King Applauds President’s Call to Increase U.S. Icebreaker Fleet

Since visiting Arctic last year, King has called for U.S. to invest in additional icebreaker capabilities

Machiasport, Maine - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a founding member of the Senate Arctic Caucus, released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s expected call to increase the U.S. fleet of icebreakers that operate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions:‎

“As human activity in the Arctic grows, so, too, does the need for American leadership,” Senator King said. “A robust national fleet of icebreakers will be central to enhancing our capabilities in the region and positioning the U.S. to play a meaningful role in the responsible stewardship of this new frontier. I welcome the President’s call today and look forward to working with his Administration and members of Congress to see that the appropriate resources are provided to ensure a strong fleet of icebreakers in the years and decades to come.”

According to a New York Times report, President Obama is expected to call today for the U.S. to accelerate its acquisition and building of icebreakers to operate in the Arctic. The U.S. currently only has two fully functional icebreakers.‎ Senator King, who is also a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly called for an increase in the number of icebreakers ‎owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.‎ 

Senator Collins Proposes Improved CGM Coverage for Medicare Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins spoke from the Senate floor today regarding the introduction of the Medicare CGM Access Act. This legislation would create a separate benefit category under Medicare for the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and would require coverage of the device for individuals meeting specified medical criteria.

A CGM is a physician-prescribed, FDA-approved medical device that can provide real-time readings and data about trends in glucose levels every five minutes, thus enabling someone with insulin-dependent diabetes to eat or take insulin and prevent dangerously low or high glucose levels.

Currently, however, insulin-dependent Medicare beneficiaries are being denied coverage for CGMs because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined that they do not meet the Medicare definition of durable medical equipment and do not fall under any other Medicare category.

In her floor speech Senator Collins said, “The continuous glucose monitor is a potential life-saving device because it prevents dangerously low and high blood glucose levels by alarming the wearer when glucose levels fall outside of a safe range….Still, even though 95 percent of private insurers cover CGM technology, Medicare does not. There are thousands of seniors with type 1 diabetes who are denied access to the CGM technology that would keep them healthy and safe.”

Senator Collins is the founder and co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus. This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of organizations, including the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the Endocrine Society and the JDRF.

Maine Senator Angus S. King, Jr. will be keynote speaker at KVCC 45th Commencement

FAIRFIELD, Maine – Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) has announced that Maine Senator Angus S. King, Jr. will be the keynote speaker at its 45th Commencement Exercises May 16 at the Augusta Civic Center.

Senator King was invited to make the keynote address by Dr. Richard Hopper, KVCC President.

“It’s a tremendous honor to have Senator King speak to KVCC graduates," Dr. Hopper said. "He is an important advocate of training and skills to build the local workforce; the Senator is also a supporter of opportunity and upward mobility through education. Celebrating this day together will inspire our graduates who have sacrificed a great deal to complete their studies. Senator King is also sure to encourage Mainers of all ages to avail themselves of the fantastic educational value that Kennebec Valley Community College and the entire community college system provide."

Approximately 400 students will graduate from KVCC on May 16. Commencement begins at 10 a.m.

Senator King was sworn in as Maine's first Independent United States Senator on January 3, 2013. He

King Appointed to Budget Conference Committee

Group of lawmakers tasked with crafting a long-term budget
Washington D.C - U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is one of a select few lawmakers who has been appointed to a joint House and Senate budget conference committee charged with developing a long-term budget plan by December 13th.

“I am pleased to be a member of the conference committee, and I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to develop a long-term budget that puts our nation back on a path to fiscal certainty and stability,” Senator King said. “Passing a budget is the most fundamental task of governing, and it’s not been done for far too long. There is no doubt that reconciling the differences will be challenging, but it’s also an invaluable opportunity for us to do some real good for the country and demonstrate to the American people that we still have the ability to govern.”

The conference committee, which consists of 29 total members between the House and Senate, is a result of last night’s agreement to reopen the government and lift the debt ceiling. The committee is tasked with reconciling the differences between the two budgets passed by the Senate and the House earlier this year. Senator King, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, helped to craft the Senate’s budget and has been a vocal proponent of moving to conference.

U.S. Senate
Democrats and Independents	Republicans
Sen. Patty Murray (WA)  Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)  Sen. Bill Nelson (FL)  Sen. Debbie Stabenow (MI)  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)  Sen. Mark Warner (VA)  Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR)  Sen. Chris Coons (DE)  Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI)  Sen. Tim Kaine (VA)  Sen. Angus King (I-ME)	Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL)  Sen. Charles Grassley (IA)  Sen. Mike Enzi (WY)  Sen. Mike Crapo (ID)  Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC)  Sen. Rob Portman (OH)  Sen. Pat Toomey (PA)  Sen. Ron Johnson (WI)  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (NH)  Sen. Roger Wicker (MS)
U.S. House of Representatives
Democrats	Republicans
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD)  Rep. James Clyburn (SC)  Rep. Nita Lowey (NY)	Rep. Paul Ryan (WI)  Rep. Tom Cole (OK)  Rep. Tom Price (GA)  Rep. Diane Black (TN)