{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-embarks-on-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier-surveys-operational-capabilities", "King Embarks on Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, Surveys Operational Capabilities", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Independent", "House", "ME", "Angus King", "K000383", "www.king.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "King Embarks on Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier, Surveys Operational Capabilities\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tThanks Navy sailors, including ten from Maine, for their dedicated service to the country\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, December 5, 2016\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 At the invitation of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) stayed aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON this weekend where he surveyed the ship\u2019s operational capabilities as it conducted exercises off the coast of North Carolina. While aboard the ship, Senator King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, observed day and night flight operations, toured the ship and met with various crewmembers to gain a better understanding of carrier operations, and had dinner with ten sailors from Maine.\r\nSenator King posted pictures of the trip to his Instagram, which be viewed HERE.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFrom the destroyers built in Bath to the submarines overhauled at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, I\u2019ve long known that our Navy has extraordinary capabilities \u2013 but this weekend\u2019s embark upon the USS George Washington has reinforced for me the wide range and versatility of our Navy\u2019s operations,\u201d Senator King said. \u201cAircraft carriers like the USS George Washington are central to the Navy\u2019s mission to protect our national interests across the globe, and I am grateful to our incredible sailors, including those from Maine who I was fortunate to meet, whose pride and professionalism continue to impress me day-in and day-out. We are so lucky to have these great people looking after us.\u201d\r\nFollowing his embark on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, Senator King traveled to Newport News, Virginia to visit the USS GERALD R. FORD, the first of the Ford-class carriers, to better understand the capabilities of the newest class of carriers.\r\nUSS GEORGE WASHINGTON is the sixth ship of ten in the Nimitz-class of aircraft carriers and the fourth ship in the Navy\u2019s history to bear the name.\r\nSenator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and also sits on its Seapower Subcommittee, which exercise oversight of the U.S. Navy.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-embarks-on-nuclear-powered-aircraft-carrier-surveys-operational-capabilities"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4140629209578037, "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"}