I have advocated for a second destroyer to be included in this year’s budget, and I worked with the Administration during its careful review and repeated visits to BIW to verify the ability of the shipyard to construct another ship. https://t.co/YuKDMHgnzO

Today’s decision by the Department validates the capacity of Bath Iron Works and the hard work of its highly skilled 6,800 employees who build the best ships in the world. I have advocated for a second destroyer to be included in this year’s budget, and I worked with the Administration during its careful review and repeated visits to BIW to verify the ability of the shipyard to construct another ship while continuing to complete its current workload. This certification will help keep our Navy strong and support BIW as a steady source of good-paying Maine jobs. I will continue to work to ensure our shipbuilders have the resources to meet the Navy’s needs at a time when China is relentlessly expanding its fleet. https://t.co/tmXtVVqGH8

I oppose President Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on the purchase of diesel from Russia. I was a cosponsor of the Russian sanctions law, which the President recently signed but is now not following.   https://t.co/ojFs2OYn7G

Great to see my friends from the Fryeburg Fire Department today. I’m so thankful for all you do to keep Mainers safe. https://t.co/lWRe08mkHN

I am pleased that $2.8 million in federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which I authored last year, will help Penobscot Community Health Care avoid an imminent bankruptcy filing and continue serving patients in the Bangor region. This is welcome news for the thousands of Mainers who rely on PCHC for access to essential health care services. https://t.co/MZWixbwWGb

Important News for Mainers: After my conversations with the HHS Secretary and OMB Director this week, more than $38 million in federal home heating assistance will be released to help Maine families. This is one of the earliest releases of LIHEAP funding. This announcement comes at a critical time, as rising home heating oil prices are placing significant financial pressure on Mainers. No Mainer should have to choose between heating their home and paying for other basic necessities.

For years, North Windham has lacked the public wastewater infrastructure needed to support further economic and residential growth in the area. Today, I joined local leaders to cut the ribbon on the North Windham Wastewater Treatment Facility. This new state-of-the-art system will support new business and housing development and is expected to prevent thousands of pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus from entering the North Windham aquifer each year. This great achievement is the result of the Town of Windham, the Portland Water District, and Windham Raymond Schools working together with state and federal partners. I was delighted to contribute to the success of this project by securing $2 million through my role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Over the past five years, I have secured more than $164 million to support 83 water and wastewater projects throughout Maine, helping to make long-overdue infrastructure upgrades and strengthen the economic and environmental health of communities across our state.

Welcome home, Jessica!   After nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station, Caribou native Dr. Jessica Meir and her fellow astronauts have safely returned to Earth following NASA’s Crew-12 mission.   Jessica has once again made Maine and Aroostook County proud, this time serving as commander of the more than 230-day mission. Congratulations to Jessica and the entire Crew-12 team on a job well done and their safe return home.

Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, murdering 1,200 men, women, and children and taking hundreds more hostage in the deadliest single day for the Jewish community since the Holocaust. Today, we remember the innocent lives taken on October 7th and the suffering endured by the hostages and their families. I will never forget the ordeal of Abigail Edan, who was just three years old when she witnessed the murder of both of her parents and was taken hostage by Hamas. Abigail’s great-aunt gave me her picture and asked me to share her story. I carried that photo with me throughout Abigail’s captivity and later had the opportunity to meet her after she was finally released. Her story is a lasting reminder of the families devastated by Hamas’s cruelty and of the importance of never forgetting the victims of October 7th. On this day, we also reaffirm our commitment to stand against antisemitism and ensure it has no place in our country.

Today in Augusta, I joined first responders, their families, and other community members and local leaders at the annual Firefighters Memorial Service to honor the Maine firefighters we lost over the past year. As each name was read, a bell was rung in tribute to their service and sacrifice. This year’s memorial had special significance as we remembered Morrill Volunteer Firefighter Andrew Cross and Searsmont Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Woodbury, who lost their lives from injuries sustained responding to the tragic explosion and fire at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont earlier this year. Their extraordinary commitment to protecting their communities will not be forgotten, and we extend our deepest condolences to their families at home and their brothers and sisters at the firehouse. Maine’s firefighters answer the call in our cities and small towns, as full-time professionals and on-call volunteers, running toward danger when others are running away. We are forever grateful for their courage, dedication, and service to our communities.