental standards to the Secretaries of Energy and Interior.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/office-of-congressman-golden-to-hold-constituent-services-office-hours-in-winthrop", "Office of Congressman Golden to hold Constituent Services Office Hours in Winthrop", "2025-08-26", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Staff from the Office of Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) will host Constituent Services Office Hours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, September 18, at Winthrop Town Hall.\n\nAppointments are required to meet with a constituent services caseworker. To register for an appointment, click here.\n\nThe congressional staffers are available to help answer questions, provide resources, and help constituents resolve issues or challenges with federal agencies and programs, such as Medicare, Social Security payments and SSI/SSDI issues, tax filing, veterans benefits and more. They are also able to provide information to small-business owners about government grants and programs.\n\nWHAT: Constituent Services Office Hours\n\nWHO: Caseworkers from the Office of Congressman Jared Golden\n\nWHERE: Winthrop Town Hall, 17 Highland Ave., Winthrop, ME 04364\n\nWHEN: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, September 18, 2025\n\nNo paperwork or other materials are required to speak with a caseworker. This is a nonpolitical Congressional outreach event, not affiliated with any campaign. Congressman Golden will not be present.\n\nFor more information or to speak with one of Congressman Golden\u2019s caseworkers, please visit golden.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-led-effort-secures-delay-of-removal-of-navigational-buoys-in-gulf-of-maine", "King-led Effort Secures Delay of Removal of Navigational Buoys in Gulf of Maine", "2025-08-18", "2025", "2025-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Weeks after he led a bipartisan group of New England Senators in urging the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to delay its plans to remove navigational buoys in the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Ocean, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) received confirmation that the USCG will accept their recommendation. In a letter addressed to the Senators, USCG Director of Marine Transportation Systems, Michael D. Emerson, agreed with the Senators and outlined the Coast Guard\u2019s plan to modify and extend the stakeholder engagement process to better understand the impacts of the proposal.\n\nThe USCG launched the Coastal Buoy Modernization Initiative in April 2025, a component of its broader Short-Range Aids-to-Navigation Modernization effort. This initiative proposed the discontinuation of 351 coastal buoys across New England (Maine accounts for the largest share at 145 buoys). At the same time, an additional 2,349 buoys and beacons are under review for future removal as part of the Harbor Buoy Modernization Initiative and the Shallow Water Level of Service Study (SWLOSS), scheduled for phased implementation from 2026 through 2029. In total, some 2700 buoys are up for consideration for removal along the New England coast.\n\n\u201cI appreciate your concern that the Coast Guard slow down the effort to ensure that the needs of communities and mariners in your states are understood. Accordingly, the Coast Guard will modify and extend the process. The Northeast District will review first round comments, assess feedback., and re-advertise with any changes to the current proposal. This notice will include changes to aids in the vicinity of proposed discontinuations (such as relocations, lighting, or increased nominal range); which will provide users a more complete change picture,\u201d Emerson wrote in response to the Senators.\n\nThe Coast Guard\u2019s response is in line with the Senators\u2019 prior request in June:\n\n\u201cWe urge the agency to slow down this effort to ensure that the agency understands the needs of the communities and mariners in our states. Therefore, we urge you to extend the public comment period and increase public and Congressional engagement as outlined in this letter,\u201d the Senators wrote in their initial letter.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the Coast Guard and Navy as well as economic and recreational usages of Maine\u2019s waterways.\n\nKing recently secured key provisions in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support the maritime forces and ensure that America\u2019s military can continue providing best in class services to protect the \u2018territory of the brave.\u2019 In 2023, he was honored with the Congressional Sea Services Award by the Navy League Capital Council and accepted it on behalf of the men and women of the sea services. Additionally, as an engaged leader on maritime matters, Senator King has previously secured legislation that bolstered USCG and marine transport cybersecurity, healthcare for sentinels, and increase pay and housing allowances for Maine Coasties. He also successfully negotiated provisions enacted into law that supported Maine lobsterman and Maine Windjammers.\n\nAdditionally, as a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator King has been a longtime advocate for Maine\u2019s outdoor resources. Last year, Senator King helped secure critical funding for the American Lobster Research Program\u2014an organization that supports projects to address critical knowledge gaps about American lobster and its fishery in a dynamic and changing environment. Senator King also helped pass the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act, legislation that provides approval for the restoration of a Maine fishway to allow fish such as herring, alewives, and the endangered Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream.\n\nThe full text of the letter led by Senator King can be found here.\n\nMariners, and professional and recreational boaters, are highly encouraged to provide constructive feedback to the Coast Guard about the proposed changes. Information can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-steube-introduce-bipartisan-secure-trade-act", "Golden, Steube introduce bipartisan Secure Trade Act", "2025-08-15", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today introduced the Secure Trade Act, legislation that would assert Congress\u2019 role in crafting trade policy and target countries of concern to improve the United States\u2019 economic security.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s long past time that Congress got some skin in the game in setting our nation\u2019s trade and tariff policies,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThe free trade status quo has cost Americans jobs and left us reliant on other nations for strategic goods critical for our nation\u2019s safety and prosperity. The Secure Trade Act incentivizes the production and purchase of domestic goods, increases our economic security and makes clear that U.S. trade policy will be used to advance our interests, not those of our competitors.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan legislation is co-led by Republican Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tariff and trade policy.\n\n\u201cAmerican workers have the right to compete on a level playing field,\" Steube said.\u201cIf foreign governments insist on tariffing our exports, then American industries deserve the same protections to remain competitive. This bill holds serial trade manipulators like China accountable, reduces the offshoring of manufacturing jobs and secures America's long-term economic and national security for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThe Secure Trade Act includes several provisions, including:\n\nBaseline tariff rate: The Act codifies the 10 percent tariff baseline on all imported goods.\n\nNew treatment of Chinese imports: The Act revises the Harmonized Tariff Schedule to create a separate category of tariffs for the People\u2019s Republic of China, including a 35 percent tariff on nonstrategic goods and a 100 percent tariff on strategic goods, both phased in over five years. Strategic goods include items such as jet engine parts, microdrones used for agricultural and military purposes, and freeze dryers used to preserve sensitive medications. The Act would allow the president to modify these rates by certifying to Congress that a modification is in the national interest. The Act would also require goods imported from China to be appraised based on their U.S. value. These provisions would support a gradual reduction of our reliance on China for strategic goods. The U.S. has a trade deficit with China of $295 billion. More than 12,000 jobs were lost or displaced in Maine between 2001 and 2018 as a result of this trade deficit.\n\nExpansion of federal authority over foreign investment: The Act expands the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS), empowering it to block foreign investments from entities connected to Countries of Concern in both new and existing facilities or businesses. This provision could be used to block foreign investments such as those that have led to the establishment of illegal cannabis grow houses in Maine.\n\nAt the time of introduction, the bill has been endorsed by American Compass and the Coalition for a Prosperous America:\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Secure Trade Act is a crucial step toward rebalancing global trade, restoring American industrial strength, and reducing our reliance on adversarial supply chains,\u201d said Mark DiPlacido, policy advisor at American Compass. \u201cThe bill\u2019s 10 percent global minimum tariff will help lower the U.S. trade deficit, raise revenue and level the playing field for American workers and manufacturers. The legislation\u2019s provisions to create a separate tariff schedule for China are long overdue to address China\u2019s abusive economic practices, including intellectual property theft, suppressed wages and predatory industrial subsidies. The bill also strengthens domestic investment screening to ensure the United States isn\u2019t selling its assets to those who don\u2019t share our interests. Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Greg Steube (R-FL) deserve tremendous credit for this bold and necessary effort to reassert U.S. economic independence, stabilize our trade balance and protect our long-term national interests.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur country needs tariffs, both to protect industries and as a preferred funding source for the government,\" said John Toomey, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). \"This bill codifies the 10 percent Universal Tariff that President Trump campaigned on, bringing in much needed revenue, as well as updates the U.S. tariff system with a China-specific tariff schedule that reflects their clear record of abusive economic practices. CPA salutes Representatives Golden and Steube for putting America first.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cosponsors-bill-to-reduce-financial-burden-on-eastport-port-authority-maintain-border-security", "Golden cosponsors bill to reduce financial burden on Eastport Port Authority, maintain border security", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is supporting the Securing Ports and America\u2019s Commerce and Economy (CBP SPACE) Act, which would prevent Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from offloading additional costs and responsibilities onto local ports while threatening closure for noncompliance.\n\nEastport Port Authority, which is already shouldering many costs offloaded by CBP, is one of many ports across the country being strained by the agency\u2019s moves.\n\nCBP recently indicated that it may halt operations at local ports unless seaports cover the costs of screening equipment \u2014 expensive technology that has historically been the responsibility of the federal government to fund. Shifting the burden onto local budgets would squeeze already-strained local budgets. Moreover, limiting CBP operations at local ports could jeopardize national security.\n\n\u201cPorts such as Eastport\u2019s are critical infrastructure for rural economies and dumping the federal government\u2019s financial burden on their laps is a recipe for disaster,\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join the bipartisan group of lawmakers cosponsoring legislation to ensure local budgets and national security aren\u2019t caught in the crossfire of administrative spats \u2014 especially with the increased funding CBP has received in recent years.\u201d\n\nThe CBP Space Act also seeks to improve the relationship between CBP and local ports. Currently, CBP officers at many seaports face challenges operating in temporary or makeshift facilities due to outdated legal constraints that prevent the agency from securing long-term leases. The CBP SPACE Act resolves this issue by granting CBP the authority to directly lease necessary space from port authorities or private entities. This would allow officers to be properly stationed at vital locations and ensure consistent enforcement of customs and immigration laws.The legislation also improves coordination with port authorities to strengthen U.S. supply chain security.\n\nThe bipartisan bill, originally introduced by Congresswomen Laurel Lee (FL-15) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), is also backed by Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Troy Carter (LA-02).\n\nPort operators across the country, such as the American Association of Port Authorities, and local leadership in Eastport also support the legislation:\n\n\u201cMaintaining safe and efficient seaports is a tall order, and especially for rural communities like Eastport. At the local level, CBP has always been a great partner in that effort, but now administratively, the agency has repeatedly moved to seemingly shift every possible cost onto small municipalities like ours.\u201d said Chris Gardner, Executive Director of the Eastport Port Authority. \u201cThis approach has only added challenges from a government agency that is meant to facilitate commerce, not burden it. In rural economies, this can make all the difference. The Port Authority is very appreciative of Congressman Golden joining this bipartisan effort to see CBP properly funded, thus helping it serve not just Eastport, but coastal communities just like ours across the country.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pingree-introduce-new-policy-proposal-offering-tax-credits-to-working-waterfronts-at-risk-of-natural-disaster-damage", "King, Pingree Introduce New Policy Proposal Offering Tax Credits to Working Waterfronts at Risk of Natural Disaster Damage", "2025-08-01", "2025", "2025-08", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 As America enters hurricane and storm season, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) \u2014 along with Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Greg Murphy (R-NC) \u2014 are introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to offer a disaster mitigation tax credit to working waterfronts located on the coasts and on navigable waterways. The Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act would provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million when they invest in mitigation expenses, adjusted for inflation annually.\n\nSenator King has been at the forefront of supporting working waterfronts as they face the effects of sea level rise and storm damage. This new legislation would ensure that working waterfronts have the financial resources to shore up their infrastructure and prevent the oftentimes devastating consequences of natural disasters.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s coastal communities are changing. From a warming climate to an evolving economy, the Gulf of Maine is facing challenges that will define our state\u2019s success for generations to come,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act would provide working waterfronts up and down the coast of Maine with the necessary financial resources to adapt to the rapidly shifting dynamics of natural disasters affecting economic and tourism operations. Thanks to Senator Cassidy for working with me to ensure our waterfront businesses have the necessary tools and resources to thrive for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s empower coastal businesses to invest in flood and disaster prevention before a storm hits,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cDoing so protects our way of life, fishing and coastal industries, and the livelihoods of Louisiana families.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom lobstering to boatbuilding, working waterfronts are the economic backbone of many coastal communities \u2014 but they\u2019re vanishing under pressure from development and intensifying climate impacts,\u201d said Congresswoman Pingree. \u201cIn Maine, we've seen firsthand how vulnerable our waterfront infrastructure is to extreme storms and flooding. At a time when coastal communities in Maine, Louisiana, North Carolina, and across the country are feeling the impacts of an ever-changing and increasingly volatile climate, working waterfronts and those they support need the tools to prepare for the next disaster, not just recover from the last. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill is about protecting jobs, preserving access, and ensuring the future of our coastal way of life.\u201d\n\n\u201cProperties used for commercial purposes in areas at risk of erosion and intense weather systems face unique challenges,\u201d said Congressman Murphy, M.D. \u201cAs the representative of more than 80% of North Carolina's coastline, I understand how tide changes and storms can jeopardize local economies that conduct business along our shores. Ensuring the resiliency of waterfront commerce is essential to our coastal communities and this legislation enables businesses to mitigate the financial costs that come with working in these areas.\u201d\n\nWorking waterfronts are comprised of physical property (including support structures over water and other facilities) that provide access to navigable waters to persons engaged in commercial fishing, recreational fishing and boating businesses, boatbuilding, aquaculture, or other water-dependent business used for the purpose of supporting a water-dependent business. The tax credit would be available to any small business that operates a working waterfront. For example, a coastal business owner can use this tax credit to invest in business-related infrastructure to protect property so that it does not suffer damage from rising water and storms.\n\n\u201cIsland Institute is grateful to Senator Angus King for introducing this visionary piece of legislation. Maine\u2019s working waterfront businesses will need all the tools they can get; this tax credit will be an important resource for small business owners, many of whom were affected by catastrophic January 2024 storms. This bill assures that small working waterfront businesses can take steps today that will help them to prepare for future impacts of climate change,\u201d said Kimberly A. Hamilton, PhD, President of Island Institute.\n\nSenator King is a longtime supporter of working waterfronts and small businesses. He previously joined the entire Maine Delegation in writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in support of Governor Janet Mills\u2019 requests that they treat the multiple devastating winter storms as a disaster event for purposes of damage assessment and federal reimbursement for cleanup. He also has introduced the bipartisan Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act to reauthorize the Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Pilot Program, which would give small businesses the opportunity to take out low-interest loans for the purpose of proactively implementing mitigation measures that protect their property from future disaster-related damage. Most recently, he was named a 2024 Hero of Main Street for his support of small businesses across Maine.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/how-in-the-world-senator-king-confronts-pentagon-nominee-on-impact-to-cybersecurity-priorities-amid-massive-cuts", "\u201cHow in the World?\u201d Senator King Confronts Pentagon Nominee on Impact to Cybersecurity Priorities Amid Massive Cuts", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today questioned a Department of Defense nominee on the harmful impact of staffing cuts to the Defense Department that tests weapons systems including testing for cybersecurity. In an exchange with Dr. Amy Henninger, nominee to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation at the Department of Defense (DoD) during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King questioned whether she was in support of the existing staffing cuts and whether, if confirmed, she believed she would have enough resources to keep Americans safe.\n\nSenator King began, \u201c70% of the staff in the office you are designated to lead has been cut, yet at the same time, the challenges of investing in a new technology, particularly the challenges of cyber and ensuring cybersecurity of the whole supply chain, have multiplied in recent years. How in the world are you going to do your job when you've only got 30% of the people who were there a year ago?\n\n\u201cThank you for the opportunity to expand on that, Senator King. I have not been briefed on the details, the Secretary of Defense, his memorandum and decisions after the memorandum,\u201d Dr. Henninger replied. \u201cI understand that there is a 60-day period, where there will be a reconsideration of any resources that might be necessary. I don't know where that stands right now. The operational test and evaluation community spreads out responsibility, across a number of entities, including the service OTAs who actually do the cyber testing. At DOT&E, the office that you were talking about in your question, specifically provides oversight and analysis for a certain number of programs that were on the oversight list. And when I get into the office, I will do an independent analysis.\u201d\n\nSenator King concluded, \u201cI think this office is very important, particularly at this moment in time.\u201d\n\nAs former Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress\u2019 leading experts on cyberdefense and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.\n\nTogether with Solarium Co-Chair former Representative Mike Gallagher, King previously urged the Biden Administration to better protect the public health sector from cyber threats and called for stronger, collaborative efforts to address the growing threat. Senator King has also introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Cybersecurity in Health Care Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) perform consistent evaluations of its cybersecurity systems, and provide biannual reports on its current practices and progress on future safety procedures it is working to implement. He also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to expand the cybersecurity workforce by training veterans for in-demand jobs. Senator King also joined his colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Streamlining Federal Cybersecurity Regulations Act to help address challenges associated with the current patchwork of inconsistent cybersecurity policies between agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-legislation-to-streamline-green-card-status-for-at-risk-immigrant-youth", "King Cosponsors Legislation to Streamline Green Card Status for At-Risk Immigrant Youth", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to help provide an expedited pathway to green card status for young immigrants under 21 whose case of abandonment, abuse or neglect by their legal guardian has been evaluated and affirmed by a U.S. state court. The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act, S. 1965, aims to exempt Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) children from annual employment-based visa caps. This would end years-long backlogs and allow these children to move forward with their lives as lawful, productive, permanent residents of the United States.\n\n\u201cFor generations, our country has been a beacon of hope for immigrants seeking a better life,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cHowever, navigating the immigration system and pathway to legal citizenship is often a lengthy, cumbersome process \u2014 especially for younger immigrants trying to escape abuse or neglect. The Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act would gently ease some of the barriers to obtaining a green card for vulnerable minors and help keep these children safe and out of harm\u2019s way. We owe it to the young people seeking refuge in our country to provide them with the tools and support to achieve their American dream.\u201d\n\nThe Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) was established in 1990 to create a pathway to lawful permanent residence (a \u201cgreen card\u201d) for immigrant children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their parents or guardians. Children who receive SIJS have faced horrific conditions in their home countries, leaving them unable to return and often with few resources here in the U.S. Despite being a humanitarian visa, the pathway to a green card for SIJS children runs through the employment-based immigration visa system \u2014 subjecting SIJS recipients to annual worldwide and country-specific visa limits. This has resulted in thousands of children stuck in a backlog, unable to move forward with their lives.\n\nThe Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Act is cosponsored by Senators Cortez Masto (D-NV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM).\n\nSenator King is a strong opponent of the Trump Administration\u2019s continued efforts to repeal protections for DACA recipients, also referred to as \u201cDreamers.\u201d He has repeatedly sought a legislative solution to provide stability for DACA recipients. Most recently, he sent a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Angelica Alfonso-Royals, highlighting the popular support for providing Dreamers a pathway to citizenship and request that the Trump Administration comply with the recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that mandated the resumption of processing of DACA applications. Most recently, he cosponsored a bill to prohibit the sharing of personal data of DACA program applicants with immigration officials.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-senate-resolution-affirming-importance-of-prevention-task-force-that-guides-medical-best-practices", "King Leads Senate Resolution Affirming Importance of Prevention Task Force that Guides Medical Best Practices", "2025-07-30", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are introducing a Senate Resolution affirming support for the forty-year-old federal task force charged with guiding medical best practices across the United States. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), recently reported to be in the early stages of being disbanded, is responsible for making evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications. These prevention measures guide patients and providers in their treatment options to keep Americans healthy with the secondary order effect of keeping treatment costs down.\n\nCreated in 1984, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is a scientifically independent, volunteer panel of national experts that works to improve the health of people nationwide. Task Force members come from the fields of preventive medicine and primary care, including internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, and nursing. Their recommendations are based on a rigorous review of existing peer-reviewed evidence and are intended to help primary care clinicians and patients decide together whether a preventive service is right for a patient's needs. As required by the Affordable Care Act, public and private insurers also use the USPSTF recommendations to determine what preventive interventions should be covered without cost-sharing by patients.\n\n\u201cEvery Maine person deserves access to affordable, evidence-based medicine,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, historically, has been that guiding light: a group of independent experts that came together to offer science-backed treatment options for everything from heart disease to HIV prevention and routine cancer screenings. I have always said that \u2018an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,\u2019 but the ongoing threats from the Trump Administration to disband the task force are the latest example that the cheapest medical procedure is the one that never is needed because of precautions and treatment ahead of time. While I hope this does not come to fruition, I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure that this task force can continue to operate in an apolitical landscape for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\"The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force makes evidence-based recommendations so Americans can get preventive care like cancer screenings and HIV prevention for free\u2014but the Trump administration is threatening to rip that away,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cI will always fight to lower health care costs and protect health care for Americans.\"\n\n\"Everyone deserves a fair chance to live a healthy life. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force helps make that possible by grounding preventive care in the best available science, not ideology. Senator King\u2019s resolution is a strong affirmation that evidence, not politics, should guide how we keep people well,\" said Dr. Aaron Carroll, president and CEO of AcademyHealth, a non-partisan group that supports the creation and use of evidence to improve the health of all Americans.\n\nJoining King on the resolution are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).\n\nSenator King, known as the \u2018Prevention Senator,\u2019 has long worked on policy solutions that keep Maine people healthy and lower the costs for patients and providers alike. He has previously introduced legislation require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits, without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In doing so, this legislation also would catch smaller, or early health symptoms before they become larger threats requiring more extensive and expensive treatments. Most recently, he introduced the \u2018Stand Strong\u2019 package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan, the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors\u2019 homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare\u2019s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.\n\nThe full text of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-streamline-information-sharing-between-community-care-providers-and-va-medical-centers", "King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Information-Sharing Between Community Care Providers and VA Medical Centers", "2025-07-29", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) have introduced legislation to require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implement guidelines to streamline information-sharing between community care providers and VA medical centers. The Coordinating and Aligning Records to Improve and Normalize Governance (CARING) for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025 would enable the Office of Integrated Veteran Care to better track medical documentation after a veteran receives care from a community provider. It would also require the VA to measure the performance of timeliness and efficiency in obtaining community care records.\n\nNearly 75% of veterans return to VA medical centers for continued care after receiving services from community providers, increasing the risk of medical documentation between providers falling through the cracks. The Office of Integrated Veteran Care of the Veterans Health Administration currently lacks systemwide visibility into whether medical documentation from community providers is being received, jeopardizing oversight and clinical coordination for Maine\u2019s veterans.\n\n\u201cVeterans in Maine and across the country have sacrificed greatly in service to the nation and it is our job to now return the favor,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025 would ensure that veterans have access to the best care by improving information-sharing between community care providers and VA medical centers to reduce the chances of important details falling through the cracks. I am grateful to my colleague, Senator Ricketts, for working with me on this important legislation putting veterans first.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,\u201d said Senator Ricketts. \u201cIn order to ensure our veterans receive the best standard of care, it is important that their medical history is shared and available for VA medical centers following care in the community. This bill will help establish guidelines and procedures for VA medical facilities to obtain medical documentation from community care providers.\u201d\n\nThe CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025 would require that the Office of Integrated Veteran Care supervised by the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs:\n\nDevelops guidance for the efforts of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in obtaining final medical documentation after a veteran receives services from a community care provider pursuant to a referral from that medical center;\n\nEstablishes goals and related performance measures for medical centers of the Department in obtaining initial and final medical documentation from community care providers;\n\nEstablishes and monitors goals and related performance measures for the completion by such providers of core trainings and ensures that such providers complete the required training course; and\n\nTakes steps to ensure that the Office of Integrated Veteran Care and any contractor for that Office communicate clear and accurate information to such providers regarding the core trainings recommended or required by that Office, including whether such training is recommended or required.\n\nAs reliance on community care for veterans continues to grow, establishing clear expectations for tracking final documentation and creating monitoring goals and performance measures will enable the Office of Integrated Veteran Care to identify gaps and strengthen the systemwide exchange of information. This legislation is supported by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nRecently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d Senator King also recently joined his colleagues in raising concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in a special investigative SVAC hearing to question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. In May, Senators King and Blumenthal wrote again to Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts to cancel contracts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-amid-growing-nutrition-crisis-in-gaza", "King Releases Statement Amid Growing Nutrition Crisis in Gaza", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Amid the growing nutrition and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement severing his support for the current Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:\n\n\u201cI cannot defend the indefensible. Israel\u2019s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population\u2014including tens of thousands of starving children\u2014can never be an acceptable military strategy.\n\n\u201cWhile clearly justified in responding to the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens, that tragic event cannot in turn justify the enormous toll on Palestinian civilians caused by Israel\u2019s relentless bombing campaign and its indifference to the current plight of those trapped in what\u2019s left of Gaza.\n\n\u201cI in no way accept or condone the actions of Hamas, but recent events have placed a moral burden on Israel to ameliorate the current crisis, a burden it has thus far totally failed to meet.\n\n\u201cFor these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate\u2014and vote\u2014for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/to-help-farmers-and-cut-meat-costs-king-paul-introduce-bill-to-reduce-red-tape-for-maine-farmers", "To Help Farmers and Cut Meat Costs, King, Paul Introduce Bill to Reduce Red Tape for Maine Farmers", "2025-07-28", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for small farms and ranches to provide locally produced meats to consumers. As beef prices in the United States hit record highs, the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act would give individual states the freedom to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as beef, pork, goat or lamb to consumers, restaurants, hotels, boarding houses and grocery stores. Custom-slaughter facilities are annually inspected facilities \u2014 Maine\u2019s state standards are \u201cat least equal to\u201d federal government standards \u2014 that process safe, and clean meat from small farms for private consumption, but are not currently allowed to make public sales.\n\n\u201cMaine farmers should not face redundant barriers when it comes to meeting increased demand for fresh, locally produced meats,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe PRIME Act would put a stop to unnecessary federal regulations by empowering states to regulate the processing and local sale of meat. This bipartisan legislation is a solid step toward restoring a measure of commonsense to the process, supporting Maine\u2019s farmers and bolstering the local foods movement, all while protecting consumer safety. If Maine or Kentucky wants to let a farm sell fresh, tested, safe meat in their communities using a custom slaughterhouse and proven methods, the federal government doesn\u2019t need to get involved.\u201d\n\nUnder current law, farmers and ranchers must have their animals processed at a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) certified facility to sell their product commercially. However, many states such as Maine have a limited amount of USDA-approved processing facilities, which are often at capacity. This makes it expensive and time-consuming for farmers to transport their animals, sometimes across the state or even out of state when they intend to sell the meat to their neighbors. The PRIME Act would give states the authority to allow meat from custom-slaughter facilities to be sold for general consumption. This would help relieve the significant shortage of processing capacity and allow small farms, ranches, and slaughterhouses to significantly increase sales.\n\nIn addition to Senators King and Paul, cosponsors include Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mike Lee (R-UT). Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives.\n\nSenator King is a staunch advocate for the Maine agriculture industry. Earlier this year, Senator King cosponsored the Honor Farmer Contracts Act which released withheld federal funding and allocated it back to farmers as Congress had intended. He is an original sponsor of the bipartisan Dairy PRIDE Act which combats the mislabeling of non-dairy products and requires accurate labeling of dairy and non-dairy products as mislabeling is harmful to dairy farmers selling their products in a crowded marketplace. Senator King also cosponsored the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act to direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to give milk producers a greater voice in dairy pricing. Additionally, Senator King is an annual cosponsor of the federal \u2018National Dairy Month\u2019 resolution. Earlier this year, he introduced the bipartisan Innovative Feed Enhance and Economic Development (FEED) Act to help cut red tape in the livestock feed sector.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-introduces-permitting-reform-bill-with-natural-resources-committee-chairman-westerman", "Golden introduces permitting reform bill with Natural Resources Committee Chairman Westerman", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today introduced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, a bill to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose as a procedural statute for assessing the environmental impact of federal actions.\n\nGolden is the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, which was submitted today by the House Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Republican Bruce Westerman (AR-04).\n\n\u201cBeing a good steward of our environment doesn\u2019t mean we must tolerate a yearslong permitting process that is onerous, overly complex and ripe for litigation abuse,\u201d Golden said. \u201cAmerica must get back into the business of building. We need modern infrastructure. We need robust power production that does not discriminate between energy sources. These investments will create jobs, support our economy, keep prices down and help us maintain energy independence.\u201d\n\n\u201cA country as advanced as the United States must be nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it. I'm proud to partner with Chairman Westerman on reforms that protect our environment while delivering the investments Americans need today, not years from now,\u201d Golden said.\n\n\u201cAmerica's model of successful environmental stewardship alongside strong economic growth is being hobbled by a more than half-century old permitting process that is overdue for a tune-up. Although well-intentioned, the National Environmental Policy Act has not kept up with the times, which is bad for both our environment and our economy,\u201d Westerman said. \u201cWith commonsense upgrades, we can cut red tape and enable the United States to build once again while setting the standard for environmental stewardship. The SPEED Act will help launch America into a future where we can effectively innovate and implement to revitalize our infrastructure, meet skyrocketing energy demands, lead the world in the AI race and work in harmony with our natural environment. America must lead by setting an example for the rest of the world on how to steward the environment, strengthen the economy and create the best place to live and work. The bipartisan SPEED Act is a big step in the right direction. I'd like to thank my colleague Congressman Golden for co-leading this bill, and I look forward to working with him to get it signed into law.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a procedural statute that established parameters for assessing the environmental impacts of all major federal actions and created the Council on Environmental Quality. The procedural requirements in NEPA apply to all major federal actions, including but not limited to the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy projects, broadband and water infrastructure.\n\nWhile well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and permitting timelines. Additionally, NEPA has become a tool used by special interest groups to block critical infrastructure across the country, as it is currently the most litigated environmental statute.\n\nThis litigation is most often initiated not by communities or individuals, but by national NGOs. According to the Breakthrough Institute, NGOs filed more than 70 percent of all lawsuits filed under NEPA in recent years. According to the report, litigants lose their challenges 80 percent of the time. But what they lost in court, they made up for in delays; Litigation under NEPA added an average of four years to a project\u2019s timeline. These kinds of delays can kill a project even when the litigation against it fails.\n\nThe SPEED Act will modernize NEPA to help streamline the permitting process and return the law to its intended purpose. The bill will shorten permitting timelines and reduce the frequency of frivolous litigation. This legislation will simplify the analysis required in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies. The bill will also clarify when NEPA is triggered by clarifying the definition of \u201cMajor Federal Action.\u201d Lastly, the bill will establish judicial review limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims, a new standard of review and the elimination of procedural moves that stop projects from moving forward.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-rounds-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-crack-down-on-trespassing-on-sensitive-government-property", "King, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Crack Down on Trespassing on Sensitive Government Property", "2025-07-25", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), have introduced legislation to better ensure access to U.S. Intelligence Community property is only available to authorized personnel. The bipartisan Intelligence Community Property Security Act would strengthen the penalty for trespassing on sensitive property under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Community.\n\nCurrently, Title 18 of United States Code \u2014 which outlines laws pertaining to crimes and criminal procedures \u2014 does not express address criminal incursions onto U.S. intelligence sites. The bill would revise criminal penalties to address the severity of the crime, and the pointed threat repeat offenders pose to U.S. national security interests.\n\n\u201cThe 21st century threat landscape is complicated, but there are some simple and straightforward steps we can take to protect our security and operations \u2014 like make sure that our Intelligence Community facilities are not compromised by unauthorized trespassers,\u201d said King. \u201cThe bipartisan Intelligence Community Property Security Act would take action to strengthen the penalties for bad actors and offenders attempting to intrude on intelligence sites. It\u2019s commonsense legislation that will help better protect American people and interests.\u201d\n\n\u201cHaving unauthorized personnel trespassing onto some of our nation\u2019s most sensitive sites presents a grave national security risk. We can\u2019t take these offenses lightly,\u201d said Rounds. \u201cOur legislation would strengthen the punishment for repeated offenses and, in turn, better deter those bad actors who may try to infringe on these properties. Now more than ever, it\u2019s critical to protect our intelligence sites from foreign adversaries.\u201d\n\nA member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues. In addition to his committee work, Senator King serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and is co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission \u2014 which has had dozens of recommendations become law. Earlier this year, he joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-cline-introduces-bipartisan-fiscal-contingency-preparedness-act", "Golden, Cline introduces bipartisan Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 With the national debt topping $36 trillion and interest payments now exceeding spending on Medicare and national defense, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has signed on as the lead Democratic cosponsor of the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act, introduced today by Congressmen Ben Cline (VA-06).\n\nThis bipartisan bill would require the federal government to assess and report its ability to respond to major national emergencies like economic downturns, energy crises and national security threats. The bill was also sponsored by Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01) and Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03).\n\nThe legislation directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to produce an annual report measuring the government\u2019s fiscal strength and readiness. After this report is released, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would conduct its own independent review and publish its findings to ensure accuracy and transparency.\n\n\u201cOne of the many lessons the Marine Corps taught me was to have a plan for the worst-case scenario,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would force Washington to be clear-eyed about our fiscal outlook in potential national emergencies, which is the necessary first step for responsible planning to keep America stable and secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith our debt piling up and interest payments skyrocketing, we cannot afford to be caught flat-footed when the next emergency hits,\" Cline said. \"Just like households plan ahead for tough times, the federal government must do the same. Americans deserve a clear picture of how much room we actually have to respond to future crises. Congress must face the facts and make responsible decisions now, before an emergency strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe know that when a crisis hits, preparation makes all the difference,\" Bergman said. \"The Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act is a commonsense step to ensure we\u2019re ready to respond to whatever comes our way - whether it\u2019s an economic downturn, a natural disaster, or a national security threat. If we\u2019re serious about keeping our Nation strong and secure, we need to start planning ahead and making our decisions based on reality - not scrambling to prepare after the fact.\"\n\n\u201cAs a small business owner, I know how important it is to plan for a rainy day \u2014 and hardworking families in Southwest Washington know it too,\u201d Gluesenkamp Perez said. \u201cOur federal government should hold itself to the same standard and be ready to weather any crisis that comes its way. Our bipartisan legislation would require annual assessments of our national fiscal strength when faced with different crises \u2014 so we can better prepare our economy to work for the American people under any circumstances.\u201d\n\nAccording to the Congressional Budget Office, interest payments on the national debt will permanently exceed defense spending. By 2050, interest costs are expected to double the size of the defense budget. Gross federal debt is projected to hit 123% of GDP by September 2025, surpassing the previous World War II-era high of 119%.\n\n\u201cOur national debt is not just a number,\" said the Hon. Joe Manchin, former Senator from West Virginia. \"It is a real and rising threat to our way of life. It impacts our economy, our national security, and our ability to respond in times of crisis. I am proud to see Representatives Cline and Golden take up the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act. This is a commonsense measure. Just like American families must prepare for emergencies, so should our government.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-criticizes-va-nominee-for-harmful-ready-fire-aim-contract-terminations", "King Criticizes VA Nominee for Harmful \u201cReady, Fire, Aim\u201d Contract Terminations", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), questioned a Trump Administration nominee about the reckless approach it\u2019s taking to contract and staff reductions at the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs (VA). In his exchange with John Bartrum, Nominee to be Under Secretary for Health, King reasoned that it is virtually impossible to make dramatic, across-the-board reductions with thought, care and precision while protecting care for veterans because of the speed in which the reductions are happening.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cI\u2019ve done a little examination, this is full of contracts for nursing services, nursing home services you mentioned prosthetics, probably a dozen prosthetics contracts being canceled. It is hard for me to believe that all of these are unnecessary contracts. $13 billion worth of contracts. It worries me is that there seems to be a pattern of ready, fire, aim at Veterans\u2019 Affairs. You started with hiring freeze applying to everybody, then, oh no, it doesn't apply to medical people. That was a good decision, but it should not have been, it shouldn't have been made in the first place. Then it was 83,000 people are going to be fired by the end of the year, now it is 30,000, not fired, but we are going to downsize by 30,000. And I just wonder if upon review, I can't believe all 16,000 of these contracts, and then the email, of course, lists three or four ones that we would all say, okay, those probably aren\u2019t necessary but prosthetics contracts, nursing contracts, nursing home contracts, it really bothers me. Mr. Bartrum, you mentioned we don't have a good staffing model. That may well be true, but I think you should start with the staffing model and then decide what the right size of the staff is. Not start with 30,000 or a month ago, it was 83,000 and work backwards. Do you see what I'm saying? Analyze the staff, do the staffing model, determine what you need and then make those decisions instead of starting with what amounts to a quota, and reverse engineering. Give me some thoughts about that.\n\n\u201cSenator King, I don't disagree with the way using analytics to determine what you need for staffing, building to the staffing, which is why my earlier comment was, I really want to work on our staffing and what the staffing should be. On your question about the contracts, a lot of those we also found that we had multiple contracts in multiple areas for similar things and we could also consolidate into more regional and national contracts. Where you see some contracts that might be terminated on the list, there may be additional contracts expanded out or scope changed to renegotiate it into a regional contract because you have the same contractor in some cases providing service in certain areas,\u201d Bartrum replied.\n\nSenator King replied, \u201cIt is hard for me to believe in the time we have had in the last few months, this list of 16,000 contracts has had the kind of careful review that, I will predict, that a month or two from now there will be another memo saying, well, there are a bunch of contracts we are not going to cut or eliminate. I want to see more planning before the decisions are made that could so significantly affect veteran care.\u201d\n\nRepresenting one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America\u2019s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins, Senator King joined his colleagues in urging for immediate action to secure veterans\u2019 personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and his \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u201d (DOGE), a measure that would protect millions of veterans\u2019 medical records stored in VA\u2019s computer systems. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families.\n\nRecently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his \u201coutstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.\u201d Senator King also recently joined his colleagues in raising concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees, and participated in a special investigative SVAC hearing to question witnesses who were terminated due to DOGE cuts. In May, Senators King and Blumenthal wrote again to Secretary Collins demanding an explanation for DOGE cuts to cancel contracts at VA that would impact health care for Maine veterans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-presses-navy-nominee-for-certainty-on-shipbuilding-defense-contracts", "King Presses Navy Nominee for Certainty on Shipbuilding, Defense Contracts", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today pressed the U.S. Navy for a firmer commitment to long-term shipbuilding plans at shipyards like Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard \u2013 plans that would give Maine communities and defense contractors greater predictability. In a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), King pressed Admiral Daryl Caudle, the nominee for Chief of Naval Operations, about his desire to maintain these long-term plans to allow the shipyards hire and maintain their workforces.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cWe talked about industrial base. It was touched upon. One of the things that has been missing, isn\u2019t on your watch, is a 30-year shipbuilding plan. We always talk about the industrial base. One of the things the industrial base needs is a consistent demand signal. Part of that is a 30-year ship building plan that says to the private sector, here are the ships we are planning to build, here\u2019s the schedule, here's is what we are looking for in terms of the modern Navy. I hope that can be one of the things you attend to on your watch, producing that overdue 30-year shipbuilding plan.\n\n\u201cWell Senator, I often joke at my office that you cannot change a 30-year ship building plan every year. That is called a one-year ship building plan,\u201d Admiral Caudle jokingly replied.\n\nSenator King promptly responded, \u201cAnd that\u2019s what we have had.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes sir. Changing year 31 is okay, but not year 1. You have my commitment on that, and I am a big fan of multiyear procurement, incremental funding, multi-ship buy, anything that can stabilize our precious private and public workforce with clear planning demand signal I am an advocate for,\u201d Admiral Caudle said.\n\n\u201cThat is absolutely a very important observation. As you say, the consistent demand signal allows the ship building community to hire and maintain their workforce. We cannot have troughs in terms of the demand,\u201d Senator King concluded.\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Recently, Senator King and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, discussed the importance of utilizing lessons from the private sector to maintain best practices for ship designing, building, and maintenance. Last year, he strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base \u2013 including Bath Iron Works\u2014to avoid a \u2018trough\u2019 between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-collins-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-create-disaster-relief-fund-for-loggers", "Golden, Collins introduce bipartisan legislation to create disaster relief fund for loggers", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, which would establish a new program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support loggers who have lost income due to natural disasters.\n\nSenator Angus King (I-ME) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) are original cosponsors of the legislation, while Congressman Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) is the lead cosponsor in the House.\n\nCurrent law excludes loggers from the kinds of disaster relief and assistance available to other industries, including fishermen and farmers, when natural disasters strike. Under the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act, a disaster declaration from the president or governor would unlock federal assistance eligibility for logging businesses with at least a 10 percent loss in revenue or volume compared to the prior year. Covered damage would include high winds, fire, flooding, insect infestation and drought.\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t write the story of Maine without loggers. Our forest products industry has provided for generations of Mainers and continues to be the economic bedrock of many rural communities. There must be a safety net to ensure one particularly bad season cannot uproot logging families and communities\u201d Golden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud of our loggers, and I\u2019m proud of the rock-solid coalition we\u2019re building to support them. \u201d\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s forest products industry has long supported good\u2011paying jobs and helped grow local economies across our state. Loggers are at the heart of that industry, but devastating storms in recent years have severely impacted the ability of logging businesses to operate at full capacity,\u201d Senator Collins said. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would provide targeted financial assistance to help loggers recover from federally declared disasters, so that they can continue their important work, sustain rural communities, and contribute to our state\u2019s economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Minnesota\u2019s Eighth Congressional District, our forest products industry has created good paying jobs and driven our local economies,\u201d Stauber said. \u201cUnfortunately, this crucial industry is currently facing a wide variety of threats, from wildfires and drought to insect infestation. Minnesota\u2019s loggers have supported our communities for generations, and it is now our turn to support them. That\u2019s why I am proud to introduce legislation with my friend, Congressman Jared Golden, to establish a new program through the USDA that will provide financial assistance to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that have seen their bottom line impacted by natural disasters. I look forward to seeing this legislation help ensure Minnesota\u2019s forest products industry remains strong and resilient.\u201d\n\nIn December 2023, Maine\u2019s logging industry lost $2.6 million after just one particularly severe storm \u2014 with a survey released by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast later finding that more than 90 percent of the industry\u2019s businesses suffered damage to equipment or logistics. In total, Maine\u2019s economy lost $5.5 million due to the loss in logging revenue and productivity that winter.\n\n\u201cGenerations of loggers have spent their lifetimes powering our state\u2019s economy while providing for their families, which is why it is so important to protect and sustain this historic industry,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAs natural disasters across Maine increase, the bipartisan Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act will help establish a new program within the USDA to support loggers who need assistance to overcome damage and lost income. The logging industry has supported rural Maine families and communities for hundreds of years, and it\u2019s imperative that investments in our foresting community evolve for today\u2019s challenges as we protect it for a sturdy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Maine experiences more extreme weather events and natural disasters, it\u2019s imperative that we protect our state\u2019s loggers from potentially devastating financial impacts\u2014just as we\u2019ve long done for our fishermen and farmers,\u201d Pingree, a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said.\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen the harmful impacts climate change has created for our forest products industry, from delayed harvests to damaged equipment and infrastructure. This common-sense, bipartisan legislation will provide real relief to the families and communities that rely on Maine\u2019s forests for their livelihoods and wellbeing.\u201d\n\nLogging industry leaders praised the bipartisan legislation:\n\nDana Doran, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast: \u201cFor too long, logging and forest trucking contractors in the Northeast have been left out of federal relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters, despite suffering losses as severe as those in other industries like fishing and farming that have received aid. The extreme weather our region has experienced in recent years has idled harvest operations for long periods, destroyed logging and timber hauling infrastructure, and driven up costs at a time when the logging industry is already grappling with unprecedented challenges and can least afford it. We are grateful to Congressmen Golden and the rest of Maine\u2019s delegation for their leadership in this effort to secure fair treatment for these hard-working small family businesses, and we encourage swift passage of the Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act to provide the aid the industry deserves.\u201d\n\nChuck Ames, president of SDR Logging, Sebec, ME: \u201cI talk to loggers every day and most are struggling, but all they ask for is a level playing field with other industries. I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction toward treating loggers the same as farmers and fishermen. We are all harvesting natural resources, and are all impacted by natural disasters. I appreciate the efforts of Congressman Golden and the rest of Maine's congressional delegation to recognize that and pass this bill on our behalf.\u201d\n\nMarc Greaney, president of Western Maine Timberlands, Fryeburg, ME: \u201cI have been logging for decades in Western Maine, and in recent years have seen severe weather limit my company's ability to harvest and truck wood for longer periods of time than ever before. When we can't cut and move wood we don't get paid, and this is happening at the same time that operating costs are continuing to rise, so I am grateful to Congressman Golden and the other members of Maine's congressional delegation for attempting to provide disaster relief to loggers in the same way it has been provided to other industries in the past.\u201d\n\nScott Dane, executive director of the American Loggers Council: \u201cThe timber industry invests in public and private stumpage (timber) years in advance. A multiyear timber portfolio is necessary to adjust for market and weather conditions. This is an essential element for a logger\u2019s business plan. When unforeseen natural disasters such as drought, wildfire, winds, and invasive species infestations occur, the timber is lost. There are limited options, if any, to replace that timber with new tracts in a timely manner. These losses are extremely disruptive to a logger\u2019s harvest plan and create a significant revenue loss. Congressman Golden\u2019s Loggers Assistance and Relief Act is necessary to support the timber industry, similar to assistance programs for other natural resource and agricultural sectors. The American Loggers Council appreciates the Maine Congressional Delegation, and other sponsors, for this Bill and the security it will provide to logging and trucking businesses\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-calling-on-us-senate-to-ratify-global-ocean-governing-agreement", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling on U.S. Senate to Ratify Global Ocean Governing Agreement", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, has introduced a bipartisan resolution urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 170 parties, defines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the world\u2019s oceans \u2014 including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources \u2014 and provides a legal framework to protect those rights while avoiding conflict.\n\n\u201cAmerica is an Arctic Nation, but as we fail to assert our rights on the global stage, we allow rival countries to seize opportunities in our maritime territory that should rightfully be ours,\u201d said U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus Co-Chair Senator Angus King (I-ME). \u201cSigning on to the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea would give us our rightful seat at the table for international conversations about territorial rights, navigation, environmental protections and economic opportunities \u2014 especially in the race for critical minerals that will unlock our technological future. Every military official and diplomatic appointee I have met with has said that America joining the Law of the Sea Treaty would assist in advancing America\u2019s interests, increase our supply chain resilience, and strengthen our national security. The High North offers historical possibilities for America\u2019s future, but we are holding ourselves back by standing still.\u201d\n\nUNCLOS \u2014 sometimes referred to as the \u201cconstitution of the oceans\u201d \u2014 is a comprehensive legal framework governing all uses of the world\u2019s oceans and seas, and their resources. It also allows for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea. It is the globally recognized framework for dealing with all matters relating to the law of the sea, governing areas including, but not limited to, environmental control, marine scientific research, economic and commercial activities, and the settlement of disputes relating to ocean matters. Without American agreement to the treaty, the United States cannot enforce their maritime boundaries and rights against nations like China, Japan, and India investing in icebreakers and other High North hardware.\n\nThe treaty was opened for signature on December 10, 1982, and was entered into force on November 16, 1994. The United States signed UNCLOS on July 29, 1994, but the U.S. Senate has not yet voted to ratify the treaty, despite urging from environmental, scientific, labor, and industry organizations.\n\nIn addition to Senator King, the resolution was cosponsored by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Todd Young (R-IN). The full text of the resolution is available here.\n\nAs Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate Arctic Caucus, Senator King is an advocate for Maine and America\u2019s interests in the North Atlantic and Arctic region \u2014 with Maine being the first port in the contiguous 48 states that will see increased traffic via activity in northern waters. Along with Caucus co-chair Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), King introduced the Arctic Commitment Act in 2022 to improve America\u2019s posture and opportunities in the Arctic. He has been calling for the appointment of an Arctic Ambassador since 2015, and pushed for the confirmation of the first Arctic Ambassador last year. King also laid out the challenges and opportunities of a warming arctic in an article in the Wilson Quarterly, and in last year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act, he successfully secured the inclusion of provisions including funding authorizations for University of Maine to increase America\u2019s activity and opportunities in the Far North. Earlier this year, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King warned the Commander of the United States European Command of the \u201clooming threat\u201d of Arctic aggression.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-to-witness-electric-bills-in-maine-are-rising-storage-and-transmission-solutions-should-be-pursued", "King to Witness: Electric Bills in Maine are Rising, Storage and Transmission Solutions Should Be Pursued", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, in a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Angus King (I-ME) spoke about the rising costs of electric bills in Maine and the path forward to address these rising costs via transmission upgrades and battery storage for renewable energy sources. In his exchange with Rob Gramlich, the President of Grid Strategies LLC, King highlighted that while battery storage capabilities exist today, the demand is only growing greater. King also shared that by simply upgrading existing transmission lines, the United States can lower the cost of home energy in places like Maine.\n\nSenator King began, \u201cThe word transmission has come up numerous times a day and how important it is and what an important part it is of this discussion. Unfortunately, this morning, the Department of Energy terminated a loan program for a major interregional transmission system in the Midwest. So, here we are talking about how important transmission is, and here is the Department of Energy \u2013 and it was not a grant, it was a loan guarantee program. I just think the timing is somewhat ironic.\n\n\u201cWe all know that solar and wind are intermittent. We understand that [and] everybody knows that. I was in the hydro business, that is also intermittent. It doesn't always rain. As well as wind, biomass and large-scale conservation. What is really happening is really dramatic in terms of energy storage,\u201d Senator King continued. \u201cIf you have adequate energy storage, solar and wind are baseload, because you have something to make up the difference. I used AI \u2026 to check on where we are on batteries. As of five minutes ago, the U.S. added a record 10.4 gigawatts of utility scale battery storage in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the prior year. In 2025, the EIA anticipates a record-setting year with another 18 gigawatts of utility scale battery storage on the grid. Looking ahead, the EIA forecast the U.S. battery storage will nearly double, reaching 65 gigawatts by the end of 2026.\n\nSenator King continued, \u201cIn other words, the battery industry is no longer a fantasy or a distant dream. It is happening right now in a very substantial scale. As you point out come Mr. Gramlich, it saved the day in Texas and California, and is already working, the idea of integrating batteries with solar and wind. Let me talk for a minute though about transformation. Mr. Gramlich, this is what worries me, it used to be an electric bill in Maine was 25% transmission and distribution and 75 source of energy. It is now about 50/50 and transmission is getting more and more expensive. Everybody knows we have to rebuild the grid. My concern it\u2019s going to be done in an expensive way that will add dramatically to ratepayers\u2019 cost. Mr. Gramlich, you are nodding. I take it you agree. The record doesn\u2019t show nodding.\n\nGramlich responded, \u201cAbsolutely. We are doing transmission in sometimes the most expensive way possible now and we can change that.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to deliver carefully considered, timely approvals of sorely-needed clean energy projects. Senator King has also been one of the Senate\u2019s most vocal advocates for improving energy storage technologies and development and worked to include significant storage investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Most recently, Senator King reiterated the importance of an \u201call of the above\u201d energy policy strategy during an ENR hearing considering the nominations of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-205-million-for-economic-development-projects-across-maine", "Senators Collins, King Announce More Than $20.5 Million for Economic Development Projects Across Maine", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King announced that 29 Maine organizations will receive a total of $20,588,173 to support important development projects. The funding comes from the Northern Border Regional Commission\u2019s (NBRC) Fiscal Year 2025 Catalyst Program and Timber for Transit Program and will support projects aimed at strengthening economic opportunity in communities across 13 Maine counties.\n\n\u201cThe NBRC has long helped provide rural regions with the economic tools they need to prosper,\u201d said Senators Collins and King. \u201cThis funding will help improve water infrastructure and roadways in communities across our state while strengthening our workforce and creating economic opportunities for Mainers.\u201d\n\nThe recipients of the Catalyst Program funding are as follows:\n\nBoothbay Region Water District - $1,000,000\n\nCity of Gardiner - $1,000,000\n\nMount Desert Island Hospital - $1,000,000\n\nPresque Isle Utilities District - $1,000,000\n\nTown of Waldoboro - $1,000,000\n\nRegional Medical Center at Lubec - $800,000\n\nCherryfield Town Square - $500,000\n\nEastern Maine Development Corporation - $500,000\n\nFriends of the Mountain - $500,000\n\nMain Street Skowhegan - $500,000\n\nMaine Department of Labor - $500,000\n\nMaine Outdoor Brands - $500,000\n\nParis Utility District - $500,000\n\nThe Harry E. Davis Partnership for Children's Oral Health - $499,613\n\nAssociated General Contractors of Maine - $497,961\n\nTown of Thomaston - $497,640\n\nMaine Community College System - $497,537\n\nTown of Beals - $482,236\n\nArnold Trail Snowmobile Network - $403,409\n\nGrowSmart Maine - $388,700\n\nRangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce - $303,150\n\nMidcoast Council of Governments - $300,000\n\nBangor Children's Home d.b.a. Hilltop School - $227,735\n\nIsland Institute - $181,712\n\nTown of North Haven - $100,000\n\nThe recipients of the Timber for Transit Program funding are as follows:\n\nTown of Island Falls - $2,808,000\n\nCity of Presque Isle - $2,500,000\n\nUniversity of Maine, Orono Campus - $1,000,000\n\nInland Woods and Trails - $600,480\n\nA detailed description of all funded projects can be read here.\n\nThe NBRC was established by Congress in 2008, with Senator Collins\u2019 and King\u2019s support, to fund a broad range of development projects in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York aimed at alleviating economic distress and encouraging private sector job creation. In 2023, Senator Collins introduced and Senator King co-sponsored a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the NBRC.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pushes-for-extension-of-moratorium-on-right-whale-lobster-regulations-until-2035", "Golden pushes for extension of moratorium on right whale, lobster regulations until 2035", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is urging the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) to protect Maine\u2019s lobstermen from new regulations related to the protection of the North Atlantic right whale until 2035.\n\nGolden worked with the Maine delegation and Governor Janet Mills to enact a moratorium on such regulations starting in 2023, but it is scheduled to expire in 2028. The HNRC Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries met today to discuss a draft amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which would extend the moratorium for seven more years.\n\n\u201cIt was only three years ago that Maine\u2019s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale,\u201d Golden said. \u201c[This amendment] would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations.\u201d\n\nGolden also introduced into the record a letter in support of the amendment from Maine stakeholders, including the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen\u2019s Association. (See here)\n\nThe Congressman\u2019s full remarks, as drafted, are included below:\n\n\u201cThank you, Madam Chair.\n\n\u201cThe Marine Mammal Protection Act has a tremendous impact on the lives and livelihoods of the thousands of Maine lobstermen and fishermen I have the privilege to represent. So, I am grateful to you and the Ranking Member for having this hearing to discuss potential changes to the law.\n\n\u201cI have serious concerns with the MMPA and I believe that changes need to be made to the law to ensure that it cannot be used to shut down entire fisheries and the communities they support. Simply put, the federal government should not be in the business of destroying the lives of hardworking Americans and thousands of small family-owned businesses based on assumptions that are not grounded in sound data.\n\n\u201cThis is particularly true when it comes to regulations seeking to protect the North Atlantic right whale. It was only three years ago that Maine\u2019s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale.\n\n\u201cThat is why one of my proudest accomplishments in Congress was the successful effort in 2022 \u2014 working with the entire Maine delegation and our governor, on a bipartisan basis \u2014 to enact a moratorium on these regulations until 2028, coupled with additional funding to support right whale research.\n\n\u201cHowever, based on my conversations with fishermen, more time is needed to incorporate the research and data collected during the pause into future right whale regulations. I am grateful to Congressman Begich of Alaska for working with me on this Discussion Draft and for including a much-needed extension of the regulatory pause until 2035 to ensure that any future actions taken to protect right whales are informed by a greater volume of data.\n\n\u201cI know that some of my colleagues, in the interest of protecting the right whale, have concerns with this Discussion Draft. So, let me share with you some facts:\n\n\u201cFirst, and perhaps most importantly: It remains the case that Maine lobstermen do not pose an existential threat to the North Atlantic right whale. In the decades since we began tracking the cause of marine mammal serious injury and mortality, there has been only one instance where Maine lobster gear has been attributed to a right whale death \u2014 though even that linkage is tenuous at best. Maine lobstermen have a proven track record of leading the way when it comes to ocean resource conservation and mitigating the risk of whale entanglements, including the adoption of weak links and gear marking.\n\n\u201cSecond: The premise behind the original regulations has since been struck down by the courts. In 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service had distorted the science and relied on egregiously wrong interpretations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in crafting its proposed rules. The Court admonished the agency for basing its edicts on arbitrary, worst-case scenarios that were \u2018very likely wrong.\u2019\n\n\u201cThird: Fishermen need more time. In part because the court order forced regulators to go back to the drawing board, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team won\u2019t hold its first meeting on new regulations until 2026. If the moratorium expires in 2028, lobstermen will have insufficient time to plan for new regulations and may well find themselves unable to comply and forced to stop fishing entirely.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s lobster fishery has most recently been valued at more than half a billion dollars \u2014 and that\u2019s just the value of the catch. It also supports tens of thousands of jobs. It is an iconic part of our state\u2019s economy, heritage and appeal to visitors. As the largest source of lobster in the country, this fishery is an integral part of domestic and international supply chains.\n\n\u201cMaine\u2019s fishermen are responsible stewards of our marine resources. No one is more invested than they are in ensuring a healthy ocean ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations.\n\n\u201cTo close Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to submit into the record a letter from fishermen on both coasts in support of the MMPA Discussion Draft. Signatories on the letter include my constituents in the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen\u2019s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen\u2019s Association.\n\n\u201cThank you and I yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bill-to-prohibit-sharing-of-personal-data-of-daca-program-applicants-with-immigration-officials", "King Cosponsors Bill to Prohibit Sharing of Personal Data of DACA Program Applicants with Immigration Officials", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has joined legislation to prohibit the sharing of sensitive personal data, like taxpayer and health information, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act would provide a statutory guarantee to current and prospective Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program applicants, also known as Dreamers, that the private information they provide in their applications will not be used against them. This comes as the Trump Administration increases information sharing to advance its mass deportation agenda.\n\nThe Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act will prohibit the DHS Secretary from disclosing information included in an individual\u2019s application for the DACA program to law enforcement agencies, including ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), for any purpose other than the implementation of the DACA program, with limited exceptions.\n\n\u201cDreamers are productive, established members of our community woven into the fabric of our lives; neighbors and friends that go to school, work at the local store, and contribute honestly to American society no matter the passport they hold,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cThe Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act would allow thousands of law-abiding Dreamers to continue living their lives and making contributions to society without fear of their personal information being misused by those enforcing the administration\u2019s misguided deportation agenda.\u201d\n\nSince 2012, more than 825,000 people have received deferred action pursuant to DACA, contributing an estimated $140 billion to the U.S. economy in spending power and paying $40 billion in combined federal, payroll, state, and local taxes. In 2021, a federal district court judge paused the DACA program and prevented USCIS from approving any new DACA applications. In March 2025, however, a Fifth Circuit decision giving United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) the authority to start processing initial DACA applications from states other than Texas went into effect.\n\nLast month, the Trump Administration gave Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personal data, including immigration status, on millions of Medicaid enrollees and announced it would require some undocumented immigrants to register with DHS. The Administration also finalized an agreement giving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to taxpayer data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the Administration\u2019s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently gained access to key immigration databases, including the Executive Office for Immigration Review\u2019s (EOIR) Courts and Appeals System (ECAS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services\u2019 (USCIS) Data Business Intelligence Services, which contains information on noncitizens who have applied for DACA, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) Unaccompanied Alien Children portal.\n\nSpecifically, the Protect DREAMer Confidentiality Act will:\n\nDirect the DHS Secretary to protect the information included in an individual\u2019s application to the DACA program from disclosure to ICE, CBP, and any other law enforcement agency for any purpose other than the implementation of the DACA program;\n\nProhibit the DHS Secretary from referring anyone with deferred enforcement protections pursuant to the DACA program to ICE, CBP, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and any other law enforcement agency; and\n\nProvide limited exceptions for when an individual\u2019s application information may be shared with national security and law enforcement agencies, namely:\n\nTo identify or prevent fraudulent claims;\n\nFor particularized national security concerns; and\n\nFor the investigation or prosecution of a felony, provided that the felony in question is not related to the applicant\u2019s immigration status.\n\nIn addition to King, this bill is cosponsored by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT).\n\nSenator King is a strong opponent of the Trump Administration\u2019s continued efforts to repeal protections for DACA recipients. He has repeatedly sought a legislative solution to provide stability for DACA recipients. Most recently, he sent a letter to Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Angelica Alfonso-Royals, highlighting the popular support for providing Dreamers a pathway to citizenship and request that the Trump Administration comply with the recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to resume processing applications for DACA. Previously, Senator King joined a group of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to immediately take up the bipartisan House-passed American Dream and Promise Act, which would establish a path to citizenship for Dreamers and immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). In addition, King led a bipartisan proposal with Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) that would have provided legislative protections for Dreamers.\n\nA one-page summary of the bill is here.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-to-africa-command-nominee-were-taking-our-eye-off-the-terrorism-ball", "King to Africa Command Nominee: \u201cWe\u2019re Taking Our Eye off the Terrorism Ball\u201d", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) questioned a Trump Administration nominee about his thoughts on the current role of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups within the African region. In his exchange with Air Force Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, nominee to be general and Commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), King asked if America\u2019s focus on Asian nations in the Pacific is undercutting its ability to root out and counter terrorism in Africa and the Middle East.\n\n\u201cGeneral Anderson, one of the things that concerns me, and it relates somewhat to the aid question, but more generally is the rise of terrorism. And you mentioned September 11th. That was 19 people, and my concern is with our so-called pivot to the Indo-Pacific we're taking our eye off the terrorism ball. Could you share with us the thoughts about the status of Al Qaeda and ISIS in Africa, and what we should be watching out for and being concerned of?\u201d Senator King asked.\n\n\u201cYes, Senator, I appreciate that concern, and if confirmed, I will definitely make this a priority to assess as it's been four years since I was at SOCAFRICA [Special Operations Command Africa],\u201d General Anderson responded. \u201cWith that said though, we have seen the terrorist groups move much of their operations into the ungoverned spaces of Africa, both ISIS and Al-Qaeda. We're seeing ISIS active in Somalia as well as in West Africa \u2013 ISIS West Africa. AQIM [Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb] and their affiliate, JNIM [Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin], are also very active in the Sahel, both with intent to attack US interests.\u201d\n\nGeneral Anderson continued, \u201cWhether or not they have that capability is not clear. And so, to your point, one of the greatest concerns we have is having enough resources and enough relationships to be able to understand how these threats are progressing. So, we have an adequate amount of indicators and warnings and we know what the threat to the United States could be so we could take action. The access is also critical with our partners to understand what's happening with these threats, and I would also say what is happening with some of the other powers there, and how they may be working with them or maybe not acting in our interests, so that we can understand what the threat landscape is on the continent.\u201d\n\nAs a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security, foreign policy issues, and an active, vocal supporter of the importance of democratic values and defeating terrorism. Senator King traveled to the Middle East last month, to get a closer look at the threats to stability in the region, calling for continued American engagement in the region.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/protecting-veterans-from-claim-sharks-senator-king-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-fight-unaccredited-claims-representatives", "Protecting Veterans from \u201cClaim Sharks,\u201d Senator King and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Fight Unaccredited Claims Representatives", "2025-07-21", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee (SVAC), has introduced legislation to protect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. The VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to warn veterans more effectively about unaccredited VA claims representatives, or \u201cclaim sharks.\u201d\n\nClaim sharks are unaccredited agents or companies that charge veterans fees, usually between $5,000 and $20,000, to help them file their initial VA benefits claims\u2014a service that is supposed to be free to veterans. Unfortunately, because these actors operate outside the bounds of VA regulations, the VA has little authority to go after them. The VA is currently required to warn veterans about unaccredited claims representatives on its websites, but only after veterans log in to their VA benefits accounts. This approach limits the reach and efficacy of the notice requirement, increasing the risk that some veterans may not see the warning until after they have already begun working with unaccredited claims agents.\n\n\u201cVeterans in Maine and across the country rely every day on accredited veteran claims representatives for assistance with filing disability claims,\u201d said King. \u201cHowever, there are bad actors who proactively prey on veterans, offering assistance while illegally charging them high costs for services that Veterans Service Organizations perform for free. The VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act would require the VA to more aggressively warn veterans about unaccredited agents who are scamming our men and women who served. This commonsense legislation is a simple way to help protect veterans from predatory companies and ensure they receive their earned benefits.\u201d\n\nThe VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act would address this shortcoming by requiring the VA to post warnings on its public-facing websites, without requiring veterans to first create or log in to an account. The legislation would also require the VA to include a warning discouraging veterans from sharing their VA account or bank account log-in credentials with unaccredited agents, as many claim sharks deduct their \u201cfees\u201d from veterans\u2019 benefits.\n\nJoining King on the legislation are Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nAs a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, Senator King has worked to ensure America\u2019s veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs, such as the PACT Act and the John Scott Hannon Act. In the past, he has cosponsored the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act to create criminal penalties for organizations that charge unauthorized fees to help veterans file disability claims with the VA \u2013 an action prohibited under current law, but one that does not carry any criminal charges. He has also sent letters to VA leadership urging the department to enforce existing protections for veterans filing for disability benefits.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-wins-funding-in-defense-bills-to-support-jobs-in-maine-shipbuilding-manufacturing", "Golden wins funding in defense bills to support jobs in Maine shipbuilding, manufacturing", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), successfully secured several provisions in the House\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act that would steer billions of federal dollars to support Maine manufacturing.\n\nMajor wins for Maine secured in these bills \u2014 including funding for two of the DDG-51 destroyers, ships typically built by Bath Iron Works (BIW) and a requirement that military footwear be sourced from domestic producers, such as the New Balance factory in Skowhegan \u2014 were last-minute inclusions following weeks of advocacy by Golden.\n\nWithout Golden\u2019s amendments specifically addressing shipbuilding, the House was set to break years of precedent by not ordering new destroyers in the NDAA. Golden grilled the Secretary of the Navy about the omission during a hearing last month.\n\n\u201cThe NDAA is one of Congress\u2019 most powerful tools to jumpstart America\u2019s production economy, and in today\u2019s uncertain world, the wins included in this bill are as important as ever,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThese amendments represent years of job opportunities for Mainers that will make the country more safe \u2014 something I\u2019ll continue pressing my colleagues on in the months ahead.\u201d\n\nThe NDAA was passed out of the Armed Services Committee with near unanimous bipartisan support and must now pass the full House and Senate before becoming law.\n\n\u201cThis important investment in America\u2019s defense recognizes the critical role Arleigh Burke-class destroyers play in safeguarding our families, our country and our national interests,\u201d said Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. \u201cWe appreciate Congressman Golden\u2019s continuing leadership regarding the shipbuilding industrial base. As the budget process moves forward, this commitment offers clear support to shipbuilders as we work to get more Flight III capability to the fleet.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe IAM Union applauds Congressman Jared Golden for his steadfast work on behalf of workers at Bath Iron Works and across the state of Maine,\u201d said Brian Bryant, international president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, which represents shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works. \u201cNow that the House Armed Services Committee has finalized their Fiscal Year 2026 defense legislation, Rep. Golden\u2019s tireless work to ensure appropriate funding for the DDG Destroyer program will help secure Machinists Union jobs at BIW and improve National Security for all Americans\u201d\n\nThe NDAA also includes Golden\u2019s bipartisan Better Outfitting Our Troops (BOOTs) Act, which would require the military\u2019s combat footwear to be manufactured in the U.S. with entirely domestic materials. A report commissioned by DoD Logistics Agency found that America\u2019s current clothing and textile supply chain would be unable to meet demand in the event of a major conflict. By investing in American production, the BOOTs Act will help ensure that it can.\n\nCurrently, the DoD allows servicemembers to purchase foreign-made boots that mimic the appearance of regulation boots but fall far short in quality and durability. Beyond increasing the risk of injury to servicemembers, this practice undermines America\u2019s domestic defense supply chain by allowing a surge of foreign footwear that lowers demand from U.S. companies, which in turn, reduces domestic manufacturing capabilities.\n\nGolden\u2019s bill is backed by numerous textile manufacturers and trade organizations, including New Balance, which employs more than 600 workers across Maine:\n\n\u201cThe BOOTS Act is a major victory for all American footwear manufacturers and suppliers as well as our associates in Central Maine where Berry Amendment compliant combat boots and other military athletic footwear will be made for years to come,\u201d said Amy Dow, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Government Affairs at New Balance. \u201cAs a Marine and a Mainer, Congressman Golden\u2019s leadership and faith in American craftsmanship will provide our servicemembers with the best U.S.-made boots and we applaud his work to ensure the BOOTS Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act.\u201d\n\nThe BOOTS Act is also endorsed by A&E, Belleville Boot Co., Emtex Global, G-FORM, Glacial Lakes Rubber and Plastics, Grassland Stamping, Hope Global Manufacturing, ISA TanTec, McRae Footwear, Meramec, Milliken, PolyLabs, SX Industries, Vibram Corporation, W.L. Gore and Associates, Worthen Industries, YKK USA, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), U.S. Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA), and the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (WPRC).\n\nThe bills considered this week total more than $880 billion in spending, which also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, $600 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and $13 billion in shipbuilding funding.\n\nApex Accelerators \u2014 a program designed to counsel businesses through the process of winning government contracts \u2014 would receive $70 million in funding under the bills. More than 760 Maine businesses received assistance from Maine APEX in FY24, winning 2,291 contract awards worth more than $2.5 billion cumulatively.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-increase-access-to-affordable-childcare-in-maine", "King, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Increase Access to Affordable Childcare in Maine", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is joining legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care for Working Families Act is comprehensive legislation that would put a cap on childcare costs for working families, address childcare deserts by providing grants to open new facilities, support higher wages for childcare workers, provide comprehensive funding for Head Start to provide full-day, full-year programming, and expand access to pre-K programs.\n\nIncluded in the legislation is a provision that would enable the typical family in America to pay less than $15 a day for childcare\u2014with many families paying nothing at all\u2014and no eligible family paying more than 7% of their income on childcare.\n\n\u201cAffordable and accessible childcare is one of the most pressing needs for working families in Maine and across the nation, and it presents a huge hurdle to mothers and fathers who want to enter the workforce,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Child Care for Working Families Act would provide ample resources for communities across the country to support childcare options that are open for the full day and don\u2019t break the bank. When families have access to care, they can succeed as parents and professionals.\u201d\n\nThe average cost of childcare is now $13,128\u2014a 29% increase since 2020 that outpaces inflation. In 49 states and the District of Columbia, the average annual costs of child care for two children exceeds median rent\u2014and in 41 states and the District of Columbia, the cost of care for one infant exceeds in-state university tuition. The crisis costs the U.S. economy over $100 billion each year. An estimated 18,000 people in Maine are currently out of the labor force due to a lack of child care, while the child care crisis costs Maine nearly $403 million in annual costs.\n\nMore specifically, the Child Care for Working Families Act will:\n\nMake childcare affordable for working families.\n\nThe typical family earning the state median income will pay less than $15 a day for childcare.\n\nNo working family will pay more than seven percent of their income on childcare.\n\nFamilies earning below 85% of state median income will pay nothing at all for childcare.\n\nIf a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.\n\nImprove the quality and supply of childcare for all children and expand families\u2019 childcare options by:\n\nAddressing childcare deserts by providing grants to help open new childcare providers in underserved communities.\n\nProviding grants to cover start-up and licensing costs to help establish new providers.\n\nIncreasing childcare options for children who receive care during non-traditional hours.\n\nSupporting childcare for children who are dual-language learners, children who are experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care.\n\nSupport higher wages for childcare workers.\n\nChildcare workers would be paid a living wage and achieve parity with elementary school teachers who have similar credentials and experience.\n\nChildcare subsidies would cover the cost of providing high-quality care.\n\nDramatically expand access to high-quality pre-K.\n\nStates would receive funding to establish and expand a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds.\n\nStates must prioritize establishing and expanding universal local preschool programs within and across high-need communities.\n\nIf a state does not choose to receive funding under this program, the Secretary can provide funds to localities, such as cities, counties, local governments, districts, or Head Start agencies.\n\nBetter support Head Start programs by providing the funding necessary to offer full-day, full-year programming and increasing wages for Head Start workers.\n\nIn addition to King, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-MN), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nSenator King has long worked to expand access to childcare. He secured millions to improve child care services in the 2022 and 2023 omnibus appropriations bills, and worked to authorize the planning and development of a new child development center at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He is also the cosponsor of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, which would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit that helps households offset their childcare costs. Most recently, he joined bipartisan legislation to lower childcare costs and address the nationwide shortage of affordable childcare. The Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act would provide competitive grants for states to train childcare workers and build or renovate childcare facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-jeffries-join-federal-unions-in-urging-congress-to-force-vote-to-overturn-trump-s-anti-union-executive-order", "Golden, Jeffries join federal unions in urging Congress to force vote to overturn Trump\u2019s anti-union executive order", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "ME", "Jared F. Golden", "G000592", "golden.house.gov", "golden", "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today was joined by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and other federal union leaders and Members of Congress to push for a vote on H.R. 2550, the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act of 2025.\n\n(VIDEO: Watch the press conference)\n\nThe bill, sponsored by Golden, would nullify President Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order ending collective bargaining rights for roughly 1 million unionized federal employees across several agencies. Golden is spearheading a discharge petition for the bill, which allows a majority of the House to force an up-or-down vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of members of Congress sign on.\n\nSince Golden introduced the bipartisan bill in April, it has garnered bipartisan support from 222 members of Congress \u2014 including seven Republicans \u2014 exceeding the threshold necessary to pass the bill if it were brought to the floor for a vote. To date, the GOP majority has made no effort to call the vote.\n\n\u201cI know that everyone who cosponsored this legislation, no matter their party, did so because they know workers' rights are worth defending,\u201d Golden said. \u201cThey know that when workers collectively bargain, the result is a fairer workplace with dignity and respect. They know the president\u2019s executive order undermines core American values and leaves workers open to unfair treatment and political interference. I\u2019m standing with my colleagues and union leaders representing hundreds of thousands of workers to deliver a simple message: It's time to let us vote.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn this country, when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to have a good-paying job, good housing, good healthcare, a good education for your children and a good retirement. That's the American dream. No one has done more to deliver that American dream than organized labor. But organized labor is facing an unprecedented assault right now as a result of Donald Trump and his administration targeting unions and federal government employees. This legislation should be fully aired in a debate on the Floor of the House of Representatives and must pass to protect the right to organize,\u201d Leader Jeffries said. \u201cI'm thankful for the incredible leadership of Congressman Jared Golden, who fights hard for the people of the great state of Maine, everyday Americans and the union movement all across the country.\u201d\n\n\"President Trump's executive order launched the single biggest act of union-busting in our history, ripping the right to collectively bargain away from hundreds of thousands of federal workers and endangering the contracts of millions more,\u201d Shuler said. \u201cWe already have the votes in Congress to overturn that order with the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act: simple bipartisan legislation that restores the rights of those who care for our veterans, ensure our food is safe to eat, and protect our health and safety on the job. Today, we\u2019re calling on every House member to stand with working people by bringing legislation to the floor for a vote.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s March 27 Executive Order, \u201cExclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs,\u201d sought to end collective bargaining with unions at the departments of Defense, State, Veterans Affairs, Justice and Energy, and some workers at the departments of Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Interior and Agriculture.\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act would repeal the executive order outright, and guarantee that the federal government honors any union contract in place at the time of the executive order.\n\nFederal workers\u2019 bargaining rights are already limited. Unlike private-sector unions, federal employees cannot bargain collectively over wages, benefits or classifications, nor can they strike under existing law. Their bargaining rights are limited to conditions of employment. Roughly one-third of all federal workers in unions are veterans.\n\nWhat They\u2019re Saying:\n\nGrant Provost, Vice President, Maine AFL-CIO, and Business Agent, Ironworkers Local 7:\u201cWith this legislation, Congressman Golden shows his firm commitment to ensuring that federal employees across the nation have the legal authority to organize and bargain collectively \u2014 protecting not only their interests, but the integrity and efficiency of government operations. In essence, strong collective bargaining protections align with democratic values, strengthen trust in public institutions, and enhance government performance for the benefit of all Americans.\u201d\n\nAlana Schaeffer, President, Portsmouth Metal Trades Union: \u201cCongress approved the right for federal workers to collectively bargain more than 60 years ago. As the elected representative of approximately 3,600 federal blue-collar workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, I know firsthand how important that right has been. The Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act reaffirms the essential role federal unions have played for decades: fostering safe, stable, and accountable workplaces that are vital not just to worker wellbeing, but to national security itself.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Co-Chair, Congressional Labor Caucus: \u201cFederal employees are absolutely essential to keeping our country safe and strong. Congress granted collective bargaining rights for federal employees decades ago, and they have been upheld for years by the administrations of both parties. Now more than a million workers have had those rights taken away. We agree on a bipartisan basis that we must reject any attempt to roll back federal employees\u2019 rights to collectively bargain. I\u2019m calling on all my Republican colleagues to join us now to protect workers across America.\u201d\n\nCongressman Greg Casar (TX-35), Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus: \u201cWhether you identify as a progressive or a conservative, collective bargaining protects you and your family. A majority of members of the House of Representatives say they support restoring these rights. Now the question is: Will our Republican colleagues actually stand with working people and make these rights a reality again?\u201d\n\nAFGE National President Everett Kelley: \u201cFederal workers, nearly a third of whom are veterans, dedicate their lives to serving our nation every day with honor and pride. Stripping these patriotic citizens of their union rights weakens workplace safety, morale, and effectiveness and harms the public by degrading government services. AFGE members are grateful to this bipartisan group of lawmakers for standing up for our unions, public service, and American values.\u201d\n\nNFFE National President Randy Erwin: \u201cEvery single Member of Congress depends on hardworking federal employees to deliver critical services to their constituents on a daily basis. Not only is the right to form and join a union protected by the Constitution, but lawmakers from both parties also agree that this attack on working people is reckless and unwarranted. With 222 cosponsors, this bill is a bipartisan path forward to stop the most egregious attack on working people this country has ever seen. The House must approve the discharge petition and pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act to uphold an essential right of federal workers.\u201d\n\nIFPTE President Matthew Biggs: \u201cIFPTE thanks Congressman Golden for championing the bipartisan Protecting America\u2019s Workforce Act, legislation that has procured the bipartisan support of 222 House members and will overturn President Trump\u2019s destructive, union-busting executive order. We urge all House lawmakers to join both Representative Golden, and Republican co-author, Congressman Fitzpatrick, to sign the petition and send a clear message to Speaker Johnson and the Trump Administration that union-busting in our federal sector, and in our nation, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by Congress.\u201d\n\nThe Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act has also been endorsed by the following unions representing federal employees: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the United Steelworkers (USW).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-king-collins-smith-introduce-bill-to-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases", "Senators King, Collins, Smith Introduce Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) today introduced legislation to reauthorize the Kay Hagan Tick Act, their landmark legislation to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases, which became law in 2019. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joins them as an original co-sponsor. The Kay Hagan Tick Act unites the effort to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Confirmed cases of Lyme disease reached a record number in Maine \u2013 3,035 \u2013 last year. Senators Collins and Smith named their bill in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) who passed away on October 28th, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.\n\n\u201cOur state has been battling diseases like Lyme for decades, so it is critical we continue to invest in our research and understanding of these vector-borne diseases to better protect Maine residents and visitors,\u201d said Senator King. \u201cThe Kay Hagan Tick Act will further the prevention efforts that keep us safe by funding research, testing and diagnostics along with resources for improved data collection. I am proud to work on this critical bipartisan legislation that will help mitigate this long-term public health threat for the future safety and health of all Maine people.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast year, Maine reported over 3,000 cases of Lyme disease\u2014a record in our state. The reauthorization of our Tick Act is urgently needed to continue to support those who struggle with Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses and keep improving research, diagnostics, treatment, and prevention for these terrible diseases,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cResources from the Tick Act have led to exciting developments such as the first-ever clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine for people, which is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy home state of Minnesota is proud to have more than 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers for us to enjoy, and we\u2019re always especially eager to get outside after a long winter,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cUnfortunately, the number of Lyme disease cases in the state\u2014and states across the country\u2014is on the rise. This bill would empower regional centers to lead the response against these diseases and expanded the federal government\u2019s role in researching, testing and treating these diseases. For the sake of Americans\u2019 health and well-being, we need to keep moving this bill forward.\u201d\n\n\"Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act will continue the nation's coordinated framework for tick-borne disease surveillance, diagnostics, and prevention\u201d, said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab. Continued support means earlier detection, targeted interventions, and fewer families facing the physical and financial burden of Lyme disease and other emerging infections. Through this investment, Congress can ensure a proactive approach to safeguarding our communities from increasing threats related to ticks.\"\n\n\u201cWith an estimated 500,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year, it is critical that the United States is equipped to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to this growing public health threat,\u201d said Bonnie Crater, co-founder and board member at Center for Lyme Action. \u201cWe applaud the foundation laid by the Kay Hagan Tick Act, which established the National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in Humans and we are committed to working with Congress and federal agencies to ensure this strategy is fully implemented and strengthened. We commend Senator Collins, Senator King, and Senator Smith for their bipartisan leadership in advancing the reauthorization of this vital legislation to protect the health and safety of Americans nationwide.\u201d\n\nUsing a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:\n\nRequire the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in expanding research into tick-borne diseases, improving testing and diagnostics, and coordinating efforts across the federal government.\n\nReauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years. Funding for these centers, which was allotted in 2017, expires this year. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers located at universities in California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin.\n\nReauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness. These awards would help states continue to build a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships.\n\nIn May, Senator Collins delivered the opening remarks at the Center for Lyme Action Congressional Series and spoke to the need for continued federal funding for tick-borne disease research. Click here to watch and here to download her remarks. Senator Collins has also urged leading health officials to continue to support the development of treatment for these illnesses, including the clinical trials currently ongoing in Maine for the first Lyme disease vaccine for people.\n\nSenator King is a longtime advocate for the elimination of vector-borne diseases. His SMASH Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize critical public health tools that support states and localities in their mosquito surveillance and control efforts, especially those linked to mosquitos that carry the Zika virus, and improve the nation\u2019s preparedness for Zika and other mosquito-borne threats like West Nile virus, chikungunya, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (\u201ctriple-e\u201d) virus was signed into law in 2019. A re-authorization of SMASH was introduced in 2023 and included in the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bad-policy-to-downright-dangerous-king-says-on-floor-in-preparation-for-vote-on-recissions-legislation", "\u2018Bad Policy to Downright Dangerous,\u2019 King says on Floor in Preparation for Vote on Recissions Legislation", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today spoke on the Senate floor against the \u2018Recissions Package\u2019 currently being considered by the governing body. This legislation aims to remove Congressionally-approved funding from critical public services including, but not limited to, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which helps to fund Maine Public broadcasting and public interest newsgathering nationwide, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) which leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage and directs and coordinates the world\u2019s response to health emergencies before they can pose a threat to American lives.\n\nMore specifically, King made the point that this bill is a further abdication of congressional authority to fund national priorities, also known in the Constitution as \u201cthe power of the purse.\u201d\n\nEarly in the speech, King highlighted the importance of public broadcasting and its impact on the American people.\n\nKing began, \u201cPublic broadcasting has a unique place in the United States and our media environment in that it is the only media form not driven by advertising and advertising dollars. It cannot be driven by ratings. It therefore is able to provide programming to the American people that they probably almost certainly would not have access to otherwise. It wouldn't simply find a home on commercial broadcasting because the ratings wouldn't be there, but that doesn't mean the programming isn't important.\n\nKing then spoke about international interests that have wide-ranging effects on the health and safety of people here at home.\n\n\u201cVaccination campaigns, food security, nutrition programs, disaster response, refugee support. This aligns with our American values. As I say, it's a relatively small part of the budget. It helps to stabilize fragile states. It cuts the risk of extremism and terrorism and conflict. And James Mattis put it best. General James Mattis, one of the most distinguished military officers of our time, said, \u2018If you don't fund the state department fully, then you're going to have to buy me more bullets.\u2019 That puts it most succinctly, you're going to have to buy me more bullets, because the programs of USAID tend to stabilize the world and mitigate the tendency toward extremism and violence. And since we have started to gut A.I.D., which was one of the first actions of this administration in January and February, China has stepped into our shoes,\u201d King continued.\n\nKing concluded the speech by speaking about the critical separation of powers that is \u2018melting away.\u2019\n\n\u201cAll of those checks and balances which has become a kind of cliche are there for a fundamental reason, and that's to protect our liberty. To protect us from the danger of power being concentrated in one set of hands. Now the framers thought that they didn't have to worry about this, having set up the Constitution the way they did, because they said never will the Congress give up its power. The term they used was ambition must be made to counteract ambition. That there would be institutional rivalry and we would never give up. They didn't reckon on parties. They didn't reckon on party primaries. They didn't reckon on the executive having such sway with the legislative branch that the checks and balances essentially have melted away.\u201d King concluded.\n\nSenator King has been consistently sounding the alarm on President Donald Trump\u2019s existential threat to the Constitution, and the need for Congress to assert its institutional role. Most recently, he invoked former Maine Senator Margaret Chase Smith calling on his Republican colleagues to stand up to the President\u2019s threats to democracy. King previously gave a speech on the Senate floor sharing that this administration is doing \u2018exactly what the Framers [of the Constitution] most feared\u201d and a speech where he shared his growing concerns over the Trump Administration\u2019s usurpation of Congressional authority. Senator King also previously declared that the proposal to halt all federal grant and loan disbursement was illegal and a direct assault on the Constitution. More recently, he joined 36 Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sharing the detrimental effects of the Trump Administration\u2019s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He also joined fellow Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) colleagues in writing a letter to the White House about the risks to national security by allowing unvetted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff and representatives to access classified and sensitive government materials.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-press-for-answers-on-striking-inconsistency-of-immigration-policies-for-afghans-living-in-the-us", "King, Colleagues Press for Answers on \u201cStriking Inconsistency\u201d of Immigration Policies for Afghans Living in the U.S.", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Angus King and a number of his Senate colleagues are pressing the White House for clarity on their shifting immigration policies for Afghans living in the United States. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, King and his colleagues point out that the justifications for the decisions to implement a large-scale travel ban, which applies to Afghanistan, and terminate Temporary Protected Status, conflict with one another. Many of these Afghan nationals played essential, life-saving roles in supporting American servicemembers during the war in Afghanistan over two decades.\n\nAfghanistan remains gripped by violence and instability; the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, many risk being caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP, threatening their human rights and freedoms. These risks are on top of retribution risks for Afghan nationals that supported American armed forces.\n\n\u201cWe write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump\u2019s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department\u2019s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration\u2019s position,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cAs you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAccording to the Brennan Center for Justice, \u201c[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.\u201d\n\nHighlighting the inconsistencies between the reasoning for including Afghanistan in the travel ban and ending the country\u2019s TPS designation, they wrote, \u201cThis [travel ban] determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration\u2019s stated position just weeks ago. May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was \u2018notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.\u2019\n\n\u201cAs you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nIn addition to King, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nSenator King has long supported the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for America\u2019s Afghan allies who assisted the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan \u2013 having written that the policy likely saved Afghans from \u201ca death sentence\u201d in Defense News. Most recently, he signed a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting answers on the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for those who served alongside America\u2019s military. King had also cosponsored the Afghan Allies Protection Act to increase the number of authorized visas for Afghan civilians who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission, remove extraneous paperwork requirements and improve the program\u2019s efficiency during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\n+++\n\nDear Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe write to you with deep concern over President Donald Trump\u2019s recently announced so-called travel ban and its striking inconsistency with the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s justification for termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. We respectfully request that you provide detailed information regarding the State Department\u2019s assessment of the conditions in Afghanistan to clarify the Trump Administration\u2019s position.\n\nOn June 4, 2025, President Trump announced via a proclamation entitled \u201cRestricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats\u201d that he was imposing travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the United States. Among the countries included in this proclamation is Afghanistan. Specifically, the proclamation bans most entry into the United States from Afghanistan, stating the following as justification:\n\n\u201cThe Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group, controls Afghanistan. Afghanistan lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures.\u201d\n\nAs you know, the U.S. visa vetting system is a multi-layered process involving extensive background checks, biometric data collection, interagency information sharing, and screening against a range of national security databases that works to keep residents of our country safe. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, \u201c[m]ore than 40 national security experts from across the political spectrum have unequivocally told courts that travelers to the U.S. should not be vetted on religious or national stereotypes, but rather on specific threat information.\u201d Categorically banning foreign nationals from coming to the United States based on their country of origin is discriminatory and harmful to our nation\u2019s international relations and security interests.\n\nThe proclamation further states that you, as the Secretary of State, were directed to make this determination, in consultation with other members of the President\u2019s Cabinet including the Secretary of Homeland Security. Per the proclamation, you ultimately determined that \u201ca number of countries remain deficient with regards to screening and vetting,\u201d including the country of Afghanistan. Placing a blanket ban on another country\u2019s citizens is a severe action, and the title of the proclamation states that it is being done \u201cto protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.\u201d This determination appears to be at odds with the Trump Administration\u2019s stated position just weeks ago. On May 12, 2025, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem announced that DHS was ending TPS for Afghanistan. The basis offered in the Federal Register notice for this decision was \u201cnotable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.\u201d Specifically, the notice points to:\n\nthe totality of Taliban rule and lessening overt presence of ISIS-K and other various terrorist organizations;\n\na decrease in large-scale violence and humanitarian need;\n\na growing economy; and\n\nincreased tourism, with tourists \u201csharing their experiences on social media, highlighting the peaceful countryside, welcoming locals, and the cultural heritage.\n\nFurther, Secretary Noem found that \u201cpermitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States.\u201d The Federal Register notice cited consultation with your Department in making this determination.\n\nThese seemingly incompatible recent decisions indicate a troubling lack of consistency in the Administration\u2019s analysis of country conditions in Afghanistan. Either Afghanistan is safe for the return of Afghan refugees and nationals that fled following the return of the Taliban to power or it is not.\n\nAccording to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls, who are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women\u2019s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk. Additionally, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.\n\nAs you are aware, many Afghan allies that received TPS stood shoulder to shoulder with American servicemembers for nearly two decades during the war in Afghanistan. Many fled to the United States out of fear of persecution by the Taliban or retaliation for such cooperation with the United States. It is unsafe for political targets of the Taliban to be forced to return against their will. TPS protections must be maintained for Afghan nationals in the United States.\n\nWe would request that you immediately provide answers to the following questions:\n\nPlease provide detailed reports or information that the State Department is relying upon in advising the Department of Homeland Security and the White House as to the conditions in Afghanistan.\n\nHow can you assure Afghan nationals fearing persecution in Afghanistan that the Taliban will not retaliate against them based upon their relationship with the United States?\n\nCongress has a strong interest in understanding what information the Trump Administration is using to carry out its policies and how it is making national security decisions that impact all of our constituents. We look forward to receiving your response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-on-potential-recissions-legislation-checks-and-balances-essentially-have-melted-away", "King on Potential Recissions Legislation: \u2018Checks and Balances Essentially have Melted Away\u2019", "2025-07-15", "2025", "2025-07", "Independent", "Senate", "ME", "Angus S. King, Jr.", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", "angusking", "https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today spoke on the Senate floor to speak on the Senate floor against the \u2018Recissions Package\u2019 currently being considered. This legislation aims to remove Congressionally-approved funding from critical public services including, but not limited to, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which helps to fund Maine Public broadcasting and public interest newsgathering nationwide, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) which leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage and directs and coordinates the world\u2019s response to health emergencies before they can pose a threat to American lives.\n\nMore specifically, King made the point that this bill is a further abdication of congressional authority to fund national priorities, also known in the Constitution as \u201cthe power of the purse.\u201d\n\nThe full transcript of Senator King\u2019s floor speech from this morning is below.\n\n+++\n\n\u201cMr. President, I'd like to talk today about the rescission bill that will be coming before us in the next couple of days, and I want to really cover two points \u2013 what is being done in this bill, and how it's being done. I think they are equally important. In fact, I think perhaps how it is being done is more significant in the long run. The rescission bill talks about essentially two areas, public broadcasting, and USAID. In my view, the rescission, the total rescission of those two agencies, by the way \u2013it is a total rescission\u2014 it's not selective cutting of certain programs or partially, it's the whole thing, both in the corporation for public broadcasting and USAID, go from bad policy to downright dangerous, and I want to talk about that for a minute.\n\n\u201cPublic broadcasting has a unique place in the United States and our media environment in that it is the only media form not driven by advertising and advertising dollars. It cannot be driven by ratings. It therefore is able to provide programming to the American people that they probably almost certainly would not have access to otherwise. It wouldn't simply find a home on commercial broadcasting because the ratings wouldn't be there, but that doesn't mean the programming isn't important.\n\n\u201cMy kids were raised on \u2018Sesame Street.\u2019 It made a huge difference in their readiness to go to school, in their understanding of language and numbers, and the whole basis of our education system. \u2018Sesame Street\u2019 is a program that wouldn't find a home on commercial broadcasting. Likely, also with \"Nova\" with \"Nature\" and yes, the \"PBS Newshour.\"\n\n\u201cThe [corporate] news business today has become more entertainment because it's based upon advertising [and] attracting viewers and therefore is more inciteful. And I don\u2019t mean - I mean that c-i-t-e not s-i-g-h-t. More inciting to people's anger and unrest in order to keep them viewing. Whereas the PBS Newshour is pretty much straight news. It wouldn't get ratings on MSNBC or Fox News, but it provides a source of news both in terms of nationally, but also in each state.\n\n\u201cThe local national public radio \"All Things Considered\", those kinds of programming are essential to providing information. Now, some people may think it's biased. I don't think anything done by a human is going to be free of any and all bias, but it is pretty much straight news. And it's an asset to our communities, particularly our rural communities.\n\n\u201cAnd by the way, this isn't where we have federal dollars that are supporting all of these initiatives. In fact, the majority of the support for public broadcasting, both television and radio, comes from the public, from contributions. So, in effect, our federal dollars are matched to a very high degree by the public making their own contributions. That's an indication of how much the public values these wonderful assets to our information environment here in the country. And to cut off federal funding is just -- it's an essential piece of the funding. A lot of it goes to the local stations. We talk about the corporation for public broadcasting, we think of PBS and the national programs, but a lot of this funding ends up going to the local stations all over the country that provide essential sources of information to their public.\n\n\u201cBy the way, the costs we're talking about is ridiculously low. I did the calculation. The relationship between the cost of the public broadcasting to the federal budget is, let's see, it's seven cents to $10,000. That's the ratio. Seven cents out of $10,000. That's what we're talking about here, an almost immeasurable part of the federal budget, but the return on investment is enormous. It's enormous. If this were a gigantic $100 billion program, we'd be having a different kind of discussion, but this is a relatively small program in the context of the federal budget, with a very high return on investment to the American people.\n\n\u201cNow let's talk about USAID and the [majority] whip was just talking about that. He listed a number of projects that I think are questionable, that I don't necessarily support, but USAID is an essential part of our foreign policy to help to stabilize unstable parts of the world, to extend America's soft power, to build America's brand, and yes, to do some very essential projects. For example, in PEPFAR, which is an initiative of the George W. Bush administration, involving AIDS, the estimate is that that initiative since its beginning in 2005 has saved 25 million lives. 25 million lives were saved by that program that will be destroyed by this bill. You can't tell me that having that level of benefit to the people of the world does not [result in] the benefit of the United States, the sponsor of the initiative.\n\n\u201cSame thing with malaria. The estimates are that the malaria program, which goes back to I believe it was the Obama Administration, has prevented 1.5 billion cases of malaria, which is a real plague in many parts of the world, and saved 11 million lives. Just those two programs together, those two USAID projects, have saved 36 million lives, and we're talking about cutting them off. That's not only bad policy, it's cruel. It's cruel, and it undermines the credibility of this country.\n\n\u201cNow, of course, foreign aid has a lot of benefits aside from the ones that I've just outlined. By the way, if the Congress and the Administration wants to cull the programs and say we don't think this one is necessary, this is not a good expenditure of the people's money, that's fine. But that's not what this bill does. This bill throws out the beneficial baby with the questionable bathwater. It is a total abdication of America's engagement with the world.\n\n\u201cVaccination campaigns, food security, nutrition programs, disaster response, refugee support. This aligns with our American values. As I say, it's a relatively small part of the budget. It helps to stabilize fragile states. It cuts the risk of extremism and terrorism and conflict. And James Mattis put it best. General James Mattis, one of the most distinguished military officers of our time, said, \u2018If you don't fund the State Department fully, then you're going to have to buy me more bullets.\u2019\n\n\u201cThat puts it most succinctly, you're going to have to buy me more bullets, because the programs of USAID tend to stabilize the world and mitigate the tendency toward extremism and violence. And since we have started to gut A.I.D., which was one of the first actions of this administration in January and February, China has stepped into our shoes.\n\n\u201cI'm on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. I have seen and heard testimony that China is basically stepping in where we're walking away. We are handing Africa and Latin America to the Chinese. In some cases, to the very programs that we were sponsoring. They're the ones now engaging with local governments, local leadership, getting the credit for helping with these kinds of problems across the world. We're giving away the goodwill that is part of the American brand. We're giving away the opportunity to build alliances, to strengthen our influence, especially in competition with regimes like China and Russia.\n\n\u201cIt also creates markets for U.S. goods and the U.S. economy. A significant share of the foreign aid ends up going back to businesses and NGO's here in the United States. So, it actually contributes to our economic development. Countries that are receiving this USAID end up being partners and customers of U.S. goods, products, and services. I mentioned it saves lives, it aligns with our values, and there's nothing wrong with talking about values. That's a part of what we should be doing. USAID is doing important work all over the world. I met with USAID people in Kabul, Afghanistan. I met with them in Jordan, where they're working on a water desalinization project that will literally save Jordan. Jordan is a country that has no water, and they're facing a tremendous crisis. One of the projects that they're relying on is a very large water production facility supported by USAID. That's the kind of project that I think we need to continue.\n\n\u201cAgain, I would not say that every single project they've sponsored is what I would have agreed upon. That's our job as oversight bodies, to take a look at the projects being sponsored, the administration can also do that, and they can then cull the projects we don't think are a useful expenditure of the government's money, or the people's money. But not the wholesale destruction of an agency that is critical, I believe, to the foreign policy of the United States.\n\n\u201cSo, that's the picture on these rescissions. I believe the more important question, though, Mr. President, as I've mentioned, is how this is being done. The question is, who has the power in our government over appropriations? That's the fundamental question. Where is the power over appropriations, where do the federal dollars go?\n\n\u201cThe answer, of course, is the Congress. Article 1, Section 8. The Congress has the \u2018power of the purse.\u2019 The president can submit his budget, and he can submit a budget that zeros out USAID, that zeros out corporation for public broadcasting. But then, the way the process works, we have hearings, we have meetings with the appropriation committee. The appropriators meet, decide, discuss, debate, and come to the floor with a bill that represents the consensus of those on the appropriations committee. And then we consider it here.\n\n\u201cThis process that we're talking about here\u2014this rescission process\u2014turns the whole thing upside down. It basically says the administration can decide programs that are going to go away, and you can take it or leave it, Congress. I believe it shreds the appropriations process. The appropriations committee, indeed, this body, becomes a rubber stamp for whatever the administration wants.\n\n\u201cThe deeper problem, Mr. President, is I believe this is another step in Congress' abdication of its constitutional authority, which has dramatically accelerated since January. The war power, Article 1, Section 8, an express power of the Constitution, we barely could have a debate about that, and the President attacked another sovereign country, which may have been the right thing to do, but there was no consultation, there was no attempt whatsoever to engage Congress, which has the power over declaring war, before that step was taken.\n\n\u201cForeign trade, again, foreign trade, trade among nations is the term in the Constitution, is expressly delegated by the Constitution to the Congress, and the Congress has delegated some of that authority to the president, to a president, any president, under emergency circumstances. But this President has expanded emergency to mean just about anything.\n\n\u201cWe learned this week he's talking about a 50% tariff against Brazil because he doesn't like the way the current government is treating the prior president. Has nothing to do with trade, has nothing to do with trade deficits or the tariffs. It has to do with something the President individually doesn't like. That's not the way the systems supposed to work. The up and down rollercoaster we\u2019ve been on with regards to tariffs is a perfect example of why one person shouldn't have this authority. This should be something done thoughtfully and systematically here in the Congress. Under Article 1 Section 8, to debate and decide what appropriate tariff levels there are across the world and not this helter skelter up and down changing every other day that has not only affected inflation in this country and brought it up, but it\u2019s also created enormous uncertainty both in our markets and across the world. And finally, we see the power of the purse, Congress\u2019s fundamental responsibility.\n\n\u201cAnd by the way, Mr. President, as I talk to my colleagues, particularly my Republican colleagues, about this issue over the last several months, one of the common refrains is, don't worry, we don't have to buck the President because the courts will take care of it. The courts will take care of us. They'll protect us. Well, that ain't happening. The ridiculous decision of the Supreme Court yesterday on the Department of Education is an indication that we cannot count on the courts to protect us from the depredations of an authoritarian, proto authoritarian regime. They basically said the President can continue to gut the Department of Education because we are going to hear the case later and decide when it comes. They did the same right with birthright citizenship. They punted on the issue and allowed the activities, the authoritarian-like activities to continue before they get to the case in their own good time.\n\n\u201cSo we can't count on the courts. That means we're it. The Congress, the Senate has to stand up for the Constitution. What this bill is, is another building block in the edifice of authoritarianism that we've seen built, that we are seeing built before our eyes. A building block in the edifice of authoritarianism.\n\n\u201cWhy is this important? Is this just a dispute between the Congress and the President, politics as usual. Democrats undermining a Republican president, and it's just going to be all about the midterms and the elections of 2028? No, this is much deeper than that.\n\n\u201cThe fundamental premise of the Constitution is the separation of power and the reason it's there is because history tells us if power is concentrated, it's dangerous. Madison put it bluntly in the 47th Federalist: \u2018The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive and judiciary in the same set of hands may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.\u2019 He used the word tyranny. Madison wasn't mincing words. History tells us that if you concentrate power in one set of hands it's dangerous. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We know that from 1,000 years of human nature. And that was exactly what the framers of the Constitution were trying to prevent by this complicated, difficult structure where there's power in the Congress, power in the states, power in the executive, power in the courts, two houses of Congress vetoes, overrides.\n\n\u201cAll of those checks and balances which has become a kind of cliche are there for a fundamental reason, and that's to protect our liberty. To protect us from the danger of power being concentrated in one set of hands. Now the framers thought that they didn't have to worry about this, having set up the Constitution the way they did, because they said never will the Congress give up its power. The term they used was ambition must be made to counteract ambition. That there would be institutional rivalry and we would never give up. They didn't reckon on parties. They didn't reckon on party primaries. They didn't reckon on the executive having such sway with the legislative branch that the checks and balances essentially have melted away.\n\n\u201cSo this bill is important because of the merits, as I talked about, about the danger of wiping out USAID and all the good it does in the world and the good it does for our country, and also wiping out public broadcasting and all the good that it does, the irreplaceable good that it does for the people in the United States.\n\n\u201cBut it's also more dangerous than ever because it's one more step, as I mentioned, in the breakdown of the fundamental constitutional structure that says power must be divided, because if it's concentrated in one set of hands -- and I don't care if it's Donald Trump or the archangel Gabriel. It's dangerous to have the power in one set of hands. That's how we lose our liberty.\n\n\u201cMadison said when the executive and legislative are united in one body, there can be no liberty. Mr. President, we must listen. We must listen to history, to the people that brought us here, the people that brought us this government, the geniuses that formed this structure to protect the liberty of the American people. And it may seem like a small thing. This is one more bill, one more item. But it is one more step, in my view, toward empowering the executive at the expense, not of the Congress, but of the people. But of the people of the United States.\n\n\u201cMr. President, I don't know what it's going to take, but I hope this debate, this discussion will lead us to finally say this is a line too far. We're going to draw a line here, and we'll establish a relationship with the president that is cooperative, collaborative, bipartisan, and sharing the power that the Constitution gives to each of us.\n\n\u201cThere's nothing less than the liberty of our people that's at stake. I therefore urge my colleagues to vote against this bill and begin a discussion in the appropriations process as to these two elements and how they should be structured and funded. That's the way it should be done, not by the dictate of a President, of one who is trying to collapse the authority in our Constitution into his own hands. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 344, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "ME", "p1": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Independent", "label": "Independent", "count": 239, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025&party=Independent", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 239, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}, {"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 105, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "ME", "label": "ME", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 344, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-07-15,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fking-on-potential-recissions-legislation-checks-and-balances-essentially-have-melted-away", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=ME&year=2025&_next=2025-07-15%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Eking~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fking-on-potential-recissions-legislation-checks-and-balances-essentially-have-melted-away&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 180.10176671668887, "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"}