Award recognizes King for his leadership on behalf of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King of Maine was honored by the Navy League Capital Council as the 2023 recipient of its Congressional Sea Services Award in an event held on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Senator Angus King of Maine has been presented with
the Congressional Sea Services Award by the Navy League
Capital Council to recognize his outstanding leadership and
contributions to the United States Sea Services.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE  

This award, presented annually to a member of Congress, recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions to the United States Sea Services. Senator King accepted it on behalf of the men and women of the sea services and shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Senator King was presented with a binnacle, a casing that holds a ship’s compass and lamp, which will reside in his Senate office for a year. The traveling ‘trophy’ is the actual binnacle from the Sioux Falls Victory ship that saw action, and received a battlestar, in the amphibious assault of Okinawa, Japan in 1945. The ship also served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

“We all talk about ships, and we talk about aircraft, but it’s the people – the wonderful people that we have serving us,” said Senator King. “The military and our first responders, when you think about it, have the only jobs where you sign your name and you’re putting your life on the line. That’s not true for 95-percent of the jobs in our society. These are the young people who put their lives on the line when they sign up and it’s something that we have to constantly remember.”

“This is a tremendous honor, and I really am overwhelmed and delighted, but I have accepted it on behalf of the shipbuilders in Maine, the shipbuilders in Mississippi, the Coasties along the Maine coast, and the Naval personnel all over the country. This isn’t my award this is their award. Thank you,” said King.

The award citation reads as follows: “Senator King has been a long-standing and outspoken advocate for our nation’s safety and security. He has tirelessly fought for a strong national defense, with particular emphasis on maritime forces and seapower, championing funding and innovative policies to increase United States shipbuilding capacity and support for our nation’s critical workforce.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senator King has been a steadfast supporter of the Navy and Coast Guard. He recently secured key provisions in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to support the maritime forces and ensure that America’s military can continue providing best in class services to protect the “‘territory of the brave.” <