Connecting Maine

In the 21st century, access to affordable, high-speed broadband is essential for education, economic and business opportunities across our state. It helps folks access telehealth care, do their homework, and stay connected with their friends and family.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), passed as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has increased access to affordable, high-speed internet for low-income households through a monthly internet service discount.

The great news is that the program has been extremely popular — nearly 100,000 Maine households have been able to stay online and connected because of the ACP. However, because of its popularity, the program now needs to be refunded and expanded so Maine families can continue to stay connected.

So, I joined the bipartisan Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 — legislation that would provide $7 billion in additional funding to keep folks online — and will continue fighting to extend this critical program.

Broadband is critical for Maine communities, and as the co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Broadband Caucus, I am committed to ensuring our state has access to an affordable, high-speed Internet connection.

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Taking Care of Those Who Served

Our veterans and servicemembers have made countless sacrifices to defend and serve our nation. We have an obligation to return that service to them after they hang up their uniforms. That means keeping the lines of communication open with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The VA is continuing to provide care for a record number of veterans in all parts of the country, urban and rural. However, a recent budget proposal from the VA would eliminate 10,000 critical VA jobs — despite data that shows the VA should be increasing staffing to better care for veterans, especially in rural areas.

In a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) hearing, I pressed VA Secretary Denis McDonough on these cuts, making clear the first priority has to be taking care of our veterans. It is unacceptable to let their care fall between the cracks in order to sort out a budget.

A couple of weeks later, in another SVAC hearing, I brought up the issue again. I want to know how these cuts are going to impact veterans' care. I will continue to press the VA until I have a firm answer on whether and how it might impact the quality and accessibility of care for our veterans in Maine and across the country.

In that hearing I also raised a question about transportation for rural veterans. Maine’s rural veterans already face so many challenges when accessing affordable, quality health care because of both their distance to medical facilities, as well as the availability of health care workers in rural areas. But by providing transportation to VA medical facilities, we can ensure that these veterans get the care they deserve.

To do something about this, I introduced bipartisan legislation to help improve health care transportation for rural veterans — and I will continue to work with the VA to ensure every veteran in Maine, regardless of where they live, can access the care they earned.

Leslie Brown, a U.S. Army veteran from Presque Isle

Not only do we have an obligation to take care of our veterans, but we also have an obligation to preserve and share their stories. To help keep these memories alive for future generations, I am partnering with the Library of Congress' Veterans' History Project to record the stories of veterans across Maine.

This Memorial Day, I released my latest episode of "Answering the Call: Maine's Veterans Voices," where I had the privilege to speak with Leslie Brown, a U.S. Army veteran from Presque Isle.

Leslie's story is incredible. Her father was an Air Force mechanic and she followed in his footsteps, becoming a Army jet engine mechanic. She served at Army installations all around the world — including two tours in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom — before returning home to northern Maine.

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to Leslie's story and join me in honoring all the brave men and women who have served our nation.

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Fighting for a Responsible Budget

Earlier this month, I was named a "Fiscal Hero" by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. A strong and responsible fiscal stance is not just good policy — it is good for Maine people, our economy and the future stability of our nation.

Whether it's taking care of our parks now to prevent costly maintenance down the road or encouraging smarter spending from the Department of Defense, the work we do today is going to define our future for generations to come. I'm proud to work alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sensible investments, get our budget in order and ensure we continue on a responsible path forward.

Meetings Around Town

Celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the WaCo Diner in Eastport

For 100 years, the WaCo Diner in Eastport has been a staple in the community — and also holds the title of being the oldest diner in Maine! I had the privilege of taking a trip over to Eastport to celebrate the WaCo centennial and hope this Maine icon stays open for another hundred years to come.

Joining a bipartisan group of my colleagues for a trip to Antietam National Battlefield

Earlier this month, I led a bipartisan trip to Antietam National Battlefield with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to refresh our thinking on conflict over the centuries. It was incredible to stand on the same ground as the brave soldiers, many of them from Maine, who fought to make our nation what it is today.

Visiting with the goats at Liberation Farm in Wales

On a trip to Wales at the end of the month, I visited Liberation Farms — a 103 acre farm where over 200 farmers grow produce to sell to local farmers markets and Maine food justice programs. Not only has this initiative helped small farms flourish and put healthy local vegetables on more tables, it also has gotten more young people interested and involved in farming. It's a win-win!

Hosting a virtual Capitol Class with students at Veazie Community School

You'll often hear me say one of the best parts of the job is meeting with young people across Maine. This month, I sat down virtually with students at Veazie Community School to give a behind the scenes look into life as a U.S. Senator and answer their smart questions. I was so impressed with this great group of students and know they all have bright futures ahead. Thank you for the invitation and keep up the great work!

May Policy Updates

As a reminder, you can read more updates on my website at king.senate.gov. Here are some other priorities I’ve been working on:

Bolstering the Cybersecurity Workforce. The growing danger presented by cyber-attacks is being exacerbated by a shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers. I introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a cybersecurity workforce program for veterans and servicemembers transitioning to civilian life. Read more HERE.
Standing Up Against Antisemitism. To counter the rising antisemitic attacks against Jewish Americans, I joined a bipartisan bill that would take comprehensive action to combat antisemitism, including establishing the first-ever National Coordinator to Counter Antisemitism. Read more HERE.
Protecting Against "Deep Fake" Images. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to dramatically improve and transform our way of life, but it also has risks that can be harmful. I joined the bipartisan DEFIANCE Act to ensure anyone who is the subject of explicit AI-generated images can defend themselves and hold bad actors accountable. Read more HERE.
Expanding Access to Katahdin Woods and Waters. Since its establishment, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has helped people across the world enjoy Maine's unmatched beauty while bringing important economic opportunities to our gateway towns like Millinocket. I introduced legislation to provide additional access so more people can experience this Maine treasure and boost the local economy. Read more HERE.
Saving Taxpayers Money. In 2023, the IRS debuted a free filing service that saved Americans in 12 states $5.6 million in fees. I led a letter to the IRS encouraging them to offer this service to all taxpayers so Maine people can keep more money in their pockets. Read more HERE.

Hearing Highlights

This month, in an open hearing of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee (SSCI), I pressed the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) about potential threats and disruptions ahead of the 2024 election and how we can ramp up efforts to ensure our elections are free and fair.

Deferring maintenance today can make for costlier repairs tomorrow. In an Energy Committee hearing, I pressed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland about why the current Interior budget underfunds maintenance in our National Parks. I stressed the importance of not postponing maintenance and urged Secretary Haaland to fight for an adequate maintenance budget so people across the country and world can continue to enjoy our beautiful parks.

And, while chairing a hearing of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I made clear my support for utilizing 3D printing within the Department of Defense (DoD) in order to be more cost-efficient and flexible with building and maintenance. I also couldn't help but mention that the University of Maine is home to the world's largest 3D printer.

In The News

Piscataquis Observer — King announces $2.5M to strengthen energy resiliency for Maine communities
Bangor Daily News — Angus King makes renewed push to expand access to Maine's national monument
WGME — Sen. King calls for more to be done to protect U.S. from hypersonic missiles
Times Record — Navy secretary and Sen. King discuss Navy's future and Bath Iron Works' role, during hearing
WFVX — Senator Angus King guest teaches class virtually to local middle school students
Sun Journal — Angus King impressed by Wales farm operated by Somali farmers

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All the best!

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