url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/media/maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans,Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans,2017-12-30,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-december-podcast-king-highlights-maine-veterans-supporting-fellow-veterans,"In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans",2017-12-30,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In December Podcast, King Highlights Maine Veterans Supporting Fellow Veterans Saturday, December 30, 2017 BRUNSWICK, ME U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the December edition of his Inside Maine podcast. In this edition, Senator King speaks with Travis Mills, a retired Army veteran, quadruple amputee and founder of the Travis Mills Foundation in Maine. Senator King then speaks with Jack Richards, a veteran and board member of the Veteran Mentors of Maine program. Senator King and his guests discuss how best help Maine veterans successfully transition into civilian life after service. Maine has one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country; theyre our friends, our neighbors, and our heroes, said Senator King. These veterans deserve our utmost gratitude, and our continuous support particularly as they transition back into civilian life. Thats why it was so great to talk with Travis Mills and Jack Richards, both veterans themselves who have gone the extra mile to help struggling veterans regain a sense of purpose and direction. Travis and Jacks efforts give these men and women an opportunity to realize their full potential it was an honor to speak to them and learn more about their important and meaningful work. Retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills of the 82nd Airborne is a motivational speaker and advocate for veterans and amputees. While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Travis lost portions of both his arms and legs in Afghanistan from an IED. He is only one of five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive the injuries. Since then, hes created the Travis Mills Foundation, a Maine-based non-profit aimed at supporting injured veterans and their families. The Foundations work includes the establishment of the Travis Mills Foundation Veteran Retreat, which brings injured veterans and their family to Maine in order to help the veterans overcome physical obstacles with the support of family members. Jack Richards serves on the board of the Veteran Mentors of Maine, a non-profit organization that supports and mentors Maine veterans in the justice system. Since arriving in Washington, Senator King has been a strong advocate for veterans issues. Earlier this month, Senator King announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health or substance abuse issues a move which comes after his February letter to the Department urging additional resources on the topic. Over Veterans Day weekend, he joined members of the community toobserve Veterans Day at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery in Caribou, where he provided keynote remarks and participated in the wreath laying ceremony. He also spoke at the opening of the Maine Troop Greeters Museum at Bangor International Airport, and presented World War II Veteran and Penobscot Tribal Elder with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Last month, Sen. King also announced his support fortwo bills to protect and support American veterans. These are just the latest examples of Senator Kings support for Maines veteran population. Through his work on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has supported multiple amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support American veterans. In the Fiscal Year 2018 NDAA, Senator Kingcosponsored a bipartisan amendment authored by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) that would encourage cooperation and integration between the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense with their electronic health care record systems to improve the transition from active duty to veteran status and ensure that veterans wont have to wait to gain access to the health care services they have earned. He also supported an amendment authored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) that would encourage the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Defense to assess the feasibility of establishing a joint office to house an interagency task force on suicide prevention. Senator King supports the coordination between the departments so that those who have served do not slip through the cracks. He is a strong supporter of theVeterans Choice Program, which helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health care within their communities and allows veterans in Northern Maine to seamlessly utilize community care as they formerly did under the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot.In August, the President signed into lawVeterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act,legislation he cosponsored that would overhaul the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) appeals process. The Inside Maine Podcast with Senator Angus King is a 30-minute program that aims to help keep Maine people informed about issues of the day, how they affect life in the state, and how they factor into Senator Kings work as one of two independents in the U.S. Senate. Senator Kings podcast builds on his existing radio show that airs on Newsradio WGAN in Portland, Maine between 10 and 11 a.m. on almost every last Saturday of the month. A link to the December podcast can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-%E2%80%9Ctax-cut-plan-will-benefit-hardworking-mainers-not-dc-elites%E2%80%9D,"ICYMI: Tax cut plan will benefit hardworking Mainers, not DC elites",2017-12-27,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Tax cut plan will benefit hardworking Mainers, not DC elites By: Sen. Susan Collins Read Senator Collins op-ed in the Portland Press Herald HERE. ""I have heard a number of conspiracy theories from pundits, political operatives and columnists about why I supported the tax cut plan that just became law. I thought that the best way to respond would be just to tell you directly. ""I supported this legislation because it will help lower-income and middle-income families keep more of their hard-earned money, boost the economy and encourage businesses, both small and large, to grow and create jobs here in Maine and around the country. ""The 72 percent of Mainers who already use the standard deduction will pay lower taxes. The law nearly doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for joint filers. The child tax credit will also be doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, and with my strong support up to $1,400 of that tax credit will now be refundable, benefiting low-income families who do not owe taxes. ""A family with $24,000 in income will not pay anything to the federal government. A single mother earning $35,000 with one child will see her taxes drop by nearly 4,000 percent. Instead of paying money to Washington, she will be getting back nearly $1,100 to help her make ends meet. ""A couple in Maine with no children, earning $60,000, will see their taxes fall by more than $900. And a couple with two children earning $60,000 will get a tax cut of about $1,700 a reduction of more than 100 percent. The bottom line is that most Maine households will see their taxes lowered and have more money in their paychecks starting early next year. ""Ive heard liberal activists and commentators in Washington counter those facts by saying 'that just isnt much money.' I could tell you they dont get it, but why dont I just let them speak for themselves? One of the better Washington quotes, from Roll Call columnist Walter Shapiro, was 'good luck taking your entire family to the south of France on vacation' with a $1,000 tax cut. See? They just dont get it. Working Mainers arent looking for a trip to the French Riviera but they would like to be able to keep some of their hard-earned money to go snowmobiling in Greenville, or to the high school basketball tournament in Bangor, or to pay for an unexpected car repair. ""The original Senate bill would have eliminated the deduction for state and local taxes. An amendment that I wrote will let taxpayers deduct up to $10,000 of state and local taxes. Another amendment I wrote not only restored the deduction for high medical bills that the House bill would have eliminated, but also lowered the threshold for two years from 10 percent to 7.5 percent of income. This will help seniors and those who are struggling with unreimbursed medical costs for long-term care or expensive chronic health conditions. I also was able to help public employees like firefighters, school teachers and police officers as well as clergy and employees of nonprofits make catch-up contributions to their retirement accounts. ""There is so much misinformation about this bill out there it is hard to counter it all in one short column, but here are a few things the bill does not do: ""It doesnt cut Medicare by $25 billion (or any amount), as you might have seen claimed in TV ads. In fact, I led the effort to clearly state in law that the tax cut will not trigger automatic budget cuts to Medicare or any other programs. ""It doesnt tax graduate school tuition waivers, or eliminate student loan deductions, or the $250 tax credit for teachers (a provision I authored). ""It doesnt take away anybodys insurance. Instead, it eliminates the penalty that people who dont buy health insurance must pay as mandated by the Affordable Care Act even if they cannot afford it. Eighty percent of the people who pay this penalty make less than $50,000 a year. The mandate is so unpopular that not a single Senate Democrat offered an amendment to keep it. ""How the legislation treats employers has been the subject of much debate, but the reality is that the United States cannot continue to have the highest statutory corporate tax rate in the world at 35 percent. We are losing jobs. I talked to General Dynamics, which owns Bath Iron Works in Maine; United Technology, which employs over 1,900 people at Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick; General Electric, which has a major plant in Bangor; Procter & Gamble, which employs 400 workers in Auburn; and Idexx, which is an important high-tech employer in Westbrook, about the positive difference the new law will make in their ability to create jobs in Maine. ""New Balance, with about 900 workers manufacturing sneakers in Maine, said: 'Companies like New Balance will be able to increase investments in their facilities and be more globally competitive while remaining a U.S. company hiring U.S. workers.' ""Patrick Regan, general manager at Pratt & Whitney, wrote: 'Pratt & Whitney plans to hire thousands of people over the next several years across our U.S. operations, and this tax reform will further support our efforts to help keep the U.S. a global leader in manufacturing and technology.' ""Cianbro Corp., a major, employee-owned construction company based in Pittsfield, already employs over 1,300 people. The day Congress sent the bill to President Trump, the company announced it intends to hire an additional 300 people next year as a direct result of this new law. ""Indeed, small businesses, which are the true backbone of our economy here in Maine, will receive tax relief that enables them to create more jobs, increase paychecks and grow our economy. Curtis Picard. president of the Retail Association of Maine, recently commented about this tax reform bill, 'For Maine and its nearly 9,000 retail establishments and more than 80,000 retail jobs, this is a welcome relief for small businesses.' ""The bottom line is that the weak economic growth and stagnant wages we have seen in recent years cannot be accepted as the new normal for our country. Hardworking Americans will soon see more money in their paychecks. In the future, Americans will continue to see more benefit from this law in the form of higher wages. And when they do, Mainers are still going to prefer spending their time in Vacationland rather than 'the south of France.'""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/aging-committee-warns-irs-scam-targeting-hotmail-users,Aging Committee Warns of IRS Scam Targeting Hotmail Users,2017-12-23,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, are warning of an email scam targeting Hotmail users in an attempt to steal personal and financial information. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has received numerous complaints about this scam in which someone claiming to be with the IRS will email a Hotmail user with a subject line that reads, Internal Revenue Service Email No. XXXX | Were processing your request soon | TXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX and asks the recipient to sign into what is a fake Microsoft page and provide his or her personal and financial information. The IRS impersonation scam is the most persistent scam Americans face, said Senator Collins. This example demonstrates the lengths criminals will go to scam people of their hard-earned money, and I urge the public to show caution when opening emails that appear to be from the IRS. As scammers increase their efforts and find new ways to steal personal information for financial gain, lawmakers, law enforcement and the private sector must remain committed to working together to keep Americans safe,said Senator Casey. I caution people to remain on high alert when communicating, whether through phone or email, with anyone who asks for personal information such as your address, bank or email accounts. In no instance will the IRS email you. If you receive an unsolicited email like this, you should forward the email to phishing@irs.gov and then delete it. To learn more about scams like these visit the Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts page on IRS.gov or contact the Aging Committees Fraud Hotline at 1-855-303-9470.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/congress-averts-25-billion-cut-medicare-following-effort-led-senator-collins,Congress Averts $25 Billion Cut to Medicare Following Effort Led by Senator Collins,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senator Collins urged swift action to avert these cuts and secured commitments from Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to avoid an automatic 4% cut to Medicare Click HERE to watch Senator Collins remarks on the Senate floor Washington, D.C.U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced today that both the Senate and the House passed a continuing resolution that includes a provision that will prevent any automatic cuts to the Medicare program that could have been triggered as a result of the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO). Prior to the vote, Senator Collins spoke on the Senate floor and urged her colleagues to support her motion to defeat an attempt that would have allowed the harmful, indiscriminate budget cuts to be triggered. Senator Collins motion passed by a vote of 91-8. As a result of Senator Collins efforts, the legislation protects Medicare and will now go to the Presidents desk for his signature. Congress took important action today to avert an automatic four percent cut to Medicareestimated to be roughly $25 billionthat could have been triggered as a result of PAYGO. Medicare provides essential health care benefits to our nations seniors, with 10,000 new beneficiaries added each day. These across the board cuts would also have had a devastating impact on hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and other providers, which provide essential health services. It was critical for Congress to act quickly so that seniors would not have the anxiety of wondering whether the tax bill would somehow negatively affect their health care. In order to ensure these cuts were avoided, I wrote to the Senate Majority Leader, urging that we immediately remove the threat of an automatic cut in the programs funding. In response, the Majority Leader and the Speaker of the House released a joint statement that said: This will not happen. Today, I am pleased that Congress codified that commitment into law and prevented these sudden and harmful cuts. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, AARP highlighted the response Senator Collins received from Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to urge them to act to prevent potential cuts to Medicare as soon as possible.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/majority-leader-mcconnell-speaker-ryan-release-statement-recognizing-senator-collins%E2%80%99,"Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan Release Statement Recognizing Senator Collins Effort to Prevent $25 Billion Cut to Medicare",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan Release Statement Recognizing Senator Collins Effort to Prevent $25 Billion Cut to Medicare Posted Thu, 12/21/2017 - 19:29 Washington, D.C.Following the passage of a continuing resolution that includes a provision preventing an automatic cut to Medicare, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released a statement recognizing Senator Collins efforts to ensure this $25 billion reduction did not go into effect. Senator Collins was clear throughout that we can never allow these arbitrary cuts to take place. This was a commitment made, and a commitment kept, said Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan. In November, Senator Collins wrote to Majority Leader McConnell to express her concern that Medicare could face an automatic four percent, or $25 billion, cut to Medicare as a result of the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO). In response, Majority Leader McConnell promised in writing to preventing this automatic cut, a pledge that was joined by Speaker Ryan. That commitment was filled by the passage of the continuing resolution this evening.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-seeking-enhance-support-america%E2%80%99s-libraries-museums,Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Seeking to Enhance Support for Americas Libraries & Museums,2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In an effort to strengthen library and museum services across the nation, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in introducing the bipartisan Museum and Library Services Act of 2017.This critical bill renews and builds on the $231million commitment to the federal museum and library programs administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. From offering job search resources and free Internet access to exposing children and families to literary and educational experiences, libraries and museums serve vital roles in our communities,said Senator Collins. The Museum and Library Services Act would bolster our commitment to supporting these institutions that enrich our communities. I urge my colleagues to join this effort to improve and update programs that help libraries and museums across Maine and the United States. Libraries and museums areanchor institutions for their communities,and we need to do all we can to support them in their mission. The Museum and Library Services Act represents our national commitment to ensuring these institutions are funded, staffed, and accessible to all. Through a relatively modest federal investment, this law helps build capacity to support and expand access to library and museum services at the state and local level. It will help fully leverage the role of libraries and museums in supporting the learning, educational, and workforce development needs of Americans nationwide,said Senator Reed, who noted that, since the last reauthorization in 2010, Rhode Island libraries and museums have received over$10million in federal grants from these programs. This year, Rhode Island has received $1,070,238 from IMLS under theLibrary and Services and Technology ActGrants to States Program. The Institute of Museum and Library Services plays a vital role in helping museums better serve the unique needs of their communities. We are proud to support this legislation, which will strengthen the agency and enhance its ability to support collections care, education programming, and community outreach, saidLaura Lott, President and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums. Museums nationwide are lucky to have champions like Senators Reed, Cochran, Collins, Murkowski,and Gillibrand fighting for them in the United States Senate. Todays introduction of the bipartisan MLSA reauthorization is the first critical step toward ensuring federal support for our nations nearly 120,000 libraries, said American Library Association President Jim Neal. LSTA grants enable libraries in every state to innovate and meet the growing demand for services that meet the needs of our communities. Millions of people including students, veterans, entrepreneurs and job seekers depend on the programs that the MLSA will allow to continue. ALAsupports this bill and encourages our members and library supporters across the country to urge their senators to cosponsor the MLSA."" This bipartisan bill highlights the role of libraries and museums as community hubs, equipped to meet ever evolving community needs. Updating the law to help museums and libraries improve their technology, enhance collaboration, and better serve the public and communities, the reauthorization bill will: Strengthenthe use of data driven tools, including research, analysis and modeling, evaluation, and dissemination, to measure the impact and maximize the effectiveness of library and museum services, build capacity, and better tailorlocalservices to address and meet community needs. Provide technical support and assistance toimprovedata collection; enhance consultation and public engagement in research, data collection, analysis, and dissemination activities; and ensure that disseminated materials are accessible and easy to digest and use. Enhance IMLSs collaborative efforts with an expanded number of federal agencies to fully leverage the role of libraries and museums in supporting and meeting the needs of Americans. Increase the reservation for Services for Native Americans to more closely match appropriations. Provide IMLS with additional tools to meet oversight and programmatic responsibilities. Highlight the roles of libraries as community hubs, equipped to serve evolving and diverse community needs (including those of rural residents, individuals with disabilities, Native Americans, veterans, military families, and caregivers, among others) in such areas as literacy; education; lifelong learning; health information; workforce development; economic and business development; digital literacy, critical thinking, and financial literacy; and new and emerging technology. Provide for the awarding of National Leadership grant funds on activities that serve a range of library types and geographically diverse areas; include evaluation, analysis, and dissemination components; and actively involve, have direct impact on, or provide future application in libraries. Clarifies that grant funds can be used to help libraries prepare for and provide services after a disaster or emergency. Emphasize recruiting and training of our nations next generation of library and information science professionals necessary for an information economy from a broad range of backgrounds. Authorize activities to improve the recruitment, preparation, and professional development of museum professionals to preserve our heritage for future generations. Highlight the educational role of museums and the many ways that they engage and strengthen their communities. Encourage partnerships with other agencies, professional networks, and community-based organizations to leverage museum services in service to the nation. The American Alliance of Museums reports that there are nearly 850 million visits per year to American museums, and that U.S. museums inject approximately $21 billion into the economy each year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-announce-nearly-450000-nine-maine-housing-programs,"Senators Collins and King Announce Nearly $450,000 for Nine Maine Housing Programs",2017-12-22,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Senators Collins and King Announce Nearly $450,000 for Nine Maine Housing Programs Posted Fri, 12/22/2017 - 12:04 Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee,and Angus King announced today that nine housing programs across the State of Maine have been awarded a total of $449,554 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program. Maines housing authorities provide a vital service to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. By supporting public housing agencies, these grants will help connect Mainers with the resources they need to achieve economic independence. The funding is awarded as follows: Housing Authority of the City of Old Town: $24,124 Westbrook Housing: $42,870 MaineHousing: $55,808 Caribou Housing Agency: $50,787 Portland Housing Authority: $72,000 Augusta Housing Authority: $33,247 Bangor Housing Authority: $57,526 Brewer Housing Authority: $54,319 Lewiston Housing Authority: $58,873",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-irresponsible-short-term-continuing-resolution,Pingree Statement on Irresponsible Short-term Continuing Resolution,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement on a short-term continuing resolution. She voted against the resolution today. No one wants to see a government shutdown, but the Republican proposal is inadequate and irresponsible. We just spent the last week voting on a holiday giveaway to the wealthy when we should have been working out a way to reliably meet the countrys real needs in the year ahead. This short-term CR leaves inadequate resources to address many pressing issues, including the opioid epidemic, a funding shortfall at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and protecting the nations environmental health. We shouldnt be going home when so many Americans have been waiting on Congress for months to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act and long-term reauthorizations of vital initiatives like the Childrens Health Insurance Program and Community Health Centers. Its simply unacceptable to kick the can down the road any longer.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/aging-committee-warns-email-phishing-scam-targeting-homeowners,Aging Committee Warns of Email Phishing Scam Targeting Homeowners,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee and Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, is warning of a new phishing email scam involving impersonators claiming to work for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Aging Committee, and other government agencies, have received complaints about this scam in which someone fraudulently claiming to be with HUD will email potential victims and request that they click on a link to access information on home loan refinancing. This document, however, could have a virus, malware, or ransomware attached to it and cause serious harm to the victim's computer. It could also leave an individual susceptible to financial loss or identity theft. Government impersonation scams like this demonstrate the nuanced manner in which scammers can operate,said Senator Collins.I urge the public to show careful consideration of the different methods these criminals will use to steal the money or personal identity of hardworking Americans. Never open a document or click on a link in an email if you do not know the sender. If you receive an email from someone claiming to work for a government agency with an email address ending in anything other than .gov, it is fraudulent. If you or someone you know receives an email like this, forward it tospam@uce.govand report it to the HUD Office of Inspector Generals Fraud Hotline at1-800-347-3735or to the Senate Aging Committees Fraud Hotline at1-855-303-9470.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-application-period-assistance-firefighters-grant,"Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grant",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Tuesday, December 26 at 8:00am. The application period will close Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5:00pm.This year, Maine applicants received more than $2.3 million in grants ranging from $10,000 to $349,143 in FY16 funds. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to apply for funding through this program to help obtain the vital resources they need to do their jobs and keep our communities safe. The AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations in improving their emergency response capabilities. The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect emergency personnel and the communities they serve. Senator Collins serves as the Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Senator King is a member of the Caucus. Grant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants can be found HERE and the AFG Get Ready Guide can be found HERE. Applicants that require assistance should contact the AFG Help Desk by email at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-klobuchar-baldwin-press-strongbridge-biopharma-answers-dramatic-price-increase,"Collins, Klobuchar, Baldwin Press Strongbridge Biopharma for Answers on Dramatic Price Increase for Keveyis Drug that Treats Glaucoma and Rare Genetic Disease",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) have pressed Strongbridge Biopharma for answers on the dramatic price increase for Keveyis, formerly known as Daranide, a drug that treats glaucoma and a type of rare genetic disease known as periodic paralysis, which causes attacks of muscle weakness or loss of muscle movement. After a series of companies bought and sold the right to the decades-old dichlorphenamide, the list price was hiked from $50 to $13,650 for 100 pills in 2015. Strongbridge recently acquired the drug and hiked the price even further to $15,001. In a letter to Chief Executive Officer Matthew Pauls, Collins, Klobuchar, and Baldwin urge Strongbridge to take immediate steps to alleviate the burden their price increases have put on patients and to ensure the companys behavior fully complies with relevant laws, regulations and guidance. We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the dramatic price increase for Keveyis, formerly known as Daranide, after Strongbridge Biopharma acquired the drug. As recently as the early 2000s, patients could obtain 100 pills of dichlorphenamide at a list price of $50, the senators wrote. Yet, after a series of companies bought and sold the rights to this decades-old drug and obtained a new rare disease designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the list price increased to $13,650 for 100 pills in 2015. Strongbridge recently acquired the drug and hiked the price even further to $15,001. According to a Strongbridge, patients might pay up to $219,000 a year for this medication. The senators continued, We are committed to combatting sudden astronomical price increases as well as any anticompetitive conduct and attempts to game the regulatory process at the expense of Americans in need of life-saving therapies. We urge you to take immediate steps to alleviate the burden your price increases have imposed on patients and to ensure your companys behavior fully complies with relevant laws, regulations and guidance. Please provide our offices with a written response including any analysis used by Strongbridge Biopharma relating to the pricing or market share of dichlorphenamide since 2015, any research and development and product improvement activities Strongbridge Biopharma has conducted since acquiring this drug, and any information reviewed or generated by the Strongbridge Biopharma Board of Directors relating to the drug over that same period. Senator Collinsis committed to promoting innovation while improving access and affordability of prescription medications for patients, particularly for the 90 percent of our nations seniors who take prescription drugs. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins led a bipartisan investigation last year into the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to egregious price spikes for decades-old off-patent drugs. Following her investigation,a bill that Senator Collins authoredto improve generic competition and lower the cost of prescription drugs was signed into law as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act. The full text of the senators letter isbelow: Dear Mr. Pauls, We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the dramatic price increase for Keveyis, formerly known as Daranide, after Strongbridge Biopharma acquired the drug. This drug (dichlorphenamide) was approved in the U.S. in 1958. Keveyis is used to treat glaucoma as well as a type of rare genetic disease, known as periodic paralysis, which causes attacks of muscle weakness or loss of muscle movement. Some people with this condition suffer daily attacks for hours on end and these attacks can occur without warning. As recently as the early 2000s, patients could obtain 100 pills of dichlorphenamide at a list price of $50. Yet, after a series of companies bought and sold the rights to this decades-old drug and obtained a new rare disease designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the list price increased to $13,650 for 100 pills in 2015. Strongbridge recently acquired the drug and hiked the price even further to $15,001. According to Strongbridge, patients might pay up to $219,000 a year for this medication. A 300-fold increase in the cost of a vital, decades-old treatment is unacceptable. Last year, the Senate Aging Committee released a report following a bipartisan investigation into sudden price spikes in decades old drugs, uncovering a business model that exploits market failures at the expense of patients. We are committed to combatting sudden astronomical price increases as well as any anticompetitive conduct and attempts to game the regulatory process at the expense of Americans in need of life-saving therapies. We urge you to take immediate steps to alleviate the burden your price increases have imposed on patients and to ensure your companys behavior fully complies with relevant laws, regulations and guidance. Please provide our offices with a written response including any analysis used by Strongbridge Biopharma relating to the pricing or market share of dichlorphenamide since 2015, any research and development and product improvement activities Strongbridge Biopharma has conducted since acquiring this drug, and any information reviewed or generated by the Stonebridge Biopharma Board of Directors relating to the drug over that same period. Please also provide any documents examining the impact of the price increase on people with periodic paralysis and other conditions treated by this drug. We also ask that you provide a briefing to our staff at a mutually convenient time no later than three weeks from today. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-joins-bipartisan-group-introducing-election-security-bill,Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Election Security Bill,2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -U.S.Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) joinedSenators James Lankford (R-OK), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC)today in introducingtheSecure Elections Act, a bill to strengthen election cybersecurity in America and protect against foreign interference in future elections. During the 2016 election, intelligence reports have factually established that Russia hacked presidential campaign accounts, launched cyberattacks against at least 21 state election systems, and attacked a US voting systems software company. While there is no evidence that a single vote outcome was tampered with, this dangerous precedent should be a wake-up call as we head into the 2018 election cycle.To protect against these threats, the Secure Elections Act streamlines cybersecurity information-sharing between federal intelligence entities and state election agencies; provides security clearances to state election officials; and provides support for state election cybersecurity operations. This bipartisan solution to fix these existing problems aims to bolster our election systems against future threats while protecting states primacy in running elections. While there is no indication that the Russians were able to change vote totals, we know that Russian actors repeatedly tried to breach state election systems or public websites,said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan legislation will strengthen the integrity of our election process by ensuring that local voting officials have the information and financial resources they need to secure their voting systems. These safeguards will protect and bolster public confidence in our elections. Safe and free elections run by individual states are at the core of our national identity,said Lankford.We were born as a nation because patriots stood up against foreign tyranny.During the 2016 elections, Russia tried to interfere in our elections. Although they didnt change actual votes or alter the outcome, their efforts were an attack on our democracy. It is imperative that we strengthen our election systems and give the states the tools they need to protect themselves and the integrity of voters against the possibility of foreign interference. In this new digital age, we should ensure the states have the resources they need to protect our election infrastructure. Election security is national security, and our election systems have become a target for foreign adversaries,said Klobuchar.The freedom to choose our leaders and know with full confidence that those leaders were chosen in free and fair elections is something that Americans have fought and died for since our country was founded. We must do everything in our power to protect our democracy from future attacks, and ensure those on the front-lines of administering elections are equipped with the tools and resources necessary to keep them safe. Time is of the essence, the next federal election is less than a year away. Russia attacked the very heart of our democracy when they interfered in the 2016 election,said Harris. With the 2018 elections just around the corner, Russia will be back to interfere again. We must act now to fortify our election system against attacks by foreign powers in a way that is smart and allows for effective communication and information-sharing between election and intelligence officials. Our democracy hinges on protecting Americans' ability to fairly choose our own leaders. We must do everything we can to protect the security and integrity of our elections,said Heinrich. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I remain committed to uncovering the full extent of Russia's interference in the 2016 election and ensuring that we create protections against similar actions from foreign actors going forward. The U.S. needs to improve and modernize protections for our voting systems, registration data, and ballots to prevent theft, manipulation, and malicious computer hacking. Until we take these necessary steps, our nation's democratic institutions will remain vulnerable. The Russians have been trying to break the backs of democracies all over the world,said Graham. And although they did not change the outcome, they clearly interfered in our 2016 election. This bipartisan legislation will help defend our elections from foreign interference and sends a strong signal to other bad actors -- like Iran and North Korea -- that similar acts will not be tolerated. We are committed to defending and promoting confidence in American democracy by providing states with the resources they need to safeguard their election systems. Details of Secure Elections Act: Reaffirms individual state leadership in administering federal elections. Ensures the federal government promptly shares election cybersecurity threats and information with state, county, and municipal election agencies. Provides security clearances to appropriate state officials so they can access and act quickly on classified cybersecurity information. Develops, through a panel of independent experts and an open process, a set of voluntary cybersecurity guidelines for election-related systems. Provides grants to states for implementation of the cybersecurity guidelines and replacing outdated electronic voting machines.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-application-period-for-assistance-to-firefighters-grant,"Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grant",2017-12-21,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grant Thursday, December 21, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Tuesday, December 26 at 8:00am. The application period will close Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5:00pm.This year, Maine applicants received more than $2.3 million in grants ranging from $10,000 to $349,143 in FY16 funds. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to apply for funding through this program to help obtain the vital resources they need to do their jobs and keep our communities safe. The AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations in improving their emergency response capabilities. The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect emergency personnel and the communities they serve. Senator Collins serves as the Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Senator King is a member of the Caucus. Grant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants can be found HERE and the AFG Get Ready Guide can be found HERE. Applicants that require assistance should contact the AFG Help Desk by email at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/2017-what-year,2017: What A Year,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"The last year has certainly been one of the most eventfulif not the most eventfulof my time in Congress. The presidency of Donald Trump has taken our country in new and frightening directions, making my work in Congress all the more important. Throughout, I've been focused on how policy decisions in Washington and events around the nation and world impact the lives of Mainers. That's led me to oppose many negative actions taken in the last year, but also find opportunities for bipartisan victories that benefit our state. Here are some highlights from a roller coaster of a year. --Chellie Opposing Repeal of the Affordable Care Act One of the first actions Republicans took in 2017 was passing a budget resolution that allowed them to repeal the Affordable Care Act with a simple majority vote in the Senate. As Trumpcare took shapewhich in its various forms would have taken health-care coverage away from 22 million AmericansI hosted a town hall to get feedback from my constituents. One by one, they told me how Trumpcare would hurt them and their family. While I'm glad the law did not end up passing, and that Maine voters approved expanding Medicaid coverage in a historic vote, I've been dismayed to see Republicans find back-door ways to weaken the ACA. The GOP Tax Scam, which repeals the individual mandate and will lead to great numbers of uninsured and higher premiums for others, is just the latest. Sitting Out President Trump's Inauguration I hadn't planned on sitting out President Trump's inauguration, but when he belittled Civil Rights hero Representative John Lewis, I knew I couldn't attend. Instead, I spent the day with my constituentsserving breakfast at Preble Street Resource Center, meeting with Planned Parenthood staff and clients, and watching the inauguration on TV with a group of New Mainers at Portland Adult Education. Holding President Trump Accountable I think it's critical that we hold President Trump accountable for his words and actions. I've supported legislation to create an independent bipartisan commissionfree of interference from the Trump Administrationto fully investigate Russia's hacking of our election. When he failed to denounce the violence of white supremacists in Charlottesville, I co-sponsored a resolution to censure him. And I joined over 50 colleagues to call for an investigation into 17 sexual harassment accusations made against the President. Calling Out the Muslim Ban President Trump's views on immigration are simply un-American. Nothing epitomizes it more than his Muslim Ban, indiscriminately banning individuals from several Muslim-majority nations from traveling to the United States. The administration's first attempt to implement the ban left Banah Al-Hanfy, a 19-year-old from Iraq, separated from her family, who had come to live in Maine after her father helped our military as an interpreter. Thankfully, my office was able to help community members reunite her with her family. I was lucky to have this bright young woman as my guest to President Trump's address to Congress and an intern in my Portland office. Questioning EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Some of the most damaging acts of the Trump Administration have been at the EPA. Secretary Scott Pruitt has led efforts to turn our back on addressing climate change, let corporate polluters rewrite the rules that are supposed to hold them accountable, and weaken the EPA overall. Through my role on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA, I was able to fight back against a proposed 30 percent cut to the agency. I also had the chance to question Pruitt directly about something that's been on my mind: what am I going to tell my grandchildren if we don't do something about climate change? James Beard Foundation Leadership Award It was an incredible honor to receive a James Beard Foundation Leadership Award for my work in Congress on food system reform. With this award comes a great responsibility to keep pusing my experience as a farmer and advocate to help shape food and agriculture policy in Congress. Rewriting the Farm Bill As Congress prepares to reauthorize the Farm Bill next year, I spent much of 2017 collecting input from local stakeholders and introducing legislation to influence this massive piece of legislation. The bills I introduced would: Take comprehensive steps to reduce the incredible amount of food that goes to waste in our country (Food Recovery Act); Increase investments in research for organic agriculture--the fastest growing sector of the agriculture industry (Organic Agriculture Research Act); and Support smaller-scale food systems by helping farmers increase local production and widening access for consumers (Local FARMS Act) Victories for Veterans One of my highest priorities in Congress has always been making sure our veterans get the care and benefits they have earned. I'm happy to report several victories this year for Maine veternas. After working for years with Maine's Congressional Delegation, we were finally able to push a much-needed expansion of the Portland VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic through Congress. Legislation I introduced to help veterans who find themselves with VA debt unanimously passed the House of Representatives. And full GI Bill benefits were extended to a group of veterans who had been denied them previouslyan issue I've introduced legislation to address. #MeToo I'm so proud of the brave women across the countrywho areshininga light on the sexual harassment and assault they routinely face. It's time we keep Congress and the White House accountable as well, which is why I have cosponsored legislation to require sexual harassment training for Members of Congress and their staffs, reform processes to make victims feel safer when speaking out, and to end a secret taxpayer fund that has been used to settle Congressional harassment cases.I've also called for an investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against President Trump. Gun Violence I wish there was something positive to report on this important issue, but there is not. In the last year, our nation has faced many senseless tragedies from gun violence, yet Congress has done nothing--absolutely nothing--to address it. I will continue pushing for commonsense reforms in the new year. GOP Tax Scam One of the ""highlights"" from the year is unfortunately a ""lowlight."" Congress has passed the Republican tax plana giveaway to massive corporations and the wealthiest of the wealthy. It won't offer true relief to the middle class, but instead raise taxes on many and threaten cuts to program we all depend on, like Medicare and Social Security. After speaking with a group of Mainers who would be harmed my plan, I spoke out with my opposition. Incredible Level of Constituent Engagement One thing I am truly grateful for in 2017 was the incredible level of engagement from my constituents, who are tuned into to Washington's dealings like never before and letting their opinions be known. In 2016, constituents called, emailed or mailed their opinions to my office 50,771 times. So far in 2017, that number is 135,262--nearly three times as many! I truly appreciate everyone's feedback. Please keep your comments coming and have a happy new year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/alexander-collins-statement-bills-lower-health-insurance-premiums,"Alexander, Collins Statement on Bills to Lower Health Insurance Premiums",2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, December 20, 2017United States Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today jointly released the following statement: Rather than considering a broad year-end funding agreement as we expected, it has become clear that Congress will only be able to pass another short-term extension to prevent a government shutdown and to continue a few essential programs, said the Senators. For this reason, we have asked Senator McConnell not to offer this week our legislation which independent analysts Avalere and Oliver-Wyman say would reduce premiums by about 20 percent for the 9 million Americans who have no government subsidies to help them buy insurance in the individual market. Instead, we will offer it after the first of the year when the Senate will consider the omnibus spending bill, the Childrens Health Insurance Program reauthorization, funding for Community Health Centers, and other legislation that was to have been enacted this week. Also, in order to succeed, our legislation must be bipartisan, andthe Senate Democratic leader said on Tuesday that Democrats would not support it in the current environment even though as recently as October he said that all Democrats would. There is every reason to believe that these important provisions can and will be delivered as part of a bipartisan agreement.And Majority Leader McConnell has told us that he will uphold his commitment to schedule and support the legislation. Americans with no government subsidy for health insurance have seen their premiums more than double on average over the last five years, making health care unaffordable for millions of people. The Alexander-Murray legislation,which funds cost-sharing payments and gives states more authority to reduce rates,was introduced by 24 senators, half Democrats and half Republicans. The Collins-Nelson risk pool proposal was supported by almost every witness who came before the Senate's health committee during our four hearings on stabilizing the individual market. President Trump and Majority Leader McConnell support these bipartisan bills. And House Republicans voted for similar proposals earlier this year in their repeal and replace bill. Earlier, the Senate Democraticleader said that every Senate Democrat would vote for it. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) added:It looks like the Christmas present of lower health insurance premiums will now have to be a Valentines Day present. It is hard to add our bills to a year-end package that does not yet exist. I am grateful to Senator Collins for her strong and steady leadership and to the 22 other Senate Democrats and Republicans who have cosponsored legislation to help drive down these intolerable insurance premium increases. I am confident that after the first of the year members of both houses will be eager to include our legislation in what was to have been the year-end package of bills. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) added: I appreciate the thoughtful and bipartisan effort that Chairman Alexander has led in the Senate health committee, and I look forward to working alongside him and Ranking Member Murray to enact these bipartisan bills and help make health insurance more affordable. This afternoon Speaker Paul Ryan called me and said that the House remains committed to passing legislation to provide for high-risk pools and other reinsurance mechanisms similar to the bipartisan legislation I have introduced. He pointed out that by waiting until early next year, we will be able to use a new CBO baseline that will result in more funding being available for reinsurance programs that have been proven effective in lowering premiums while protecting people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. On background: In a December 9 report, Oliver Wyman said of the package, We estimate that with $5 billion in funding, states collectively could provide more than $15 billion in reinsurance coverage, and that this, combined with the funding of CSRs, would result in another 700,000 people with coverage in the individual market and premiums that were more than 20% lower than if the individual mandate were repealed and the package of provisions was not implemented. On December 6, Avalere said, In combination, CSR funding and $5B in annual reinsurance could lower 2019 premiums by 18% and increase enrollment by 1.3M people. In a December 15 letter to the senators, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said, Providing reliable federal funding to reimburse health insurance carriers for the Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) program assistance they give to low-income consumers and grants for states to establish invisible high risk pools or reinsurance programs would reduce premium increases as much as 20% and could encourage some carriers to stay in the market. Such funding is not a bailout for insurers as some have argued, but rather goes directly to improving the availability and affordability of health insurance for our most financially vulnerable consumers. In August, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that cost-sharing reduction payments are terminated, premiums for silver plans offered through the marketplaces would be 20percent higher in 2018 and 25 percent higher by 2020.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-calls-on-senate-leaders-to-prioritize-public-health-funding,King Calls on Senate Leaders to Prioritize Public Health Funding,2017-12-20,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Calls on Senate Leaders to Prioritize Public Health Funding Wednesday, December 20, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged Senate leaders to continue funding the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) at current levels. The letter comes as the Congress discusses a plan to continue funding the government that threatens to cut $6.35 billion in funding from the PPHF. Prevention remains one of the key means by which our nation can combat public health outbreaks and emergencies, Senator King wrote in the letter. Prevention is also very cost effective while the nation at large spends $3 trillion annually on health care, less than 3 percent of this amount is dedicated to prevention and public health. The federal government plays a critical role in managing public health. Prevention and public health efforts are particularly critical for states like Maine with a substantial rural component. The Prevention and Public Health Fund, created as part of the Affordable Care Act, represents the nations largest investment in prevention initiatives and is used to fund critical public health programs including childhood immunizations, smoking cessation, and lead poisoning prevention in every state. Maine has also received block grants, allowing the state to pursue innovative approaches to unique local health problems. Since 2010, Maine has received $39 million in funding from the PPHF, including nearly $5 million in FY 2017. Under the original proposal to fund the government, the state stands to lose $14.8 million over the next five years, more than half of the previously budged amount. The text of the letter, which was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) can be found HERE and below. ++++ December 20, 2017 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20510 The Honorable Orrin Hatch The Honorable Ron Wyden Chair, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee United States Senate United States Senate Washington DC 20510 Washington DC 20510 Dear Senators McConnell, Schumer, Hatch, and Wyden, I write to express serious concern about H.J.Res. 124, the continuing resolution and Childrens Health Insurance Program authorization extension, which executes drastic cuts to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, to a total of $6.35 billion. As the Senate works to fund the government and reauthorize a critical guarantor of child health, I encourage you to avoid further cutting the PPHF from current levels. Prevention remains one of the key means by which our nation can combat public health outbreaks and emergencies. Prevention is also very cost effectivewhile the nation at large spends $3 trillion annually on health care, less than 3 percent of this amount is dedicated to prevention and public health. The federal government plays a critical role in managing the public health. Prevention and public health efforts are particularly crucial for states like Maine with a substantial rural component. Research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that rural areas of the United States bear higher rates of all manner of conditions, from higher infant mortality to greater rates of death from heart disease, cancer, lower respiratory diseases, and stroke. In many cases, the costs to treat preventable conditions that advance to chronic disease are 7 (or more) times those of preventive measures. Maine has received $39 million from the PPHF since 2010, and these funds have gone to support evidence-based community prevention activities specifically tailored to meet local needs and preferences. For example, in FY 16 alone: Maine received approximately $75,000 for tobacco use prevention. This money was then used to air the CDCs Tips from Smokers campaign, yielding a 443 percent increase to 1-800-QUIT-NOW in the first week alone. Maine received $1.2 million in grants for the Maine CDC to help program and coordinate four CDC programs (diabetes; heart disease and stroke; nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; and school health) that work to prevent chronic diseases by addressing common risk factors, particularly among youth and critical populations. The Epidemiology and Lab Capacity Grants provided Maine with $641,429 to support the ability of local health departments to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. The state Department of Health and Human Services received $1.68 million to improve access to vaccines, both to children and adults. The Preventive Health and Health Service block grant provided Maine with $1.56 million, allowing Maine to address its own unique public health challenges in innovative and locally determined fashion. Under the terms of H.J.Res. 124, Maine stands to lose $14.8 million over the next five years, a cut of more than half the amount previously budgeted. This will severely hamper efforts to provide for Mainers public health and wellbeing. There is an old saying that used to be more common than it is now: Lets not be penny-wise and pound-foolish. When it comes to the health of Mainers and, indeed, all Americans, being penny wise on prevention will result only in dollar-foolish spending of several times more money to treat the more serious resulting conditions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-statement-today-s-tax-vote-us-house,Pingree Statement on Todays Tax Vote in U.S. House,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) today voted against the tax plan compromise reached by Republicans in the House and Senate. She released the following statement. This is a bad bill thats going to have a major negative impact on generations to come. The latest analysis from the Tax Policy Center shows just how bad: 86 million middle-class Americans will pay higher taxes and 83 percent of the benefits will go to the wealthiest 1 percent. Middle-class families who do see some benefit wont for long, because their cuts are temporary while the handouts to corporations will be permanent. Because the bill explodes the deficit, you can bet that it will lead to cuts to programs we all depend onlike Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Securitywhen Republicans come back next year and say theres no money. And in ending the individual mandate, millions more Americans will go uninsured, destabilizing the insurance market, bankrupting families with uncovered health costs, and driving up premiums for everyone who decides to keep their coverage. The Center for American Program estimates that in Maine it would lead to 50,000 more uninsured by 2025 and a $2,350 Marketplace premium increase by 2019. Its so clear that this bill is bad for the country and the people we represent. Im absolutely appalled that Republicans have blindly pushed it forward despite all the warnings.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-simplifies-tax-code-average-maine-family-doubles-standard,"Rep. Poliquin Simplifies Tax Code for Average Maine Family, Doubles the Standard Deduction, and Works to Save Mainers More of Their Hard-Earned Money",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) released the following statement after the House passed tax reform legislation that simplifies the tax code for the average Maine family by doubling the standard deduction and making it easier for Mainers to benefit from the tax code: I agree with my colleague Senator Collins that this new law will drastically simplify our tax code for the vast majority of Mainers and save more money for more of our hardworking families, said Congressman Poliquin. Under this simpler tax code, we are doubling the standard deduction, meaning the average married couple in Maine will not pay any federal income tax for the first $24,000 they earn, a huge boost for our families. In addition, this increases the child tax credit to $2,000, meaning the average Maine family will save an additional $2,000 on their taxes per child in their family. This makes it easier for ordinary Maine families to benefit from the tax code. This improved tax code will also greatly benefit the more than 140,000 small businesses and job creators throughout Maine and their 275,000 employees by lowering the effective rate for pass-throughs, of which almost all small businesses are organized. It will allow small businesses in all industries to benefit from it. We are giving our small businessesthe backbone of Maines economyrelief so they can grow and create more jobs for our fellow Mainers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/house-passes-collins-authored-bill-support-family-caregivers,House Passes Collins-Authored Bill to Support Family Caregivers,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today applauded House passage of the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senators Collins and Baldwin in May 2017, would establish a coordinated strategy to support family caregivers. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and sustain a strategy to recognize and support the more than 40 million family caregivers in the United States. This bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by more than 60 aging and disability organizations, including the AARP, the Alzheimers Association, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Arc. Family caregivers play an essential role in our communities by dedicating time and attention and making countless personal and financial sacrifices to care for their loved ones, said Senator Collins. I am delighted that the House has now passed our bipartisan legislation, which will develop a coordinated strategic plan to leverage our resources, promote best practices, and expand services and training available to caregivers. I look forward to our bill becoming law. Every day, family caregivers do right by their loved ones and we need to do right by them by formally recognizing and supporting family caregivers, said Senator Baldwin. This bipartisan effort is especially personal to me as I was raised by my maternal grandparents and later served as my grandmothers primary caretaker as she grew older. I know the challenges that family caregivers face. Ive listened to family caregivers across Wisconsin and worked to help make a difference in their lives. Our legislation will provide much-needed support for family caregivers, ensuring that our older adults and loved ones with disabilities receive the highest quality care in their own homes. I look forward to seeing our bipartisan legislation signed into law. The RAISE Family Caregivers Act was supported by a broad bipartisan coalition of cosponsors including Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Al Franken (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Senators Collins and Baldwin first introduced the RAISE Family Caregivers Act in July 2015, and the legislation first passed the Senate unanimously in December 2015.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-support-passage-comprehensive-tax-reform,Senator Collins Announces Support for Passage of Comprehensive Tax Reform,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"As a result of her negotiations with Senate leaders, Senator Collins secured multiple changes that equaled a tenth of the total tax cut to provide additional benefits for the middle class The legislation is the first comprehensive reform of our nations tax code in three decades Click HERE to watch Senator Collins floor remarks Click HERE to read Senator Collins floor remarks Washington, D.C.In remarks from the Senate floor this afternoon, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announced her support for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first major overhaul of our nations tax code since 1986. This bill puts money back in the pockets of the American public with tax cuts beginning January 1st. As soon as the IRS updates withholding tables this winter, taxpayers will see the benefit of this bill in higher take-home-pay. Over time, Americans will continue to benefit from this legislation in the form of higher wages. Businesses, small and large, will make the investments that create more jobs, said Senator Collins. While this legislation is by no means perfect, on balance, it will provide much-needed tax relief. It will benefit lower- and middle-income families, while spurring the creation of good jobs and greater economic growth for our nation. Most Maine Households Will See Their Taxes Lowered: The legislation nearly doubles the standard deduction to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 for joint filers. The child tax credit will also be doubled from $1,000 to $2,000, and up to $1,400 of that tax credit will be refundable in order to benefit low-income families. The 72 percent of Mainers who already use the standard deduction will have their taxes reduced. A family with $24,000 in income will pay no federal income tax. A single mother earning $35,000 with one child will see her taxes drop by nearly 4,000 percent. Instead of paying money to Washington, she will be getting back nearly $1,100 to help her make ends meet. A couple with no children, earning $60,000, will see their taxes fall by more than $900. And a couple with two children earning $60,000 will get a tax cut of about $1,700a reduction of more than 100 percent. The bottom line is that most Maine households will see their taxes lowered. Bill Will Help Maine Businesses Grow and Create Jobs: Over the past month, numerous Maine businesses and organizations have spoken in support of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, noting the significant impact it will have on their ability to grow and create jobs. New Balance, which has about 900 workers in Maine manufacturing sneakers, said that Companies like New Balance, which already has a strong domestic manufacturing presence, will be able to increase investments in their facilities and be more globally competitive while remaining a U.S. company hiring U.S. workers. The general manager of the Pratt & Whitney plant in North Berwick said The reformswill allow companies like ours to bring home earnings from abroad to invest in research and development, advanced manufacturing, energy efficiency and workforce initiativesPratt & Whitney plans to hire thousands of people over the next several years across our U.S. operations, and this tax reform will further support our efforts to help keep the U.S. a global leader in manufacturing and technology. Other Maine business leaders, companies, and organizations that have endorsed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act include: the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturers Association of Maine, Pottles Transportation in Bangor, the plant manager of GE Power in Bangor, the owner of Windham Millwork in Windham, the innkeeper of the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, and the Augusta-based Retail Association of Maine, among others. Legislation Includes Senator Collins Amendments to Benefit Working Families: In a significant victory for middle-income Americans, the legislation includes three amendments Senator Collins authored that will further reduce the tax burden on hardworking Americans, enhance retirement security, and help families who are struggling to afford high medical costs. Specifically, her provisions will: Allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 for state and local taxes. This is especially important to Maine, which has the 13th highest state and local tax burden in the nation; Retain and reduce the income threshold for deducting medical expenses, which will help people with high medical costs, particularly seniors and people with chronic conditions. Approximately 8.8 million Americans use this deduction, nearly half of whom have incomes of $50,000 or less; and Reverse the original Senate language eliminating the ability of public employees like firefighters, school teachers, and police officers as well as clergy and those employed by charities and non-profit organizations to make catch-up contributions to their retirement accounts. These employees are generally paid less than their counterparts employed by for-profit companies and are thus less able to save for retirement. Senator Collins provision will allow them to continue making these important investments toward a secure retirement. Senator Collins Secured Commitments to Stabilize Health Care, Protect Medicare: Senator Collins secured the commitment of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to pass two important bills before the end of the year to mitigate health insurance premium increases caused by the repeal of the individual mandate. Senator McConnell promised to support passage of both Alexander-Murray, a proposal to help low-income families afford insurance, and Senator Collins bipartisan bill to protect people with pre-existing conditions through the use of high-risk pools. An analysis released last week by Oliver Wyman found that the passage of these two bills will more than offset the impact of the repeal of the individual mandate. Moreover, in response to a letter sent by Senator Collins, Senator McConnell committed to preventing an automatic $25 billion cut to Medicare that could be triggered unintentionally by the passage of tax reform legislation under the Pay-Go law. That pledge was joined by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. Although Congress has acted 16 times since 2010 to avert such cuts Senator Collins wanted to ensure that this critical issue would be addressed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-duckworth-introduce-legislation-support-women-pursuing-careers,Senators Collins and Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Support Women Pursuing Careers in Aviation,2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Promoting Women in the Aviation Workforce Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would encourage women to pursue careers in aviation and promote programs to support their professional development in the field. Representatives Elizabeth Esty (D-CT), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and Mimi Walters (R-CA) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Although women make up more than 50 percent of our nations workforce, they are significantly underrepresented in the aviation industry, representing just six percent of pilots, four percent of flight engineers, and two percent of airline mechanics, said Senator Collins. Our bipartisan legislation encourages the aviation industry to offer opportunities, such as pilot training, STEM education, and mentorship programs that would help women to pursue and succeed in aviation-related careers. Senator Duckworth and I urge our colleagues to join this effort to improve and increase the educational opportunities for women in aviation. When I was training to become a pilot, it was rare to see another woman in my class, said Senator Duckworth, one of the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Although some progress has been made to help women enter the aviation field, we are still dramatically underrepresented among pilots and we need to do more. Im proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Senator Collins to help level the playing field for women and encourage them to enter the aviation industry. Specifically, the Promoting Women in Aviation Workforce Act of 2017 would: Express the sense of Congress that the aviation industry should explore all opportunities to encourage and support women to pursue a career in aviation; Direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to create and facilitate a Women in Aviation Advisory Board to promote organizations and programs that provide education, training, mentorship, outreach, and recruitment of women in the aviation industry; and Direct the FAA to submit a report to Congress on common trends that discourage women from pursuing aviation careers; expanding existing scholarship opportunities for women in aviation; and coordinating professional training and recruitment programs. A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-update-from-cms-king-announces-that-special-enrollment-period-for-maine-people-affected-by-october-storm-runs-through-december-31st_,"Following Update from CMS, King Announces That Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected by October Storm Runs Through December 31st",2017-12-19,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Following Update from CMS, King Announces That Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected by October Storm Runs Through December 31st Individuals Affected By October Wind Storm Do Not Need to Provide Additional Documentation To Qualify; In November, King Wrote Letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma Requesting Extension Tuesday, December 19, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and healthcare assisters working to sign Maine people up for healthcare through the Affordable Care Act have received additional guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, telling them that people in Maine affected by Octobers wind storm can sign up for coverage through December 31st, and will not require any additional documentation to qualify. The new information provides an update to CMS Administrator Seema Vermas response to Senator Kings request for an extension of open enrollment for affected areas of Maine. The October wind storm caused hundreds of thousands of Maine people to lose power just as the Open Enrollment period began, Senator King said. In what was already a shortened open enrollment period, those were valuable days during which many in Maine were not able to explore the different plans available or purchase coverage. Im grateful to CMS and Administrator Verma for recognizing the hardship this posed to our state, and urge our states affected citizens to take advantage of this renewed opportunity to secure healthcare for 2018. Per Administrator Vermas letter to Senator King, any resident of Maine who did not secure coverage by the end of the Open Enrollment Period and was affected by the wind storm should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to speak with a Marketplace representative. The ACAs Open Enrollment Period, which ended on December 15th,had previously been shortened from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, and included a 12 hour shutdown of the Affordable Care Act website during most weekends. Earlier this year, Senator King hosted three events in South Portland, Lewiston and Bangor to highlight the importance of healthcare coverage to protect individuals and families from medical or financial trouble in the event of an unexpected injury or illness. He also sought to raise awareness of the shortened deadline, and the wide range of affordable plans that were available on the Marketplace.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/on-senate-floor-king-calls-on-colleagues-to-focus-on-expired-soon-to-expire-essential-services,"On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3 Augusta, Maine 04330",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-veterans-hold-conversation-on-new-va-positions-in-maine,"King, Veterans Hold Conversation on New VA Positions in Maine",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Veterans Hold Conversation on New VA Positions in Maine Monday, December 18, 2017 PORTLAND, ME U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined local veterans and veteran advocates at American Legion Post 153 in Auburn to discuss the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement, made last week, that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. Hearing from veterans who have seen the value of the Veterans Justice Program firsthand is a powerful testament to the programs importance and once again underscores our collective responsibility to care for the veterans who have cared for us, Senator King said. These new positions in our home state will strengthen outreach efforts to Maine veterans and support them in a time of need. I am grateful to the veterans, mentors, and advocates who joined the conversation this morning and look forward to working together to help our veterans and support our community. Included in the conversation were graduates of the Maine Co-Occuring Disorders and Veterans Court, Veterans Mentors of Maine, and founder of the first Maine veterans court Justice Nancy Mills. Participants in the Maine Co-Occuring Disorders and Veterans Court, which works in cooperation with the Veterans Justice Program, meet with a judge each week, meet multiple times a week with an assigned case manager, and attend intensive outpatient treatment.If a higher level of care is needed, referrals are made to residential facilities. Case managers assist participants in securing safe and affordable housing and accessing employment and educational opportunities. In February, Senator Kingwrote to the VAurging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine. The Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. The Veterans Justice Program includes both the Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) and the Health Care for Reentry Veterans programs and has seen widespread success. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society. About 440 Maine veterans have received services through the program since 2010. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-king-calls-on-colleagues-to-focus-on-expired-soon-to-expire-essential-services,"On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services",2017-12-18,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"On Senate Floor, King Calls on Colleagues to Focus on Expired, Soon-to-Expire Essential Services While essential programs and services go unfunded, Congress forcing through tax reform on arbitrary deadline Monday, December 18, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged his colleagues in Congress to focus their legislative priorities on essential programs and services that have expired or are set to expire before the end of the year. During his speech, Senator King highlighted the misguided decision to force through tax reform based on an arbitrary deadline instead of addressing funding for some of the nations most pressing issues. Essential programs and services ranging from the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to FEMA Disaster Relief have gone unfunded or have not been reauthorized this fall, with many more programs in jeopardy if they are not addressed by the end of 2017. I want to talk about deadlines missed, and deadlines that dont exist, Senator King said. I don't know where else, other than in this body, where deadlines, which have enormous implications and enormous importance, are simply ignored. Now, I just sat in the last day or so and put together some real deadlines that we have in the law right now. What are they? Well, the Children's Health Insurance Program, deadline September 30, 2017. That's gone. That's passed. I can give you 23,000 reasons that we should have met that deadline. That's the number of young people in Maine that are covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program. Nine million nationwide. But we missed the deadline. Why? I can't find any reason. We don't know anything now that we didn't know in the middle of September or in August when we could have passed this program, but we just blew right by it. Maybe it's because none of our kids are in this program. I venture to say if the children of the members of the United States Senate were in the CHIP program, we would have met that deadline. But we didn't Now at the bottom of my chart of priorities is tax reform. Boy, are we going to make that deadline. The only problem is it doesn't exist. There's no deadline for that. There was no deadline. It's not December 22. It's not Christmas. It's not New Year's. It's a self-imposed deadline that's not in law anywhere. And I agree, we need to do tax reform, but we have been doing it on an unprecedented scale and speed that's unnecessary. We have missed and ignored all these real deadlines in exchange for focusing all of our attention on a fake deadline. Sure, it would be nice to get it done. We could have gotten it done. It could have been done on a bipartisan basis. We could have started last summer, and we would have had a bill just like the bill that emerged from the HELP Committee with regard to health care on a bipartisan basis. But instead, it was a closed process done with unprecedented speed with virtually no hearings, no real hearings on the bill, no serious outside experts, no analysis of what's in it. We have been given a 500-page bill that we're going to vote on probably in a day or so. And yet, we're racing to meet a deadline that didn't exist. Senator Kings floor speech follows his outreach this past Friday to health professionals, parents, and advocates at Greater Portland Health in Portland to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The authorization for CHIP expired at the end of September, putting millions of low-income children across the country at risk of losing their health coverage. Funding for FQHCs is also currently in jeopardy, as Congress has not acted to reauthorize the Community Health Centers Fund, which provides 70 percent of all federal funding for FQHCs across the country. In his speech, Senator King also focused on the failure of Congress to appropriately address discretionary spending levels for Fiscal Year 2018; the uncertainty of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program; the National Flood Insurance Program, due to lapse at the end of this week; Medicare Extenders, set to expire at the end of 2017; and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Reauthorization Act. FISA Section 702, a critical part of U.S. national security policy will sunset on December 31, 2017 without Congressional action. Chart 1: List of deadlines awaiting Congressional action ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/naic-says-provisions-alexander-murray-and-collins-nelson-will-significantly-reduce-health,"NAIC Says the Provisions of Alexander-Murray and Collins-Nelson Will Significantly Reduce Health Insurance Premiums, Stabilize the Individual Market",2017-12-16,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom NAIC Says the Provisions of Alexander-Murray and Collins-Nelson Will Significantly Reduce Health Insurance Premiums, Stabilize the Individual Market According to NAIC, passage of these bills would reduce premium increases as much as 20% and could encourage some carriers to stay in the market. Posted Fri, 12/15/2017 - 18:26 Washington, D.C. -Today, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced their support for the provisions of the Alexander-MurrayBipartisan Health Care Stabilization Actand the Collins-NelsonLower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act. In a letter to U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Patty Murray (R-WA), NAIC noted that these bills would significantly reduce health insurance premiums and help stabilize the individual market. Providing reliable federal funding to reimburse health insurance carriers for the Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) program assistance they give to low-income consumers and grants for states to establish invisible high risk pools or reinsurance programs would reduce premium increases as much as 20% and could encourage some carriers to stay in the market, wrote NAIC. Such funding is not a 'bailout for insurers' as some have argued, but rather goes directly to improving the availability and affordability of health insurance for our most financially vulnerable consumers. NAIC also expressed their support for the revisions to the Section 1332 waiver process, which they said will reduce administrative obstacles to state waiver requests and provide greater flexibility to states to meet the needs of their consumers and stabilize their markets. Senator Collinsreceived a commitmentfrom Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the Congressional Record that both Alexander-Murray and Collins-Nelson will be passed before the end of the year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-defazio-delauro-kind-pingree-call-usda-withdrawal-organic-livestock,"Reps. DeFazio, DeLauro, Kind & Pingree Call USDA Withdrawal of Organic Livestock Rules Indefensible",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) issued a joint statement today on the USDAs withdrawal of Obama-era Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules. USDAs decision to withdraw the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules after three pointless delays is outrageous and shows complete disregard for the public comment process and the agency's role in providing stability in the organic marketplace. For years now, consumers have asked for high welfare standards for animals raised under organic practices and organic farmers have wanted clarity and a level playing field. The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices rules would finally have taken steps in the right direction to protect the high standards of the organic label. Despite its stated justification for withdrawing these rules, the USDA not only has the authority but also the responsibility to develop these rules under the Organic Foods Production Act. This is like the net neutrality decision all over again. Just like the FCCs partisan vote, this is a clear case of the Trump Administration ignoring public feedback to follow through on its own politicized wishes. When asked for feedback, over 40,000 people submitted comments in support of implementing the rules immediatelyonly 28 individuals wanted them withdrawn. This undermining of the public process is absolutely indefensible and should not be allowed to stand. Starting this Monday, December 18, the public will have 30 days to submit their feedback on the withdrawal of the rules. Comments can be made here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-500000-grant-aroostook-band-micmacs,"Collins, King Announce $500,000 Grant for Aroostook Band of Micmacs",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $500,000 to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs through USDA Rural Developments Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.The funding will be used to construct a two-story, multifunction facility in Presque Isle that will provide space for important tribal programs. Investing in infrastructure for the Aroostook Band of Micmacs ensures that the tribe can provide programs crucial to the community, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We applaud the USDA for supporting Maine tribes like the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and helping to strengthen our rural communities. The Presque Isle facility will include housing, realty, and assets programs; Head Start; and programs for youth and seniors. In addition, the construction project will include road, water, sewer, and electrical upgrades and a new paved parking area. USDA Rural Development programs provide grants and loans to assist economic expansion and job creation. Funds are directed towards infrastructure improvement, business development, homeownership, community services, public safety, and broadband access in rural areas across the country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-join-bipartisan-group-senators-urge-congressional-leadership-commit-resources,"Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of nine senators in a letter to Leaders McConnell (R-Ky.) and Schumer (D-N.Y.) today calling on them to provide states like Maine with the resources they need to tackle the ongoing opioid epidemic.In their letter, the bipartisan group urged Senate leadership to include additional funding dedicated to addressing the public health crisis in the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation. Opioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation, wrote the Senators. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has secured significant funding for addiction treatment services. Earlier this fall, she announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee hasapproved $816 million a $665 million increase over the past two years for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. The bill directs $500 million to State opioid crisis grants, which were authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill that was championed by Senator Collins and signed into law in December 2016. Senator King has been a leading proponent of providing additional funding to fight the heroin and opioid crisis, which kills more than one person per day in Maine. He has repeatedly called onCongressand both theObamaandTrumpadministrations to fund laws and agencies that help address the drug epidemic. This fall, heled a letter to the Trump Administrationurging additional funding for the opioid epidemic, and in October he joined with a group of colleagues tointroduce theCombating the Opioid Epidemic Act,legislation that would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance and treatment of opioids. Senator King also recently wrote to President Trump urging him to allow the government to negotiate lower prices for life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs like Naloxone. The bipartisan group of senators include U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The full text of the letter is below and can be read HERE. +++ Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer: We write today to discuss our Nations opioid misuse epidemic and the urgent need for Congress to provide our states with the resources they need to deal with this public health emergency. In light of recent statements from the administration asking Congress to act on this issue, we believe the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation present significant opportunities for additional funding. As you are aware, the opioid misuse epidemic is taking a toll on individuals, families and communities across the Nation. It is tearing apart families and straining the resources of local governments, law enforcement and public health agencies. Although we are pleased by the recent declaration of the epidemic as a public health emergency, that action needs to be coupled with adequate, sustained resources. On December 4, Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan stated that the administration is looking forward to hearing from Congress about how they intend to address this. That means it is up to us to act. We urge you to advance a spending package that will provide substantial new resources for our families and our communities who have waited too long for help. Although the measures in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures legislation and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 were important first steps, we must now build upon those efforts to ensure that states have adequate resources for first responders, enforcement, prevention efforts and treatment and recovery services. We must also provide more resources for research into addiction and pain, to gain a better understanding of the disease and develop innovative new treatments for substance misuse. Opioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package. Thank you and we look forward to working with you to ensure that our communities receive the resources they need to effectively address this national crisis. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/leading-health-care-experts-oliver-wyman-show-alexander-murray-collins-nelson-will-more,"Leading Health Care Experts at Oliver Wyman Show Alexander-Murray, Collins-Nelson Will More Than Offset Impact of Individual Mandate Repeal",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Leading Health Care Experts at Oliver Wyman Show Alexander-Murray, Collins-Nelson Will More Than Offset Impact of Individual Mandate Repeal Compared to premiums without the individual mandate & CSR payments, Alexander-Murray & Collins-Nelson would actually reduce premiums by 20% and provide coverage to an additional 700,0000 people. Posted Fri, 12/15/2017 - 12:51 Washington, D.C. -Today, health care experts at Oliver Wyman released an analysis that showed that the passage of the Alexander-Murray Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act and the Collins-Nelson Lower Premiums Through Reinsurance Act will more than offset the impact of repealing the individual mandate. From the experts at Oliver Wyman: We estimate that with $5 billion in funding, states collectively could provide more than $15 billion in reinsurance coverage, and that this, combined with the funding of CSRs, would result in another 700,000 people with coverage in the individual market and premiums that were more than 20% lower than if the individual mandate were repealed and the package of provisions was not implemented. U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) received a commitment from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in the Congressional Record that both of these bills will be passed before the end of the year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-secures-major-wins-final-tax-reform-bill,Senator Collins Secures Major Wins in Final Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -Following the release of the final text of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act this afternoon, the first major overhaul of our nations tax code since 1986, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) applauded the inclusion of multiple amendments she championed that will help working and middle class families. Americans deserve a tax system that is fair, simple, and promotes economic growth, said Senator Collins. I am pleased that the final tax reform bill includes all three of the amendments I authored, along with a number of provisions for which I strongly advocated, that will benefit lower- and middle-income families. In a significant victory for middle-income Americans, the legislation includes three amendments Senator Collins authored that will further reduce the tax burden on hardworking Americans, enhance retirement security, and help families who are struggling to afford high medical costs. Specifically, her provisions will: Allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 for state and local taxes. This is especially important to Maine, which has the 13th highest state and local tax burden in the nation; Retain and reduce the income threshold for deducting medical expenses, which will help people with high medical costs, particularly seniors and people with chronic conditions. Approximately 8.8 million Americans use this deduction, nearly half of whom have incomes of $50,000 or less; and Reverse an ill-advised elimination of catch-up contributions to retirement accounts for church, charity, school, and public employees. This provision will protect the ability of public employees, including firefighters, teachers, and police officers; clergy; and non-profit employees to save for retirement. Senator Collins also advocated for a number of additional improvements that were reflected in the final bill. Those changes include: Maintaining the deductibility of interest on student loans, as well as the tax exemption for employer-provided tuition assistance and for graduate student tuition waivers; Striking a provision that would have increased taxes on small investors by dictating the order in which stocks could be sold; Retaining the historic tax credit, a proven tool for revitalizing communities and catalyzing economic development in Maine and across the nation. Since 2008, this credit has leveraged approximately $350 million in private investment in our state alone; and Preserving tax-exempt private activity bonds that help our hospitals and educational institutions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-greater-portland-health-king-calls-on-congress-to-fully-fund-health-care-services-critical-to-maine,"At Greater Portland Health, King Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Health Care Services Critical to Maine",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"At Greater Portland Health, King Calls on Congress to Fully Fund Health Care Services Critical to Maine Friday, December 15, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined health professionals, parents, and advocates at Greater Portland Health in Portland to underscore the importance of fully funding the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and reauthorizing funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Federal funding for CHIP expired at the end of September, putting millions of low-income children across the country at risk of losing their health coverage. Funding for FQHCs is also currently in jeopardy, as Congress has not acted to reauthorize the Community Health Centers Fund, which provides 70 percent of all federal funding for FQHCs across the country. Access to top-quality health services helps people care for their families and builds a healthy Maine community, Senator King said. Right now, Congresss neglect to fully fund CHIP and community health centers puts families in our state at an unnecessary risk. This is an abdication of our responsibility to the people we serve. For the hundreds of thousands of Maine people who use these essential services, and for millions more across the country, I urge my colleagues to act now and fund CHIP and Federally Qualified Health Centers. CHIP provides low-cost health insurance to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but are not able to afford private health insurance. In Maine, CHIP covers 23,000 children, and 9 million children nationwide are covered through the program. In some states, including Maine, CHIP also covers pregnant women. Greater Portland Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides health care to the greater Portland community and helps uninsured and medically underserved people access the care they need. Senator King is a strong supporter of FQHCs and their mission to provide quality, affordable primary care services to more than 200,000 Maine people. Before the discussion at Greater Portland Health, Senator King visited Dorris Farrar, Maines oldest resident, at the Hawthorne House in Freeport. Born in Bar Harbor in 1906, Dorris is a 111-year-old supercentenarian. Senator King visited with Dorris and other residents of the Hawthorne House following a private lunch with Dorris. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-500000-grant-for-aroostook-band-of-micmacs,"Collins, King Announce $500,000 Grant for Aroostook Band of Micmacs",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce $500,000 Grant for Aroostook Band of Micmacs Friday, December 15, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $500,000 to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs through USDA Rural Developments Community Facilities Direct Loan Program.The funding will be used to construct a two-story, multifunction facility in Presque Isle that will provide space for important tribal programs. Investing in infrastructure for the Aroostook Band of Micmacs ensures that the tribe can provide programs crucial to the community, said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. We applaud the USDA for supporting Maine tribes like the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and helping to strengthen our rural communities. The Presque Isle facility will include housing, realty, and assets programs; Head Start; and programs for youth and seniors. In addition, the construction project will include road, water, sewer, and electrical upgrades and a new paved parking area. USDA Rural Development programs provide grants and loans to assist economic expansion and job creation. Funds are directed towards infrastructure improvement, business development, homeownership, community services, public safety, and broadband access in rural areas across the country. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-join-bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-urge-congressional-leadership-to-commit-resources-to-opioid-epidemic,"Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Join Bipartisan Group of Senators to Urge Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic Friday, December 15, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of nine senators in a letter to Leaders McConnell (R-Ky.) and Schumer (D-N.Y.) today calling on them to provide states like Maine with the resources they need to tackle the ongoing opioid epidemic.In their letter, the bipartisan group urged Senate leadership to include additional funding dedicated to addressing the public health crisis in the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation. Opioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation, wrote the Senators. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins has secured significant funding for addiction treatment services. Earlier this fall, she announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee hasapproved $816 million a $665 million increase over the past two years for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. The bill directs $500 million to State opioid crisis grants, which were authorized through the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill that was championed by Senator Collins and signed into law in December 2016. Senator King has been a leading proponent of providing additional funding to fight the heroin and opioid crisis, which kills more than one person per day in Maine. He has repeatedly called onCongressand both theObamaandTrumpadministrations to fund laws and agencies that help address the drug epidemic. This fall, heled a letter to the Trump Administrationurging additional funding for the opioid epidemic, and in October he joined with a group of colleagues tointroduce theCombating the Opioid Epidemic Act,legislation that would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance and treatment of opioids. Senator King also recently wrote to President Trump urging him to allow the government to negotiate lower prices for life-saving opioid overdose reversal drugs like Naloxone. The bipartisan group of senators include U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). The full text of the letter is below and can be read HERE. +++ Dear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer: We write today to discuss our Nations opioid misuse epidemic and the urgent need for Congress to provide our states with the resources they need to deal with this public health emergency. In light of recent statements from the administration asking Congress to act on this issue, we believe the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation present significant opportunities for additional funding. As you are aware, the opioid misuse epidemic is taking a toll on individuals, families and communities across the Nation. It is tearing apart families and straining the resources of local governments, law enforcement and public health agencies. Although we are pleased by the recent declaration of the epidemic as a public health emergency, that action needs to be coupled with adequate, sustained resources. On December 4, Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan stated that the administration is looking forward to hearing from Congress about how they intend to address this. That means it is up to us to act. We urge you to advance a spending package that will provide substantial new resources for our families and our communities who have waited too long for help. Although the measures in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures legislation and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 were important first steps, we must now build upon those efforts to ensure that states have adequate resources for first responders, enforcement, prevention efforts and treatment and recovery services. We must also provide more resources for research into addiction and pain, to gain a better understanding of the disease and develop innovative new treatments for substance misuse. Opioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package. Thank you and we look forward to working with you to ensure that our communities receive the resources they need to effectively address this national crisis. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-king-letter-centers-for-medicare-and-medicaid-services-agrees-to-provide-a-special-enrollment-period-for-maine-people-affected-by-wind-storm,"Following King Letter, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agrees to Provide a Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected By Wind Storm",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Following King Letter, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Agrees to Provide a Special Enrollment Period for Maine People Affected By Wind Storm Announcement Comes on Final Day of 2018 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period; King Notes Uncertainty of Individual Eligibility for Special Enrollment Period, Urges Maine People to Enroll Before Todays Deadline Friday, December 15, 2017 BRUNSWICK, ME Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) received a response to his November letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in which he urged CMS Administrator Seema Verma to extend the 2018 Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period for Maine following the severe storm that caused more than 400,000 Maine people to lose power. In todays letter, the full text of which is included below, Administrator Verma agrees that individuals who were unable to enroll in coveragedue to the impacts of the severe wind-storms and resulting power outages across Maine should qualify for an exceptional circumstances [special enrollment period] The letter does not describe the criteria for attributing the inability to enroll to the wind storm, and does not define how much longer affected Maine people will have to enroll. First and foremost: if you are a Maine resident who has yet to enroll in the 2018 Open Enrollment Period, its not too late to sign up today,Senator King said.I know this posed a challenge for many in Maine: With an already shortened Open Enrollment Period, Octobers storm and the resulting power outages that affected hundreds of thousands in Maine caused a large number of people to lose valuable days that could have been used to explore the different plans available and secure healthcare coverage for 2018. While Im pleased CMS will consider special enrollment periods for those affected by the storm, Administrator Vermas letter does leave several questions open: notably what information is required to qualify, how the determination will be made, and how long the special enrollment periods will be available. Regardless of this possible option, I once again urge the people of Maine to secure coverage for 2018 before todays deadline. Administrator Vermas letter comes on the final day of the 2018 Open Enrollment Period. Per the letter, any resident of Maine who has not secured coverage by the end of the Open Enrollment Period and was affected by the storm should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 to speak with a Marketplace representative. The ACAs Open Enrollment Period had previously been shortened from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, and included a 12 hour shutdown of the Affordable Care Act website during most weekends. Earlier this year, Senator King hosted three events in South Portland, Lewiston and Bangor to highlight the importance of healthcare coverage to protect individuals and families from medical or financial trouble in the event of an unexpected injury or illness. He also sought to raise awareness of the shortened deadline, and the wide range of affordable plans that were available on the Marketplace. The full text of Administrator Vermas letter can be found below. +++ The Honorable Angus S. King, Jr. United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator King: Thank you for your letter requesting that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extend the 2018 Open Enrollment Period for Maine residents served by a Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE) so those recovering from the recent wind-storms have additional time to shop for health insurance coverage. We share your concerns related to the ability of affected individuals to review their healthcare coverage options and make decisions within the current open enrollment period. CMS recognizes that certain exceptional circumstances, including a natural disaster such as a severe wind-storm, can prevent an individual from enrolling in coverage before an open enrollment period expires. In these cases, the FFE has the authority to provide a special enrollment period (SEP) to give these consumers more time to enroll in a health plan. CMS agrees that individuals who were unable to timely enroll in coverage during Open Enrollment due to the impacts of the severe wind-storms and resulting power outages across Maine should qualify for an exceptional circumstances SEP that will provide them more time to enroll in coverage. Therefore, Maine residents who were unable to complete enrollment during Open Enrollment due to the wind-storms should contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to speak with a Marketplace representative. Maine residents who are affected by the wind-storm should provide detailed information about their situation so the Marketplace representative can appropriately assist them. Additional SEP information related to natural disasters is available on HealthCare.gov at https://www.healthcare.gov/sep-list. We intend to publicize the availability of this special enrollment period through assisters and agents in Maine. CMS is committed to providing help and support to the areas and individuals impacted by this storm. We appreciate your support in assisting individuals in accessing health coverage and recovering from this event. Thank you again for your letter and for sharing your concerns. Sincerely, Seema Verma",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-urges-va-secretary-to-protect-homeless-veterans-hud-vash-funding,"King Urges VA Secretary to Protect Homeless Veterans, HUD-VASH Funding",2017-12-15,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Urges VA Secretary to Protect Homeless Veterans, HUD-VASH Funding King letter follows reports that VA improperly planned to reallocate funding for HUD-VASH program to VA General Purpose fund Friday, December 15, 2017 PORTLAND, ME U.S. Senator King (I-Maine) this week wrote to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin urging him to protect homeless veterans and ensure veteran homeless programs are fully funded. The letter follows reports that the VA planned to reallocate funding previously appropriated for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive housing (HUD-VASH) veteran housing voucher program to the VAs General Purpose fund. I write to express my serious concern over reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considered a reduction in funding for the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) HUD-VASH program during Fiscal Year 2018, Senator King wrote. The HUD-VASH program provides critical housing support to homeless veterans and has played a critical role in reducing veteran homelessness across the nation, and I strongly oppose these types of funding reductions. While I was glad to see the VA announce on December 7, 2017, that there will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs, I found the original proposal highly concerning and urge the VA to continue supporting this successful program... I plan to work with my colleagues in support of this important program that serves the needs of homeless veterans in Maine and across the country, and I hope that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue as an enthusiastic partner in these efforts to end veteran homelessness. The HUD-VASH program is a collaborative effort between the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the VA that uses targeted vouchers to offer permanent supportive housing opportunities to veterans experiencing homelessness.Among VA homeless continuum of care programs, HUD-VASH enrolls the largest number and largest percentage of veterans who have experienced long-term or repeated homelessness. Senator Kings letter can be read in full below and is available HERE. +++ The Honorable David J. Shulkin, M.D. Secretary Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, Northwest Washington, D.C. 20420 Dear Mr. Secretary, I write to express my serious concern over reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) considered a reduction in funding for the Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) HUD-VASH program during Fiscal Year 2018. A September 2017 VA Memorandum stated that Specific Purpose funding lines, including those allocating funds to the VA-HUD program, would be realigned to General Purpose and allocated to VHA Networks to be used at the discretion of the Network Directors. The HUD-VASH program provides critical housing support to homeless veterans and has played a critical role in reducing veteran homelessness across the nation, and I strongly oppose these types of funding reductions. While I was glad to see the VA announce on December 7, 2017, that there will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs, I found the original proposal highly concerning and urge the VA to continue supporting this successful program. When considering future spending proposals, I strongly support the inclusion of robust funding for HUD-VASH. Consistent funding is important for the continued success of the program, as the long term approach to homelessness, which utilizes VA case managers in addition to vouchers, requires continuity of skilled staff. Thanks in large part to the HUD-VASH program, the number of homeless veterans dropped by 47 percent between 2010 and 2016. Alarmingly, the number of homeless veterans in the United States rose this year for the first time since 2010 emphasizing the continued need for targeted housing and service resources that serve this population. I plan to work with my colleagues in support of this important program that serves the needs of homeless veterans in Maine and across the country, and I hope that the Department of Veterans Affairs will continue as an enthusiastic partner in these efforts to end veteran homelessness. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-says-courts-must-block-fcc-overstep-net-neutrality-backs,"Pingree Says Courts Must Block FCC Overstep on Net Neutrality, Backs Congressional Resolution",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement regarding today’s FCC decision to rollback Obama-era net neutrality regulations:  “Since FCC Chairman Pai announced his intention to rollback net neutrality rules, I’ve heard from thousands of Mainers who are outraged by his willingness to sacrifice a free and open internet for bigger telecommunications profits. Despite millions of faked public comments and overwhelming public outcry from individuals and elected officials, FCC Chairman Pai pressed forward with a razor-thin, partisan vote to determine the future of the internet. I am sickened by the lack of transparency in this process and that my constituents’ voices were drowned out by hacked comments. I call on the courts to block this major overstep by the FCC and all of my House colleagues to enact Congressman Mike Doyle's resolution to overturn this decision using the authority granted by the Congressional Review Act.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/republicans-and-democrats-join-pass-rep-poliquin-s-bill-disclose-secret,Republicans and Democrats Join to Pass Rep. Poliquins Bill to Disclose Secret Funds of Iranian Regime Leaders,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s (ME-02) Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act with broad bipartisan support in a 289-135 vote, including 56 Democrats and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05). This is Congressman Poliquin’s fourth bill to pass the House this year.   The Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act publicly discloses the assets of Iran’s tyrannical regime, which have been used to support and sponsor terrorism.   “Iran’s top regime leaders—the Supreme Leader and the country’s top political and military brass—have amassed huge wealth through their tyrannical rule and corrupt and covert structure,” said Congressman Poliquin. “Reports have indicated these funds are being used to support and sponsor terrorism around the region and to undermine our own national security interests. Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, cannot be trusted and it’s important for the security of the region and for the United States for these secret funds to be exposed publicly to the world. I’m extremely pleased my colleagues in the House—Democrats and Republicans—passed this important legislation.”   Congressman Bruce Poliquin speaks on the House Floor in support of the Iran Leadership Asset Transparency Act, his fourth bill to pass the House this year.   Congressman Poliquin is a member of the Terrorism and Illicit Finance Subcommittee, the congressional body charged with investigating, identifying and helping to disrupt financial sources for terrorist organizations and sponsors of terrorism.   Background on the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act:   The Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act will publicize the assets associated with members of Iran’s tyrannical government leadership, including the Supreme Leader of Iran, Members of the Council of Guardians, Members of the Expediency Council and the top military leaders. The Department of Treasury would submit a report to Congress on the assets under control, how the assets were acquired and how they are used by these top political and military leaders. The report would be submitted to Congress and available on the Treasury’s website in English as well as the 3 main languages used in Iran:  Farsi, Arabic, and Azeri.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-urge-fcc-chairman-cancel-vote-net-neutrality,"Collins, King Urge FCC Chairman to Cancel Vote on Net Neutrality",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai in support of the agency’s existing net neutrality rules. The senators’ letter comes ahead of today’s planned vote by the FCC on rolling back the existing net neutrality protections.   “We are writing to urge you to cancel today’s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” the Senators wrote in their letter.  “Repealing the FCC’s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order’s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America’s ability to realize the internet’s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement.”   The complete text of the letter is available HERE and below.   +++   The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: We are writing to urge you to cancel today’s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (Docket 17-108). This is a matter of enormous importance with significant implications for our entire economy, and therefore merits the most thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful process that can be provided. The process thus far in this important matter has not met that standard.   Repealing the FCC’s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order’s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America’s ability to realize the internet’s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement. For decades, FCC chairs from both parties have used a mix of tools including enforcement actions and policy statements to ensure that American consumers can access online content, educational services, and important applications without fear of discriminatory practices or content blocking. Unfortunately, your proposal repeals common sense protections that today prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking lawful content, charging websites and services for access to subscribers, creating pay-for-play fast lanes, and engaging in unreasonable discrimination. The proposal removes basic oversight over broadband provider practices that would impede the internet’s ability to serve our democracy, empower consumers, and fuel economic growth. By replacing these protections with a limited transparency requirement and enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), rather than the FCC, this proposal fails to ensure that the open internet will continue to benefit and drive innovation in our economy. The FTC’s definition of anti-competitive conduct would likely allow most violations of current net neutrality protections, including allowing ISPs to charge websites and services for access and fast lanes to customers, promote certain content over others, and to otherwise engage in discriminatory practices.  The open internet has fostered a dynamic digital economy, connected communities, and provided small businesses and startups unlimited opportunities to create and develop content and technologies that have improved lives all across the globe. Net neutrality has ensured that the internet has been a level playing field leading to the online entrepreneurial explosion unparalleled in American history, changing nearly every facet of Americans’ lives and bringing efficiency to every market in our economy. Removing these protections - and thus market certainty - would cause immediate harm to the innovation economy. Access fees, fast lanes, and preferential treatment of content would undermine the openness of the internet and disproportionately hurt startups’ and small businesses’ ability to compete with entrenched incumbents, discouraging investment in early stage companies. Beyond these market effects, the proposal removes FCC oversight over interconnection points that allow rural carriers to connect with the rest of the internet, and hinders rural carriers’ ability to deploy broadband in underserved areas, undermining efforts to bring adequate broadband to all Americans. This is especially important in the context of information services. We also believe it is critical that the FCC craft a framework to ensure that no carrier’s network management practices have the effect of degrading the customer experience on other networks. Simply repealing the 2015 Net Neutrality rules will not put that framework into place. The FCC should not set aside the 2015 framework without addressing the legitimate concerns of rural providers and ensuring the availability of tools to support the continued buildout of rural broadband. Given these concerns, we believe a more careful, deliberative process involving experts and the public is warranted, just as you called for in the 2014 proceedings. We respectfully ask that the Commission cancel the vote on the proposed order as scheduled and give Congress and the FCC the time to hold public hearings in 2018 in order to investigate the best way to ensure citizens and our economy have strong net neutrality protections that guarantee consumer choice, free markets, and continued growth. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter and please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-murray-call-additional-funding-and-legislative-measures-address-sexual,"Senators Collins, Murray Call for Additional Funding and Legislative Measures to Address Sexual Harassment on Capitol Hill",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), urging them to take additional steps to address sexual harassment and workplace misconduct in the United States Congress.  “The reported accounts of misconduct on Capitol Hill necessitate a review of our workplace culture and processes to ensure that equality and justice prevail throughout,” Senators Collins and Murray wrote.   Senators Collins and Murray urged the Senate and Appropriations Committee leaders to provide additional funding to support updated and improved sexual harassment training for legislative branch employees.  They also urged the inclusion of legislative measures to improve the ways that congressional offices respond to both the causes and consequences of these incidents.   “On November 9, the Senate passed unanimously a resolution requiring Senators, staff, interns, fellows, and detailees to participate in workplace harassment training, including sexual harassment,” Senators Collins and Murray continued.  “This is a welcome first step to reforming the culture on Capitol Hill. It also invites an opportunity to invest in necessary improvements to training modules and to hire staff with expertise in workplace harassment and worker-advocate support. We request that you include sufficient funding to the Office of Compliance (OOC) and other appropriate Senate offices to improve these trainings and supports.”   Senators Collins and Murray also urged Leadership to take additional steps to fully address issues of harassment and misconduct, including implementing, at a minimum, the following common sense reforms that have support on both sides of the aisle: Covering every member of the Congressional community (staff, fellows, interns, pages, and detailees) by the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) and fully informing them about what their rights, protections, and the available procedures are.  Providing employees who experience harassment with access to independent confidential resources to advise and assist them through the complaint resolution process; and Reforming the complaint resolution process so that arbitrary time limits and mandatory processes do not discourage reporting.   The complete text of the letter is available HERE and below.   +++   December 14, 2017   Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Cochran, and Vice Chairman Leahy:   We write to express our firm commitment to working with you to improve the congressional workplace in light of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct in the United States Congress. Sexual harassment and workplace misconduct are reprehensible, no matter where they happen. The reported accounts of misconduct on Capitol Hill necessitate a review of our workplace culture and processes to ensure that equality and justice prevail throughout. Given the urgency of this problem, we ask that any continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations bill provide additional funding to support updated and improved training for all legislative branch employees, including members and all staff working in the Capitol complex and state offices. We also urge the inclusion of legislative measures to improve the ways that congressional offices respond to both the causes and consequences of these incidents.   On November 9, the Senate passed unanimously a resolution requiring Senators, staff, interns, fellows, and detailees to participate in workplace harassment training, including sexual harassment. This is a welcome first step to reforming the culture on Capitol Hill. It also invites an opportunity to invest in necessary improvements to training modules and to hire staff with expertise in workplace harassment and worker-advocate support. We request that you include sufficient funding to the Office of Compliance (OOC) and other appropriate Senate offices to improve these trainings and supports.   In 1995, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) to protect the thousands of legislative branch employees dedicated to serving our nation. We recognize that there is a need to reform the aspects of the law that are out of step with best practices and fall short of the expectations for ourselves as public servants. We also commend our colleagues who have proposed reforms aimed at improving current practices.   There are many sensible reforms that can be adopted immediately to improve the processes for victims of sexual harassment or misconduct seeking help.  Every member of the Congressional community including staff, fellows, interns, pages, and detailees should be covered by the CAA and fully informed about their rights, protections, and the available procedures.  When employees do experience harassment, they should have access to independent confidential resources to advise and assist them through the complaint resolution process. That process should be improved so that arbitrary time limits and mandatory processes, such as required “cooling off” periods, counseling, and mediation, do not discourage reporting. We support these calls for reforms that have been raised by members on both sides of the aisle.   While we believe there are more steps that Congress will need to take to fully address issues of harassment and misconduct, we urge you to include at a minimum these common sense reforms in any forthcoming continuing resolution or omnibus legislation and to provide additional funding to OOC to help prevent harassment from occurring. These measures can better protect those public servants working in Congress each day.   As Senators, we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards and to review our own workplace procedures to ensure that allegations are taken seriously and that individuals are held accountable. We look forward to working with you to enact these and other sensible reforms.   Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-murray-call-additional-funding-and-legislative-measures-address-sexual-0,"Senators Collins, Murray Call for Additional Funding and Legislative Measures to Address Sexual Harassment on Capitol Hill",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Patty Murray (D-WA) wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), urging them to take additional steps to address sexual harassment and workplace misconduct in the United States Congress.  “The reported accounts of misconduct on Capitol Hill necessitate a review of our workplace culture and processes to ensure that equality and justice prevail throughout,” Senators Collins and Murray wrote.   Senators Collins and Murray urged the Senate and Appropriations Committee leaders to provide additional funding to support updated and improved sexual harassment training for legislative branch employees.  They also urged the inclusion of legislative measures to improve the ways that congressional offices respond to both the causes and consequences of these incidents.   “On November 9, the Senate passed unanimously a resolution requiring Senators, staff, interns, fellows, and detailees to participate in workplace harassment training, including sexual harassment,” Senators Collins and Murray continued.  “This is a welcome first step to reforming the culture on Capitol Hill. It also invites an opportunity to invest in necessary improvements to training modules and to hire staff with expertise in workplace harassment and worker-advocate support. We request that you include sufficient funding to the Office of Compliance (OOC) and other appropriate Senate offices to improve these trainings and supports.”   Senators Collins and Murray also urged Leadership to take additional steps to fully address issues of harassment and misconduct, including implementing, at a minimum, the following common sense reforms that have support on both sides of the aisle: Covering every member of the Congressional community (staff, fellows, interns, pages, and detailees) by the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) and fully informing them about what their rights, protections, and the available procedures are.  Providing employees who experience harassment with access to independent confidential resources to advise and assist them through the complaint resolution process; and Reforming the complaint resolution process so that arbitrary time limits and mandatory processes do not discourage reporting.   The complete text of the letter is available HERE and below.   +++   December 14, 2017   Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Cochran, and Vice Chairman Leahy:   We write to express our firm commitment to working with you to improve the congressional workplace in light of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct in the United States Congress. Sexual harassment and workplace misconduct are reprehensible, no matter where they happen. The reported accounts of misconduct on Capitol Hill necessitate a review of our workplace culture and processes to ensure that equality and justice prevail throughout. Given the urgency of this problem, we ask that any continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations bill provide additional funding to support updated and improved training for all legislative branch employees, including members and all staff working in the Capitol complex and state offices. We also urge the inclusion of legislative measures to improve the ways that congressional offices respond to both the causes and consequences of these incidents.   On November 9, the Senate passed unanimously a resolution requiring Senators, staff, interns, fellows, and detailees to participate in workplace harassment training, including sexual harassment. This is a welcome first step to reforming the culture on Capitol Hill. It also invites an opportunity to invest in necessary improvements to training modules and to hire staff with expertise in workplace harassment and worker-advocate support. We request that you include sufficient funding to the Office of Compliance (OOC) and other appropriate Senate offices to improve these trainings and supports.   In 1995, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) to protect the thousands of legislative branch employees dedicated to serving our nation. We recognize that there is a need to reform the aspects of the law that are out of step with best practices and fall short of the expectations for ourselves as public servants. We also commend our colleagues who have proposed reforms aimed at improving current practices.   There are many sensible reforms that can be adopted immediately to improve the processes for victims of sexual harassment or misconduct seeking help.  Every member of the Congressional community including staff, fellows, interns, pages, and detailees should be covered by the CAA and fully informed about their rights, protections, and the available procedures.  When employees do experience harassment, they should have access to independent confidential resources to advise and assist them through the complaint resolution process. That process should be improved so that arbitrary time limits and mandatory processes, such as required “cooling off” periods, counseling, and mediation, do not discourage reporting. We support these calls for reforms that have been raised by members on both sides of the aisle.   While we believe there are more steps that Congress will need to take to fully address issues of harassment and misconduct, we urge you to include at a minimum these common sense reforms in any forthcoming continuing resolution or omnibus legislation and to provide additional funding to OOC to help prevent harassment from occurring. These measures can better protect those public servants working in Congress each day.   As Senators, we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards and to review our own workplace procedures to ensure that allegations are taken seriously and that individuals are held accountable. We look forward to working with you to enact these and other sensible reforms.   Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-urge-fcc-chairman-to-cancel-vote-on-net-neutrality,"Collins, King Urge FCC Chairman to Cancel Vote on Net Neutrality",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Urge FCC Chairman to Cancel Vote on Net Neutrality Thursday, December 14, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai in support of the agency’s existing net neutrality rules. The senators’ letter comes ahead of today’s planned vote by the FCC on rolling back the existing net neutrality protections. “We are writing to urge you to cancel today’s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order,” the Senators wrote in their letter.  “Repealing the FCC’s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order’s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America’s ability to realize the internet’s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement.” The complete text of the letter is available HERE and below. +++ The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: We are writing to urge you to cancel today’s vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order (Docket 17-108). This is a matter of enormous importance with significant implications for our entire economy, and therefore merits the most thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful process that can be provided. The process thus far in this important matter has not met that standard.   Repealing the FCC’s net neutrality rules will undermine longstanding protections that have ensured the open internet as a powerful and transformative platform of innovation and economic opportunity. We are concerned about the proposed order’s impact on the free market that has driven growth in our economy for years, and the potential adverse effect on rural America’s ability to realize the internet’s full potential. Given that this change will affect every sector of the U.S. economy, we are also concerned about the speed of the process, the lack of public hearings, and the underlying rationale for repealing net neutrality without an adequate replacement. For decades, FCC chairs from both parties have used a mix of tools including enforcement actions and policy statements to ensure that American consumers can access online content, educational services, and important applications without fear of discriminatory practices or content blocking. Unfortunately, your proposal repeals common sense protections that today prohibit internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking lawful content, charging websites and services for access to subscribers, creating pay-for-play fast lanes, and engaging in unreasonable discrimination. The proposal removes basic oversight over broadband provider practices that would impede the internet’s ability to serve our democracy, empower consumers, and fuel economic growth. By replacing these protections with a limited transparency requirement and enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), rather than the FCC, this proposal fails to ensure that the open internet will continue to benefit and drive innovation in our economy. The FTC’s definition of anti-competitive conduct would likely allow most violations of current net neutrality protections, including allowing ISPs to charge websites and services for access and fast lanes to customers, promote certain content over others, and to otherwise engage in discriminatory practices.  The open internet has fostered a dynamic digital economy, connected communities, and provided small businesses and startups unlimited opportunities to create and develop content and technologies that have improved lives all across the globe. Net neutrality has ensured that the internet has been a level playing field leading to the online entrepreneurial explosion unparalleled in American history, changing nearly every facet of Americans’ lives and bringing efficiency to every market in our economy. Removing these protections - and thus market certainty - would cause immediate harm to the innovation economy. Access fees, fast lanes, and preferential treatment of content would undermine the openness of the internet and disproportionately hurt startups’ and small businesses’ ability to compete with entrenched incumbents, discouraging investment in early stage companies. Beyond these market effects, the proposal removes FCC oversight over interconnection points that allow rural carriers to connect with the rest of the internet, and hinders rural carriers’ ability to deploy broadband in underserved areas, undermining efforts to bring adequate broadband to all Americans. This is especially important in the context of information services. We also believe it is critical that the FCC craft a framework to ensure that no carrier’s network management practices have the effect of degrading the customer experience on other networks. Simply repealing the 2015 Net Neutrality rules will not put that framework into place. The FCC should not set aside the 2015 framework without addressing the legitimate concerns of rural providers and ensuring the availability of tools to support the continued buildout of rural broadband. Given these concerns, we believe a more careful, deliberative process involving experts and the public is warranted, just as you called for in the 2014 proceedings. We respectfully ask that the Commission cancel the vote on the proposed order as scheduled and give Congress and the FCC the time to hold public hearings in 2018 in order to investigate the best way to ensure citizens and our economy have strong net neutrality protections that guarantee consumer choice, free markets, and continued growth. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter and please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-bill-to-encourage-energy-independence-support-21st-century-grid,"King Introduces Bill to Encourage Energy Independence, Support 21st Century Grid",2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Introduces Bill to Encourage Energy Independence, Support 21st Century Grid Thursday, December 14, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today introduced the Next Generation Grid Resources and Infrastructure Development (GRID) Act. The legislation would encourage energy independence, foster innovation, and leverage federal resources to support a more resilient 21st century electricity grid through the use of distributed energy resources (DER). The legislation builds off the Free Market Energy Act, introduced by Senator King in 2015, which created a first-of-its-kind framework to support DER technologies by establishing parameters for consumers to connect their distributed energy resources, like solar panels or battery storage, to the energy grid.             “Fostering personal energy independence helps people in Maine and across the country lower their energy costs and contribute to the grid all the while supporting innovative technologies that help create jobs,” Senator King said. “By encouraging a commonsense framework for connecting distributed energy resources to the grid, we can build a diverse, resilient energy system that supports a 21st century economy. From lowering energy costs by increasing the efficiency of our electricity grid, to strengthening the resilience of the system from potential disruption, this bill will help keep the lights on, bolster our national security, and move our country forward.” ""Maine is a regional leader in the development of innovative, forward-thinking, clean energy sources – it's critically important that our electric grid keep pace with the change in the types of electricity we use to power our homes and businesses,” said Jeremy Payne, Executive Director of Maine Renewable Energy Association. “Senator King's Next Gen GRID Act helps to ensure state regulators encourage the development of a modern power grid capable of adapting and responding to our societal needs. We are fortunate to have someone like Senator King in Washington so that he can leverage his considerable energy knowledge to the benefit of Maine, New England, and the country's power grid."" ""We thank Senator King for his forward-thinking policy to modernize our energy system, grow clean renewable energy, and protect the rights of consumers,"" said Maureen Drouin, Executive Director of Maine Conservation Voters. ""The Next Generation GRID Act would knock down barriers to clean energy technology, create a more resilient infrastructure, and promote fairness for homeowners and businesses, making it a win for everyone."" America’s electricity grid, which historically moves electricity from power plants to consumers, has remained relatively unchanged over the past 100 years – but, today, innovative technologies are beginning to fundamentally transform the way electricity is generated and delivered. Those advanced energy assets – known as distributed energy resources (DER), which can include generation, storage (batteries), efficiency, and demand response, among others – are being deployed at the edge of the grid, helping to create a more secure, resilient, and independent electricity system. However, as has been seen in Maine, which recently suffered the worst power outage in the state’s history, and in Puerto Rico where millions have been without power, the traditional grid model remains highly vulnerable to disruption. Extended outages like this can lead to lost productivity and serious hardships for businesses and homeowners. The Next Gen GRID Act would offer federal resources for states and utilities to evaluate their electricity systems to identify vulnerabilities and areas where DER could play a greater role to protect critical infrastructure—such as hospitals and schools—or to reduce costs through a more secure and efficient system. These investments would lay the groundwork for a more modern energy system. In addition, antiquated policies governing how these new technologies interact with the grid are leading to problems that are largely being addressed in an inconsistent manner around the country and, as a result, are discouraging investment in DER. For example, utilities can levy expensive grid-connection fees that disincentivize consumers from pursuing newer technologies while, without changes in the regulatory structure, utilities are not incentivized to themselves incorporate these technologies into their planning. The Next Gen GRID Act  would establish a set of parameters for the governance of distributed energy resources and retain the authority of each state to design its own set of rules within those parameters to properly reflect the state’s needs. Importantly, the parameters would protect the right of consumers to connect their distributed resources to the grid while also ensuring that grid owners and operators receive proper compensation through a system that would maximize the potential of distributed energy resources in relation to the grid. By establishing the criteria for these new technologies, the legislation would provide important guidance to the states, allow for the continued development of these technologies and the jobs they support, foster energy independence at the personal level, and bolster national security by making the electricity grid more resilient. Through his work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has been an ardent supporter of innovative strategies to improve the energy grid and lower costs for American people. In September, Senator King announced his support for the Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that would establish an investment tax credit (ITC) for business and home use of energy storage. Senator King has also supported the Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act, which would amend the Stafford Act, comprehensive legislation that allocates federal natural disaster assistance to state and local governments, to stipulate that funds granted to repair energy systems may be used to build more modern and resilient infrastructure. Senator King also introduced the Free Market Energy Act of 2015, which would establish a set of parameters for the governance of distributed energy resources, like storage and solar. A one page summary of the bill can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-fcc-vote-to-repeal-net-neutrality-protections,King Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Protections,2017-12-14,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Statement on FCC Vote to Repeal Net Neutrality Protections Thursday, December 14, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after today’s vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to roll back the agency’s existing protections on net neutrality: “Disastrous isn’t strong enough of an adjective to describe today’s decision. This ruling will make it harder for regular people to use the internet, plain and simple. For decades, the internet has leveled the playing field so a mom-and-pop shop in Augusta has the same chance to succeed as a multinational corporation in Silicon Valley; now, internet providers can sell fast lanes to the highest bidder or discriminate against certain content. This change is bad for small businesses, bad for consumers, and bad for the country – so I’m against it. While I’m confident that the new rules (or lack thereof) will be challenged in court, I’m also open to pursuing a permanent legislative solution to protect a truly free and open internet for all Americans.” Senator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. This week, he sent two letters to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern about the proposal: one with Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) asking Chairman Pai to cancel today’s vote, and another with a group of 38 Senate colleagues urging Chairman Pai to abandon the attempts to repeal net neutrality protections. Last week, in light of reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of fraudulent comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking comment process, he urged Chairman Pai to delay the planned December 14th vote until an investigation of the public record could be conducted. In September 2015, he filed an amicus brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. He also wrote a letter to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission’s net neutrality decision urging the FCC to put in place strong, light-touch protections that ensures the internet remains open and free of discriminatory practices.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleague-oppose-repeal-net-neutrality-protections,Pingree Joins Colleague to Oppose Repeal of Net Neutrality Protections,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.--Ahead of tomorrow’s FCC vote, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) joined over 30 of her colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman Ajit Pai voicing their opposition to his proposal to repeal net neutrality protections.   “The future of the Internet is at stake with tomorrow’s vote. If net neutrality protections are repealed, it will allow Internet service providers to game the system for their benefit like they did before the rules were in place,” said Pingree. “Creating fast and slow lanes on the Internet will allow these corporations to exploit consumers while stifling real innovation. My colleagues are doing everything in our power to keep that from happening.”  Pingree has also called on the FCC to delay its vote in light of reports finding that millions of comments submitted during the public comment period were likely fake.  The letter was led by Rep. Keith Ellison. A pdf is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-s-bill-help-maine-clam-and-worm-harvesters-and-clarify,Rep. Poliquins Bill to Help Maine Clam and Worm Harvesters and to Clarify Boundaries at Acadia Advances in the House,2017-12-13,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – In a unanimous, bipartisan vote, Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) had his legislation pass through the House Natural Resources Committee, clearing a key step toward a final vote in the House.  The bill, H.R. 4266, will make important revisions to boundary policies at Acadia National Park (ANP) and help resolve recent disputes between local harvesters and the National Park Service (NPS) in and around the park. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) is an original cosponsor of the bill, while Senators Angus King and Susan Collins have introduced an identical bill in the Senate.   “I’ve worked closely with the entire Maine Delegation and have worked to hear from all stakeholders to put forward this comprehensive solution in resolving boundary and traditional harvesting issues at Acadia,” said Congressman Poliquin. “In the past months and years, I’ve made sure to hear from, meet with, and understand the perspectives of groups on all sides and of all different interests in these discussions—from holding a roundtable discussion with local wormers and clammers last summer in Ellsworth to meeting or talking directly with Acadia National Park officials and local town officials. I’m extremely pleased this bipartisan and bicameral legislation is moving forward in Congress with broad support, and I will continue to push in the House to get it across the finish line.”   In November, Congressman Poliquin testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the legislation.   Background:   In 2015, ANP was deeded more than 1,400 acres on the Schoodic Peninsula by an anonymous donor. This was a welcome gift from the local towns and communities. It was only after the land was transferred to ANP that the NPS informed the public that the legal authority they used for the transfer came from a 1929 law that many in the Bar Harbor area believed had been repealed in 1986, after successful efforts to pass a law that set boundary limits on the park. The boundary law was crafted due to growing concerns about the size of the park and its impact on the tax base.   The local towns and residents were extremely concerned when they learned that ANP relied on the 1929 law for the Schoodic transfer because it could potentially set precedent for the NPS to use it again. Residents contacted the Maine Congressional delegation to express their concern and request for a repeal of the 1929 law, while at the same time keeping the Schoodic land transfer.   One amendment was added to the legislation at the hearing today by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop to eliminate a provision of the original bill that directs a payment to the Acadia Disposal District. The reason is because the Committee had determined that this would technically be an “earmark” and therefore, in order to follow parliamentary rules, would need to be taken out. Congressman Poliquin believes this funding was promised to local Bar Harbor communities in 1986 and never delivered so he is committed to working with the NPS to find an administrative solution to ensure local communities receive the resources they were promised.   In August 2016, Congressman Poliquin hosted a roundtable in Ellsworth with local clammers and wormers to learn about the challenges their industry is facing and to commit to protecting traditional access to Maine’s waters and woods, including the harvesting of marine resources.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maine-delegation-applauds-va-announcement-fund-veteran-support,Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today applauded the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) announcement that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman made the announcement during the First Annual Military Veteran Symposium in Portland this morning.   “Maine veterans answered the call to uphold our freedoms, and those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness deserve our comprehensive support,” Senator King said. “These new positions in Maine provide veterans with expanded access to specialists so they can get the treatments and services they need. Maine is a community – we care for our neighbors and for each other – and with the VA’s announcement today, we have taken an important step to strengthen our community and better care for veterans across the state.”   “As our population of veterans has grown, aged, and diversified, the Togus VA Medical Center has adapted to these changes to meet the needs of patients,” said Senator Collins.  “Today’s announcement that the VA is funding three critical positions at Togus to help promote suicide prevention, assist veterans returning to society, and prevent unnecessary criminalization of those with mental illness will enhance the hospital’s work to provide high-quality care for veterans.  I applaud the VA for making this important investment.”   ""The high rate of veteran suicides is one of the most heartbreaking issues our country faces. We owe it to these brave men and women to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies and ensure they have someone to turn to. I appreciate the VA giving attention to this and other issues Maine veterans face. These new staff positions will be critical additions to the team at VA Togus,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).   “Tragically, too many of our Veterans face extraordinary mental and health challenges when they return from service,” said Congressman Poliquin. “We must make sure our Veterans have the help and support they need. I’m very pleased with the announcement of these new positions at Togus that will help provide important resources to our Veterans.”   In February, Senator King wrote to the VA urging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine.   The Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-joins-colleagues-call-investigation-sexual-misconduct,Pingree Joins Colleagues to Call For Investigation into Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against President Trump,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"At a press conference this afternoon, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) joined fellow members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group calling on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for an official investigation into 17 sexual misconduct claims against President Trump.  Pingree was one of 59 members to sign a letter to the Committee making a formal request for an investigation.  This morning, Pingree also responded to Trump’s Twitter attacks on the women who have accused him of sexual harassment.  .@POTUS denying stories of women on Twitter makes an even stronger case for investigating allegations of #sexualharassment against him. We all heard the bus tape, @RealDonaldTrump. I'm one of 56 Members of Congress demanding accountability. #mepolitics https://t.co/tN0MkB70rT — Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) December 12, 2017 TEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE: Dear Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings,   The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the House of Representatives and may at “any time” investigate “any matter” as set forth in House Rule X. In that regard, as Members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group, we are requesting that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigate the reports of sexual misconduct raised against President Trump, many of which he has denied. The American people deserve a full inquiry into the truth of these allegations.   At least 17 women have publicly accused the President of sexual misconduct. Natasha Stoynoff recounted how the President pushed her against a wall and forced his tongue down her throat. Jill Harth described how the President attempted to get up her dress. Kristin Anderson detailed how the President touched her genitals through her underwear. Mariah Billado, Rachel Crooks, Tasha Dixon, Jessica Drake, Cathy Heller, Samantha Holvey, Ninni Laaksonen, Jessica Leeds, Temple Taggart McDowell, Mindy McGillivray, Cassandra Searles, Bridget Sullivan, Karena Virginia, and Summer Zervos also offered alarming accounts.   The President’s own remarks appear to back up the allegations. The President has boasted in public and in crude terms that he feels at liberty to perpetrate such conduct against women. Subsequently, Mr. Trump apologized and called it “locker room talk.” He has since called all his accusers liars.   In the time of “Me Too,” women across the country are coming forward with their own harrowing stories of sexual harassment and assault. Members of Congress have also come under scrutiny and investigation, with some resigning, for improper sexual conduct. We cannot ignore the multitude of women who have come forward with accusations against Mr. Trump. With that said, the President should be allowed to present evidence in his own defense.   Please respond with a decision within 10 days so that the Democratic Women’s Working Group can proceed accordingly. We await your prompt response.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-more-23-million-navy-contract-bath-iron-works,"Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works Posted Tue, 12/12/2017 - 11:55 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) a $23,902,104 contract modification. The funding will be used to continue lead yard services for Arleigh Burke-class ships.   “This funding is critical to ensuring that the highly skilled men and women of Bath Iron Works have the necessary resources to continue building the best, most advanced destroyers in the world,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We applaud the Navy for this contract modification that supports the hardworking employees at BIW, strengthens Maine’s economy, and bolsters our national security.”   This funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for lead yard services. The modification provides engineering and technical assistance for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and tasks include planning and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight III upgrade design efforts.   Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/maine-delegation-applauds-va-announcement-fund-veteran-support-specialists-maine,Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today applauded the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) announcement that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman made the announcement during the First Annual Military Veteran Symposium in Portland this morning.   “As our population of veterans has grown, aged, and diversified, the Togus VA Medical Center has adapted to these changes to meet the needs of patients,” said Senator Collins.  “Today’s announcement that the VA is funding three critical positions at Togus to help promote suicide prevention, assist veterans returning to society, and prevent unnecessary criminalization of those with mental illness will enhance the hospital’s work to provide high-quality care for veterans.  I applaud the VA for making this important investment.”   “Maine veterans answered the call to uphold our freedoms, and those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness deserve our comprehensive support,” Senator King said. “These new positions in Maine provide veterans with expanded access to specialists so they can get the treatments and services they need. Maine is a community – we care for our neighbors and for each other – and with the VA’s announcement today, we have taken an important step to strengthen our community and better care for veterans across the state.”   ""The high rate of veteran suicides is one of the most heartbreaking issues our country faces. We owe it to these brave men and women to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies and ensure they have someone to turn to. I appreciate the VA giving attention to this and other issues Maine veterans face. These new staff positions will be critical additions to the team at VA Togus,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine).   “Tragically, too many of our Veterans face extraordinary mental and health challenges when they return from service,” said Congressman Poliquin. “We must make sure our Veterans have the help and support they need. I’m very pleased with the announcement of these new positions at Togus that will help provide important resources to our Veterans.”   In February, Senator King wrote to the VA urging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine.   The Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-questions-experts-ways-reduce-prescription-drug-costs,Senator Collins Questions Experts on Ways to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A with hearing witnesses Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for high-quality video of Senator Collins’ Q&A with hearing witnesses Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Health Committee held the final hearing in a three-part series on reducing the cost of prescription drugs. The hearing focused on the recently released report from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the rising costs of prescription drugs titled, “Making Medicines Affordable: A National Imperative.”  The committee examined the recommendations of the report and listened to testimony from experts on how best to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for consumers while preserving access and innovation. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, has championed bipartisan efforts in Congress to increase funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment as well as medical research.   During the hearing, Senator Collins referenced a report broadcast in October by NBC “Nightly News,” which revealed that some contracts between pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacies prohibit pharmacists from telling consumers if their prescription would cost less if they paid for it out-of-pocket rather than using their insurance.   “NBC did a piece that showed that a consumer who had a co-pay of $43 for a cholesterol drug would have only payed $19 if that consumer had paid out-of-pocket,” said Senator Collins. “What would you think of having the federal government ban this practice of gag clauses as a condition of participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs?”   In response, Norm Augustine, the Chair of the Committee on Ensuring Patient Access to Affordable Drug Therapies, said, “Our committee addressed the broad issue that you raised, and it’s our belief that the way to resolve that is dealing with a larger issue: the lack of transparency. The fact is that people don’t know what is in the agreements that are made between, for example, the drug companies and those in the supply chain, so most people will never even know that a gag clause is there today.”   Senator Collins also criticized the “patent thicket” strategy, where some drug companies obtain numerous overlapping patents to stave off competition.   “For example, in the case of Humira… AbbVie has obtained more than 100 patents that have blocked competitors from coming to the market,” said Senator Collins. “How can we counter the strategy of a manufacturer attempting to extend the patent, in this case, to almost twice what it should have been?”   Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of American Action Forum, echoed Senator Collins’ concerns regarding the patent thicket strategy and suggested that one solution would be to get “better value-based pricing,” which seeks to set prices based on a prescription drug’s ability to enhance lifespans and the quality of life.  According to Dr. Holtz-Eakin, this would avoid increasing the value of the me-too patent by ensuring companies could not charge any more money for it.   “There are circumstances that I’ve seen recently that appear to be just sheer abuse of monopoly power.  That should be referred to the anti-trust authorities and should be prosecuted,” Dr. Holtz-Eakin continued.   “I completely agree with you that this monopoly is being used to protect profits rather than patients and R & D, the development of new drugs,” Senator Collins responded.  “I think it is something we need to take a look at.”   As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, last year Senator Collins led a bipartisan investigation into the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to egregious price spikes for certain generic, off-patent drugs.  Following her investigation, a bill that Senator Collins authored to improve generic competition and lower the cost of prescription drugs was signed into law as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act.   Witnesses testifying at today’s Health Committee hearing included:   Norm Augustine, Chair of Committee on Ensuring Patient Access to Affordable Drug Therapies, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine David Mitchell, President and Founder, Patients for Affordable Drugs Doug Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum Click HERE to read their testimonies.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-23-million-navy-contract-for-bath-iron-works,"Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works",2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce More Than $23 Million Navy Contract for Bath Iron Works Tuesday, December 12, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works (BIW) a $23,902,104 contract modification. The funding will be used to continue lead yard services for Arleigh Burke-class ships. “This funding is critical to ensuring that the highly skilled men and women of Bath Iron Works have the necessary resources to continue building the best, most advanced destroyers in the world,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We applaud the Navy for this contract modification that supports the hardworking employees at BIW, strengthens Maine’s economy, and bolsters our national security.” This funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for lead yard services. The modification provides engineering and technical assistance for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and tasks include planning and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class Flight III upgrade design efforts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-signs-letter-to-fcc-chairman-in-support-of-net-neutrality,King Signs Letter to FCC Chairman In Support of Net Neutrality,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Signs Letter to FCC Chairman In Support of Net Neutrality Tuesday, December 12, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla) and 37 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to abandon his plan to repeal the agency’s net neutrality rules. The senators’ letter comes ahead of a Thursday vote by the FCC on existing net neutrality protections. “Your plan gives a broadband provider the ability to significantly alter their subscribers’ internet experience,” the Senators wrote.  “Once adopted, this proposal will permit that provider to freely block, slow down or manipulate a consumer’s access to the internet as long as it discloses those practices – no matter how anti-consumer – somewhere within mounds of legalese in a new ‘net neutrality’ policy.  …It is a stunning regulatory overreach.” Senator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. Last week, in light of reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of fraudulent comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking comment process, he urged Chairman Pai to delay the planned December 14th vote until an investigation of the public record could be conducted. In September 2015, he filed an amicus brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. He also wrote a letter to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission’s net neutrality decision urging the FCC to put in place strong, light-touch protections that ensures the internet remains open and free of discriminatory practices. The complete text of the letter is available HERE and below. +++ The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman, Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., SW Washington, DC 20554   Dear Chairman Pai: We write to urge you to abandon your reckless plan to radically alter the free and open internet as we know it.  Your proposed action will amount to the largest abdication of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) statutory responsibilities in history. At its inception, Congress delegated to the FCC the primary responsibility to protect consumers and the public interest with respect to the nation’s communications networks.  With your current proposal, you have now decided to throw overboard those long-standing responsibilities – and consumers with them.  In short, you are walking away from your statutory duties and effectively eliminating FCC oversight over high-speed internet access. Your plan gives a broadband provider the ability to significantly alter their subscribers’ internet experience.  Once adopted, this proposal will permit that provider to freely block, slow down or manipulate a consumer’s access to the internet as long as it discloses those practices – no matter how anti-consumer – somewhere within mounds of legalese in a new “net neutrality” policy. Your proposal also makes sure that no other state or local government can fill this gaping consumer protection void by preempting them from adopting their own open internet consumer protections.  It is not enough for the FCC to turn its back on consumers.  You willfully plan to tie the states’ hands to prevent them from protecting their own residents.  It is a stunning regulatory overreach. Underlying your plan is the false notion that your action will return the internet to the supposed halcyon days of “light touch” regulation in the past.  This notion – that the way the agency approached internet access in the 1990s and early 2000s is the perfect approach today – ignores the very different role that the internet plays in 2017.  Over the past 20 years, internet communications have become widely adopted and relied on by American homes and businesses.  Yet, your plan ignores the central and critical role that access to a free and open internet plays in Americans’ lives and the role that the nation’s expert communications agency should play with respect to the networks underlying that access.  Moreover, your assertion that your plan returns internet access to the way it was before is not correct.  Even under the Bush-era FCC, the agency adopted open internet principles and held out the threat of regulatory action to combat harmful activity.  Your plan eradicates even that backstop and leaves Americans without a regulatory safety net. The future of the internet hangs in the balance.  The FCC’s responsibilities over the nation’s communications networks remain, and are more crucial than ever, as the internet has become fundamental to every aspect of our society.  On behalf of our constituents – and future generations of Americans – we urge you to abandon this radical and reckless plan to turn the FCC’s back on consumers and the future of the free and open internet.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/maine-delegation-applauds-va-announcement-to-fund-veteran-support-specialists-in-maine,Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine,2017-12-12,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Maine Delegation Applauds VA Announcement to Fund Veteran Support Specialists in Maine In Portland, VA Deputy Secretary announces three new positions to address veteran mental health, substance abuse, homelessness Tuesday, December 12, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin today applauded the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) announcement that it will fund three new positions in Maine to better serve the needs of justice-involved Maine veterans confronting homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse issues. The funding will support a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist, a Health Care for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) coordinator, and a specialist focused on veteran suicide prevention. VA Deputy Secretary Thomas Bowman made the announcement during the First Annual Military Veteran Symposium in Portland this morning. “Maine veterans answered the call to uphold our freedoms, and those struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness deserve our comprehensive support,” Senator King said. “These new positions in Maine provide veterans with expanded access to specialists so they can get the treatments and services they need. Maine is a community – we care for our neighbors and for each other – and with the VA’s announcement today, we have taken an important step to strengthen our community and better care for veterans across the state.” “As our population of veterans has grown, aged, and diversified, the Togus VA Medical Center has adapted to these changes to meet the needs of patients,” said Senator Collins.  “Today’s announcement that the VA is funding three critical positions at Togus to help promote suicide prevention, assist veterans returning to society, and prevent unnecessary criminalization of those with mental illness will enhance the hospital’s work to provide high-quality care for veterans.  I applaud the VA for making this important investment.” ""The high rate of veteran suicides is one of the most heartbreaking issues our country faces. We owe it to these brave men and women to do everything we can to prevent these tragedies and ensure they have someone to turn to. I appreciate the VA giving attention to this and other issues Maine veterans face. These new staff positions will be critical additions to the team at VA Togus,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). “Tragically, too many of our Veterans face extraordinary mental and health challenges when they return from service,” said Congressman Poliquin. “We must make sure our Veterans have the help and support they need. I’m very pleased with the announcement of these new positions at Togus that will help provide important resources to our Veterans.” In February, Senator King wrote to the VA urging the Department to fund a Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) Specialist and a re-entry specialist as part of the Veterans Justice Program. At present, there is only one VJO Specialist in Maine. The Veterans Justice Program aims to avoid the unnecessary criminalization of mental illness and extended incarceration of veterans by ensuring that they have timely access to VA services. VJO specialists provide direct outreach, assessment, and case management for justice-involved Veterans in local courts and jails, while acting as a liaison with local justice system partners, and re-entry coordinators provide critical casework to veterans returning to society. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-cosponsors-legislation-reauthorize-critical-health-care-programs,Pingree Cosponsors Legislation to Reauthorize Critical Health Care Programs that Serve Thousands of Maine Families,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.— As partisan politics have needlessly held up the reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers and other important public health programs, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is co-sponsoring a bill (H.R. 4541) that reauthorizes all of these programs and pays for it in a commonsense way that does not strip funds from other health care programs.  Funding for CHIP expired on September 30, putting health care for nine million American kids at risk.   “Maine is actually one of the few states where the number of uninsured children has gone up in recent years. We can’t afford to lose even more ground by not reauthorizing CHIP, which about 11,000 Maine children rely on for their health care. On top of that, partisan politics have also jeopardized the future of the Community Health Centers that serve over 200,000 Mainers every year,” Pingree said. “The reauthorization of these and other critical programs have been stalled because Congressional Republicans want to pay for them by undermining the country’s health care system in other ways. This is our answer to their unacceptable proposal: reauthorizing CHIP, Community Health Centers and other important public health programs while funding them in a commonsense way that doesn’t strip health insurance and services away from kids and families.”       The legislation fully extends CHIP for five years, and Community Health Centers (CHCs) and other important public health programs for two years. It also takes important steps to address the critical health care needs of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.       The bill pays for these programs by shifting the timing of payments to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-signs-holiday-cards-servicemembers-veterans-and-their-families,"Senator Collins Signs Holiday Cards for Servicemembers, Veterans, and Their Families",2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE and HERE for high-resolution photos of Senator Collins signing holiday cards Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Military Family Caucus, participated in the American Red Cross Holiday for Heroes programs, which allows Senators and congressional staff to send holiday cards to servicemembers, veterans, and their families. “The men and women serving in our military, along with their families and our nation’s veterans, deserve our respect, compassion, and support for the many sacrifices they make to defend our nation’s freedom,” said Senator Collins. “Members of our military are often deployed to distant places, far from their families and the comfort of home.  For those brave men and women in our Armed Forces who can’t be with their loved ones this holiday season, we should join together to support these heroes and their families and express our gratitude for all that they do on our behalf.”   In December 2007, Walter Reed Army Medical Center asked the Red Cross to help distribute thousands of holiday cards for wounded service men and women. In response to the request, the Red Cross turned the project into a nationwide effort that could reach members of the military at other facilities in the U.S. and around the world.  In previous Capitol Hill signing events, organizers collected more than 2,000 holiday cards.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-participate-wreaths-across-america-ceremony-us-capitol,Senators Collins and King Participate in Wreaths Across America Ceremony at U.S. Capitol,2017-12-11,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senators Collins and King Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for b-roll of Senators Collins and King Click HERE for video of Senator Collins’ remarks Click HERE for video of Senator King’s remarks Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King participated in the Wreaths Across America Capitol wreath laying ceremony this morning in Washington. Beginning in 2007, and each December since, Wreaths Across America, based out of Columbia Falls, Maine, has placed a remembrance Wreath at the U.S. Capitol Building. The wreath laid at the U.S. Capitol is adorned with flags representing each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and POWs/MIAs, and it is decorated with a red bow. During the ceremony, which coincided with similar ceremonies at all 50 state capitols across our country, Senators Collins and King delivered remarks and joined in a moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and to honor and remember our nation’s veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices.   “Wreaths Across America is a powerful demonstration of respect and appreciation for our veterans – both those that we’ve lost and those still with us,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “In this season of giving, the thoughts of all Americans turn to those who have given us the most precious gift of all: our freedom.  All Mainers should be proud that Wreaths Across America, this heartfelt expression of America’s gratitude, began in our State.”   A convoy of volunteers and thousands of Maine-made balsam wreaths departed from Maine yesterday, December 10th, and are scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery on December 16th.  Thousands of volunteers are expected to lay the wreaths at the graves of each American veteran.  In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will place approximately 1.2 million wreaths at over 1,200 locations in all 50 states and numerous national veteran cemeteries on foreign soil.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-senator-collins-interviewed-cbs%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cface-nation%E2%80%9D-0,ICYMI: Senator Collins Interviewed on CBSs Face the Nation,2017-12-10,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to watch the interview Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for high-quality video of the interview Washington, D.C. - This morning, U.S. Senator Susan Collins discussed tax reform and other topics on CBS’s “Face the Nation” with host John Dickerson. A transcript of the interview follows:   “Face the Nation” December 10, 2017   DICKERSON: We want to turn now to Maine’s Republican Senator Susan Collins. Welcome, Senator. We have some important tax business to get to, but I want to stay with this question of the revolution going on in the way that sexual assault is being dealt with. This week the Republican National Committee supported Roy Moore. You do not support him.  You say you believe his accusers.  Your colleague Republican Ben Sasse wrote this, “I believe the women and RNC previously did, too, what's changed? Or is the party just indifferent?” You're a Republican, what do you think about the RNC supporting Roy Moore?   COLLINS: I'm disappointed that the RNC has resumed its support of Roy Moore. I think that is a mistake. I would point out that I did not support Mr. Moore even prior to these allegations of sexual misconduct because I was concerned about his anti-Muslim comments, his anti-LGBT comments, and also, most important of all, he's been removed twice from the Alabama Supreme Court for failure to follow lawful judicial orders.   DICKERSON: You also, with the news about Al Franken this week you called for him to resign. Are you closer to the Democratic Party on these issues than the Republican Party?   COLLINS: I think Republicans care just as much as Democrats about sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. There's a new awakening in our country that this is pervasive, whether we're talking about Hollywood or Wall Street or the media or Capitol Hill. And that's why I’m joining a bipartisan group of senators who are trying to look at our own procedures on Capitol Hill to [en]sure that allegations of sexual misconduct involving members or staff are dealt with seriously.   DICKERSON: Last question on this before taxes, on the question of procedures, the Senate might have a decision to make with Roy Moore if he's elected. Here is something that I’m trying to work through. With the president there were these accusations, they were adjudicated in the election, the White House says, so the voters knew about them and they voted for him and now he's president. Why wouldn't that same standard apply to Roy Moore? The voters of Alabama know exactly what has been alleged. If he gets elected, what business does the Senate have the voters they’re wrong?   COLLINS: I think that's the tough question. If the allegations are known prior to the election, which they weren't in the case of Al Franken, for example, then we have a very tough decision to make about whether it's our role as senators to overturn the will of the people. I think it's a different situation if the allegations are not known or if they occur while the person is sitting in the Senate.   DICKERSON: Let me go on to taxes. You voted for the Senate tax cut bill, but you seem to be having qualms, questions, about this conference report. Where are you on things now?   COLLINS: I always wait until the final version of the bill is brought before us before I make a final decision on whether or not to support it. There are major differences between the House and Senate bills, and I don't know where the bill is going to come out. I also obviously care very much about amendments that I was successful in getting in the bill that particularly helped middle-income families, and I’m also concerned about agreements that I have.   DICKERSON: Let me ask you about two of those agreements. One is on Medicare. You got an agreement from Leader McConnell and Paul Ryan that there would not be these automatic Medicare cuts afterwards. Paul Ryan seemed to suggest maybe he wasn't party to that agreement, what is -- where do things stand on that agreement?   COLLINS: I have written correspondence that memorializes the agreement that the four percent cut in Medicare that could go into effect will not go into effect. I would point out that that law has been waived 16 times. It has never been implemented. But I don't want seniors to have the anxiety of wondering whether the tax bill somehow is going to trigger a cut in Medicare. I'm absolutely confident. I have it in writing, a statement by both Mitch McConnell and Speaker Ryan.   DICKERSON: The waiving of the so-called PAYGO rules. Let me ask you about seniors and seniors in Maine: The other thing you got a commitment on as I understand it is that there would be legislation that would come up before the end of the year dealing with these cost-sharing payments. There's a piece of legislation sponsored by Alexander and Murray. What is happening with that, because in the House, Republicans are being told that's not going to be part of anything before the end of the year, which means without those cost sharing payments, premiums are going up for Maine seniors.   COLLINS: I have had a lot of conversations, not only with my colleagues in the Senate, but with my colleagues on the House side and with the White House. I’ve talked to the president three times about this issue, and once again I have no reason to believe that that commitment will not be kept. After all, who wants to see health insurance premiums become more unaffordable than they already are for individuals who are buying insurance in the individual market. And our two bills, one that I have with Bill Nelson and the Alexander-Murray bill, will exert downward pressure on premiums and make it more affordable.   DICKERSON: There is one critique of that, though, that your legislation helped the condition before this tax bill which has the removal of that individual mandate, and that basically these fixes won't be enough for those people who will see higher premium increases.   COLLINS: We have a brand new study that just came out last week by Avalere, a respected consulting firm, that says it will more than offset the repeal of the individual mandate. Keep in mind that the individual mandate fines fall disproportionately on low- and middle-income families. Eighty percent of those fines are paid by families who make less than $50,000 a year.   DICKERSON: All right. Senator, I’m afraid we’re going to have to leave it there. Thank you so much for being with us.   COLLINS: Thank you, John.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-urges-fcc-delay-net-neutrality-vote-fully-investigate-fake,Pingree Urges FCC to Delay Net Neutrality Vote to Fully Investigate Fake Public Comments,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"PORTLAND, ME—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is urging the FCC to delay its vote next Thursday, December 14 regarding net neutrality protections in order to investigate a slew of potentially fake comments submitted during the public comment period. An investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office found hundreds of thousands of Americans had their identities stolen and used in a spam campaign to support repealing net neutrality. Pingree also released a video message via Twitter asking her constituents to enter their names at https://ag.ny.gov/fakecomments and see if they were used in the fake comment scam. Watch Pingree’s video here. “We’ve already seen how bots have been used to spread misinformation and influence our elections.  Now, they’re trying to sway our regulatory process on an issue that’s absolutely critical to the future of innovation and the economy. The FCC should delay its vote on net neutrality to fully investigate to what extent the public process was compromised, who was behind it, and what was their intention. I've heard from thousands of Mainers who do not want the FCC to create fast and slow lanes on the Internet by rolling back net neutrality. Their voices should not be drowned out by bots.” Pingree is cosigning two letters to the FCC with colleagues that will be sent early next week: one opposing the rollback of net neutrality protections and the other calling on the FCC to cancel next Thursday’s vote.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-%E2%80%9C-tax-overhaul-susan-collins-stretches-her-political-powers%E2%80%9D,"ICYMI: With Tax Overhaul, Susan Collins Stretches Her Political Powers",2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to read the article in the Wall Street Journal.  The full article is below.   WASHINGTON - Maine Sen. Susan Collins earlier this year decided to stay in her job instead of running for governor because she thought she could play a decisive role at a consequential time for the Senate.  Last week, as her Republican colleagues inched toward passage of a $1.4 trillion tax bill, she tested that theory and brokered some of the most significant last-minute changes to the measure in exchange for her vote.   Ms. Collins managed to make changes equal to a tenth of the net $1.4 trillion tax cuts in the bill by preserving some tax deductions, expanding others and protecting a retirement-contribution exclusion, based on data from the Joint Committee on Taxation.   She won inclusion of an amendment that would return the medical-expense deduction to pre-Affordable Care Act levels for two years. She also got Republican tax writers to back down from an attempt to stop elementary-school teachers and others from putting more money into retirement accounts than what other types of taxpayers may set aside.   The biggest-ticket item was her battle to preserve a property-tax deduction of up to $10,000, the elimination of which would have brought in $148.4 billion in revenue.   The most challenging bit of horse-trading involved a willingness by Ms. Collins to accept that the tax bill would repeal the health law’s mandate that most Americans buy insurance or pay a penalty, a politically risky step that could cause premiums to rise for those who buy private health-insurance, based on Congressional Budget Office forecasts.   Ms. Collins, 65 years old, is perhaps the most high-profile example of what has become an important characteristic of the modern Senate: female lawmakers who, in an increasingly visible way, are putting their imprint on legislation and driving the political discussion. She is one of the few remaining swing votes in the chamber and she is comfortable using that leverage.   Democratic women are leading the crackdown on lawmakers accused of sexual harassment, most notably pressuring Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken to resign Thursday after several complaints emerged. Within the Republican caucus, another pivotal woman is Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska.), who has chosen to shape legislation instead of going along with guidance from the all-male Senate Republican leadership.   “Historically, there haven’t been that many women in the Senate,” said Steven Smith, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. “Now, in the last few years anyway, it’s become almost routine to be thinking about them as pivotal or potentially pivotal votes.”   In exchange for her tax-bill vote, Ms. Collins won a commitment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) to support some nontax bills, including legislation to combat rising health-care premiums. Ms. Collins wants $10 billion for states over two years to set up high-risk pools designed to shift some of the cost of covering people with expensive pre-existing medical conditions to the government. She also wants passage of a bipartisan measure to restore funding to insurers that offset subsidies to help low-income consumers pay for copays and deductibles.   In the early hours of Saturday morning, the tax bill passed the chamber 51 to 49, with only one Senate Republican, Bob Corker of Tennessee, voting against it.   “After you’ve been there for a while, you realize how far you can go with your leverage,” said former Sen. Judd Gregg (R., N.H.), a friend and former colleague of Ms. Collins. “You want to retain respect while still getting across your position. She does that very effectively.”   The legislation must face final passage in both the House and Senate, and Ms. Collins said she is “not making a commitment on the tax bill” produced by a joint conference committee. Republicans could lose her vote and still pass the legislation, assuming no other GOP senator switches positions, a newly elected senator from Alabama backs the measure and Vice President Mike Pence casts a tiebreaking vote.   But she said she is confident President Donald Trump will help deliver the package of commitments she secured by persuading House Republicans to vote for the health measures she demanded. “I believe the president will be able to bring the House along,” she said.   Hard-line House Republicans like Rep. Dave Brat (R., Va.) say that won’t happen. “To put a major wrinkle in health policy, and one-fifth of the economy in exchange for a tax vote, I don’t think you can run that in the light of day,” Mr. Brat said. He had one word for Ms. Collins’s influence: “Disproportionate.”   House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) said Thursday that he wasn’t part of the discussions with Ms. Collins, but he left open the door to passing legislation similar to the bills she is pushing. “She’s put some very productive, constructive solutions on the table,” Mr. Ryan said.   Ms. Collins, who once served as an intern for a former Maine senator, served as the financial regulation commissioner in Maine and the New England administrator of the Small Business Administration. A political moderate, Ms. Collins won election to the Senate in 1996 with less than 50% of the vote. The Almanac of American Politics at the time wrote that she “brings to the Senate little experience in elective office” and has “not shown great vote-getting prowess.”   Two decades later, Ms. Collins has built a loyal base in Maine and has won re-election by comfortable margins despite a penchant from veering from the party line.   “Boy, are you tough,” Mr. Pence told Ms. Collins on the Senate floor this summer when she, along with Sens. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and Ms. Murkowski, resisted entreaties to vote to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. The GOP health plan failed in dramatic fashion by one vote.   Mr. Trump personally lobbied Ms. Collins to support the tax bill, meeting with her in the vice president’s office in the Capitol to hear her concerns, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.). It was an important gesture by the president and recognition of her stature, given that Ms. Collins didn’t endorse Mr. Trump last year.   Ms. Collins has a narrow road to travel in her negotiations on the tax bill, one pocked with pitfalls. She must weigh the potential risks to her voters with the political fallout to the Republican Party if it doesn’t have something to show for the first all-GOP control of Congress and the White House in a decade. Protesters have swarmed her offices to pressure her to vote against the tax bill. Republican leaders are pressing her in the other direction.   A key for her final deliberations will be whether Mr. McConnell can show that he can deliver on his promises to support legislation to combat rising health-care premiums, including billions for states to set up high-risk pools.   “She said she got promises of those things, but she voted before the promises came through,” said Sandy Maisel, an American government professor at Colby College in Maine.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-16-2017-%E2%80%9Cwreaths-across-america-day%E2%80%9D,"Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 16, 2017, as Wreaths Across America Day",2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 16, 2017 as “Wreaths Across America Day.” On December 16th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of American veterans interred there.    “In its twenty-six year history, Wreaths Across America has become an enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice, and reaffirms our never-ending obligation to thank those who served in defense of our nation,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This Maine-led tradition is an inspiring example of the generosity and gratitude to our nation’s veterans that makes the holiday season so special.  We are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who ‘Remember, Honor, Teach’ through Wreaths Across America.”   To honor our fallen heroes, wreaths will be laid at the graves of American servicemembers as part of a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, wreaths will be laid at more than 1,200 other locations across the country and at numerous national veterans cemeteries on foreign soil. Patriot Guard Riders will once again continue their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks from Maine down the East Coast, along with other patriotic escorts including motorcycle units, law enforcement, and first responders. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition.   The resolution is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-receives-caregiving-leader-congress-award-caregiver-action-network,Senator Collins Receives Caregiving Leader in Congress Award from Caregiver Action Network,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins and John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for b-roll of the award presentation Washington, D.C. - The Caregiver Action Network honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins with the Caregiving Leader in Congress Award for her long-time leadership on caregiver advancements. John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network, presented Senator Collins with the award in her Washington, D.C., office this morning. “Working to improve support and respite for the 90 million Americans who care for a loved one is an issue that is near and dear to my heart.  I am deeply honored to receive this award and want to express my thanks to the Caregiver Action Network and its members, who have helped lead the way in representing the concerns of family caregivers,” said Senator Collins.  “Family caregivers play an essential role in our communities by dedicating time and attention as well as making countless personal and financial sacrifices to care for their loved ones.”   “Thank you so much for the RAISE Act and everything you do for aging,” said John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network.  “You are really our hero for family caregivers.  We were just so honored to be able to give you the Caregiving Leader in Congress Award.”   In September, the Senate passed the RAISE Family Caregivers Act, legislation introduced by Senator Collins that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and sustain a coordinated strategy to recognize and support family caregivers. This bipartisan bill has been endorsed by more than 60 aging and disabilities organizations, including the AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Michael J. Foxx Foundation, and the Arc.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-markey-van-hollen-capito-introduce-legislation-extend-availability-new,"Senators Collins, Markey, Van Hollen, Capito Introduce Legislation to Extend Availability of New Alzheimers Semipostal Stamp",2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced legislation with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to authorize the recently-released United States Postal Service Alzheimer’s research stamp for an additional six years, providing more time to raise additional Alzheimer’s research funds for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Representatives Elijah Cummings (MD-07) and Maxine Waters (CA-43) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year. “In addition to the human suffering it causes, Alzheimer’s is our nation’s costliest disease.  As the founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s, I strongly advocated for the $1.8 billion for Alzheimer’s research that was included in the proposed funding bill for the upcoming fiscal year,” said Senator Collins. “By allowing Americans to continue to purchase Alzheimer’s research stamps, our legislation will promote additional funding for the NIH to help combat this devastating disease.”   “While we’ve made significant progress in our fight against Alzheimer’s, we need continued research investments through the National Institutes of Health to help us end this disease,” said Senator Markey. “This stamp will help us achieve that, but we need more than two years that the Postal Service has dedicated to build upon the momentum that this stamp will create. The issuance of this stamp gives me a renewed hope that, as the stamp art depicts, we will continue to bring Alzheimer’s out of the darkness and into the light. And together, we will find a cure.”   “Alzheimer’s is an irreversible disease that slowly robs people of their memories, their identities, and their ability to care for themselves,” said Rep. Cummings. “That’s why this stamp is so important—it will enable Americans everywhere who are touched by Alzheimer’s to make a contribution to help us win the fight against it. The Breast Cancer stamp issued nearly 20 years ago has raised more than $86 million to fight that disease, and I am confident that the Alzheimer’s stamp can be just as effective in supporting Alzheimer’s research.”    “The new stamp recently released by the U.S. Postal Service will be another source of funding for critically important Alzheimer’s research. By making that stamp available for an even longer period of time, we can further strengthen our efforts to fight Alzheimer’s,” said Senator Capito. “We have a long way to go in a fight that means so much to so many, and this bipartisan legislation is another step forward in finding a cure to this devastating disease.”   “Alzheimer’s causes immeasurable heartache to families across Maryland and our country, and over the years I’ve fought to increase funding for critical research,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I’m proud to join Senator Markey and Maryland advocate Kathy Siggins today in announcing legislation to direct the Postal Service to continue the stamp beyond the current planned two years. Whether it’s sending holiday packages or mailing a letter to a friend, every dollar we put towards Alzheimer’s research can help make a difference.”   “I am so proud that the Postal Service has heeded our call and established an Alzheimer’s stamp.  I am also proud that my Senate colleagues are introducing a Senate companion to my bill, in order to make this stamp available for six years instead of two,” said Congresswoman Waters.   A copy of the legislation can he found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-backs-bipartisan-bill-to-support-gold-star-families,King Backs Bipartisan Bill to Support Gold Star Families,2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Backs Bipartisan Bill to Support Gold Star Families Friday, December 8, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced his support for the Gold Star Families Support and Installation Act. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would increase support for Gold Star families by creating a standardized policy so the families can more easily access military facilities and certain military benefits.             “Gold Star families have sacrificed so much for our country and they deserve our earnest support as they grieve for their loved ones,” Senator King said. “In President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, he summed up our collective responsibility to care for our nation’s veterans and their families saying we must, ‘care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.’ By improving the services and benefits available to Gold Star families, we can better live by Lincoln’s words and give back to those who have given everything so we may live free.” Under current law, there are no standardized means for Gold Star families to access military facilities to do things like visit a loved one’s gravesite, receive grief counseling, or attend a memorial service. Some services have taken steps to issue access cards, but there is still no consistent policy across military service branches. Additionally, Gold Star spouses lose their on-base benefits if they choose to remarry. Joining Senator King in supporting the Senate legislation are Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), David Purdue (R-Ga.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-collins-king-resolution-marking-december-16-2017-as-wreaths-across-america-day,"Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 16, 2017, as “Wreaths Across America Day”",2017-12-08,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Passes Collins, King Resolution Marking December 16, 2017, as “Wreaths Across America Day” Friday, December 8, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 16, 2017 as “Wreaths Across America Day.” On December 16th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave sites of American veterans interred there. “In its twenty-six year history, Wreaths Across America has become an enduring symbol of valor and sacrifice, and reaffirms our never-ending obligation to thank those who served in defense of our nation,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This Maine-led tradition is an inspiring example of the generosity and gratitude to our nation’s veterans that makes the holiday season so special.  We are grateful for the hundreds of thousands of volunteers who ‘Remember, Honor, Teach’ through Wreaths Across America.” To honor our fallen heroes, wreaths will be laid at the graves of American servicemembers as part of a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, wreaths will be laid at more than 1,200 other locations across the country and at numerous national veterans cemeteries on foreign soil. Patriot Guard Riders will once again continue their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks from Maine down the East Coast, along with other patriotic escorts including motorcycle units, law enforcement, and first responders. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers are expected to participate in this proud tradition. The resolution is available HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/winners-2017-congressional-app-challenge-maine-s-1st-district-develop,Winners of 2017 Congressional App Challenge for Maines 1st District Develop Innovative Program for Diagnosing Concussions,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"As part of Computer Science Education Week, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced today that Falmouth High School students John Wahlig and Pawan Yerramilli have won the 2017 Congressional App Challenge for Maine’s 1st District. The team developed an innovative smartphone app to help coaches, athletes, and parents quickly diagnose potential concussions.  “Every day, digital devices and the streams of code that run them become a larger and larger part of our lives. The Congressional App Challenge is a great chance for Maine students to learn about everything that goes into developing these products and even start exploring it as a career,” said Pingree.  “I applaud John and Pawan for developing an app that not only looks incredibly professional, but could have a valuable public benefit on the nation’s playing fields. My congratulations as well to all this year’s participants for completing such well conceived and executed programs.”  Wahlig and Yerramalli’s app works by testing several criteria for gauging concussions outlined by the American Neurological Association: critical thinking, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, and short-term memory.  Designed with athletics in mind, the tests involve color patterns, number lists, and targets that move across the screen, as well as a questionnaire. If the tests are failed, the app recommends seeking medical attention.  The students produced a video to show how the app works.  Pingree also recognized two honorable mentions.  Jean Claude Zarate and Julian Bernard of Baxter Academy for Technology and Science in Portland developed baterio, an app to track battery usage for First Robotics Competition robots. Tyler Hansen of South Portland High School developed Meteor Multiplication to test multiplication skills in a fun video game environment.  The Maine Technology Institute assembled a panel of Maine technology professionals and entrepreneurs to judge the competition. The submissions were judged equally on the criteria of concept, design, and coding skill.  The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition—Members of Congress must choose to participate for students in their District to be eligible. Winning apps from each District will be displayed and recognized at an event in Washington, D.C.  The Internet Education Foundation coordinates the competition.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/democratic-leader-maine-state-senate-appreciates-congressman-bruce,Democratic Leader of the Maine State Senate Appreciates Congressman Bruce Poliquin for Fighting Unfair Foreign Trade,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – The Democratic Leader of the Maine State Senate, Troy Jackson (D-Allagash), said this week he appreciates Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) for his successful efforts to fight against illegal and unfair foreign trade, resulting in a sweeping decision by the Nation’s top trade officials to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and level the playing field for 161 workers in Maine.   WAGM-8 in Presque Isle reported the story HERE.   In a sweeping 4-0 vote, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Nation’s top federal trade officials, ruled in favor of Maine forest products jobs against illegal Chinese subsidies, after Congressman Poliquin strongly implored them to do so at a hearing in October.   The ITC’s unanimous ruling activates significant tariffs on the imports of Chinese hardwood plywood, helping to level the playing field for American and Maine wood products manufacturers.   “On behalf of the 161 Columbia Forest Products employees in Presque Isle, Maine, we are both thrilled and thankful with the results at the ITC. This victory for American manufacturing is in no small part due to the tireless support of Congressman Poliquin,” said Gary Gillespie, Vice President of Northern Operations for Columbia Forest Products, based in Presque Isle.   In October, Congressman Poliquin joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers to testify in-person at the ITC, where he implored the trade officials to act on hardwood dumping by Chinese companies that adversely impact American competitors from Maine and elsewhere across our Nation.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/case-you-missed-it-new-balance-applauds-senator-collins%E2%80%99-support-domestic-manufacturing,In Case You Missed It: New Balance Applauds Senator Collins Support for Domestic Manufacturing,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 6, 2017 -- Skowhegan, Maine -- New Balance released a statement today commending U.S. Senator Susan Collins on her support for comprehensive tax reform which will enhance the ability of the company to grow and create additional jobs in key U.S. regions like Maine.    New Balance currently has five manufacturing facilities in New England.  The facilities in Maine are located in Skowhegan, Norridgewock, and Norway and employ approximately 900 people.   “New Balance is proud to employ thousands of hardworking Americans and produce athletic footwear in the U.S.  We applaud Senator Collins’ efforts to encourage greater growth at our U.S. factories by reducing the corporate tax burden, incentivizing capital investment and creating long-term certainty. The Senate bill will allow New Balance to be more competitive and manufacture more footwear in Maine that we can export across the globe.”   Among the many pro-growth provisions included in the Senate tax bill, three changes to the tax code in particular are important to New Balance: First, the bill lowers the corporate tax rate.  This significantly reduces the incentive for companies to move operations overseas in search of lower tax rates.  Companies like New Balance, which already has a strong domestic manufacturing presence, will be able to increase investments in their facilities and be more globally competitive while remaining a U.S. company hiring U.S. workers. Second, the bill improves cost recovery for capital investments.  These provisions will allow businesses to fully expense or more quickly depreciate newly purchased assets, meaning companies will buy more property, equipment, and machines for use in the U.S. This will lead to more jobs for U.S. workers, more revenue for sellers, and bigger paychecks for employees. Third, the ability to bring back foreign profits through deemed repatriation. The return of foreign profits at lower tax rate is a major incentive to build and grow in our communities.  New Balance will invest these funds in the development and expansion of our facilities in New England.    New Balance is proud to be the only major company to make or assemble more than 4 million pairs of athletic footwear per year in the USA.  Whenever possible, we purchase materials from domestic suppliers, who employ more than 7,000 workers locally.   About New Balance New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. Manufactured in the U.S. for over 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance Made U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 6,000 associates around the globe, and in 2016 reported worldwide sales of $3.8 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-%E2%80%9Cretailers-consumers-and-state-will-benefit-tax-reform-bill%E2%80%9D,"ICYMI: Retailers, consumers and state will benefit from tax reform bill",2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Retailers, consumers and state will benefit from tax reform bill By: Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Augusta-based Retail Association of Maine   Click HERE to read the op-ed in the Portland Press Herald.    AUGUSTA — After more than three decades, Congress finally passed much-needed and long-overdue tax relief for millions of families and businesses. For Maine and its nearly 9,000 retail establishments and over 80,000 retail jobs, this is a welcome relief for small businesses.   We owe Sen. Susan Collins a heartfelt ""thank you"" for helping push the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act over the finish line. As she has done many times throughout her career, Sen. Collins was a critical force during the negotiations and was able to make significant changes to the bill addressing some of her major concerns.   SMALL COMPANIES ARE BIG WINNERS   We elect all of our congressional representatives to work hard for the people of Maine, and if these issues were all easy, all four would vote the same way each time. However, the issues are often complex and the process can be frustrating, but we rely on our elected officials to work hard and make informed decisions. Tax reform is a great example of that, and Sen. Collins used her leverage wisely to improve the bill.   Retailers in Maine have been advocating for tax reform for years, calling on Congress to push against tax breaks that benefit only select industries and instead use that revenue to lower rates for all companies, including small businesses. The retail industry is Maine’s largest private-sector employer and contributes $1.5 billion to the state gross domestic product, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Maine deserves legislation that will help generate jobs and economic growth.   While some critics will argue that this tax bill only benefits large companies, that is simply not true. They need to remember that 95 percent of retailers operate in just one location and 98 percent of retailers have 50 or fewer employees. Retailers are truly small businesses, and it’s clear they will be much better off under this bill.   Not only will Main Street retailers see the lowest tax rates in decades, they’ll benefit from a fairer and simpler tax code that leads to lower compliance costs. According to the National Taxpayer Advocate, small businesses spend nearly $16 billion complying with our nation’s complicated tax code, which is money that could be better spent on growth, job creation and higher wages. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will free up resources for retailers in a variety of ways, including by simplifying inventory accounting rules and promoting capital investment.   RETAILERS GET BADLY NEEDED RELIEF   Here are the three main reasons why passage of this new tax bill is good for Maine’s retail industry and the state as a whole:   • First, it addresses retail’s high, unequal tax burden: This legislation cuts business tax rates and closes loopholes, thus lowering retail’s high and unequal tax burden and leveling the playing field for the industry. Retail currently pays the highest effective tax rate of any industry, the National Retail Federation has found. Most tax breaks and loopholes are not applicable to retail.   • Second, it will enable reinvestment: By lowering retail’s tax burden, this bill will enable employers to reinvest in their businesses and employees. That means stronger retailers, better pay and more jobs.   • Third, it provides vital tax relief to consumers: Consumers will receive much-needed tax relief and therefore, increase discretionary income. By one estimate, a family of four with an income of roughly $73,000 would save $1,500 each year in taxes. More consumers with more money to spend would be a long-lasting boon for retailers.   HELPING STATE BE COMPETITIVE   While the new tax bill isn’t perfect, it goes a long way in helping retailers and their employees. It creates a fairer tax code, triggers reinvestment in Maine and the rest of the country and boosts the spending power of consumers. These are all key ingredients for retailers in Maine to continue to grow and for our state to stay competitive.   As the bill continues its way through the final process of a committee of conference and additional votes in the House and Senate, we have no doubt that Sen. Collins will be a respected, thoughtful voice and continue to do the best she can for Maine.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-questions-experts-progress-made-implementation-21st-century-cures-act,Senator Collins Questions Experts on the Progress Made Since Implementation of 21st Century Cures Act,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ Q&A with hearing witnesses Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for high-quality video of Senator Collins’ Q&A with hearing witnesses Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Health Committee held the second hearing in a series to discuss implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act since it became law on December 13, 2016. The committee questioned experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on how they have implemented the 21st Century Cures Act to advance biomedical research, decrease development time, and improve the regulatory process to advance safe and effective medical treatments. U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, has championed bipartisan efforts in Congress to increase funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment as well as medical research. Senator Collins highlighted the promise of the NIH Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project, funded by the 21st Century Cures Act, and how this research is making a difference for Mainers, such as Presque Isle native, Doug Oliver, who shared his story about losing and regaining his sight through regenerative therapy. Senator Collins noted that one of the eight awards that has been made as part of this Cures project went to the Maine Medical Center Research Institute, towards the development of regenerative therapies for chronic kidney disease. She also recognized the cutting-edge work of MDI Biological Laboratory.   “MDI Biological Laboratory in Maine is leading the development of regenerative therapies that hold significant potential for slowing degenerative changes that occur with aging,” remarked Senator Collins.   Senator Collins asked Dr. Collins about which aspects of the Accelerated Medicine Projects he found most promising.   “For Alzheimer’s, there are two areas that we are really pushing: one is biomarkers… and the other part is this systems biology where we’re really trying to step away from what we know already and ask the question, ‘What else is going on in the Alzheimer’s brain, and how could we use that to develop this next generation of therapeutics?’… and then apply those early before people succumb to the illness,” Dr. Collins answered.   The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law in December of 2016, provides $4.8 billion over ten years for the National Institutes of Health. That funding includes $1.5 billion for the BRAIN Initiative to improve our understanding of diseases like Alzheimer’s, our nation’s costliest disease. Additionally, it strengthens and improves important mental health programs for the first time in more than a decade. The 21st Century Cures Act also includes $1 billion over two years for grants to states to supplement opioid abuse prevention and treatment activities, including prescription drug monitoring programs, prevention activities, training for health care providers, and improving access to opioid treatment programs.   Witnesses testifying at today’s hearing included:   Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration   Click HERE to read their testimonies.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-receives-%E2%80%98champion-rural-america%E2%80%99-award-national-grange%E2%80%99s-150th-birthday,Senator Collins Receives Champion of Rural America Award at National Granges 150th Birthday Celebration,2017-12-07,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins with Rick Grotton Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) was recently honored as a Champion of Rural America by the National Grange for her leadership on issues related to agriculture and rural America as well as for her bipartisan approach to policymaking.  Former Maine State Grange President Rick Grotton of Monmouth presented the award to Senator Collins at the National Grange’s 150th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C. “I was honored to be recognized as a Champion of Rural America by the National Grange,"" said Senator Collins.  ""For 150 years, Grange has worked to promote public policy that recognizes the unique needs and strengths of rural America, and I am proud to join the organization’s nearly 5,000 Maine members in this effort.  As their motto states, the Grange stands on a foundation of unity, liberty, and charity.  With those qualities as our guide, we can build a new and vibrant economy for rural America.”   Maine has more than 100 Grange Halls that serve as centers of community life.   Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) were also honored at the celebration.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/briefing-highlights-success-produce-prescriptions-which-pingree-bill,"Briefing Highlights Success of Produce Prescriptions, Which Pingree Bill Would Expand",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—At the Capitol today, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) hosted a briefing on produce prescription programs, an element of the food is medicine movement that is proving effective at improving people’s diets and health outcomes by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Launching a national produce prescription pilot program called Harvesting Health is one provision of HR 3491, the Local FARMS Act, a bipartisan bill Pingree has introduced with Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Patrick Maloney (D-NY) to increase consumer access to healthy food in the Farm Bill.  “Everyone knows that eating enough fruits and vegetables can help keep us healthy—but our food system hasn’t gotten the message. The least expensive foods are the least healthy for us and that’s leading to obesity, heart disease, and other health conditions that cost our country billions of dollars every year,” Pingree said. “A simple idea is helping change that bit by bit—having doctors write prescriptions for fruits and vegetables and offering vouchers to help their patients purchase them. The results so far have been very encouraging, and I think we need to see what would happen if we ran this initiative on a larger scale.”   Pingree was joined at the briefing by Michel Nischan, CEO of Wholesome Wave, which run its Fruits and Vegetables Prescription (FVRx) Program at 34 sites across the country. It works with healthcare providers and public health promoters to write prescriptions for fruits and vegetables, and with retailers to unlock affordability for the families that need it most. According to the organization, nearly all participants (93%) met their fruit and vegetable recommendations by the end of the program, nearly half (47%) decreased their BMI, and 45% reported increased food security. “Doctors tell us that when they can prescribe produce, patients go from eating no fruits and vegetables at all, to eating several servings every day. And over time, that can turn their health around,” said Nischan. “If this provision passes, we could very well see the day where all Americans, regardless of income, can exercise their right to choose healthier food for their families, and take part in eating our way out of the national debt. Wouldn’t that be delicious?” At the hearing, Karen Landry, Executive Director of War on Poverty—Florida, highlighted the success of one such program at the Jessie Trice Community Health Center in Miami. The program is not only helping improving individual eating habits, but those of entire families, she said. And Kristy Anderson, Senior Government Relations Advisor at the American Heart Association, spoke about how increased access to fresh produce can help address diet-related diseases that are the highest causes of death in the nation.  “Encouraging and making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables is critical to improving their health. This is especially true when it comes to vulnerable and underserved populations,” said Anderson. “Prescriptions for healthy foods from a health care provider are a way to improve access and health.  Launching a pilot that would help us study fruit and vegetable prescription projects is essential for understanding their impact on the health of patients.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-slams-today-s-vote-hr-38-nra-giveaway,Pingree Slams Todays Vote on H.R. 38 as NRA Giveaway,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement on H.R. 38, the first piece of legislation relative to guns that the House has taken up following more than 327 mass shootings in this calendar year alone. Pingree will vote against the bill, H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The vote is expected around 4:30 p.m. today.   “Seeing this bill come to the floor a week before the fifth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting is absolutely sickening. In 2017 so far, the U.S. has seen 14,398 gun violence deaths, including 327 deaths from mass shootings alone. In the never-ending current of these horrific tragedies, Congressional Republicans have blocked all efforts to enact common sense gun legislation. Now, they actually want to make it harder for local law enforcement to do their jobs. This blatant giveaway to the NRA is so far off-base from what the American people have been calling on Congress to do.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/former-verso-paper-worker-maine-testifies-senate-aging-committee-hearing,Former Verso Paper Worker from Maine Testifies at Senate Aging Committee Hearing,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of Senator Collins and Mr. Jellison Click HERE for a copy of Senator Collins’ opening statement Click HERE to watch Senator Collins’ opening remarks Click HERE to watch Senator Collins questioning Mr. Jellison Note to assignment editors and news directors: For high-quality video, click HERE for b-roll of Senator Collins meeting Mr. Jellison, click HERE for video of Mr. Jellison’s testimony, click HERE for video of Senator Collins’ opening statement, and click HERE for video of Senator Collins questioning Mr. Jellison Washington, D.C. - Ralph Jellison, from Orland, Maine, had worked at the Verso Paper Mill (formerly Champion Paper) in Bucksport for 27 years when the company announced in 2014 that the mill would close. “My life was turned upside down when I was 52 years old,” Mr. Jellison told the Senate Aging Committee today.  “The job market had been flooded with hundreds of unemployed mill workers… I live in a small town where there are not a whole lot of options for me to just go out and find another job that paid as well as the mill.”   Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, invited Mr. Jellison to Washington to share his experience during a hearing focused on the challenges and opportunities facing America’s aging workforce.  Following the mill closure, Mr. Jellison enrolled in a retraining program at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, eventually securing a job at Hinckley Yachts and later at the GAC Chemical Corporation in Searsport.   “This opportunity to go back to school has brought me to this point in my life.  We’re back on our feet and I’m providing for my family again.  I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel,” said Mr. Jellison.   With Americans living and working longer, the workplace has transformed in an unprecedented way. For the past year, Senator Collins’ committee has been examining the nation’s aging workforce, and today released its report, “America’s Aging Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges.”  The report finds that the number of Americans over age 55 in the labor force is projected to increase from 35.7 million in 2016 to 42.1 million in 2026, and, by 2026, aging workers will make up nearly one quarter of the labor force.  At work, older Americans are productive, and the business case for hiring, retaining, and supporting older workers is strong.  Yet, challenges also exist – including age discrimination, inadequate training opportunities, working while managing health conditions and disabilities, balancing caregiving responsibilities with work, and preparing financially for retirement.    “The aging of our population has transformed our nation’s economy,” said Senator Collins.  “As older Americans enter and remain in the workforce in record numbers, they provide skills and experiences that are often unmatched; work ethic and principles that can be exemplary and vision that is uniquely informed by the past to frame the future.  Ralph is an inspiring example of an older worker who faced extraordinary challenges, yet was able to take advantage of opportunities that helped him rebuild his life and continue to provide for his family and prepare for his retirement years ahead.”   Under Senator Collins’ leadership, the Senate Aging Committee is committed to understanding, embracing, and addressing the opportunities and challenges facing older workers.  The Committee seeks to ensure that older workers are able to thrive at work and adequately prepare for retirement.    Click HERE to read the committee’s report.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-%E2%80%9Cstudy-obamacare-bills-backed-collins-would-lower-premiums%E2%80%9D,ICYMI: Study: ObamaCare bills backed by Collins would lower premiums,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"“Study: ObamaCare bills backed by Collins would lower premiums” By: Peter Sullivan   Click HERE to read the full article online.  An excerpt of the article is below.   “Two bipartisan ObamaCare fixes being pushed by GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) would reduce premiums by 18 percent in 2019, according to a new study. “The study from Avalere, a consulting firm, finds that the two bills would more than cancel out the projected premium increase from repealing ObamaCare’s individual mandate. “Collins secured a commitment from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to support passage of the two bills before the end of the year, in exchange for her vote for tax reform, which includes repeal of the ObamaCare mandate. “The two bills provide funding for payments to insurers, known as Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), and for “reinsurance,” which is money to pay for the costs of sick enrollees and bring down premiums. “Avalere finds those two proposals, with $5 billion per year in reinsurance funding, would reduce premiums by 18 percent in 2019. That is more than the 10 percent increase in premiums from repealing the mandate. “Reinsurance accounts for 4 percent and CSRs for the other 14 percent. “‘From a premium point of view, we do think reinsurance and CSRs probably covers the mandate,’ said Caroline Pearson, a senior vice president at Avalere.”   Click HERE to read the full article online.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-mccaskill-announce-senior-afe-clears-key-hurdle,"Senators Collins, McCaskill Announce Senior $afe Clears Key Hurdle",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) announced today that the Senate Banking Committee included the Senior $afe Act as part of a bipartisan legislative proposal to improve our nation’s financial regulatory framework.    Senators Collins and McCaskill, the Chairman and former Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, introduced the Senior $afe Act in January, which would put in place a plan to help protect American seniors from financial exploitation and fraud by providing support to regulators, financial institutions, and legal organizations to educate their employees about how to identify and prevent financial exploitation of older Americans.   “As Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, I have made preventing the financial exploitation of seniors a top priority,” said Senator Collins.  “I am pleased that the Banking Committee approved our commonsense plan, based on Maine’s innovative Senior$afe program, which will empower and encourage our financial service representatives to identify warning signs of common scams and help stop financial fraud targeting our seniors.”   “The unfortunate fact is that our seniors are particularly vulnerable to exploitation,” said Senator McCaskill, a former courtroom prosecutor. “Giving financial processionals – the folks in the best position to identify signs of fraud or abuse—the tools to safely and securely protect seniors’ life savings is the commonsense thing to do, and I’m glad our bipartisan plan to do it is one step closer to becoming law.”   According to the Government Accountability Office, financial fraud targeting older Americans is a growing epidemic that costs seniors an estimated $2.9 billion annually. These scams range from the “Jamaican Lottery Scam,” to the IRS impersonation scam, to the financial exploitation of seniors through guardianships.   Current bank privacy laws can make it difficult for financial institutions to report suspected fraud to the proper authorities The Senior$afe Act would address this problem by: Encouraging banks, credit unions, investment advisors, broker-dealers, insurance companies and insurance agencies to report suspected senor financial fraud; and Protecting these institutions from being sued for making reports so long as they have trained their employees, and make reports in good faith and on a reasonable basis to the proper authorities.   The Senior$afe Act has been endorsed by many stakeholders, including AARP, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS), the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU), the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI), Tansamerica, and LPL Financial.   Additional cosponsors of the Senior$afe Act of 2017 include: Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sen. Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV), Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Angus King, Jr. (I-ME), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/on-senate-floor-king-urges-deficit-neutral-tax-reform,"On Senate Floor, King Urges Deficit-Neutral Tax Reform",2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3 Augusta, Maine 04330",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-introduces-motion-to-instruct-tax-bill-conferees-to-return-deficit-neutral-final-conference-report,King Introduces Motion to Instruct Tax Bill Conferees to Return Deficit-Neutral Final Conference Report,2017-12-06,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Introduces Motion to Instruct Tax Bill Conferees to Return Deficit-Neutral Final Conference Report “It’s unethical, what we’re doing.” Wednesday, December 6, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) introduced a motion to instruct members of the bicameral conference committee on tax reform to return a final conference report that does not increase the federal budget deficit for the period of FY 2018 through FY 2027. He spoke on the Senate floor in support of the motion, which was defeated by a vote of 48 to 50. Excerpts from the speech are below: “We are headed into literally uncharted territory with regard to our national debt… It is a threat to this country. It’s a threat to our national security. It’s a threat to every man, woman and especially child, because they’re the people that are going to have to be paying this debt. “The bill that was passed in the dead of night early Saturday morning adds $1.5 trillion to that debt…We’re adding to the debt at a time of low unemployment, enormous growth in the stock market and a relatively strong economy. Not perfect by any means, but compared with where we were 5 or 6 years ago, we’re in positive territory on the economy. That’s when you should pay down debt, not add to it unnecessarily. If we were in a crisis, if we were in a recession, if we were in a conflict that required immediate mobilization, that’s when you want to add to the debt. “That’s what you borrow for – we’re borrowing to pay park rangers salaries. We’re borrowing to do the ordinary operation of government, and now we’re borrowing to give major tax cuts in a time of relatively positive economic growth. And I know it’s not as it should be, and as high as we want it to be, but this bill that we passed that’s going to add to the debt isn’t going to do much of anything to assist us with growth. The analysis of the Joint Taxation Committee is that it will add 0.8% to GDP growth in 10 years. That’s almost immeasurable…it doesn’t come close, by the way, to paying for itself… “It’s unethical, what we’re doing. If 5-year-olds knew what we were doing and could vote, we would all be out of a job because they are the ones who are going to have to pay this bill…it’s unconscionable. It’s unnecessary. If indeed we were going to expand the economy 3% or 4% a year, and everyone says that’s what we’re going for…but we’re talking about 0.8% over 10 years. Not per year, over 10 years. So my motion is very, very simple: don’t come back with a bill that adds to the deficit. “And there’s lots of ways we can do tax reform…without hammering the deficit. In fact, I understand as of this morning, we improve the finances of this bill by mistake to the tune of $389 billion. A mistake in the bill that we passed because we did it so fast that nobody knew what was in it. I have a new rule: the faster a bill goes through the United States Congress, the worse it is. And I think that’s what we’ve seen in this case. “We can deal with tax reform. We can increase our competitiveness. We can get our taxes aligned, particularly our business taxes, with the rest of the world without loading this debt onto our children. A tax cut when all you’re doing is borrowing to fill the hole is not a cut. It is a shift of the tax from you to your kids… “I think one of the questions we have to ask is…what are companies going to do with this newfound income when the taxes are cut dramatically…is that money going to go into new plants and equipment? Is it going to go into wages? Is it going to increase people’s wages… or is going to go into stock buybacks, which raise the value of the stock. That’s great for the owners, but doesn’t do a thing for the workers. And it doesn’t do much for the United States economy. “So again, my motion couldn’t be more straightforward and simple. Work on the tax bill in conference – I think you’re going to have a hard time making a good bill out of it – but whatever you do, come back with something that’s deficit neutral. And by the way, that’s where this discussion started. Last January, the leadership in both Houses, in both parties, was talking about deficit-neutral tax reform. And somewhere along the way, it became: ‘Let’s break the bank. Let’s add new debt to our kids. Let’s create a situation where we’re not going to have any slack when we need it.’ No business would run this way, and it’s wrong for us to try to run the country this way…” During his speech, Sen. King used Chart 1 to walk through the history of our national debt, which has ebbed and flowed based on economic circumstances and U.S. participation in armed conflicts. He specifically noted that following a large spike of debt to fund World War II, the Greatest Generation paid down the debt going into the 1970s. Senator King’s motion would have given nonbinding instructions to the conferees, asking them to return a final conference report that is deficit neutral over a 10-year period. This is his most recent push for a deficit-neutral approach on the recent tax legislation; prior to the Senate’s passage of the tax bill last week, Senator King offered an amendment to refer the tax bill to the Finance Committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal. The amendment failed along party lines following more than an hour of debate and an unusually long voting period. Senator King, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, has consistently called for a responsible, balanced and long-term approach to addressing our national debt and deficit. In 2016, he was named a “Fiscal Hero” by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.  Chart 1: Federal Debt Held by the Public as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-secretary-zinke-s-report-regarding-maine-s-katahdin-woods-and,Statement on Secretary Zinkes Report Regarding Maines Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) released the following statement regarding new reports stating that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will recommend President Trump preserve Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument:    “The Trump Administration’s attack on public lands is disturbing and, as has been reported, the largest elimination of protected areas in U.S. history. While I am pleased Secretary Zinke has said he’ll recommend that Katahdin Woods & Waters Monument stay intact, I would like the opportunity to read his full report and ensure Maine’s monument is safeguarded from the attacks Bears Ears and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments have suffered.   “Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument has spurred much-needed economic growth in the North Woods region and drawn thousands of new visitors to our state. It would be a mistake for the Trump Administration to reduce or revoke monument that has breathed life into Northern Maine’s economy and introduced thousands to the natural beauty of Maine.”   Pingree is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the Department of the Interior.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-urges-daca-solution-years-end,Rep. Poliquin Urges DACA Solution Before Years End,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) is calling on Congress to find a permanent legislative solution for DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, before the end of December. The letter from the 34 Republican lawmakers states:   “While we firmly believe Congress must work to address other issues within our broken immigration system, it is imperative that Republicans and Democrats come together to solve this problem now and not wait until next year. We all agree that our border must be enforced, our national security defended, and our broken immigration system reformed, but in this moment, we must address the urgent matter before us in a balanced approach that does not harm valuable sectors of our economy nor the lives of these hard-working young people. We must pass legislation that protects DACA recipients from deportation and gives them the opportunity to apply for a more secured status in our country as soon as possible.”   In addition, Congressman Poliquin also released the following statement: “Congress has waited far too long to act on serious border security and to implement an effective system to control who enters our county. It’s the federal government’s responsibility to establish immigration laws that work for American families while welcoming those wanting to become law-abiding citizens of the United States.   “America is a country of immigrants, like my own family. However, no President can simply side-step Congress and create immigration laws on his or her own. The Constitution is clear that the Legislative branch is responsible for passing laws to be presented to the President for signature. The Obama Administration acted illegally in creating the DACA program in 2012. I strongly opposed this action—joining a resolution condemning it—because it was unconstitutional and a violation of executive power. Now, the current Administration is facing legal challenges from several states if the DACA policy continues.   “Congress must act to improve our border security; to find a solution to address those well-meaning, law-abiding individuals now caught in DACA status; and to update our immigration policies which reduce incentives to break the law. America can continue to be a nation of laws, border security, and controlled immigration.”   Click HERE to see a PDF of the letter.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-727846-funding-greater-portland-health,"Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health",2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Newsroom Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health Posted Tue, 12/05/2017 - 11:46 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded two grants totaling $727,846 to Greater Portland Health. The Department’s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) will grant $581,024 to Greater Portland Health through its Health Center Cluster program and $146,822 through its Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS program.     “Community health centers, like Greater Portland Health, help Mainers across our state receive the high quality care they deserve,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “These federal grants offer critical support for people in the Greater Portland area, and we applaud HHS for recognizing Greater Portland Health’s commitment to the surrounding community.”   HRSA is an agency within HHS that is tasked with improving access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity. HRSA’s Health Cluster programs targets the economic and medically vulnerable as well as the geographically isolated. The Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program funds primary care for those living with HIV.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-senator-collins-secures-commitment-pass-legislation-lower-health-insurance-premiums,ICYMI: Senator Collins Secures Commitment to Pass Legislation to Lower Health Insurance Premiums Before the End of the Year,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. -  In case you missed it, on Friday, December 1st, U.S. Senator Susan Collins received a commitment from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that appears in the Congressional Record to pass two important bipartisan bills before year’s end to mitigate premium increases: Alexander-Murray, legislation to help low-income families afford insurance, and Collins-Nelson, legislation to help protect people with pre-existing conditions via high-risk pools.      The first bill Senator McConnell committed to pass is the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act introduced by Senators Alexander and Murray, which will provide vital funding in 2019 and 2020 for the cost-sharing reductions received by low-income enrollees in the ACA exchanges.  This funding helps low-income families pay their out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-pays.   The second bill Senator McConnell committed to pass is bipartisan legislation Senator Collins introduced, which will protect people with pre-existing conditions while lowering premiums through the use of high-risk pools.  This plan will provide states with a total of $10.5 billion—$500 million in 2018 to help states set up the pools and $5 billion per year in 2019 and 2020 in seed money—to establish invisible high-risk pools or traditional reinsurance programs.  In Maine and Alaska, high-risk pools were used to lower premiums substantially – by an average of 20 percent.    Click HERE to read the colloquy in the Congressional Record.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/sen-king-on-cnn-new-day-12-05-17,Sen. King on CNN New Day 12-05-17,2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3 Augusta, Maine 04330",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-727846-in-funding-for-greater-portland-health,"Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health",2017-12-05,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce $727,846 in Funding for Greater Portland Health Tuesday, December 5, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded two grants totaling $727,846 to Greater Portland Health. The Department’s Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) will grant $581,024 to Greater Portland Health through its Health Center Cluster program and $146,822 through its Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS program.   “Community health centers, like Greater Portland Health, help Mainers across our state receive the high quality care they deserve,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “These federal grants offer critical support for people in the Greater Portland area, and we applaud HHS for recognizing Greater Portland Health’s commitment to the surrounding community.” HRSA is an agency within HHS that is tasked with improving access to health care by building healthy communities, strengthening the health care workforce, and achieving health equity. HRSA’s Health Cluster programs targets the economic and medically vulnerable as well as the geographically isolated. The Ryan White Part C Outpatient EIS Program funds primary care for those living with HIV.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-calls-national-monument-reductions-deeply-troubling,Pingree calls national monument reductions deeply troubling,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Chellie Pingree released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to slash the acreage of both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. She is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the Department of the Interior. “President Trump’s decision to severely shrink these national monuments is deeply troubling for the precedent he is setting. If he is allowed to undermine the process our country has for conserving its most special places, how can we know if any public lands are truly protected for the future?   “The entirety of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are worth conserving for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. Bears Ears itself is sacred to several Native American tribes. It’s disgraceful and disheartening to see them opened up for the exploitation of their natural resources.    “The review of national monuments by President Trump’s administration has also been troubling for its lack of transparency. We still have yet to see compelling justifications for these decisions and it remains unclear if the President has this authority at all.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pingree-nominates-28-maine-students-united-states-service-academies,Pingree nominates 28 Maine students to United States Service Academies,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"Portland, Maine—Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) has announced her office’s nominees to the United States Service Academies—the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.  To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.   “This group represents some of Maine’s best and brightest. They have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, high academic standards, and a passion for helping others,” said Pingree.  “Whatever happens from here, they should all be proud of themselves.  We are lucky that they have chosen to offer their talents in service to the country, and it’s an honor to nominate them.”   The nominees were interviewed by a panel of six on their academic record, test scores, leadership ability, involvement in extra-curricular activities, and exemplified commitment to serving their country.   Pingree nominated several students to more than one academy.  The full list of nominations is below.  Contact information is available upon request. United States Naval Academy Kelsey Brayboy, Eliot, Marshwood High School Jack Freeman, Owls Head, Oceanside High School Zach Grant, Brunswick, Brunswick High School Brinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy Eric Heiman, Arundel, Thornton Academy Dana Hirschhorn, Kennebunkport, Waynflete Ray Horne, Berwick, Noble High School Jake Lapierre, Winslow, Winslow High School Payje Leclerc, Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach High School  Marco Manfra, Scarborough, Scarborough High School Richard Mann, Bowdoinham, Baxter Academy James Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),  Eric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School Aiden Roberts, Hope, Phillips Exeter Academy Sean Scanlon, Bath, Cheverus High School Brendan Sullivan, Berwick, St. Thomas Aquinas High School James Waaler, Yarmouth, Yarmouth High School John Wallace, Bowdoin, CTI2, U.S. Navy, Mount Ararat High School ‘13 Connor Winn, Saco, Thornton Academy Michael Wrigley, Wells, Wells High School United States Military Academy Sam Colesworthy, North Yarmouth, Greely High School Jack Freeman, Owls Head, Oceanside High School Elizabeth Garver, Bailey Island, Mount Ararat High School Brinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy Payje Leclerc, Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach High School  Michael Lunny, Springvale, Sanford High School Asa Muthig, North Berwick, Berwick Academy Eric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School Aiden Roberts, Hope, Phillips Exeter Academy Sierra Weston, Winthrop, Lawrence High School United States Air Force Academy Mia Ferrante, Buxton, Bonny Eagle High School Elizabeth Garver, Bailey Island, Mount Ararat High School Zach Grant, Brunswick, Brunswick High School Brinley Harrison, South Bristol, Lincoln Academy Patrick Hopkins, Winslow, Maine Maritime Academy, Winslow High School (prior) James Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),  Eric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School United States Merchant Marine Academy Ray Horne, Berwick, Noble High School Derrick Littllefield, Casco, Marion Military Academy, Sewickley (PA) Academy (prior) Marco Manfra, Scarborough, Scarborough High School James Mannette, Windham, Northwestern Preparatory School, Windham High School (prior),  Eric Quirk, Scarborough, Scarborough High School",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/14-maine-students-nominated-us-military-service-academies,14 Maine Students Nominated for U.S. Military Service Academies,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) announced that he has nominated 14 students from Maine’s 2nd District to attend one of our Nation’s prestigious military service academies next year. The Congressman will personally call each nominee to congratulate them. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:   “These dedicated and hardworking young Mainers have demonstrated their incredible talent, commitment to duty, and academic excellence,” said Congressman Poliquin. “I’m extremely proud and excited to nominate these extraordinary young adults for consideration for admission to one of our Nation’s great military service academies. Congratulations on your success so far, and keep up the great work on your grand journeys ahead!”   The 2017 nominees include:   Tristan Cosby, Houlton – Houlton High School: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy Cody Craig, Skowhegan – The Hill School: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Elizabeth Diaz, Jay – Kents Hill School: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Haley Donovan, Crawford – Calais High School: U.S. Air Force Academy Elinor Haldane, Blue Hill – George Stevens Academy: U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy Chase Harkins, Bethel – Gould Academy: U.S. Military Academy Alexander Howell, Islesboro – Islesboro Central School: U.S. Naval Academy Alexander Inman, Eddington – Bangor High School: U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Naval Academy Anthony Mason, Beaver Cove – Greenville High School: U.S. Naval Academy Maria Maxsimic, Holden – Brewer High School: U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy Emily Mikoud, Dover-Foxcroft – Foxcroft Academy: U.S. Military Academy Emily Mousseau, Lewiston – Lewiston High School: U.S. Naval Academy Connor Roy, Hampden – Hampden Academy: U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy Anna Sewall, East Millinocket – Schenck High School: U.S. Naval Academy   Congressman Poliquin’s nominations were informed by the recommendations of his distinguished Service Academy Nomination Advisory Board, which personally interviewed student applicants last month in Bangor. That board included military, community and educational leaders and had nearly 200 years of combined service in the United States Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy.   To be considered for appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by a Member of Congress or other authorized nominating source.   The application period for 2nd District students seeking nomination to a military service academy from Congressman Poliquin in 2018 will open in May.   Additionally, Congressman Poliquin invites military service academy graduates and other Veterans in need of assistance to contact his offices in Lewiston (784-0768), Bangor (942-0583) or Caribou (492-1600) or by visiting poliquin.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-s-testimony-top-federal-trade-officials-results-unanimous,Rep. Poliquins Testimony Before Top Federal Trade Officials Results in Unanimous Ruling in Favor of Maine Forest Products Jobs Against Chinese Manufacturers,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – In a sweeping 4-0 vote, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Nation’s top federal trade officials, ruled in favor of Maine forest products jobs against illegal Chinese subsidies, after Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) strongly implored them to do so at a hearing in October. The ITC’s unanimous ruling Friday activates significant tariffs on the imports of Chinese hardwood plywood, helping to level the playing field for American and Maine wood products manufacturers.   “Mainers are the hardest working people in the world and can compete and win against anyone, but the rules have to be fair,” said Congressman Poliquin. “For too long, Mainers have borne the brunt of unfair and illegal trade practices from foreign competition. In particular, Chinese manufacturers, backed by the Chinese government, have had an unfair advantage over our wood products industry, not playing by the rules.   “The ITC’s unanimous ruling in favor of Maine jobs is a strong and encouraging victory for hundreds of hardworking Mainers in Presque Isle. I am thrilled with the commission’s definitive ruling and will continue to fight to ensure Mainers can compete on a level playing field.”   Said Gary Gillespie, Vice President of Northern Operations for Columbia Forest Products, based in Presque Isle, “On behalf of the 161 Columbia Forest Products employees in Presque Isle, Maine, we are both thrilled and thankful with the results at the ITC. This victory for American manufacturing is in no small part due to the tireless support of Congressman Poliquin.”   In October, Congressman Poliquin joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers to testify in-person at the ITC, where he implored the trade officials to act on hardwood dumping by Chinese companies that adversely impact American competitors from Maine and elsewhere across our Nation.   Congressman Poliquin testifies before the ITC in October, imploring the federal trade officials to condemn unfair trade from Chinese competitors and to protect Maine jobs.   Congressman Poliquin testifying before the ITC in October.   Congressman Poliquin holds up plywood made in the USA and plywood made in China during the ITC hearing in October.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-more-44-million-naval-contract-bath-iron-works,"Collins, King Announce More Than $44 million Naval Contract with Bath Iron Works",2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Navy awarded Bath Iron Works a $44,305,474 option last month on a previously awarded contract.  The funding will be used to continue Integrated Planning Yard services for Arleigh Burke-class and Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships. “This announcement is welcome news for the hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “These contracts show the Navy’s commitment to BIW and its confidence in the shipyard’s highly skilled employees, who are vital to our state’s economy and to our nation’s security.”   This funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for the continuation of Integrated Planning Yard services. The modification covers integrated planning and support for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Oliver Hazard Perry-class of frigates built at Bath, and tasks include design, planning, and modernization efforts.   Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/icymi-senator-collins-discusses-russia-investigation-tax-reform-nbc%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cmeet-press%E2%80%9D,"ICYMI: Senator Collins Discusses Russia Investigation, Tax Reform on NBCs Meet the Press",2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Click HERE to watch the interview Note to assignment editors and news directors: Click HERE for high-quality video of the interview Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” this morning with host Chuck Todd to discuss the Russia investigation and tax reform A transcript of the interview follows:   “Meet the Press” December 3, 2017   TODD: Joining me now is Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. She sits on the Intelligence Committee. Senator Collins, welcome back to ""Meet the Press.""   COLLINS: Thank you, Chuck.   TODD: Obviously, I want to get to two stories. I’m going to start though with Russia. Taken at face value, there are two sort of alarming quotes over the weekend. One comes from the president's twitter feed—we referenced it earlier in the lead in—that he said the reason he fired Flynn is he lied to the vice president and the FBI, apparently invoking the idea that he knowingly obstructed justice, perhaps. And then let me show you this K.T. McFarland quote. She was the deputy national security adviser for a short period of time. There is an e-mail that she sent around during the transition that apparently said this, “If there is a tit-for-tat escalation, Trump will have difficulty improving relations with Russia, which has just thrown USA election to him.” Now we have the White House trying to backtrack, clarify all of those things. How alarming are those two quotes to you?   COLLINS: Well, they're the reason why we have two investigations underway right now.  The special counsel's investigation clearly is bearing fruit, as we've seen with the guilty plea with General Flynn. And we have the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation, which is a different kind of investigation, a counterintelligence investigation, and we're also making progress.   TODD: It's interesting you said “bearing fruit.” Do you believe that there was collusion? Do you think that this is where this is headed, that Mueller is slowly but surely proving his case there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians?   COLLINS: We don't know that yet, but what we do know is that there were conversations during the transition period. During the transition period there is still only one president and that was President Obama, so those conversations should not have been taking place. But that does not confirm collusion.   TODD: This deal for Flynn to work with Mueller now, how much does that slow down the Intelligence Committee investigation?   COLLINS: Well, that's a great question because we had already asked General Flynn to come before us and to also produce his personal papers, and his attorney asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. So now, really, the special counsel is in the driver's seat as far as General Flynn is. I still want to hear from him because I believe that he could contribute a great deal to our investigation.   TODD: Do you think at this point -- you guys have some cooperation between the special prosecutor's office and what you guys are doing. Does that include your ability to read all the interview transcripts for instance of Michael Flynn?   COLLINS: Well, I’ve been reading the interview transcripts that our staff is doing --   TODD: Do you get access to Mueller’s?   COLLINS: We do not get access to Mueller’s, and I understand that because only he can pursue criminal wrongdoing. Ours has a different mission but also a very important one.   TODD: I'm curious, the scope, does it include the transition? I know the scope is about the campaign, does that include the transition?   COLLINS: Yes.  And it should.   TODD: You believe the scope of Intel Committee does include the transition. Everything up to January 20th or even more?   COLLINS: It not only includes the transition period, it includes the campaign period, and that's why we're looking at the conversations that occurred during that period as well.   TODD: Do you have a sense of where Mueller is in his probe? Do you feel as if this is the end of the beginning, beginning of the end? Do you guys have a sense of the length of this probe right now?   COLLINS: Although we're in touch, or the chairman is in touch, with the special counsel, it's very difficult to say, but clearly he is making progress. He's had guilty pleas from two individuals. He's had two other indictments. So he is making progress.   TODD: The chairman of the Intelligence Committee, fellow Republican Richard Burr, acknowledged in an interview to the New York Times that the president has talked to various Republican members of the Intel Committee, encouraging them to move the probe along, end this probe. Senator Burr wrote it off to inexperience in government. He didn't view it as an attempt to obstruct justice. Two questions. One, has the president called you?   COLLINS: No, he has not.   TODD: That doesn't surprise me, frankly. But second, do you think Richard Burr -- do you agree with his take that oh, this is just inexperience in government by the president? He doesn't realize he's violating some protocol here.   COLLINS: Well, even if it's inexperience, that doesn't make it right. The president should have no comment whatsoever on either of these investigations, and the only thing he should be doing is directing all of his staff and associates to fully cooperate.   TODD: All right. Let me move to the tax bill. I want to move to the debt part first. Let me play a little mash-up of what you've said about the debt in the past. Take a listen.   [Begin Video Clip]   STEPHANOPOULOS: And Senator Collins, you supported President Obama on the stimulus package. Can you support his budget?   COLLINS: No.   STEPHANOPOULOS: Why not?   COLLINS: Because it brings our debt levels to an unprecedented level.   COLLINS: Our current debt is unsustainable. It's $14.3 trillion. And it is a threat to the future prosperity of this nation.   [End video clip]   TODD: All right. If the debt is unsustainable at $14 trillion, how do you -- how did you make yourself comfortable voting for something that is going to increase the deficit, this tax bill? We're at $20.6 trillion now and the best estimates say it's going to, even the best estimates of dynamic scoring that we could find still add half a trillion to the deficit.   COLLINS: Economic growth produces more revenue, and that will help to offset this tax cut and actually lower the debt. I –   TODD: Where is the evidence? Can I -- explain to me -- find a -- find a study that actually says what you're claiming. It doesn't exist.   COLLINS: Let me do that. First of all, if you take the CBO’s formula and apply it, just four tenths of [a] one percent increase in the GDP generates revenues of a trillion dollars. A trillion dollars. Even the Joint Committee on Taxation has projected that the tax bill would stimulate the economy to produce hundreds of billions of additional revenue. I've talked to four economists, including the dean of the Columbia School of Business and former chairs of the Councils of Economic Advisers, and they believe that it will have this impact. So, I think if we can stimulate the economy, create more jobs, that that does generate more revenue.   TODD: But why isn't there a single study. I'm going to show you three studies that we have: sort of a liberal one, a centrist one, and a conservative one right up there. The most conservative one, the most pro-economic growth argument, still adds $516 billion to the deficit over ten years.   COLLINS: Well, talk to economists like Glen Hubbard and Larry Lindsey and Douglas Holtz-Eakin who used to be head of the CBO. They will tell you otherwise. So I think you will find that economists just don't agree on this.   TODD: All right, you’re comfortable with your vote on this tax bill.  And is it there no matter what really comes out of conference?   COLLINS: No, I mean obviously I want to see what comes out. I believe that the amendments that I added on medical expense deductions, on property tax deductions, on helping retirement security for public employees improve the bill.  I got a commitment that we're going to pass two bills, including the Alexander-Murray bill and one that I’ve authored that will help offset the individual mandate repeal by lowering premiums. And I also got an iron clad commitment that we're not going to see cuts in the Medicare program as a result of this bill.   TODD: All right, we will be watching that commitment that was made to you. I'm curious to see if they keep their deal with you. Senator Collins, thanks for coming on.  I’m out of time unfortunately.  I appreciate you coming on and sharing your views.   COLLINS: Thank you, Chuck.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-united-states-military-service-1,Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.  Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination.    “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation’s distinguished service academies,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character.”   The following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King:                                                                                                              United States Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs   Name                                       Home Town                High School   Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Haley Donovan                       Crawford                     Calais High School Mia Ferrante                            Buxton                        Bonny Eagle High School Zachary Grant                         Brunswick                   Brunswick High School Brinley Harrison                      South Bristol              Lincoln Academy Patrick Hopkins                      Winslow                      Winslow High School Alexander Inman                    Eddington                    Bangor High School James Mannette                      Windham                     Windham High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                        Brewer High School Connor Roy                            Hampden                     Hampden Academy     United States Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point   Name                                       Home Town                High School   Elizabeth Diaz                         Jay                               Kents Hill School Raymond Horne                     Berwick                       Noble High School Derrick Littlefield                   Old Orchard Beach     Sewickley Academy Marco Manfra                         Scarborough                Scarborough High School James Mannette                      Windham                    Windham High School Eric Quirk                               Scarborough                Scarborough High School     Unites States Military Academy – West Point   Name                                       Home Town                High School   Samuel Colesworthy               North Yarmouth          Greely High School Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Jack Freeman                          Owls Head                  Oceanside High School Elizabeth Garver                      Bailey Island               Mount Ararat Alexander Inman                     Eddington                    Bangor High School Brendan Killarney                   Veazie                         John Bapst Memorial High School Payje Leclerc                           Old Orchard Beach     Old Orchard Beach High School Michael Lunny                        Springvale                   Sanford High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                         Brewer High School Emily Mikoud                         Dover Foxcroft            Foxcroft Academy Asa Muthig                             North Berwick             Berwick Academy Eric Quirk                               Scarborough                Scarborough High School Aiden Roberts                         Hope                            Phillips Exeter Academy Sierra Weston                          Winthrop                     Lawrence High School     United States Naval Academy- Annapolis   Name                                       Home Town                High School                         Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Eric Heiman                            Arundel                       Thornton Academy Robert Hetherman                  Harpswell                     Hyde School Dana Hirschhorn                     Kennebunkport           Waynflete School Alexander Howell                   Islesboro                      Islesboro Central High School Anthony Mason                      Beaver Cove                Greenville High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                         Brewer High School Emily Mousseau                      Lewiston                     Lewiston High School Dylan Richmond                     Mason Township         Hebron Academy Sean Scanlon                           Bath                             Cheverus High School Anna Sewall                            East Millinocket          Schenck High School James Waaler                          Yarmouth                     Yarmouth High School John Wallace                           Topsham                      Mouth Ararat High School Connor Winn                          Saco                             Thornton Academy Kevin Wrigley                         Wells                           Wells High School",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-more-than-44-million-naval-contract-with-bath-iron-works-,"Collins, King Announce More Than $44 million Naval Contract with Bath Iron Works",2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Collins, King Announce More Than $44 million Naval Contract with Bath Iron Works Monday, December 4, 2017 Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Navy awarded Bath Iron Works a $44,305,474 option last month on a previously awarded contract.  The funding will be used to continue Integrated Planning Yard services for Arleigh Burke-class and Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships. “This announcement is welcome news for the hardworking men and women at Bath Iron Works,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.  “These contracts show the Navy’s commitment to BIW and its confidence in the shipyard’s highly skilled employees, who are vital to our state’s economy and to our nation’s security.” This funding is a cost-plus-award-fee modification to a previously awarded contract for the continuation of Integrated Planning Yard services. The modification covers integrated planning and support for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Oliver Hazard Perry-class of frigates built at Bath, and tasks include design, planning, and modernization efforts. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-colleagues-call-on-fcc-to-delay-vote-to-roll-back-net-neutrality-rules,"King, Colleagues Call on FCC to Delay Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules",2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King, Colleagues Call on FCC to Delay Vote to Roll Back Net Neutrality Rules Letter follows reports that bots may have filed hundreds of thousands of fake comments to FCC during Net Neutrality policymaking process Monday, December 4, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King today joined 27 of his senate colleagues in a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern over reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking process and calling on the Chairman to delay the planned December 14th vote to roll back net neutrality rules until an investigation of the state of the record is conducted. “A free and open Internet is vital to ensuring a level playing field online, and we believe that your proposed action may be based on an incomplete understanding of the public record in this proceeding,” the Senators wrote. “In fact, there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed… “Without additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record, the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public’s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017.” Senator King is a fierce proponent of protecting the internet as a tool that can be used equally by all. In September 2015, he filed an amicus brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the FCC’s Open Internet rules. He also wrote a letter to then-FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in advance of the Commission’s net neutrality decision urging that broadband be reclassified as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Senator King was joined in writing the letter by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The letter is below and can be read in full HERE: December 4, 2017 The Honorable Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street Southwest Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai: We are deeply concerned by your recently released proposal to roll back critical consumer protections by dismantling the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) current net neutrality rules. A free and open Internet is vital to ensuring a level playing field online, and we believe that your proposed action may be based on an incomplete understanding of the public record in this proceeding. In fact, there is good reason to believe that the record may be replete with fake or fraudulent comments, suggesting that your proposal is fundamentally flawed. To this end, we request a thorough investigation by the FCC into reports that bots may have interfered with this proceeding by filing hundreds of thousands of comments. Furthermore, an additional 50,000 consumer complaints seem to have been excluded from the public record in this proceeding, according to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by the National Hispanic Media Coalition.  Without additional information about the alleged anomalies surrounding the public record, the FCC cannot conduct a thorough and fair evaluation of the public’s views on this topic, and should not move forward with a vote on December 14, 2017.  New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has spent the past six months conducting an investigation into the fraudulent comments, and found that “hundreds of thousands” of comments may have impersonated New York residents, a violation of state law. He further asserts that the FCC has not cooperated with requests for additional data and information. Data scientist Jeff Kao has also run an analysis of the public record, and estimates that over a million comments filed in support of repealing net neutrality may have been fake. These reports raise serious concerns as to whether the record the FCC is currently relying on has been tampered with and merits the full attention of, and investigation by, the FCC before votes on this item are cast. A transparent and open process is vitally important to how the FCC functions. The FCC must invest its time and resources into obtaining a more accurate picture of the record as understanding that record is essential to reaching a defensible resolution to this proceeding.  As a result, we are requesting that you delay your planned vote on this item until you can conduct a thorough review of the state of the record and provide Congress with greater assurance of its accuracy and completeness.  Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-collins-and-king-announce-maine-nominees-to-the-united-states-military-service-academies-1,Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies,2017-12-04,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators Collins and King Announce Maine Nominees to the United States Military Service Academies Monday, December 4, 2017 Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced their nominees to the United States Military Academies. To be considered for an appointment to a service academy, applicants must be nominated by an authorized nominating source, which includes Members of Congress.  Admission to the United States Coast Guard Academy, also a federal service academy, does not require a congressional nomination.  “We are proud to have the honor to nominate such an impressive group of Maine students to our nation’s distinguished service academies,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “The young people we have nominated have earned this honor through a commitment to strong scholarship, leadership, and character.” The following students from Maine have received nominations as candidates to the military academies from Senators Collins and King:                                                              United States Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs Name                                       Home Town                High School Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Haley Donovan                       Crawford                     Calais High School Mia Ferrante                            Buxton                        Bonny Eagle High School Zachary Grant                         Brunswick                   Brunswick High School Brinley Harrison                      South Bristol              Lincoln Academy Patrick Hopkins                      Winslow                      Winslow High School Alexander Inman                    Eddington                    Bangor High School James Mannette                      Windham                     Windham High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                        Brewer High School Connor Roy                            Hampden                     Hampden Academy   United States Merchant Marine Academy- Kings Point Name                                       Home Town                High School Elizabeth Diaz                         Jay                               Kents Hill School Raymond Horne                     Berwick                       Noble High School Derrick Littlefield                   Old Orchard Beach     Sewickley Academy Marco Manfra                         Scarborough                Scarborough High School James Mannette                      Windham                    Windham High School Eric Quirk                               Scarborough                Scarborough High School   Unites States Military Academy – West Point Name                                       Home Town                High School Samuel Colesworthy               North Yarmouth          Greely High School Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Jack Freeman                          Owls Head                  Oceanside High School Elizabeth Garver                      Bailey Island               Mount Ararat Alexander Inman                     Eddington                    Bangor High School Brendan Killarney                   Veazie                         John Bapst Memorial High School Payje Leclerc                           Old Orchard Beach     Old Orchard Beach High School Michael Lunny                        Springvale                   Sanford High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                         Brewer High School Emily Mikoud                         Dover Foxcroft            Foxcroft Academy Asa Muthig                             North Berwick             Berwick Academy Eric Quirk                               Scarborough                Scarborough High School Aiden Roberts                         Hope                            Phillips Exeter Academy Sierra Weston                          Winthrop                     Lawrence High School United States Naval Academy- Annapolis Name                                       Home Town                High School     Tristan Cosby                          Houlton                       Houlton High School Eric Heiman                            Arundel                       Thornton Academy Robert Hetherman                  Harpswell                     Hyde School Dana Hirschhorn                     Kennebunkport           Waynflete School Alexander Howell                   Islesboro                      Islesboro Central High School Anthony Mason                      Beaver Cove                Greenville High School Maria Maxsimic                      Holden                         Brewer High School Emily Mousseau                      Lewiston                     Lewiston High School Dylan Richmond                     Mason Township         Hebron Academy Sean Scanlon                           Bath                             Cheverus High School Anna Sewall                            East Millinocket          Schenck High School James Waaler                          Yarmouth                     Yarmouth High School John Wallace                           Topsham                      Mouth Ararat High School Connor Winn                          Saco                             Thornton Academy Kevin Wrigley                         Wells                           Wells High School ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-statement-on-senate-passage-of-tax-bill,King Statement on Senate Passage of Tax Bill,2017-12-02,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"King Statement on Senate Passage of Tax Bill Saturday, December 2, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed its tax bill: “Tonight, I’m disappointed, and I’m angry, because the American people deserve better. For months, moderates in the Senate reached across the aisle to colleagues – and friends – asking them to sit down and work together on a commonsense tax reform bill that supports hardworking Americans and fosters economic growth for businesses in Maine and across the country. In other words: to govern. But instead of digging in and doing the hard work, this Senate has decided to pass a bill that helps the few instead of the many, and shifts a massive financial burden onto our children. Rather than maximize this opportunity to help working Americans and set our nation on a path to further prosperity, this bill pushes through at least $1 trillion in unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations. These cuts are not only misguided – they’re downright dangerous, and their effects will be felt by every aspect of our society, from the health of our economy to our national security interests. “By rushing this legislation through the Senate with no hearings, no input from experts and no feedback from the American people, we’ve advanced a terrible bill that will have terrible consequences. If history is any guide, this will be the major tax reform bill of the next 20 to 30 years, affecting every business, every citizen, and our entire economy. I’m disappointed today – but I hope members of Congress will reconsider the chance to work across the aisle to make fixes to this deeply flawed piece of legislation, so we can mitigate the damage to everyday Americans.” Senator King has consistently called for a responsible, balanced and long-term approach to addressing our national debt and deficit. On Thursday, he offered an amendment to refer the tax bill to the Finance Committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal. The amendment failed along party lines following more than an hour of debate and an unusually long voting period. In 2016, he was named a “Fiscal Hero” by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a nonpartisan movement to put America on a better fiscal and economic path.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/following-flynn-guilty-plea-pingree-calls-potus-release-tax-returns,"Following Flynn Guilty Plea, Pingree Calls for POTUS to Release Tax Returns, Reiterates Call for Independent Investigation",2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Democrat,House,ME,Chellie Pingree,P000597,pingree.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) issued the following statement after President Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators about his connections to Russia:   “Within a year of taking office, four of President Trump’s advisers have been criminally charged in the investigation into Russian election hacking. Earlier this year, when Michael Flynn resigned in disgrace I called for an independent, outside investigation into the President’s ties to Russia. Now that Michael Flynn has plead guilty to lying to FBI officials, I am reissuing that call and calling on the President to finally release all of his tax returns. President Trump has done everything he can to undermine Mr. Mueller’s investigation in the eyes of the public and mislead Americans about the severity of Russia’s influence over his White House. As Republicans push a tax plan that will ensure a windfall for the wealthiest at the expense of middle-class Americans, it is imperative that the President finally disclose his personal finances and make clear if he has financial ties to Russia.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tax-reform-bill-senate-includes-improvements-rep-poliquin-strongly,Tax Reform Bill in Senate Includes Improvements Rep. Poliquin Strongly Supports,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Bruce Poliquin,P000611,poliquin.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON – A comprehensive tax reform proposal, which will double the standard deduction for the average Maine family and retain the highest tax rate for top earners, had improvements made to it by Senator Susan Collins (ME) and others that Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) strongly supports. Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:   “Mainers deserve a tax break,” said Congressman Bruce Poliquin. “We’re going to deliver it to them.   “Earlier this month, I voted to move the tax proposal forward in the House, trusting the Senate would continue to work on it and improve it. Now, they are doing their work, like we did in the House.   “My colleague Senator Collins helped to make improvements to this proposal that I strongly support and that will benefit Maine families and small businesses, such as retaining the medical expense deduction and improving the provision dealing with historic tax credits. Senator Collins and I have both said there are problems with ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act, that we need to fix, and I’m pleased this new law starts to fix those problems.   “As the Senate works to finalize and vote on this tax reform proposal, I look forward to continuing our work, across the aisle and across the Capitol, to finish this landmark tax reform proposal to help our Maine families keep more of their hard-earned money and to giving our small businesses—the backbone of Maine’s economy—relief so they can grow and create more jobs for our fellow Mainers.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-support-senate-tax-reform-bill,Senator Collins Statement in Support of Senate Tax Reform Bill,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Republican,House,ME,Susan Collins,C001035,www.collins.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that, after securing significant changes, she will support The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the first major overhaul of our nation’s tax code since 1986. She released the following statement:   “I don’t think there is a single American who thinks that our current tax code is fair, simple, or promotes economic growth.  We need a tax system that will boost the economy, help the middle class, and encourage small businesses to grow and create jobs.  If we stimulate the economy through tax reform, we can significantly increase federal revenues while boosting Americans’ take-home pay.    “By nearly doubling the standard deduction and expanding the child tax credit, this bill will provide significant relief to lower- and middle-income taxpayers. For example, a single mother with one child earning $35,000 will see her taxes drop by nearly 4,000 percent. Instead of paying money to Washington, she will be getting more than $1,100 back each year to help her make ends meet.    “Over the past several weeks, I have worked to ensure that the Senate bill includes a number of important changes.   “First, I advocated strongly for restoring the state and local property tax deduction up to $10,000, a critical provision that will provide much-needed tax relief for hard-working, middle-income families.  Passage of my amendment will allow the vast majority of Mainers who itemize to fully deduct their property tax bill. In Maine, 166,000 taxpayers who itemize deduct a total of $725 million in property taxes on their federal income tax returns.  This is often the largest deduction taken by Mainers. In fact, Mainers have the 11th highest per capita property tax burden in the nation.    “Second, my amendment to help Americans struggling with high unreimbursed health care costs was incorporated into the bill.  I am pleased that the final bill will include my amendment to lower the threshold for claiming the deduction for these unreimbursed expenses from 10 percent to 7.5 percent of income for two years.  The House bill eliminated this long-standing deduction used by 8.8 million Americans – nearly half of whom make less than $50,000 per year.  A harmful provision of the Affordable Care Act had increased the threshold to 10 percent of income. Lowering the threshold will provide relief for those experiencing particularly high health care costs, including seniors and those with pre-existing conditions. That is why the AARP and 44 other consumer groups endorsed my proposal.   “Third, I’m pleased that my amendment to reverse the Senate bill’s ill-advised elimination of catch-up contributions to retirement accounts for church, charity, school, and public employees was adopted. My amendment will help protect these employees – including firefighters, school teachers, and police officers – by striking provisions in the Senate bill that would have reduced their ability to save for retirement.  These first responders and other public servants should not have their standard of living in retirement diminished because they chose to work in public service.   “In addition, I was deeply concerned that the repeal of the individual mandate would almost certainly lead to further increases in the cost of health insurance premiums – premiums that are already too expensive under the ACA.  I am very pleased the Majority Leader committed to support passage of two important pieces of legislation before the end of the year to mitigate these increases.  The first, the Bipartisan Health Care Stabilization Act introduced by Senators Alexander and Murray, will provide vital funding in 2019 and 2020 for the cost-sharing reductions received by low-income enrollees in the ACA exchanges.  This funding helps low-income families pay their out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles and co-pays. The second is bipartisan legislation I introduced that would protect people with pre-existing conditions while lowering premiums through the use of high-risk pools.  This plan will provide $5 billion annually for two years in seed money for states to establish invisible high-risk pools or traditional reinsurance programs. We know from experiences in the states of Maine and Alaska that high-risk pools can help to lower premiums substantially – by an average of 20 percent.    “I have also heard a great deal of concern from seniors with the Congressional Budget Office’s determination that an automatic four percent cut to Medicare, estimated to be roughly $25 billion for fiscal year 2018, could be triggered by the passage of this legislation as a result of the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (PAYGO) even though there is no intention for such a reduction to occur.  Medicare provides essential benefits to our nation’s seniors, and any reduction in funding triggered in this way would be completely unacceptable.  I wrote to the Majority Leader urging that we immediately remove the threat of an automatic cut in the program’s funding, which has been done on numerous occasions before, and I am pleased that he has said these cuts will be avoided. Speaker Paul Ryan has also joined in this pledge.   “Having secured these key improvements in the bill, as well as the commitments to legislation to help lower health insurance premiums, I will cast my vote in support of the Senate tax reform bill. As revised, this bill will provide much-needed tax relief and simplification for lower- and middle-income families, while spurring the creation of good jobs and greater economic growth.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.king.senate.gov/news/video-and-audio/view/sen-king-joins-ac360-to-discuss-floor-developments-on-senate-tax-bill,Sen. King Joins AC360 to Discuss Floor Developments on Senate Tax Bill,2017-12-01,2017,2017-12,Independent,House,ME,Angus King,K000383,www.king.senate.gov,,,legacy,"4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3 Augusta, Maine 04330",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z