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://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-smile-for-veterans-act,"Golden, bipartisan colleagues introduce SMILE for Veterans Act",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Don Davis (NC-01) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the SMILE for Veterans Act, to expand affordable dental care for veterans in rural communities across the country.

“VA health care is an essential benefit for our nation’s veterans, but for too long a lack of dental coverage has been a massive gap in care. The mouth is part of the body, and our veterans shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get basic dental care. I’m proud to work with Reps. Bergman, Davis and Van Drew on the SMILE for Veterans Act, which takes a smart first step toward more comprehensive coverage by focusing on rural areas where barriers to care are the highest and community providers that can help close the gap,” Golden said.

Under current law, only about 15 percent of the nearly nine million veterans enrolled in health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are eligible for VA dental services. Eligibility is generally limited to veterans with a service-connected dental condition, a 100 percent disability rating or former prisoner-of-war status.

Efforts to broadly expand dental coverage through the VA have faced significant cost and capacity challenges, including the need for additional personnel, facilities, and community-care infrastructure.

The SMILE for Veterans Act takes a targeted approach by creating a pilot program to reimburse existing community-based dental providers to serve rural veterans. By leveraging providers and infrastructure already in place, the legislation would expand access to dental care in underserved communities without requiring the VA to build a new system from the ground up.

Research from the CareQuest Institute in 2024 found that more than one-third of veterans surveyed rated their oral health as only fair or poor, while more than 75 percent of respondents reported losing two or more teeth to decay or gum disease. Nearly four in 10 veterans reported having no dental insurance.

“For too many Veterans in rural communities, basic dental care is either too far away or simply out of reach,” Bergman said. “The SMILE for Veterans Act offers a practical solution by connecting Veterans with trusted dental providers already serving their communities. Rather than building an expensive new federal system from the ground up, this legislation uses existing local providers to deliver care efficiently and closer to home.”

“I spent 30 years as a dentist, and I can tell you that putting off dental care usually only makes things worse,” Van Drew said. “For veterans living in rural communities, sometimes the hardest part is simply finding a dentist close enough to get the care they need. That should not be the case. The SMILE for Veterans Act is a practical way to connect veterans with that care closer to home. To me, that is common sense.”

“Quality dental care is a critical part of keeping our veterans healthy, and too often, veterans in rural communities face significant challenges getting the care they need. The bipartisan SMILE for Veterans Act would give community providers across eastern North Carolina a way to deliver that care closer to home. Our veterans kept their promise to our nation, and we must always keep ours to them,” Davis said.

“The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is grateful to see the introduction of the SMILE Act, led by Representative Bergman, Representative Davis, Representative Van Drew, and Representative Golden. This legislation would establish a pilot program to improve rural Veterans’ access to dental care, addressing a critical need in rural communities where Veterans often face significant barriers to accessing essential health services. With one in four Veterans living in a rural area, ensuring access to dental care is an important part of ensuring rural Veterans can receive the comprehensive care they deserve,” said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medications,King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans’ Access to High-Cost Prescription Medications,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans’ homes. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to reimburse State Veterans Homes (SVH) for high-cost medications that exceed 8.5% of their per diem rate, like the arrangement many private contract nursing homes currently have with the VA. Alternatively, it could require the VA to provide these medications directly to the SVHs. Maine has six SVH’s in locations across the state.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) does not pay State Veterans Homes for high-cost medications for severely disabled veterans, which are covered for veterans who reside outside the facilities. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) joins Senator King as a lead co-sponsor of the bill.

“Our men and women in uniform didn’t hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve the nation – we shouldn’t hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible,” said Senator King. “If the VA covers veterans’ medications when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they chose to live.”

“State veterans’ homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive,” said Senator Banks. “This bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation’s heroes.”

Since the successful passage of the PACT Act in 2022, there has been a significant increase in the number of veterans adjudicated as being severely disabled. For these veterans, the VA currently pays a per diem but doesn’t pay the State Veterans Homes for the cost of extremely high-cost medications which often cost the homes more than VA is paying (sometimes more than $1000 a day). The result has been a rise in veterans being refused SVH admissions, SVHs having to foot the costs of certain lifesaving medications – or the SVHs discharging them due to expense.

“This legislation addresses a clear and consequential gap in federal policy. Private facilities that contract with the VA receive direct reimbursement for high-cost medications, while State Veterans Homes like Maine Veterans’ Homes do not. That inequity can force Veterans Homes to weigh the extraordinary cost of a Veteran’s medications during the admissions process—something no Veteran or Veterans Home should face,” said Brad Klawitter, Maine Veterans’ Homes CEO. “Maine Veterans’ Homes provides high-quality care in a setting specifically designed to honor the service and sacrifice of our Veterans. Reimbursement for high-cost medications is essential to our ability to continue serving Veterans in our communities, including those with complex medical needs. These Veterans served our state and country, and they deserve access to a Veterans Home where their service is understood, respected and honored. Closing this gap must be a priority.”

“The National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH) strongly supports the bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act which would ensure exorbitantly high-cost medications don’t limit long-term care options for aging and disabled veterans,” said Ryan Engle, NASVH President. ““NASVH is grateful for the leadership of Senators Angus King and Jim Banks in introducing legislation to improve the lives of highly service-connected disabled veterans and strengthen the State Veterans Homes system.”

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-slams-unconstitutional-lawlessness-of-trump-rescissions,King Slams “Unconstitutional Lawlessness” of Trump Rescissions,2026-09-26,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) issued the following response to news that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinded nearly one billion dollars of Congressionally-approved bipartisan spending without warning or Congressional authorization:

“This administration’s Office of Management and Budget has just unilaterally taken away 800 million dollars that Congress passed on a bipartisan basis towards key priorities – in blatant defiance of the Constitution and federal law.

“This isn’t a vague legal concept they are abusing; it’s grade school-level American government: Article 1 of the United States Constitution. Elected lawmakers make funding decisions to provide for the common defense and support the general welfare - that’s the beating heart of representational democracy.

“But this President and his administration no doubt believe they can get away with such an illegal action – because, for over 20 months, they have. Watching the President spend billions on his unauthorized and illegal war that is costing lives and wrecking household budgets; wage economic warfare on our allies through tariffs that hike costs for Americans on everyday goods and spend over a billion dollars on his vanity projects, the Congressional majority has shown no resistance.

“Why does he believe he can claw back a nearly billion dollars of bipartisan-approved Congressional spending? Because this Congress has enabled him by declining to stand up for itself and the rule of law – even voting down a Senate attempt to formally ban rescissions like this on party lines. After nearly two years of this explicitly unconstitutional lawlessness, will my colleagues finally say ‘no more?’ I urge my colleagues to come together, reject this unconstitutional pattern of behavior, and reset the balance among the branches of government.

“President Trump is having enough difficulty doing his job; Congress should take this opportunity to do ours.”

###",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-celebrate-maines-iconic-lobster-industry-on-national-lobster-day,"Collins, King Celebrate Maine’s Iconic Lobster Industry on ‘National Lobster Day’",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins are celebrating Maine’s iconic lobster industry after the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan resolution recognizing September 25, 2026, as “National Lobster Day.” The resolution recognizes the crustacean as a foundational part of Maine’s economy and culture. The resolution also highlights the environmental and economic impact of this heritage industry.

“Fueling the lobster’s iconic status are the hardworking men and women who wake up early every morning in towns up and down our coastline to carry on the proud lobstering tradition,” said Senator King and Collins. “This National Lobster Day, let us highlight their work to ensure the long-term health, resiliency, and sustainability of our waters and the hundreds of millions of dollars they bring to our local economy. Our lobstermen bring immeasurable pride to our great state and this resolution is just one way we can acknowledge and appreciate their service to our communities.”

""National Lobster Day comes at peak Maine Lobster season and is the perfect time to enjoy the sweet flavor and tender texture of your favorite lobster dish,” said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. “While celebrating this delicious treat, people are also supporting the independent fishermen and coastal communities that have worked for generations to bring lobster to tables everywhere.""

Lobster is a top economic driver for the state of Maine. The Maine lobster fishery is one of the oldest continually operated industries in North America, with the first documented catch dating back to the 1600s. Today, Maine is the largest lobster-producing state in the nation. Each year, the fishery employs 5,600+ independent lobstermen, harvests 100+ million pounds of lobster, and contributes $1+ billion to the Maine economy.

Senator King and Collins have been top advocates for the Maine lobster industry, most recently urging Senate action to extend the current lobster regulatory pause to protect Maine’s sustainable lobster industry from misguided regulations that would have been devastating for the industry. This action follows Senators Collins and King securing a provision in the fiscal year 2022 annual appropriations spending bill which included the original regulatory reprieve. Additionally, the Senators secured more than $1.9 million for lobster research in 2024 to address critical knowledge gaps and improve fisheries.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-legislation-supporting-fire-departments-and-boosting-community-home-safety-standards,King Introduces Legislation Supporting Fire Departments and Boosting Community Home Safety Standards,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing a key piece of legislation that would support fire departments responding to in-home emergencies. More specifically, the FASTER Act would fund grants to support fire department safety visits, simple home modifications like grab bars, and connections to lifesaving community resources.

The legislation is being introduced during the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week and would empower local fire departments to initiate a program where seniors could sign up to get lock boxes installed (local FD had the master key) so Emergency Medical Services (EMS) don’t have to knock down their door to get inside to respond to an emergency. While at the senior’s home installing the lock box, the fire department staff could also evaluate the home for fall hazards and suggest minor home modifications.

On a percentage basis, Maine leads the nation with the largest 65 and older population. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 years and older. There are roughly 1 million fall-related hospitalizes and 3 million emergency department visits annually across the country due to falls.

“We all know the saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,’ and preventative care is a win-win for Maine patients, families and the taxpayers,” said Senator King. “The FASTER Act is a critical step forward in supporting older Maine people and making sure that fire departments have the tools and resources to respond to in-home emergencies promptly while avoiding costly complications. Tools like lock boxes, grab bars or handrails can be the difference between a simple installation and an avoidable injury, while reducing time-consuming delays for responders. This is just another effort we are making in the Congress to help Maine people—and all older Americans—to stand strong.”

Preventing falls is also about enabling adults to age comfortably in their homes, which is where most Americans want to age. At a time of affordability challenges and when inflation continues to rise, preventing falls is also cost saver for the average American and the taxpayers, with a private nursing home room cost now averaging more than $120,000 per year.

More specifically, the FASTER Act would:

Require the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to make three-year grants to fire departments to implement fall prevention programs.

Grants would be used for the following:

To procure and install lock boxes accessible by emergency personnel for seniors in need of assistance;

Minor home modifications to reduce fall risks, including flattening of rugs, removal of tripping hazards, and installation of hand rails and grab bars;

Other health and safety tasks, including installing and replacing smoke detectors and batteries, risk assessment and reconciliation of medications, and referral to falls prevention classes.

The bill would authorize the program for ten years, with $1 million for the first three years and increasing incrementally up to $7 million for the final year.

“As more older Americans live in their own homes, timely access by fire departments and EMS in the event of a fall can mean the difference between life and death,” said Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging. “We are grateful to Senator King for his continued bipartisan, bicameral efforts to advance falls prevention strategies by introducing the Senate version of the FASTER Act during Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2026.”

According to a 2024 report from the National Institute of Health, Medicare spent over $50 billion dollars on direct medical expenses related to falls – with the average fall-related injury costing about $20,000.

As an extension of his longtime focus on prevention efforts, Senator King has been leading the charge in the falls prevention space on cost-effective solutions like bathmats. Senator King introduced the ‘Stand Strong’ legislative package, which included the Stand Strong Falls Prevention Act that would require the development of a National Falls Prevention Plan. The package also included the Preventive Home Visits Act, which would provide Medicare coverage for qualified care providers to assess the safety of seniors’ homes, and the Wellness and Education for Longer Lives (WELL) for Seniors Act, which would improve Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit to encourage seniors and their physicians to work together and confront health issues before they become more serious.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6865,"Pingree, Kelly Call Out Reports of Illegal Union-Busting at Prime Healthcare",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) are leading a group of their Democratic colleagues in demanding that Prime Healthcare end alleged intimidation and retaliation against nurses engaged in federally protected union activity at its hospitals in Maine, Illinois, and Nevada. In a letter to Prime Healthcare Chairman and CEO Dr. Prem Reddy, the lawmakers cite reports of dozens of nurses being suspended or fired, police being called on nurses and organizers lawfully distributing information outside a hospital, and hospital-branded materials urging employees to vote against union representation.

The letter comes as nurses at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine; Olympia Fields Hospital in Olympia Fields, Illinois; and Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois, seek representation through the National Nurses Organizing Committee. At Central Maine Medical Center alone, Prime Healthcare has suspended or fired at least 20 nurses during the organizing campaign—actions the nurses and the union allege are retaliation for advocating for safer staffing, adequate resources, and improved patient care. Olympia Fields Hospital has also reportedly suspended six nurses.

“Registered nurses at these Prime facilities are fighting to ensure they can provide the very best care to the communities they serve, including concerns about cuts to vital services that patients rely on. As you are aware, just last year, Senators Duckworth and Durbin contacted you about reversing Prime’s decision to reduce services in several newly acquired hospitals across Illinois,” the lawmakers wrote. “We remain deeply concerned about warnings from these workers that recent changes to services and designations will impact standards and delivery of care in our communities.”

The lawmakers also highlight alleged retaliation at other Prime Healthcare facilities, including the firing of six nurses at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital in Chicago ahead of a June union election and two nurses at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada. They are urging Prime Healthcare to comply fully with the National Labor Relations Act, allow employees to decide freely whether to unionize, and negotiate in good faith with workers who choose union representation.[CI3]

“All workers should have the free choice to join a union, should they choose to form one, without interference or intimidation,” they said. “[...] We will continue to monitor Prime Healthcare’s actions closely and, should nurses at those facilities form a union, expect you to negotiate a fair contract in good faith with workers in accordance with the law.”

The letter is available here and is copied below.

Joining Pingree and Kelly on the letter are: Reps. Gilbert Cisneros (D-Calif.), Jesús ""Chuy"" García (D-Ill.), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

[CI1]They technically aren’t in the union yet, do we need to clarify something like their proposed union or something like that. - Kevin

[CI2]Can we link to the letter? Just easier for News to find the right one. - Kevin",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-talks-affordability-energy-costs-and-propublica-on-all-things-with-kim-strassel,"Senator Collins Talks Affordability, Energy Costs, and ProPublica on “All Things with Kim Strassel”",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Full video: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.

On Affordability: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.

On Lowering Energy Costs: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.

On ProPublica Article: Click HERE to watch and HERE to download.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined The Wall Street Journal’s “All Things with Kim Strassel” podcast to discuss a variety of topics, including how the Senate should address affordability issues before the October recess, her bipartisan INSULIN Act, lowering energy costs in Maine, and a recent article from ProPublica.

On Affordability:

Kim Strassel:

The Senate was supposed to be in session until October and now looks as if it may close shop early, cut loose members, send them home. There's lots of possibilities being floated in the news: possibility of permitting reform, of a college athletes bill, of a vote on data center costs, a war powers resolution on Iran, maybe some confirmations. What, if anything, do you see actually happening before the Senate leaves? Or is the answer none of the above?

Sen. Collins:

That's a really hard question to answer. Right now, we're on the college sports bill, the Name, Image, and Likeness bill. Whether we'll be able to complete that, I really don't know. But from my perspective, we should be taking up a permitting bill. We've been talking about that for a long time. That would make such a difference in providing more affordable housing more quickly, more energy more quickly. It would make a difference ultimately in projects that would help lower costs. And I think that's what our focus should be. I've also suggested that we bring up the Military Construction-Veterans Administration bill. That's a funding bill that the Appropriations Committee has some pretty good bipartisan consensus for. The House has passed its version. And I think it would be important to send a signal to those who are serving us in the military, and also to those who have served us, our veterans, that we've taken care of a billion-dollar gap in veterans’ health care. So, that would be a second priority for me. And third, I'd love to see a bill that Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and I have been working on for a long time that would place a cap on the price of insulin, a drug that's been around for more than a hundred years. And it would make a real difference if we cap the cost of insulin for those who receive insurance through the workplace. It's already been capped under the Medicare program at $35 a month. The average price is often $150 a month. So, that's an area where I think we could make a real difference—in health care costs.

On Lowering Energy Costs:

Kim Strassel:

As you go out and you're in Maine, how are you trying to phrase that to voters—about what is the reason why they should return you in particular to the Senate, but want Republicans to stay in control?

Sen. Collins:

Well, I would go back to the cost of energy, because that is a huge issue in my state. I just today have asked the president to release oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. That's sort of like a strategic petroleum reserve for the Northeast. That would help put downward pressure on prices and it would increase supply in the Northeast. I also have joined with Jack Reed, the Democratic Senator from Rhode Island, in asking the Administration to release the low-income home heating program money right off. Winter is here; it's coming. It's right around the corner. We're filling our oil tanks right now. Low-income families and seniors on limited incomes need that assistance. We need to expand the weatherization program so that you don't have to spend as much to heat your home and stay warm in the winter. So, energy costs are the number one issue that people are expressing real worry about to me. I think those are three immediate steps that we could do, permitting in the long term. I would note that when President Biden canceled the XL pipeline, which would've brought in oil from Canada to the United States, that was an enormous mistake, enormous. How I wish that that pipeline, which would be completed about now, I believe, were bringing more oil to us. We've got to become energy independent.

On ProPublica Article:

Kim Strassel:

So, let's talk about your race in Maine. You are no stranger to some very tough races there, being a Republican in Maine. And here we go again, including, and I'm just going to start with this, some nasty politics. And to that point, I'm going to go right at it. A remarkable story that just came out in which ProPublica regurgitates these seven-year-old claims made by a convicted felon who somehow argued your office was engaged in corruption. I should note that no less than the Biden FBI came out five years ago and said it had looked at all angles of this particular situation that this individual is involved in—said it was “totally false” that there had been wrongdoing by you or those who worked for you. Why is this story coming out now and what is going on here?

Sen. Collins:

Well, it's clearly a partisan hit job. And I've got to say, I do not understand how anyone would take the word of a felon who's been convicted twice, twice, two separate cases, of five counts of money laundering, counts of bank fraud, false submissions to the FEC. He is a convicted liar. When you contrast that to my decades of honest public service with the utmost integrity, it is so offensive. As you pointed out, the Biden-led Justice Department and FBI totally cleared my office, my campaign, and me five years ago of these seven-year-old allegations. And the FBI said again today that these are completely false. And it is so offensive. But clearly the timing is not coincidental. This is a smear job. And as someone who has always prided herself on serving with integrity, it really offends me. And I'm offended for my staff too, both on the campaign and in the personal office. So, shame on ProPublica for taking the words of a twice convicted felon over my office campaign staff and me—it's disgraceful.

Kim Strassel:

Well, there you have it. That is from Susan Collins right there—the definitive comment on that story.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-call-on-president-trump-to-release-home-heating-oil-from-northeast-reserve-as-prices-surge,"Senators Collins, King Call on President Trump to Release Home Heating Oil from Northeast Reserve as Prices Surge",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Trump urging him to release supply from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Mainers from high costs as the cold weather months approach.

According to the Maine Department of Energy Resources’ most recent weekly fuel survey, statewide heating oil prices have increased by 74 percent compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank than it did last year, imposing a significant hardship on the half of Maine households that heat their homes with fuel oil.

“We write to request that you release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Mainers from the very high prices that are imposing a difficult financial burden,” Senators Collins and King wrote. “You ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve earlier this year to help address rising costs, and we believe the same urgency now applies to the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.”

“The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook finds that U.S. distillate fuel inventories, which include home heating oil, fell below the five-year range in April and are expected to remain below the 2021–2025 low through the end of 2026 and most of 2027,” they continued. “According to the EIA, ‘Low inventories may also contribute to higher prices for residential heating oil in the Northeastern United States.’”

“Further, the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have prevented additional heating oil from reaching the global market. Maine is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks because our state imports much of our home heating oil. With both domestic and international supplies running low, a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve would help ease these prices,” the Senators concluded.

Click here to read their letter in full.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-call-on-president-trump-to-release-home-heating-oil-from-northeast-reserve-as-prices-surge,"Senators Collins, King Call on President Trump to Release Home Heating Oil from Northeast Reserve as Prices Surge",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Trump urging him to release supply from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to help protect Mainers from high costs as the cold weather months approach.

According to the Maine Department of Energy Resources’ most recent weekly fuel survey, statewide heating oil prices have increased by 74 percent compared to this time last year. It now costs approximately $675 more to fill a standard heating oil tank than it did last year, imposing a significant hardship on the half of Maine households that heat their homes with fuel oil.

“We write to request that you release home heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve to protect Mainers from the very high prices that are imposing a difficult financial burden,” Senators Collins and King wrote. “You ordered a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve earlier this year to help address rising costs, and we believe the same urgency now applies to the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve.”

“The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook finds that U.S. distillate fuel inventories, which include home heating oil, fell below the five-year range in April and are expected to remain below the 2021–2025 low through the end of 2026 and most of 2027,” they continued. “According to the EIA, ‘Low inventories may also contribute to higher prices for residential heating oil in the Northeastern United States.’”

“Further, the conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine War have prevented additional heating oil from reaching the global market. Maine is particularly vulnerable to global supply shocks because our state imports much of our home heating oil. With both domestic and international supplies running low, a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve would help ease these prices,” the Senators concluded.

Click here to read their letter in full.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6862,"Pingree Hears Emotional Testimony from Families, Representatives of Slain ICE Victims",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and U.S. Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for a bicameral public forum of fatal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shootings across the country. Members heard emotional testimony on the killings of Ruben Ray Martinez and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Texas, Renée Nicole Macklin Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, and Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Maine.

Watch Pingree’s portion of questioning here; the full hearing is available to watch here.

Click here for photos from the hearing.

“Listening to these families today was heartbreaking and infuriating,” said Pingree. “Ruben Ray Martinez was killed by an ICE agent, and DHS refused to even admit it happened for nearly a year, until a public records request forced the truth out. Alex Pretti was shot in the back, and it took a bystander's video to prove the government's own account of his death was a lie. Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero's family still has no confirmation that any federal agency is investigating his death, months later. How can the government take someone’s life and leave their family without a clear account of what happened or why? These families deserve answers. Congress has a duty to demand a full accounting and hold federal officials accountable for the abuses committed using taxpayer dollars. Republicans should be demanding those answers alongside us, but they have been derelict in their duties—refusing to hold hearings like this one. Democrats and I will keep fighting for the truth and for justice.”

Other Members participating in the hearing included Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Reps. Emily Randall (D-Wash.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), Wesley Bell (D-Mo.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), and Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.).

The following witnesses offered testimony about the fatal shootings of five people by federal immigration agents during the Trump Administration:

Rachel Reyes: Rachel Reyes’ son, Ruben Ray Martinez, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in March 2025 in South Padre Island, Texas. For nearly a year afterwards, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) refused to publicly acknowledge its involvement in Mr. Martinez’s death, which only came to light through a public records request.

Donna and Brent Ganger: Donna Ganger’s daughter and Brent Ganger’s sister, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, was shot and killed by an ICE agent in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stella Carlson: Stella Carlson recorded the killing of Alex Pretti in January 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Carlson, known as the “woman in the pink coat,” was on her way to work when she witnessed and filmed an immigration agent shooting Mr. Pretti in the back. Her video confirmed that DHS’s account of the fatal shooting was false.

Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado: Ronaldo and Lorenzo Salgado’s father, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, was shot and killed in Houston, Texas in July 2026. Mr. Araujo was driving to work when he was confronted by ICE agents who fired into the vehicle, killing him.

Sean P. Murphy: Sean P. Murphy represents the family of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero who was shot and killed by an ICE agent shortly after leaving for work early in the morning hours of July 13, 2026. He was not the target of any ICE removal operation and had no criminal history. Johan Sebastián did have a social security number and valid work authorization issued by the current administration. To date, no federal agency has confirmed that they are investigating.

""The loss of Johan Sebastián is a tragedy. In the past two months, Ben [Gideon] and I have been fighting for him. We will continue to fight for him. We will continue to fight for justice and accountability And while I desperately want to keep this focused on the tragedy of losing even one life to the world, I would be remiss if I did not address the political elephant in the room, that on the other side of Johan’s life lost is the nefarious decision by this administration to steal and take that life,” Murphy said in his testimony. “[…] The only justification given for Johan’s death was that it was in the interest of public safety. You know what actually keeps the public safe? Not shooting innocent and law-abiding fathers whose only dream is to build a better life for his family.”

Watch Murphy’s full testimony here.

In August, Pingree, Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, hosted a Democratic shadow hearingexamining ICE’s use of force and abuse of power following the tragic killing of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-nichols-inc-manufacturing-facility-in-portland,Senator Collins Visits Nichols Inc. Manufacturing Facility in Portland,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Nichols Inc. in Portland to tour the factory floor and speak with employees and company leadership. Nichols’ 200,000-square-foot Portland facility employs approximately 225 people and produces pumps, valves, gears, and other precision components.

“I enjoyed touring Nichols’ Portland facility, speaking with its highly skilled employees, and learning more about the innovative manufacturing processes they use to produce precision components. Nichols’ advanced manufacturing operations are supporting hundreds of good jobs in Southern Maine and are an excellent example of the skill and expertise of Maine’s manufacturing workforce,” said Senator Collins.

Nichols uses manufacturing processes including additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, sintering, and metal injection molding. The company was founded in 1904 in Waltham, Massachusetts, and opened its Portland operation in 1968. Nichols also operates a manufacturing facility in South Portland.

###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-attends-blue-mass-in-lewiston,Senator Collins Attends Blue Mass in Lewiston,2026-09-20,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

LEWISTON, ME – This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins attended the 2026 Blue Mass at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston. Bishop James Ruggieri celebrated the Mass and was joined by priests and deacons from throughout the Diocese. The gathering paid tribute to the unwavering dedication and acts of selflessness exhibited by local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency responders.

“When crises or disasters strike, it is our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs who are the first to arrive, fearlessly rushing into danger to save lives. The annual Blue Mass serves as a special occasion dedicated to honoring these heroes who courageously put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities,” said Senator Collins. “Thank you to Bishop James Ruggieri for celebrating the Mass with those gathered today. And to all the first responders throughout our state, thank you for committing your lives to ensuring the safety of others. It is a debt we can truly never repay.”

The Blue Mass, referring to the blue uniforms worn by so many public safety personnel, dates to 1934 and is a venerable tradition in many dioceses. The Mass was planned and organized by diocesan officials and representatives from local, county, and state public safety agencies. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, served as the impetus for the Diocese of Portland to institute the Blue Mass in Maine.

Last year, Senator Collins attended the Blue Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.

###",1,2026-09-21T10:25:24Z,2026-09-21T10:26:54Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-pushes-stronger-anti-corruption-rules-on-house-earmarks,Golden pushes stronger anti-corruption rules on House earmarks,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is co-leading an effort to strengthen guardrails against Members of Congress using taxpayer-funded earmarks to increase their own net worth.

Golden joined Reps. Young Kim (CA-40) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to introduce a resolution seeking to change House rules regarding Community Project Funding (CPF), a process that allows Members to direct federal funds to projects undertaken by state, local or tribal governments or certain nonprofits.

“Americans deserve certainty that when a member of Congress secures funding for their district, it’s for the good of their constituents — not themselves, their families or any entity in which they have a financial interest,” Golden said. ""This resolution will strengthen the anti-corruption guardrails around earmarks to ensure federal dollars are used responsibly. I’m proud to co-sponsor this commonsense change to preserve the integrity of the House.”

Under current rules, Members requesting CPF must certify that they and their spouses have no financial conflicts of interest in the request. However, current rules do not explicitly account for indirect financial interests — such as whether an earmark could increase the value of a business asset owned by a Member or their family because of its proximity to the CPF project.

The proposal closes this loophole by requiring Members of Congress to certify that neither they, their spouse, their immediate family members, nor any entity in which they hold a material financial interest would directly or indirectly benefit financially from an earmark.

“When politicians are busy lining their own pockets, how can they ever understand or focus on the pocketbook issues Americans face every single day? Californians are struggling to afford groceries, gas, healthcare, and housing while paying some of the highest taxes in the nation. The least they deserve is representation focused on making their lives better,” Kim said. “I’m proud to lead this commonsense resolution with Congressmen Jared Golden and Brian Fitzpatrick to hold Members of Congress to a stronger standard when bringing federal dollars back home. Members of Congress should be concerned with building a better future for Americans, not filling their own coffers.”

“Public service is a public trust, and there can be no ambiguity about whose interests we are here to serve,” Fitzpatrick said. “No Member of Congress should be able to use the power of public office to create a financial benefit for themselves, their family, or an entity in which they have a financial stake. I have spent years working across the aisle to strengthen accountability and eliminate conflicts of interest in Congress, and the principle here is just as clear: public decisions must be made in the public interest. Clear rules, meaningful transparency, and real accountability are essential to protecting the integrity of this institution and the trust of the people we serve.”

Text of the resolution is available here.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-new-balance-contract-to-produce-athletic-shoes-in-maine-for-the-us-military,Senator Collins Announces New Balance Contract to Produce Athletic Shoes in Maine for the U.S. Military,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that New Balance has been awarded a contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to provide athletic shoes for members of the U.S. military. The shoes will be produced at the New Balance Central Maine facility in Skowhegan.

Under the three-year contract, DLA could purchase up to 540,000 pairs of New Balance athletic shoes, with a minimum purchase of 22,000 pairs annually.

“New Balance is a great American company, and it is terrific news that more of our nation’s servicemembers will now be outfitted with high-quality athletic shoes made right here in the United States. Maintaining a strong American footwear supply chain is important to our national security and helps ensure that our servicemembers have access to the best equipment when they need it most. I have worked closely with New Balance for years to support American footwear manufacturing and to strengthen the domestic industrial base that our military depends on. This contract builds on that longstanding partnership and is a major win for New Balance, its hardworking employees in Maine, and for American manufacturing,” said Senator Collins.

“New Balance is proud to have been awarded this contract to provide our U.S. service members with our specialized MADE in USA 0430 athletic footwear for basic training,” said Kevin McCoy, Vice President for MADE at New Balance. “Senator Collins’ strong leadership and relentless support for American manufacturing have helped to ensure our country’s military recruits will receive high-quality athletic shoes produced by our skilled associates in Central Maine.”

Senator Collins has long worked to support New Balance and American footwear manufacturing. She and other members of the Maine Delegation successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to provide military recruits with American-made athletic footwear in accordance with the Berry Amendment. The provision allowed domestic manufacturers such as New Balance to compete for military footwear contracts. In 2018, the DLA awarded New Balance a $17.3 million contract to provide American-made athletic shoes to military recruits, which were also produced in Maine.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/signed-into-law-senators-collins-bennet-bipartisan-bill-to-allow-early-childhood-educators-to-deduct-out-of-pocket-purchases-of-classroom-supplies,"SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Collins, Bennet Bipartisan Bill to Allow Early Childhood Educators to Deduct Out-of-Pocket Purchases of Classroom Supplies",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Michael Bennet today celebrated their Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act being signed into law. This legislation expands the federal tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that Senator Collins authored to early childhood educators.

“In Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching. Despite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students,” said Senator Collins. “As the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help expand this benefit to pre-K educators. I thank Senator Bennet for his partnership in this effort to provide early childhood educators with well-deserved tax relief, and I am proud that our bill has now become law.”

“Early childhood educators should be able to claim the same tax deduction available to elementary and secondary school teachers,” said Senator Bennet. “I am glad that this legislation has been signed into law because as the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I know firsthand how often educators dip into their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students. This law will end an unfair double standard and ensures that those who teach our youngest kids are supported.”

Research shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, early childhood educators previously could not deduct those out-of-pocket expenses.

The SEED Act corrects this disparity and extends tax relief to the teachers working with America’s youngest learners. The bill expands the above-the-line $350 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002 by legislation authored by Senator Collins, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and other learning materials.

The SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the First Five Years Fund, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC), the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Save the Children, the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, and Trying Together.

“We are deeply grateful to Senators Collins and Bennet, and Representatives Fitzpatrick, Panetta, Valadao and Goodlander, and the bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers who championed the SEED Act and helped get it across the finish line,” said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund (FFYF). “We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advance bipartisan solutions that strengthen child care for families, educators, and communities across the country.”

“Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) strongly supports the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. Early childhood educators support children’s development and learning during their most formative years while enabling parents to participate in the workforce and helping our businesses and communities thrive. Yet these essential professionals, who already earn modest wages, too often pay out of pocket for the books, supplies and materials children need,” said Nicole Riehl, President and CEO, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children. “Extending the federal educator expense deduction to early childhood educators is a commonsense step that recognizes their invaluable work and strengthens the workforce of today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow. EPIC thanks Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Susan Collins, along with their bipartisan House partners, for championing this important legislation.”

“NAEYC applauds the bipartisan passage of the Supporting Early Childhood Educators’ Deductions Act, which reimburses early childhood educators for the out-of-pocket classroom expenses they take on to improve children’s learning environments, as K-12 educators have long been able to do,” said the National Association for the Education of Young Children. “We are grateful that Congress is taking a step to recognize the complex, skilled, professional work of early childhood educators which lays the foundation for the youngest children to thrive. We look forward to building on this effort to support the early childhood education workforce by continuing to push for needed investments in quality ECE and compensation for early childhood educators working in all settings.”

“The earliest years of a child’s life are among the most important for their development, and early childhood educators play a critical role during those years. Yet too often, these educators reach into their own pockets to buy the books, supplies, and materials they need to support the children in their classrooms,” said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy, Save the Children. “We are pleased to see the bipartisan SEED Act become law, giving early childhood educators access to the same tax deduction already available to K-12 teachers. This is a meaningful and long-overdue recognition of the educators who care for and teach our youngest children, and an investment in children and their futures.”

The complete text of this legislation can be read here.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-joins-colleagues-demanding-answers-from-hegseth-on-human-economic-cost-of-iran-war,"King Joins Colleagues Demanding Answers from Hegseth on Human, Economic Cost of Iran War",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling on the Pentagon to provide basic information on the cost to American taxpayers of the Iran War. In a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Pete Hegseth from King and several of his colleagues, the senators demand a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran and criticized the DoD for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and costs continue to increase.

In their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon’s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Secretary Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration’s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The senators wrote, “We write regarding the Department of Defense’s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East…Meanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.”

“Based on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher,” the Senators continued. “In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.”

The senators concluded, “The American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility.”

In addition to Senator King, the letter is signed by Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues. Immediately following the American airstrikes in Iran earlier this year, he released a statement asking for answers and consultation with Congress before proceeding with further military action in the Middle East. He has also pressed several Pentagon nominees on the total cost of the ongoing conflict in Iran, expressing frustration that neither Congress nor the American people have received a clear accounting of the financial burden of military operations. Senator King has consistently supported War Powers resolutions, asserting Congress’s constitutional authority over military conflicts, specifically demanding that the President either obtain congressional authorization for hostilities or remove U.S. Armed Forces from the conflict.

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

+++

Dear Secretary Hegseth:

We write regarding the Department of Defense’s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East. Our troops have had their deployments extended repeatedly, as with the USS Lincoln and now the 82nd Airborne. Our offices have all received outreach from military families concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones serving and sacrificing in this war.

Meanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.

Based on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher. In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon’s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.

Despite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous Administrations, Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war. Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense during the Iraq War, briefed Congress more than 20 times in the first six months of that war. In his briefings, he publicly provided granular detail about the war, including objectives; precise figures on damaged aircraft; quality of life for our troops—down to the number of days it took to deliver mail; and detailed breakdowns for transportation, operational support, and munitions replenishment costs in the supplemental request. In stark contrast, you have briefed Congress just seven times in that same period and, in those appearances, refused to answer basic questions about the objectives and cost of this war. Your Department has held only eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the start of the Iran War, compared to more than 70 in the first month of the Iraq War alone.

This lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon’s spending. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel. In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as “$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.”

Despite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent. Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.

You shared this belief before entering government. In 2012, you criticized the Department’s ability to “shift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.” You added, “[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it’s long overdue.” And just last year, you said that “the American taxpayers deserve” to know where their money goes, “how it's spent and make sure it's spent wisely.” We agree.

Given this, we request the following information to inform the Senate’s decision-making by September 30, 2026.

Cost of the Iran War: Please provide a detailed breakdown for the cost of military operations against Iran to date, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs attributable to the conflict. This should include damage to military installations, aircraft, and equipment; cost to refurbish deployed ships and aircraft; and expected benefits for veterans.

$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration’s supplemental request, including a detailed accounting for each major funding category and estimated expenses for the war in Iran. This breakdown should identify which portions of the request are intended to reimburse costs already incurred, which are intended to fund anticipated future operations, and which are unrelated to military operations against Iran. Please also note potential future funding requirements not included in the request, such as repairing military installations.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act Funding: Please provide a detailed accounting of how the $34 billion remaining from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent, on what timeline, and whether any of these funds will support operations related to the Iran war.

The American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility. We look forward to receiving your response.

Sincerely,",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6851,"On Heels of Fashion Week, Pingree Champions First-Of-Its-Kind Bill to Fight Fast Fashion Pollution",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), founder and chair of the Slow Fashion Caucus, introduced the Textile Waste Reduction Act (TWRA), a first-of-its-kind bill to address the harmful impacts of fast fashion-driven waste. Based on recommendations made in the first-ever Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on fast fashion pollution—originally requested by Pingree and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) in 2023—this landmark legislation establishes the first coordinated federal framework to reduce textile waste, improve data collection, and develop a national strategy to advance circularity in the textile industry.

“The GAO report confirmed what we’ve known for years: that textile waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the U.S.; that it’s being driven largely by fast fashion; and that federal action is necessary to confront this crisis in a real, impactful way,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “This bill would help lay the foundation for that effort by creating a coordinated federal strategy to reduce textile waste and build a more circular textile economy. Our country has the resources and know-how to lead this effort on a global scale. It’s well past time we turn that potential into action—and help transform this wasteful industry into one that’s more efficient, more sustainable, and better for people and the planet.”

Specifically, the TWRA:

Directs the EPA Administrator to take coordinated federal action to advance textile circularity

Requires EPA to develop a comprehensive National Textile Circularity Strategy and conduct a needs assessment identifying the actions, investments, and policy priorities necessary to implement the strategy

Creates an Interagency Working Group on Textile Circularity to coordinate federal activities

Establishes an Advisory Board to provide recommendations to the Interagency Working Group

Requires EPA to identify and publish federal funding opportunities available to states, Tribal governments, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations that support textile circularity

Requires EPA to annually publish updated data on textile waste generation and management

Background:

Textile waste is now one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the United States, with millions of tons of textiles discarded each year and the vast majority ending up in landfills. These discarded materials may leach contaminants including PFAS and microplastics into water and soil and increase costs on communities grappling with capacity shortages at landfills.

Despite the harmful impacts of this fast fashion-driven increase in textile waste, there has been no coordinated effort at the federal level to tackle this problem and support a more circular textiles economy.

In addition, over the past several decades, hundreds of thousands of fiber and textile jobs that once sustained communities across America have shifted overseas, harming American farmers and communities in the process.

Pingree founded and launched the Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus in June 2024 to create climate-smart policies to reduce, repair, rewear, and recycle textiles. The caucus has garnered widespread support, including from American Circular Textiles, the Garment Worker Center, Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, Patagonia, ThredUp, fashion designer and slow fashion influencer Kelly Dempsey, and more.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Pingree is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, which oversees the EPA.

# # #",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6853,"Pingree, Congressional Democrats Call Out Trump Admin’s Corrupt Offshore Wind Buyouts",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), joined members of Congress and labor and environmental advocates in front of the U.S. Capitol to speak out against the Trump administration’s continued attacks on offshore wind. Pingree joined Representatives Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) and Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.)—along with Kendall Martin, General Vice President of Ironworkers International, and Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2 | Economy+Environment—to call attention to the lack of accountability around the corrupt, taxpayer-funded offshore wind buyout deals, which now cover 12 offshore wind leases and five developers. Since March, the Department of the Interior has made unprecedented use of the Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund to pay developers nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds to vacate their offshore wind leases.

“The Trump administration is spending nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds to cancel 12 offshore wind leases at the same time when Americans' utility bills are rising. Their priorities are completely out of whack,"" said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01). “As Ranking Member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I take Congress’s power of the purse seriously. Taxpayers deserve to know who authorized these buyouts, how they were valued, and why the Judgment Fund was used. We need transparency, accountability, and more affordable, reliable domestic energy—not dirty deals that force taxpayers to pay for less of it.”

President Trump continues to wage his war on offshore wind amid rising electricity demand and skyrocketing energy bills. These cancellations jeopardize clean energy projects that would have delivered affordable, reliable energy to millions of U.S. households and businesses and hobble industries that create thousands of good-paying jobs across the country.

To date, the administration has bought out twelve offshore wind leases, including planned projects off the coasts of Maine, New York, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. Cancelling these leases takes away planned domestic power generation and hinders grid diversification, causing real reliability risks and higher energy bills for millions.

“I’ve seen firsthand what offshore wind and renewable energy can do for our communities. They can lower costs, provide new sources of power to our homes and businesses, and create good-paying jobs. My home state of North Carolina has been a long time leader in clean energy, including offshore wind,"" said Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02). “The cancelled projects would have created thousands of good-paying jobs and powered over 300,000 homes. This is happening when we are already experiencing record-high electricity prices across our state. [...] President Trump and the Department of Energy put their political agenda ahead of North Carolina's economic and energy needs. Families cannot afford to pay the price for that.”

“What is so outrageous about these buyouts that are now totaling almost $4 billion of taxpayer money that’s just been lit on fire is that we’re going through a time when families are struggling,"" said Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02). “We’ve got this industry ready to make major investments in coastal communities that will not only create jobs but will provide cheap and reliable clean power that will bring electric rates down. This is exactly what we need at this time.”

“The administration spent nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds to illegally cancel promising offshore wind project leases across the country, including 2 of 3 in my district off of Morro Bay,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24). “As families face higher energy costs because of the president’s disastrous war in Iran, these cancellations will just inflict more damage to our economy and family budgets—not to mention the big waste of taxpayer funds. I won’t let this extreme federal overreach go unchallenged, and I will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with all of my colleagues here and our communities affected by these cancelled leases to say yes to wind, no to dirty deals.”

“What is happening here? It’s just corruption on stilts. We need more affordable, made-in-America, union, ready-to-go power than ever before – and we need it to be clean, because climate change is getting worse and costing us millions and billions more every single year,” said Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts. “This is Economics 101. We’ve got a major supply and demand problem: Trump is killing our electricity supply at his donors’ demand. Instead of solving the energy affordability crisis he has created, Trump is blocking offshore wind from the grid. He’s taking union workers out of work by the tens of thousands. And to add insult to injury, he’s spending your money to do it.”

“Offshore wind is here, and it’s working. It’s saving ratepayers money, breaking our dependence on volatile foreign fuel markets, creating cleaner air, and putting thousands of American union members to work,” said Kendall Martin, General Vice President of Ironworkers International. “It is common sense to keep building this necessary infrastructure at a time of increasing energy demand. Union workers in offshore wind are just trying to do our jobs, pay our bills, and build something that leaves the planet a little better for our kids and grandkids. I ask the Trump administration to stop these senseless attacks on American energy and let us get to work.”

“It makes no sense to waste billions in taxpayer dollars paying companies not to build new energy sources – especially at a time when electricity demand and prices are soaring,” said Bob Keefe, Executive Director of E2 | Economy+Environment. “And we’re not just losing new made-in-America energy here. We’re losing new jobs, new investments, new tax revenues and new opportunities in coastal communities that could use a break.”

“While families face skyrocketing bills and worry about blackouts or power outages, offshore wind provides a cheaper, more reliable, and cleaner energy future for all of us,” said Sierra Club Chief Program Officer Holly Bender. “Offshore wind is here and ready to be deployed in the United States, but Donald Trump is hell-bent on creating obstacles that tip the scales in favor of fossil fuels. It is completely unacceptable that $4 billion of our taxpayer dollars have been wasted on paying off energy companies to cancel renewable energy projects and double down on fossil fuels. We are grateful for the support of our partners in Congress and together we will continue to fight for a healthier, more affordable, and cleaner future.”

“As if energy costs were not high enough, the Trump administration has spent almost four billion taxpayer dollars to keep our energy costs high by blocking affordable clean offshore wind energy,” said David Shadburn, Legislative Director at the League of Conservation Voters. “Trump is instead directing our tax dollars to new LNG export projects, shipping gas overseas and actually driving prices back home even higher, all while enriching Trump’s fossil fuel donors. We stand with clean energy leaders in Congress who are fighting to hold this administration to account and lower costs for working families.”

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/as-home-heating-season-approaches-senators-collins-reed-murkowski-lead-bipartisan-call-for-trump-administration-to-swiftly-release-liheap-funding,"As Home-Heating Season Approaches, Senators Collins, Reed, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Call for Trump Administration to Swiftly Release LIHEAP Funding",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – With winter fast approaching, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Jack Reed (D-RI), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are leading a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) swiftly and at the highest level possible once funding becomes available on October 1, 2026.

In their letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., they stressed the critical importance of LIHEAP funding. This program is a lifeline that helps keep vulnerable Americans safe and warm during the winter by helping low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills. Nationwide last year, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP, with Maine households receiving more than $42 million in LIHEAP funds.

After the Administration proposed zeroing out funding for LIHEAP in its fiscal year 2027 budget plan, Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski led successful bipartisan pushback through their roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee to protect LIHEAP and continue funding for the program at more than $4 billion this year.

“As you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,” the 31 U.S. Senators wrote.

“October marks the start of the heating season for many states, and with temperatures already dropping, low-income families and seniors are feeling additional strains on their household budgets. As the main federal program benefiting these individuals with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance to vulnerable families and seniors during the cold winter and hot summer months. State agencies and tribes are already activating their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter. A quick release of funding will ensure no gaps in assistance,” the lawmakers concluded.

The complete text of their letter can be read here.

In addition to Senators Collins, Reed, and Murkowski, the letter was signed by Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Gary Peters (D-MI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

LIHEAP is administered by states and accessed through local Community Action Agencies. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income, family size, and the availability of resources. Senior citizens and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2027—or until the funding is exhausted. Mainers looking to apply for the program can review their eligibility here.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-va-hiring-retention-of-high-skilled-doctors,"King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve VA Hiring, Retention of High-Skilled Doctors",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), is introducing bipartisan legislation that makes it easier for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) medical centers to hire and better retain high-skilled doctors. The bipartisan VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would allow the VA Secretary to issue waivers to VA medical directors and allow them to exceed existing salary caps if they need to hire or retain highly skilled physicians. The VA system currently faces a serious shortage of doctors, due in part to the higher pay rates available in the private sector. Joining Senator King on the legislation are Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and SVAC Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

When the United States Congress passed the bipartisan Elizabeth Dole Act in December of 2024, it allowed the VA to exceed salary caps for a limited number of highly trained physicians and for a limited time. Senator King’s bipartisan bill would allow the VA Secretary to issue as many waivers as necessary and allow this system to remain in place for the next five years after enactment allowing medical facilities a greater degree of certainty when they make hiring decisions. As VA Secretary Doug Collins discussed with Senator King in a recent SVAC hearing, the limitations of the current system created by the Elizabeth Dole Act are not giving the VA the flexibility it needs, resulting in the need for this type of legislation.

“Our men and women in uniform served our country with patriotism and without conditions, and they deserve medical attention with a minimum of red tape,” said Senator King. “The VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment would allow VA facilities to have a more competitive salary structure that will maintain high levels of care for our veterans and reduce the odds that the VA lose doctors to higher paying opportunities elsewhere.”

“Hiring and retaining skilled physicians is a serious challenge within the VA and it needs to be addressed now,” Senator Fischer said. “Giving the VA flexibility to retain medical professionals will help it compete with private-sector salaries and ensure veterans receive high-quality care. I thank Senators King and Blumenthal for their leadership, and I will continue working to support Nebraska’s veterans.”

“VA’s current salary cap is outdated and counterproductive — hindering the Department as it competes with the private sector to hire doctors,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Our bipartisan bill gives VA authority to raise physician salaries. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket, VA needs this authority to recruit and retain the best doctors around to serve veterans.”

The VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act is also supported by Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

“Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) supports efforts to ensure every veteran has timely access to high-quality care,” said WWP Vice President of Government and Community Relations Jose Ramos. “The VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act would provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with greater flexibility to recruit and retain skilled health care professionals in areas with critical staffing needs. We appreciate Senator King’s unwavering commitment to those who served and urge Congress to pass this important legislation.”

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. In March, Senator King was honored by The American Legion with its 2026 Distinguished Public Service Award. Last year, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. He was also recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.”

On the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs. Last year, he introduced the VA Claim Sharks Effective Warnings Act that would protect veterans from unaccredited claims representatives seeking to defraud them of their benefits. Earlier this year, he introduced the TAP Promotion Act which would allow accredited representatives from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or other organizations, to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes to help transitioning servicemembers file Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) claims. Additionally, he introduced the Ensuring Benefits for Disabled Veterans Act, which would address an unfair rule in federal law that creates unnecessary delays when veterans with service-connected disabilities attempt to access earned education and employment benefits.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-stresses-importance-of-uschina-engagement-on-ais-shared-risks,King Stresses Importance of U.S.–China Engagement on AI’s “Shared Risks”,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the White House’s historic State Visit with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is underlining the crucial importance of productive engagement by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with the Chinese Government on the “shared risks” posed by artificial intelligence (AI). In a letter to Bessent, King acknowledges Bessent’s recent public comments on his willingness to discuss critical AI risks with China and states that while the White House should continue to promote American leadership in the artificial intelligence space, continued conversations and dialogue with the Chinese government are critical to AI safety strategy in defense of all humankind.

Senator King wrote, “As you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that “[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,” many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.”

“Chinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space,” Senator King continued. “But we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes.”

“According to an expert on China’s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated “AI Safety & Governance Framework” and created an “AI Safety/Security Working Group” called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks. To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts,” Senator King concluded.

As former Co-Chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) and current member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as one of Congress’ leading experts on cyber defense, cyber safety, and as a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyber strategy. Since it officially launched in April 2019, dozens of CSC recommendations have been enacted into law, including the creation of a National Cyber Director.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Secretary Bessent:

Ahead of your meetings this weekend with a delegation from the People’s Republic of China led by Vice Premier He and President Trump’s meetings with President Xi next week, I write to express my appreciation for your stated willingness to engage with the Chinese government on the “shared risks” posed by Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) to both of our nations.

As you are aware, the American people are increasingly concerned that rapid AI development poses risks that simply cannot be ignored. When an Anthropic employee responsible for ensuring that its models work as intended recently wrote that “[w]e really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,” many Americans for the first time reckoned with the potentially catastrophic implications of uncontrolled AI development. While thoughtful domestic regulation of the frontier AI labs that are developing the most advanced models is one important aspect of ensuring the safety of the American people, earnest and sustained dialogue with the Chinese government is another critical element of any serious and durable AI safety strategy.

Chinese and American companies will continue to compete fiercely in the global market for AI products and services, and the U.S. government should continue to work closely with American AI companies to prevent the theft of intellectual property and ensure American leadership in this space. But we also cannot lock ourselves into a race to the bottom with China on AI safety given the stakes. And there is good reason to expect that the Chinese government is thinking seriously about these issues. According to an American expert on China’s AI policy, the Cyberspace Administration of China has within the last year published an updated “AI Safety & Governance Framework” and created an “AI Safety/Security Working Group” called Working Group 9 to develop policies on frontier AI risks.[1] To ensure that AI will be developed in a safe and sane manner, we should and must work with the Chinese government to create opportunities for American AI safety technical experts to exchange proposals with their Chinese counterparts.

Thank you again for your work to engage productively with the Chinese government on AI safety. I would appreciate staying in touch with you on these issues as Congress continues to debate how to appropriately respond to calls for federal regulation of frontier AI companies.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-in-support-of-russia-sanctions-bill,Golden statement in support of Russia sanctions bill,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of HR 5334, legislation to impose sanctions against Russia until it ends its war against Ukraine:

“Every barrel of Russian oil sold on the global market is funding for Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia is successfully evading the existing sanctions imposed by the U.S. and our Western partners. This bill provides new tools to cut off the oil revenue that’s greasing Russia’s war machine, including tariffs on the top buyers of Russian energy and those countries helping the federation evade existing sanctions.

“Under Putin’s rule, Russia has tested the boundaries of international order and safety at a scale not witnessed in generations. It is waging a war of territorial expansion against our democratic ally in Ukraine. It has made its hostile intent toward the United States and other western democracies clear in its words and actions, including its efforts to undermine U.S. elections.

“Passing this bill will weaken Putin’s hand, and will show the Ukrainians fighting to defend their homes that the United States will not abandon them. I’m proud to vote yes.”

The bill passed the House in a bipartisan vote of 262-159, having previously passed in the Senate 86-11. It now goes to the president to be signed into law.

BACKGROUND:

Russia has successfully evaded existing sanctions on its energy products with a “shadow fleet” of tankers conducting ship-to-ship transfers or rerouting to friendly buyers, often using false documents to hide ownership or cargo point-of-origin. According to one estimate, this shadow fleet transported roughly 3.7 billion barrels of oil in 2025.

In addition to direct sanctions on Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, the bill targets Russian financial institutions and defense and energy actors. It also sidesteps Russia’s evasion strategies by targeting the buyers of Russian energy products, authorizing the president to impose tariffs on the top five importers of Russian oil and gas and the top five facilitators of sanctions evasion.

Golden has been a consistent champion for the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty, having voted in favor of every major military and financial aid for the besieged nation since 2022. To overcome partisan gridlock, in 2024 he co-sponsored the Defending Borders, Defending Democracies Act with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), which paired aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with funding the restore order at America’s southern border. Elements of the bill were included in a successful bipartisan foreign aid and border security package enacted by the House that year.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6848,"House Passes Pingree Bill to Cut Diesel Pollution, Protect Maine Families",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) applauded the passage of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting public health and lowering the cost of replacing older, heavily polluting diesel engines. Introduced by Pingree and Reps. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), and Nick Longworthy (R-N.Y.), the bill reauthorizes the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program (DERA) through fiscal year 2029 at $100 million annually.

First created through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, DERA provides grants and rebates that help schools, local governments, small businesses, and fleet operators replace or upgrade older diesel-powered trucks, buses, construction equipment, and other heavy-duty engines.

“Diesel fuel powers Maine’s boats, ferries, buses, construction trucks, agricultural equipment, and more, but emissions from older diesel engines have serious consequences for public health and the environment. Since its passage in 2005, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act has helped replace or retrofit nearly 100,000 diesel engines, vehicles, and pieces of equipment and deliver cleaner air and billions in public health benefits to communities across the country—including here in Maine,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “With Trump’s reckless war in Iran increasing volatility in global energy markets, and with the threats posed by climate change looming larger every day, Congress took a much-needed step today to reauthorize DERA so that we can continue to pursue solutions that help reduce our dependence on foreign energy and incentivize American consumers and businesses to embrace more efficient technologies. Reauthorizing this proven program will help us make progress on both fronts, while reducing pollution and improving air quality in Maine and across the country.”

“For more than two decades, DERA has been a model of effective, bipartisan policymaking,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Under the program, California has replaced thousands of polluting trucks, tractors, and school buses, helping children breathe cleaner and healthier air as they ride to school. And now, as diesel prices reach $6 per gallon nationally, DERA is more important than ever. It doesn’t just save lives, it saves people money. I’m proud that the House voted to continue funding this practical, commonsense program.”

“Today’s passage of the bipartisan Diesel Emissions Reduction Act is a win for American workers, American manufacturing, and communities across the country,” said Congressman Langworthy. “This legislation will help replace aging diesel engines in school buses, snowplows, agricultural equipment, emergency vehicles, and other critical equipment with newer, American-made technology. That means cleaner air for our communities while supporting good-paying manufacturing jobs right here at home. I’m proud to have co-led this bipartisan effort with Congresswoman Matsui, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill and get it to the President's desk.""

Diesel engines are known to produce an outsized share of pollutants that contribute to asthma, heart and lung disease, and premature death—but remain in service across the economy due to the significant cost of replacement.

Since its creation, DERA has helped retire these outdated engines sooner by lowering the cost of cleaner replacements, returning up to $30 in public-health benefits for every federal dollar invested. The program’s voluntary, technology-neutral model allows communities to choose the upgrades that best suit their needs.

Since 2008, the program has improved more than 76,900 vehicles and engines nationwide.

Pingree has long been a champion of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, cosponsoring its previous reauthorization in 2019.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-600000-for-emergency-medical-services-in-maine,"Senator Collins Announces $600,000 for Emergency Medical Services in Maine",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that two emergency medical services (EMS) departments in Maine will receive a total of $600,000 through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) grant program.

In 2024, Senator Collins’ bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act, which she co-authored with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), was signed into law. This legislation extended funding for SIREN Act grants through Fiscal Year 2028. SIREN grants support rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to help address the opioid overdose epidemic.

“Emergency medical services are critical to ensuring that Mainers in every part of our state can receive the care they need,” said Senator Collins. “These investments in EMS agencies serving Maine’s rural population will help to improve the quality and accessibility of health care across our state by supporting training for emergency medical personnel.”

The funding is allocated as follows:

Brooks Ambulance Service - $300,000 to improve EMS training for Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics.

United Ambulance Service (Lewiston) - $300,000 to improve rural EMS training.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-secures-commitment-from-surgeon-general-nominee-to-address-rural-health-care-deserts-in-maine-during-confirmation-hearing,Senator Collins Secures Commitment from Surgeon General Nominee to Address Rural Health Care Deserts in Maine During Confirmation Hearing,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, U.S. Senator Susan Collins questioned Dr. Nicole Saphier, the nominee to serve as U.S. Surgeon General, about rural Americans’ access to breast cancer screenings. During their exchange, Dr. Saphier committed to working with Senator Collins and her staff on identifying and addressing health care deserts in Maine.

Senator Collins has long worked to expand access to cancer screenings in rural Maine. In 2022, she secured more than $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to establish a mobile mammography unit in Piscataquis and Somerset counties. To date, the unit has screened more than 1,000 women for breast cancer. She also introduced the bipartisan Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a lifesaving program that provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for women who are low-income, uninsured, and underinsured and do not qualify for Medicaid.

A transcript of their exchange is as follows:

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of their exchange.

Senator Collins:

“Dr. Saphier, you've been a strong advocate for women to get early breast cancer screenings in order to better treat and prevent this disease. Just this morning, I met in my office with a group of Mainers who had had cancer. They are big advocates for screening, for research, and it's very difficult in rural states where they may have to travel long distances. That's one reason that I secured funding for a mobile mammography machine to go all over rural areas. And I'm very proud of the fact that they've screened more than 1000 women who most likely would not have been screened, and in some cases, breast cancer has been detected. Senator Baldwin and I have introduced legislation that would reauthorize the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. It's been proven successful. It's detected nearly 80,000 breast cancers and over 25,000 pre-malignant breast lesions. Without access to early detection programs, many people, particularly those who are uninsured, are forced to delay or forego screening. As Surgeon General, how would you work to spread awareness about the importance of screenings, and also ensure that women, particularly those living in rural areas, have access to screenings?”

Dr. Nicole Saphier:

“Thank you, Senator Collins, for the question and for taking the time--you had a very busy day, and you were able to connect with me on the phone. And we spoke on a wide array of topics. And we both obviously have a passion for women's health and preventative medicine. And what you've already highlighted, your advocacy and your attention to breast cancer and cervical cancer screening awareness and accessibility is something that I have seen and have been in awe of for a very long time with you. And I appreciate your efforts because, as someone who reads mammography and someone who is continuously trying to educate her patients and the public on the benefits of cancer screening, it is important for me. And if confirmed as Surgeon General, one of my crucial, crucial messages is going to be that early detection matters. And with that is cancer screening. But as you are pointing out, the fact that I can say everything that I want, but access is equally as important as the information. And I am very much looking forward to working with the other leaders in HHS, because access and coverage are not under the purview of the Surgeon General. But I will take my knowledge as a physician and my experience as communicating and I will do what I can to get that message to patients. You also mentioned something else during our meeting that probably I'm the only person in this entire building that cares about as much, is the fact that, in Maine, that you are seeing areas where radiologists are scarce, radiologists like myself. And so, the people of Maine are not having access to the high-quality health care in the United States that I believe every American should have access to. And so, being creative with various ways on how we can mobilize various portions of health care is something I am very eager to work with. You had mentioned teleradiology, but being a part of the Commission Corps is something that I am incredibly excited about, if I am confirmed, and working with you and your staff to identify any potential health care deserts in Maine that we might be able to help serve.”

Senator Collins:

“Thank you. I look forward to working with you on that.”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-the-clarity-act,Senator Collins’ Statement on the CLARITY Act,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement regarding her vote against the motion to proceed to consideration of the CLARITY Act:

“The CLARITY Act remains a moving target. It’s now grown to more than 600 pages with provisions that need further study, such as whether it would cause community banks and credit unions to lose deposits that are the foundation for loans for mortgages, small businesses, and other family needs.”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/house-unanimously-passes-senator-collins-bill-to-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases,House Unanimously Passes Senator Collins’ Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act. Senator Collins introduced the bill with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), with Senator Angus King (I-ME) joining them as an original cosponsor. The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously last month, now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

Cases of Lyme disease have reached a new record level in Maine every year since 2022, with more than 4,200 cases reported statewide last year.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act aims to confront this growing public health threat by reauthorizing federal initiatives and programs to combat tick-borne diseases first established through the original Kay Hagan Tick Act, which Senators Collins and Smith led to passage in 2019. The Senators named their bill in honor of the late Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away in October of 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.

“With Maine continuing to experience record levels of Lyme disease, we must continue working to address the growing threat posed by tick-borne diseases,” said Senator Collins. “The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will build on the progress we have made in combatting these diseases since the original law was enacted and ensure this important work can continue across the country. I am grateful to Senator Smith for her partnership in this effort and to our colleagues in both chambers for working with us to move this important legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

Using a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:

Reauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases through Fiscal Year 2030. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up approximately 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers: at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of California–Davis, the University of Florida, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The authorization for the program under the Kay Hagan Tick Act expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2025.

Reauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments. These grants help departments improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of vector-borne diseases. Reauthorizing these awards would help states continue building and maintaining a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships. Since 2019, this funding has helped increase the number of health departments reporting tick-surveillance data from 6 to 44.

Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in expanding research into tick-borne diseases, improving testing and diagnostics, and coordinating efforts across the federal government.

Since the original Kay Hagan Tick Act was signed into law in 2019, resources provided through the law have supported efforts to combat tick-borne diseases in Maine, including research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research connected to a clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine. The law has also provided funding for Maine CDC’s efforts to track and respond to vector-borne diseases.

Senator Collins has also secured more than $6 million through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee for the University of Maine Tick Lab, which conducts tick surveillance and research and allows Mainers to submit ticks for pathogen testing.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by the University of Maine Tick Lab, the Center for Lyme Action, and the Entomological Society of America.

“The growing burden of ticks and tick-borne diseases requires attention at the federal, state, and local levels. Reauthorization of the Kay Hagan TICK Act helps maintain a national strategy for addressing these diseases and supporting the science, coordination, and public health capacity needed to respond effectively. We appreciate Senator Collins’ efforts to keep this issue before Congress and to recognize its importance to Maine and other heavily affected states,” said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab.

“The reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act is a landmark victory for the millions of Americans impacted by tick-borne diseases and a testament to what is possible when policymakers, patients, families, and advocates come together to address a growing public health crisis. We are deeply grateful to the bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate who championed this legislation and helped bring it across the finish line, and to the thousands of advocates across the country whose voices, persistence, and grassroots action made this historic achievement possible. We look forward to seeing the Kay Hagan Tick Act signed into law and to building on this momentum to deliver the research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatments that patients and families so urgently need. This legislation is a critical investment in our nation’s public health infrastructure and an important step toward finally turning the tide against these complex and devastating diseases,” said Meghan Bradshaw, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Lyme Action.

“On behalf of the Entomological Society of America, we are extremely appreciative of the support shown in the House and Senate for the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act and we thank Senator Collins for her continued leadership on this issue. Reauthorizing the CDC Regional Centers of Excellence (COE) in Vector-Borne Diseases and reinforcing support for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) grant program will help protect communities across the country from the growing challenges posed by diseases spread by ticks and mosquitoes through research, surveillance, management, and outreach,” said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.

The complete text of the bill can be read here.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-urge-senate-commerce-committee-to-promptly-consider-bill-to-extend-pause-on-right-whale-regulations,"Senators Collins, King Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Promptly Consider Bill to Extend Pause on Right Whale Regulations",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, respectively, urging them to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act in their committee as soon as possible. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), recently passed the House of Representatives and would extend the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale regulations through 2035.

“This pause is necessary to protect Maine’s lobster fishery, which is essential to the state’s economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs,” Senators Collins and King wrote.

“The Maine Department of Marine Resources has used congressionally appropriated funds to establish a right whale research and monitoring program that is now in its third year of data collection,” they continued. “The program includes aerial, vessel-based, and acoustic whale monitoring. This work is ongoing, and extending the pause would allow it to continue and provide scientists and regulators with better data to inform future management decisions.”

“It is critical that any future regulatory actions appropriately balance protecting North Atlantic right whales with the economic and practical realities facing Maine’s lobster industry. We ask that you work to advance H.R. 9436 as soon as possible,” the Senators concluded.

Click here to read their letter in full.

+++

In 2022, Maine’s lobster fishery faced sweeping new federal regulatory requirements that relied on flawed assumptions and an inadequate scientific record. The requirements threatened severe economic consequences for Maine’s lobster industry without a sufficiently sound scientific basis. The Maine Delegation responded by securing a provision in the 2022 year-end appropriations law that prevented additional restrictions through December 31, 2028. Extending the regulatory pause through 2035 would allow this work to continue and help ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on the best available science and a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Maine’s lobster fishery.

Since the enactment of this pause, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine’s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-army-cutting-vital-ukraine-drone-battalion-another-worrying-signal,"King, Colleagues: Army Cutting Vital Ukraine Drone Battalion “Another Worrying Signal”",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues in requesting a formal briefing on the Army’s decision to eliminate a specialized drone battalion critical to U.S. interests in Europe and the defense of Ukraine. In a letter to departing Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and acting Army Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve, the lawmakers cited deep concerns about the elimination of the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Joining King on the letter are Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10).

The lawmakers wrote, “We write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.”

“We have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation’s ability to adapt. [...] Both the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare—lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space,” the lawmakers continued.

They further explained, “The DOD’s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent— the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces.”

“We respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026,” the lawmakers concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Secretary Driscoll and General LaNeve:

We write to request a briefing to better understand your decision to eliminate the drone battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. We are particularly keen to understand the data, analysis and process used to cancel this innovative unit established less than a year ago, and if this decision was based on Department of Defense leadership guidance or was an Army-internal decision.

We have deep concerns that eliminating this specialized drone unit will limit our ability to learn from allies, particularly the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and hinder our efforts to modernize drone warfare at the speed necessary to compete on the modern battlefield. This specialized unit was a prudent response in a moment when the character of warfare is changing faster than a conventional formation’s ability to adapt.

Both the Ukraine-Russia War and the ongoing conflict in Iran have demonstrated our need to make significant improvements in drone warfare—lessons learned from our Ukrainian allies who have proven their ability to innovate and compete in this space. For over four years the Ukrainian Armed Forces have fought and adapted on the frontlines against one of the United States’ most powerful near-peer adversaries. As a result, Ukrainian military technology -- particularly in drone warfare -- is battle tested and provides valuable insights to the U.S. military and defense industrial base. This drone battalion was ideally placed to capture these lessons and insights.

This is in part why we supported the Army’s January 2026 establishment of a “tactical unmanned systems battalion” in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, to study the lessons from Ukraine and develop new concepts for fighting with drones and other unmanned systems. These six hundred soldiers specializing in drone warfare were designed to be a dedicated force, known as the “Unmanned Assault Battalion,” that could deploy anywhere drone expertise was required – a force multiplier across the entire formation.

The DOD’s commitment to Ukraine and European security has been uneven and inconsistent— the reoccurring efforts to cut European force posture, the delayed spend plan of appropriated funds for aid to Ukraine, and the transfer of U.S. Army Europe funding to reimburse the Department of Homeland Security. Within this context, we are concerned that the elimination of the Unmanned Assault Battalion is yet another worrying signal of fledgling resolve in the European theater or of using the resources available out of Ukraine to the benefit of our own forces. We are supportive of the transformative initiatives the Army has taken under Secretary Driscoll’s leadership in this area and would like to see that momentum maintained even as uniformed leadership changes.

We understand that, at its core, the 173rd is an infantry battalion and that the elimination of this unit is part of General LaNeve’s “back to basics” approach from his message to the force published on August 18th. However, this message also says soldiers need to “learn, innovate, and adapt faster” to prepare for the next war, and eliminating this battalion, without announcing a new home for this specialized drone capability runs counter to that. It hurts our ability to acquire the critical knowledge and skills that can be gained from working with and learning from Ukrainian soldiers.

We respectfully request the Army brief us on how it intends to continue learning lessons on drone warfare from Ukraine in the absence of the Unmanned Assault Battalion. We request this briefing to occur no later than September 21st, 2026.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-king-urge-senate-commerce-committee-to-promptly-consider-bill-to-extend-pause-on-right-whale-regulations,"Senators Collins, King Urge Senate Commerce Committee to Promptly Consider Bill to Extend Pause on Right Whale Regulations",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, respectively, urging them to advance the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act in their committee as soon as possible. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), recently passed the House of Representatives and would extend the current pause on new North Atlantic right whale regulations through 2035.

“This pause is necessary to protect Maine’s lobster fishery, which is essential to the state’s economy and coastal communities. According to the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, the lobster industry supports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic activity and more than 17,500 jobs,” Senators Collins and King wrote.

“The Maine Department of Marine Resources has used congressionally appropriated funds to establish a right whale research and monitoring program that is now in its third year of data collection,” they continued. “The program includes aerial, vessel-based, and acoustic whale monitoring. This work is ongoing, and extending the pause would allow it to continue and provide scientists and regulators with better data to inform future management decisions.”

“It is critical that any future regulatory actions appropriately balance protecting North Atlantic right whales with the economic and practical realities facing Maine’s lobster industry. We ask that you work to advance H.R. 9436 as soon as possible,” the Senators concluded.

Click here to read their letter in full.

+++

In 2022, Maine’s lobster fishery faced sweeping new federal regulatory requirements that relied on flawed assumptions and an inadequate scientific record. The requirements threatened severe economic consequences for Maine’s lobster industry without a sufficiently sound scientific basis. The Maine Delegation responded by securing a provision in the 2022 year-end appropriations law that prevented additional restrictions through December 31, 2028. Extending the regulatory pause through 2035 would allow this work to continue and help ensure that any future regulatory decisions are based on the best available science and a more accurate assessment of the risks posed by Maine’s lobster fishery.

Since the enactment of this pause, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic right whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine’s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-911,Golden statement on the 25th anniversary of 9/11,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks:

“Twenty-five years ago today, our nation endured the deadliest foreign attack on American soil. Today, we hold in our hearts the thousands who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, their families and loved ones. Their memory will not be forgotten.

We also honor those who ran toward danger in the wake of the attacks, from the first responders who rushed without question to Lower Manhattan to the generation who answered the call to defend our nation. That day, Americans joined together, resolute in the face of those who brought terror to our shores.

As we remember those lost and those forever changed on 9/11, let’s also remember that a united America can never be outmatched and that no shadow of fear or terror can dim our spirit.”

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6845,"Responding to Pingree Request, GAO Finds USDA Has Done Too Little to Protect Farms and Forests from Climate-Driven Diseases and Pests",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Independent watchdog’s report prompts Pingree to urge USDA action on nationwide risk assessment and strategy as threats grow and climate capacity shrinks

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), a longtime organic farmer and member of the House Agriculture Committee, is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to swiftly implement recommendations from a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that examines the growing climate-related risks that diseases and pests pose to American farms and forests.

In September 2019, Pingree and former Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) asked GAO to undertake a broad examination of USDA’s climate-related work in agriculture, including the status of USDA Climate Hubs and additional actions the department could take. That oversight request previously produced a 2023 GAO report, which outlined 13 options for strengthening agricultural climate resilience. The latest report focuses on climate-related diseases and pests affecting both farms and forests.

For its latest review, GAO examined federal laws, regulations, agency guidance, and scientific literature; interviewed 84 government and nongovernment stakeholders; and conducted site visits in eight states, including Maine.

The report, “Agricultural Diseases and Pests: Nationwide Assessment and Strategy Needed to Enhance the Climate Resilience of Farms and Forests,” found that USDA has taken “few actions” to address these risks—and that staffing and funding for some of the programs doing this work have declined.

“Climate change is rewriting the rulebook for farming and forestry. Pests are moving beyond their typical boundaries, outbreaks are starting earlier and lasting longer, and some of the management methods farmers have relied on for years are becoming less effective. In Maine, where our economy and way of life depend on healthy farms and forests, this is not an abstract warning. It is already happening,” said Pingree. “USDA should be our first line of defense—providing farmers and forest landowners with reliable science, early warnings, and practical assistance. Instead, the Trump Administration is proposing deep cuts to the Climate Hubs and other programs while shedding the expertise needed to confront these threats. House Republicans have gone along with this and eliminated funds for Climate Hubs in the proposed fiscal year 2027 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. That is dangerously shortsighted. GAO has provided a practical roadmap, and USDA should act on both recommendations without delay.”

Among GAO’s key findings:

From 1960 through 2020, invasive species—including diseases and pests—cost the U.S. agricultural and forestry sectors at least $550 billion.

Climate change is expanding or shifting the geographic range of diseases and pests while increasing the timing, duration, and scale of outbreaks. The southern pine beetle, once concentrated in southern and mid-Atlantic states, has now been detected as far north as Maine.

Warmer winters are allowing pests such as corn earworm to appear earlier and in greater numbers, making some traditional pest-management methods less effective and potentially increasing crop losses and pesticide use.

USDA has not fully integrated disease and pest risks into its climate-resilience planning and has provided farmers and land managers with limited information and technical assistance addressing individual threats.

USDA Climate Hubs have supported research, forecasting tools, and outreach related to specific pests and diseases, but the hubs have lost staff and face proposed funding cuts.

The President’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposed cutting $153 million from Agricultural Research Service climate-science research and the Climate Hubs, as well as more than $300 million from Forest Service State, Private and Tribal Forestry activities.

An analysis published with the fiscal year 2024 President’s Budget estimated that, by 2100, climate change could increase federal crop-insurance payments by $300 million to $2.2 billion annually.

GAO requested updated information from USDA in April 2026, but the department did not respond. USDA also did not provide written comments stating whether it agreed or disagreed with GAO’s findings and recommendations.

The threats identified by GAO are already affecting Maine producers. Recent reporting by the Portland Press Herald described how Emma Sanchi of Crowfoot Farm in Lyman uses insect netting, row covers, and a high tunnel to protect vegetables from pests, diseases, and increasingly volatile weather. Sanchi has sought USDA assistance to construct another high tunnel—an investment that can cost more than $15,000. The article also highlighted efforts by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association to help farmers track and manage diseases encouraged by hotter, more humid conditions.

GAO made two recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture:

In consultation with agricultural and land-management stakeholders, conduct a nationwide assessment identifying and comparing the climate-related risks posed by agricultural and forest diseases and pests.

Use that assessment to develop a national strategy for managing the identified risks.

GAO identified four central areas for such a strategy:

Improve and coordinate disease and pest monitoring and surveillance;

Incorporate climate information into modeling and projections;

Coordinate and expand education, outreach, and technical assistance; and

Modify existing—or develop new—disease and pest management strategies.

“The longer USDA waits, the more expensive and difficult this problem will become,” Pingree said. “A nationwide risk assessment and coordinated strategy would help direct limited resources where they can do the most good, give producers the information they need, and reduce the growing costs borne by farmers, landowners, and taxpayers.”

Pingree’s letter to USDA Secretary Rollins is available here and copied below.

+++

Secretary Rollins,

I am writing to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to swiftly implement the recommendations in the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recent report, Agricultural Diseases and Pests: Nationwide Assessment and Strategy Needed to Enhance the Climate Resilience of Farms and Forests. Farmers, ranchers, and foresters know all too well that the impacts of climate change are not distant or theoretical—they are already materializing on the ground and affecting their operations and livelihoods.

GAO found that USDA has taken few actions to enhance the resilience of farms and forests to climate‑related diseases and pests, despite clear trends showing rapidly escalating threats. USDA’s Climate Hubs—once instrumental in providing regionally tailored climate and pest information—have reduced their capacity at precisely the moment producers need them most.

The consequences of inaction are significant. Between 1960 and 2020, invasive species—including diseases and pests—cost U.S. agriculture and forestry at least $550 billion. Climate change is further compounding these risks. A 2024 analysis estimated that shifting climate conditions could increase federal crop insurance costs by $300 million to $2.2 billion annually. Given the scale of documented losses and projected future costs, it would be fiscally irresponsible for USDA to disregard these findings or delay action.

The GAO report lays out a practical, forward-looking roadmap that USDA should adopt without delay. The first step is for USDA, in consultation with stakeholders across the agricultural and land-management communities, to conduct a nationwide risk assessment to identify and assess the relative risks of climate‑related diseases and pests. Such an assessment would provide the analytical foundation for a national strategy to confront these threats before they escalate further. GAO identified four key activities that should inform such a strategy: “improve and coordinate monitoring and surveillances of diseases and pests, incorporate climate information into modeling and projection data, coordinate and expand education, outreach, and technical assistance, and modify existing or develop new diseases and pest management strategies.”

Farmers and foresters across Maine are already being forced to adapt to unpredictable and extreme weather, pest outbreaks, and shifting growing seasons. Visit with any producer across the country and their stories will confirm the urgent need for USDA leadership. Farmers in my state have seen dramatic increases in pest populations, requiring many to spend thousands of dollars investing in netting and high tunnels to protect their crops. Others have faced late freezes, heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and drought that have damaged or destroyed crops. Some have also struggled to obtain timely crop insurance or disaster assistance to recover from these losses. As the report notes, rising temperatures have enabled the southern pine beetle to expand its range into forests as far north as Maine. The resulting tree death and damage can leave forests more vulnerable to future insect outbreaks and wildfires.

These stories demonstrate that climate change is not a distant threat—it is a daily reality for Maine farmers, who are innovating and adapting but cannot shoulder the burden alone. USDA must meet this moment with urgency, leadership, and a clear commitment to implementing the GAO’s recommendations.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to your response to assist farmers, ranchers, and foresters facing the impacts of climate change and your plans to reduce climate-related risks to American agriculture and forestry while protecting taxpayers from avoidable future costs.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6846,Ranking Member Pingree Slams Interior Plan to Carve Up Yosemite for Private Development,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, is pushing back against the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) proposed land exchange in Yosemite National Park. The project is listed as DOI’s sixth most important priority—even though Interior has acknowledged that it has not identified the parcel it intends to exchange.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Pingree warns that the Department is seeking approval without identifying the property involved or demonstrating any public benefit.

“Given the complete absence of any demonstrated conservation or other public benefit, the unavoidable conclusion is that this project has been deemed a departmental priority to advance a private transaction rather than a public purpose,” Pingree said. “The Land and Water Conservation Fund exists to safeguard land for the American people—not to serve as a federal concierge for a private landowner’s real estate ambitions. Absent compelling evidence to the contrary, which has not been provided by the Department, this project should not move forward.”

The full letter is available here and is copied below.

Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in 1964 to protect natural areas, water resources, and cultural heritage while expanding outdoor recreation access. At no cost to taxpayers, LWCF provides matching grants to Tribal, state and local governments to support the acquisition and development of land for public parks and other outdoor recreation sites. Congress permanently reauthorized the program in 2019, and the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 provided it with $900 million in permanent annual funding.

The proposed Yosemite exchange involves Kingsbarn Realty Capital, which owns the approximately 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch along the park’s western boundary. The developer has said it is seeking approximately 1.1 acres of federal land to construct a roughly 700-foot road connecting a planned lodging development to Big Oak Flat Road inside Yosemite. In return, it would acquire and transfer property of equal value in California, but that replacement property has not been identified. A previous owner of Hazel Green Ranch pursued separate easement claims seeking more direct access through Yosemite, but a federal district court dismissed those claims, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal in 2012.

Interior has said no final decision has been made and that any proposal moving forward would be subject to environmental review and public notification.

+++

Dear Secretary Burgum:

I am writing in response to the Land and Water Conservation Fund project lists that the Department of the Interior (DOI) submitted for Fiscal Year 2026. As required by Section 428(2)(A) of Public Law 119-74, these lists are subject to the Committee’s reprogramming guidelines.

I strongly oppose proceeding with the land exchange project in Yosemite National Park, priority number 6. In its communication with the Committee, DOI asserted that this land exchange is a priority while acknowledging that it has not identified an exchange parcel. Therefore, the National Park Service cannot possibly have assessed the public benefit or suitability of the exchange. DOI is effectively asking the Committee to approve a solution before it has identified either the property involved or the public purpose served. Given the complete absence of any demonstrated conservation or other public benefit, the unavoidable conclusion is that this project has been deemed a departmental priority to advance a private transaction rather than a public purpose. The Land and Water Conservation Fund exists to safeguard land for the American people—not to serve as a federal concierge for a private landowner’s real estate ambitions. Absent compelling evidence to the contrary, which has not been provided by the Department, this project should not move forward.

Additionally, I am deeply troubled by the omission of certain Fish and Wildlife land acquisition projects, for which the Department has routinely requested funding for over recent years and for which additional funding needs remain. The information provided by the Department to date about the prioritization of projects in the Fish and Wildlife Service Fiscal Year 2026 land acquisition and supplemental lists has been wholly inadequate and provides no meaningful basis for evaluating these unexplained omissions.

Since these lists were transmitted to the Committee, staff have asked for additional details. To date, DOI has failed to provide sufficient responses to the requested information. Accordingly, I ask that the Department immediately provide complete responses to the Committee.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-honors-victims-and-first-responders-at-9/11-memorial-ceremony-in-augusta,Senator Collins Honors Victims and First Responders at 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Augusta,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

AUGUSTA, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at the Maine Firefighters Memorial in Augusta during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The ceremony was hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1650 in partnership with the Augusta Fire Honor Guard.

“We join together today to remember those whose lives were taken that terrible morning – nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children, workers doing their jobs, travelers embarking on trips,” said Senator Collins during her remarks.

“Men and women like Robert and Jacqueline Norton of Lubec, Maine, who boarded Flight 11 to celebrate a son’s wedding in California. At about the same time, Flight 175 took off with Robert Jalbert, a Massachusetts businessman and talented woodworker who grew up in Lewiston. Also on board was James Roux of Portland, on the first leg of a dream trip to climb the Himalayas. Stephen Ward of Gorham had just moved to New York City to work for Cantor Fitzgerald. He was among the 658 employees killed in the North Tower. Navy Commander Robert Schlegel of Gray was settling into his new assignment at the Pentagon. His office was believed to be the point of impact for Flight 77,” she continued.

“On the evening of that terrible day, members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. With tears in our eyes and sorrow in our hearts, together we sang, ‘God Bless America.’ The emotions of shock, anger, and grief were joined by determination. That moment remains my most enduring memory. The passage of 25 years has not dimmed our memory or diminished our gratitude. As long as we keep the meaning of this day of remembrance in our hearts, we shall meet the challenges that lie ahead,” Senator Collins concluded.

Following the September 11 attacks, Senator Collins, then Chair of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, led the effort with the late Senator Joe Lieberman in authoring theIntelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which implemented the key recommendations of the independent 9/11 Commission. This comprehensive, bipartisan legislation was the most significant restructuring of the American intelligence community in more than half a century, dismantling the “stovepipes” that had left intelligence agencies holding separate pieces of information without a means to connect them. The law established the Director of National Intelligence and the National Counterterrorism Center to close those information-sharing gaps, helping to prevent future terrorist attacks.

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-the-town-of-newport,Senator Collins Visits the Town of Newport,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"NEWPORT, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins was in Newport yesterday to visit the Newport Community Center, the Newport Fire Department, and the Newport branch of the Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union.

Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.

Senator Collins joined Newport Town Manager Dylan Lajoie to see the progress that has been made on renovating the Newport Community Center. Through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins secured $935,000 in the Fiscal Year 2023 funding bill to renovate the Center, including making improvements to handicap accessibility and creating new athletic fields. In addition to the Town of Newport, the Center will serve the nearby communities of Plymouth, Etna, Corinna, St. Albans, Palmyra, and Hartland.

Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

Senator Collins then visited the Newport Fire Department to thank first responders for their work responding to fires and medical emergencies in Newport. During her visit, she toured the facility and spoke with Fire Chief Jeff Chretien, Fire Captain and EMT Amanda Chretien, and other members and supporters of the Department.

Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.

She also stopped by Sebasticook Valley Credit Union’s Newport branch to meet with staff and discuss issues affecting Maine’s credit unions. Senator Collins’ work with credit unions includes authoring the bipartisan Senior $afe Act, which was signed into law in 2018 and helps credit unions and other financial institutions identify and report suspected financial exploitation of seniors while protecting trained employees from liability for reports made in good faith and on a reasonable basis to the proper authorities.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-demands-education-department-restore-critical-mental-health-funding-that-addresses-youth-needs,King Demands Education Department Restore Critical Mental Health Funding That Addresses Youth Needs,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is urging the Department of Education to restore funding for critical school-based mental health programs and halt efforts to terminate grants that help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals. In a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, King and his colleagues warned that the Department’s actions are disrupting student access to care – including those handling difficult psychological issues – and creating uncertainty for schools and educators across the country.

The School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs were funded through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address shortages of mental health professionals in schools, particularly in rural communities. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide and trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals. Despite the programs’ demonstrated results, the Department abruptly discontinued more than 200 multi-year grants in April 2025, claiming the programs did not align with the administration’s policy priorities regarding diversity and equity initiatives. The cancellations forced some grantees to pause hiring and training, lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers, and stop funding scholarships used to recruit future mental health professionals.

“The Department’s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals,” King and his colleagues wrote. “We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.”

“Despite these grants’ clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration’s priorities and policy preferences,” the Senators continued. “The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.”

“We insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation’s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services,” the Senators concluded. “To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It’s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.”

In addition to King, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Secretary McMahon:

We write to request immediate clarification regarding the Department of Education’s (the Department) termination of $1 billion in School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant (MHSP) programs. The Department’s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals. These choices will increase the financial and administrative barriers to obtaining a quality education. We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption.

Funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the SBMH and MHSP programs address the dire shortage of mental health service providers in our nation’s schools. More than half of schools in the nation reported their ability to provide mental health services to students was limited in a significant way by inadequate funding, while 40 percent described insufficient access to mental health professionals as a barrier. SBMH grants help schools hire and retain counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals, specifically targeting areas with a demonstrated need, like rural and low-income communities. MHSP grants enable institutions of higher education and school districts to enter partnerships to recruit and train mental health professionals to work in schools.

The efficacy of SBMH and MHSP is supported by clear performance metrics. In just one year, grantees reached nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide, reduced absenteeism and behavioral issues, lowered suicide risk, trained and hired nearly 1,300 mental health professionals, and retained a vast majority of new and existing mental health professionals.

These programs fill crucial gaps in mental health care for youth in our nation’s schools. A 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 40 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless, an increase from 30 percent in 2013. Twenty-nine percent of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health and nine percent shared that they had attempted suicide.

Despite these grants’ clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration’s priorities and policy preferences. The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued.

Consequently, grantees were forced to pause hiring and training and lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. MHSP-supported graduate programs could also no longer fund the scholarships needed to recruit students.

In June 2025, 16 states, home to 140 of the canceled grants, sued the Department, arguing that the discontinuation of the grants violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). A district court subsequently issued a preliminary injunction against the discontinuation and then granted summary judgment and a permanent injunction to the plaintiff states, finding that the Department’s actions were inconsistent with statutory requirements. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit denied the Department's request to stay the permanent injunction.

The Department resumed 122 of the grants through June 30, 2026, imposing additional reporting requirements before deciding whether to release funding for the second half of the year. This process caused serious administrative uncertainty because grantee organizations could not reliably and effectively project budgets to determine if they would have the funds to hire and train mental health professionals. Some grantees were forced to lay off employees, exacerbating the challenges they face in addressing student mental health.

Furthermore, the Administration has indicated plans to permanently discontinue these grants, raising serious concerns regarding compliance with standing federal permanent injunctions and the July 27, 2026, Temporary Restraining Order.

The Department’s decision to withhold this funding from our nation’s schools will reverberate as the new school year starts in the fall, and the harm will be exacerbated if the Department continues to disrupt or withhold SBMH and MHSP funding. Our nation’s schools are already facing significant barriers to retaining mental health professionals, who serve as trusted adults for students and their parents.

These interruptions in student services disrupt the continuity of care. The Department’s actions will also slow the recruitment of new mental health professionals, disincentivizing prospective counselors and therapists from serving in our nation’s schools.

In light of the Department’s actions, we request answers to the following questions by September 18, 2026:

How many grantees have received an additional six months of funding after June 30, 2026? Please provide a list containing the name, a description of the grant, the amount, and any associated reporting requirements for each grantee.

Will the Department continue to impose similar requirements on these grantees for the remainder of their grant period?

What objective evaluation criteria were used to determine program compliance? Please provide a written justification for each discontinued grant including grant-specific reasons that go beyond the generic justification currently offered in the notices.

How does the Department plan to address the interruptions and uncertainty for grantees caused by the discontinuations?

We insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation’s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services. To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It’s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-bipartisan-legislation-to-modernize-noaa-fishery-stock-counts,King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Modernize NOAA Fishery Stock Counts,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to update the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) capacity to track and protect fisheries. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would incorporate environmental DNA (eDNA) and other biomolecular tools into NOAA's fisheries science programs, bolstering their ability to conduct more accurate and cost-effective stock assessment surveys.

Today, NOAA's stock assessment methods are limited due to their high operational costs and limited vessel availability. This in turn results in gaps in survey coverage. The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would integrate eDNA into these assessments, a method that is already widely used in the private sector to close these gaps by enabling sampling in remote or hazardous environments while reducing costs.

“Fisheries have long been an essential part of Maine’s economy and culture, and their enduring prominence depends upon their sustainability,” said Senator King. “The Fisheries Science Modernization Act would provide the NOAA with the advanced tools necessary to conduct more comprehensive surveys of our fisheries. By painting a more accurate picture of species health, we can be certain that our fisheries receive the attention they need, improving their sustainability and keeping them healthy for generations to come.”

King is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).

Senator King has long been a vocal advocate for the protections of Maine’s fisheries and marine ecosystems. Earlier this year, he introduced the American Seafood Competitiveness Act, legislation which would expand access to U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and grant programs for commercial fishermen, seafood processors, and mariculture-related businesses. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Help Our Kelp Act, investing in the protection of the kelp forests which provide sustenance for Maine’s fish. The year prior, in 2024, Senator King introduced the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act alongside his fellow members of the Maine delegation. This bill would gain congressional approval in December of 2024, leading to the construction of the Cherryfield Fishway, which allows anadromous fish such as herring, alewives, and the endangered Atlantic salmon to migrate upstream.

###",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-road-salt-cement-exempt-from-us-tariffs,"Senator Collins Announces Road Salt, Cement Exempt from U.S. Tariffs",2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement on the exemption of road salt and cement from the U.S. tariffs on Canada, following her focus on how crucial these two products are for the state of Maine in an August letter to the Administration:

“I appreciate the Administration’s announcement that it will exempt road salt and cement from U.S. tariffs. In my communication with Ambassador Greer and Secretary Lutnick, I focused on road salt and cement as two products crucial to Maine that would be severely affected by these tariffs.

“I mentioned in a letter to the Administration that Frenchville, a small Maine town on the Canadian border, would incur $10,000 in extra costs for road salt, threatening the town’s ability to provide municipal services. I also shared that I had heard from Maine ready-mix cement company owners, one of whom told me his company would pay $150,000 each month because of this tariff.

“These additional exemptions follow Canada’s announcement that it will carve out American seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list, which would have caused significant harm to Maine’s lobstermen.

“However, significant tariffs – including those on forest products – remain in effect and will lead to higher costs for Maine families and uncertainty for businesses. I urge the Administration to continue to work to deescalate this conflict and reach a trade resolution with our Canadian partners.”

###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6838,Pingree: Trump’s Arch Tests Whether Congress Will Defend Its Own Power,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, is calling on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) to file a lawsuit on behalf of Congress to block construction of President Trump’s 250-foot arch. Pingree’s letter comes after the Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced they’d be breaking ground at Memorial Circle—which sits directly in the sightline between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial—within two weeks, ignoring a pending lawsuit and bypassing Congressional authorization. Pingree argues that Congress has neither appropriated funding nor granted authority for this project under the Commemorative Works Act.

“Congress is the institution whose appropriations power and Commemorative Works Act authority this Administration is bypassing outright. That is a concrete, particularized injury, traceable directly to the Administration's own conduct and redressable by a court order halting construction,” Pingree said. “If the Administration wants to hide behind a standing argument, let it make that case against the body whose laws it is violating.”

Three Vietnam War veterans have sued the Trump Administration over the proposed arch, arguing that the arch would “dishonor their military and foreign service.”

“Americans are watching this White House pour concrete over the rules of their own government, and they are furious,” Pingree continued. “That fury runs deepest among veterans and Gold Star families. […] Gold Star families who walk through Arlington's gates to visit their loved ones would have to do it in the shadow of a 250-foot tribute to a man who, when asked who the monument was for, reportedly answered, ‘Me.’”

On Friday, Trump’s DOJ filed a notice of supplemental authority in the veterans’ lawsuit, Lemmon v. Trump, citing the Supreme Court's August 31 decision concerning the White House ballroom in support of its standing arguments in the pending arch litigation. Pingree, however, argues that Chief Justice Roberts’ dissenting argument stating that the ballroom construction was ""likely unlawful"" and emphasizing that the Court was allowing construction to proceed on standing grounds, not because the construction was legal, expressly puts the ball in Congress’s court to act.

“Mr. Speaker, this Administration is testing whether Congress will defend its own authority. This case is therefore an institutional obligation, not a dispute about architectural taste or party politics,” Pingree said. “The House has the standing, the authority, and the obligation to stop this before the excavators arrive. The window to act is closing; unless Congress intervenes, this project will irreversibly alter one of our nation’s most sacred landscapes, and you will have allowed Congress to further cede its constitutional authority to the Executive Branch.

During the House Appropriations Committee markups of FY2027 funding bills, Pingree submitted amendments to block construction of the arch, including one that would have required the Secretary of the Army, in coordination with Arlington National Cemetery, to conduct a study on the impact of construction of the Triumphal Arch on veterans, family members, and other visitors to Arlington National Cemetery.

The complete letter is available here and is copied below.

+++

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I am writing with extreme urgency to call on you to file a lawsuit on behalf of the United States Congress to stop construction of the 250-foot arch at Memorial Circle before it breaks ground. Congress has neither appropriated funding nor granted authority for this project under the Commemorative Works Act. The Administration is building it anyway, betting this body will do nothing to stop it. I am asking you to take all necessary steps to file suit immediately, while there is still ground left to save.

On September 3, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced on social media that excavation for what he called the ""Great Triumphal Arch and Military Observation Deck"" would begin within two weeks, framing it as the end of ""a very long wait (over 125 years!)."" That same day, Department of Justice lawyers filed a notice of supplemental authority in Lemmon v. Trump, a pending lawsuit that challenges construction of the arch.

The Administration invoked the Supreme Court's August 31 decision concerning the White House ballroom in support of its standing arguments in the pending arch litigation. That decision does not establish that the Executive may disregard Congress. The Court expressly stated, ""we do not pass upon the legality of the government's East Wing project."" It concluded only that the private organization before it was unlikely to establish Article III standing and that the remaining stay factors favored relief. Chief Justice Roberts, dissenting, stated that the ballroom construction was ""likely unlawful"" and emphasized that the Court was allowing construction to proceed on standing grounds, not because the construction was legal.

Congress is the institution whose appropriations power and Commemorative Works Act authority this Administration is bypassing outright. That is a concrete, particularized injury, traceable directly to the Administration's own conduct and redressable by a court order halting construction. If the Administration wants to hide behind a standing argument, let it make that case against the body whose laws it is violating.

Americans are watching this White House pour concrete over the rules of their own government, and they are furious. That fury runs deepest among veterans and Gold Star families. Three Vietnam War veterans are the lead plaintiffs in Lemmon v. Trump, arguing that the arch would ""dishonor their military and foreign service."" Their case is being fought steps from Arlington National Cemetery, where an estimated 400,000 service members, veterans, and their relatives are buried.

The site sits along the route funeral processions use to reach the cemetery's gates and less than two miles from Reagan National Airport's flight path. The arch would rise directly on the line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, a corridor built to symbolize the nation's reunification after the Civil War, the same war in which Maine sent a higher share of its people into the Union Army than any other state. Maine is home to nearly 100,000 veterans, among the highest concentrations in the country, and not one of them asked for a monument like this. Gold Star families who walk through Arlington's gates to visit their loved ones would have to do it in the shadow of a 250-foot tribute to a man who, when asked who the monument was for, reportedly answered, ""Me.""

Mr. Speaker, this Administration is testing whether Congress will defend its own authority. This case is therefore an institutional obligation, not a dispute about architectural taste or party politics. The House has the standing, the authority, and the obligation to stop this before the excavators arrive. The window to act is closing; unless Congress intervenes, this project will irreversibly alter one of our nation’s most sacred landscapes, and you will have allowed Congress to further cede its constitutional authority to the Executive Branch.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6840,Ranking Member Pingree Statement on Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the Smithsonian Institution, released the following statement on Secretary Lonnie Bunch’s resignation:

Secretary Lonnie Bunch is a trailblazing historian and dedicated public servant who has devoted nearly four decades to the Smithsonian. From bringing the National Museum of African American History and Culture to life to becoming the institution’s first Black Secretary, his extraordinary leadership has strengthened the Smithsonian and enriched our nation.

Secretary Bunch has guided the Smithsonian through a period of unprecedented political interference while remaining committed to scholarship, expertise, and the public trust. Under his leadership, the Smithsonian continued to do what it does best: tell America’s story truthfully and completely—the good and the bad, the tragic and triumphant.

I am deeply grateful for Secretary Bunch’s service and wish him well in his next chapter. His departure comes at a consequential moment for this treasured American institution. As Ranking Member of the subcommittee that oversees the Smithsonian, I will continue fighting to ensure the institution has the resources, expertise, and curatorial independence necessary to fulfill its mission free from White House interference. The Smithsonian belongs to the American people, and no president has the right to erase, soften, or rewrite our history.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/-senator-collins-tours-mema-technical-education-center-in-brunswick,Senator Collins Tours MEMA Technical Education Center in Brunswick,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins toured the Maine Energy Marketers Association (MEMA) Technical Education Center in Brunswick, where she spoke with students, instructors, and MEMA members.

The nonprofit MEMA Technical Education Center is owned and operated by MEMA members and provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration training. Its curriculum is continually updated to reflect industry advancements and best practices. The National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) helps fund the Center. In 2018, Senator Collins worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to secure a 10-year reauthorization of NORA as part of the annual Farm Bill.

“The hands-on education provided by the MEMA Technical Education Center prepares students for rewarding careers while helping Maine energy companies meet their workforce needs,” said Senator Collins. “It was great speaking with the students and instructors and learning more about the important training offered at the Center. I thank MEMA for its commitment to technical education and for helping prepare the skilled workers who serve Maine homes and businesses.”

MEMA represents more than 300 members, including heating oil, propane, biofuel, and motor fuel providers, as well as convenience store owners.

###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hollow-promise_king-responds-to-news-that-ice-has-acquired-sufficient-body-worn-cameras,“Hollow Promise” – King Responds to News that ICE Has Acquired Sufficient Body-Worn Cameras,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today shared the following statement responding to news that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement now says it has acquired enough body-worn cameras to have all officers equipped with:

“This update from ICE is a hollow promise since ICE announced weeks ago that they have no intention of making body-worn camera footage public if it does not show them in a favorable light. So unless and until there is a change of policy and leadership, today’s news simply means that there is more expensively equipped lawlessness on our streets rather than responsible, legitimate law enforcement.”

Senator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE’s activities in Maine and across the country—again calling for the implementation of guardrails. Weeks ago, he condemned the news that ICE was buying painful “shock gloves” for officers to stun and paralyze suspects they were seeking to detain.

Most recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard – holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections – Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.

###",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-extend-government-funding-through-december-11,Golden votes to extend government funding through December 11,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded until December 11, preventing the risk of a government shutdown on October 1.

The CR maintains current government funding levels until December 11, with limited policy changes. The bill passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan 370-48 vote. It previously passed the Senate in a vote of 90-6 and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.

“As the November elections come into view, and we remain without a funding deal, the risk of political gamesmanship is high,” Golden said. “This resolution will remove the incentive for either party to hold the government hostage in an attempt to score political points — and give Congress the time needed to negotiate a sound appropriations deal.”

Golden has consistently voted to avoid government shutdowns because of the harm they cause, often to those less fortunate. This past winter, a lapse in appropriations triggered the longest shutdown in the nation’s history. As a result, food assistance benefits for needy families were disrupted, core public health and food safety programs were paused, millions of federal workers missed paychecks and travelers experienced long delays.

In Maine alone, a government shutdown would affect the more than 11,000 federal employees and could force Acadia National Park to close. Additionally, a shutdown would likely impact the 169,000 Mainers who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table and the more than 45,000 Maine households that depend on Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEP) to heat their homes.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-golden-lawler-bill-to-protect-maine-lobstermen-from-burdensome-new-right-whale-regulations-until-2035,House passes Golden-Lawler bill to protect Maine lobstermen from burdensome new right whale regulations until 2035,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Maine’s lobstermen and the communities they support would get an extended reprieve from onerous new regulations related to the North Atlantic right whale until 2035 under a bill spearheaded by Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Mike Lawler (NY-17), which passed the House of Representatives in bipartisan 219-196 vote on Tuesday.

The Golden-Lawler bill, The Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, now goes to the Senate.

“This bill is a big win not only for fishermen in Maine, but for bipartisanship in Congress,” said Golden, whose district hosts the largest lobster fishery in the United States. “While the threat of unnecessary, industry-killing regulations is a matter of survival for lobster harvesters in Maine, the issues at play affect fishermen across the Northeast. Building bridges across party lines is essential for a functional Congress, but unfortunately, it’s a skill that has been lost for far too many members. I’m grateful to Rep. Lawler for recognizing an injustice to working men and women and joining me to correct it.”

“While this legislation is particularly important to Maine’s fishing communities, the Northeast lobster industry supports small businesses and hardworking families far beyond the coastline, including restaurants here in New York. Fishermen have spent years adapting to conservation requirements and deserve regulatory certainty instead of constantly shifting rules that threaten their ability to operate and plan for the future. I’m grateful to Congressman Jared Golden for his partnership on this bipartisan effort and to the Natural Resources Committee for their support. We are proud to see this bill pass the House,” Lawler said.

The moratorium was originally enacted in 2022 under President Joe Biden, with bipartisan support from the entire Maine delegation and Maine Gov. Janet Mills. It was made necessary after the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in 2021 issued an opinion using “worst-case scenarios,” assumptions and poor data that led to regulatory proposals for more gear modifications, such as ropeless gear, and area closures, threatening the future of Maine’s lobster fishery.

Two parallel but related processes related to crafting new rules for the protection of North Atlantic right whales are both behind schedule: Layoffs at NOAA and government shutdowns have delayed the start of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team’s regulatory process, reducing the timeline for developing fishery management proposals. Meanwhile, scientists and researchers at Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR) say more time is needed to ensure relevant data is available to inform the rulemaking process.

In the meantime, Maine lobstermen have done their part to reduce the likelihood of entanglements. Over the past 20 years, they have removed many vertical lines from the water by putting more traps on each line; added breakaways to fishing lines to ensure that if it comes into contact with a whale or other large animal comes into contact, it breaks; limited the diameter of vertical lines; and switched to sinking groundlines, among other new practices.

Despite the worst-case projections from advocates for industry-killing regulations, including the potential of fishery closures, data from NOAA suggests that from 2009 through 2018, the number of serious injuries or deaths to North Atlantic right whales that could be attributed to entanglements from American fishing gear was just 0.2 annually.

“We don’t have to choose between a lobster industry that is the lifeblood of communities in Maine and protecting the right whale,” Golden said. “The truth is we can do both. Maine fishermen are already proving it.”

The Golden-Lawler bill drew support from Maine state agencies, northeast fishermen and organizations representing Maine’s lobster industry, including: Maine Department of Marine Resources, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Maine Lobstering Union Local 207, Maine Lobster Advisory Council, New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, New Hampshire Commercial Fisherman’s Association and Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association. Earlier this year President Donald Trump signaled his support for the proposed extension.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-american-rheinmetall-in-biddeford,Senator Collins Visits American Rheinmetall in Biddeford,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

BIDDEFORD, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks and toured the factory floor at American Rheinmetall, where she spoke with employees and company leadership. The company’s Biddeford facility supports U.S. defense manufacturing and produces weapon-system components, military electronics, fire-control and vision systems, and other technologies.

American Rheinmetall recently received a contract from the Department of Defense (DOD) worth more than $20 million to produce MK-93 weapon mounts for the U.S. military. Senator Collins secured the necessary funding increase for DOD to purchase the mounts, allowing American Rheinmetall to compete for the contract and DOD to award it on schedule. The contract will help expand operations at American Rheinmetall’s Biddeford manufacturing facility.

“From the founding of our nation to today, Maine manufacturers have been essential to keeping America strong and free. We are fortunate to have companies such as American Rheinmetall strengthening the arsenal of democracy, from advanced materials and precision manufacturing to autonomous systems. Your cutting-edge work provides specialized capabilities critical to military readiness and is an important part of the defense industrial base,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “The upgraded MK-93 mount you manufacture enhances the Army’s standard mount for heavy machine guns and grenade launchers, boosting accuracy, stability, and ease of use. Just as important, the good example you set through your skill, dedication, and pride sends a powerful message to students seeking rewarding careers. The people of Maine are proud of our state’s role in keeping our nation strong and free. You add to that legacy. Thank you and keep up the great work!”

As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has worked to strengthen Maine’s defense industrial base. She led Senate passage of the 2026 Department of Defense funding bill, which supports defense employers and workers across Maine. To help prepare workers for careers in this sector, Senator Collins secured $1.5 million in 2023 and nearly $1 million in 2024 to expand welding training facilities and upgrade classroom technology at York County Community College.

These investments complement efforts by the Maine Defense Industry Alliance (MDIA)—a statewide initiative bringing together defense employers, educational institutions, and government partners to expand Maine’s defense workforce. The U.S. Navy awarded the MDIA $3.5 million to expand state-of-the-art welding and manufacturing instruction at York County Community College to support more than 200 additional trainees each year. The U.S. Small Business Administration also recently awarded the Maine Community College System, an MDIA partner, $5 million to provide manufacturing workforce training statewide. The funding will support training in areas including CNC precision machining, welding, maritime pipefitting, marine machine mechanics, quality assurance, and other advanced manufacturing skills.

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-efforts-to-protect-military-brain-health-making-improvements-identifying-remaining-challenges,"King Efforts to Protect Military Brain Health Making Improvements, Identifying Remaining Challenges",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), member of the Senate Armed Service Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee (SVAC), is continuing to push for research into the traumatic effects of blast overpressure on servicemembers during and after their time in the military. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a study that reviews Department of Defense (DOD) actions to assess, monitor, and improve the health risks posed by blast overpressure on troops operating heavy weapons. The report was issued after Senator King worked to include it in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which codified his Blast Overpressure Safety Act.

While the study concludes that “DOD has taken critical steps to prevent and mitigate service members’ exposures,” it identifies root causes behind shortfalls in monitoring servicemembers’ brain health – including the shortage of industrial hygienists who can conduct the sophisticated tests that can help unit commanders and medical personnel evaluate and track the injuries.

“For years I have said that you cannot fix a problem unless you can measure it,” said Senator King. “Thanks to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) survey, we now have more information and metrics to track progress in addressing this invisible danger that has been lurking for years. We have seen the tragic consequences that result when these blast overpressure symptoms go unnoticed or untreated, and it’s work like this that will make the difference, improve the health of our service members, and likely save lives.”

In addition to the specific finding of an insufficient number of medically-trained staff, the report surveyed five factors that are playing a part in addressing and improving the mental health threat posed by blast overpressure. Awareness, military hierarchy, unit culture, access to care, and the nature of interactions with health care providers were all singled out by participants as playing a role in confronting this problem among America’s military.

Following the 2023 Lewiston shooting, Senator King has been working with his colleagues to increase mental health funding and address brain injuries. In a SASC hearing last year, King spoke with top DOD officials about the importance of addressing brain injuries in servicemember and veterans caused by repeated exposure to weapon blasts. In 2024, he wrote a letter to Department of Defense (DoD) urging the Department to expedite protection of servicemembers from weapon blasts and TBIs. Prior to that letter he urged leaders of the Appropriations Committee to support the strongest possible funding for the Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research program within the DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDRMP).

Senator King introduced Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 to study impacts of lower-intensity weapon blasts on veteran mental health. The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act codified the core provisions of the Blast Overpressure Safety Act introduced in 2025 by Senator Elizabeth Warren and co-sponsored by Senator King. The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act implemented additional monitoring and audit requirements. The Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that passed out of the Senate Armed Services Committee directs further oversight on implementing monitoring blast overpressure.

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-tours-improvements-at-amhc-crisis-stabilization-unit-in-calais,Senator Collins Tours Improvements at AMHC Crisis Stabilization Unit in Calais,2026-08-30,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

CALAIS, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Aroostook Mental Health Service’s (AMHC) newly renovated Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit in Calais yesterday. The unit provides 24/7 short-term residential crisis care, safety planning, and mental health stabilization.

In 2024, Senator Collins secured $4.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to support improvements at the facility, including a new four-season sensory space for children, as well as a soon-to-be-completed children’s residential unit.

“These improvements, combined with AMHC’s expert and compassionate staff, will help individuals and families in Washington County during their time of need,” said Senator Collins. “That is why I worked hard to secure $4.3 million in federal funding to support these renovations and expand the availability of behavioral health services for children and adults at this location.”

AMHC has provided mental health, crisis, substance use treatment, and other behavioral health services to communities in northern and eastern Maine for more than 60 years.

###",1,2026-08-31T11:22:56Z,2026-08-31T11:24:00Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-celebrates-completed-renovation-of-st-croix-apartments-in-calais,Senator Collins Celebrates Completed Renovation of St. Croix Apartments in Calais,2026-08-29,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

CALAIS, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the rehabilitation and renovation of the St. Croix Apartments in Calais. The project restored 26 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors.

In 2021, Senator Collins helped secure nearly $3.2 million for this project through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. Then, in 2024, she secured an additional $1.2 million in Congressionally Directed Spending to further support the renovations.

“Affordable housing is critical to helping Maine seniors live comfortably and securely in their own communities,” said Senator Collins. “I am delighted to celebrate the completion of this project, and I was proud to help secure the federal funding that made it possible. The renovated St. Croix Apartments will provide seniors with safe and affordable homes close to the family, friends, and community they love.”

The St. Croix Apartments lost HUD funding in 2016 due to the previous owner’s failure to properly maintain the property, forcing the residents to find new homes. Senator Collins worked to ensure that those residents received relocation and continued rental assistance. Sunrise Opportunities later purchased the property and developed a plan to return it to affordable housing.

###",1,2026-08-30T10:18:21Z,2026-08-30T10:19:31Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-warns-170-million-of-maine-goods-would-be-hit-by-tariffs-in-new-letter-to-administration,Senator Collins Warns $170 Million of Maine Goods Would Be Hit by Tariffs in New Letter to Administration,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jameison Greer urging them to resume negotiations with Canada and to reach a fair trade agreement to prevent damaging tariffs from taking effect in order to protect Maine workers, employers, and communities from unnecessary economic harm.

She also shared new details quantifying the damage to Maine businesses if the tariffs continue as planned.

“The new 50 percent tariffs imposed by the Administration on certain Canadian imports and the retaliatory tariffs announced by the Canadian government will lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine families, small and large businesses, and our communities,” Senator Collins wrote. “For Mainers, commerce with Canada is a regular occurrence. Maine borders only one state, but shares a 611-mile border with Canada. The consequences of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs are severe for Maine businesses, including our heritage industries.”

“Approximately $170 million worth of goods would be subject to the announced Canadian tariffs, with roughly 62 percent coming from the forest products sector. Nearly 90 percent of Maine is covered by forest. This economic sector supports approximately 30,000 jobs and contributes more than $8 billion to the state’s economy,” she continued. “Two of Maine’s paper mills, which are the largest employers in their towns, have already contacted me about the crushing increased costs that they will incur and the potential impact on their employment levels.”

“I appreciate that the Canadian government has revised its initial announcement and removed seafood and fish products, including lobster, from its plan. This would have resulted in more than $200 million in tariffs on Maine’s lobster industry, with impacts felt all throughout the supply chain,” she added. “The tariffs will also impose significant hardships on Maine communities. For example, Maine municipalities rely on road salt from Canada to keep roads safe from snow and ice in the winter. Frenchville, a very small town on the Canadian border, will have to pay $10,000 more for road salt as a result of the new tariffs.”

“Maine’s economy is uniquely intertwined with Canada, and the consequences of an escalating trade dispute will be felt by American families, businesses, workers, and communities across the state. Thousands of American jobs and businesses across a variety of sectors are at risk. I urge the Administration to work urgently toward a negotiated resolution with Canada that removes the recently implemented American tariffs and prevents the Canadian tariffs from taking effect,” Senator Collins concluded.

The complete text of the letter can be read here.

+++

Senator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.

Earlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine’s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.

In April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.

In July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.

In December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine’s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-participates-in-christening-and-launch-of-umaines-3d-printed-vessel,Senator Collins Participates in Christening and Launch of UMaine’s 3D-Printed Vessel,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

HAMPDEN, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at the christening and launch of 3Dirigo-X, a 30-foot, 3D-printed vessel designed and manufactured by the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC). Senator Collins joined University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy, ASCC Executive Director Dr. Habib Dagher, and Keith DeVries, Director of the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology (MANTECH) Program, for the event at Hampden Marina. Following her remarks, Senator Collins helped christen the vessel and observed an in-water demonstration.

3Dirigo-X is the first large 3D-printed vessel designed to operate at high speeds in the challenging environment of the Atlantic Ocean. Developed through a Department of Defense-funded Accelerated Rapid Prototyping (ARP) program, it is engineered to withstand the static, dynamic, impact, vibration, and hydrodynamic forces associated with operating at speeds approaching 40 knots. The vessel builds on the ASCC’s 2019 production of 3Dirigo, a 25-foot patrol boat that was printed in 72 hours and set Guinness World Records for the world’s largest 3D-printed boat and largest 3D-printed object.

“Today, we launch 3Dirigo-X, the first large 3D-printed vessel designed to operate at high speeds in the challenging environment of the Atlantic Ocean. 3Dirigo proved that a boat could be printed. 3Dirigo-X will demonstrate that a vessel produced by this technology can perform in the demanding conditions of the high seas,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “This significant advancement is the result of the expertise of researchers at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. My first official visit as a new senator in 1997 was to Dr. Dagher’s wood composites lab. Ever since, I have been proud to support the pioneering work done here by securing funding to support and strengthen its advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

Senator Collins has supported the ASCC since the beginning of her Senate service, and her first official visit as a senator in 1997 was to Dr. Habib Dagher’s wood composites laboratory. In 2019, she helped establish a partnership between UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on large-scale 3D printing with forest materials and in the past five years alone, she has secured more than $115 million in federal appropriations to support the ASCC’s Factory of the Future. This includes $35 million in fiscal year 2022 appropriations legislation to support the construction and advanced manufacturing capabilities of the ASCC’s Factory of the Future, and an additional $33 million in fiscal year 2023 to expand the facility, including the addition of a second manufacturing bay.

In April 2024, the ASCC unveiled the world’s largest polymer 3D printer, which is four times larger than its previous record-setting printer. The printer allows UMaine to accelerate and expand its research into applications including shipbuilding, affordable housing, and bridge construction.

###",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-penquis-bright-beginnings-child-development-center,Senator Collins Visits Penquis Bright Beginnings Child Development Center,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins visited Penquis Bright Beginnings Child Development Center in Bangor to join Penquis President and CEO Kara Hay, Head Start and Childcare Director Mary Kay Hallett for a guided tour of the facility.

The center opened in May 2025 and includes 16 classrooms for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. Once fully operational, the center will serve nearly 200 children through its Head Start, Early Head Start, and child care programs.

“Bright Beginnings is helping more children get a strong start in life while giving parents access to the reliable, high-quality child care they need,” said Senator Collins. “I have long been a strong supporter of Head Start, and as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to protect and strengthen this vital program for children and families in Maine and across the country.”

Senator Collins has long supported federal investments in Head Start, which provides early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family support services to children from low-income families. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins helped increase funding for Head Start nationally to $12.4 billion in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bridge-dedication-in-honor-of-fallen-maine-state-police-detective,Senator Collins Joins Bridge Dedication in Honor of Fallen Maine State Police Detective,2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

MILLINOCKET, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins participated in a bridge dedication in Millinocket honoring fallen Maine State Police Detective Ben Campbell. Detective Campbell’s widow, Hilary, and son, Everett, attended the ceremony, along with dozens of state, county, and local law enforcement officers and elected officials, local business owners, representatives of community organizations, and other supporters.

Detective Campbell, who lived in Millinocket, was killed in 2019 when he stopped to help a stranded driver on I-95 and was struck by a wheel that detached from a passing logging truck. He was 31 years old.

“Every law enforcement officer answers a call that sets them apart. Most of us wonder if we would have the courage to risk our lives in a moment of crisis to protect others. The men and women who wear the uniform demonstrate that courage every day,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “Detective Campbell answered that call, and he served the people of Maine with commitment, compassion, and valor. The dedication of this new bridge in his name ensures that for generations to come, all who pass this way will be reminded of his dedication to others. Hilary and Everett, to you he was a loving husband and a devoted father. To all of us here today, he was a hero—not because of the way his life ended, but because of the way he lived it.”

In 2018, Senator Collins helped secure a $10,836,220 U.S. DOT Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to replace three structurally deficient bridges in Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, including the bridge dedicated today. Formerly known as the West Branch Bridge, the now Detective Ben Campbell Memorial Bridge carries Route 11 over the West Branch of the Penobscot River approximately four miles southwest of Millinocket.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-canada-exempting-american-seafood-from-retaliatory-tariffs,Senator Collins’ Statement on Canada Exempting American Seafood from Retaliatory Tariffs,2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement after the Canadian government announced its decision to exempt American seafood from its list of planned retaliatory tariffs:

“I very much appreciate Canada’s decision to remove seafood and fish products from its retaliatory tariff list. These tariffs would have caused tremendous harm to Maine’s lobstermen, disrupting one of their most important markets during the fall fishing season.

“I urge the U.S. to respond to this show of good faith from our Canadian friends by returning to the negotiating table and working to amicably resolve this trade dispute.

“Canada is not China. Canada is one of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Our economies are inextricably linked, especially in the border regions. Continuing with these tariffs will harm Maine families, small businesses, municipalities, manufacturers, and farmers.

“When I spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer this week, I stressed the negative impact U.S. tariffs will have on Maine — especially our forest, food, cement, road salt users and producers. Tariffs will also stress municipal budgets, as small towns in Maine rely on Canadian road salt and cannot afford to incur extra costs to keep their roads safe in the winter.”

+++

Senator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.

Earlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine’s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.

In April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.

In July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.

In December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine’s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-remarks-at-kenduskeag-library-truss-signing-ceremony,Senator Collins Delivers Remarks at Kenduskeag Library Truss Signing Ceremony,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

KENDUSKEAG, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at a truss signing ceremony for the new Kenduskeag Public Library. She joined Kenduskeag Town Selectboard Chairwoman Sheila Doughty, Town Selectmen Mike Bishop and Chris Young, State Senator Stacey Guerin, Town Historian James Smith, library trustees and other project supporters at the event.

The town’s current library does not have bathrooms or running water and has limited space for visitors. The new library will offer modern facilities and additional space for hosting community programs and events.

Senator Collins secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending in 2024 to support the construction of the new library. This is part of more than $16 million she has secured in the past five years to upgrade nine libraries across the state.

“This project holds a special place in my heart. One of my first jobs as a teenager was reading to children during Story Hour at the public library in my hometown of Caribou. I learned at that early age that encouraging children to read is an investment in their education and, ultimately, an investment in our country’s future,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “I was pleased to secure $1 million to help move this long-awaited project forward, and I congratulate the people of Kenduskeag on your vision and perseverance in seeing this project through. I look forward to our continued work together.”

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-and-colleagues-call-for-committee-hearing-on-needless-avoidable-shortages-and-strain-on-troops,"King and Colleagues Call for Committee Hearing on Needless, Avoidable Shortages and Strain on Troops",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), is calling for a public hearing to scrutinize the planning and management of extended military deployments in support of ongoing operations in Iran and the mounting toll on American servicemembers and their families. In a letter to SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS), King and twelve of his colleagues pointed to recent reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships, as well as extended deployments affecting soldiers, airmen, National Guardsmen, and reservists. The lawmakers are seeking testimony from Department of Defense leadership about how the military is supporting deployed servicemembers, planning relief rotations and addressing the effects of extended deployments on military readiness, recruitment, and retention.

The request follows reports that sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have faced deteriorating living conditions during an extended deployment, including food rationing, shortages of water and other basic supplies, broken facilities and serious mental health concerns. Most recently, Stars and Stripes reported that military families stationed in Bahrain are facing “uncharted territory” when it comes to a lack of planning and communications from the highest levels of government – from reasons for the war to sudden and chaotic evacuations.

“The toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable,” King and his colleagues wrote. “Troops are suffering because of this Administration’s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.”

“Military families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war,” the lawmakers continued. “Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers.”

“As Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions,” the lawmakers concluded. “We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation’s call, we will have their backs — not leave them stranded with no support.”

King is joined on the letter by Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Chairman Wicker:

We request that you convene a public Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the poor planning and mismanagement of extended deployments to support Iran operations and the impact on our troops. Recent reports of sailors suffering from severe mental health issues amid deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln have only added to a disturbing pattern of failures to adequately plan and support our troops, who have been away from their families indefinitely as the Iran War drags on.

On August 11, Military Times reported that multiple sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln currently supporting Iran operations attempted to jump overboard, a heartbreaking decision in effort to escape the mental health toll of an extended deployment that was planned to end in May but is now at 9 months and counting. Horrifying messages from military families described other poor conditions onboard the Lincoln, including food rationing, rotten meals, shortages of supplies like water and soap, overflowing toilets, broken facilities and disrupted mail delivery. It took nine months for the Navy to relieve the Lincoln with the USS George Washington, after conditions had reached such severity that military families directly confronted the Acting Secretary of the Navy. This has revealed the real impact of unplanned deployment extensions on our ability to maintain and logistically support our ships in a contested environment.

This is not the first time during this war that we have seen the consequences of extended deployments onboard an aircraft carrier or even other ships. Sailors on the USS Ford experienced hundreds of broken toilets and significant damage from a non-combat fire that injured multiple sailors and affected 100 sleeping berths and forced it to redirect to Greece for emergency repair. After this emergency repair, the Ford was again sent back to the Red Sea to support Iran operations – eventually completing 11 months of deployment, even though the Navy tries to limit deployments to seven months. Military families of servicemembers on board the multiple ships as part of the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) in the region have reported emotional and financial strain from the unplanned extensions, struggling to balance work and childcare and caught in limbo with disrupted plans every time orders are extended.

Both the Lincoln and the Ford Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) were redirected from their original missions to support President Trump’s illegal wars of choice. The Lincoln originally deployed in November to conduct routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East in January to support the start of the Iran operations. The Ford ultimately served a whopping 11 months at sea – redirected three times from an original mission to support deterrence in Europe, to operations in the Caribbean Sea and against Venezuela, to Iran operations. This Administration has failed to explain why it has insisted on stretching our sailors in this way without adequate planning – let alone for unauthorized wars of choice.

The strain on our troops is not confined to the Navy. In fact, our offices and press have heard story after story of Soldiers and Airmen, including National Guardsmen and Reservists, seeing their deployments extended with uncertainty about when they will be relieved by other units and can return home to their families. Bases in the Middle East originally designed to support a specific footprint have been stretched to support a much larger scale of units now stationed there – and conditions are deteriorating as too many people meet too little space and supplies.

The toll this illegal, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable. Troops are suffering because of this Administration’s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.

All these developments strongly indicate a systemic failure of planning and adaptation by the Secretary of Defense and senior DoD leaders. It is appalling that in month seven of the Iran War, DoD still continues to fail to anticipate and plan for the second-order consequences of the President’s choices to continue this war with no end.

Military families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers – why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price.

We request a public hearing to help Congress and the public better understand how we got here and how the Department will ensure it never happens again. We call on the Department to explain to Congress, military families and the American people how it assesses and justifies the readiness impacts of these extended deployments, how it plans for relief rotations and what accounts for the systemic failures to provide troops with the support they need to do the mission the President has illegally asked of them. Importantly, the Department must justify and detail exactly how it plans to sustain our troops in this war indefinitely -- as the President’s negotiations continue to fail.

As Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions. We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation’s call, we will have their backs – not leave them stranded with no support. For these reasons, we urge the Committee to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity to examine these issues directly with DoD leaders.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-us-canada-trade-war-could-devastate-lobster-industry,King: US-Canada Trade War Could “Devastate” Lobster Industry,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement after the United States and Canada recently escalated the year-long trade war with retaliatory tariffs that will have major impacts on Maine people and businesses:

“Maine’s lobstermen are some of the most determined and resilient members of Maine’s workforce. For months, these hardworking men and women have faced challenges across the board, from the increased cost of living at home to the spike in diesel fuel prices at work. Now this new escalation of the trade war with Canada – ‘the dumbest trade war’ according to the Wall Street Journal – is going to make things even worse’

“The Canadians just announced that they will begin retaliatory tariffs against American products as a response to the White House’s rash actions – including a 25% tariff on lobsters beginning in September. In the fall, almost half of the Maine lobster catch goes to Canada for processing which means that they will be tariffed on their way from the United States to Canada which could cut off the Canadian market with devastating consequences. And if the President’s misguided trade war further escalates, the processed lobsters could be taxed again when they are shipped back from Canada to the United States. If the President doesn’t relent, this hammer blow to hardworking Maine people would devastate the Maine lobster industry and leave many of these hardworking people literally high and dry.

“Maine people are not interested in personal, retaliatory politics. They are focused on the high cost of goods here at home. The majority party must listen to the industry leaders here in Maine, put pressure on the President, and move forward with an economic policy that works for us and not against us.”

###",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pushing-state-department-to-fix-college-student-visa-delays,King Pushing State Department to Fix College Student Visa Delays,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) joined 29 of his Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of State to address delays in processing student and exchange visitor visas ahead of the upcoming academic year. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators are calling for the timely processing of F, M, and J visas as well as for answers about the lack of available visa appointments at U.S. embassies and consulates.

The Senators highlight the vital contributions international students make to universities and communities nationwide, including expanding opportunities for American students, generating economic activity, strengthening the U.S. workforce, and building international partnerships.

“International students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students,” write the Senators. “International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.”

In addition to King, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write to express our concerns regarding the ongoing unavailability of visa appointments during the peak visa application season for students and scholars seeking to enter the U.S. in time for the start of classes and the academic year. We urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness. Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students’ visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.

These challenges come at a time when major academic institutions need skilled, international talent to begin their semesters. Without a fix, the repercussions will be felt across the academic and skilled-technical talent pipeline.

International students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students. For every additional international undergraduate enrolled at a U.S. public university, two additional in-state freshman students can enroll. Most international students pay out-of state tuition, injecting vital revenue into our colleges and universities and helping keep costs down for domestic students. International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.

The case-by-case nature of availability for access to expedited appointments or National Interest Exception requests is neither efficient nor sustainable. Instead of diverting already limited personnel resources, the State Department should ensure that its consular sections restore priority to interview, adjudicate, and process student visas in time for the upcoming school year.

In addition to the above, we urge the State Department to extend interview waivers for vetted returning student applicants; ensure adequate staffing for timely visa vetting and processing; and meaningfully engage with stakeholders to promote greater transparency.

International students bolster the American workforce, drive innovation, and better position our country to maintain its competitive edge. Therefore, we request a written response answering these questions within 30 days:

What resources has the Department devoted to processing the backlogs and streamlining processing of F, J, and M visas?

Have consular process priorities changed since the spring and summer of 2025? What visa interview categories are currently prioritized by the Bureau of Consular Affairs and where do student visas fall within that list? Provide the list of visa interview prioritization.

What guidance has been sent to embassies and consulates regarding prioritization or deprioritization of student and exchange visitor visa processing? Provide a copy of all guidance regarding the prioritizing or deprioritizing of student and exchange visitor visas since August 2025 until the present day.

How are interview slots being allocated at embassies and consulates and where do student and exchange visitor visa appointments fit within that allocation?

How often are consular post websites and the main State Department website updated for relevant and current information regarding current U.S. consulate operations including visa appointment availability and approximate processing times?

When will you resume publicly posting monthly, accurate visa issuance data by category?

Will the Department commit to implementing regular, ongoing outreach and collaboration with stakeholders and relevant agencies about the student and exchange visitor visa process and ensure the timely processing of F, J, and M visas?

How do you ensure that embassies and consulates are accurately and timely informed of any regulatory or policy changes regarding student and exchange visitor visas?

What are the average processing times for F, M, and J visas at the top five locations processing these visas from September 2025 to date, disaggregated by month?

Last year, the Department of State announced new vetting, including online presence vetting, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classification.

a. What resources has the Department of State devoted to these new vetting procedures?

b. In developing these new vetting procedures, what steps has your Department taken to ensure our national security interests of welcoming bona fide international students in our communities can still be achieved through timely processing of F, J, and M visas.

c. How many applications have been refused pursuant to the new enhanced vetting procedures? Please disaggregate these numbers by the basis for refusal.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-the-breakdown-of-us-canada-trade-negotiations,Senator Collins’ Statement on the Breakdown of U.S.-Canada Trade Negotiations,2026-08-22,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement regarding the breakdown of trade negotiations between the United States and Canada:

“The on-again/off-again trade talks between the U.S. and Canada lead to higher costs, risk, and uncertainty for Maine businesses. If the Administration proceeds with these tariffs, they will increase costs for Maine families, as most businesses will have no choice but to pass on the tariffs to their customers through higher prices.

“Maine imports approximately $2 billion in non-petroleum products from Canada each year. Ever since the tariffs were first announced, I have heard from many businesses, farmers, and lobstermen concerned about the cost of navigating the tariffs, the lack of domestic supply chains, and the likely imposition of retaliatory tariffs by Canada.

“I urge both sides to return to the negotiating table. The Administration must consider the negative impact tariffs would have on Maine businesses, communities, and families and work to reach a fair agreement with our Canadian neighbors.”

+++

Senator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their negative effects.

Earlier this month, following the proposed 50 percent tariffs on more than 500 categories of Canadian imports, she wrote to the Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative urging the Administration to provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding the tariffs and to consider their expected negative impact on Maine’s economy before any potential implementation. She also met with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman to discuss the tariffs and the broader economic relationship between the U.S. and Canada.

In April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000.

In July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.

In December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine’s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.

###",1,2026-08-23T05:27:15Z,2026-08-23T05:29:02Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-madison-anson-days-parade,Senator Collins Walks in Madison-Anson Days Parade,2026-08-22,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

ANSON, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins walked in the Madison-Anson Days Parade. The parade is one of the signature events of Madison-Anson Days, a decades-old summer tradition featuring several days of entertainment, family activities, and community events.

“I had so much fun taking part in the Madison-Anson Days Parade today and visiting with so many Mainers who lined the route,” said Senator Collins. “From one side of the Kennebec River to the other, the parade was a wonderful celebration of the shared community pride that connects these two great Maine towns.”

###",1,2026-08-23T05:27:15Z,2026-08-23T05:29:02Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-bipartisan-fiscal-forum-react-to-historic-debt-milestone,"Golden, Bipartisan Fiscal Forum React to Historic Debt Milestone",2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and members of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF) released the following statements as our nation’s gross national debt recently surpassed $40 trillion.

Annual interest payments on the debt are already approaching $1 trillion, more than the United States is projected to spend this year on defense, Medicare or Medicaid. Absent meaningful action, the debt is only projected to increase, and this has real consequences for hard-working families.

The BFF is a group of House members committed to raising awareness of the nation's unsustainable debt and working across the aisle toward a more responsible fiscal future.

“Both parties talk a big game on fiscal responsibility — until they’re the ones who have to govern. Reducing our national debt shouldn’t be seen as a threat to one party’s agenda, but as a once-in-a-generation chance to work together for the good of all Americans,” Golden said. “It’s worth remembering: the last time we actually balanced the budget, Republicans controlled Congress and a Democrat sat in the White House. Absent bipartisan legislation, it's only a matter of time before one of the two parties is left holding the bag.”

“Our national debt threatens our economy, drives up interest rates, slows wage growth, and leaves us less prepared for the next emergency. We are in this together, regardless of party label. Addressing our looming fiscal challenges will take both parties, and a bipartisan fiscal commission is a practical step toward doing so.” said Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum

“The national debt is now more than $40 trillion and we borrow nearly $2 trillion every year just to pay our expenses. As government borrowing grows, there is less money available in the system to help San Diegans afford homes, invest in their businesses, or take out loans. Congress must help working people keep up with the cost of living. The first step is to pass the Fiscal Commission Act.” said Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum

Golden has led efforts on fiscal stability throughout his time in Congress, helping to introduce the bipartisan Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act, which would require the federal government to conduct annual ""fiscal stress tests"" to measure the nation's financial resilience against major national emergencies. In addition to this legislation, Golden has cosponsored a series of bipartisan bills aimed at reducing the nation’s debt, including the Fiscal Commission Act, Budgeting for a Better America Act and a resolution that would encourage Congress to achieve and maintain deficits at 3% of GDP.

While the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum does not endorse legislation, members of the group are leading a range of proposals that would seek to improve the nation’s fiscal outlook.

###",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/administration-releases-more-than-5-million-for-maine-weatherization-and-energy-aid-following-request-from-senators-collins-and-reed,Administration Releases More Than $5 Million for Maine Weatherization and Energy Aid Following Request from Senators Collins and Reed,2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released $5,056,574 for the State of Maine through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Weatherization Readiness Fund (WRF), and the State Energy Program (SEP).

This action follows a request sent earlier this year by Senators Collins and Jack Reed (D-RI) along with 17 of their Senate colleagues, including Senator Angus King, urging the Administration to release the delayed funding for these programs. At the time, the Department had not issued the annual guidance states needed to apply for the funds, threatening disruptions to these programs.

Specifically, the State of Maine will receive $4,094,134 through the WAP, $397,790 through the WRF, and $564,650 through the SEP. Nationwide, DOE released $328 million for the WAP, $30 million for the WRF, and $64 million for the SEP.

“These programs enjoy broad bipartisan support and play important roles in lowering energy bills and improving the safety and efficiency of homes in Maine,” said Senator Collins. “Following our bipartisan request, I am pleased that the Administration has released these funds so that state agencies can continue putting them to work in communities throughout our state.”

Benefits of the WAP, SEP, and WRF include:

Throughout the program’s history, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than 7.4 million low-income households reduce their energy bills, saving each household an average of $372 annually. The program supports 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to approximately 32,000 homes nationwide each year.

The State Energy Program combines the scientific and economic expertise of the Department of Energy with locally led planning to improve the energy efficiency of hospitals and schools, support energy projects, and encourage private-sector innovation. An Oak Ridge National Laboratory study found that every federal dollar invested in the SEP leverages more than $10 for energy-related economic development and produces more than $7 in energy savings.

The Weatherization Readiness Fund supports structural and health and safety repairs that must be completed before otherwise income-eligible homes can receive weatherization services. A 2025 national study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy found that weatherization services were initially deferred for nearly one in five income-eligible households because their homes needed repairs.

Earlier this year, Senators Collins and Reed were presented with the John D. Dingell Award by the Edison Electric Institute and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for their steadfast support of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other federal efforts to lower energy costs for Americans.

###",1,2026-08-21T05:30:57Z,2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-umaine-will-begin-construction-of-3d-printed-neighborhood-for-homeless-individuals,Senator Collins Announces UMaine Will Begin Construction of 3D-Printed Neighborhood for Homeless Individuals,2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the University of Maine’s (UMaine) Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) has received its $4 million Congressionally Directed Spending award. This funding, which Senator Collins secured through fiscal year 2024 appropriations legislation, will support the design and production of a neighborhood of nine 3D-printed homes for homeless individuals in the greater Bangor area, in partnership with Penquis.

The housing development will be the first in Maine constructed from wood sawmill waste and could serve as a model for other communities seeking to address homelessness. The homes will be designed to withstand Maine winters, as the 600-square-foot prototype on UMaine’s campus in Orono has done since it was unveiled in 2022 at an event attended by Senator Collins.

“This first-of-its-kind neighborhood is an exciting next step for UMaine’s BioHome3D technology and builds on years of groundbreaking research,” said Senator Collins. “I have long been proud to support the pioneering work of Dr. Habib Dagher and his team at the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, including by securing funding for its advanced manufacturing capabilities and for this project. By transforming recycled forest products into durable, energy-efficient homes, this innovative technology could help address our housing shortage, strengthen Maine’s forest products industry, and create new jobs across our state.”

“Today marks a major milestone for UMaine’s BioHome3D technology. Thanks to Senator Collins’ support, we received the funding to produce nine 3D-printed homes for the unhoused in Bangor. We are collaborating with Penquis on the world’s first project that uses wood residuals from Maine’s sawmills to print the homes,” said Dr. Habib Dagher, Executive Director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine.

Senator Collins has supported the ASCC since the beginning of her Senate service, and her first official visit as a senator in 1997 was to Dr. Habib Dagher’s wood composites laboratory. In 2019, she helped establish a partnership between UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on large-scale 3D printing with forest materials. She then secured $35 million in fiscal year 2022 appropriations legislation to support the construction and advanced manufacturing capabilities of the ASCC’s Factory of the Future. In fiscal year 2023, she secured an additional $33 million to expand the facility, including the addition of a second manufacturing bay focused on developing 3D-printed affordable housing. In fiscal year 2024, she secured $4 million specifically to advance the production and commercialization of BioHome3D technology.

In April 2024, the ASCC unveiled the world’s largest polymer 3D printer, which is four times larger than its previous record-setting printer. The printer allows UMaine to accelerate and expand its research into applications including affordable housing, national defense, and bridge construction.

###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-tours-historic-wildcat-lobster-pound-in-st-george,Senator Collins Tours Historic Wildcat Lobster Pound in St. George,2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

ST. GEORGE, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins toured the historic Wildcat Lobster Pound in St. George and met with leaders of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) and local fishermen. During her visit, they discussed plans to restore the property and create new opportunities for Maine’s seafood businesses through fisheries research, workforce training, and educational programs.

Senator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, submitted a Fiscal Year 2027 Congressionally Directed Spending request for $1 million to support the MCFA’s redevelopment of the Wildcat Lobster Pound. If enacted, the funding would be used to repair the pound’s dam and doors, which regulate water levels, and rebuild the adjacent wharf and gangway.

“Maine’s working waterfronts are essential to our state’s economy, heritage, and coastal communities. The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association has developed an exciting vision to restore the historic Wildcat Lobster Pound and transform it into a hub supporting fishermen and small seafood businesses,” said Senator Collins. “I am working hard to secure $1 million through my role on the Appropriations Committee so that this unique Maine property can once again serve our seafood industry for generations to come.”

The property’s dock and wharves were structurally damaged during the severe winter storms of 2024. The MCFA plans to restore the site as a hub where fishermen, researchers, aquaculture producers, and small seafood businesses operators can collaborate to address the evolving needs of Maine’s fishing industry. The property was donated to the MCFA in October 2025 by St. George resident Barbara Wagner in honor of her late husband, John Wagner.

###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-visits-energy-storage-project-in-lincoln-with-energy-secretary-wright,Senator Collins Visits Energy Storage Project in Lincoln with Energy Secretary Wright,2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE for a full-resolution image.

LINCOLN, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and local leaders in Lincoln to learn more about Form Energy’s plans for a new energy storage facility at the Lincoln Technology Park. The facility will be located at the site of the former Lincoln Paper & Tissue Mill.

The project received a nearly $150 million federal award through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which was established by the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. Senator Collins was a member of the group of ten senators who negotiated that law.

“Revitalizing Maine’s former mill sites is a priority of mine, and this project holds tremendous promise for Lincoln and the surrounding communities,” said Senator Collins. “It will not only breathe new life into a vacant former mill site, but also create new jobs and strengthen energy security and grid reliability throughout central Maine. Once completed, the facility, the first of its kind in New England, will be able to provide enough electricity to power approximately 65,000 homes for 100 hours. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to advocating for Maine to remain at the forefront of energy innovation and resilience.”

Senator Collins secured a total of $7.5 million through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee for infrastructure improvements and continued redevelopment at the Lincoln Technology Park. This includes $3.5 million in fiscal year 2024 and $4 million in fiscal year 2026.",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-demand-answers-from-pentagon-about-safety-and-well-being-of-uss-abraham-lincoln-crew,"King, Colleagues Demand Answers from Pentagon About “Safety and Well-Being” of USS Abraham Lincoln Crew",2026-08-19,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined several of his colleagues in demanding answers about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, King and his colleagues raised concerns about the Department of Defense’s failure to provide a clear timeline for the crew’s return and pressed the Department for information about the health, safety and well-being of the sailors and Marines aboard the ship. The letter follows reports that the aircraft carrier’s crew has endured food and water shortages, broken plumbing, and serious mental health crises during its record-setting deployment.

“We write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised,” the Senators began. “These are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers. The USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier.”

“Our sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission,” the Senators continued.

“As the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm’s way deserve nothing less,” the Senators concluded.

King is joined on the letter by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Duckworth(D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Coons (D-DE).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Secretary Hegseth,

We write regarding the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and mounting evidence that conditions aboard the carrier have deteriorated to the point that the safety and wellbeing of its crew could be compromised. These are deeply troubling reports, and the American people deserve honest answers.

The USS Lincoln departed San Diego on November 21, 2025. The ship has now been deployed for more than 250 days, including over 200 consecutive days without a port call, setting a modern-day record for continuous time at sea for a U.S. aircraft carrier. Family members of the sailors and Marines serving aboard have received urgent messages describing conditions that should alarm you, and everyone serving in a position of leadership at the Pentagon, to include concerns about exhaustion, food and water shortages, and mental health crises serious enough that multiple sailors reportedly attempted to go overboard.

In response to these reports, you publicly stated that the conditions aboard the carrier have been “completely misrepresented.” Even more galling, when asked by reporters about the conditions on the Lincoln, President Trump dismissed the concerns of the families and stated that the Lincoln had not been deployed “nearly long enough.”

Our sailors and Marines signed up to serve and to be treated with respect. They did not sign up to be kept at sea indefinitely with no announced return date and, by multiple accounts, without reliable food, hot water, or working plumbing. That is not how we treat the men and women we ask to carry out this mission.

This situation was preventable, and the conditions aboard the Lincoln are nearly identical to the issues faced by the USS Ford when it conducted an extended deployment that ended earlier this year. The USS Lincoln was redirected to the Middle East as the war with Iran began and has remained there as that war has dragged on with no clear endpoint. This is a symptom of poor planning by both you and the President and exacerbated by the deeply unsound decision to start a war with Iran. Open-ended deployments driven by an open-ended war have real consequences for our servicemembers, and we are seeing those consequences now.

Recent press reports indicate that the USS George Washington will be deployed to the Middle East to relieve the USS AbrahamLincoln. While that is welcome news, the Department’s mismanagement of carrier deployments also means that the U.S. will not have an aircraft carrier in the Pacific for the foreseeable future. However, ensuring the USS Lincoln returns to port takes precedence, and it is incumbent on the Department to inform Congress, and the families, on the plan and timeline to get the crew home. Denial and defensiveness are not acceptable responses. Congress and these families need accountability.

Given the seriousness of these reports, we request written answers to the following:

What is the current timeline for the USS Lincoln’s relief and return to homeport, and what specific operational requirements are driving continued extensions of this deployment?

Was the crew informed that the deployment could be extended indefinitely? Have any members of the crew been changed out since the beginning of this deployment, and if so, how many?

Has there been any degradation in the operational capability of the USS Lincoln or her airwing?

What mental health resources are being provided to the crew?

Have there been any suicides aboard the ship during this deployment? How many instances of detected suicidal ideation or attempted self-harm, including attempts to go overboard, has the Department recorded?

What other medical resources are available aboard the ship, and are resources sufficient to meet the crew’s needs given the length of this deployment?

What chaplain resources are available to the crew, and have they been adequate to the scale of need aboard the ship?

What is the current state of good order and discipline aboard the USS Lincoln?

What is the hygiene and healthy food situation on board, including the status of reported plumbing failures, water contamination, and food shortages?

What is the extent of illness or injury aboard the ship, including full details of the reported man-overboard incident and any other similar incidents?

What is the state of the families of the sailors and Marines aboard the USS Lincoln? What resources are being provided to them, and are they being kept informed on a regular basis about the status of the deployment and their loved ones’ wellbeing?

Will the Department authorize a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit the Lincoln to conduct firsthand oversight of conditions aboard the ship?

As the Secretary of Defense, you are accountable to the men and women who serve our nation. It is time for you to demonstrate leadership, rather than peddle excuses. The servicemembers we send into harm’s way deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6835,"Pingree, Homeland Democrats Host Hearing on ICE’s Deadly Use of Force in Biddeford",2026-08-17,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), and Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, hosted a Democratic shadow hearing examining Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) use of force and abuse of power following the tragic killing of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford.

The hearing, titled “Seeking Justice in Biddeford: Oversight of ICE’s Use of Force in the Death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero,” brought Members of Congress to Maine to hear directly from the Durán Guerrero family’s legal representation, local officials, and immigrant rights advocates about the investigation, the need for accountability, and the effects of ICE operations on communities across the state.

Click here to watch the full hearing.

“Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero should be alive today. His family deserves answers, and the people of Biddeford deserve to know how an ICE operation in their community ended in an innocent man’s death. Today’s testimony laid bare the devastating human cost of allowing ICE to operate with impunity in our communities and underscored the urgent need for transparency and accountability,” said Pingree. “As demonstrated today by their absence and utter ambivalence to the terror ICE is inflicting across the country, Republicans refuse to hold this Administration accountable for the atrocities committed using Americans’ tax dollars. My Democratic colleagues and I will keep fighting for the truth, for justice for Johan and his loved ones, and for safeguards to ensure no other family has to endure a tragedy like this.”

“Today’s hearing made clear that the Durán family deserves accountability and justice for Johan’s Sebastian’s death. ICE cannot continue using reckless and deadly force without consequence,” said Ranking Member Thompson. “Congress must hold this agency accountable before another family is forced to endure this kind of tragedy.”

""While Republicans continue to fund, greenlight, and cover up for ICE, Democrats are shining a light on the truth. And the truth is these are not protectors. This is a masked, secret police force that has terrorized children, trampled on our Constitution, and wielded violence as a political weapon,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “We will continue fighting to secure justice for Johan, for his family, and for every American who has been targeted by this unhinged administration.""

""We must hold the line against the Trump administration's reckless, unaccountable immigration enforcement. The killing of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero is not an isolated incident. It fits a pattern of ICE agents operating with impunity in communities across the country, from Louisiana to Maine. Democrats are stepping up when Republicans in Congress have failed to act, demanding the transparency and accountability that ICE and the Trump administration have refused to provide. The rule of law must still mean something in America, and that means no person, whether a mother detained without warning, a student punished for speaking out, or a man killed by the very agents meant to protect and serve, should be denied justice. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight, and we intend to fulfill it until ICE is held accountable,"" said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

Witnesses included Biddeford Mayor Liam LaFountain; Ben Gideon, legal representative for the Durán Guerrero family; Sue Roche, Executive Director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project; Mufalo Chitam, Executive Director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition; and Crystal Cron, Executive Director of Presente! Maine.

“A federal force came into my city, exercised one of the most extraordinary powers the government possesses—the use of deadly force—and left the consequences for Johan's family and our small community to carry,” said Mayor Liam LaFountain. “An arrest can be challenged. A removal order can be reviewed. A death, however, cannot be reversed—not by Congress, not by a court, not by this Committee. That is why the safeguards around deadly force should be the strongest we have. And yet in Biddeford on the morning of July 13, they were the weakest.Biddeford is a city of 23,000 people. We were left to absorb the aftermath of that federal law-enforcement operation without federal support.”

“[...] What happened in Biddeford, Maine, in the early morning hours of July 13, was the result of intentional policies and decisions—at the highest levels of our government-that treat the killing of innocent people as acceptable collateral damage,” said Gideon. “We know it's not an unintended, random occurrence, because it keeps happening, over and over again, in Minnesota, and Houston, and now in Biddeford. We know it's not an unintended, random occurrence because there is no remorse, no apology or even the slightest concern shown to those whose lives have been destroyed. And we know it's not an unintended, random occurrence because there has been no effort to investigate the causes of what happened, or to change anything to stop it from happening again.”

“People come for our mountains, coast, and small towns. But people stay because of something deeper: community. Maine is a place where neighbors shovel each other's driveways, bring food when a family is struggling, and check in on each other,” said Chitam. “For immigrant families, that is part of what makes Maine home.VAnd on July 13, something about that sense of home was shattered. Before Johan Sebastián Guerrero was killed in Biddeford, people feared what an encounter with ICE could mean. After July 13, their reality became all too clear—an encounter could mean they may never return home. A father left for an ordinary day and did not come home.”

“Johan's death is not an isolated tragedy. It is part of a system that has inflicted fear, separation, detention, and death on immigrant communities. The responsibility for his death, and the many deaths by immigration police and in ICE detention this year, is a collective one,” said Cron. “Maine people have been clear about what is needed. ICE out of Maine, ICE out from everywhere. The abolishment of ICE and all immigration policing is one of many steps toward repair. It is not the last. Today, Presente! Maine is calling on Congress to pass Congresswoman Ramirez and Congresswoman Clarke's Melt ICE Act to end DHS's funding to detain and monitor immigrants and reinvest those funds into services that support life. We ask you to mourn and grieve Johan Sebastián's life by abolishing ICE and ending all funding for immigration policing. Our healing and future depend on it.""

“Johan Sebastián’s death is a devastating tragedy, felt by his family, the Biddeford community, and all of Maine. It is also not an isolated incident, and it was not an accident. It is the direct and foreseeable result of deliberate federal policy choices, rooted in racism and dehumanization,” said Roche. “ICE is an imminent public safety threat and must get out of our communities now. The billions of dollars that have been appropriated to immigration enforcement are wholly unjustifiable. Congress should take all steps to defund and dismantle ICE and put those taxpayer dollars towards the public good.”",1,2026-08-19T05:29:02Z,2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-walks-in-acadian-festival-parade,Senator Collins Walks in Acadian Festival Parade,2026-08-16,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

MADAWASKA, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined local leaders, first responders, and community organizations at the 48th annual Acadian Festival Parade in Madawaska. The parade is a signature event of the Madawaska Acadian Festival, the largest celebration of Acadian culture in the northeastern United States.

“The annual Acadian Festival is a wonderful Madawaska tradition celebrating the proud heritage and culture of Maine’s Acadian people,” said Senator Collins. “I had a great time walking in today’s parade through downtown Madawaska and taking part in one of northern Maine’s great summer celebrations.”

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-i-oppose-the-administrations-strategy-that-would-allow-the-first-ships-in-new-classes-of-us-navy-vessels-to-be-built-overseas,Senator Collins: I Oppose the Administration’s Strategy that Would Allow the First Ships in New Classes of U.S. Navy Vessels to be Built Overseas,2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement in opposition to the Administration’s new directive on Navy shipbuilding:

“I strongly support the goal of strengthening our Navy and expanding America’s shipbuilding capacity. It is a national security imperative and has been a priority of mine throughout my Senate service.

“I oppose, however, the Administration’s strategy that would allow the first ships in new classes of U.S. Navy vessels to be built overseas, placing foreign companies in a leading role in shaping the design, technology, and production of our future fleet. Although subsequent ships would be built in the United States, they would be based on designs and constructed using shipbuilding techniques licensed by foreign companies.

“For generations in the great state of Maine, the highly skilled men and women at Bath Iron Works have built some of the finest warships in the world. We should be investing in their experience, expanding the capacity of American shipyards, and ensuring that American workers remain at the center of our efforts to rebuild the Navy.

“Cooperation with our allies can bring valuable investment and new technologies to the United States. But those partnerships should result in more ships being built in America by American workers, not fewer. I will continue to fight to secure federal funding for Bath Iron Works, strengthen America’s maritime industrial base, and stand behind the thousands of men and women whose work is essential to our national security.”

###",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-speaks-at-groundbreaking-for-american-steel-and-aluminum-manufacturing-facility-expansion-in-saco,Senator Collins Speaks at Groundbreaking for American Steel & Aluminum Manufacturing Facility Expansion in Saco,2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

SACO, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for American Steel & Aluminum’s (ASA) planned expansion of its manufacturing facility in Saco. Prior to the ceremony, Senator Collins toured the existing facility, spoke with employees, and met with company leadership.

“ASA has long been a job-creating engine in southern Maine, and its investment in expanding its Saco facility is welcome news for the city and our state,” said Senator Collins. “This project reflects the company’s confidence in Maine’s skilled workforce and will support good jobs, strengthen our manufacturing sector and defense industrial base, and contribute to continued economic growth in the region. I congratulate the entire ASA team on reaching this exciting milestone.”

“This groundbreaking is for a 12,000-square-foot addition. It’s going to bring many new jobs—about 30 new jobs are going to be on board here in the next couple of months. Our cutting capacity will double. [...] It’s a commitment to the Maine workforce, the Maine industrial base, the maritime industrial base. Senator Collins, with your position on Appropriations in Washington—I go down once a year—I will say: You’re one of the only ones that actually comes in and speaks to us. Usually, we’re speaking to one of their underlings. So, we really appreciate that you take this so seriously and really understand the importance,” said Sam Blatchford, CEO of ASA, at the event.

“Senator Collins, you’ve been supporting manufacturing and American Steel and Aluminum for the last 30 years. It’s really made a big difference. We used to be a general line steel service center and really didn’t differentiate ourselves from some of the competition. We’ve become an advanced manufacturing facility here. We’re buying specialized equipment, we’re adding value, we’re contributing to national security. These are great jobs and this is just the start,” said Scott Jones, president and CEO of ASA’s parent company, Nova Steel, at the event.

ASA operates facilities in Saco, South Portland, Auburn, and West Bath and provides heavy-plate metal manufacturing and processing services to customers across a range of industries, including Maine’s shipbuilding industry.

###",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-secure-48-million-for-new-downeaster-train-station-in-portland,"Collins, King Secure $48 Million for New Downeaster Train Station in Portland",2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) today announced that they have secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster station in Portland. More specifically, the $48,136,000 investment will help relocate Portland’s existing station, improving the speed and reliability of passenger rail service in Maine.

“The Downeaster is an essential transportation link for the people of Maine, connecting communities, supporting our economy, and providing a reliable alternative to getting in the car or boarding an airplane,” said Maine’s Senators. “Relocating Portland’s station to the mainline is a commonsense investment that will mean shorter trips, fewer delays, and better connections for passengers traveling throughout Maine and New England. We’re proud to have helped secure this federal funding to help move this long-awaited project forward and strengthen passenger rail service for generations to come.”

The project has been selected to advance through final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will provide a 20 percent non-federal match. Amtrak’s Downeaster provides daily passenger rail service connecting Brunswick and communities throughout southern Maine with Boston, Massachusetts. The service is managed by NNEPRA and serves communities including Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells.

###",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-statement-on-trump-s-new-push-to-offshore-navy-shipbuilding,Golden statement on Trump’s new push to offshore Navy shipbuilding,2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s latest effort to build American warships in foreign shipyards:

“I don’t know how we’re supposed to take any soaring ‘America-first’ language from this administration seriously when it appears to be bound and determined to send American shipbuilding jobs overseas and, now, to sell American shipyards to foreign corporations. Luckily, the House has already given bipartisan support to my language to block this short-sighted offshoring scheme, and the Senate is poised to do the same. Congress must take seriously its job to protect national security and American jobs.”

BACKGROUND:

Golden successfully amended this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to explicitly prohibit the appropriation of federal funds to build American ships overseas. The House passed the NDAA, with Golden’s language to protect American shipbuilding, in July.

Golden’s amendment was in response to a Navy Shipbuilding Plan released by the Pentagon earlier this year, which called for offshoring the production of some warships, or parts of warships, in overseas yards.

Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is home to scores of shipbuilders employed at Bath Iron Works who build DDG-51 Destroyers, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called the “workhorse” of the US naval fleet.

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-secure-48-million-for-new-downeaster-train-station-in-portland,"Senators Collins, King Secure $48 Million for New Downeaster Train Station in Portland",2026-08-14,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Angus King today announced that they have secured federal funding to support the construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster station in Portland. More specifically, the $48,136,000 investment will help relocate Portland’s existing station, improving the speed and reliability of passenger rail service in Maine.

“The Downeaster is an essential transportation link for the people of Maine, connecting communities, supporting our economy, and providing a reliable alternative to getting in the car or boarding an airplane,” said Maine’s Senators. “Relocating Portland’s station to the mainline is a commonsense investment that will mean shorter trips, fewer delays, and better connections for passengers traveling throughout Maine and New England. We’re proud to have helped secure this federal funding to help move this long-awaited project forward and strengthen passenger rail service for generations to come.”

The project has been selected to advance through final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) will provide a 20 percent non-federal match. Amtrak’s Downeaster provides daily passenger rail service connecting Brunswick and communities throughout southern Maine with Boston, Massachusetts. The service is managed by NNEPRA and serves communities including Freeport, Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and Wells.

###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-releases-statement-on-reported-use-of-shock-gloves-by-ice,King Releases Statement on Reported Use of Shock Gloves by ICE,2026-08-13,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement in response to reporting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is spending $20 million dollars on “shock gloves” in its nationwide patrols.

“At a time when the majority of Americans believe that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been irresponsible in its use of force, the new ICE announcement touting shock gloves begs a crucial question: is ICE genuinely focused on de-escalation or, what appears more likely, intimidation of anyone critical of their often unlawful conduct?

“When two separate and entirely partisan funding bills passed Congress in the last year, they directed $75 billion in taxpayer dollars to ICE’s rogue agenda, and even forward-funded the agency into 2029 in order to make congressional oversight all but impossible.

“We have already seen the tragic and deadly results of this agency operating without any real accountability. Innocent civilians have been killed, body-worn camera footage – when there are body cameras actually available and activated – is only released when it benefits the agency, and Americans nationwide are feeling more and more like they are living in a police state occupied by masked agents.

“And rather than have an open, good-faith conversation over methods and tactics, ICE is now investing millions (through what is reportedly a no-bid contract) in shock gloves that can do serious harm with little or no transparency or accountability.

“I urge every single one of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up, assert our constitutional authority, and demand immediate answers from ICE on their hiring practices, training, and tactics.

“I never thought I would see the day when masked and armed men in unmarked cars would be roaming the streets and neighborhoods of America, acting in utter disregard of the legal constraints that are basic to our freedoms.

“It’s becoming more and more clear that the stated basis for this gross violation of our rights—that they are ridding our communities of “the worst of the worst”—is a lie, and the real purpose is to establish a national police force to do the bidding of a corrupt and lawless administration.

“It is past time for Congress to do its duty and, for once, put country ahead of party.”

Senator King has been outspoken and proactive in his efforts to negotiate necessary guardrails for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the wake of unprofessional and unconstitutional behavior among those agencies. In January, King appeared on Face the Nation where he explained his Constitutional concerns over how ICE was operating in Maine, as well as possible paths forward for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package. In February, he released a statement on congressional efforts to curtail ICE’s activities in Maine and across the country—again calling for the implementation of guardrails.

Most recently, King called for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel in Biddeford. Additionally, when given the chance to vote for a DHS budget that funded TSA, FEMA, CISA and the Coast Guard – holding ICE and CBP funding for bipartisan negotiations to include additional civilian protections – Senator King voted in favor of this approach all eleven times it was considered on the Senate floor.

###",1,2026-08-14T06:13:05Z,2026-08-14T06:14:08Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-king-announce-more-than-600000-in-innovation-awards-to-support-maines-forest-economy,"Senators Collins, King Announce More than $600,000 in Innovation Awards to Support Maine’s Forest Economy",2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) applauded a U.S. Forest Service announcement that Avedis Zildjian Co., ND Paper, Inc., and Robbins Lumber East Baldwin, LLC. have been awarded a combined $622,999 through the U.S. Forest Service’s Wood Innovation Grant Program. These grants will support environmentally sustainable innovation and help expand markets for Maine’s forest products.

“Maine’s forest products industry is a vital part of our state’s economy, and it is critical that this industry has the tools it needs to adapt to changing markets,” said Senators Collins and King. “This funding will help ND Paper, Robbins Lumber, and Avedis Zildjian as they develop cutting-edge products, creating new opportunities for the forest products industry while supporting the rural communities that rely on it. We remain committed to supporting efforts to help Maine’s forest economy continue to grow and thrive.”

Specifically, the funding has been allocated as follows:

ND Paper, Inc. – $300,000 to upgrade wood processing equipment to enhance production by 15,000 tons annually while supporting low-value wood markets.

Robbins Lumber East Baldwin, LLC. – $235,714 to upgrade sawmill processing technologies to improve operational efficiencies while supporting active forest management.

Avedis Zildjian Co. – $87,285 to develop a wood energy system at a manufacturing facility to increase low-value wood markets by 1,500 tons annually.

+++

Senators Collins and King have both long been supporters of Maine’s forest economy.

Since 2024, Senator Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has secured $24 million through appropriations legislation to mitigate the spread of spruce budworm in Northern Maine. She has also ensured the inclusion of a provision recognizing biomass as carbon neutral across federal agencies in appropriations legislation for more than a decade. Last month, she announced a $20 million award to Maine’s Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub—a forest economy development initiative led by the University of Maine.

Senator King is seen as a national leader in efforts to support Maine’s forest products industry. King previously introduced the bipartisan Future Logging Careers Act to help train the next generation of Maine loggers and the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act to improve forest health and support Maine’s rural economy. He also introduced legislation to establish a “Future of Forests” panel tasked with making recommendations to secure the health of America’s forests. Senators King was key in establishing the Forest Opportunity Roadmap Maine (FOR/ME) Initiative, a participant-led initiative that is helping to diversify the state’s wood products businesses, attract investments, support research and development, and develop greater economic prosperity for rural communities impacted by mill closures.

###",1,2026-08-13T06:17:16Z,2026-08-13T06:18:13Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-new-mainecare-fraud-reporting-highlights-need-for-senator-collins-medicare-home-health-reform-bill,ICYMI: New MaineCare Fraud Reporting Highlights Need for Senator Collins’ Medicare Home Health Reform Bill,2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – As troubling new reports detail alleged fraud, abuse, and inadequate oversight involving MaineCare providers, U.S. Senator Susan Collins has introduced the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act to combat similar vulnerabilities in the Medicare home health program by stopping fraudulent payments before they are made.

The legislation would provide the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with stronger tools to identify high-risk providers, authorize additional funding to investigate and prosecute organized schemes, and protect legitimate home health agencies from the financial consequences of payments made to fraudulent providers. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has joined the legislation as a cosponsor.

“The recent allegations involving MaineCare providers are deeply troubling. While these cases in Maine involve Medicaid providers and my legislation focuses on the Medicare home health care program, they demonstrate the broader problem of unchecked health care fraud,” said Senator Collins. “Fraud harms patients, wastes taxpayer dollars, and can reduce payments to honest providers, jeopardizing care for patients. My legislation would give CMS stronger tools to stop fraud before payments are made, provide additional resources to investigate and prosecute organized schemes, and help ensure that legitimate home health agencies are fairly reimbursed for the important care they provide.”

Recent reporting by Maine news outlets has brought renewed attention to fraud and inadequate oversight of MaineCare, Maine’s Medicaid program:

Maine Public reported last week that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suspended payments to five MaineCare providers based on “credible allegations of fraud.” The state also terminated two providers because of serious health and safety risks and disenrolled 28 providers that had not submitted a claim within one year of enrollment. DHHS initially did not identify the providers but released their names following a request from Maine Public.

The Maine Wire reported this week that a state termination letter found that Paradise Residential Services “failed to ensure individuals are protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.” The letter cited residents repeatedly being left without staff, a lack of food, unsanitary conditions, inadequate employee training and background checks, and failures involving medication management. The outlet reported that Paradise received nearly $25 million through MaineCare before the state terminated its provider agreement in March.

Senator Collins’ legislation would require additional identity verification before home health agencies can enroll in Medicare, impose heightened screening on agencies presenting an extreme risk of fraud, increase surveys and unannounced site visits, strengthen oversight of accrediting organizations, and authorize additional funding to investigate and prosecute organized home health fraud schemes.

The bill would also direct CMS to reset home health agency payment rates to account for fraud in the system and changes in the use of home health care since COVID-19. This would help prevent previous fraudulent spending from distorting reimbursements for legitimate providers nationwide, including the small and rural agencies serving many Maine seniors.

Click here to read Senator Collins’ original bill announcement and here to read the complete text of the legislation.

###",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-more-than-55-million-for-improvements-at-bangor-international-airport,Senator Collins Announces More Than $5.5 Million for Improvements at Bangor International Airport,2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Bangor International Airport will receive a total of $5,534,795 to support important infrastructure improvements. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Fiscal Year 2026 Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) Program, which Senator Collins helped to establish.

“Ensuring that transportation needs across the State of Maine are met has been a priority of mine throughout my Senate service,” said Senator Collins. “A key focus of our negotiations over the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021 was addressing outdated infrastructure at our nation’s airports. That is why we included historic investments in airport grant programs so that municipal, regional, and international airports and jetports across the country can provide safer and more efficient travel. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to ensure that federal investments benefit our state’s transportation network.”

“The $5.5 million Airport Infrastructure Grant for the rehabilitation of Taxiway A and Taxiway M is an important investment in the long-term safety and reliability of Bangor International Airport's airfield. This project will help ensure the airfield continues to safely and efficiently support commercial, cargo, military, and general aviation operations for years to come. We are grateful to Senator Susan Collins for her continued leadership and support of Bangor International Airport. Her commitment to investing in aviation infrastructure has helped airports across Maine make meaningful improvements that strengthen safety, support economic development, and better serve the traveling public,” said Bangor International Airport Director Jose Saavedra.

Specifically, the funding from the AIG has been allocated as follows:

Bangor International Airport (BGR) – $5,534,795 to reconstruct 5,724 feet of Taxiway A pavement that has reached the end of its useful life and rehabilitate 900 feet of Taxiway M.

Since joining the Appropriations Committee in 2009, Senator Collins has helped to secure more than $1 billion in competitive transportation grants for the State of Maine. In the past five years, Senator Collins has also secured more than $25 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for improvement projects at airports in Presque Isle, Fryeburg, Machias, and Brunswick.

In addition to her work as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins was one of 10 senators who negotiated the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, which provided $15 billion for federal airport infrastructure grant programs.

###",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-allow-early-childhood-educators-to-deduct-out-of-pocket-purchases-of-classroom-supplies-passes-senate,Senator Collins’ Bipartisan Bill to Allow Early Childhood Educators to Deduct Out-of-Pocket Purchases of Classroom Supplies Passes Senate,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that the Senate passed the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 86 to 11. This legislation, which Senator Collins introduced last year with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), would ensure that early childhood educators can claim the same federal tax credit for out-of-pocket classroom supply purchases that is currently available to K-12 teachers. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“In Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching,” said Senator Collins. “Despite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students. As the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help lead this effort to expand this benefit to pre-K educators. The Senate’s passage of this commonsense bill brings us one step closer to providing early childhood educators with tax relief for the resources they invest in our next generation.”

Research shows that educators spend an average of $895 annually on supplies for their students. Yet, under current law, early childhood educators cannot deduct those out-of-pocket expenses.

The SEED Act would correct this and extend tax relief to the teachers working with America’s youngest learners. The bill would expand the above-the-line $300 educator expense deduction, established for K-12 teachers in 2002, to also include pre-K and early childhood educators. This deduction helps offset hundreds of dollars teachers spend out of their own pockets each year on classroom supplies, books, and other learning materials.

The SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-introduces-bill-to-combat-medicare-home-health-fraud,Senator Collins Introduces Bill to Combat Medicare Home Health Fraud,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins introduced legislation today to protect the Medicare home health program from fraud and strengthen access to these important services for the Americans who need them. The Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would give the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) additional tools to prevent and detect fraud while helping ensure that legitimate home health agencies are fairly reimbursed for the care they provide.

“When billions of dollars are improperly siphoned from the Medicare home health program, this can undermine the integrity of the payment system used to reimburse legitimate providers and threaten care for the seniors who depend on it. I have long been a strong supporter of home health care, which allows millions of Americans to remain in the comfort, security, and privacy of their own homes, while helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and nursing home admissions,” said Senator Collins. “Fraudulent home health providers harm beneficiaries and diminish reimbursements for honest agencies that are already confronting workforce shortages and rising costs. My legislation would give CMS stronger tools to stop fraud before payments are made and prevent fraudulent spending from distorting the data used to reimburse honest agencies for medically necessary care.”

“The National Alliance for Care at Home applauds the introduction of the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act by Senator Susan Collins. This bill corrects longstanding flaws in home health reimbursement and takes a meaningful step toward a home health benefit that is stable and built for how care is delivered today. We strongly support the bill for its payment reforms, as well as measures to protect patients and preserve the integrity of the Medicare home health benefit. Consistent with our community’s commitment to provide the highest-quality, person-centered care in the home, we support the bill’s goal to strengthen access while focusing on targeted oversight, protecting the legitimate providers who serve patients every day. We look forward to working with Senator Collins, a long-time champion of care at home, to build support for this important and timely legislation,” said Jennifer Sheets, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home.

“Senator Collins, a longtime champion of Medicare home health, appreciates the shortcomings of current Medicare home health payment approaches, as this bill demonstrates. We are particularly encouraged by its recognition that the standard prospective payment amount requires recalibration. We appreciate Senator Collins’ leadership in presenting a much-needed reset of the Medicare home health payment to promote its stability and ensure access. In addition, we also share the desire to address fraud in the home health setting. LeadingAge has long expressed concern about the disproportionate increase in home health providers in Los Angeles County. This bill’s oversight provisions are reasonable, appropriately targeted policies that would help maintain the benefit’s integrity. Those, along with the important proposed payment changes, will help to ensure support for legitimate providers—including our nonprofit and mission-driven members. We look forward to working with Senator Collins to advance this legislation,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.

“VNS Health applauds Senator Susan Collins for introducing the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act. For more than 130 years, VNS Health has cared for vulnerable New Yorkers in their homes and communities. From rural Maine to urban New York and across the country, older adults face a common and growing challenge: obtaining the skilled care they need to remain safe and independent at home. Yet each year, hundreds of thousands of Medicare beneficiaries are unable to access that care. Senator Collins' legislation offers a thoughtful path forward by addressing years of unjustified payment cuts that have harmed seniors' access to care. It also includes sensible and effective program integrity measures that target bad actors without penalizing responsible providers, undermining access, or jeopardizing the agencies that care for patients with the greatest needs. We urge Congress to advance this important legislation,” said Dan Lowenstein, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for VNS Health.

Despite the rapid aging of the U.S. population, the number of traditional Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services declined from approximately 3.3 million in 2019 to 2.7 million in 2024. Excluding California, more than 500 Medicare-certified home health agencies closed during that period, a decline of five percent. In California, however, the number of Medicare-certified home health agencies nearly doubled, with almost all of the growth occurring in Los Angeles County.

Although Los Angeles County is home to only two percent of the nation’s Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, it accounts for nine percent of Medicare fee-for-service home health expenditures nationwide. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the California State Auditor have raised significant concern about fraud and abuse associated with the unusual concentration of home health agencies and spending in the county.

The consequences of this questionable concentration of agencies and spending can extend far beyond Los Angeles County. Fraudulent or improper payments can distort the data underlying Medicare’s home health payment system and diminish reimbursements for legitimate providers nationwide. This can fall especially hard on small, rural agencies like those serving many Maine seniors, which already confront workforce shortages, rising costs, and the challenges of providing care across large geographic areas.

Specifically, the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act would:

Require that the identity of home health administrators be verified before agencies are enrolled and authorized to provide services;

Require proof of liability insurance for agencies that exhibit high risk of fraud;

Provide the Administrator with the authority to determine the factors that indicate that an agency presents an extreme risk of fraud, and to impose heightened screening requirements on such agencies;

Require much more frequent surveys of newly enrolled home health agencies, agencies that undergo ownership changes, and agencies that reactivate their billing privileges;

Increase inspections of home health agencies that fail to submit quality data to CMS, or that engage in practices that are aberrant or signal fraudulent behavior;

Increase financial penalties for failing to report quality data;

Require accrediting agencies that work with CMS to meet or exceed CMS standards;

Require CMS training of home health surveyors for accreditation purposes;

Establish ongoing CMS oversight of accrediting organizations and provide CMS with authority to terminate deficient accreditors;

Direct CMS to “reset” home health agency payment rates to adjust for fraud in the system as well as changes in the use of home health care since Covid;

Authorize funding for CMS and federal law enforcement agencies for the investigation and prosecution of organized home health fraud schemes;

Authorize funding for CMS and its state agency partners to conduct accelerated surveys, enrollment validation, unannounced site visits, and operational verification of home health agencies; and

Provide CMS with rulemaking authority to carry out its provisions and require it to report to Congress.

Click here to read the complete text of the legislation.

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-russia-and-iran-sanctions-bill,Senator Collins’ Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan Russia & Iran Sanctions Bill,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement today after the Senate passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by a vote of 86 to 11:

“As an original cosponsor of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, I was pleased to see the bill pass the Senate today with overwhelming support from both sides of the aisle.

“Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked war four and a half years ago, and Ukraine has resisted his aggression valiantly and with inspiring resolve. Russia’s energy sales and shadow fleet are the engine of its war machine, and sanctioning them will help bring this brutal conflict to a quicker end.

“This bill also extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which is critical to denying Iran resources for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its support for terrorism through its proxies. For nearly 47 years, the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have threatened both the United States and broader stability in the Middle East.

“My friend and colleague Lindsey Graham worked tirelessly to advance this bill. The passage of this legislation named in his honor is a fitting tribute to his legacy of leadership on these critical issues.

“This bill is important not only for America’s national security, but also for the security of our European and Middle Eastern allies. I applaud my colleagues for joining together to make clear the Senate’s determination to stand with our allies and to hold Russia and Iran accountable.”

###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-federal-worker-access-to-health-care-advances-out-of-committee-by-voice-vote,Senator Collins’ Bipartisan Bill to Expand Federal Worker Access to Health Care Advances Out of Committee by Voice Vote,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the bipartisan Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act that she introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) advanced out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs by voice vote. The bill now heads to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.

“In a large, rural state like Maine, finding access to health care close to home can be a challenge. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants help to fill in this gap by providing quality medical services to local communities,” said Senator Collins. “By allowing injured federal workers to be treated by these professionals, our bipartisan bill would help prevent the need for long and difficult travel, reduce wait times for care, and improve employees’ overall health and wellbeing. Today’s committee approval of this bill reflects broad bipartisan agreement that this unnecessary barrier to care should be removed.”

Currently, federal employees—including the more than 12,000 working in Maine—can select a Physician Assistant (PA) or a Nurse Practitioner (NP) as their primary health care provider within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. However, the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) permits only a physician to make diagnoses, certify injuries and the extent of a disability, and oversee a federal employee’s treatment and care when they are injured on the job.

The Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act would amend FECA to allow PAs and NPs to certify injuries and oversee treatment for federal workers with injuries or illnesses that occurred on the job, when doing so is consistent with the scope of their practice under state law.

The bill has been endorsed by dozens of organizations, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Academy of Physician Associates, the American Academy of Nursing, the PA Education Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Federation of Government Employees, and the National Federation of Federal Employees.

“The American Association of Nurse Practitioners, on behalf of the over 461,000 nurse practitioners nationwide, commends Senators Collins and Blumenthal, Chairman Paul and Ranking Member Peters for their leadership on passing S. 3296, the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, out of Committee. As a dual board-certified nurse practitioner in Portland, Maine, I know the importance of this legislation to federal employees. Authorizing NPs to certify federal workplace injuries and oversee the patient's treatment and care will ensure injured federal employees receive the care they need from their chosen and trusted health care providers to get them back to work sooner,”said AANP President Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP.

The complete text of the bill can be read here.

###",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-floor-remarks-ahead-of-unanimous-senate-passage-of-her-bill-to-combat-lyme-and-other-tick-borne-diseases,Senator Collins Delivers Floor Remarks Ahead of Unanimous Senate Passage of Her Bill to Combat Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE for a full-resolution image.

Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of her remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced that the bipartisan Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act she introduced with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN)—with Senator Angus King (I-ME) joining them as an original cosponsor—passed the Senate unanimously. Senator Collins spoke from the Senate floor prior to passage of the bill.

The bill reauthorizes initiatives and programs to combat tick-borne diseases first established through the original Kay Hagan Tick Act, which Senators Collins and Smith led to passage in 2019. The Senators named their bill in honor of former Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away in October of 2019 due to complications from the tick-borne disease known as the Powassan virus.

“Our bipartisan legislation strengthens federal efforts to confront the alarming public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “Each year, the state of Maine has hit a new record high in the number of cases for Lyme disease. Current projections show that 2026 will yet again be a record-setting year. This is a record that we do not want to set.”

“Nevertheless, I am encouraged that we are making progress. A clinical trial for a Lyme disease vaccine is underway right now at the MaineHealth Institute for Research,” she continued. “Every year my beloved labrador retriever can get a vaccine for tick diseases, and yet we humans cannot. I’m hoping this clinical trial will be successful, and it will make a real difference. Reauthorizing the Kay Hagan Tick Act would allow crucial projects such as that research and public education campaigns to continue.”

“The University of Maine has an excellent lab that specializes in testing ticks for pathogens, and it has worked very closely with our game wardens, with foresters, with others who are routinely in the woods of Maine and are exposed to tick bites. It actually has developed a little tick kit where you can send the tick into the lab, and it will be tested for pathogens. So, I would be remiss if I did not salute the University of Maine for its excellent work on tick-borne illnesses. This legislation is going to make a big difference in helping to advance their work as well as the research at the MaineHealth Institute for Research,” Senator Collins concluded.

Cases of Lyme disease reached a new record level in Maine last year, after doing the same the year before, with more than 4,200 cases being reported statewide. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act aims to confront the growing public health threat posed by Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases by reauthorizing federal efforts to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for these diseases.

Using a three-pronged approach, the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act would:

Reauthorize Regional Centers of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease for five years. These Centers have led the scientific response against tick-borne diseases, which now make up 75 percent of vector-borne diseases in the U.S. There are four centers located at universities in California, Florida, Texas, and Wisconsin. Funding for these centers, which was allotted in 2017, expired last year.

Reauthorize CDC Grants to State Health Departments to improve data collection and analysis, support early detection and diagnosis, improve treatment, and raise awareness of vector-borne diseases. These awards would help states continue building and maintaining a public health infrastructure for Lyme and other vector-borne diseases and amplify their initiatives through public-private partnerships.

Require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue implementing and updating, as appropriate, its National Public Health Strategy to Prevent and Control Vector-Borne Diseases in People. This strategy has been integral in efforts to expand research into tick-borne diseases, improve testing and diagnostics, and coordinate efforts across the federal government.

“Reauthorization of the Kay Hagan Tick Act represents a critical commitment to addressing the growing threat of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Maine and across the country. Sustained federal support will strengthen surveillance, research, prevention, and public health response while helping translate scientific advances into practical protections for individuals and communities. We appreciate Senator Collins’ continued support on an issue that affects so many Maine people,” said Griffin Dill, Director of the University of Maine Tick Lab.

“The passage of the Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act is a landmark victory for millions of Americans impacted by tick-borne diseases and a major step forward for public health. As a North Carolinian, it is especially meaningful to see Senator Kay Hagan's legacy continue through legislation that will strengthen our nation's response to these increasingly common and complex illnesses. As someone whose own life has been profoundly shaped by tick-borne disease, I know firsthand the devastating consequences these infections can have on individuals and families. This law represents hope—hope for better prevention, stronger public health infrastructure, greater support for states and communities, and faster progress toward the diagnostics, treatments, and care that patients have waited far too long to receive. We are grateful to the bipartisan champions in Congress who made this achievement possible and look forward to working with federal agencies to ensure its successful implementation,” said Meghan Bradshaw, MPH, Executive Director of the Center for Lyme Action.

“Vector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by ticks, represent a rapidly expanding burden on the nation’s public health system. Incidence rates of diseases such as Lyme, alpha-gal syndrome, anaplasmosis, and others have increased significantly over the past two decades, underscoring the urgent need for a coordinated, science-based national response. The Kay Hagan Tick Act is an important part of strengthening federal coordination, enhancing surveillance, and supporting research on vector-borne diseases. Reauthorization of this legislation will ensure continued progress in several critical areas, including improving diagnostic tools, expanding public health infrastructure, advancing integrated vector management strategies, and fostering collaboration across federal, state, and local agencies. The Entomological Society of America is very grateful to Senator Collins for her critical leadership on this issue, and thanks the many other offices that joined as co-sponsors,” said Erin Cadwalader, Ph.D., Director of Strategic Leadership and Policy for the Entomological Society of America.

The complete text of the bill can be read here.

###",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-presses-administration-to-review-impact-of-canada-tariffs-meets-with-canadian-ambassador,"Senator Collins Presses Administration to Review Impact of Canada Tariffs, Meets with Canadian Ambassador",2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE and HERE for individual photos.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer requesting that they provide Maine businesses with greater clarity and notice regarding tariffs on Canadian goods scheduled to take effect on August 19 and consider the tariffs’ expected negative impact on Maine’s economy prior to any potential implementation.

The proposed 50 percent tariffs cover more than 500 categories of Canadian imports. Maine imports approximately $2 billion in non-petroleum products from Canada each year, and the new tariffs could apply to 5.5 percent of those goods. Maine businesses in industries including paper and concrete have raised concerns that insufficient domestic supply could leave them with no choice but to pay tariffs that could jeopardize their viability and the jobs they support. Maine manufacturers are also worried that potential retaliatory tariffs could disproportionately harm them because Canadians are among their most loyal customers.

This action comes the same day that Senator Collins met with the recently appointed Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Mark Wiseman. During their meeting, Senator Collins discussed her outreach to Secretary Lutnick and Trade Representative Greer as well as her other efforts to help mitigate the harm caused by tariffs on Canadian goods. They also discussed how the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) presents an opportunity to address trade concerns while preserving the close economic relationship between Maine and Canada.

“With only a month of warning, businesses in Maine and across the United States are being asked to avoid Canadian imports or face tariffs of 50 percent on these specific products,” Senator Collins wrote in her letter. “Small businesses, which lack large legal departments, have shared with me how difficult it is to navigate this new list and determine the impact of these tariffs.”

“I recognize the need for strong domestic industries that bolster our supply chains. For Mainers, however, Canada is often the closest source of goods in those supply chains. Maine borders only one state, New Hampshire, but shares a 611-mile border with Canada,” she continued. “It has 24 land ports of entry. Since the tariffs were announced, I have heard from businesses in industries including paper and concrete that insufficient domestic supply will leave them no choice but to pay tariffs at a rate that could jeopardize the viability of their businesses and the good jobs they provide.”

“During the peak summer season, Maine’s forest products industry, agricultural sector, and construction companies need to focus on how they can best succeed, not on determining how new government tariffs will affect them. I hope you will consider the unique needs of Maine businesses and municipalities as you implement policies and negotiate agreements affecting American workers and companies,” Senator Collins concluded.

Click here to read her complete letter.

+++

Senator Collins has repeatedly opposed broad tariffs on Canadian goods and worked to protect Maine businesses and communities from their effects. In April 2025, she delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of a resolution to end the emergency declaration being used to impose tariffs on Canadian goods; joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over tariffs; and urged the Administration to exempt previously contracted fire truck orders from tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum that were expected to increase the cost of each truck by $80,000 to $90,000. In July 2025, she joined a bipartisan group in introducing the Creating Access to Necessary American-Canadian Duty Adjustments (CANADA) Act, which would exempt U.S.-owned small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports. In December 2025, she requested targeted tariff relief for Maine’s wild blueberry producers, including an exemption for specialized Canadian equipment used to harvest, process, and mow the crop.

###",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6810,"King, Pingree Lead Push to Protect Federal Workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard",2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), are urging the administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would weaken longstanding civil service protections for federal employees, including the nearly 8,000 civilian workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Chairman Cathy Harris, the lawmakers warned that the proposal would make it more difficult to recruit and retain the skilled civilian workforce responsible for maintaining the Navy's submarine fleet, ultimately threatening national security.

""We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)'s proposed rule 'Promoting Employee Accountability,’” the lawmakers began. “This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitment and retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule's impact on workers essential to our national security.""

""By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness... the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready... We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB's proposed rule,"" the lawmakers concluded.

Joining King and Pingree on the letter are U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Director Kupor and Acting Chairman Kerner,

We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)’s proposed rule “Promoting Employee Accountability,” Docket OPM-2025-0012 (RIN 3206-AO91). This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitmentand retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule’s impact on workers essential to our national security.

OPM and MSPB’s joint notice of proposed rulemaking issued on July 2, 2026, unnecessarily weakens civil service protections and undermines workers’ rights to challenge removal. Current law provides agencies with the authority to address misconduct and poor performance while ensuring personnel decisions are appropriate, fair and consistent. This rulewould impose a short 30-day limit for performance improvement periods and make termination the default penalty. Theshortened window, coupled with termination as the default, could result in the loss of skilled workers who could have improved their performance if given sufficient time. Furthermore, the proposed rule weakens workers’ ability to challenge disciplinary measures by barring the use of union time to represent workers in removal proceedings.

Since the MSPB’s decision in Douglas v. Veterans Administration in 1981, agencies must consider 12 factors when examining the reasonableness of an agency’s proposed penalty for adverse action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7513. These include considering mitigating circumstances, rehabilitation potential and length of service. For nearly 50 years across Republican and Democratic administrations, these consistent standards have provided fairness to federal workers facing accusations of misconduct and created a framework for determining approportionate responses. OPM’s and MSPB’s proposal would instead require agencies to rely on an arbitrary, case-by-case examination of whether disciplinary action is reasonable given the “totality of circumstances” and explicitly states that “noparticular factors must be considered in every case.” This could allow agencies to ignore important mitigating factors and more easily remove skilled workers with strong rehabilitation potential from critical industries.

As you are no doubt aware, the men and women who work at our public shipyards are critical members of our defenseindustrial base, without whom the ability to repair, retrofit and refuel our country’s submarines would be in jeopardy. In our states, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has nearly eight thousand civilian employees, creating more than $1.5 billion in annual economic impact in surrounding communities. As our military’s “pacing threat,” the People’s Republic of China, is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons programs, the role that our own submarines play in the survivability of our nuclear triad cannot be overstated. In fact, PNSY currently needs to hire over 700 workers annually to meet the Navy’s demand – which is an increase from 550 over the past two years. Further, policies that reduce workplace protections risk making federal service less attractive to qualified candidates. Due to civilian hiring quotas imposed by the Office of Personnel Management, PNSY has struggled to onboard workers and cannot risk additional delays or departures. If the Administration intends to retain this political litmus test at our public shipyards, the costs of unnecessarily losing more skilled workers through this proposed rule far outweigh any potential benefit.

By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness and refusing toconsider important factors, the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready, ultimately harming the shipyard’s ability to meet the Navy’s needs and threatening our national security.

We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB’s proposed rule, “Promoting Employee Accountability,” and consider alternatives that preserve federal workers’ longstanding civil service protections.

Sincerely,",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6811,"Reps. Pingree, Valadao and Sens. Ernst, Padilla Recognize American Producers During National Farmers Market Week",2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and David Valadao (R-Calif.), along with Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), reintroduced a bipartisan resolution designating August 2–8, 2026, as National Farmers Market Week. This resolution honors the critical role farmers markets play in bridging the gap between urban and rural communities, helping people better understand the realities of farming and ranching.

“Farmers markets have been a cherished tradition in communities across America for generations. A quarter of Maine farms sell directly to consumers, with more than 100 farmers markets currently operating in our state,” said Congresswoman Pingree, a longtime organic farmer and co-chair of both the Organic Caucus and the Food Recovery Caucus. “By connecting local growers with their communities, farmers markets not only help put healthy food on the table, but also strengthen local economies and help preserve Maine’s agricultural traditions for future generations. This bipartisan, bicameral resolution reminds us that, in red states and blue states alike, farmers markets can be a force for good—and an important part of building a stronger, more resilient food system for all Americans.”

“The Central Valley grows a quarter of our nation’s food on less than one percent of America’s farmland, yet too many people living in urban areas don’t realize what it takes to get food from field to table,” said Congressman Valadao. “Farmers markets provide a valuable opportunity to connect people with the hardworking producers who feed our nation, and they highlight the important role agriculture plays in our communities. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing National Farmers Market Week and honoring the contributions of our CA-22 producers working to support food access, bolster local economies, promote healthy living, and foster sustainable farming.”

“California is home to more than 800 farmers markets that nourish our families, bolster the local economy, and cultivate thoughtful relationships between growers and consumers,” said Senator Padilla. “We cherish these shared spaces which are a vibrant, dependable source of nutrition for our state. I’m proud to lead this Senate resolution celebrating National Farmer’s Market Week to support our local farmers who feed our families and strengthen our communities.”

“Agriculture is the heart of Iowa, and farmers markets make it easier for Iowans to buy fresh, locally grown food in communities across our state,” said Senator Ernst. “I’m proud to lead a bipartisan resolution designating Aug. 2-8 as National Farmers Market Week to recognize the tireless work of our farmers, ranchers, and producers who put nutritious food on Americans’ tables every day.”

Read the resolution here.

###",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-pingree-lead-push-to-protect-federal-workforce-at-portsmouth-naval-shipyard,"King, Pingree Lead Push to Protect Federal Workforce at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard",2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), are urging the administration to withdraw a proposed rule that would weaken longstanding civil service protections for federal employees, including the nearly 8,000 civilian workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). In a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Chairman Cathy Harris, the lawmakers warned that the proposal would make it more difficult to recruit and retain the skilled civilian workforce responsible for maintaining the Navy's submarine fleet, ultimately threatening national security.

""We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)'s proposed rule 'Promoting Employee Accountability,’” the lawmakers began. “This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitment and retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule's impact on workers essential to our national security.""

""By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness... the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready... We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB's proposed rule,"" the lawmakers concluded.

Joining King and Pingree on the letter are U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02) and Chris Pappas (D-NH-01).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Director Kupor and Acting Chairman Kerner,

We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)’s proposed rule “Promoting Employee Accountability,” Docket OPM-2025-0012 (RIN 3206-AO91). This proposed rule would weaken longstanding civil service protections that promote merit-based employment, due process and the recruitmentand retention of skilled workers. Moreover, as Members of Congress who represent nearly eight thousand civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we are concerned about the proposed rule’s impact on workers essential to our national security.

OPM and MSPB’s joint notice of proposed rulemaking issued on July 2, 2026, unnecessarily weakens civil service protections and undermines workers’ rights to challenge removal. Current law provides agencies with the authority to address misconduct and poor performance while ensuring personnel decisions are appropriate, fair and consistent. This rulewould impose a short 30-day limit for performance improvement periods and make termination the default penalty. Theshortened window, coupled with termination as the default, could result in the loss of skilled workers who could have improved their performance if given sufficient time. Furthermore, the proposed rule weakens workers’ ability to challenge disciplinary measures by barring the use of union time to represent workers in removal proceedings.

Since the MSPB’s decision in Douglas v. Veterans Administration in 1981, agencies must consider 12 factors when examining the reasonableness of an agency’s proposed penalty for adverse action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7513. These include considering mitigating circumstances, rehabilitation potential and length of service. For nearly 50 years across Republican and Democratic administrations, these consistent standards have provided fairness to federal workers facing accusations of misconduct and created a framework for determining approportionate responses. OPM’s and MSPB’s proposal would instead require agencies to rely on an arbitrary, case-by-case examination of whether disciplinary action is reasonable given the “totality of circumstances” and explicitly states that “noparticular factors must be considered in every case.” This could allow agencies to ignore important mitigating factors and more easily remove skilled workers with strong rehabilitation potential from critical industries.

As you are no doubt aware, the men and women who work at our public shipyards are critical members of our defenseindustrial base, without whom the ability to repair, retrofit and refuel our country’s submarines would be in jeopardy. In our states, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has nearly eight thousand civilian employees, creating more than $1.5 billion in annual economic impact in surrounding communities. As our military’s “pacing threat,” the People’s Republic of China, is rapidly expanding its nuclear weapons programs, the role that our own submarines play in the survivability of our nuclear triad cannot be overstated. In fact, PNSY currently needs to hire over 700 workers annually to meet the Navy’s demand – which is an increase from 550 over the past two years. Further, policies that reduce workplace protections risk making federal service less attractive to qualified candidates. Due to civilian hiring quotas imposed by the Office of Personnel Management, PNSY has struggled to onboard workers and cannot risk additional delays or departures. If the Administration intends to retain this political litmus test at our public shipyards, the costs of unnecessarily losing more skilled workers through this proposed rule far outweigh any potential benefit.

By stripping away the procedures that keep discipline fair for civilian employees doing the work of naval readiness and refusing toconsider important factors, the proposed rule introduces costly unpredictability in the workforce and needlessly undermines readiness. We are concerned this will increase attrition in the critical and experienced workforce that keeps our submarine fleet ready, ultimately harming the shipyard’s ability to meet the Navy’s needs and threatening our national security.

We, therefore, ask you to withdraw OPM and MSPB’s proposed rule, “Promoting Employee Accountability,” and consider alternatives that preserve federal workers’ longstanding civil service protections.

Sincerely,",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-nomination-of-todd-blanche-to-serve-as-attorney-general,Senator Collins’ Statement on Nomination of Todd Blanche to Serve as Attorney General,2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins issued the following statement on the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as United States Attorney General:

“I have carefully reviewed Todd Blanche’s qualifications to be Attorney General. This includes his record and responses to questions from Senators at the Department of Justice Appropriations hearing, his confirmation hearing, and in the weeks that followed.

“While I believe Mr. Blanche is a capable lawyer, the Department of Justice has become increasingly political.

“Mr. Blanche has taken several actions that have further eroded the Department’s independence, and that is the basis for my vote to oppose his confirmation:

“Mr. Blanche approved an order to shield the President, his sons, and the family business from IRS audits, protections unavailable to other American taxpayers.

“He approved the creation of a $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.

“He promised an anti-abortion organization that he would seek to prohibit the mailing of abortion medication to women nationwide.

“Under his leadership, the Department attempted to indict Senators Mark Kelly and Elissa Slotkin over their ill-advised, but constitutionally protected, videos encouraging resistance to unlawful orders.

“More than 1,200 former Department of Justice employees have opposed his nomination, arguing that he has undermined the institution.

“For these reasons, I will vote against this nomination.”

###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-king-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-fight-mosquito-borne-diseases,Senator King Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fight Mosquito-Borne Diseases,2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to strengthen the fight against mosquito and other vector-borne diseases (VBD). The Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) 2.0 Act would reauthorize funding for federal mosquito control and public health response efforts as well as improve preparedness and response efforts for VBDs.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) is the technical term for diseases spread by insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. For decades, the United States government has successfully controlled VBDs through methods like eliminating standing water breeding grounds and deploying safe pesticides to eliminate the seasonal scourges of malaria and yellow fever.

“One of the best parts about living in Maine is being able to spend time outdoors, but the threat of dangerous illnesses from mosquito bites is a real concern,” said Senator King. “Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance – they have the potential to transmit dangerous diseases which threaten American public health Acting to prevent the spread of such diseases is essential to protect the health of Maine people and Americans nationwide. The SMASH 2.0 Act would provide our communities with further protection from vector-borne diseases and their complications, promoting health and reducing healthcare costs.”

More specifically, the SMASH 2.0 Act would:

Reauthorize the CDC’s Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (MASH) program at $100 million per year;

Authorize within the MASH program to expand training, evaluation, and to support education and training for public health staff engaged in mosquito abatement; and

Require the CDC to coordinate with the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) on stockpiling vector-borne disease control products.

“Mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit are continual threats to all Americans,” said American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Technical Advisor Daniel Markowski. “The reauthorization of the SMASH Act is imperative to support the ability of local districts, state health departments, territorial governments, and tribal communities to identify and combat the continued threat of vector-borne diseases from mosquitoes. The AMCA strongly supports this legislation as it will provide local programs with resources for timely, on-the-ground prevention and control.”

“Strengthening the capacity of local and state health departments to detect and respond to outbreaks promptly through vector surveillance, laboratory testing, and integrated disease management programs is necessary to effectively slow the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases and limit their spread to promote the health and safety of the public. The SMASH 2.0 Act is one critical way to help accomplish this and the Entomological Society of America enthusiastically encourages Congress to pass this legislation,” said Dr. Melissa Siebert, the 2026 President of the Entomological Society of America.

Joining Senator King on this legislation are U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Rick Scott (R-FL).

“The West Nile virus does not consign itself to far-off lands. Mississippians are infected with it every year,” said Senator Wicker (R-MS). “This bill will help us track and treat West Nile Virus in our communities.”

“Minnesotans are proud to boast about our 10,000 lakes and thousands of rivers for us to enjoy, and we’re always eager to get outside after a long winter. The only downside to having so many bodies of water to enjoy are the mosquitos that come with them,” said Senator Smith (D-MN). “The number of vector-borne disease cases in Minnesota and across the country is on the rise. This bill will strengthen education, preparedness, and response efforts for these diseases, ensuring that Americans can continue to safely enjoy the outdoors.

“Florida’s world-famous weather brings millions of visitors to beaches and parks across the Sunshine State every year. I am proud to partner with my colleagues to ensure those beautiful outdoor spaces are protected against mosquito-borne illnesses. State and local governments need to be properly prepared to combat the spread of these diseases, and this bill goes a long way to ensure those tools are available to them,” said Senator Scott (R-FL).

Senator King has long been an active proponent for research intended to combat vector-borne diseases. In 2025, Senator King introduced the Kay Hagan Tick Act, landmark legislation to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases. Senator King also introduced the SMASH Act in 2019, a predecessor to the SMASH 2.0 Act that authorized funding for mosquito control and VBD prevention efforts in response to the spread of Zika in the years prior. The SMASH Act was signed into law in 2019.

###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6809,Pingree Urges MaineHealth to Preserve Labor and Delivery Services at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta,2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is urging MaineHealth to preserve labor and delivery services at Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, warning that closing the unit would have far-reaching consequences for families, health care workers, and communities throughout the Midcoast.

In a letter to MaineHealth President and CEO Dr. Andy Mueller and MaineHealth Chair of the Board of Trustees Marie McCarthy, Pingree acknowledged the challenges facing rural hospitals, while encouraging them to do everything in their power to keep the unit open.

""Lincoln Hospital has a long history of providing safe and quality care to maternity patients,"" Pingree wrote. ""I sincerely appreciate that there are structural challenges to the continued delivery of that care, but the consequences of a closure—on patients, hospital staff, and the surrounding towns—could be devastating. I urge you to explore every possible avenue to preserve access to labor and delivery services in Damariscotta.""

She also raised broader concerns about the steady decline of maternity care across Maine, noting that the state has lost 10 birthing units over the past decade, while warning that continued closures could jeopardize the ability of families to live and raise children in rural Maine.

Maine has lost 10 of its 23 hospital-based labor and delivery units over the past decade. Nationally, a 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 52.4% of rural hospitals no longer offered obstetric care in 2022, contributing to growing maternity care deserts across the country.

In the U.S., maternal mortality remains far higher than in most other high-income countries, with persistent racial and geographic disparities in outcomes.

Pingree acknowledged that addressing the crisis will require stronger federal support for rural health care—including protecting Medicaid, expanding the rural health care workforce, and improving reimbursement rates. She pledged to continue advocating for those priorities in Congress, while working with Maine providers to preserve access to maternity care.

On Saturday, dozens of community members, health care providers, patients, and local leaders gathered outside the MaineHealth headquarters in Portland to raise awareness about the impacts of the closure.

The MaineHealth Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the proposal this week.

The full text of Pingree's letter is available here and copied below.

+++

Dear Dr. Mueller and Ms. McCarthy,

I understand that MaineHealth is currently deliberating over the future of labor and delivery services at MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital. As that process continues, I’m writing to echo the deep concerns I’ve heard from constituents about the potential impact that closing the unit would have on families and communities across the Midcoast.

Lincoln Hospital has a long history of providing safe and quality care to maternity patients, guiding new parents through all kinds of childbirth experiences. I sincerely appreciate that there are structural challenges to the continued delivery of that care, but the consequences of a closure – on patients, hospital staff, and the surrounding towns – could be devastating. I urge you to explore every possible avenue to preserve access to labor and delivery services in Damariscotta.

Beyond the specific circumstances at Lincoln Hospital, I fear the continued erosion of maternity care access statewide. I delivered all three of my children at hospitals in the Midcoast that no longer provide labor and delivery care. In total, Maine has lost 10 birthing units in just the past decade. We must decide to draw a line somewhere, or risk sending the message that you cannot raise a family in Maine outside of our biggest cities.

Rural maternity care that is truly sustainable will require substantial policy change – from restoring the historic cuts to Medicaid in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, to training more providers across rural settings, to boosting reimbursement rates. I’m committed to advocating for that change on the federal level, and I welcome your continued partnership in that fight.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chellie Pingree

Member of Congress

###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-protect-medicare-patients-physicians,"King, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Medicare Patients, Physicians",2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing bipartisan legislation to support physicians and preserve their ability to care for Medicare patients. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would modernize the Medicare’s Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) – how much medical professionals are reimbursed for providing care – and preserve patient access to care by adjusting payments to cover more of the actual cost of delivering medical services.

As reported by the American Medical Association (AMA), the average Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined roughly 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation. This reduction can be largely attributed to the Medicare budget neutrality threshold last updated in 1992, which has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of care. The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act reforms key structural elements of MPFS, supporting physicians and preserving their ability to care for Medicare patients.

“Accessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,” said Senator King. “The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs. I’m proud to join my colleagues in supporting this commonsense bipartisan legislation to strengthen access to quality care for older Americans.”

King is joined on the legislation by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

Senator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the provision of affordable, accessible healthcare for all Americans. In June of 2026, Senator King introduced the Primary and Behavioral Healthcare Access Act, requiring private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. In 2022, Senator King also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic package which included significant, commonsense changes to Medicare that caps out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2000 a year and allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for many of the drugs it purchases.

###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-speaks-at-christening-of-future-uss-william-charette-at-biw,Senator Collins Speaks at Christening of Future USS William Charette at BIW,2026-08-01,2026,2026-08,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for individual photos.

BATH, ME – U.S. Senator Susan Collins delivered remarks today at the christening ceremony for the future USS William Charette (DDG-130) at Bath Iron Works (BIW). Senator Collins was joined at the event by Governor Janet Mills, Senator Angus King, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, BIW President Chuck Krugh, and members of the Charette family.

The future USS William Charette, built at Bath Iron Works, was christened in honor of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette. During the Korean War, then-Hospital Corpsman Third Class Charette repeatedly braved enemy fire to treat wounded Marines. When an enemy grenade landed near a Marine he was aiding, Charette shielded him with his own body, and despite suffering his own wounds, continued treating casualties. His actions, which were directly responsible for saving the lives of many American service members, earned him the Medal of Honor.

“Today we christen the DDG-130 with the name of a Medal of Honor recipient who exemplified the highest ideals of America and the United States Navy. Through this ship, his courage, humility, and devotion to others will continue to inspire generations of sailors,” said Senator Collins during her remarks. “Arleigh Burke-class destroyers form the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet. To the men and women of Bath Iron Works, you make ‘Bath Built is Best Built’ not just a slogan, but a way of life. As global threats continue to grow and our adversaries continue to expand their naval fleets, investing in a strong and capable United States Navy and a robust defense manufacturing base here at home is essential.”

Senator Collins has long championed Bath Iron Works and its skilled shipbuilders. Since 2020, she has secured more than $10.9 billion in Navy contract obligations related to DDG-51 destroyers and advocated for more than $3 billion in advance procurement funding to support long-lead materials and future production. These efforts build on the $16 billion she secured for Bath-built destroyers between 2008 and 2020.

She has also secured more than $1 billion for shipyard infrastructure improvements, including modernization projects at BIW, as well as $200 million for wage enhancements and more than $34 million for BIW workforce initiatives. The workforce funding supports expanded training and assistance with housing, child care, and transportation.

###",1,2026-08-02T07:31:21Z,2026-08-02T07:32:50Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-jetblue-to-continue-providing-essential-air-service-to-presque-isle,Senator Collins Announces JetBlue to Continue Providing Essential Air Service to Presque Isle,2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected JetBlue to continue providing Essential Air Service (EAS) to Presque Isle.

Under the agreement, which covers a two-year term from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028, JetBlue will provide seven round trips per week from Presque Isle International Airport (PQI) to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) using a 140-passenger Airbus A220-300.

“Reliable access to commercial air service is critical to the residents and businesses of Aroostook County, connecting them to destinations across the country and supporting economic growth throughout the region,” said Senator Collins. “I welcome the selection of JetBlue to continue providing service between Presque Isle and Boston. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to support robust funding for the Essential Air Service program, which helps sustain commercial air service in rural communities that might otherwise lack access to the national air transportation network.”

Senator Collins secured $20,462,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending in 2024 to construct a new passenger terminal at PQI. The new passenger terminal will fully replace the airport’s outdated existing terminal that was built in 1954, be fully ADA compliant to ensure accessibility for all passengers, incorporate modern features, and meet updated Federal Aviation Administration design standards. Senator Collins took part in the groundbreaking for the new terminal last year.

###",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-bipartisan-group-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-cftc-whistleblower-program,"Senator Collins, Bipartisan Group Introduce Legislation to Strengthen CFTC Whistleblower Program",2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) to introduce the CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act. This bill would help provide long-term stability to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) whistleblower program, strengthen protections for whistleblowers, and speed up the processing of whistleblower claims.

“The Commodity Futures Trading Commission plays a crucial role in protecting American commodity markets, and safeguarding its whistleblower program helps maintain public trust in the integrity of those markets,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan bill would provide long-term stability for the CFTC whistleblower program by strengthening protections for whistleblowers, promoting the timely processing of claims, and eliminating a loophole that can prevent whistleblowers from receiving awards.”

“Since I helped get the CFTC whistleblower program up and running, I’m pleased to see it’s been a big success. This program roots out waste, fraud and abuse in the commodities trading industry and operates at no charge to the taxpayer. Now, it’s time for Congress to act so its success can continue. Our bipartisan legislation strengthens protections for patriotic whistleblowers, prevents unnecessary delays in the disbursement of whistleblower awards and ensures the CFTC whistleblower program can operate smoothly,” said Senator Grassley.

“Whistleblowers put their jobs and often their lives on the line to call out the most serious offenses in the workplace. Zero doubt that they should be protected,” said Senator Fetterman. “As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with Senator Grassley to protect whistleblowers and improve the CFTC whistleblower program.”

The CFTC Whistleblower Program and Customer Protection Fund (CPF) were founded in 2010. The CPF, which is funded through penalties and fines resulting from enforcement actions, pays awards to whistleblowers who report wrongdoing to the CFTC. The CPF also provides for the operating expenses and educational initiatives associated with the CFTC Whistleblower Program. Since issuing its first award in 2014, the CPF has awarded more than $430 million to whistleblowers and collected more than $3.7 billion in monetary sanctions from violators.

Under current law, the CPF’s maximum balance is capped at $100 million. Any fines collected after the cap is reached are sent to the Treasury Department’s general fund. As fines from whistleblower disclosures have increased in volume and value in recent years, reward disbursements have also risen. As a result, the CPF is depleting faster than it can be replenished due to the $100 million collection cap. This risks leaving the CFTC without the resources needed to pay whistleblowers or fund its operations.

The CFTC Whistleblower Protection and Program Improvement Act would help to address this problem and strengthen the program by:

Enhancing protections for CFTC whistleblowers;

Making permanent the separate account that funds the CFTC Whistleblower Office;

Raising the CPF cap from $100 million to $300 million;

Ensuring whistleblower claims are processed in a timely manner;

Eliminating a court-created loophole prohibiting whistleblowers from receiving an award because a company declared bankruptcy; and

Ensuring CFTC-regulated entities inform their employees of their whistleblower rights.

Click here to read the complete text of this legislation.

###",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-legislation-to-block-transfer-of-offices-from-the-department-of-education-clears-committee,Senator Collins’ Legislation to Block Transfer of Offices from the Department of Education Clears Committee,2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Click HERE to watch and HERE to download video of Senator Collins discussing the bill during the HELP Committee markup.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins joined with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in introducing legislation that would prevent the Department of Education from transferring critical offices to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to execute their missions. The bill was considered at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup today, where the bill advanced by a bipartisan vote of 13 to 9.

Specifically, the senators’ legislation would prevent the Department from transferring the Offices of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Postsecondary Education (OPE), Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), and Indian Education to any other federal agency. The legislation has been endorsed by the Bipartisan Policy Center, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers.

“This bill is straightforward. It keeps the administration of important landmark education programs at the Department of Education where Congress specifically put them and where they belong,” said Senator Collins during the markup. “These transfers are misaligned with their program purposes. For example, the Administration has an agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services to administer the education office that manages the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known as IDEA. That change fundamentally misunderstands the history and intent of the Special Education program, which was created in 1975 to ensure that children with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education. Today, this office helps meet the education needs of more than 8 million children with disabilities. It’s primarily focused on the student’s education needs, not on their health care needs. Prior to IDEA, far too many children with disabilities did not receive an education.”

“America’s students and economy depend on the quality of our schools,” said Senator Kaine. “That’s why I worked on a bipartisan solution to bar the Department of Education from transferring critical offices and programs—including those that students with disabilities rely on—to other federal agencies that lack the staff and expertise needed to carry out their work. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and will continue to do all I can to ensure that the Department is setting students up for success.”

“We are long overdue for a serious national conversation about updating the federal role in education for the 21st century. That is a debate worth having. But dismantling the Department of Education piece by piece and shuffling programs between agencies is not reform. Sens. Tim Kaine, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski deserve real credit for working together on this critical effort, and I look forward to working with them and other members on reforms that will ensure every child has access to a high-quality education,” said Margaret Spellings, President and CEO of the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush.

The National Education Association (NEA) urged senators to “vote yes on S. 5046 to prohibit transferring specified Department of Education offices and functions to other federal agencies—as well as any amendments to prevent implementing current or future inter-agency agreements (IAAs). The Trump administration’s illegal push to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) promises ‘less bureaucracy.’ In reality, it is hurting the students who are our nation’s future leaders and workforce, while creating more bureaucracy and new hurdles for those seeking to educate our nation’s youth,” said Kimberly Johnson Trinca, Director of Government Relations for the NEA.

“The moves to dismantle the Department of Education by dispersing its functions to other federal departments have been particularly damaging. The administration has created a multiagency structure with overlapping responsibilities, duplicated costs and unclear chains of accountability. This is neither streamlining nor reform—it’s an abdication and abandonment of America’s future. S. 5046 would ensure that American families have access to that expertise by prohibiting the Department of Education from transferring the offices overseeing special education, postsecondary education, elementary and secondary education, and Native American education programs to other agencies. The bipartisan bill will protect students, families, schools and communities from losing the support to which they are entitled under law,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

Click here to read the complete text of the legislation.

###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-cosponsors-legislation-to-protect-polling-stations-from-federal-intervention-armed-troops,"King Cosponsors Legislation to Protect Polling Stations from Federal Intervention, Armed Troops",2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring legislation to protect against the use of federal troops or armed federal agents at polling places. The Protect Our Polls Act would require congressional approval prior to any deployment of armed federal law enforcement or uniformed military personnel at polling stations across the country.

Existing federal law explicitly prohibits the federal government from sending federal troops or law enforcement to polling places with only a minor exception should they be used to repel “armed enemies of the United States.” The Protect Our Polls Act aims to close that loophole and create additional barriers to prevent the President from interfering in elections and utilizing law enforcement and the military to intimidate voters.

“Free and fair elections serve as the foundation of American democracy, and its strength rests upon the assurance that elections remain accessible for all Americans,” said Senator King. “The Protect Our Polls Act would strengthen protections against tactics designed to intimidate voters at polling stations, ensuring that Americans are confident in their safety when exercising their right to vote. Our democracy remains healthy only when those who constitute it have their voices heard, and this bill will protect their ability to do so.”

King is joined on the legislation by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

Senator King has long been an outspoken advocate for the protection of democratic freedoms. After President Trump gave a national address threatening increased federal interference with elections, King published an op-ed outlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration’s aims to nationalize elections. Earlier this week, King introduced the Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act, authorizing state attorney generals and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America’s Future Election’s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and allow the federal government to exert greater control over state voting processes, requirements likely to disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if put in place. Two years prior, in 2023, Senator King also introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, aiming to codify national standard for voting rights in law, end gerrymandering on party lines, and eliminate the influence of undisclosed funding in elections.

###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://pingree.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6806,Pingree Backs Scarborough Town Council's Call for Federal Review of ICE Facility,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,pingree,https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"Ahead of the Scarborough Town Council's special meeting Wednesday evening, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) sent the Council a letter supporting their proclamation calling for a federal review of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 40 Manson Libby Road. In the letter, Pingree urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to seriously reconsider whether the facility should continue operating in Scarborough if its presence is undermining public trust and making residents feel less safe.

“The facility at 40 Manson Libby Road has become a symbol of fear, uncertainty, and intimidation for many immigrant families and their neighbors,” Pingree said. “That should concern every one of us.”

In her letter, Pingree emphasized that the Town of Scarborough has every right to question whether continuing to host the ICE facility serves the interests of the community. She called on DHS and ICE to conduct a serious review of the facility's continued operation and to give meaningful weight to the concerns raised by local residents and elected officials.

“When a federal facility reaches the point where its very presence undermines the public confidence and leaves residents feeling less safe, the federal government has a responsibility to reconsider if that facility belongs there at all,” she said.

Pingree also reiterated that her office has been conducting aggressive oversight of ICE's activities in Maine following the fatal shooting of her constituent, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, in Biddeford. She has demanded answers from DHS, called for a transparent investigation, pursued legislative and appropriations oversight, and remains committed to holding the agency accountable to the communities it serves.

“Federal agencies must carry out their responsibilities in a manner that respects human dignity, civil rights, due process, and the communities in which they operate. When they fail to do so, local communities have not only the right but the responsibility to speak out,” Pingree said.

The full letter is available here and copied below.

Pingree has conducted official oversight visits of ICE facilities in Scarborough, Burlington, Mass., and Dilley, Texas.

Earlier this month, Pingree sent a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin demanding answers about the fatal shooting of her constituent, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, by ICE officers in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13.

Pingree also joined the other members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Secretary Mullin calling for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation. In addition, Pingree and Reps. Jayapal (D-Wash.), Garcia (D-Texas), Raskin (D-Md.), and Thompson (D-Miss.) led nearly 200 Members in calling for independent investigations into Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Johan Sebastian Guerrero’s deaths and demanded that ICE halt removal proceedings against the witnesses.

+++

Dear Council Members,

I write to express my support for your proclamation regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 40 Manson Libby Road. I commend the Town Council for giving voice to the significant and growing concerns in Scarborough and across Maine about ICE’s presence in our communities.

The tragic death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero has profoundly shaken our state. While investigations into the shooting continue, many Mainers are once again confronting a larger and deeply troubling reality: ICE is operating in our communities with no transparency, accountability, or regard for the people who live here. The facility at 40 Manson Libby Road has become a symbol of fear, uncertainty, and intimidation for many immigrant families and their neighbors. That should concern every one of us.

Residents should not have to wonder whether heavily armed enforcement actions will occur in their neighborhoods, whether federal officers are operating under appropriate oversight, or whether a facility in their town is contributing to tactics that erode trust between neighbors and government. This affects whether people feel safe attending school, seeking medical care, reporting crimes, practicing their faith, or simply going about their lives.

The Town of Scarborough has every right to ask whether continuing to host this facility serves the interests of the community. In my view, that question deserves serious consideration from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). When a federal facility reaches the point where its very presence undermines the public confidence and leaves residents feeling less safe, the federal government has a responsibility to reconsider if that facility belongs there at all. I believe ICE and DHS should undertake a serious review of the continued operation of this facility and proceed in accordance with the community’s wishes.

Please know that I am exploring every available avenue to address enforcement operations and the continued presence of ICE in Scarborough. My office has been conducting aggressive oversight of ICE’s activities in Maine and demanding answers from DHS regarding the preventable circumstances that led to Mr. Guerrero’s death. I have demanded a transparent and collaborative investigation, pressed the agency to justify its actions, sought greater accountability, and continue to pursue legislative, appropriations, and administration options to challenge policies that undermine public trust. I remain committed to using every tool available to me as a Member of Congress to ensure that federal agencies are accountable to the communities they serve.

Your proclamation appropriately recognizes that the immigration process and community trust are not mutually exclusive. Federal agencies must carry out their responsibilities in a manner that respects human dignity, civil rights, due process, and the communities in which they operate. When they fail to do so, local communities have not only the right but the responsibility to speak out.

Thank you for your leadership and your willingness to stand with the people of Scarborough during these difficult times. I am proud to stand with you, and I will continue working alongside you to pursue every available opportunity to reevaluate the federal government’s continued operation of this facility.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z
https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-calls-on-dea-to-clarify-rule-threatening-maine-ems-providers-with-new-costs,Maine Delegation Calls on DEA to Clarify Rule Threatening Maine EMS Providers with New Costs,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Republican,Senate,ME,Susan M. Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,collins,https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Jared Golden (D-ME-02) are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to quickly clarify federal guidance that is threatening Maine emergency medical services (EMS) agencies with new costs.

In a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, the lawmakers explained that uncertainty surrounding the DEA's implementation of a 2017 law has led several Maine hospital systems to end longstanding agreements that allowed local EMS agencies to obtain certain emergency supplies and medications through their hospital partners. Without these agreements, EMS agencies have begun to spend thousands of their own dollars on these expenses, likely resulting in increased costs for patients as providers seek to recoup the additional expenses.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), along with related DEA regulations, requires registration for any practice that dispenses controlled substances. Prior to 2017, the CSA did not directly mention EMS, and thus EMS departments historically were not required to register to procure or dispense controlled substances – allowing EMS to acquire medications and supplies from hospital partners to do their critical work.

“We write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA),” the lawmakers began. “As you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances. This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA’s subsequent final rule has created disruption and confusion for Maine’s healthcare system.”

“The conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state’s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine’s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships,” the lawmakers continued.

“Therefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response,” the lawmakers concluded.

Click here to read the complete text of the letter.

###",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-calls-on-dea-to-clarify-rule-threatening-maine-ems-providers-with-new-costs,Maine Delegation Calls on DEA to Clarify Rule Threatening Maine EMS Providers with New Costs,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) are calling on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to quickly clarify federal guidance that is threatening Maine emergency medical service (EMS) agencies with new costs. In a letter to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, the lawmakers explained that uncertainty surrounding the DEA's implementation of a 2017 law has led several Maine hospital systems to end longstanding agreements that allowed local EMS agencies to obtain certain emergency supplies and medications through their hospital partners. Without these agreements, EMS agencies have already begun to spend thousands of their own dollars on these expenses, likely resulting in cost increases to patients to recoup the additional charges.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), along with related DEA regulations, requires registration for any practice that dispenses controlled substances. Prior to 2017, the CSA did not directly mention EMS, and thus EMS departments historically were not required to register to procure or dispense controlled substances – allowing EMS to acquire medications and supplies from hospital partners to do their critical work.

“We write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA),” the lawmakers began. “As you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances. This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA’s subsequent final rule has created disruption and confusion for Maine’s healthcare system.”

“The conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state’s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine’s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships,” the lawmakers continued.

“Therefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response,” the lawmakers concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

+++

Dear Administrator Cole:

We write today to request that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issue clarifying guidance regarding implementation of the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medicines Act of 2017 (PPAEMA). As you know, PPAEMA amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies to obtain independent registrations to administer controlled substances.

This statutory change was intended to codify existing law and ensure EMS responders operate seamlessly under the supervision of a licensed physician. Unfortunately, the DEA’s subsequent final rule has created severe disruption and confusion for Maine’s healthcare system. The conflicting interpretations of this rule have led our state’s largest hospital networks to abruptly terminate long-standing agreements held with local EMS providers for such medical supplies. Therefore, swift clarification from the DEA is urgently needed not only to prevent exorbitant, unexpected costs from being forced onto Maine’s EMS agencies but also to preserve vital local partnerships.

PPAEMA established a new registration category under the CSA for EMS agencies that are authorized to conduct emergency services under state law. Congressional intent in enacting PPAEMA was clear in focusing on clarifying existing law to align with current practices to allow EMS to administer controlled substances under the supervision of a physician. The purpose was not to create a new requirement whereby EMS agencies would be required to procure controlled substances and other required medications.

However, subsequent rulemaking and implementation of PPAEMA has created uncertainty and significant costs to our EMS agencies as they look to comply with the law and new regulations. Per the final rule, “… controlled substances must be delivered to the registered location of the EMS agency or the hospital if the EMS agency operates under the hospital’s DEA registration.” Hospitals in our state interpret this to mean that previous purchasing and distribution agreements with EMS agencies outside of the hospital organization’s direct oversight are no longer valid and violate PPAEMA rulemaking.

As a result, approximately 140 EMS agencies across Maine are reportedly spending tens of thousands of dollars each to procure the secure systems required for independent storage compliance. Additionally, these agencies are facing the likelihood of having to spend thousands of dollars, if not more, on required substances. Because these medications are often exclusively sold in bulk, smaller EMS agencies will be forced to buy quantities they cannot realistically use before the drugs expire. At a time of severe budget constraints, this rigid interpretation is creating a crippling operational and financial burden for our EMS agencies.

In a recent article, quotes from DEA staff and Maine EMS suggest that previous arrangements remain accessible and that registration by EMS agencies with DEA are optional. According to Heidi Carroll, diversion program manager at DEA Northeast Region, “This is not a requirement by DEA. This is an additional registration category made available, but it does not replace any previous compliant arrangements to provide patient care and emergency services to the public.” However, our hospitals must ensure that they are compliant with DEA regulations and without clarifying guidance, believe that they cannot maintain previous arrangements to procure and distribute controlled substances to EMS agencies.

Therefore, we ask DEA to issue clarifying guidance as soon as possible to prevent further confusion and to ensure more unnecessary costs are not borne by our EMS agencies. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z
https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-democratic-veterans-demand-transparency-on-iran-war-casualties,"Golden, Democratic veterans demand transparency on Iran war casualties",2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Democrat,House,ME,Jared F. Golden,G000592,golden.house.gov,golden,https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Following reports that the Department of Defense removed the names of four American troops from the official Iran War death toll, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and 14 fellow Democratic veterans are urging the Trump Administration to accurately and transparently account for U.S. servicemembers killed and wounded in the Iran war.

“As veterans of America’s wars, we have serious concerns about reports that the Department of War is delaying, removing or otherwise mischaracterizing the release of information about wounded and killed U.S. servicemembers,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President Trump.

“The U.S. government owes U.S. servicemembers, their families, and every American the truth about all U.S. casualties in the War with Iran. It is imperative that these reports are timely, accurate and adequately explain the reason for amended or delayed reports,” they continued. “We urge you to commit to releasing timely and accurate information on all injuries and deaths of U.S. servicemembers.”

The letter was led by Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-14). Golden was joined on the letter by Reps. Pat Ryan (NY-18), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Derek Tran (CA-45), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jason Crow (CO-06), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Gil Cisneros (CA-31).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear President Trump,

As veterans of America’s wars, we have serious concerns about reports that the Department of War is delaying, removing or otherwise mischaracterizing the release of information about wounded and killed U.S. servicemembers.

The U.S. government owes U.S. servicemembers, their families, and every American the truth about all U.S. casualties in the War with Iran. It is imperative that these reports are timely, accurate and adequately explain the reason for amended or delayed reports. Inaccurate and delayed reports from the Department of War about U.S. casualties is bad for morale and undermines our U.S. servicemembers.

We urge you to commit to releasing timely and accurate information on all injuries and deaths of U.S. servicemembers.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-leads-bill-to-expand-mental-health-care-access-in-rural-maine-communities,King Leads Bill to Expand Mental Health Care Access in Rural Maine Communities,2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King is introducing legislation to help people in rural Maine communities maintain reliable access to mental health care. The Compacts, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Mental Health Professionals Act would incentivize interstate medical health provider networks with federally funded grant opportunities. Interstate networks allow providers to practice across state lines while avoiding duplicative registration processes, thus reaching more rural communities with mental health resources.

Rural communities are disproportionately affected by the country’s mental health crisis. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 60% of rural Americans live in designated mental health provider shortage areas

“The expansion of telehealth has been a game changer, especially for rural Maine communities, older adults, and those who might otherwise forgo care due to their inability to pay for or drive to their appointments. Telehealth has improved access to mental health services, eased burdens on providers, and helped patients receive the care they need when they need it,” said Senator King. “The CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act adapts care with the times, and reduces unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for qualified providers to deliver telehealth services across state lines, ensuring more Maine people can access quality mental health care for years to come.”

""NAMI Maine remains committed to advancing policies that improve access to mental health care and strengthen the behavioral health workforce, said Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness Maine. “We support bipartisan solutions, such as Sen. King's CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, that ensure individuals, families, and communities can find qualified professionals when and where they need them,"".

Senator King is a long-time advocate for the availability and accessibility of telemedicine. King co-sponsored the bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act which make current telehealth flexibilities permanent and ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue enjoying access to telemedicine. Senator King also introduced the CARE for Mental Health Professionals Act, and co-sponsored the TREAT Act, to address interstate medical professional licensing issues.

###",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z
https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-elections-from-interference-and-tampering,"King, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Elections from Interference and Tampering",2026-07-27,2026,2026-07,Independent,Senate,ME,"Angus S. King, Jr.",K000383,www.king.senate.gov,angusking,https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/table,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is introducing legislation to protect elections from interference and tampering – from both outside actors and unconstitutional orders from the federal government. The Stop Harassment and Intimidation in Elections through Legal Defenses (SHIELD) Our Elections Act would authorize state attorneys general and individual voters to bring civil actions against those who violate federal laws protecting elections, extend the statute of limitations for federal criminal prosecutions involving election interference from five to nine years, and establish additional protections to prevent the unlawful seizure of ballots before election results are finalized.

""Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution makes it clear that the oversight and administration of elections is left to the states; recent remarks and proposals from the White House seem to threaten the firewall our founders made a priority – and also contradicts the principle of states’ rights,"" said Senator King. ""The SHIELD Our Elections Act reinforces those fundamental principles and sustaining public faith in elections that are conducted fairly, impartially, and constitutionally – while strengthening accountability for those who attempt to undermine our electoral system.""

More specifically, the SHIELD Our Elections Act would:

Allow State Attorneys General and impacted voters to sue when federal officials unlawfully interfere with or intimidate them at polling places;

Strengthen accountability by extending the statute of limitations from five to nine years for key federal election crimes, including interference by armed forces and voter intimidation, to enable them to be brought by future administrations for past actions;

Protect ballots from improper seizure by limiting when state or federal law enforcement may seize ballots or election equipment and requiring court-authorized election officials to maintain joint custody whenever materials must be seized, especially before the resolution of an election.

In addition to King, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

Senator King has long been a proponent for the protection of democratic freedoms. Last week, he published an op-ed last weekoutlining his concerns surrounding the Trump administration’s aims to nationalize election. King has also cosponsored the Right to Vote Act, which would establish the first-ever statutory right to vote in federal elections, protecting citizens from state and federal laws that attempt to restrict or limit voter access. In 2023, he introduced the Freedom to Vote Act, which aimed to establish national standards for voting rights, end partisan gerrymandering, and eliminate the influence of secret money in elections. In 2025, Senator King cosponsored the Defending America’s Future Election’s Act, which would repeal an Executive Order to review voter registration lists and insert the federal government into state voting processes, requirements that would likely disenfranchise millions of eligible American voters if implemented.

Increasing civic engagement and historical literacy among Americans is also a prominent objective of Senator King’s. In 2025, he introduced the CIVICS Act, bipartisan legislation that would bolster civics education resources for school children across the United States. In 2022, he also introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate a National High School Seniors Voter Registration Day and encourage greater civic participation among high school seniors that are eligible to vote. Most recently, Senator King led a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on “Civics at 250” that was nationally televised on C-SPAN.

###",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z