url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/old-man-wanted-more-than-money-in-branson-bank-robbery,Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery,2015-12-31,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Old man wanted more than money in Branson bank robbery By: Harrison Keegan Thursday, December 31, 2015 Joseph Cyrus could barelyget the words out. He knew what he wanted to say, but he didn't want to break down in the courtroom. Cyrus' lawyer told him it was OK. Hecould wait until the sentencing hearing in a few months if he wanted.But the 77-year-oldCyrus couldn't wait. A proud man, Cyruscouldn't go another day without explaining himself. ""I wanted to be caught, your honor,"" Cyrus said from his wheelchair last month at the federal courthouse in Springfield.""I wanted to get some help from the United States government."" A masked Cyrus robbed the Central Bank on James Epps Road in Branson on Oct. 16, pointing what he says wasa plastic BBgunat the tellers. The reason he committed the crime, he said, was to get access to health care in the federal prison system. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/for-the-wealthiest-a-private-tax-system-that-saves-them-billions,"For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions",2015-12-29,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"For the Wealthiest, a Private Tax System That Saves Them Billions By: NOAM SCHEIBER and PATRICIA COHEN Tuesday, December 29, 2015 WASHINGTON The hedge fund magnates Daniel S. Loeb, Louis Moore Bacon andSteven A. Cohenhave much in common. They have managed billions of dollars in capital, earning vast fortunes. They have invested millions in art and millions more in political candidates. Moreover, each has exploited an esoteric tax loophole that saved them millions in taxes. The trick? Route the money to Bermuda and back. With inequality at its highest levels in nearly a century and public debate rising over whether the government should respond to it through higher taxes on the wealthy, the very richest Americans have financed a sophisticated and astonishingly effective apparatus for shielding their fortunes. Some call it the income defense industry, consisting of a high-priced phalanx of lawyers, estate planners, lobbyists and anti-tax activists who exploit and defend a dizzying array of tax maneuvers, virtually none of them available to taxpayers of more modest means. In recent years, this apparatus has become one of the most powerful avenues of influence for wealthy Americans of all political stripes, including Mr. Loeb and Mr. Cohen, who give heavily to Republicans, and the liberal billionaireGeorge Soros, who has called for higher levies on the richwhile at the same time usingtax loopholes to bolster his own fortune. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/new-minimum-wages-in-the-new-year,New Minimum Wages in the New Year,2015-12-28,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"New Minimum Wages in the New Year By: The Editorial Boarrd Monday, December 28, 2015 In five states and nine cities including California, New York, Oregon and Washington, D.C. voters and lawmakers will consider proposals in 2016 to gradually raise minimum wages to $15 an hour. The ballot initiatives and pending legislation will build on momentum from this year, in which 14 states and localities used laws, executive orders and other procedures to lift wages for all or part of their work forces to $15 an hour. In New York City, for instance, the minimum wage for workers in fast food and state government will rise to $10.50 on New Years Eve, and to $15 by the end of 2018. In the rest of New York, the minimum for those workers will reach $15 an hour in mid-2021. InLos Angeles County, including the city of Los Angeles, the minimum wage for most workers will rise to $10.50 by mid-2016 and to $15 by mid-2020. Seattle and San Francisco are also phasing in citywide minimums of $15 an hour, while five other cities Buffalo and Rochester in New York; Greensboro, N.C.; Missoula, Mont.; and Pittsburgh are gradually raising their minimums to $15 for city workers. Minimum-wage raises are examples of states and cities leading in the absence of leadership by Congress, which has kept the federal minimum at $7.25 an hour since 2009. State and local increases are also potent shapers of public perception. It was only three years ago that a walkout by 200 or sofast-food workersin New York City began theFight for $15, now a nationwide effort to raise pay and support unions. Two years ago SeaTac, Wash., home to an international airport,voted inthe nations first $15-an-hour minimum for some 6,500 workers in the city, on and off airport property. Since then, $15 an hour has gone from a slogan to a benchmark. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-20-people-now-own-as-much-wealth-as-half-of-all-americans,20 People Now Own As Much Wealth as Half of All Americans,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"And theres a stark racial divide at the top. The 100 richest households own more assets than the entire African-American community (there are just two black people on theForbes400 list, one of whom is Oprah Winfrey). And just 182 individuals on theForbeslist have more assets than Americas entire Hispanic population. But Chuck Collins, director of IPSs Program on Inequality and the Common Good and a co-author of the report, tellsThe Nationthat their study likely underestimates the scope of the problem. Our wealth data is a tip of the iceberg, he says. So much wealth among the ber-rich is hidden, either in offshore tax havens or in these loophole trusts where money is shuffled around into private corporate accounts or between different family members, and it disappears from taxation or any sort of oversight or accountability.So theres a huge amount of escaped wealth that isnt even factored into these statistics. And Collins says its only getting worse. These inequalities really undermine our quality of life, he says. We need to explain to people who say So what, I dont care how much theForbes400 has that it really does touch on all of our lives, deeply and profoundly.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/now-its-even-easier-for-candidates-and-their-aides-to-help-super-pacs,Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs,2015-12-26,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Now its even easier for candidates and their aides to help super PACs By: Matea Gold Saturday, December 26, 2015 The Federal Election Commission has quietly given the green light to federal candidates who want to solicit contributions for super PACs by meeting in small groups so small that there can be just two other people in the room. In addition, the little-noticed advisory opinion gives permission to a candidates campaign consultant and other aides to solicit large donations for a super PAC, as long as they make clear that they are not making the request at the direction of the candidate. The decisions which came in response to a request from two Democratic super PACs, including one with close ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) further erode the boundary between campaigns and their independent allies at a time when they are already engaged in unprecedented collaboration. Federal candidates are still not permitted to explicitly ask a donor to give more than $5,000 to a super PAC. But the latest decision means that an elected official or candidate can meet privately with just one wealthy donor and one super PAC operative to discuss fundraising for the group, said Ellen Weintraub, one of two Democrats on the six-member panel who opposed loosening the rules. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-shutting-down-planned-parenthood-would-catapult-women-into-poverty,Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Shutting Down Planned Parenthood Would Catapult Women Into Poverty By: Bryce Covert Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Already forgotten in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shootings is a more persistent terrorist threat to average Americans: right-wing extremists. Robert Lewis Dear, who shot and killed three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, has since pleaded guilty to being a warrior for the babies. His actions follow a long tradition of violence against abortion providers. That violence is increasing: The number of clinics reporting threats and targeted intimidation has increased from about 25 percent to more than 50 percent since 2010. Dears terrorism hasnt affected the GOPs congressional crusade against the womens-healthcare provider, however. Immediately after the shooting, Senate Republicans said they would proceed with efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which currently receives about $500 million from the federal government. About 80 percent of Planned Parenthoods clients are low-income (which is measured as being at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line). Unintended pregnancies among poor women have been increasing, while those among well-off women are falling. What terrorists like Dear and Republicans in Congress want is basically the same: to shut down Planned Parenthood and deny women access to abortions. If they got their wish, it would serve only to make poor women poorer and increase the number of unintended pregnancies. Indeed, unintended pregnancies are already concentrated among low-income women, an imbalance that has been increasing. The rate of such pregnancies among women with incomes below the poverty line jumped 56 percent from 1994 to 2008, while for higher-income women it actually fell by 24 percent. In 2008, the unintended-pregnancy rate for poor women was more than five times that of the most well-off. All of this means that poor women have higher rates of unplanned births as well as abortionssix times and five times higher, respectivelythan women at the other end of the income scale. Poor women also have fewer places to turn for affordable contraception and reproductive careexcept for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-to-rein-in-wall-street-fix-the-fed,"Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders: To Rein In Wall Street, Fix the Fed By: Sen. Bernie Sanders Wednesday, December 23, 2015 WALL STREET is still out of control. Seven years ago, theFederal Reserveand the Treasury Department bailed out the largest financial institutions in this country because they were considered too big to fail. But almost every one is bigger today than it was before the bailout. If any were to fail again, taxpayers could be on the hook for another bailout, perhaps a larger one this time. To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates. The recent decision by the Fed to raise interest rates is the latest example of the rigged economic system. Big bankers and their supporters in Congress have been telling us for years that runaway inflation is just around the corner. They have been dead wrong each time. Raising interest rates now is a disaster for small business owners who need loans to hire more workers and Americans who need more jobs and higher wages. As a rule, the Fed should not raise interest rates until unemployment is lower than 4 percent. Raising rates must be done only as a last resort not to fight phantom inflation. What went wrong at the Fed? The chief executives of some of the largest banks in America are allowed to serve on its boards. During the Wall Street crisis of 2007, Jamie Dimon, the chief executive and chairman of JPMorgan Chase, served on the New York Feds board of directors while his bank received more than $390 billion in financial assistance from the Fed. Next year, four of the 12 presidents at the regional Federal Reserve Banks will be former executives from one firm: Goldman Sachs. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/122315,News December 23,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 23 Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders: Fix the Fed To rein in Wall Street, we should begin by reforming the Federal Reserve, which oversees financial institutions and which uses monetary policy to maintain price stability and full employment. Unfortunately, an institution that was created to serve all Americans has been hijacked by the very bankers it regulates, Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote in The New York Times. Sandra BlandSen. Sanders said late Monday night that Sandra Bland would not have died in police custody if she were a white women, CNN, The Associated Press, The Guardian, Houston Chronicle and The Huffington Post reported. Unlikely Alliance Sen. Sanders spends much of his time railing against millionaires and billionaires, but he has different sentiments when speaking about one of the richest men in Burlington, Tony Pomerleau, Burlington Free Press reported. World Ramadi For the first time, Iraqi forces engaged Islamic State fighters within the city center of Ramadi on Tuesday, reaching the edge of the inner government district in an attempt to seize the critical western provincial capital after months of approach and maneuvering, The New York Times reported. National Virginia Gun Safety Virginia will no longer recognize concealed-handgun permits issued by 25 other states, its attorney general announced Tuesday, a stark change in a state known for its expansive gun rights, The New York Times reported. Vermont GMOs The latest attempt in Congress to block states from passing GMO labeling laws has failed. Its good news for Vermont, which is poised to become the first state in the country to implement mandatory GMO labeling on July 1st, WAMC reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-sanders-investigation-vermont-secures-discount-on-life-saving-drug-,"Following Sanders Investigation, Vermont Secures Discount on Life-Saving Drug",2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 23 Following up on U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) investigation on the skyrocketing cost of generic drugs and letters the senator sent to officials urging them to seek a discount on naloxone, Vermonts attorney general signed a deal with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals for a 20 percent rebate on the drug used by first-responders as an opiate overdose antidote. The opioid abuse epidemic in our country is a public health emergency that must be addressed, and no company should jeopardize the progress being made in tackling this emergency by overcharging for a critically important drug like naloxone, said Sanders, who serves as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security. It is a tragedy for my state of Vermont. It is a tragedy all over this country. The number of heroin deaths are growing very, very significantly. Drug overdose deaths hit a record high last year in the United States. Tragically, that included 83 Vermonters. Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell reached an agreement last Friday with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals to address concerns with the 2014 price increase of the opioid antidote drug naloxone. Under the agreement, Vermont will receive a $6 rebate per vial. Since last fall, Sanders and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have been investigating the increasingly high prices being charged for naloxone and other drugs. In July, Sanders and Cummings sent letters to the United States Conference of Mayors, the National Association of Counties, and the Associations of National Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and Attorneys General to urge their members to follow the lead of New York and other states that are demanding affordable prices for a critical drug used by first responders nationwide. We encourage all of your members to consider negotiating agreements with Amphastar to make naloxone more widely available in every state, Cummings and Sanders wrote.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-supports-government-funding-bill-with-important-provisions-for-maine-,King Supports Government Funding Bill with Important Provisions for Maine,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Supports Government Funding Bill with Important Provisions for Maine Legislation averts shutdown, avoids fiscal uncertainty of years past Friday, December 18, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted for an omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the government through September 2016, extend tax policies that support American families and businesses, and contains a host of other provisions important to Maine. Though Senator King had concerns about how the costs of the tax deal will add to the national debt, he was not willing to vote to shut down the government or sacrifice the numerous provisions that will benefit the people of Maine. By passing this bill, weve avoided another government shutdown, managed to extend or enhance several tax provisions important to Maine families and businesses, and given our economy some semblance of calm and predictability for the coming fiscal year. But unfortunately, the tax provisions in this bill are a short-term solution to a long-term problem, said Senator King. We cannot continue to mortgage our childrens future with these massive, last minute agreements even though this negotiating process was more deliberate and inclusive than it has been in the past. I hope that in the coming years, we can find a way to pay for expiring tax provisions and return to a more thoughtful, regular appropriations process that allows us to responsibly invest in our future, grow the economy, and leave our kids and grandkids with an opportunity to succeed rather than a mountain of debt. An omnibus appropriations bill is legislation that combines various smaller government funding bills into one large package that can be passed all together at once, usually to avoid a pending fiscal deadline. The omnibus legislation passed today was negotiated by Congressional leaders and the Obama Administration in order to avoid a government shutdown by funding federal departments, agencies, and programs over the next fiscal year. As part of the agreement reached by negotiators, a broad tax deal was attached to the omnibus that provides a longer-term extension of more than fifty tax provisions that support working families and businesses. Senator King and several of his colleagues raised concerns about the cost of the tax deal, and voted to separate that deal from the omnibus spending bill on the Senate floor, but that vote ultimately failed. Many provisions in this omnibus-tax extenders package have particular importance to Maine: Shipbuilding: The legislation authorizes over $4.6 billion for Navy destroyer programs, including $433 million for the construction of DDG-1000 Zumwalt destroyers all of which are being built at Bath Iron Works $3.1 billion for the for the procurement of two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in Fiscal Year 2016 one of which will be built at Bath and $1 billion towards the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer, which would likely be built at Bath. Senator Susan Collins played a major role in securing the additional $1 billion DDG-51 appropriation as senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator King has continually worked to authorize and prioritize shipbuilding funding like this as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Intelligence and Cyber-Security: The omnibus includes the FY2016 Intelligence Authorization and Cybersecurity Information Sharing bills, which Senator King helped to shape as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Intelligence Authorization bill includes several King-authored provisions, including an amendment to ensure that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) remains impartial in its intelligence analyses as the agency undergoes reorganization and a separate amendment requiring the Director of National Intelligence to notify Congress if phone companies change their metadata retention policies. Bolstering cyber-security has also been a top priority for Senator King, particularly after a string of cyber-breaches that have affected people in Maine including those at Anthem and MaineGeneral and after hearing from many Maine businesses who are concerned about the threat of cyber-attacks. Veterans: The bill includes $163 billion in total funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for Fiscal Year 2016, and veterans in Maine and across the country will benefit from investments made in various medical support programs. A total of $4.7 billion will go towards healthcare for the more than 268,000 female veterans using the VA health system with $446 million going towards gender specific healthcare. In addition, the VAs programs for homeless veterans will be fully funded at $1.4 billion and VA mental health services will receive $7.5 billion for a variety of treatments including those for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, substance abuse treatment, and suicide prevention. Senator King asked appropriators for strong funding for each of these areas in a March letter. Importantly, the VAs Rural Health Initiative which is used to fund the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program that helps deliver health services to veterans in northern Maine will receive $270 million. Senator King requested that the initiative be fully funded, and this level is $20 million above the Presidents request for Fiscal Year 2015. The omnibus also includes $258 million in funding for readjustment counseling at Vet Centers like the five centers in Maine. In addition, $1.24 billion will go towards major VA construction projects, part of which could go towards several projects in Maine: construction of a new community living center at Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, construction of a specialty care addition at Togus, and the lease of a new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Portland. 9/11 first responders: The James Zadroga 9/11 Health Compensation Reauthorization Act, which permanently reauthorizes health benefits for 9/11 first responders, was passed as part of the omnibus today. Senator King is a cosponsor of the Zadgroga Act. Opioid Abuse: The bill includes $47 million directed to addressing prescription drug and heroin overdose through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Of that funding, $25 million an increase of $13 million will go towards medication assisted treatment in high-risk states. The bill also includes $70 million for state-based efforts to address prescription opioid abuse through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is a $50 million increase over last year, and provides $7 million to fund anti-heroin task forces within the COPS program. Senator King has been working to address the opioid epidemic in Maine, holding several roundtables in the state and cosponsoring federal legislation including the TREAT Act, which would expand access to medication-assisted treatment, as well as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to promote best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication. Education: Several of Senator Kings education priorities were addressed in the bill, with Preschool Development Grants program receiving $250 million in funding and college savings accounts (529 plans) being adjusted to allow for the purchase of computers, internet access, and other related technology. Senator King wrote several letters in support of the Preschool Development Grant program, which recently awarded Maine with a multi-year, $14.8 million grant to expand pre-K services. He is also a cosponsor of legislation that would have made these same changes to college savings accounts in order to give students more flexibility as they try to afford their education. Tax Policies: Though Senator King has concerns about the cost of the tax extender package, he does support many of the individual tax policies themselves that support Maine families and businesses. The permanent extension of current or recently-expired enhancements to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit will support some of Maines most vulnerable people, and Senator King has cosponsored separate bills that also would have made these tax credits permanent. The legislation also permanently extends several essential business tax policies, including the $500,000 threshold for Section 179 small business expensing and the Research and Development tax credit. Senator King also supports the extension of many of the energy and environment tax credits, including a host of renewable energy credits for solar, wind, and residential energy efficiency that will provide financial incentives for individuals and businesses in the state to move towards more environmentally-friendly energy sources. Another important tax credit permanently extended in the bill provides a charitable deduction for contributions of land for conservation purposes, which Senator King has supported through separate legislation. Land and Water Conservation Fund: Senator King has repeatedly called for a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Though this bill only reauthorizes the successful program for 3 years, it takes an important step towards ensuring its strength and sustainability moving forward, and also provides $450 million in funding for LWCF which is the highest level since 2010. Senator King remains committed to protecting the LWCF, which has helped increase access to outdoor recreation for the last 50 years and supports local programs in Maine that get kids involved in the outdoors. Medical Research: As a member of the Senate National Institutes of Health (NIH) Caucus, Senator King is a vocal advocate for medical research that can help combat disease and improve health in Maine, across the country, and around the world. The omnibus includes an overall funding increase for the NIH, and specific areas of research that affect Maine people like Alzheimers research will also see an increase. Senator King was a cosponsor of the Alzheimers Accountability Act which passed last year, requiring the NIH to submit an annual Alzheimers research budget to Congress. NIH released their first Alzheimers budget in July, calling for an addition $323.4 million in Fiscal Year 17. The omnibus includes a $350 million increase for Fiscal Year 16. Along with promoting increased funding for Alzheimers research, Senator King is also a cosponsor of the HOPE for Alzheimers Act, which would provide patients and their families with more comprehensive information about how to deal with this terrible disease. Together with Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Senator King has also introduced the EUREKA Act to encourage more public-private collaboration in the fight against Alzheimers and other causes of dementia. Visa Waiver Program: The bill includes a provision aimed at strengthening the Visa Waiver Program. Senator King has similarly called for changes to the program in response to concerns that it could be exploited by terrorists wanting to travel to America. Transportation: Funding for the Department of Transportations TIGER program will be maintained at $500 million. This program continues to aid state and local governments in funding vital transportation projects. Housing: The bill includes $950 million in funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program $50 million more than fiscal year 2015 in order to support the development of affordable housing units across the country, including Maine. After this critical source of federal funding for affordable home construction and rehabilitation was threatened in congressional budget proposals, Senator King wrote to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Related Agencies to urge appropriators to reject any efforts to reduce, divert, or eliminate funding from the program. The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), which has helped local government in Maine with housing, infrastructure, and revitalization projects, will receive $3 billion, the same that it did in the last fiscal year. Fisheries: Maines fishing industry is a critical component of our economy, and by investing in several fishery management and conservation programs through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the omnibus will support efforts in Maine to rebuild and sustain our fisheries. In the bill, NOAAs Fisheries Data Collection, Surveys and Assessments program will receive $163 million slightly exceeding a request from Senator King to support fishery monitoring initiatives including the critical Maine-New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey and other projects that provide key inputs for the lobster and groundfish fisheries. Bill language directs NOAA Fisheries to improve a recent report related to the roll-out of electronic monitoring technology and requires FWS to report to the Senate and House Appropriations committees on the Services inspection of certain seafood products for export, including sea urchins. The omnibus also allocates more than $29 million to FWS fish and aquatic conservation efforts, which have aided a habitat restoration project on the Penobscot River. Menu labeling: Language in the omnibus cements a promise from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it will delay menu-labeling requirements for grocery stores and food retailers for one year. Senator King has written several letters to the agency in order to delay the rule and give Maine businesses time to understand the requirements and comply. He has also introduced legislation to codify a less burdensome approach to menu-labeling by allowing covered establishments greater flexibility in providing calorie information. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-opposes-spending-package,Sanders Opposes Spending Package,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today opposing the omnibus and tax extenders bills: Millions of Americans are unemployed and working longer hours for lower wages, yet this spending package gives more tax breaks to billionaires, encourages large corporations to ship jobs overseas and makes worse an already corrupt campaign finance system. Scientists tell us that we must act immediately to combat climate change, but this bill will lift the crude oil export ban and encourage the burning of more fossil fuels. And 16 million children are living in poverty in this country, but Congress has decided to cut food and nutrition services for our most vulnerable and increase the already bloated defense budget. While there are some important and positive provisions in this bill like the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, the truth is we cannot afford another spending package that expands the power and wealth of the billionaire class at the expense of everyone else. Congress must pass legislation that make our rigged political and economic systems work once again for the vast majority of Americans not just the 1 percent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-letter-to-president-king-calls-for-increased-funding-to-address-opioid-epidemic,"In Letter to President, King Calls for Increased Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In Letter to President, King Calls for Increased Funding to Address Opioid Epidemic Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to increase funding in the 2017 Fiscal Year budget to address the prescription drug and heroin epidemic in Maine and across the country. In the letter, Senator King underscored his call for a comprehensive approach to combat drug addiction and support the communities dealing with this public health and safety crisis. As you are well aware, addiction to opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin is tearing at the fabric of our communities and families and devastating peoples lives across the country, Senator King wrote in the letter. Addressing this epidemic will require a multi-faceted approach, including a strong commitment to prevention, treatment, enforcement and various measures to support communities feeling its acute effects. []Ultimately, the opioid and heroin crisis we face demands an aggressive approach at the federal level to create lasting solutions on behalf of families and communities in Maine and across the United States. Senator Kings letter also discussed how increased funding for programs and initiatives like Maine Healthy Communities, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) will be balanced by significant savings in the long run through decreases in emergency care and long-term treatment, as well as a reduction in crime associated with heroin use and distribution. The most significant savings however, is that of saving valuable young lives and saving families and communities the pain of watching people struggle with opioid dependence and so often dying. Senator Kings letter also outlines the tragic story of Michael Fielders, of Eliot, Maine, who died of a suspected heroin overdose in November while waiting for treatment. Michaels parents have been vocal about addressing the opioid crisis in Maine. Mike was trying very hard to get sober and was hopeful after his 72 hours detox that he had finally secured a bed, only to hear that he was now fifth on the waiting list, said Cynthia Fielders, Michaels mother. How do you tell someone who has made the decision to get clean, hold on and wait? Making the decision to try heroin for the first time was the only time it was a choice, after that heroin takes you. said Michael Fielders, Michaels father. In November, Senator King convened a roundtable discussion in Portland that focused on how the federal government can help mitigate the use of prescription painkillers as a gateway to addiction. At the roundtable, Senator King introduced a new federal proposal that would help people across the country more safely and quickly dispose of excess prescription drugs and announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction. The Portland roundtable followed an initial roundtable discussion in Brewer this August with National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli. The letter can be read HERE and the complete text is below and. +++ Dear President Obama, As you well know, budgets are the manifestation of policy priorities, not just the allocation of federal dollars. Therefore I urge you to build upon the important work you have already done by increasing funding to address the prescription drug and heroin epidemic in the United States in your budget for the 2017 Fiscal Year. As you are well aware, addiction to opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and heroin is tearing at the fabric of our communities and families and devastating peoples lives across the country. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from prescription painkillers rose to 16,000 in 2013, four times higher than the rate in 1999. Each day, there are 44 overdose deaths in the United States. In the State of Maine, the number of people seeking treatment for opiate abuse has risen from 1,115 in 2010 to 3,463 in 2014, and the number of babies born addicted to drugs or alcohol went from 572 to 961, an increase of 68 percent. Thats an appalling 961 addicted babies out of 12,000 live births in our state. I appreciate your efforts in addressing this issue, including convening a panel discussion in West Virginia, as well as the inclusion of $133 million in funding for the departments of Justice and Health and Human Services in your FY 2016 budget, but I believe that the scope and acceleration of this crisis demands even more. Addressing this epidemic will require a multi-faceted approach, including a strong commitment to prevention, treatment, enforcement and various measures to support communities feeling its acute effects. Our first line of defense against opioid and heroin abuse is ensuring that we have strong prevention programs. An effective prevention strategy must start with educating children and young adults on the risks associated with using opioids through programs such as Maines Healthy Communities programs and other initiatives that lower the risk of drug use and support young people, empowering them to make good decisions. We must also support physicians and other prescribers in making treatment decisions. One of the critical resources for prescribers is Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). There are currently 51 PDMPs. These programs, according to a recently released report by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, allow physicians and other prescribers to have comprehensive controlled substances prescription records for an individual regardless of whether the patient paid cash or filled prescriptions through multiple insurers or pharmacies. By expanding Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, prescribers can monitor addiction trends and help mitigate the risk of opioid abuse, misuse and diversion by making informed decisions based on a given patients prescription history. We must also increase prevention funding for plans tailored to certain areas, such as those detailed in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit, which gives material to communities and local governments to develop policies and practices to prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths. I also urge you to devote significant resources to treatment programs. There is no example that better illustrates this need than that of Michael Fielders, of Eliot, Maine, who died of a suspected heroin overdose in November while awaiting treatment. Michaels tragic story underscores the need to increase access to a wide range of options and to take an approach that recognizes the unique treatment needs of each person. The window for treatment is narrow, and when a person is ready to begin the process of addressing their dependence on opioids, programs must be available for them. I hope that the 2017 FY budget can also prioritize comprehensive treatment options, such as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs, which combine the use of proper medications with behavioral therapy and counseling. Funding for programs that provide increased access to buprenorphine and methadone in communities with high rates of addiction and limited treatment options are important as well. As the epidemic continues to grow nationwide, the budget must emphasize the importance of treatment and mobilize resources to help meet the unique needs of so many people. In addition to both prevention and treatment efforts, we must also ensure that our enforcement strategies meet the unique challenges of drug abuse in our communities and the influx of drugs arriving from abroad. During a Senate Armed Services hearing last week, I raised the importance of clamping down on heroin trafficking with Vice Admiral Kurt Tidd, who you have nominated to be the Commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). If confirmed, Admiral Tidd will lead our military efforts in Central and South America to mitigate this growing threat. With demand for heroin more than doubling since 2007, it is clear that part of our enforcement strategy must be increasing resources to reduce the flow of heroin from Latin America. Ultimately, the FY 2017 budget should focus upon keeping our communities safe from any crime and violence associated with illicit trade and distribution while also ensuring that we treat non-violent people who need care. A final aspect to address as you consider the 2017 FY budget is family and community support, whether it be through grants or other means, for those affected by addiction and research on the efficacy of current treatment policies and ways to improve and develop new ones. By increasing funding for both of these objectives, we can help families splintered by the effects of addiction receive support and through research evaluating current federal policies and potential alternative treatment models, we help assure that we are best adapting to this dynamic and complex public health and safety crisis. By requesting that you build upon the $133 million devoted to prescription drug and heroin abuse in last years budget, I recognize that this would require significant resources. However, I am confident that increased funding for the programs I have listed will lead to significant savings in the long run. This will be seen through decreases in emergency care and long-term treatment, as well as a reduction in crime associated with heroin use and distribution. Ultimately, the opioid and heroin crisis we face demands an aggressive approach at the federal level to create lasting solutions on behalf of families and communities in Maine and across the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to working with the Administration on this important issue. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-warns-tax-extender-deal-will-shift-costs-to-future-generations-,King Warns Tax Extender Deal Will Shift Costs to Future Generations,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Warns Tax Extender Deal Will Shift Costs to Future Generations Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with his colleagues Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) to express concern about the cost of the tax extenders package set to come before the Senate tomorrow. Despite his support for many of the tax policies in the legislation, such as permanent enhancements to tax credits for working families and investment incentives for businesses, Senator King worries that the $680 billion package negotiated by Congressional leadership will saddle future generations with debt because it is not offset by other spending reductions or revenue increases. This bill should be called the Tax Your Grandchildren Act, because were cutting our own taxes, but were borrowing the money that otherwise would be collected, and the kids are going to have to pay it back, at some point, with interest, said Senator King. Ultimately for me, this is an issue of ethical stewardship. [] Our generation is not keeping our infrastructure up, is not adequately providing for the common defense, and is shifting the costs from us to our children. Thats not stewardship, that is inter-generational theft. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, a $680 billion agreement reached by Congressional leaders, would extend many expired tax provisions for families and businesses and carries an enormous cost without containing any offsets in spending or revenue increases. Despite Senator Kings support for many of the bills individual policies such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Research and Development tax credit, and tax provisions that support renewable energy he is concerned that using this year-end, unpaid tax extenders package to advance these policies is fiscally irresponsible and only shift taxes to future generations. Senator King has long believed that Congress needs to stop making short-sighted decisions that pass along long-term costs along to future generations. Earlier this month, he joined with several of his colleges in sending a letter to leaders of the Senate Finance Committee suggesting potential ways to pay for a tax extenders package so that it could support middle class families and businesses while also ensuring that costs are not passed on to future generations. Those possible cost offsets included closing certain loopholes in the tax code such as the carried interest loophole that allows many of the highest earners to pay a lower effective tax rate than middle class workers. Despite Senator Kings concerns, he plans to vote for the combined tax extenders-omnibus package tomorrow as part of the larger budget agreement because a vote against the bill would mean a vote to shut down the government and create economic uncertainty in Maine and around the country. I dont have policy problems with many of those tax extenders, said Senator King. I do have a fundamental problem that theyre not paid for, and I just dont think its honest for us to go home and say, we cut your taxes, when our grandchildren are going to have to pay those bills with interest. A clip of Senator Kings remarks on the Senate floor about the tax extenders deal is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121715,News December 17,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 17 Thursday, December 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Andrea Mitchell Interview MSNBCs Andrea Mitchell was joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, to discuss his plan for the American fight against ISIS. Sanders also commented on last nights Republican presidential debate. Mosque Visit Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders joined members of three faiths - Christianity, Islam and Judaism - at Masjid Muhammad in Washington to discuss racial and religious tensions in national politics, ABC, The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, WRC-TV in Washington and National Journal reported. As a politician who has aligned himself with civil rights causes for decades, Sanders seemed comfortable talking about the issue of religious tolerance, according to The New York Times. Drug Prices A new report requested by Sen. Sanders found that Medicaid could have saved $1.4 billion over the past decade if companies were required to offer rebates whenever prices for best-selling generic drugs exceeded the inflation rate. The federal budget bill, which was passed last month, included a provision authored by Sen. Sanders and Rep. Cummings requiring generic drug makers to offer state Medicaid programs rebates tied to inflation, STAT News reported. Fed Rate Hike Sen. Sanders has critiqued the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates, stating that, The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago, The New York Times, PBSNewsHour,The Associated Press, The Hill,The Washington Post,Fortune and Business Insider reported. Bernie Beans Capitol Grounds Cafe and Roasters announced a new, special edition coffee called Bernie's Beans, named after Vermont Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders, FOX44 reported. World Cuba Cuba and the United States reached an agreement Wednesday night that will allow U.S. commercial airlines to begin operating flights to the island for the first time in decades, according to U.S. officials with knowledge of the discussion, The Washington Post reported. National Freddie Gray Trial Jurors deliberated more than 16 hours over three days but still could not reach a verdict in the trial of the first officer to face prosecution in Freddie Grays death, forcing an already-weary Baltimore to continue waiting for any resolution in a case that has strained the city for months, The Washington Post reported. Budget Deal Congressional negotiators introduced a sweeping year-end spending and tax-break package Wednesday that bursts through previously agreed budget limits with $66 billion in new spending for 2016. It also makes permanent an array of tax benefits at a cost of adding more than a half-trillion dollars to the deficit, The New York Times reported. Vermont Vermont Yankee Entergy plans to begin moving Vermont Yankees spent nuclear fuel into more stable storage two years earlier than initially expected, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/skyrocketing-generic-drug-prices-cost-taxpayers-14-billion-new-report-finds,"Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skyrocketing Generic Drug Prices Cost Taxpayers $1.4 Billion, New Report Finds Thursday, December 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 Skyrocketing generic drug prices cost taxpayers an additional $1.4 billion over the last decade according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general, undertaken at the request of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Prices of top-selling generic drugs rose faster than inflation 22 percent of the time over the 10-year study. If a rebate had been applied on generic drugs rising faster than inflation Medicaid would have saved more than $700 million in 2013 and 2014 alone. It is unacceptable that Americans pay, by far, the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster. This report further demonstrates that we need a new approach to stop skyrocketing drug prices in this country, said Sanders. The IG report confirms that skyrocketing drug prices are not just an isolated problem caused by one or two CEOs motivated by greed, but a systemic injustice that enriches corporate executives at the expense of Americans in desperate need of their medications. Unfortunately, House Republicans have not sent a single letter to a single drug company requesting a single document to investigate these abuses, said Cummings. Sanders and Cummings Medicaid Generic Drug Price Fairness Act included in the 2015 budget deal requires generic drug manufacturers to pay back the Medicaid program if prices of their drugs rise faster than the rate of inflation. The passage of the generic drug inflationary rebate will save the federal government $1 billion over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Sanders and Cummings have urged Congress to build on the successful passage of their Medicaid rebate bill and implement prescription drug policies to counter sharp rises in drug prices.In September, they introduced legislation that would direct Medicare to negotiate drug prices, penalize drug companies that commit fraud and allow for the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada. The inspector general will conduct a follow-up study at Sanders and Cummings request that will analyze the impact of generic drug price increases on the Medicare Part D program. To read the report click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-congratulate-alba-technic-for-winning-head-health-challenge-,"Collins, King Congratulate Alba-Technic for Winning Head Health Challenge",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Congratulate Alba-Technic for Winning Head Health Challenge Winthrop-based company is one of five winners nationwide to receive award from National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Football League, Under Armour, and General Electric Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Alba-Technic, LLC, one of five companies nationwide to win the Head Health Challenge III. The challenge is an open innovation competition held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Football League, Under Armour, and General Electric (GE) to support the discovery, design and development of advanced materials that better absorb and dissipate impact. Alba-Technic has been doing innovative and exciting things in Winthrop to advance head health and safety, and were thrilled that this Maine company is being recognized so prominently at the national level, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. As we learn more and more about brain injuries and brain trauma, the need for new protective technologies becomes that much clearer and Alba Technic has an important role to play. We commend the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the NFL, Under Armour, and GE for organizing this competition, and look forward to following Alba Technic as it continues to compete for additional prize money and, more importantly, develop this potentially life-saving material. Winthrop-based Alba-Technic has developed a patented, shock-absorbent honeycomb material with an outer layer that diverts the energy from a fall or hit. The material is normally soft and compliant, but upon impact, the outer layer changes into a hard shell to spread the energy and protect the user from injury. As one of the competition winners, the company will receive $250,000 to advance their work in developing its state-of-the-art material. A panel of leading experts in the field of materials science selected these five winners from 125 entries because they met the challenges technical criteria to maximize energy absorption and minimize momentum transfer. One overall Head Health Challenge III winner will be selected from the five awardees to receive an additional $500,000 grand prize by the end of 2016. Head Health Challenge III is part of the larger Head Health Initiative, a four-year, $60 million collaboration between GE and the NFL and aims to invest resources to accelerate the development of materials that can protect against concussions. It is one of three open innovation challenges to invest up to $20 million in research and technology development to better understand, identify and protect against brain injury. Challenge I focused on discovering imaging and methods for diagnosis and prognosis of mild traumatic brain injuries, and in July 2015, six grand prize winners were awarded $500,000 to further their revolutionary research. Challenge II focused on new technologies to monitor, identify and protect against mild traumatic brain injury, and in December 2015, three grand prize winners were announced. The winners could receive up to $1 million over the next year to continue to advance their innovations. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-that-usda-is-now-accepting-applications-for-the-rural-energy-for-america-program-funding,Senators Collins and King Announce that USDA is Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Funding,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins and King Announce that USDA is Now Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program Funding Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and small rural businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. REAP funding will make it possible to rehabilitate housing, encourage energy efficiency, and help improve facilities throughout Maine, said Senators King and Collins in a joint statement. We encourage Maine farmers and rural small business owners to apply for these loans, which provide vital opportunities to install energy efficiency measures that save money, better protect the environment, and boost economic growth. Funding available through the REAP guaranteed loan program includes financing for renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements, such as efficient lighting conversions, motor upgrades, building envelope improvements, HVAC upgrades, and more. Loan amounts can range from $5,000 to $25 million and can cover up to 75 percent of the total eligible project cost. For more information, you may contact Brian Wilson at 990-9168 or brian.wilson@me.usda.gov, or you may visit http://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency/me. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-approval-of-1-billion-toward-additional-destroyer-likely-to-be-built-at-biw-,"Senators Collins, King Announce Approval of $1 billion Toward Additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins, King Announce Approval of $1 billion Toward Additional Destroyer Likely to be built at BIW Wednesday, December 16, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the final omnibus bill includes $1 billion toward the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer. This destroyer would likely be built at Bath Iron Works. This destroyer would be in addition to those already included in the current multi-year procurement contract. The omnibus bill will be considered by Congress later this week. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins requested the funding toward the additional DDG-51 to help meet combatant commander requirements for destroyers across the globe. Senator Collins successfully advocated for the inclusion of the $1 billion in funding in the Senate Defense Appropriations Bill. The House Defense Appropriations Bill, however, allocated no funding for this additional destroyer. Following weeks of negotiations between the House and Senate regarding the bill, the omnibus bill appropriates the full $1 billion in funding toward this additional ship, affirming the strategic importance of our Navy and shipbuilding programs. Our destroyers are the workhorses of the Navy, and I am proud of the highly skilled, hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works who continue to deliver the highest quality ships for our nations sailors, said Senator Collins. The power of presence cannot be taken for granted or ignored, which is why the investments for this new destroyer funded by this bill are so necessary. In a time of serious budget constraints for our Defense Department, this important investment underscores the value and importance of our naval assets to the security and stability of our country. The equation is simple: fewer ships means less presence, less security at home, and less security around the world. I am so pleased that after many long hours of negotiations, this $1 billion in funding was included in the final omnibus bill. Senator Collins is a relentless advocate for the hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works, and I am thankful that she was able to secure additional funding for shipbuilding through her position on the Appropriations Committee, said Senator King. The funding for this additional ship is a major achievement for Maine and she deserves all the credit. There is no one Id rather be working with on behalf of BIW, the State of Maine, and the men and women of our armed forces than Susan. Senators Collins and King work together in support of Bath Iron Works from their respective positions on the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees. As a member of Armed Services, Senator King works to ensure that critical shipbuilding funding is authorized through the National Defense Authorization Act, a yearly bill that authorizes funding and directs policy for the Department of Defense. And as a senior member of Appropriations, Senator Collins works to make sure the authorized funds are then actually appropriated to shipbuilding priorities. Through this joint effort, the Senators are able to prioritize shipbuilding throughout the funding process. As of January 2015, the Navy had 279 ships, well short of the goal set by the Navys 30-year shipbuilding plan which calls for the United States to have 304 ships by 2020. This investment will help to grow the Navys shipbuilding capabilities at a time when the Navy fleet is in high demand to protect national security interests worldwide. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-fed-raising-interest-rates,Sanders Statement on Fed Raising Interest Rates,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after the Federal Reserve announced that it would raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade: When millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages, the Federal Reserves decision to raise interest rates is bad news for working families. At a time when real unemployment is nearly 10 percent and youth unemployment is off the charts, we need to do everything possible to create millions of good-paying jobs and raise the wages of the American people. The Fed should act with the same sense of urgency to rebuild the disappearing middle class as it did to bail out Wall Street banks seven years ago.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-send-letter-to-homeland-security-urging-more-rigorous-screening-of-visa-applicants-on-social-media-,"King, Colleagues Send Letter to Homeland Security Urging More Rigorous Screening of Visa Applicants on Social Media",2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Colleagues Send Letter to Homeland Security Urging More Rigorous Screening of Visa Applicants on Social Media Tuesday, December 15, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with 24 Senators in sending a letter a to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Jeh Johnson, expressing concern about the reported lack of consistency in how the agency monitors the social media activity of people applying for U.S. Visas. The letter comes after reports that the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attack earlier this month, who entered the country on a K-1 fianc visa, may have expressed radical jihadist sentiments on social media. We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that critical background information of individuals participating in American visa programs has been largely omitted from the visa security screening process, wrote the Senators in their letter. Ensuring that the screening processes for our nations visa programs are rigorous and comprehensive must be a top priority, as these programs are critical to our security, our economy, and for our bilateral relationships with nations around the world. We look forward to working with you to establish a more robust social media background check process for all visitors and immigrants to the United States. In the letter, which was led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the Senators asked DHS for more information on how social media background checks are used in the Visa review process now, and how that process can be improved. They also expressed their commitment to making sure Americas Visa programs have rigorous and comprehensive screening processes. Also signing the letter were Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Christopher Murphey (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Joe Manchin (D-W.V), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Robert Casey (D-Penn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I), and Jack Reed (D-R.I). The letter is available HERE, and the full text is below: +++ December 15, 2015 The Honorable Jeh Johnson Secretary Department of Homeland Security 3801 Nebraska Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 Dear Secretary Johnson: We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that critical background information of individuals participating in American visa programs has been largely omitted from the visa security screening process. According to recent reports, the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attackmay have expressed radical jihadist sentiments on social media platforms before her U.S. citizen fianc, the male attacker, applied for a K-1 fianc visa on her behalf. Media reports have also indicated that Department of Homeland Security officials are able to conduct social media background checks as a part of certain immigration programs, but are doing so inconsistently. We believe these checks, focused on possible connections to terrorist activity, should be incorporated into DHSs vetting process for visa determinations, and that this policy should be implemented as soon as possible. Therefore, we request that you provide the following information as soon as possible so that we may work with you to implement a more rigorous screening process: Do you plan to integrate social media background checks into the screening process for all visas? Do you faceresource and/or technical barriers to implementing these background checks? If so, please describe them. Does the Administration conduct social media background checks in any of the existing screening processes for visa programs? If so, please describe how they are conducted. Ensuring that the screening processes for our nations visa programs are rigorous and comprehensive must be a top priority, as these programs are critical to our security, our economy, and for our bilateral relationships with nations around the world. We look forward to working with you to establish a more robust social media background check process for all visitors and immigrants to the United States. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/pharma-bros-latest-move-targets-latinos,Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos By: Daisy Hernandez Tuesday, December 15, 2015 After dropping $2 million on aWu-Tang Clan album, the pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli has found a new project: making an essential treatment unaffordable for poor immigrants from Latin America. Shkreli, otherwise known as pharma bro, gained notoriety earlier this year when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, increased the price of a drug used to treat AIDS patients from around $13.50 to $750. Hes now the CEO of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, which recently announced its plans to submit benznidazole, a treatment for Chagas diseasepurchased earlier this month, for Food and Drug Administration approval next year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about300,000 peoplein the United States have the deadly disease. Most of them are immigrants from Latin America, where as many as8 million peopleare infected. The third most common parasite disease in the world, Chagas, also known as the kissing bug disease, is transmitted via the painless bites of Triatomine insects. Untreated, it can lead to heart failure and death. Last year, researchers at the Baylor College of MedicineidentifiedChagas in several patients who hadnt traveled outside of the country, positing that they may have come into contact with the bugs through camping and hunting. That said, the risk of contracting the parasite in the U.S. remains small; most people who have the disease in the United States already had it when they arrived. Right now, doctors in the U.S. obtain benznidazole free of charge through the CDC. According to Rachel Cohen, the regional executive director of the Drugs for Neglected Disease Initiative in North America, the drug sells in Latin America for somewhere between $60 and $100 for each course of treatment. Both of these would change the moment the FDA approved benznidazole from any companyand Shkreli, in particular, seems determined to price this drug out of reach of the people who need it. In filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, KaloBioswrotethat it expects to price the Chagas drug similarly to antivirals for Hepatitis C,which can cost almost $100,000for a single course of treatment in the United States. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-statement-in-response-to-bath-iron-works-labor-contract-approval,"Collins, King Statement In Response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval",2015-12-13,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Statement In Response to Bath Iron Works Labor Contract Approval Sunday, December 13, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today following approval of the new labor contract between Bath Iron Works and the Local S6 Machinists Union: The ratification of the labor contract required collaboration, hard work, and compromise by all parties. This represents a significant achievement and will put BIW on a viable track moving forward as they work as a team to fulfill critical Navy requirements. Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better able to build the Zumwalt and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload, and make the yard more competitive for future Arleigh Burke destroyer contracts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-video-king-applauds-students-and-event-organizers-at-maine-robotics-expo-,"In Video, King Applauds Students and Event Organizers at Maine Robotics EXPO",2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In Video, King Applauds Students and Event Organizers at Maine Robotics EXPO Recorded remarks played at Augusta Civic Center highlight importance of STEM education Saturday, December 12, 2015 ARLINGTON, VA In a pre-recorded video message played today at the Maine Robotics EXPO in Augusta, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) congratulated the student participants and event organizers for their interest in and commitment to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In his remarks, Senator King highlighted the importance of STEM education and told the students that they can change the world through ingenuity and innovation. What a great day for Maine at the Augusta Civic Center. This is an amazing gathering of some of the best and the brightest from across Maine, said Senator King. I want you to know how important what youre doing is not only to have some fun but also to see what you can do with science, technology, engineering, and math, and how you can literally move the world. Im hoping that in this room today is the next Bill Gates or the next Steve Jobs, because the world is yours. The 3rd annual Maine Robotics EXPO welcomed more than 800 students and 2,000 guests from all over the state to the Augusta Civic Center. This full-day event is meant to inspire Maines future workforce and foster an early interest in the STEM fields. The EXPO was organized by Maine Robotics and several other groups and companies including the Robotics Institute of Maine, the Maine App Challenge, Tyler Technologies, Project>Login, and Educate Maine. Senator Kings video message is available here, and the full transcript is below: +++ What a great day for Maine at the Augusta Civic Center. What a great day for robotics for computers for programming. This is an amazing gathering of some of the best and the brightest from across Maine. I want to thank Maine Robotics, The First Lego League, Central Maine Vex, Educate Maine, Maine First Robotics Competition, the Maine App Challenge, and Tom Bickford who put it all together. Thank you for what youre doing, and this is going to be a fun day. Im sorry I cant be with you in person. I was scheduled to be there, then the Senate said we were going to be in session all weekend, and then they said we werent, and because of the uncertainty, Im stuck here in Washington. But I want you to know how important what youre doing is not only to have some fun but but also to see what you can do with science, technology, engineering, and math, and how you can literally move the world. Thats what youre learning today, from the robotic Legos, to the bigger robots, to the Rube Goldberg machine, to all the things that you have going in the Civic Center today. This is really good stuff, and its important for our state and for your communities and for yourself. This is how we learn and how we take advantage of the technology thats available. It used to be you had to live in a big city to have access to technology and of course now in Maine we know that all students can have that access. Im hoping that in this room today is the next Bill Gates or the next Steve Jobs, because the world is yours. You need to stick to that education get all the knowledge that you can, but also, what youre doing today is so important because its teaching you some other skills like problems solving how to work together in groups, how to put the knowledge that you have and the education that youve gained to work in solving real world problems. So, Im excited to be with you, if only virtually, but if there is a meeting I can visit virtually, this ought to be it, because so much of what youre doing involves technology and science. Have a wonderful day, have some fun, get to know each other, and remember the lessons that youre learning about solving problems and working together and about making Maine an even better place. Congratulations, have a great day. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-national-wreaths-across-america-day-king-honors-americas-fallen-heroes-at-arlington-national-cemetery-,"On National Wreaths Across America Day, King Honors America’s Fallen Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery",2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On National Wreaths Across America Day, King Honors Americas Fallen Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery Lays wreath on Maine Senator Hathaways grave and attends ceremony at USS Maine memorial Saturday, December 12, 2015 ARLINGTON, VA This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with thousands of volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths on the graves of Americas fallen heroes as part of the Maine-based initiative Wreaths Across America. During this powerful tribute to Americas veterans and their families, Senator King delivered remarks during a ceremony at the USS Maine Mast Memorial and placed a wreath on the grave of Maines former U.S. Senator William Hathaway, who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Senator King worked for former Senator Hathaway during part of his tenure in the U.S. Senate in the 1970s. Wreaths Across America is an amazing tribute to our heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to our heroic veterans still with us today, and to their families who stand by their side through it all, said Senator King. I was honored to participate in todays tribute and see firsthand the energy and spirit of community that make this event so special. We can and should be proud that this Maine-led effort has such a powerful impact across the country. Senator King welcomed the Wreaths Across America convoy of volunteers who arrived at Arlington National Cemetery today to lay the Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of American veterans interred there. The procession down the East Coast began on December 6th in Harrington, where Patriot Guard Riders continued their tradition of escorting trucks filled with wreaths. In addition to placing an estimated 230,000 wreaths today at Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and in numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Wreaths Across America was started 24 years ago by Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine, and their generosity continues to fuel this nationwide tribute. Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution authored by Senator King and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) declaring December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day. The Senators also participated in a wreath laying held at the U.S. Capitol. The USS Maine Memorial Mast stands among the graves in Arlington in remembrance of the hundreds of Sailors and Marines who went down with the ship in 1898 in Havana, Cuba following an explosion. Senator Hathaway was awarded several medals for his service during World War II, including the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross, and spent two months as a Prisoner of War in Romania. Senator King worked as a staffer for Senator Hathaway in the 1970s, serving as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Narcotics. Senator King lays a wreath at the grave of former Maine U.S. Senator William Hathaway Senator King thanks Morrill Worcester for his leadership in Wreaths Across America Senator King with Maine State Troopers ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-and-king-statement-in-response-to-department-of-commerces-final-countervailing-duty-order-on-supercalendered-paper-from-canada,Collins and King Statement in Response to Department of Commerce’s Final Countervailing Duty Order on Supercalendered Paper from Canada,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins and King Statement in Response to Department of Commerces Final Countervailing Duty Order on Supercalendered Paper from Canada Friday, December 11, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the Department of Commerces countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper from Canada that was published today: The Department of Commerces order is welcome news for the hardworking men and women of Madison Paper Industries who have for far too long fought an uphill battle against illegal and unfair provincial subsidies like the ones provided to the Port Hawkesbury Mill. The duties levied on companies that have been found to receive illegal and unfair trade advantages will help even the playing field in this important segment of the paper market. However, we remain extremely concerned with how the Department of Commerce conducted its investigation of the Canadian producers. The Department should have, as we strongly advocated, reviewed all four Canadian producers of supercalendered paper to ensure a fair and fact-based process. Rather than conduct a careful assessment of the actual subsidies received by each company, the Department relied on Port Hawkesburys and Resolutes subsidies to determine an arbitrary and unfair duty rate for Irving and Catalyst. This ill-advised decision could affect more than 1,000 Maine workers employed at J.D. Irving and the Catalyst-owned mill in Rumford. On behalf of these Maine workers, we urge the Department of Commerce to prioritize individual examinations of Irving and Catalyst through the expedited review process. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-statement-on-bath-iron-works-tentative-labor-contract-proposal,"Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Statement on Bath Iron Works Tentative Labor Contract Proposal Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today on the tentative labor contract proposal reached between Bath Iron Works andtheMachinists Union Local S6: Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our countrys defense and to our states economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better positioned to build the Zumwalt- and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than the men and women of BIW. We have secured funding for the construction of the DDG-1000s and the DDG-51s, and we remain strong advocates for BIWs opportunity to compete for the construction of the Coast Guards new Offshore Patrol Cutters, which would diversify BIWs workload,and forfutureArleigh Burke destroyers. We are very pleased that BIW management and labor union leadership have worked cooperatively to reach a tentative proposal for a labor contract. Conversations with senior Navy and Coast Guard officials convince us that cost is a key consideration in nearly every shipbuilding competition. That fact underscores the importance of BIWs ongoing work to increase operational efficiency at the shipyard because it must offer cost-effective bids in order to win these contracts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-committee-passes-king-backed-bill-to-revitalize-waterfront-communities,Senate Committee Passes King-Backed Bill to Revitalize Waterfront Communities,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Committee Passes King-Backed Bill to Revitalize Waterfront Communities Supports local efforts to strengthen Maine waterfronts and promote economic development Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King announced today the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has passed the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act, legislation he cosponsored that would boost efforts to revitalize waterfront communities. The bill now moves to the full Senate. Maines waterfront communities are not only a central part of our states heritage, but theyre also a crucial part of our states economy, generating hundreds of millions of dollars every year, Senator King said. These communities are also undergoing significant changes from modernizing outdated infrastructure to developing strategies to deal with climate change. This legislation would help streamline government resources for these communities so they can have the tools and resources needed to grow, adapt, and sustain themselves in the future. The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act will support community efforts to make the most of water resources by attracting water-dependent industries and investments that leverage water-proximity to sustainably revitalize neighborhoods and enhance recreation and tourism. In addition, the bill will support communities to plan for their future and help them attract private and non-profit investment. Many waterfront communities were built around their water resources years ago, and they are now working to reposition and overcome issues such as limited public access and poor alignment with modern development. In addition to adapting to economic shifts, waterfront communities are facing pressures to meet increasing demands on water resources; make resilient investments that can withstand weather extremes like storms, floods, and fluctuating water levels; and adapt to changing ecosystem conditions that range from shoreline erosion to stresses on fisheries. Waterfront planning and implementation requires communities to navigate intergovernmental hurdles, work across constituent groups and agencies, and secure financing. But many communities lack the tools to make it from vision to reality despite the economic returns from revitalization and the payoff that resiliency preparation can provide in the long term. The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act aims to solve these problems by: Creating a voluntary Resilient Waterfront Community designationwithin the Department of Commerce. The designation recognizes communities that adopt a waterfront revitalization and resiliency plan integrating economic, ecosystem, and infrastructure challenges and opportunities. Establishing a Resilient Waterfront Communities networkto support sharing of best practices, highlight Resilient Waterfront Communities, and help attract new investment. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/middle-class-families-pillar-of-the-american-dream-are-no-longer-in-the-majority-study-finds,"Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Middle-class families, pillar of the American dream, are no longer in the majority, study finds By: Don Lee Thursday, December 10, 2015 The nation's middle class, long a pillar of the U.S. economy and foundation of the American dream, has shrunk to the point where it no longer constitutes the majority of the adult population, according to a new major study. The Pew Research Center report released Wednesday put in sharp relief the nation's increasing income divide, which is certain to be a central issue in the 2016 presidential race. It also highlights how various economic and demographic forces have eroded long-held ideals about maintaining a strong, majority middle class. Many analysts and policymakers regard the shift as worrisome for economic and social stability. Middle-income households have been the bedrock of consumer spending, and many liberals in particular view the declining middle as part of a troubling trend of skewed income gains among the nation's richest families. Median-income voters, particularly non-college-educated men, are also at the core of billionaire Donald Trump's surprising surge in the Republican presidential campaign. His supporters' sense that their once-secure middle-class standing is in danger of slipping appears to be fueling much of the anger against the government and immigrant groups. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/121015,News December 10,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 10 Thursday, December 10, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight ShowSen. Bernie Sanders thinks Donald Trump's rhetoric has no place in the United States,The Huffington Post,The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Salon, Vox, MotherJones, MSNBC, KSNV-TVin Las Vegas andWCBD-TVin Charleston reported. ""Throughout history, you've had demagogues trying to divert attention away from the real issues ... what somebody like a Trump is trying to do is divide us up,"" Sanders told Jimmy Fallon on ""The Tonight Show"" on Tuesday. New York Times Editorial BoardOn Monday,The New York Timeseditorial board asked readers to submit their questions for Sen. Sanders. During his visit to the editorial board on Tuesday, he picked one out of a hat, and a subsequent video of his response has been posted. Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Vermont's congressionaldelegation wants more time toallow public input fordismantling nuclear plants. The public comment periodruns until January 4th,but Sens. Sanders andPatrick Leahy, as well asRep. Peter Welch all saythat's not enough, according to WPTZ-TV in Burlington. World Pentagon Seeks Overseas Bases to Fight ISIS As American intelligence agencies grapple with the expansion of the Islamic State beyond its headquarters in Syria, the Pentagon has proposed a new plan to the White House to build up a string of military bases in Africa, Southwest Asia and the Middle East, The New York Times reported. National Gun Sales Fear of gun-buying restrictions has been the main driver of spikes in gun sales, far surpassing the effects of mass shootings and terrorist attacks alone, according to federal background-check data analyzed by The New York Times. Affirmative Action An affirmative action plan at the University of Texas seemed to be in trouble at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. By the end of an unusually long and tense argument, a majority of the justices appeared unpersuaded that the plan was constitutional, The New York Times reported. Chicago Mayor Demands Reforms Facing sharply escalating criticism of him and his Police Department, Mayor Rahm Emanuel used an unusually emotional address on Wednesday to call for sweeping changes in the ways the police use force, treat black residents and discipline abusive officers, The New York Times reported. Vermont Dr. Dynasaur Lobbying groups that support universal health coverage are proposing to expand the Dr. Dynasaur program to Vermonters of all income levels up to age 26, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent,Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sanders introduced the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act to create millions of jobs and drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The Sierra Club strongly supports the Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015, as well as the Clean Energy Investment and Transition Acts, Liz Perera, Sierra Club Climate policy director, said. We greatly appreciate Senator Sanders legislative leadership in tackling the climate crisis the greatest challenge of our time while also advancing new plans for ensuring jobs, justice and support for the communities affected as we transition to clean energy. These important pieces of legislation provide billions toward necessary efforts to ensure environmental and economic justice as we grow the booming clean energy economy even more. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues, with the shared goal of building a cleaner, stronger, healthier and more just economy for all American families and workers. ""As the world watches leaders negotiate a climate deal in Paris it is clear that the United States needs to promote environmental health, workers rights, and justice over the profits of Fossil Fuel Empires. With this new suite of legislation Senator Sanders is recognizing the need to rapidly transition to a new economy. Senator Sanders bills protect workers and communities while helping to build a clean energy economy on the principles of equity and justice."" --Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth. ""We applaud Senator Sanders for introducing legislation that puts a serious price on carbon pollution and sets ambitious targets for reducing the United States contribution to climate change. We are particularly heartened that the bill recognizes the importance of climate justice and seeks to help those communities already overburdened by conventional pollution. These communities are likely to be among the first and worst hit by the impacts of climate change, Marty Hayden, vice president for policy & legislation, Earthjustice. ""UCS applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act. The bill rightfully recognizes that coal miners and their families have built this nation and helped keep the lights on for more than a last centuryand that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that these workers, families, and communities share in the benefits of the emerging clean energy economy. Importantly, the bill recognizes that in addition to protecting workers and families, we must invest in coal communities to create longer term economic development in sustainable industries,"" Dr. Jeremy Richardson,senior energy analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists. The Climate Protection and Justice Act provides relief for communities of color across the United States whose health suffers from dangerous emissions, said Brent Newell, Legal Director of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment. Unlike Cap and Trades false solutions, this Act will aggressively reduce climate pollution, redirect money back to the public, and support those communities most in need. Native Alaskans and Native Americans, along with other communities of color in the United States, suffer the effects of climate change first and worst among all Americans, said Millie Hawley, President of the IRA Council for the Native Village of Kivalina, located in northwest Alaska. We deserve equitable treatment and justice, which means resources to adapt to the rapidly changing climate, to live as a people who are identified by our culture and not as a people who once were, and to continue living as we have traditionally in spite of the changes caused by the excessive use of fossil fuel. ""The Climate Protection and Justice Act (CPJA) is one of the first bills Ive seen that would put us on offense to fight humanitys greatest challenge, climate change. Senator Sanders has once again demonstrated the type of dexterity necessary to address this challenge. CPJA adroitly showcases the intersectional issues of racial, environmental and income inequality by reducing climate emissions. These issues must be addressed together to avert the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. If we want to show the world that were ready to lead, this is the type of proactive climate bill we need. I commend Senator Sanders for leading on this issue and urge Congress to pass CPJA with haste, because time is running out to act on climate,""Anthony Rogers-Wright, policy and organizing director at Environmental Action. Click here to read a one page summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click here to read a section-by-section summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click here to read the full text of the Climate Protection and Justice Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-bill-to-cut-carbon-emissions-80-percent,Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Bill to Cut Carbon Emissions 80 Percent Thursday, December 10, 2015 Expanding on his ambitious plan to combat climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced the Climate Protection and Justice Act today to establish a price on carbon pollution. The legislation would cut total emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, fund historic investments in energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies, return billions of dollars to working families and protect the most vulnerable communities. What the scientists tell us is that we have a relatively short window of opportunity to bring about the fundamental changes that we need in our global energy system to transform our energy system, Sanders said on the Senate floor today. It is absolutely vital that we do what many economists tell us we must and that is put a price on carbon. It is the simplest and most direct way to make the kind of cuts in carbon pollution that we have got to make if we are going to successfully transition away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sanders legislation would return billions of dollars to working families to ensure that the fossil fuels industry doesnt pass on unfair rate hikes. Eighty percent of revenue would be transferred from big polluters to the middle class. The legislation creates a Climate Justice Resiliency Council, which will distribute $20 billion a year in block grants to areas disproportionately affected by climate change. The bill also sets aside $3 billion each year for energy efficiency investments for towns, cities and low-income families. Other aspects of the bill include: protections for the manufacturing sector from unfair international competition; roughly $1 billion in annual investments to reduce costs for the agricultural sector while also reducing pollution; and reforms to dramatically increase energy efficiency and improve resiliency of the electrical grid. Earlier this week, Sandersintroducedthe American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act to create millions of jobs and drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The Sierra Club strongly supports the Climate Protection and Justice Act of 2015, as well as the Clean Energy Investment and Transition Acts, Liz Perera, Sierra Club Climate policy director, said. We greatly appreciate Senator Sanders legislative leadership in tackling the climate crisis the greatest challenge of our time while also advancing new plans for ensuring jobs, justice and support for the communities affected as we transition to clean energy. These important pieces of legislation provide billions toward necessary efforts to ensure environmental and economic justice as we grow the booming clean energy economy even more. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues, with the shared goal of building a cleaner, stronger, healthier and more just economy for all American families and workers. ""As the world watches leaders negotiate a climate deal in Paris it is clear that the United States needs to promote environmental health, workers rights, and justice over the profits of Fossil Fuel Empires. With this new suite of legislation Senator Sanders is recognizing the need to rapidly transition to a new economy. Senator Sanders bills protect workers and communities while helping to build a clean energy economy on the principles of equity and justice."" --Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth. ""We applaud Senator Sanders for introducing legislation that puts a serious price on carbon pollution and sets ambitious targets for reducing the United States contribution to climate change. We are particularly heartened that the bill recognizes the importance of climate justice and seeks to help those communities already overburdened by conventional pollution. These communities are likely to be among the first and worst hit by the impacts of climate change, Marty Hayden, vice president for policy & legislation, Earthjustice. ""UCS applauds the introduction of the Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act. The bill rightfully recognizes that coal miners and their families have built this nation and helped keep the lights on for more than a last centuryand that we have a collective responsibility to ensure that these workers, families, and communities share in the benefits of the emerging clean energy economy. Importantly, the bill recognizes that in addition to protecting workers and families, we must invest in coal communities to create longer term economic development in sustainable industries,"" Dr. Jeremy Richardson,senior energy analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists. The Climate Protection and Justice Act provides relief for communities of color across the United States whose health suffers from dangerous emissions, said Brent Newell, Legal Director of the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment.Unlike Cap and Trades false solutions, this Act will aggressively reduce climate pollution, redirect money back to the public, and support those communities most in need. Native Alaskans and Native Americans, along with other communities of color in the United States, suffer the effects of climate change first and worst among all Americans, said Millie Hawley, President of the IRA Council for the Native Village of Kivalina, located in northwest Alaska. We deserve equitable treatment and justice, which means resources to adapt to the rapidly changing climate, to live as a people who are identified by our culture and not as a people who once were, and to continue living as we have traditionally in spite of the changes caused by the excessive use of fossil fuel. ""The Climate Protection and Justice Act (CPJA) is one of the first bills Ive seen that would put us on offense to fight humanitys greatest challenge, climate change. Senator Sanders has once again demonstrated the type of dexterity necessary to address this challenge. CPJA adroitly showcases the intersectional issues of racial, environmental and income inequality by reducing climate emissions. These issues must be addressed together to avert the worst impacts of climate catastrophe. If we want to show the world that were ready to lead, this is the type of proactive climate bill we need. I commend Senator Sanders for leading on this issue and urge Congress to pass CPJA with haste, because time is running out to act on climate,""Anthony Rogers-Wright, policy and organizing director at Environmental Action. Click hereto read a one page summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click hereto read a section-by-section summary of the Climate Protection and Justice Act. Click hereto read the full text of the Climate Protection and Justice Act.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20160225201139/http://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/king-urges-military-leader-to-cut-off-flow-of-heroin-at-southern-border,King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Your Neighborhood We know the value of people-to-people connections, and my state staff is committed to serving the people of Maine by getting out of the office and into your community. Click here to see where we will be this month.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-military-leader-to-cut-off-flow-of-heroin-at-southern-border,King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Urges Military Leader to Cut Off Flow of Heroin At Southern Border Wednesday, December 9, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. During a confirmation hearing today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged the nominee for Commander of United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees all military operations in Central and South America, to work to reduce the flow of heroin from those countries into the United States. We are, at this moment in time, suffering literally from a heroin epidemic all over the country, including, tragically, in my state of Maine. What is it that you need to interdict more of those ships [carrying heroin]? Senator King asked. Were spending a lot of time here talking about the threat of ISIS and in the meantime weve got this other threat that is killing, in my state, two or three hundred people a year. Assuming that you are approved at SOUTHCOM, youre going to be at the point of this, and to the extent that you can tell us what you need not necessarily in terms of military assets, but comprehensively because this is a true crisis in this country today and supply is part of the problem, Senator King continued. Obviously we need to talk about treatment and prevention and all of those issues, but supply is part of it and my understanding is a great deal of this heroin is coming up through south of our borders. In March 2015, General John Kelly, the current Commander of SOUTHCOM, testified before the Armed Services Committee that one hundred percent of the heroin entering the United States is produced in Latin America, with approximately half of it being produced in Mexico, which is a part of United States Northern Commands area of responsibility. In his testimony today, nominee Vice Admiral Kurt W. Tidd, USN said that demand for heroin has more than doubled since 2007, and that in response, criminal organizations have increased heroin production in Mexico, Colombia, and Guatemala. In fact, according to Vice Admiral Tidd, Mexican transnational criminal organizations that control drug trafficking across the Southwest Border and are moving to expand their share of U.S. illicit drug markets, particularly heroin markets. Senator Kings exchange with Vice Admiral Tidd today represents another part of his comprehensive approach to combating the heroin epidemic in Maine. In addition to addressing the supply of heroin, Senator King has focused on improving addiction prevention and treatment, hosting two roundtables in Maine, cosponsoring legislation would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction, and proposing a national prescription drug mail-back program. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-major-education-reform-bill,Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Passes Major Education Reform Bill Legislation includes King-backed measures to close the Homework Gap and provide greater testing flexibility for states Wednesday, December 9, 2015 WASHINGTON D.C. With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate today overwhelmingly passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, a major bipartisan education reform bill that curtails the burdensome requirements of No Child Left Behind, reduces reliance on high-stakes testing, and ensures access to a quality education for all students. Senator King released the following statement: Today is a victory for students, parents, and educators in Maine and across the country who have struggled for too long with unpredictable, top-down federal education policy that focused more on punishing schools than on promoting student achievement, Senator King said. This bipartisan bill will replace the broken No Child Left Behind law and finally turn the federal government into a partner in education rather than the obstacle it has been by empowering those who know our students best with the ability to make the decisions that will improve their futures. I commend Maines congressional delegation for their terrific work in reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, said Duke Albanese, former Maine Commissioner of Education and Senior Policy Advisor at the Great Schools Partnership. Educators and policymakers across Maine have been waiting for nearly eight years for Congress to act to ensure that the authority to set education policy is returned to the states and to school districts. This legislation will ensure that the needs and goals of Maine students can be adequately met by those closest to them. This is an important day for students, parents, and educators across the country, and I am pleased that Congress has finally completed the important task of reauthorizing this important law. The legislation also includes provisions authored by Senator King that will grant states greater opportunity to pursue innovative testing systems, provide students across the country with increased access to the Internet outside of the classroom, and promote local stakeholder input in setting education policy. By easing testing requirements and supporting the development of innovative, locally-designed assessments, this bill allows our teachers to focus classroom time on the things that truly improve student learning, Senator King continued. And by promoting increased home Internet access for students, this bill takes a step forward in closing the homework gap and ensuring that the next-generation of learners particularly those in rural America arent left behind. Senator King has been a steadfast champion to ensure that the ESEA reauthorization recognizes the importance of learning through technology vital to all of us in every corner of the nation, said James Ritter, Maine State Librarian. The Maine State Library supports all aspects of the education technology grant included in ESEA, and of particular interest is support for education agencies to increase access to high-quality digital learning experiences in rural areas. Students in our most rural areas must be equipped with the technological resources such as broadband access to succeed in school and life. This provision speaks directly to combating the homework gap, and any effort we can do to diminish that gap is an effort we must take. The bipartisan legislation reauthorizes programs and funding for elementary and secondary education while making significant reforms to the long overdue reauthorization that expired in 2007 known as No Child Left Behind. Senator King helped secure the following provisions in the bill: A pilot program that would allow states like Maine greater flexibility to develop and test out proficiency-based assessment systems in lieu of federally-mandated statewide tests. Earlier this year, Senator King successfully advocated for the reauthorization to include a pilot program to grant states greater flexibility related to federal testing requirements and advanced improvements to the pilot through an amendment to the Senates consideration of the bill in July. As Senator King has seen first-hand while touring schools in the state, Maine is a leader in advancing proficiency-based learning and this pilot will provide states like Maine the opportunity to innovate and advance more robust assessment systems in the years to come. A flexible-funding grant that would allow school districts to fund education technology initiatives, including devices, services, and educator professional development. This grant draws upon the Digital Learning Equity Act of 2015, introduced by Senator King and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), to ensure that school districts will be able to use the grant to fund activities, services, and devices that support out-of-school Internet access. A study, also drawn from the Digital Learning Equity Act, that would direct the U.S. Department of Educations Institute of Education Sciences to conduct a national study of the data associated with the barriers to students having Internet access at home, how educators are adjusting classroom instruction to cope with this challenge, and how a lack of home Internet access impacts student participation and engagement. A provision, cosponsored with Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), that would promote greater local control in the classroom by encouraging the Secretary of Education to receive greater input from local stakeholders like school boards before developing any new regulations or guidance. Local control is very important to the people of Maine, and we applaud Sen. King for his success in getting a local governance clause in ESSA. It respects the local school boards authority to make decisions that are in the best interest of their students, staff, parents and taxpayers, said Maine School Boards Association Executive Director Dr. Connie Brown. The conference agreement, which passed the Senate by a vote of 85-12, is the first time in thirteen years that Congress has acted to pass a bipartisan K-12 education bill. The bill now heads to the Presidents desk for his signature to become law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-pfizer-set-the-cost-of-its-new-drug-at-9850-a-month,"How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Pfizer Set the Cost of Its New Drug at $9,850 a Month Process of setting the price for breast-cancer treatment shows arcane art behind rising U.S. drug prices By: Jonathan D. Rockoff Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Days beforePfizerInc.was to set the price for anew breast-cancer drug called Ibrance, it got a surprise: A competitor raised the monthly cost of a rival treatment by nearly a thousand dollars. Three years of market researcha stretch that started almost as soon as the new treatment showed promise in the laboratorywas suddenly in doubt. After carefully calibrating the price to be close to rivals and to keep doctors and insurers happy, Pfizer was left wondering if its list price of $9,850 a month for the pills was too low. What do you think if we take that up? askedAlbert Bourla,Pfizers executive overseeing cancer drugs, speaking to his colleagues at the final price-setting meeting last January. It was a tricky issue. Drug companies have been reaching for new heights of pricing. They routinely raise the cost of older medicines and then peg new ones to these levels. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120915,News December 9,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 9 Wednesday, December 9, 2015 Senator Sanders Tonight Show Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared on the NBCs Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, ABC News, TIME, The Hill, The Daily Beast and Buzzfeed reported. He slammed Donald Trump one day after his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States. Sanders said that Trump's rhetoric would not work in the United States and that he ""look[ed] forward to beating Donald Trump."" Rachel Maddow Sen. Sanders sat down with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC Tuesday night. Sanders gave his take on what is going on in the Republican primary, the fear and racism that has taken hold of part of the country and his trip to Baltimore earlier in the day. VIDEO, VIDEO Climate PlanA pair of bills from Sen. Sanders seeks to create millions of new jobs in clean energy fields through tax changes and worker training,The HillandWPTZ-TVin Burlington reported. Gawkerreported that Sanders' climate plan makes him the only major presidential candidate of either party to call for a carbon tax. World Climate Negotiations Despite a domestic agenda consumed by his response to last weeks terrorist attack in California, President Obama is closely tracking the United Nations climate change negotiations outside Paris, Secretary of State John Kerry said in an interview on Tuesday, The New York Times reported. Beijing Shuts Down Residents across this city awoke to an environmental state of emergency on Tuesday as poisonous air quality prompted the government to close schools, force motorists off the road and shut down factories, The New York Times reported. National Visa Waiver Program The House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would overhaul the visa waiver program and bar those from Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Sudan, or those who have visited those countries in the last five years, from traveling to the United States, CNN reported. San Bernardino Investigators believe San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farouk may have planned an earlier attack in California, CNN reported. One of the officials on the case said that Farouk plotted with one other person for a 2012 attack, and that a specific target was considered. The official said that the two decided not to go along with the earlier attack due to a round of ""terror related"" arrests in the area. Vermont Gun Control Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger called for Vermont legislators to enact city gun control laws voters approved in 2014, The Burlington Free Press reported. Last March, Burlington voters passed three gun-related amendments to the city Charter, however the Vermont Legislature must approve municipal charter changes in order for amendments to take effect.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-trade-adjustment-assistance-for-displaced-expera-mill-workers,"Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Expera Mill Workers",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce Trade Adjustment Assistance for Displaced Expera Mill Workers Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the 195 workers displaced by the closure of the Expera Specialty Solutions pulp mill in Old Town has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. It is our hope that this announcement brings relief to the many hard-working men and women at the Old Town mill who, through no fault of their own, lost their jobs as a result of increased foreign competition, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. TAA assistance will help these workers get back on their feet by providing them with the opportunity to acquire the new skills and new training necessary to prepare for jobs in other industries. It is a crucial lifeline for workers in Maine and across the nation. In October, Senators Collins and King sent a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to quickly approve this assistance. This June, the Senate passed a bipartisan reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which was based upon The Trade Adjustment Assistance Enhancement Act of 2015 that Senator Collins co-authored with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). TAA is a program of the Department of Labor that helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or a shift of production outside of the United States. TAA provides these trade-affected workers with a variety of reemployment services and benefits to help them find new jobs and get back to work. In the 2013 fiscal year alone, more than 700 Mainers used TAA programs, and more than 70 percent of those participants found employment within three months of completing their retraining programs. In addition, of the participants who found employment, more than 90 percent were still employed in their new jobs six months later. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-fischer-introduce-bipartisan-paid-leave-bill,"King, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Paid Leave Bill Strong Families Act Would Provide Tax Incentives to Employers Who Provide Paid Family or Medical Leave Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced this morning they have reintroduced legislation that would offer employers incentives to voluntarily provide paid family or medical leave to their employees. The bill, known as S. 2354 The Strong Families Act, offers new options for working families. Senator King released the following statement: Because of our countrys outdated family leave policies, working parents too often have to struggle to balance the needs of their families and the needs of their job. Thats not how it should be in America today and thats why this legislation aims to provide them with the flexibility they need to succeed in both. By bringing family leave policies into the 21st century, we can make it easier for working Americans to make a living and take care of their families at the same time all of which will only help strengthen our workforce and allow us to better compete in todays global economy. Im pleased to join with Senator Deb Fischer to reintroduce this common sense and much-needed bill. Senator Fischer released the following statement: Im proud to join my friend Senator Angus King to reintroduce a bill to provide needed flexibility for working families. Employees face the increasingly complicated demands of caring for aging parents and young children while balancing careers and workplace schedules. Our bipartisan legislation is an important step forward to offer more workers, particularly low-wage, hourly workers, peace of mind and the opportunity to earn pay while meeting needs at home. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 requires employers of 50 or more employees to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. This time can be used for events like the birth or adoption of children, serious medical issues, or providing care to close family members. The challenge for many working families, particularly hourly workers living paycheck-to-paycheck, is that current law does not address paid time off. The Strong Families Act would enable working families to have continued access to pay while they are meeting necessary family obligations. The King-Fischer plan would create a tax credit to encourage employers of any size to voluntarily offer paid leave for workers. It does not include any new mandates. Details of the proposal, which is paid-for by budgetary off-sets, include the following: To be eligible for the tax credit, the employer must, at a minimum, offer two weeks of paid leave; they may offer more. Paid leave would be available on an hourly basis and would be separate from other vacation or sick leave; part-time employees qualify for paid leave. For each hour of paid leave provided, the employer would receive a 25 percent non-refundable tax credit. The more paid FMLA time the employer offers, the greater the tax credit. This tax credit would be available to any employer with qualified employees, regardless of size. Employers are prohibited from retaliating against employees who participate in the program. Click here to view text of The Strong Families Act. Click here to read the joint King-Fischer CNN op-ed on paid leave from 2014. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-mainegeneral-health-cyber-breach,King Statement on MaineGeneral Health Cyber Breach,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Statement on MaineGeneral Health Cyber Breach Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement today following an announcement by MaineGeneral Health that its computer network had been breached: Numerous Maine businesses, including those in the health care sector, have told me that they are confronting thousands of attempts to hack their systems and steal sensitive data. Unfortunately, thats the sad reality of todays world where the click of a mouse can have seriously damaging consequences, Senator King said. I have contacted the FBI to inquire about the extent and severity of the data breach and will work with the both the Bureau and MaineGeneral to remedy the situation and to safeguard personal information. I will also continue to work to connect Maine businesses with cyber experts in the federal government so that they know where to turn to rapidly respond and prevent further losses. Everyone in Maine, in one form or another, shares personal information with businesses. Its just commonplace today. But its also why Maine people deserve the enhanced protection that would come as a result of Congress passing long-overdue cyber-security information sharing legislation. Todays breach further underscores how we need to push this bill across the finish-line to give Maine businesses, both large and small, improved tools to better protect themselves against cyber-attacks. Over the past few years, Senator Kings office has been in frequent contact with a variety of Maine businesses in the health, defense, financial, education, and consumer products sectors to understand how cyber-attacks and data breaches impact them. According to the Maine Credit Union League, data breaches over the past year in have cost Maine credit unions approximately $2 million to replace debit and credit cards and an additional $500,000 to cover fraud. Furthermore, one Maine healthcare provider explained how it experiences thousands of attempts every day to steal confidential data. Those threats led Senator King on August 18th to co-host a cyber-security briefing with the Department of Homeland Security and Maine State Chamber of Commerce in Portland to inform local businesses about best practices to protect them from cyber-attacks. MaineGeneral has also established a dedicated assistance line for those seeking additional information regarding this incident and steps that can be taken to better protect against identity theft. The call center can be reached at 1-877-441-2645, Monday-Saturday between the hours of 9 a.m.9 p.m. ET. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-12-2015-as-wreaths-across-america-day,"Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 12, 2015 as “Wreaths Across America Day”",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day Tuesday, December 8, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 12, 2015 as Wreaths Across America Day. On December 12th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay approximately 230,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of each American veteran interred there. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. The procession to Arlington began on December 6th in Harrington where Patriot Guard Riders continued their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks down the East Coast. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and in numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us that reminds them and their families that we are eternally grateful for their service and sacrifice, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. And this proud tradition, still going strong after the Worcesters started it 24 years ago, is built on the same spirit of generosity that helps make the holiday season so special. We are honored to join with the countless volunteers and supporters who come together to make Wreaths Across America possible and share in honoring and remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The resolution is available HERE and the full text is below: +++ Whereas, 24 years before the date of adoption of this resolution, the Wreaths Across America project began with an annual tradition that occurs in December, of donating, transporting, and placing 5,000 Maine balsam fir remembrance wreaths on the graves of the fallen heroes buried at Arlington National Cemetery; Whereas, in the 24 years preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, more than 2,416,000 wreaths have been sent to locations, including national cemeteries and veterans memorials, in every State and overseas; Whereas the mission of the Wreaths Across America project, to Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in all 50 States and overseas, including at (1) Arlington National Cemetery; (2) veterans cemeteries; and (3) other locations; Whereas the Wreaths Across America project carries out a week-long veterans parade between Maine and Virginia, stopping along the way to spread a message about the importance of (1) remembering the fallen heroes of the United States; (2) honoring those who serve; and (3) reminding the people of the United States about the sacrifices made by veterans and their families to preserve freedoms in the United States; Whereas, in 2014, approximately 716,000 remembrance wreaths were sent to more than 1,000 locations across the United States and overseas, an increase of more than 100 locations compared to the previous year; Whereas, in December 2015, the tradition of escorting tractor- trailers filled with donated wreaths from Harrington, Maine, to Arlington National Cemetery will be continued by (1) the Patriot Guard Riders; and (2) other patriotic escort units, including (A) motorcycle units; (B) law enforcement units; and (C) first responder units; Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals volunteer each December to help lay remembrance wreaths; Whereas the trucking industry in the United States continues to support the Wreaths Across America project by providing drivers, equipment, and related services to assist in the transportation of wreaths across the United States to over 1,000 locations; Whereas the Senate designated December 13, 2014, as Wreaths Across America Day; and Whereas, on December 12, 2015, the Wreaths Across America project will continue the proud legacy of bringing remembrance wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate (1) designates December 12, 2015, as Wreaths Across America Day; (2) honors (A) the Wreaths Across America project; (B) patriotic escort units, including (i) motorcycle units; (ii) law enforcement units; and (iii) first responder units; (C) the trucking industry in the United States; and (D) the volunteers and donors involved in this worthy tradition; and (3) recognizes (A) the service of veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and (B) the sacrifices that veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and their families have made, and continue to make, for the United States, a great Nation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package,Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 8 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate a strong sustainable economy by spurring massive new investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the permanent extension of important clean energy tax credits, Sanders legislation would cut carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs, reduce Americans dependence on oil and save consumers and businesses money by promoting energy efficiency. Currently the United States wastes huge amounts of money providing corporatewelfare to coal, oil and gas corporations that are destroying our planet. It is time for us to invest in technologies that are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and in the long run will be more cost-effective, Sanders said. Climate change is no longer a distant theoretical contained in far-off computer models and scientific papersits here, its real and its affecting all of us, said Merkley. Carbon pollution is an urgent problem demanding bold solutions. We have the technology and the know-how to transition rapidly to a clean, renewable energy economy. At the same time as this transition creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, we must make sure that we have the programs in place to make sure that no workers are left behind. Investing in American clean energy puts power in our homes and will make America an energy and manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.The support we give to clean energy now through this legislation will protect our planet for generations to come, building American jobs as we continually develop the fuels that will power the future.We can spur a generation of American-built energy innovation, and help stave off the worse effects of climate change, said Markey. The Solar Energy Industries Association and American Wind Energy Association have endorsed the Clean Energy Investment Act. 350.org supports both bills. ""Senator Sanders legislation would provide a steady, supportive federal energy policy that keeps in place the highly successful solar investment tax credit (ITC) and we welcome his support, said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of Federal Affairs Christopher Mansour. The solar ITC has helped solar become one of Americas fastest-growing energy sources with more than 20 gigawatts of total installed capacity already built enough to power nearly 4.5 million homes. Solar installations are forecast to continue to rise, adding 8 gigawatts this year. ""The American Wind Energy Association deeply appreciates Senator Sanders leadership in seeking long-term policy support to enable the growth of our nations wind energy sector. This legislation is the latest example of his attention to wind energy and his leadership in promoting policies that will generate affordable, reliable, and clean energy, and provide a future for wind energy workers and American factories. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues with the shared goal of delivering the benefits of wind energy to even more American families. For a summary of the American Clean Energy Investment Act click here. For a section by section summary of the Clean Energy Investment Act click here. For a summary of The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act click here. For the text of the Clean Energy Investment Act click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-introduces-major-clean-energy-jobs-package,Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Introduces Major Clean Energy Jobs Package Plan Would More Than Double the Clean Energy Workforce Tuesday, December 8, 2015 As part of his plan to create a sustainable, clean-energy economy, Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation today that would significantly reduce carbon pollution and help put us on a path to more than double the size of the American clean energy workforce to 10 million by 2030. Together, the incentives in the American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 and The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Actwould drive over $500 billion in clean energy investments between now and 2030. The bills, both co-sponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), would create new sustainable energy jobs and allocate $41 billion to helping oil, gas and coal workers as they transition out of the fossil fuel industry. The costs for these proposals are completely offset by repealing all subsidies for fossil fuels and ending the tax breaks that encourage corporate inversions. We have amoral responsibility to help working families in the fossil fuel industry find new jobs, Sanders said. We must act now to reenergize our manufacturing base, bolster our clean energy economy and protect the livelihoods of these workers and the communities they support. Coal communities have been under pressure for decades as coal-mining jobs have been lost due to more efficient mining practices, competition from cheaper natural gas and the publics desire to move to cleaner sources of energy. The Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act would helpcoal miners and other fossil fuel workers and their families by connectingdisplaced workerswith new job opportunitiesthrough vocational education and job skills programs. The bills would also provide support so transitioning workers and their families could maintain family-level wages, health care and pensions until they are able to start new jobs. The American Clean Energy Investment Act of 2015 would stimulate a strong sustainable economy by spurring massive new investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Through the permanent extension of important clean energy tax credits, Sanders legislation would cut carbon pollution, create clean energy jobs, reduce Americans dependence on oil and save consumers and businesses money by promoting energy efficiency. Currently the United States wastes huge amounts of money providing corporatewelfare to coal, oil and gas corporations that are destroying our planet. It is time for us to invest in technologies that are cutting greenhouse gas emissions and in the long run will be more cost-effective, Sanders said. Climate change is no longer a distant theoretical contained in far-off computer models and scientific papersits here, its real and its affecting all of us, said Merkley. Carbon pollution is an urgent problem demanding bold solutions. We have the technology and the know-how to transition rapidly to a clean, renewable energy economy. At the same time as this transition creates hundreds of thousands of new jobs, we must make sure that we have the programs in place to make sure that no workers are left behind. Investing in American clean energy puts power in our homes and will make America an energy and manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.The support we give to clean energy now through this legislation will protect our planet for generations to come, building American jobs as we continually develop the fuels that will power the future.We can spur a generation of American-built energy innovation, and help stave off the worse effects of climate change, said Markey. The Solar Energy Industries Association and American Wind Energy Association have endorsed the Clean Energy Investment Act. 350.org supports both bills. ""Senator Sanders legislation would provide a steady, supportive federal energy policy that keeps in place the highly successful solar investment tax credit (ITC) and we welcome his support, said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of Federal Affairs Christopher Mansour. The solar ITC has helped solar become one of Americas fastest-growing energy sources withmore than 20 gigawatts of total installed capacity already built enough to power nearly 4.5 million homes. Solar installations are forecast to continue to rise, adding 8 gigawatts this year. ""The American Wind Energy Associationdeeply appreciates Senator Sanders leadership in seeking long-term policy support to enable the growth of our nations wind energy sector. This legislation is the latest example of his attention to wind energy andhis leadership in promoting policies that will generate affordable, reliable, and clean energy, and provide a future for wind energy workers and American factories.We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Sanders and his colleagues with the shared goal of delivering the benefits of wind energy to even more American families. For a summary of the American Clean Energy Investment Actclick here. For a section by section summary of the Clean Energy Investment Actclick here. For a summary of The Clean Energy Just Transition Actclick here. For the text of the Clean Energy Investment Actclick here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-two-portland-high-school-students-as-interns-in-scarborough-office,King Announces Two Portland High School Students as Interns in Scarborough Office,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Announces Two Portland High School Students as Interns in Scarborough Office Monday, December 7, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King announced today that Oona Mackinnon Hoban and Eamonn Dundon of Portland High School will serve as part-time interns in his Scarborough office. The internship, which will provide both students with school credit, is the result of a collaborative effort with the nonprofit Jobs for Maines Graduates (JMG) and Portland High School aimed at giving local students an opportunity to learn more about the work of a U.S. Senators office through observation, assistance, and mentoring. Im delighted to welcome Oona and Eamonn to my Scarborough office. Both of them are outstanding students and hard workers, and I look forward to having them involved in the legislative process on behalf of the people of Maine, Senator King said. I also want to thank everyone at Jobs for Maines Graduates for working with my office to make this internship possible and applaud them for all of their meaningful work to help students across the state. We are extremely pleased with the continued development of the relationship being forged between Portland High School and Senator Kings office, said Eric Moynihan, JMG Expanded Learning Opportunities Coordinator at Portland High School. This tremendous opportunity is the second internship offered to PHS students by the Senators office in three years. Expanded Learning Opportunities like these internships provide relevant, real-world experiences, are invaluable to the student and are an integral piece of the Portland High School model of education. A junior at Portland High School, Oona Mackinnon-Hoban is involved in student government, the drama program, and numerous other clubs, including the Womens Rights Club and the Shakespeare Club. Outside of school, she is a member of the girl choir Musica de Filia, and also enjoys writing in her spare time. She was a national semifinalist at the American Legion Oratorical Contest, and has served in the U.S. Senate as a page sponsored by Senator Susan Collins. She hopes to attend a larger university in New York, Washington D.C. or Montreal, and wishes to pursue a degree in political science and journalism. She lives with her parents in Portland, Maine. A senior at Portland High School, Eamonn Dundon is a longtime volunteer on a myriad of local, state and national political campaigns, most recently serving as the Deputy Campaign Manager on a city council campaign in Portland. Eamonn served as a U.S. Senate Page in the fall of 2014 sponsored by Senator Susan Collins. He also serves as a judge and board member on the Maine Youth Court, is a member of Portland High School's Key Club, is a participant in Model United Nations, and is a member of the Boy Singers of Maine. In his free time, he enjoys skiing and playing tennis. Eamonn is then son of Sean Dundon and Victoria Dalzell, both of Portland. Jobs for Maines Graduates (JMG) is a statewide nonprofit that works within Maines public schools to help students reach their fullest potential. JMG serves more than 5,500 students from grades 6-12 in 79 programs across the state. Students in the traditional JMG classroom are full of potential, but face barriers to education, and it is JMGs goal to provide these students with the skills and resources they need to overcome those challenges and to graduate from high school prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and the workforce. The internships awarded by Senator Kings office reflect the success of the expansion of the JMG model to a larger population of students, and the commitment of Portland High School (PHS) staff and administration in providing important Expanded Learning Opportunities to all PHS students. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-attend-wreaths-across-america-ceremony-at-us-capitol,Senators Collins and King Attend Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins and King Attend Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol Monday, December 7, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King took part in the Wreaths Across America Capitol wreath laying ceremony this morning in Washington. Beginning in 2007, and each December since, Wreaths Across America, based out of Columbia Falls, Maine, has placed a Remembrance Wreath at the U.S. Capitol Building. The wreath laid at the U.S. Capitol is adorned with flags representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and POWs/MIAs, and decorated with a red bow. During the ceremony, which coincided with similar ceremonies at all 50 state capitols across our country, Senators Collins and King delivered remarks and joined in a moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and to honor and remember our nations veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices. Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans both those that weve lost and those still with us, said Senators Collins and King. The mission of Wreaths Across America is: Remember. Honor. Teach. Thanks to the spirit of this Maine-made tradition, we will remember and honor Americas veterans this holiday season, while also teaching generations to come of the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms and to defend our liberty. A convoy of volunteers and approximately 248,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths departed from Maine this past Sunday, December 6th, and is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 12th. Between 30,000 and 40,000 volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen Worcester, owners of Worcester Wreath Company in Harrington, Maine will make this generous donation. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place more than 900,000 wreaths at over 1,000 locations in all 50 states and numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-key-provisions-for-vermont-schools-in-education-law-overhaul,Sanders Announces Key Provisions for Vermont Schools in Education Law Overhaul,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that new legislation, agreed to by House and Senate negotiators, will give Vermont and other states much more control over how public schools are held accountable for student performance. Sanders, a member of the Senate education committee, helped draft the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to replace the much-maligned No Child Left Behind education law, whichinaccurately stigmatized Vermont schools for supposedly low performance. I think it is wrong to judge schools solely on the basis of narrow tests. We have to work on what kind of criteria we really need, Sanders said. What we in Vermont understand is a kid is more than a test. We want kids to be creative. We want kids to be critical thinkers. We also want schools held accountable for factors other than test scores, including how they meet the challenges of students from low-income families. The new measure would include a pilot program that could help Vermont shift from annual standardized tests to a new system for assessing student performance. Under the legislation, factors that were Vermonts priorities such as a childs learning growth from year to year, student and teacher engagement, access to advanced coursework and school climate and safety will become criteria in assessing school performance. The legislation recognizes the huge opportunity barriers that poverty places on low-income children by authorizing an extra $1.2 billion nationwide to fund the neediest schools, including $41 million over the next four years for struggling Vermont schools. Vermont would also benefit from a new formula for rural school funding that could steer an extra $1.3 million a year in federal funds to the state and the reauthorization of funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which provides over 5,500 children afterschool programing in Vermont every day.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address,Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address,2015-12-06,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-statement-on-obama-oval-office-address,Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address,2015-12-06,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Obama Oval Office Address Sunday, December 6, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders on Sunday issued the following statement after President Barack Obama delivered an address from the Oval Office: President Obama is right. ISIS will be destroyed with an international coalition in which Muslim troops on the ground are supported by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and other leading powers. We must learn the lesson of Iraq.American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. Further, as we destroy ISIS, it is essential that we do not allow fear and division to undermine the constitutional rights that make us a free people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120515,News December 5,2015-12-05,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 5 Saturday, December 5, 2015 Senator Sanders Climate ChangeSen. Sanders hed push negotiators meeting at a climate summit in Paris to embrace aggressive moves to reduce carbon emissions,Radio Iowareported. We have a real crisis, Sanders told O. Kay Henderson. Criminal JusticeSen. Sanders has made a pledge to abolish private prisons in the federal system a centerpiece of his criminal justice reform platform, expounding on it in speeches, tweets and a bill that he introduced in the Senate,SalonandThe New York Observerreported. The bill would reestablish federal parole, the abolition of which three decades ago was a key ingredient in fueling the explosive growth of the American prison system. Sanders has explained the negative consequences of for-profit prisons in the criminal justice system, which have replaced health reforms as a means to fix problems like drug addiction and poverty. Pharmaceutical IndustryReutersreported that the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed Mylan N.V. for information relating to the marketing, pricing and sale of its generic doxycycline antibiotic products, the drug-maker said on Friday. Sen. Sanders and Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings opened an investigation last fall into 14 drug companies, including Mylan and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, over price increases of generic drugs. In February, Sanders and Cummings asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' enforcement arm to investigate generic drug price increases. Sunday Shows Sen. Sanders will be on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday along with Donald Trump and Chris Christie, The Associated Press reported. World ISIS Financing The United States and Russia are negotiating a new resolution at the United Nations Security Council intended to strengthen international efforts to cut off revenues that the Islamic State raises to govern territory and spread its ideology, The New York Times reported. National San Bernardino Shooters In an online radio broadcast by the Islamic State on Saturday, the group said that two supporters had carried out the attacks in San Bernardino, but stopped short of referring to the couple as members. The group praised the attacks but didnt claim responsibility for it, The Washington Post reported. Gun Safety President Obama edged closer Saturday to declaring the shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that killed 14 people a terrorist attack, but stuck to his prescription that the answer to preventing such tragedies was gun limits, The New York Times reported. Vermont Champlain Parkway Rain trickled through cracked asphalt onthe Champlain ParkwaynearU.S. 7 in BurlingtonWednesday afternoon. Built in the1980s and abandoned shortly thereafter, the divided highwayhas done littlemore than provide overflow parkingfor the nearby Howard Center. A completed parkway, if wary South End residents set aside their skepticism, is on the horizon. City leaders this week promised to resume construction on the 50-year-old project by 2018, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/americas-100-richest-people-control-more-wealth-than-the-entire-black-population,America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"America's 100 Richest People Control More Wealth Than the Entire Black Population By: Josh Harkinson Friday, December 4, 2015 It's well known that America's wealthiest have been getting richerat the expense of the middle class. But the trend looks even starker when you look at the racial aspects. According to a new report from theInstitute for Policy Studies, the combined wealth of those on the Forbes 400 list of America's richest dwarfs that of the nation's entire black or Latino populations. The report found that the 100 richest US citizens control about as much wealth as all of the nation's 42 million African Americans. The total wealth of the nation's 55 million Latinos stacks up to that of the 186 richest Americans. This can be explained in part by the rapid erosion of the black and Latino middle classes. African Americans' net worth relative to whites has fallen by more than half since 2000: The average white family today has net assets of $141,900, compared with just $11,000 for black familiesabout the same paltry sum as back in 1985. Latinos have seen similar declines in net worth relative to whites. There are many reasons for this slide: Black and Latino families were disproportionately exposed to risky subprime mortgages, had smaller amounts of inherited wealth, and were more susceptible to job and wage cuts during the Great Recession. And because these families are less likely than white families to own homes and stocks, they haven't benefited as much from the subsequent recovery. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-congressional-democrats-file-amicus-brief-supporting-obamas-immigration-executive-actions,"Sanders, Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Supporting Obamas Immigration Executive Actions",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 Sen. Bernie Sanders, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and 215 members of Congress last night filed an amicus brief in support of the Department of Justices petition for Supreme Court review of the presidents immigration executive actions. President Obama did exactly the right thing when he took action to protect DREAMers and the parents of children who are citizens or legal permanent residents. I am confident that the Supreme Court will support the presidents authority to defend aspiring Americans, Sanders said. We must work to unite families, not tear them apart. The members argue in the brief that Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) are consistent with congressional intent and the Executives longstanding legal authority to establish national immigration enforcement priorities and exercise discretion in the enforcement of our immigration laws. As stated in the brief: Congress has granted the Secretary [of Homeland Security] broad discretion in determining how to carry out the immigration laws, and has explicitly directed the Secretary to establish policies and priorities for enforcement of those laws. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling would effectively strip the Executive of broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nations immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action, and would devastate millions of individuals, families, and communities across the nation. Full text of the amicus brief can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cotton-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-counterterrorism-tools-in-wake-of-paris-san-bernardino-attacks,"King, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Counterterrorism Tools in Wake of Paris, San Bernardino Attacks",2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Cotton Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Counterterrorism Tools in Wake of Paris, San Bernardino Attacks Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. In the wake of the brutal terrorist attacks in Paris last month, as well as initial reports that this weeks attack in San Bernardino may be tied to terrorism, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today introduced legislation that would ensure that U.S. counterterrorism officials have the necessary tools to track suspected terrorists and prevent terrorist attacks in the United States. The first line of defense against terrorism is intelligence, and today, our government is reliant on telecommunication companies to retain records that we use to connect the dots that can help us prevent attacks, Senator King said. Our legislation would simply require that U.S. officials are provided with adequate warning if a company decides it no longer will hold these vital records, allowing time to ensure that we dont lose a potentially valuable tool in the battle against terrorism. Our Intelligence Community and Law Enforcement professionals are skilled at connecting the dots to thwart and respond to terrorist attacks. But if there are no dots to connect, those skills wont do us any good, Senator Cotton said. The King-Cotton legislation will help preserve metadata currently stored by phone carriers by forcing them to notify the federal government if they change the amount of time they retain billing records to less than 18 months. This will give Congress and the Executive Branch an opportunity to respond before those dots are lost forever. Signed into law on June 2, 2015, the USA Freedom Act requires the government to apply to the FISA Court for an order to retrieve call detail records, which include telephone numbers and not the content of calls from telecommunications carriers. As of that date, the Act gave the government 180 days to end its bulk collection of call detail records, which expired on November 29, 2015. However, Senators King and Cotton are concerned that the new law does not require the carriers to provide adequate notice if they decide to no longer retain these call records, potentially putting the entire viability of the new program at risk. Thus, the legislation introduced by Senators King and Cotton today, entitled the Private Sector Call Record Retention Act, would require such companies to notify the Attorney General if they decide to retain the call records for less than 18 months, which is the minimum amount of time that U.S. officials have indicated is needed to conduct most international terrorism investigations. The bill requires companies to provide notice 180 days in advance of such changes. Doing so will give national security officials and Congress time to address any changes that could prevent the government from quickly connecting the dots and tracking terrorist operatives. In June 2015, Senator King spoke on the floor of the Senate regarding the USA Freedom Act. His remarks can be seen HERE. In May, Senator Cotton also spoke on the Senate floor. His remarks can be seen HERE. The text of the legislation can be viewed HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-opposes-effort-to-repeal-affordable-care-act,King Opposes Effort to Repeal Affordable Care Act,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Opposes Effort to Repeal Affordable Care Act Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted against legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act and deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood facilities across the country: The Affordable Care Act has provided thousands of people in Maine and millions more across the country with affordable, high-quality health insurance, Senator King said. Rather than try to take that away, Congress should focus on how we can improve and strengthen the law so that we can extend health insurance to even more people in this country who need it. Thats how we best serve the people who sent us here and, frankly, they deserve nothing less. Today, the Senate voted and, regrettably, passed legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The President has said he will veto the bill. Todays vote represents the 16th time that the Senate has voted to repeal all or part of the ACA. The House of Representatives has voted more than 50 times to do the same. The Affordable Care Act provides more than 70,000 people in Maine with health insurance. In addition to lowering health care costs, the landmark health care law, which has been upheld by the Supreme Court multiple times, prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to people due to pre-existing conditions, eliminates lifetime caps on insurance, and allows children to remain on their parents insurance until the age of 26. The law has also contributed millions of dollars in funding to community health centers across the state of Maine, which serve the health care needs of hundreds of thousands of people. The legislation would also eliminate all federal funding to Planned Parenthood facilities across the country, including the four that operate in Maine, which provide important family planning, cancer screenings, and basic preventive health care services. Senator King voted in favor of an amendment offered by Senator Susan Collins that would have preserved the funding for Planned Parenthood. However, that amendment failed. To strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding is to deny millions of women and men basic health care services, many of whom are low-income and rely on the organization as their sole health care provider, Senator King said. Congresss unfounded yet relentless assault on Planned Parenthood is simply another example of misguided outrage that would only hurt those who need help the most. Planned Parenthood operates four health care clinics in Maine. In fact, 97 percent of Planned Parenthoods services have nothing to do with abortion and currently federal law already prohibits federal funds dedicated to the organization from being used in support of abortion-related activities. This is the third time this year that Senator King has opposed defunding Planned Parenthood, and in August, he delivered remarks on the Senate floor in defense of the organization. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/transportation-bill-with-king-backed-measures-passes-senate,Transportation Bill with King-Backed Measures Passes Senate,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Transportation Bill with King-Backed Measures Passes Senate Bill also renews Export-Import Bank, streamlines federal permitting process, and delivers regulatory relief to small banks Thursday, December 3, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate tonight overwhelmingly approved a long-term transportation bill that authorizes $305 billion in funding over the next five years for vital transportation infrastructure projects across the country. The bill will result in increased highway and transit funding for Maine and also includes several provisions either authored or strongly supported by Senator King. Our countrys aging transportation infrastructure has been crumbling under our feet as Congress passed one short-term fix after the other. With this bill, Congress has crafted a long-term solution that provides stable and predictablefunding to improve our transportation network, bolster commerce, and put people to work doing it, Senator King said. The bill is by no means perfect, but at the end of the day, its a step forward for the American people and our country. The legislation passed this evening, titled the FAST Act, would provide an increased and stable source of funding for highway, transit, and other infrastructure projects, and is the product of extensive bipartisan negotiations between leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives. If signed into law, the legislation will provide Maine with a five percent increase in highway funding and an eight percent increase in transit funding in the first year of the bill and result in a 15 percent increase in highway funding and an 18 percent increase in transit by the last year. For more information on how the bill will impact infrastructure projects in Maine, clickHERE. Senator King has repeatedly called for a long-term highway solution and has been critical of Congress for passing 36 short-term highway extensions over the past several years, which has only created uncertainty for state governments and threatened the safety of the traveling public. The legislation also includes provisions that would boost jobs by streamlining the permitting process for major infrastructure projects and boost jobs as well as several other measures supported by Senator King that would deliver regulatory relief to small banks. Importantly, the bill also reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank of the United States, which Senator King has repeatedly called for because the Bank serves as a critical source of export financing for Maine companies looking to sell their products overseas. A drawn-out and cumbersome permitting process has delayed critical infrastructure projects, slowed economic growth, and is costing us jobs around the country, said Senator King. We need to be in the business of helping to create new jobs, not stifle them, which is why its important that this bill streamlines the process to clear unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and keep projects moving forward that will create jobs and build out a world-class infrastructure without compromising environmental standards. I am pleased this legislation also finally reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank, ending months of uncertainty for Maine businesses who didnt know if they would still be able to turn to the bank for much-needed assistance as they work to sell their products overseas, added Senator King. Additionally, with a number of provisions that relieve the small banks and credit unions that help power our local economies of unnecessary regulatory burdens, the bill will support small financial institutions and their customers alike. More specifically, the legislation contains provisions ofthe Federal Permitting Improvement Act introduced by Senator King, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) earlier this year, which would streamline and improve the federal permitting process for the largest and most complex capital projects. Businesses looking to undertake large infrastructure projects are currently subject to a massive bureaucratic process involving up to a dozen agencies and approvals, and even after approval, litigation can stall projects for years. These provisions improve the timeliness and predictability of the review process without compromising environmental standards or sacrificing critical regulatory protections. The legislation includes language that would reauthorize for four years the Export-Import Bank, a critical tool that since 2007 has supported more than $264 million in exports from 13 companies in 12 communities in Maine. Senator King hasrepeatedly calledfor the Ex-Im Banks reauthorization and, in July, he supported an amendment to the highway funding bill that would have done so. The amendment passed by an overwhelming margin, but the House of Representatives failed to take up the legislation at the time. The FAST Act also includes more than a dozen financial regulatory relief measures, including several of which are supported by Senator King and which will benefit Maines community banks and credit unions. Provisions supported by Senator King include language that would allow highly-rated small financial institutions to qualify for longer on-site examination cycles so that well-run, lower-risk banks spend less time with banking regulators and more time with their customers; as well as language that reduces the costly burden of unnecessary annual privacy notices to customers so long as privacy policies at financial institutions have not changed. The House of Representatives passed the FAST Act earlier today, and the President is expected to sign it into law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/-wonkblog-there-have-been-334-days-and-351-mass-shootings-so-far-this-year,The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"The San Bernardino shooting is the second mass shooting today and the 355th this year By: Christopher Ingraham Thursday, December 3, 2015 Authorities in San Bernardino, Calif.,saying 14 people were killed and 14 others were injured in a mass shooting on Wednesday at a center for people with developmental disabilities.This is at leastthe third mass shooting since therampage in Colorado Springs last Friday. Here's a look at the year's mass shootings, including today's. The San Bernardino shooting isthe 355th mass shooting this year, according toa mass shooting trackermaintained by the Guns Are Cool subreddit.The Reddit trackerdefines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people, including the gunman, are killed or injured by gunfire. The Mass Shooting Tracker is different from other shooting databases in that it uses a broader definition of mass shooting the old FBI definition focused on four or more people killed as part of a single shooting. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120315,News December 3,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 3 Thursday, December 3, 2015 Senator Sanders San Bernardino ShootingSen. Bernie Sanders quickly responded to the shootings in San Bernardino, California,The New York Times,CBS NBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Reuters and Business Insider reported. Sen. Bernie Sanders noted that ""mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence"" in the United States: ""Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop."" Republican BudgetSen. Sanders took to the floor to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget,VTDigger,.Mic and MSNBCreported. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. Sanders argued that rather than seeking to defund Planned Parenthood, lawmakers should boost support for it. Climate ConferenceScience-denying Republicansintent on derailing local, national and global attempts to avert a looming climate crisishave their priorities all wrong, Sen. Sanders said on Tuesday. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, Sanders said in a statement urging the U.S. to take the lead in stopping global warming,EcoWatch reported. Transportation Bill Sen. Sanders announced that a $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached will provide nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to help improve the state's roadways. According to the senator's office, he legislation would allow Vermont to become more competitive for federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects, FOX44 in Burlington reported. Social Security Sens. Patrick Leahy and Sanders have joined Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 17 other Democrats in seeking a cost-of-living increase for seniors on Social Security. The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act seeks to provide a boost to about 70 million seniors, veterans and people with disabilities with a bonus payment of just under $600, The Times Argus reported. Most Fascinating PeopleBarbara Walters has announced who will appear on her annual ""Most Fascinating People"" special,ABCreported. ""Barbara Walters Presents: 10 Most Fascinating People 2015"" will feature actors Bradley Cooper, Amy Schumer and Tracy Morgan, American Ballet Theater principal dancer Misty Copeland, Sen. Sanders, UFC champion Rhonda Rousey and fashion designer Donna Karan. World ISIS For years, the Joint Special Operations Command, known throughout the Pentagon as JSOC, has provided standing forces of American commandos to track down terrorist leaders overseas. Now, in announcing that it is deploying a small team of special operators to Iraq to carry out raids against high-value Islamic State leaders in Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon is turning to its elite team of manhunters once again, The New York Times reported. Climate Talks Negotiators walked into the climate change summit meeting with a 50-page draft accord that is full of options too many options. In the months leading up to these talks, whenever they have had big disagreements on tough issues like how, exactly, rich countries would send money to poor countries to help adapt to the ravages of climate change, or how to maintain accountability negotiators have kept their options open, The New York Times reported. National San Bernardino At least two gun-wielding assailants opened fire on a holiday party for county employees Wednesday, killing 14people in the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre three years ago this month. Hours after the shooting, law enforcement officials said two suspects Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, andTashfeen Malik, 27 had been killed in a police shootout several miles from the site of the original attack, The Washington Post reported. A Daily Occurrence More than one a day. That is how often, on average, shootings that left four or more people wounded or dead occurred in the United States this year, according to compilations of episodes derived from news reports, The New York Times reported. No Child Left Behind The House on Wednesday approved a sweeping bill to revise the contentious No Child Left Behind law, representing the end of an era in which the federal government aggressively policed public school performance, and returning control to states and local districts, The New York Times reported. Vermont Racist Response Racism was on full display as students gathered at a rally Wednesday outside Bellows Free Academy high school to demonstrate against racial prejudice in Vermonts schools. A young man drove past the rally with a Confederate flag mounted to the bed of his pickup truck; others drove past giving demonstrators the middle finger. A group of white students who gathered around another pickup truck pantomimed shooting guns at demonstrators, VT Digger reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-common-sense-gun-safety-legislation,Sanders Calls for Common-Sense Gun Safety Legislation,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 Following the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, yesterday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined with his Democratic colleagues in the Senate to call for sensible gun safety legislation. A full copy of his remarks is below. Here is the very sad truth and that is that it is very difficult for the American people to keep up with the mass shootings that we seem to see almost every day. Yesterday, San Bernardino, a few days ago, Colorado Springs, before that Roseburg, Oregon, before that Chattanooga, Tennessee, and on and on it goes. The San Bernardino shooting was the 355th mass shooting this year. Gun violence has reached epidemic levels in the United States. Over the past decade, 275,000 Americans have been killed by guns. Let me paraphrase what President Obama said recently. And what he said is, this is not an easy problem to solve. But just because it is not an easy problem to solve does not mean that we should not do everything that we can. Now the bad news is that this nation is divided over gun legislation. Thats a simple fact. Thats a political reality. But the good news is there is a broad consensus, perhaps 60, 70 percent of the American people who agree on common sense gun safety legislation. And here is what that consensus is about, supported by a strong majority of the American people. We need to significantly expand and improve background checks. Who is arguing that people who should not have guns because of a criminal background, because of mental problems should not be able to purchase guns? Very few Americans disagree with that. We need to renew the assault weapons ban. We need to end the sale of high capacity magazines. We need to make gun trafficking a federal crime and give law enforcement the tools they need to get illegal guns off the streets. We need to close the gun show loophole, as well as loopholes that allow gun purchasers to buy a gun after the waiting period expires without a completed background check. We need to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers and stalkers to obtain guns. We need to strengthen penalties for straw purchasers who buy guns from licensed dealers on behalf of someone prohibited from purchasing a gun. And very significantly, we need to greatly expand and improve our mental health capabilities. The sad reality is that in America today there are many thousands of people who are walking our streets who are suicidal or homicidal. And these people need treatment when they need treatment, regardless of their income, regardless of their insurance status. When they are in crisis they should be able to get treatment today, not two months from now. These are just some of the ideas that in fact are supported by the vast majority of the American people, and its time the Congress move forward in response.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-application-period-for-assistance-to-firefighters-grants,"Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grants",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grants Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Angus King, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Monday, December 7th at 8:00 a.m. The application period will close on January 15, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. The AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations in meeting their firefighting and emergency response needs. The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect the public and emergency personnel. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to protect the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to utilize this program for help obtaining the vital resources they need to do their jobs. Grant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants is available at www.grants.gov and at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/afggrants/index.shtm. Applicants that require assistance should go to www.fema.gov/grants, or contact the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-applaud-196-million-for-maine-water-infrastructure-projects,"Collins, King Applaud $19.6 Million for Maine Water Infrastructure Projects",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Applaud $19.6 Million for Maine Water Infrastructure Projects Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the State of Maine will receive $19.6 million to support water infrastructure projects. The funds will be used to upgrade sewage plants and drinking water systems, replace aging infrastructure, and bolster water projects essential to environmental protection and public health safety across the state. Maintaining strong water infrastructure is critical to ensuring the health of Maine people, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. We welcome this funding from the EPA, which will help upgrade water treatment systems that will result in improved water quality and public health. The $19.6 million is distributed as follows: The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program, administrated by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Maine Municipal Bond Bank (MMBB), received $10.8 million. EPAs funding provides low-interest loans for water quality protection projects to make improvements to wastewater treatment systems, control pollution from stormwater runoff, and protect sensitive water bodies and estuaries. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, administrated by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and MMBB, received $8.8 million. EPAs funding provides low-interest loans to finance improvements to drinking water systems, with a particular focus on providing funds to small and disadvantaged communities and to programs that encourage pollution prevention as a tool for ensuring safe drinking water. According to the EPA, since the beginning of this program, approximately $497 million has been awarded to Maine for the construction, expansion and upgrading of clean water infrastructure resulting in decreased pollutant loadings to waterbodies throughout the state. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-wake-of-paris-attacks-collins-king-cosponsor-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-visa-waiver-program,"In Wake of Paris Attacks, Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In Wake of Paris Attacks, Collins, King Cosponsor Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, have joined with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States. Protecting the safety and security of the people of Maine and across our country remains our most important consideration as we seek to combat ISIS, said Senator Collins. While most of the refugees are fleeing the same terrorists in their home countries that concern us as Americans, we must assume that ISIS will exploit any opportunity to attack the American people, our allies in Europe, or Muslims who do not share their extremist ideology. This bipartisan legislation tightens the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent Islamic terrorists and other radical extremists from hijacking the program to enter the United States from trusted countries without a visa and the scrutiny it entails. The Visa Waiver Program is an important tool that has increased the ease of travel between member countries and improved security measures associated with that travel, Senator King said. But with an increasing number of citizens from visa waiver countries traveling to the Middle East and North Africa to train and fight in support of terrorism, its critical that we ensure the program cant be exploited as a potential gateway to the United States. Thats why Congress should immediately strengthen the Visa Waiver program to reflect the realities of todays world. Doing so will help deny terrorists an opportunity to do us harm and take a substantial step towards better protecting the American people. The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of participating countries, including most of those in Europe, to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, after having met certain security requirements. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program was used nearly 20 million times last year to gain access to the United States. Thousands of European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight, and an estimated 45 million lost or stolen passports are on the black market. Its critical that Congress take up legislation to strengthen the program. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program by: Requiring individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the travelers biometric information. Requiring travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States. Requiring all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which is more secure and more difficult to tamper with. Requiring increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States. For more information on the legislation, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-scores-legislative-hat-trick-in-federal-highway-bill,King Scores Legislative Hat-Trick in Federal Highway Bill,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Scores Legislative Hat-Trick in Federal Highway Bill Bill renews Export-Import Bank, streamlines federal permitting process, and delivers regulatory relief to small banks Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. An agreement reached yesterday on a long-term highway funding bill includes a hat-trick of legislative victories for Maine long championed by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine). In addition to providing an increased and stable source of funding for highway, transit, and other infrastructure projects, the legislation would (1) reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, (2) boost jobs by simplifying the federal permitting process for major projects, and (3) deliver regulatory relief to small banks. I am pleased that Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement to move forward with a long-term bill that will provide a stable source of funding to properly invest in repairing our roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure. After far too many short-term patches, this bill while not perfect is a positive step forward that will improve our transportation network, bolster the economy, and better protect the safety of traveling Americans, Senator King said. This bill also renews the Export-Import Bank, which supports jobs in Maine, makes significant strides in reducing government red tape to help businesses grow and thrive, and makes it easier for small banks across Maine to serve their customers, Senator King said. These measures will go a long way to supporting jobs in Maine, and I look forward to getting this much-needed bill across the finish-line. The 5-year highway bill announced yesterday titled the FAST Act will provide Maine with a five percent increase in highway funding and an eight percent increase in transit funding in the first year of the bill and result in a 15 percent increase in highway funding and an 18 percent increase in transit by the last year. For more information on how the bill will impact infrastructure projects in Maine, click HERE. Additionally, the bill includes three provisions long-championed and supported by Senator King including: Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank: The legislation includes language that would reauthorize for four years the Export-Import Bank, a critical tool that since 2007 has supported more than $264 million in exports from 13 companies in 12 communities in Maine. Senator King has repeatedly called for the Banks reauthorization and, in July, he supported an amendment to the highway funding bill that would have done so. The amendment passed by an overwhelming margin but the House of Representatives failed to take up the legislation. Simplification of the Federal Permitting Process: The legislation includes provisions of the Federal Permitting Improvement Act introduced by Senator King, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) earlier this year that would streamline and improve the federal permitting process for the largest and most complex capital projects. Businesses looking to undertake large infrastructure projects are currently subject to a massive bureaucratic process involving up to a dozen agencies and approvals, and even after approval, litigation can stall projects for years. These provisions improve the timeliness and predictability of the review process without compromising environmental standards or sacrificing critical regulatory protections. The World Bank has ranked the United States 41st in the world in Dealing with Construction Permits, a metric that measures how easy it is to actually build something. Regulatory Relief to Small Banks: The legislation includes more than a dozen financial regulatory relief measures, including several of which are supported by Senator King and which will benefit Maines community banks and credit unions. Provisions supported by Senator King include language that would allow highly-rated small financial institutions to qualify for longer on-site examination cycles so that well-run, lower-risk banks spend less time with banking regulators and more time with their customers; as well as language that reduces the costly burden of unnecessary annual privacy notices to customers so long as privacy policies at financial institutions have not changed. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-announce-funding-award-for-maine-maritime-academy,"Senators Collins, King Announce Funding Award for Maine Maritime Academy",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins, King Announce Funding Award for Maine Maritime Academy Wednesday, December 2, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. United States Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced an award of $469,000 to the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will support the Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory (METEL) at MMA. Finding practical solutions for reducing harmful emissions is a top priority, and we are pleased that the U.S. Department of Transportation has recognized the tremendous work being done by Maine Maritime Academy at its Marine Engine Testing and Emissions Laboratory, said Senators Collins and King in a statement. This investment will enable the Academy, in partnership with the University of Maine, to continue to develop emissions reductions and efficiency solutions for marine diesel engines, conduct critical research, and help to advance the maritime industry. This grant was provided through the U.S. Department of Transportations University Transportation Center Discretionary Grants. Intended to advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines of transportation through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence, the U.S. Department of Transportation chooses internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the nations need for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound movement of people and goods. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-an-84000-drug-got-its-price-lets-hold-our-position_whatever-the-headlines,"How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How an $84,000 drug got its price: Lets hold our position whatever the headlines By: Carolyn Y. Johnson and Brady Dennis Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Gilead Sciences executives wereacutely aware in 2013 that their plan to charge an exorbitantly high price fora powerful new hepatitis C drug would spark public outrage, but they pursued the profit-driven strategy anyway,according to a Senate Finance Committee investigation report released Tuesday. ""Let's not fold to advocacy pressure in 2014,"" Kevin Young, Gilead's executive vice president for commercial operations, wrote in an internal email.Lets holdour position whatever competitors do or whatever the headlines."" Gilead gained federal approval for its drug Sovaldi in late 2013 and ultimately settled on the price of $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment. To the company, that price seemed to deliver the right balance: value to shareholders while also not so high that insurers would ""hinder patient access to uncomfortable levels,"" according to internal documents. But they also got more than they bargained for: an outpouring of outrage from the public, a backlash from government and private payers, and political scrutiny. The 18-month Senate committee investigation reviewedmore than 20,000 pages of company documents. The documents show it was always Gileads plan to max out revenue, and that accessibility and affordability were pretty much an afterthought,"" said Sen. Ron Wyden(D-Ore.), who co-led the investigation with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), in a news conference. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-announces-11-billion-for-vermont-in-transportation-bill,Sanders Announces $1.1 Billion For Vermont in Transportation Bill,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that a five-year, $305 billion transportation bill agreement reached Tuesday by House and Senate negotiators will deliver nearly $1.1 billion to Vermont to improve the states roadways. While this legislation does not have everything I would have hoped for, I am pleased it includes more than $1 billion for Vermonts roads and bridges in the coming years, Sanders said. As a member of the committee with primary jurisdiction over federal road and bridge programs, Sanders successfully fought for a funding formula that helps Vermont. The final agreement includes a 5 percent increase in funding for Vermont in the first year and a total increase of 15 percent over five years. The legislation includes several other provisions authored by Sanders that would benefit Vermont, including changes to make Vermont competitive for additional federal funding and lowering the cost of borrowing federal funds for rural projects. Sanders also secured a provision to start the process of creating a national network of recharging stations for electric vehicles. The bill also includes a 10 percent increase in funding for public transit in the first year and an overall increase of almost 18 percent over five years. This funding increase is critically important for low-income families, senior citizens, veterans and for people with disabilities in rural areas like Vermont, Sanders said. Congress is poised to pass the agreement in the coming days. The current short-term transportation bill expires on December 4. Once approved, this legislation will mark the first time since 2005 that Congress has passed a long-term highway bill. The problem isnt just roads and bridges. Our airports, railways, drinking water and waste systems, harbors and inland waterways, dams and levees, and electric grid are all suffering from a lack of investment, Sanders said. While this bill is an important first step, I will continue to fight for legislation to rebuild our nations crumbling infrastructure. Earlier this year, Sanders introduced the Rebuild America Act, a $1 trillion, five-year plan that would modernize the infrastructure our economy depends on, while creating 13 million decent-paying jobs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-slams-republican-budget,Sanders Slams Republican Budget,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Bernie Sanders ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/why-the-us-pays-more-than-other-countries-for-drugs,Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Why the U.S. Pays More Than Other Countries for Drugs By: Jeanne Whalen Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Norway, an oil producer with one of the worlds richest economies, is an expensive place to live. A Big Mac costs $5.65. A gallon of gasoline costs $6. But one thing is far cheaper than in the U.S.: prescription drugs. A vial of the cancer drug Rituxan cost Norways taxpayer-funded health system$1,527 in the third quarter of 2015, while the U.S. Medicare program paid $3,678. An injection of the asthma drug Xolair cost Norway $463, which was 46% less than Medicare paid for it. Drug prices in the U.S. are shrouded in mystery, obscured by confidential rebates, multiple middlemen and the strict guarding of trade secrets. But for certain drugsthose paid for by Medicare Part Bprices are public. By stacking these against pricing in three foreign health systems, as discovered in nonpublic and public data, The Wall Street Journal was able to pinpoint international drug-cost differences and what lies behind them. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/120115,News December 1,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News December 1 Tuesday, December 1, 2015 Senator Sanders Drug Prices About 7 out of 10 Americans, including two-thirds of Republicans,said Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older and disabled Americans, should be able tonegotiate lower prices for all prescription drugs.Another 13 percent support negotiations for just high-cost drugs for illnesses such as hepatitis C or cancer, according to a new poll by STAT News. More broadly, about three-quarters of the public believe the prices of brand-name prescription drugs are unreasonable, while 1 in 4 expressed that view about generics. Tax Break Deal House and Senate negotiators are working to complete a deal as earlyas this week thatwouldrevive dozens of expired tax breaks andcould also seek to scale backa controversial part of Obamacare and expand some tax benefits for low income workers. Early versions of the package circulated by lobbyists and staffers were estimatedto cost as much as $700 billion over 10 years. The deal would repeal the Cadillac Tax, which Sen. Sanders opposes, The Washington Post reported. World Pope: World Near Suicide on Climate Change Environmental negotiators meeting in Paris should strike a climate change deal to save a world ""at the limits of suicide,"" Pope Francis said on Monday, The Washington Post reported. ""I am not sure, but I can say to you 'now or never',"" he told a group of reporters aboard the papal plane, en route home from Africa, according to Reuters. ""Every year the problems are getting worse. We are at the limits. If I may use a strong word I would say that we are at the limits of suicide."" Ukraine The United States has delivered more than $260 million in non-lethal military equipment to help the government of Ukraine in its fight against a Russian-backed insurgency, but some of the U.S.-supplied gear meant to protect and transport Ukrainian military forces is little more than junk, The Washington Post reported. National Money in Politics The rich families remaking Illinois are among a small group around the country who have channeled their extraordinary wealth into political power, taking advantage of regulatory, legal and cultural shifts that have carved new paths for infusing money into campaigns. Economic winners in an age of rising inequality, operating largely out of public view, they are reshaping government with fortunes so large as to defy the ordinary financial scale of politics. In the 2016 presidential race, a New York Times analysis found last month, just 158 families had provided nearly half of the early campaign money. Vermont Vermont Health Connect Although Gov. Peter Shumlin recently proclaimed the Vermont Health Connect a totally different ballgame in comparison to last years performance, a House committee on Monday heard of several unresolved problems affecting the insurance exchange, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-slams-republican-budget,Sanders Slams Republican Budget,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the floor today to lead the Democratic opposition to the Republican budget. The last thing we need is a budget reconciliation bill that throws 17 million Americans off of health insurance and denies nearly 3 million women the health care they need by defunding Planned Parenthood, Sanders said. At a time when the United States is the only major country that does not guarantee health care as a right, the proposed budget would gut the Affordable Care Act and continue the Republican witch-hunt against Planned Parenthood. Sanders called instead for a responsible budget that reverses the massive transfer of wealth from working families to the top 1 percent, stops skyrocketing prescription drug prices and puts millions of Americans back to work. He questioned why the Republican budget does not provide paid family leave, raise the minimum wage to a living wage or make college affordable for all. The reason why the American people are angry and the reason why the Congress is so unpopular, is that the Congress is not addressing the real problems that are impacting their lives each and every day, Sanders added. At a time when the rich are getting richer, poverty is increasing, and the middle class has been in a 40-year decline, we need a budget that improves the lives of all Americans, not just the people on the top.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/us-must-lead-on-climate-change-sanders-says,"U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Must Lead on Climate Change, Sanders Says Tuesday, December 1, 2015 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 As nearly 150 world leaders gather for a summit in Paris on climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said on Tuesday that the United States must lead the world in taking bold actions to stop climate change. Calling the need to combat climate change a moral issue, Sanders agreed with Pope Francis about the urgent need to take action, The pope was right when he said the problems are getting worse and that unless we act we are at the limits of suicide, Sanders said. A member of the Senate environment and energy committees, Sanders said scientists have warned that there is a short window of opportunity to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuels and toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy. The evidence is overwhelming. When the final calculations are made, 2015 will replace 2014 as the warmest year on record. Droughts, floods and severe storms already are impacting the planet and the situation will only become worse in years to come, Sanders said. I find it unacceptable that many of my Republican colleagues are more worried about campaign contributions theyre getting from the Koch brothers and others in the fossil fuel industry than they are about preserving the planet for our children and grandchildren, the senator added.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/on-world-aids-day-sanders-demands-affordable-drugs,"On World AIDS Day, Sanders Demands Affordable Drugs",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On World AIDS Day, Sen. Bernie Sanders condemned price gouging by pharmaceutical companies on lifesaving drugs to treat the disease. The biggest problem in caring for those with AIDS is no longer mainly a medical or scientific problem the crisis is access to affordable drugs, Sanders said. People are dying in America because they can't afford to pay the outrageous prices for medicine they need to live. In the richest nation in the world, we must do everything possible to get people the medicine they need at a price they can afford. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. The price of Daraprim, a drug taken by AIDS patients, was recently increased 5,000 percent overnight. Sanders and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) have introduced comprehensive legislation to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. Their bills would authorize the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies and reduce barriers to the importation of lower-cost drugs from Canada and other countries. Sanders and Cummings have also conducted a year-long investigation into rising prices. The United States is the only major country on earth that does not in one form or another regulate prescription drug prices and the results have been an unmitigated disaster, Sanders said. We must take on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people and pass legislation to lower the cost of lifesaving drugs.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-epa-administrator-tour-westbrook-farm-hold-roundtable-for-maine-farmers-on-clean-water-rule,"King, EPA Administrator Tour Westbrook Farm, Hold Roundtable for Maine Farmers on Clean Water Rule",2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, EPA Administrator Tour Westbrook Farm, Hold Roundtable for Maine Farmers on Clean Water Rule King continues to press EPA to clarify rule and issue clearer compliance guidelines for Maine farmers Monday, November 30, 2015 WESTBROOK, ME Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy toured Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook and held a roundtable with agricultural officials from across the state to discuss the EPAs Clean Water Rule and its impact on farmers in Maine. The roundtable follows a letter to the agency led by Senator King and signed by ten of his colleagues expressing concern over the ambiguity of the rule and how it may create uncertainty that could have a detrimental impact on farming operations in Maine. During the roundtable today, Senator King joined with farmers from across the state to reiterate those concerns to Administrator McCarthy, and he also pledged to continue to work with the EPA to see that the agency clarifies agricultural exemptions and provides more concise compliance guidelines for Maine farmers. No one is more committed to preserving and protecting the environment than the people of Maine. Our natural resources are not only a hallmark of our state, but theyre also the foundation of our economy, Senator King said. But for Maines farmers and for everyone who relies on the land for a living, the ambiguity of the Clean Water Rule has caused a lot of justifiable concern. Farmers here just want to know that they wont have to hire a lawyer or a soil scientist to dig something like an irrigation ditch, and the EPA owes it to them to address those concerns, clarify the rule, and provide more concise compliance guidance. Todays roundtable was a positive step in that direction, and I look forward to further engaging with the EPA to ensure that it enacts a common-sense rule that protects the environment and allows our farmers to do their jobs. Earlier this year, the EPA and the U.S. Army formalized the Clean Water Rule to better protect streams and waterways across the country from pollution and degradation. However,farmers in Maine and elsewhere have expressed concerns, which are shared by Senator King, on the ambiguity of the rule and have sought clearer and more concise implementation guidance to both better understand how it would impact their businesses and ensure that their farming operations are in line with the intent of the rule and not unduly hampered by it. To address those concerns, Senator King earlier this month led a letter to the EPA signed by ten of his colleagues urging the agency to clarify the rules agricultural exemptions and provide clearer guidelines. Todays roundtable represented a step forward in that effort, but Senator King also reaffirmed his willingness to pursue legislative changes to the rule if his concerns are not properly addressed by the agency. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-more-than-400000-in-grant-funding-to-assist-maine-families-living-in-public-housing,"Senators Collins and King Announce More Than $400,000 in Grant Funding to Assist Maine Families Living in Public Housing",2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins and King Announce More Than $400,000 in Grant Funding to Assist Maine Families Living in Public Housing Monday, November 30, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, the Chairman the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Angus King today announced that several housing authorities and municipalities in Maine will receive a total of $439,537 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant funding will come through HUDs Family Self-Sufficiency Program and will be used to help public housing residents and individuals participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program increase their education and gain marketable skills that will allow them to find employment and advance in their current work. Public Housing Authorities in Maine play an indispensable role in helping some of our most vulnerable citizens find safe and affordable housing, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. This funding will provide crucial support to individuals and families across our state, connecting them with a range of job training and educational services. HUDs Family Self Sufficiency program intends to help low-income families who receive federal housing assistance receive training and education, find jobs, save money, and eventually become financially independent. The awards are as follows: Augusta Housing Authority, $32,484 Bangor Housing Authority, $57,050 Housing Authority of the City of Brewer, $52,832 City of Caribou, $48,729 Housing Authority of the City of Old Town, $23,972 Lewiston Housing Authority, $57,820 Maine State Housing Authority, $54,031 Portland Housing Authority, $72,012 Westbrook Housing Authority, $40,607 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-walmart-keeps-an-eye-on-its-massive-workforce,How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Walmart Keeps an Eye on Its Massive Workforce The retail giant is Always watching. By: Susan Berfield Monday, November 30, 2015 In the autumn of 2012, when Walmart first heard about the possibility of a strike on Black Friday, executives mobilized with the efficiency that had built a retail empire. Walmart has a system for almost everything: When theres an emergency or a big event, it creates a Delta team. The one formed that September included representatives from global security, labor relations, and media relations. For Walmart, the stakes were enormous. The billions in sales typical of a Walmart Black Friday were threatened. The companys public image, especially in big cities where its power and size were controversial, could be harmed. But more than all that: Any attempt to organize its 1million hourly workers at its more than 4,000 stores in the U.S. was an existential danger. Operating free of unions was as essential to Walmarts business as its rock-bottom prices. OURWalmart, a group of employees backed and funded by a union, was asking for more full-time jobs with higher wages and predictable schedules. Officially they called themselvesthe Organization United for Respect at Walmart. Walmart publicly dismissed OURWalmart as the insignificant creation of the United Food and Commercial Workers International (UFCW) union. This is just another union publicity stunt, and the numbers they are talking about are grossly exaggerated, David Tovar, a spokesman, said onCBS Evening Newsthat November. Internally, however, Walmart considered the group enough of a threat that it hired an intelligence-gathering service from Lockheed Martin, contacted the FBI, staffed up its labor hotline, ranked stores by labor activity, and kept eyes on employees (and activists) prominent in the group. During that time, about 100 workers were actively involved in recruiting for OURWalmart, but employees (or associates, as theyre called at Walmart) across the company were watched; the briefest conversations were reported to the home office, as Walmart calls its headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. The details of Walmarts efforts during the first year it confronted OURWalmart are described in more than 1,000 pages of e-mails, reports, playbooks, charts, and graphs, as well as testimony from its head of labor relations at the time. The documents were produced in discovery ahead of a National Labor Relations Board hearing into OURWalmarts allegations of retaliation against employees who joined protests in June2013. The testimony was given in January2015, during the hearing. OURWalmart, which split from the UFCW in September, provided the documents toBloomberg Businessweekafter the judge concluded the case in mid-October. A decision may come in early 2016. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-bruce-bickford-from-starc-systems-november-2015,"WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Bruce Bickford from STARC Systems, November 2015",2015-11-28,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and Bruce Bickford from STARC Systems, November 2015",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/wgans-inside-maine-with-senator-angus-king-and-steve-levesque-executive-director-of-the-midcoast-regional-redevelopment-authority-november-2015,"WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque, November 2015",2015-11-28,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content WGAN's Inside Maine with Senator Angus King and MRRA Executive Director Steve Levesque, November 2015",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-statement-on-colorado_planned-parenthood-shooting,Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting,2015-11-28,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Statement on Colorado Planned Parenthood Shooting Saturday, November 28, 2015 BURLINGTON, Vt., --U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement todayafter a gun battle left three dead at a Planned Parenthood center in Colorado Springs, Colorado: While we still do not know the shooters motive, what is clear is that Planned Parenthood has been the subject of vicious and unsubstantiated statements attacking an organization that provides critical health care for millionsof Americans. I strongly support Planned Parenthood and the work it is doing and hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/how-wal-mart-stole-christmas_and-hijacked-american-politics,How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics,2015-11-27,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"How Wal-Mart stole Christmas and hijacked American politics By: Sean McElwee Friday, November 27, 2015 When retail workers want something, they ask their employers, get denied, get bullied and sometimes fired. Sometimes, they take to the streets, as they have for the last three years on Black Friday. By contrast, when retailers want something, they scurry to the halls of Congress, where they purchase influence with their exorbitant profits. The largest big-box retailers have spent a total of $111 million since the 2000 election cycle on lobbying and campaign contributions. During the 2014 election cycle, big-box retailers spent $30 million on federal campaign contributions and lobbying, which is almost six times what they spent in 2000 (after an inflation adjustment). Wal-Mart in particular is known for its status as a corporate-welfare queen; one studyestimatesthat one 300-person Supercenter costs taxpayers $904,542 to $1,744,590. Anotherestimatesthat Wal-Mart and the Walton family pull in $7.8 billion a year in tax breaks and subsidies. Meanwhile, a brand-newreportfrom Americans for Tax Fairness finds that Wal-Mart also avoids taxes on more than $21 billion in offshore profits. In its most recent annualreport, Wal-Mart openlyadmitsthat changes to government food stamp programs may hurt its financial performance.Hundreds of thousands of Wal-Mart workersmake near-povertywages. Wal-Mart certainly benefits from other favorable government actions. Changes to labor laws allow it toabuse worker schedules, although sometimes it ignores them completely and just refuses topay workers,flat out. Since Wal-Mart is a serial polluter, lax environmental standards are beneficial. Its also very concerned about taxes, trade and intellectual property. To advance these interests, Wal-Mart spent $2.4 million on campaign donations and $12.5 million in lobbying in 2014 alone. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/as-mayor-bernie-sanders-was-more-pragmatist-than-socialist,"As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist",2015-11-26,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As Mayor, Bernie Sanders Was More Pragmatist Than Socialist By: Katharine Q. Seelye Thursday, November 26, 2015 Bernie Sanders in September 1981, six months after he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vt. He held the office for eight years.Credit:Donna Light/Associated Press BURLINGTON, Vt. WhenBernie Sanders, a self-declared socialist, served as mayor here in the 1980s, he often complained that the United States had its priorities wrong, that it should be diverting money from the military to domestic needs like housing and health care. So when dozens of antiwar activists blocked the entrance to the local General Electric plant because it was manufacturing Gatling guns to fight the socialists in Central America, the protesters expected the mayors full support. Instead, he lined up with union officials and watched as the police made arrests, saying later that in blocking the plant, the activists were keeping workers from their jobs. It was a classic example of how Mr. Sanders governed as a pragmatist. He tended to talk globally but act locally, in this case choosing the real and immediate socialist principle of protecting workers over blocking the making of weapons to fight leftists abroad. Although he often shouted about foreign affairs, Mr. Sanders was consumed with running the city.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112515,News November 25,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 25 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Senator Sanders Sanders Most Popular SenatorSen. Bernie Sanders has eschewed party labels during his decades-long political career. And voters in his home state love him for it,Morning Consultant,The Week,Bloomberg,The Hill, The Boston Globe,Chicago Sun-Times andWCAX-TVin Burlington reported. A comprehensive survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states, conducted over several months by Morning Consult, shows Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents, at 83 percent. And while voters disdain Congress as a whole, they have much more positive views of their individual senators: The polling shows 69 of 100 United States senators have approval ratings of 50 percent or higher among their own constituents. Pfizer-Allergan MergerThe announcement of the Pfizer-Allergen merger, which could help the new company escape billions of dollars in United States taxes, drew a cascade of harsh criticism from lawmakers and renewed a push to crack down on these so-called tax inversions,The New York TimesandReutersreported. Sen. Sanders even called on the Obama administration to use any authority it had to block the deal. World Russia Promises Retribution for Downed Jet One of two Russian pilots shot down by Turkey over the Syrian border has been rescued in a special operation, Russian officials said Wednesday, as Moscow promised retribution for the first downing of one of its planes by a NATO ally since the Cold War, The Washington Post reported. U.S., France Lead ISIS Fight The Obama administration is using the current moment of extreme anger and anxiety in Europe to press allies for sharp increases in their contributions to the fight against the Islamic State. Suggestions include more strike aircraft, more intelligence-sharing, more training and equipment for local fighters, and deployment of their own special operations forces. The message has already fallen on willing ears, at least in the case of France, whose president met with President Obama on Tuesday to plan strategy in the wake of the Nov.13 terrorist attacks in Paris, The Washington Post reported. National Laquan McDonald Hundreds of protesters flooded streets overnight after awhite police officer who fatally shot a black teenager last year was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday and a graphic video of the killing was released. While the demonstrations, which at times blocked some of Chicagos busy Interstate highways, were largely peaceful, some turned confrontational during the night, The Washington Post reported. Vermont Shumlin Welcomes Refugees Two days before Thanksgiving Gov. Peter Shumlin visited a classroom of newly arrived refugees from Africa and Asia, welcoming them to Vermont and reiterating his public support for welcoming Syrian refugees into the U.S. as well. Several of the dozen adult refugee students learning basic English at the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue Tuesday morning came to the front of the class and shook the governors hand in front of the media, VT Digger.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-proposal-to-create-national-mail-back-drug-program,King Announces Proposal to Create National Mail-Back Drug Program,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Announces Proposal to Create National Mail-Back Drug Program Based on successful Maine pilot program, proposal seeks to make getting rid of excess prescription drugs easier, helping better protect public health and safety across the state Tuesday, November 24, 2015 PORTLAND, ME During a roundtable discussion today focused on how the federal government can close the prescription painkillers to opioid addiction gateway, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced a new federal proposal that would help people across the country more quickly, safely, and responsibly dispose of excess prescription drugs. During the discussion, Senator King also announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction. Opioid addiction knows no bounds. It can grip anyone at any time, and sadly, in more cases than not, it starts at home with an unsuspecting pain medication meant to help someone,Senator King said. Today, there are far too many of those painkillers sitting unused in homes across this country, and the longer they do, the more serious a risk they pose to peoples health and safety. The federal government needs to work more closely with doctors to curb the number of drugs unnecessarily provided on the front end, and then work to ensure theres an easy and responsible way to dispose of excess drugs on the back end as well. I believe a drug mail-back program holds the potential to helppeople moreeasily and safely dispose of their unwanted medications, and I will engage with people to see how the government can best accomplish that goal. The proposal announced by Senator King today would create a national program that builds on the successful Maine pilot project known as Safe Medicine Disposal for ME, which allowed people to mail back their unused prescription drugs to Maine DEA.Currently, federal regulations allow pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and other authorized collectors to serve as collection points for unused prescription medications, and special events like National Prescription Drug Take-Back day, also aim to provide a responsible means for the disposal of unneededdrugs. However, those methods, while very useful, can still be an obstacle to the disposal of unwanted drugs, particularly in rural areas and for people with limited access to transportation. Senator Kings proposal would streamline the process by allowing people to directly mail back excess drugs from their homes, thereby getting them off medicinecabinet shelves and reducing the hazard posed to health and safety. During the discussion, Senator King also announced his supportthe Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation that would expand specialized treatment for prescription drug and heroin addiction. Introduced by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the legislation would expand the ability of addiction medical specialists and other trained medical professionals to provide life-saving medication-assisted therapies such as buprenorphine (also called Suboxone) for patients battling heroin and prescription drug addiction. Unfortunately, due in part to federal restrictions, of the approximately 2.4 million people dealing with prescription drug and heroin dependency in 2013, only half received specialty treatment for their condition. More specifically,the TREAT Actwould help increase the number of patients who have access to treatment by allowing substance abuse treatment specialists and certain other trained physicians who are practicing in a team-based facility that has built in quality measures to see a greater number of patients. Physicians under the bill are also required to fully participate in state-based prescription drug monitoring databases to track prescription drug use. The bill would also allow trained nurse practitioners and physician assistants to treat, for the first time, opioid dependent patients with approved medication assisted treatments. Combined with behavioral therapy, effective medication assisted treatment programs for opioid addiction can decrease overdose deaths, be cost-effective, reduce transmissions of HIV and hepatitis C, and reduce other social harms such as criminal activity. While emphasizing addiction medicine expertise and quality, the legislation lifts existing and arbitrary federal restrictions that are non-existent for any other disease and limit access to life saving therapies. For more information on the bill, clickHERE. Senator Kings mail-back proposal, which he will continue to gather feedback on in the coming weeks and then introduce as legislation, along with his support ofthe TREAT Act, represent a two-pronged approach to closing the gateway from prescription painkiller use and abuse to opioid addiction. Senator Kings roundtable today followed aninitial roundtablediscussion last August on the opioid epidemic in Maine and focused more specifically on the use and abuse of prescription painkillers as a gateway to addiction. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, four in five heroin users started out by misusing prescription opioid pain medications. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 44 people in the U.S. die each day from an overdose of prescription pain medication. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/112415,News November 24,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 24 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Senator Sanders Pfizer-Allergan DealSen. Sanders condemned the Pfizer acquisition of Allergan on Monday and urged the Obama administration to block the deal,The Associated Press,Reuters, Business Insider,Los Angeles Times,The New York Times,TheHillandVoxreported. Pfizer said it would buy Botox maker Allergan in a record-breaking deal worth $160 billion to cut its U.S. tax bill by moving its headquarters to Ireland. ""The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs,"" Sanders said in a statement. TIME Person of the YearWith eleven days left to go before TIMEs 2015 Person of the Year poll comes to a close, Sen. Sanders, the upstart candidate for president, holds a wide lead over global notables among TIME readers even as he trails Hillary Clinton in voter polls and fights a long-shot battle for the Democratic nomination,TIMEand The Hill reported. Larry SandersIn this longer video from a previous interview withRolling Stone, Larry Sanders discusses what Sen. Sanders was like as a child (a bit of a jock) and how both brothers became left-leaning politicians (they grew up in working-class Brooklyn, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, motivating them to fight for justice for all). SOTU Essay ContestSen. Sanders has launched his sixth annual State of the Union essay contest, calling upon Vermont's high school students to address what they view as the major issues facing the United States,The Manchester Journalreported. Sanders' annual essay contest is an opportunity for Vermont high school students to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were president. Column: Sanders as a Democrat""Sen. Sanders could call himself a Democrat it would fit his ideology, and it would fit his ambitions. But he steadfastly refuses. Understanding why is, I think, crucial to understanding not just Sanders but his support,"" Ezra Klein wrote forVox. ""Sanders' socialism, in other words, is a costly and thus believable signal that he isn't going to get elected and suddenly start doing fundraisers with Robert Rubin. That signal has powered a truly extraordinary primary campaign and it suggests that there may be more liberal dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party than many in the party realize."" World Turkey Downs Russian Jet Turkish military aircraft shot down a Russian jet Tuesday after Turkey says it violated its airspace near the border with Syria, a major escalation in the Syrian conflict that could further strain relations between Russia and the West. Russian officials confirmed that a Russian warplane had been shot down but claimed it had been flying over Syria and had not violated Turkish airspace, The Washington Post reported. Kerry Urges Bigger Push Against ISIS With the Obama administration under mounting pressure from some of its own top former officials to take a more aggressive approach to combating the Islamic State, Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that he would like to see the American-led military and diplomatic effort in Syria go faster. He added that President Obama had charged his aides with coming up with any concepts that will, in fact, work, and which could help change the situation on the ground, The New York Times reported. National 5 Shot Near BLM Protest Simmering racial tensions boiled over yetagain on Monday when a small group of white men allegedly shot five peoplewho had beenprotestingthe recent police killing of an African American manin Minneapolis. Police announced on Twitter early Tuesday morning that five people had suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, and that officers were searching for three white suspects who had fled the scene, The Washington Post reported. Vermont Burlington Skate Park The sound of skateboards hitting the pavement boomed from inside the pit of the newest addition to Burlington's northern waterfront:a world-class skate park. The park is part of Waterfront Access North,the first major, new waterfront public infrastructure investment since the creation of Waterfront Park in the early1990s, Burlington Free Press reported.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-is-most-popular-senator-in-america,Sanders is Most Popular Senator in America,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"BURLINGTON, Vt., Nov. 24 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the most popular senator in America according to a Morning Consult survey of more than 75,000 voters in all 50 states. Sanders has the highest approval rating of any United States senator among his own constituents at 83 percent. Senate Democrats had an average approval rating of 54 percent in the survey, while Republicans averaged a 51 percent approval rating. Click here to see the complete poll results.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-usda-grants-for-six-maine-communities-and-organizations,"Collins, King Announce USDA Grants for Six Maine Communities and Organizations",2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce USDA Grants for Six Maine Communities and Organizations Monday, November 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Angus King announced more than $2 million in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will provide support for distance learning and telemedicine programs throughout the state. It is important that we recognize the hard work and dedication of community leaders and health care professionals throughout our state and continue to support projects in Maine's rural areas,said Senator Collins and King in a statement.This important investmentindistance learning and telemedicine programswill improve educational opportunities and access to vital health care servicesin Maines rural communities. The USDAs Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities develop and maintain telecommunication networks in order connect to each other and to the world. Funding through this program supports the acquisition of audio-video equipment, network components and software, as well as technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment.? Listed below are the recipients from Maine: Home Health Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine: $129,400 Kno-Wal-Lin Home Health Care Management, Inc.:$130,000 Regional School Unit 64:$498,535 Maine Rural Health Collaborative, LLC: $431,599 Region Two School of Applied Technology (Maine Adult Education and Cooperative Extension Distance Learning Consortium): $499,378 Easton School District: $499,773 ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-dedicate-harold-alfond-ocean-and-advanced-manufacturing-laboratories-at-university-of-maine,"Collins, King Dedicate Harold Alfond Ocean and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories at University of Maine",2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Dedicate Harold Alfond Ocean and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories at University of Maine Monday, November 23, 2015 ORONO, ME Joined by federal officials, local business leaders and University of Maine leadership, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today helped officially unveil the Harold Alfond Ocean Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories. The new facility, which is part of UMaines national-recognized Advanced Structures and Composites Center, will assist businesses in developing products for the marine economy while also offering hands-on training for students. This remarkable grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation is an investment in Maine that demonstrates the pride and confidence people throughout our State have in our University, said Senator Collins. The world-class research capabilities this lab will provide in Ocean Engineering and Advanced Composites Manufacturing will help secure Maine's place as a national leader in the ocean economy of the future, help advance our industrial competitiveness in boatbuilding and renewable energy such as offshore wind, and help ensure the resiliency of our coastal communities. The future belongs to those who innovate, and today, the University of Maine has once again proven that it is on the vanguard of 21st century innovation, Senator King said. With this impressive facility and the generous support of the Harold Alfond Foundation, the University of Maine is poised to unlock incredible new advancements that will bolster our renewable energy future, strengthen our coastal communities and infrastructure, and ensure that the ocean remains a vital part of our economy. More specifically, the world-class ocean engineering facility will lead to the creation of products such as improved boat and ship hulls; renewable energy production devices from wind, wave, and tidal resources; oil and gas structures; waterfront infrastructure including more resilient bridges, piers, docks and port facilities; as well as new systems to protect coastal cities from the effects of erosion and extreme storms. The lab is the only facility in the country equipped with a high-performance rotating wind machine over a multidirectional wave basin, which will accurately simulate the harsh and variable conditions that ocean structures must withstand. Federal funding, including $3 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, $983,977 from the National Science Foundation and $497,965 from the National Institute for Standards and Technology, was leveraged with state and private investments as well as donations, including the Alfond Foundation support that will help hire world-class engineers and fund graduate and undergraduate students over 3 years to launch the facility. In addition to Senators Collins and King, other speakers included Congressman Bruce Poliquin, University of Maine President Susan Hunter, Director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center Dr. Habib Dagher, Chairman of the Harold Alfond Foundation Greg Powell, Cianbro President and CEO Peter Vigue, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Matt Erskine, and U.S. Department of Energy Wind and Water Program Director Jose Zayas. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-poliquin-send-letter-to-president-on-possible-national-monument-designation-in-maine-north-woods,"Collins, King, Poliquin Send Letter to President on Possible National Monument Designation in Maine North Woods",2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King, Poliquin Send Letter to President on Possible National Monument Designation in Maine North Woods Monday, November 23, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin have sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the possible designation of land in the Katahdin region as a national monument. The complete text of the letter can be read HERE and is available below. +++ November 20, 2015 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We understand that you are considering using your executive power under the Antiquities Act to designate unilaterally as a national monument more than 100,000 acres of what is currently privately owned land in northern Maine and write to express our serious reservations and significant concerns about such a proposal. The private land owner, Elliotsville Plantation Inc. (EPI), has made clear that it would like to donate its land in the Katahdin Region to the federal government for the purpose of establishing a national park and national recreation area, which would require an act of Congress. The president of EPIs board, Mr. Lucas St. Clair, has recently informed us that he is in discussions with the Department of Interior to bypass Congress to seek a national monument designation. This concerns us because residents in the Katahdin Region have the most to gain or lose from federal land encroaching on their doorstep, and it is clear that deep divisions remain. While we acknowledge the right of private land owners to donate their land, we have serious concerns about the executive branch using its power to unilaterally designate a national monument in our state. Mainers have a long and proud history of private land ownership, independence, and local control, and do not take lightly any forced action by the federal government to increase its footprint in our state. Recognizing that despite these concerns, you nevertheless may use your legal authority to bypass the normal legislative process and designate a national monument in Maine, we believe that you should be aware of the history of this proposal and the conditions that we strongly believe must be included if such a designation moves forward. For many years, EPI has been working to build local support to establish a national park and national recreation area on its land. As Members of Maines Congressional Delegation, it is incumbent upon us to research thoroughly such a controversial issue. We have devoted countless hours to meet with stakeholders, including local business owners, forest product industry officials, snowmobile clubs, hunting groups, outdoor recreation organizations, environmental groups, local land owners, and land preservation trusts. We have responded to hundreds of emails, letters, and phone calls from local area residents. Our offices have toured the property in question and have attended local town hall meetings devoted to discussing publicly the proposal. We believe we have thoughtfully considered all points of view and have carefully listened to all sides of this issue. Proponents and opponents alike target more jobs for the struggling Katahdin Region as the basis for their conclusions. Some residents believe that one way to stimulate the regional economy, decimated by the closure of paper mills in the area, would be for the federal government to create a national park and national recreation area to boost tourism and outdoor recreation jobs. Local chambers of commerce support this opportunity and cite economic studies which point to job creation around other national parks across the country. In a recent poll, the idea of a national park was supported by roughly 60 percent of Mainers. Other residents believe that any form of federal ownership could jeopardize jobs and future job creation in the prized Katahdin Regions working forests. In two non-binding referendums this past summer, more than 70 percent of the residents living in two of the most affected communities voted in opposition to creating a national park on this land. In addition, 225 Maine businesses that employ more than 5,000 hard-working Mainers, many in the logging, trucking, saw mill, and other forest products industries, announced their opposition to the proposal, largely because they believe that federal ownership would hurt their businesses and prevent future investment and job creation. The federal government is also struggling to meet its current obligations to fund our 408 existing national park units, with a current maintenance backlog of $11.5 billion. Adding more than 100,000 acres to the federal land system would only add to that burden. We cannot underscore enough the importance of bringing new economic development to this severely economically depressed region of Maine. A national monument designation, however, would likely antagonize already divided local communities. The future of EPIs property is just one part of a greater need to improve economic opportunity in the Katahdin Region. To that end, we request the full assistance of the federal government to identify and secure funding for economic development activities through the Economic Development Assistance Program and other manufacturing programs that could help the forest products industry and other entrepreneurs in the area. Specifically, we seek financial support for research to back the development and use of wood products and fibers, advanced engineering projects that use wood, and support for policies that will create strong markets for wood products. Our many discussions with local residents and businesses have deepened our understanding of the viewpoints and needs of the Katahdin Region. Despite our reservations, if you nevertheless choose to use your executive power under the Antiquities Act to accept the EPI land donation and to designate a new national monument, we strongly urge that you incorporate the following conditions: Express permission for all traditional recreation uses, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, the use of motorized vehicles, such as snowmobiles and ATVs, and other outdoor recreational activities associated with our North Maine Woods. Maine has a long and cherished history of public access to large tracts of privately owned land. This invaluable relationship must be protected so that citizens are able to continue to recreate freely and responsibly. Protection for the long term well-being of our prized forests, both within the borders of any federal land designation and for the adjacent and surrounding areas. Any federal land must allow for proper forest management, including timber harvesting, to prevent forest fires and invasive species and to allow for proper sustainable tree growth. Moreover, the surrounding lands have robust forestry activities such as logging, trucking, and timber harvesting, and any federal land designation must not impair these industries, their good paying jobs or inhibit future growth in this sector. The forest products industry employs nearly 40,000 hard-working Mainers. One out of every 20 jobs in Maine is associated with the forest products sector. All private or state land that is contiguous, adjacent, or nearby, or any inholdings, must continue to have established easements and rights of way, including for roads, and remain independent of any federal control. This independence must also include freedom from view shed, air quality, or buffer zone regulations or requirements. No federal regulations should be put in place that would discourage future investment or growth in the region. Any monument designation must respect private property rights and ensure that the federal government will never take any private land in the area by eminent domain. All land must be acquired from a willing seller through donation or purchase. Concerns have been raised about the size of the parcel in question, as for some time many believed that EPI owned 150,000 acres of the proposed national park and national recreation area. In fact, more than 40 percent of the proposed area is owned by other private landowners, some of whom have adamantly expressed they have no interest in selling their land for inclusion in any federal land system. Management needs of the area must be carefully examined to determine the appropriate federal land management agency. The U.S. Forest Service, with its history of working closely with communities to preserve traditional uses, should be considered as an agency to oversee any national monument designation. Establishment of a local and state advisory board to ensure that any management decisions reflect local and state priorities, not the priorities of Washington. Local communities know how to make their own decisions and that autonomy should continue. Federal commitment to help improve the economically depressed Katahdin Region and create new jobs must accompany any new federal land designation. This should include efforts related to tourism and outdoor recreation, as well as the forest products industry. When creating the educational and interpretive experience for any public land in question, it is critical to have a special emphasis on the Katahdin Regions rich history, including the important roles of the timber industry, local communities, and the Penobscot Nation. Preference for Maine businesses and products in creating and servicing any federally designated public lands. For example, Maine timber should be used to construct buildings, and Maine concessioners should be hired to provide services and products inside the boundaries of any national monument. Neighbors to federal lands are more likely to support federal initiatives when Washington employs their direct support. In closing, while we respect the right of EPI to donate its private property to the federal government, we cannot ignore the serious reservations of our constituents. We urge you to carefully weigh the views of those who live in the region, as well as the criteria we have outlined in this letter. The last thing the Katahdin Region needs is burdensome and restrictive federal regulations that discourage future investment and badly needed jobs while changing the traditional Maine way of life. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-condemns-pfizer-allergan-merger,Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Condemns Pfizer-Allergan Merger Monday, November 23, 2015 ATLANTA, Nov. 23 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Pfizer and Allergan announced they would merge in the largest inversion ever, enabling Pfizer to dodge United States taxes. The Pfizer-Allergan merger would be a disaster for American consumers who already pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. It also would allow another major American corporation to hide its profits overseas. The Obama administration has the authority to stop this merger, and it should exercise that authority. Congress also must pass real tax reform that demands that profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/if-america-really-valued-mothers-we-wouldnt-treat-them-like-this,"If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this",2015-11-22,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If America really valued mothers, we wouldnt treat them like this By: Ezra Klein Sunday, November 22, 2015 A few years ago, a Mother's Day video from Cardstore.com went viral. In it, the company pretended to recruit for a seemingly impossible job. They told applicants that the job requires you to stand all day and put in 135 hours a week or more. It means you have to work nights and weekends. There's no time off, and the hours increase around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. The position requires skill in finance, medicine ,and food preparation. It entails intense physical labor and a total collapse in your personal life. Oh, and it pays absolutely nothing. They called the job director of operations, but its real title, of course, is mom. Cardstore sent the video out into the world with the hashtag#WorldsToughestJob. But here's the thing about the world's toughest job: a lot of the people doing it also hold another job, or even a few other jobs. More than two-thirds of mothers hold jobs outside the home, and mothers are the primary earners in40 percent of families. Butin America, public policy makes balancing those jobs a lot harder than it has to be. America is, for instance, one of the only countries in the world that doesn't guarantee paid maternity leave. Thismapfrom UCLA's World Policy Analysis Center tells the tale well: our maternal leave policies make us look more like Papua New Guinea than, say, any country in Western Europe: Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/bernie-sanders-is-right-the-top-01-percent-have-as-much-as-the-bottom-90-percent,Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent,2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bernie Sanders is right: The top 0.1 percent have as much as the bottom 90 percent By: Max Ehrenfreund Friday, November 20, 2015 Sen. Bernie Sanders defined the phrase""democratic socialist"" in a speech at Georgetown University Thursday afternoon, in an effort to clarify theunusual moniker he uses to describe his worldview forconfused voters. Being a democratic socialist means believing that government must guarantee its citizens' material well being in order to truly protect their freedom, Sanders said, citing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. ""Real freedom must include economic security. That was Roosevelt's vision 70 years ago. It is my vision today,"" the Democratic presidential candidate said. ""People are not truly free when they are unable to feed their family. They are not truly free when their are unable to retire with dignity. They are not truly free when they are unemployed, underemployed, or when they are exhausted from working 60 or 70 years a week."" In appealing to the principles of freedom and ""economic rights,"" in a phrase of Roosevelt's thatSanders quoted, the senator from Vermont tried to steal the thunder fromhis conservative detractors. His opponents also cite personal freedom, sayingSanders'svision of socialism would leave Americans less free to pursue their economic interests without interference from government. Under hisagenda, for example, private health insurers and colleges would have to compete with government-sponsored insurance and education, and the rich would have to forfeit more of their earnings in taxes. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/must-read/specialty-drugs-now-cost-more-than-the-median-household-income,Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income,2015-11-20,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Specialty drugs now cost more than the median household income By: Carolyn Y. Johnson Friday, November 20, 2015 The average annual retail cost of specialty drugs used to treat complex diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis now exceeds the median U.S. household income,according to a report to be published Friday. The study of 115 specialty drugs found that a year's worth of prescriptions for a single drug retailedat $53,384 per year, on average, in 2013 -- more than the median U.S. household income, double the median income of Medicare beneficiaries, and more than three times as much as the average Social Security benefit in the same year. The report was prepared by the AARP Public Policy Institute to highlightthe impact of drug priceson seniors. ""We're talking about drugs that are now costing more than a lot of people are making in a year,"" said Leigh Purvis, director of health services research at the AARP Public Policy Institute. Continue reading here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-statement-in-response-to-itc-vote-in-canadian-paper-producers-trade-case,"Collins, King Statement in Response to ITC Vote in Canadian Paper Producers Trade Case",2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Statement in Response to ITC Vote in Canadian Paper Producers Trade Case Thursday, November 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the U.S. International Trade Commissions determination that the U.S. supercalendered paper industry is materially injured by reason of imports of subsidized supercalendered paper from Canada: The International Trade Commissions decision is welcome news for the hardworking men and women of Madison Paper Industries who have for far too long fought against illegal and unfair provincial subsidies like the ones provided to the Port Hawkesbury Mill, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. The Commissions decision validates American producers long held concerns and will help even the playing field in this important segment of the paper market. However, we remain concerned with how the Department of Commerce conducted its investigation of the Canadian producers. The Department of Commerce should have, as we requested, reviewed all four Canadian producers of supercalendered paper to ensure a fair and fact-based process. Rather than conduct a careful assessment of the actual subsidies received by each company, the Department relied on Port Hawkesburys and Resolutes subsidies to determine an arbitrary and unfair duty rate for Irving and Catalyst, Senators Collins and King continued. This ill-advised decision could affect more than 1,000 Maine workers employed at J.D. Irving and the Catalyst-owned mill in Rumford, and it is wrong. We will support Irving and Catalyst as they request an expedited review of the findings to ensure the companies receive the individual examinations to which they are entitled as part of a fair and fact-based investigation. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backed-sportsmens-bill-passes-enr-committee-with-strong-bipartisan-support-,King-Backed Sportsmen’s Bill Passes ENR Committee with Strong Bipartisan Support,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King-Backed Sportsmens Bill Passes ENR Committee with Strong Bipartisan Support Bill would expand opportunities for Americas sportsmen, permanently reauthorize LWCF Thursday, November 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved a bipartisan bill that would expand outdoor recreation opportunities for sportsmen in Maine and across America. The Sportsmens Act of 2015, which Senator King cosponsored, would prioritize recreation on federal lands and promote cooperation with state and local governments. Additionally, the bill would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which expired at the end of September. The legislation passed out of Committee with near unanimous support. Outdoor recreation, like hunting, fishing, and hiking, is not only a strong part of our tradition as a state, but its also a central force in our economy that supports our rural communities, Senator King said. By building on existing opportunities for our sportsmen, this legislation will enhance our recreation economy and ensure that time-honored traditions enjoyed by Maine families will continue for future generations. The Sportsmens Act of 2015 includes a broad array of bipartisan measures to enhance opportunities for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, reauthorize key conservation programs, improve access to public lands, and help boost the outdoor recreation economy. The legislation also permanently reauthorizes the LWCF, a move Senator King has repeatedly called for, and which would ensure the strength and sustainability of this successful program that has helped increase access to outdoor recreation for the last 50 years. The LWCF is one of the most important and significant conservation measures ever passed by Congress, Senator King said. It has helped to preserve hundreds of thousands of acres of land in Maine and it supports local programs across the state that get kids involved in the outdoors. Im encouraged that this bill would permanently reauthorize the fund, and hope the Senate will follow-suit quickly. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmens Caucus, Senator King works will his colleagues to promote and expand opportunities for sportsmen in Maine and around the country. The Sportsmens Act of 2015 was originally introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-congratulates-lewiston-high-school-boys-soccer-team,King Congratulates Lewiston High School Boys Soccer Team,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Congratulates Lewiston High School Boys Soccer Team Thursday, November 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. In statement submitted to the Congressional Record today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) congratulated the Lewiston High School Boys Soccer Team for their recent state championship victory. The team, which has a diverse group of student athletes from various backgrounds, religions and cultures, went undefeated in the regular season and clinched its first title in program history. This is a team with a long history, and deep friendships, that have spanned many years and continents. A number of the players originally hail from Somalia, and have known each other and played soccer together since they were children in a refugee camp in Kenya. Others native Mainers and immigrants alike have bonded and shared their passion for the sport since grade school, said Senator King in the statement. This fraternal bond between the players and the supportiveness of the Lewiston community is a fine example of Maine citizens from diverse ethnic, religious, and experiential backgrounds coming together to achieve victory, while championing Maines spirit and Americas highest ideals of inclusiveness and unity. The complete statement is as follows: Mr. KING. Mr. President, at the end of the fall season we see the culmination of youth athletics across the country. In each sport, whether it is field hockey, football, soccer, or the like, we as parents and spectators see the aggregation of hard work, sportsmanship, and perseverance come together to produce outstanding championship athletes. Today I wish to draw attention to all of the talented Maine youths who won athletic championships across the state this year. In particular, I would like to congratulate the members of the Lewiston High School Blue Devils boys soccer team, who, on the path to their undefeated regular season and recent state championship victory, have demonstrated remarkable levels of teamwork and sportsmanship. The Blue Devils achieved victory through an impressive display of talent and teamwork. Throughout their regular season the team scored a total of 114 goals, consistently demonstrated their strong defense, and earned recognition when USA Today ranked them 22nd in the country. The teams display of unity, patience, and determination in the state final against Scarborough High School was a fitting conclusion to a stunning season of hard work. During two prior seasons, the Blue Devils earned their way to the state finals, but each time returned home without the win. Following their defeat last November, Lewiston High School coach Mike McGraw vowed to his team that they would return, and they would win. This year, that promise was fulfilled. But the story of the Blue Devils win is not solely one of raw athletic talent and training. This is a team with a long history, and deep friendships, that have spanned many years and continents. A number of the players originally hail from Somalia, and have known each other and played soccer together since they were children in a refugee camp in Kenya. Others native Mainers and immigrants alike have bonded and shared their passion for the sport since grade school. This fraternal bond between the players and the supportiveness of the Lewiston community is a fine example of Maine citizens from diverse ethnic, religious, and experiential backgrounds coming together to achieve victory, while championing Maines spirit and Americas highest ideals of inclusiveness and unity. I wish to join the city of Lewiston, and the entire Maine community, in congratulating the Lewiston High School boys soccer team for their well-earned success. They demonstrated impressive athletic ability, incredible determination, loyalty to their coach and one another, and have highlighted the richness that multiculturalism brings to our communities. The Blue Devils have earned their title as champions, in more ways than one. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-merkley-collins-urge-justice-department-to-protect-americas-craft-brewers,"King, Merkley, Collins Urge Justice Department to Protect America’s Craft Brewers",2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Merkley, Collins Urge Justice Department to Protect Americas Craft Brewers Senators express concern about potentially anti-competitive practices by large beer conglomerates and distributors Thursday, November 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a bipartisan group of Senators, including U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), on a letter urging the U.S. Department of Justice to protect craft brewers across America from potentially unfair and illegal trade practices on the part of larger beer companies. In the letter, which was sent to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the senators express concern aboutthe possibility of larger beer companies pressuring beer distributers to favor their products, creating an unfair advantage for beer giants and limiting the ability of consumer to find craft brewers products in the stores, bars and restaurants where they shop. The past decade has seen a dramatic change in the American beer industry, which was long dominated by a small number of products from large brewers such as AB InBev and SABMiller. Craft beer now drives expansion of domestic beer sales. Small and independent craft breweries exist in all 50 states and the District of Columbia,the Senators wrote in their letter. As members with robust craft brewing industries in our states, we ask that you take the necessary steps to ensure that AB InBevs purchase of SABMiller does not allow the new combined company to squeeze out Americas craft brewing industry, stifle innovation, further constrain beer distribution to U.S. retailers, or create further barriers to entry. Large multinational brewers should not be allowed to use their market power to limit consumer choice and access to small innovative breweries.Put simply, we believe craft brewers must be able to conduct their business without being denied access to necessary raw materials and distribution companies. The Senators particularly expressed concern about the potential for anti-competitive distribution practices to grow as the largest beer companies get even larger through mergers.On October 16, 2015, AB InBevs, the worlds largest beer conglomerate,announced its intention to purchase SABMiller, the second-largest. The Senators raise concerns that AB InBev may try to use the acquisition to increase its already dominant market position, possibly by constraining distribution channels in order to crowd out smaller beer companies. Some reports have already suggested that the company uses its large market share to put pressure on distributors to favor AB InBev products, which could potentially be deemed an exclusionary and illegal practice. The Senators also highlight the dramatic growth of small and independent craft breweries, noting that since 2011, the number of craft breweries in America has more than doubled from 1,776 to 3,739.Small and independent craft brewers contribute some $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy and support more than 424,000 jobs. The letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.). The letter is available HERE and the full text is below: +++ The Honorable Loretta E. Lynch Attorney General U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Dear Attorney General Lynch: We write because our offices have been made aware of potentially unfair and illegal trade practices that may harm the ability of craft brewers in our states to compete on a fair and level playing field with large brewers. We are particularly concerned about large commercial beer companies attempting to gain market share by either purchasing distributors or pressuring independent distributors to favor their products. We understand the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating some of these practices and we want to express our support for that investigation. We also hope the Department keeps these concerns in mind as the Antitrust Division reviews AB InBevs purchase of SABMiller. The past decade has seen a dramatic change in the American beer industry, which was long dominated by a small number of products from large brewers such as AB InBev and SABMiller. Craft beer now drives expansion of domestic beer sales. Small and independent craft breweries exist in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They have expanded at a staggering rate: since 2011, the number of craft breweries has more than doubled, going from 1,776 to 3,739. Small and independent craft brewers contribute some $55.7 billion to the U.S. economy and support more than 424,000 jobs. Large brewers have taken notice and have taken actions that we believe may amount to exclusive dealing and other violations of antitrust law. For instance, while many craft brewers lawfully and successfully distribute beer in their local markets, the recent purchases of craft breweries and distributors by AB InBev suggests a dangerous plan to constrain distribution channels to the detriment of its competitors. Because of consolidation by distributors, there are now far fewer distribution channels for craft brewers. The purchase by AB InBev of one of the two distributors that deliver the vast majority of beer in a given territory effectively either forces other brewers out of that distribution channel or places those that stay in the uncomfortable situation of being distributed by their largest competitor. Reports also suggest that, in markets where two independent full-service distributors exist, AB InBev puts pressure on the distributors to favor AB InBev productsa practice that could well be deemed exclusionary and illegal. Given these concerns, AB InBevs October 16 announcement of its intention to purchase SABMiller should raise significant red flags. As members with robust craft brewing industries in our states, we ask that you take the necessary steps to ensure that AB InBevs purchase of SABMiller does not allow the new combined company to squeeze out Americas craft brewing industry, stifle innovation, further constrain beer distribution to U.S. retailers, or create further barriers to entry. While AB InBev announced plans to divest itself of SABMillers U.S. assets as part of such a transaction, DOJ should vigorously scrutinize the acquisition and any divestiture plan to ensure that AB InBev does not increase its already-dominant market position through the transaction. Moreover, even if the transaction does not result in an increase in AB InBevs market share in the U.S., DOJ should carefully consider how global consolidation could impact the market for hops, barley, wheat, bottles, cans and other supplies needed by craft brewers. In addition, we hope DOJ will probe how each of these companies has acted with regard to distributors and investigate whether distributors owned by these companies also need to be divested. Large multinational brewers should not be allowed to use their market power to limit consumer choice and access to small innovative breweries. Put simply, we believe craft brewers must be able to conduct their business without being denied access to necessary raw materials and distribution companies. We appreciate your prompt attention to our letter and urge the Department to appropriately vet the AB InBev purchase of SABMiller and ensure that we maintain a market that does not disproportionately harm beer consumers and the craft brewing industry. We hope you will continue investigating our concerns and conduct additional outreach with craft brewers to gather evidence from their experiences. We look forward to hearing your findings. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-confirms-nomination-of-mike-michaud-to-be-department-of-labor-assistant-secretary,Senate Confirms Nomination of Mike Michaud to be Department of Labor Assistant Secretary,2015-11-19,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Confirms Nomination of Mike Michaud to be Department of Labor Assistant Secretary Thursday, November 19, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced tonight that the Senate has approved the nomination of former U.S. Representative Mike Michaud for the post of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training. I worked with Mike for many years when he represented Maines Second District and have seen his dedication to our veterans. His commitment to ensuring that our veterans have the training and jobs they deserve when they return to civilian life will serve our veterans well, said Senator Collins. Mike is a man of true character whose commitment to veterans extends decades, Senator King said. I know that in his new position he will continue to fight to ensure that Americas veterans have the resources and opportunities they need and deserve to succeed in life after the military. He has demonstrated his dedication to Maine veterans time and again, and I have no doubt that he will bring that same tenacity and passion to the Department of Labor as he works on behalf of veterans around the country. The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training oversees the Veterans Employment and Training Service, which provides career service and preparation to America's veterans, service members, and their spouses. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-45000-for-auburn-school-districts-farm-to-school-program,"Collins, King Announce $45,000 for Auburn School District’s Farm to School Program",2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce $45,000 for Auburn School Districts Farm to School Program Wednesday, November 18, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. United States Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today the Auburn School District will receive $45,000 in grant funding from the United States Department of Agricultures Farm to School program. This important investment will help to increase the availability of local food products on the menus of schools across the Auburn school district, the Senators said in a joint statement. In Maine, we are lucky enough to have a vibrant local food movement, and this investment will make locally-grown food a greater part of the good nutrition that helps put our students in a position to succeed. USDAs Farm to School grants fund school districts, state and local agencies, tribal nations, agricultural producers, and non-profit organizations in their efforts to increase local foods served through child nutrition programs. In addition, the program helps teach children about food and agriculture through garden and classroom education and develops schools and farmers capacities to participate in the program. Senator King is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Farm to School Act of 2015, which would strengthen and expand the federal Farm to School grant program. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-capito-daines-call-on-fcc-to-increase-transparency-enforcement-for-rural-broadband-funding,"King, Capito, Daines Call on FCC to Increase Transparency, Enforcement for Rural Broadband Funding",2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Capito, Daines Call on FCC to Increase Transparency, Enforcement for Rural Broadband Funding Wednesday, November 18, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to consider strict enforcement measures and increase transparency for the recently announced Connect America Fund funding. The FCC announced more than $1.5 billion in annual funding as part of the second phase of the Connect America Fund to expand and support broadband service in rural areas. We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where, and when the funds are used are necessary to ensure the integrity of the [Connect America Fund] program and the success of the FCCs efforts to advance rural broadband. We seek to maximize the success of the program and ensure that these limited funds are put to the best, appropriate use, the Senators wrote. In a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler yesterday, the Senators call on the FCC to provide a publically available list of accountability measures for proper use of the federal funds, and to explain what enforcement mechanisms will be implemented if carriers fail to meet their obligations under the Connect America Fund program. In states like Maine and West Virginia where a single carrier receives the funding, it is critical that these limited funds are effectively and efficiently used. The complete text of the letter can be read HERE and is below: +++ November 17, 2015 Dear Chairman Wheeler: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays an imperative and unique role in supporting rural connectivity. In the 21st century economy, robust telecommunications networks are increasingly important for todays users, and serve as the foundation of future innovation and economic progress. As the Commission continues to reform its universal service funding mechanisms to adapt to a changing technological environment, we commend the Commissions ongoing attention and support of underserved rural areas. Unfortunately, deployment of these networks in rural communities continues to lag behind those in urban areas. Recently, the Commission announced over $1.5 billion in annual funding as part of the second phase of the Connect America Fund (CAF). The primary purpose of these funds is supporting investments in the most underserved communities. The Commission has announced that ten telecommunications carriers have accepted this support, which will direct over $9 billion to rural broadband development over the next six years. The high cost to deploy networks in rural areas creates a heavy reliance on the federal funding provided by the FCC, and it is important that these funds are used efficiently. We agree with your recent remarks at the NTCA Fall Conference on the importance of ensuring accountability within the Commissions universal service program. While your statement was directed at reports of fraud and abuse by a handful of carriers, we believe the same commitment to responsible and efficient use of federal funds should be applied to all carriers who benefit from universal service program funding, including those supported by CAF. We also applaud your recent Public Notice reminding carriers to not use their funding in wasteful or fraudulent ways. Should we need stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the Fund is used appropriately to advance rural broadband deployment, we would look forward to working with you on identifying the right solutions. CAF is designed to advance critical broadband deployment in our rural communities and improve rural access. In order to ensure the success of the CAF program, we respectfully request a list of accountability mechanisms currently in place to ensure that recipients are using the funds for their intended purpose, that build-out requirements are being met, and that locations reported as newly served are actually receiving service that meets CAF II standards. As you may be aware, the general public has an increasing interest in the outcomes of CAF investments, and we believe making these measures of accountability publicly available would be well received. We would also like to know what enforcement mechanisms will be implemented in cases where carriers fail to meet their obligations. We believe strict enforcement measures, coupled with transparency around how, where, and when the funds are used, are necessary to ensure the integrity of the CAF program and the success of the FCCs efforts to advance rural broadband. We seek to maximize the success of the program and ensure that these limited funds are put to the best, appropriate use. We look forward to working with you to promote the continued adoption and expansion of broadband services, and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Connect America Fund. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111815,News November 18,2015-11-18,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 18 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Senator Sanders PBS NewsHour Senator Bernie Sanders joined PBS NewsHour last night to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis. The good news, in the midst of all of this tragedy, is that countries all over the world, whether it is France, whether it is Russia, whether it is the Muslim countries in the Gulf region, we now have a common interest, Sanders said. Sanders also discussed the current anti-Muslim bigotry in the GOP race Last I heard, we had a Constitution in this country which gave all of our people the right of religious freedom, you know? And then Im hearing other people saying, well, you know, we may have to undermine the Constitution in terms of civil liberties. LINK, VIDEO F.D.A. Commissioner Sen. Bernie Sanders raised questions at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday about Dr. Robert Califfs ties to the pharmaceutical industry,The Associated Press,The New York Times,The Washington Post,The HillandWashington Examinerreported. At the end of the day, people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. Weve been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner whos going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. And I have to say to you, with regret, that I think you are not that person.LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK,LINK Syrian Refugees Sen. Sanders slammed calls to shut the borders to Syrian refugees, telling supporters at a Monday night campaign rally that ""now is not the time for demagoguery and fear-mongering, Politico, Reuters,FusionandThe Washington Postreported. The United States must not turn its backs on refugees fleeing violence from places like Syria or Afghanistan, he said, on the same day that governors of more than two dozen states said that they would try to stop the flow of immigrants from Syria out of concerns stemming from the fact that one of the terrorists in Friday's deadly attacks in France came from Syria. LINK, LINK,LINK,VIDEO World Two Terror Suspects Dead Gunshots and explosions rang out from the northern suburb of Saint-Denis early Wednesday as more than 100 French police and army troops laid siege to an apartment with at least six terror suspects, potentially including the alleged ringleader of Fridays deadly attacks in Paris, The Washington Post reported. LINK National Syrian Refugee Plan As Republicans call for blocking Syrian refugees from coming to the United States in the wake of the attacks in Paris, the Obama administration said on Tuesday that it was confident that it could weed out any migrants posing a terrorism threat before they entered the country, The New York Times reported. LINK Student Debt The Department of Education announced Tuesday that it would expand its program to forgive federal student loan debt to thousands more students who attended programs of Corinthian Colleges, once one of the nations largest for-profit education companies, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Rally Against Refugees H. Brooke Paige, a candidate in several past Vermont elections, has announced a rally against the governor's willingness to accept Syrian refugees, the Burlington Free Press reported. Gov. Peter Shumlin said Monday that Vermont would continue to welcome refugees, including those from Syria, despite other governors around the country who shut their doors following terrorist attacks in Paris. Paige intends to run for governor in 2016, Vermont Press Bureau and others have reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-nearly-10-million-in-federal-loans-to-support-public-health-and-safety-in-maine-communities-,"Collins, King Announce Nearly $10 Million in Federal Loans to Support Public Health and Safety in Maine Communities",2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce Nearly $10 Million in Federal Loans to Support Public Health and Safety in Maine Communities Tuesday, November 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award $9,985,000 in federal loans to three initiatives in Maine to support rural health and public safety. Downeast Horizons of Ellsworth, Down East Community Hospital of Machias, and Orono-based Independence Advocates of Maine will each receive a loan through the USDA Community Facilities Program to improve their operations. We welcome these federal loans as an important investment in Maines health care and social service providers that will empower them to improve their facilities and strengthen their ability to provide high-quality services to Maine people, Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. Downeast Horizons will receive a $1 million loan, Down East Community Hospital will receive a $4 million loan, and Independence Advocates of Maine will receive $4,985,000 loan. The Community Facilities Program is administered by Rural Development, an agency within the USDA that works to improve the economy and quality of life in rural America. The Community Facilities Program invests in rural community infrastructure in order to support essential services and improve access to health care in rural areas. The announcement of this USDA support comes as the department celebrates National Rural Health Week. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/newswatch/111715,News November 17,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"News November 17 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Senator Sanders Syrian Refugees Rejecting what he called cheap political talk in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, Sen. Bernie Sanders said that he opposes banning refugees from Syria from entering the U.S., BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, The Associated Press and CNN reported. I am disturbed by some of what I am hearing from my Republican colleagues, and I will just say this: During these difficult times, as Americans we will not succumb to racism. We will not allow ourselves to be divided and succumb to Islamophobia, Sanders said. We will not turn our backs on the refugees. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK Family LeaveSen. Sanders highlighted his support Sunday for a plan to provide three months of paid leave after a family has a child, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal reported. ""You think that we can afford $1.39 per week?"" Sanders asked a crowd of more than 400 people, composed largely of college students, gathered for a town hall meeting. It is unconscionable that millions of new parents in this country are forced back to work because they dont have the income to stay home with their newborn babies.LINK, LINK High Drug PricesSen. Sanders would allow Medicare, the federal health plan for the elderly and disabled, to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. That bargaining isnt currently allowed by federal law, a restriction Senate Democrats are seeking to lift through legislation, The Wall Street Journal reported.LINK FDA NomineeEver since Califf was named a deputy commissioner at the FDA in January and then nominated to be chief regulator in September, his long-standing working relationship with the pharmaceutical industry has prompted debate. Among those opposing his nomination are Sen. Sanders and Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, STAT Newsreported.LINK World Obamas ISIS Strategy In response to each of the questions posed by reporters, Obama made his case for a steady and persistent campaign that seeks to gradually shrink the Islamic States territory in Iraq and Syria with airstrikes, slowly build up indigenous ground forces and press for renewed diplomatic negotiations to end Syrias civil war, The Washington Post. LINK Sinai Plane Crash The mid-air explosion of a Russian jetliner over the Sinai desert last month that killed all 224 people on board was the result of a terrorist attack, Russias chief intelligence officer said Tuesday according to The Washington Post. LINK National Freddie Gray Investigation The first independent review of the Baltimore Police Departments response to riots in April found major shortcomings and said officers were unprepared and untrained for the scale and scope of the unrest, The New York Times reported. LINK Vermont Shumlin Defends Private Prisons Vermont houses 271 inmates at a private prison in Michigan, down from 562 out-of-state inmates about five years ago, according to a statement. The states overall inmate population has fallen nearly 18 percent during the same period, to 1,734. Shumlin argued that private prison contracts save moneyand said its nave to suggest Vermont should stop shipping inmates to Michigan., the Burlington Free Press reported. LINK",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-questions-fda-nominee-with-deep-pharma-ties,Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties,2015-11-17,2015,2015-11,Independent,House,VT,Bernard Sanders,S000033,www.sanders.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sanders Questions FDA Nominee With Deep Pharma Ties Tuesday, November 17, 2015 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 At a Senate confirmation hearing today, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he opposes the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration because of doubts that he would act to lower skyrocketing drug prices. At the end of the day people are dying and not buying the food they need because they have to pay outrageous prices for medicine, Sanders said. We have been extraordinarily weak at taking on the pharmaceutical industry that has been ripping off the American people. I believe we need a commissioner who is going to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and protect American consumers. You are not that person. Last year, one in five Americans 35 million people were unable to afford to fill their prescriptions. Prices for some prescription drugs soared 1,000 percent or more in recent years. Since 2002, total spending on medicine in the United States went up by more than 90 percent. Califf has deeper ties to the pharmaceutical industry than any FDA commissioner in recent history. He ran a multimillion-dollar clinical research center at Duke University that received more than 60 percent of its funding from the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. And his financial disclosure form last year listed seven drug companies and a device maker that paid him for consulting and six others including Merck, Novartis and Eli Lilly which supported his university salary. In 2014, the pharmaceutical industry spent $250 million on lobbying and campaign contributions and employed some 1,400 lobbyists. Do you think that type of expenditure has any impact on the fact that we pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs? Sanders asked Califf. The top three pharmaceutical companies made a combined $45 billion in profits last year and spent more on sales and marketing than they did on research and development. Sanders has introduced comprehensive legislation that would lower soaring drug prices.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z