BIDDEFORD, ME –Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined members of his staff, local officials, and Maine people for the ribbon cutting of his new Biddeford office, located at 227 Main Street. The new office, which is centrally located and available via public transit, will improve Senator King’s efforts to be accessible to his constituents. “When it came time to look for a new office in Southern Maine, the old adage stuck in my mind: ‘location, location, location,’” said... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a total of $606,696 to help 13 businesses throughout Maine lower their energy costs through solar panel installations. This funding is awarded through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).“Renewable energy installations not only have an important role in reducing harmful emissions, but can also save businesses money by substantially lowering their... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the inclusion of paid parental leave for federal workers in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation will allow new parents to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth, adoption or fostering of a child, effective October 1st, 2020. Earlier this year, Senator King joined 21 of his Senate colleagues in urging the inclusion of paid leave in the conference report of the NDAA.“Paid... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the federal government approaches another budget deadline on December 20th, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is joining a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. If signed into law, the commonsense bill would set up an automatic Continuing Resolution (CR) at the current spending level until an agreement is enacted, preventing a government-wide shutdown, continuing critical services and operations, and keeping federal employees at... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Caribou Utilities District received a grant of $1,400,000 and a loan of $4,200,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Rural Development to upgrade Caribou’s wastewater treatment facility and collection system. The project will help prevent overflows of untreated or partially treated wastewater during wet weather.“Maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure is vital to ensuring the... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $1,492,719 in funding to Greater Portland Health in Cumberland County and $635,688 for Sebasticook Family Doctors in Piscataquis County.“Access to quality, affordable health care is crucial to the well-being of Maine communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This important funding will help Greater Portland Health and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today announced that the House-Senate conference committee’s version of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators King and Jim Risch (R-Idaho). Both Senators are members of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR). The legislation will... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in support of its global efforts to thwart climate change. The 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 25) is underway in Madrid to convene a meeting on the historic Paris Climate Agreement.“Failing to address the worsening crisis of climate change will... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the House-Senate conference committee’s bicameral agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 included key policy and project wins for Maine. Senator King served on the conference committee that reconciled the differences between the Senate’s version, which passed by a vote of 86-8, and version advanced by the House of Representatives. The... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. - The Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King designating Saturday, December 14, 2019, as “Wreaths Across America Day.” On December 14, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay Maine-made balsam wreaths at the headstones of American veterans interred there.Patriot Guard Riders will once again continue their tradition of escorting the wreath trucks from Maine down the... Continue Reading »
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... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the Department’s Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to investigate the federal student loan discharge process for Americans with total and permanent disabilities (TPD). The members’ letter comes after an alarming report from National Public Radio (NPR), posted earlier this week, which... Continue Reading »
OAK RIDGE, TN – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and top officials from the University of Maine (UMaine) to tour Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The partnership between ORNL and UMaine advances research in additive manufacturing and 3D printing using bio-based products, which will create new markets for Maine’s forest products industry and support innovation in a broad range of industries in Maine including... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to Neil Chatterjee, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), emphasizing the dangers of incorporating equipment manufactured by Huawei Technologies Co. (Huawei) into the nation’s critical infrastructure. In the letter, King, Risch, and 8 of their colleagues ask for Chatterjee’s assurance that FERC understands the threat posed to U.S. national... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), highlighted the U.S. military’s dramatic need for deterrence strategies against cyberattacks – one of his key concerns as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Later in the hearing, Senator King noted that the United States should focus its resources on combatting emerging threats, such as Russia’s development of “nightmare weapon” hypersonic missiles.“Let me focus on a particular... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded $1,398,216 to York County Community Action Corporation in Sanford, and $1,113,626 to Downeast Community Partners in Ellsworth for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The programs provide free early childhood education and childcare to low-income families.“Head Start programs... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the challenges facing Maine blueberry farmers due to the U.S./China trade war and China’s retaliatory tariffs – totaling up to 97% in lost China sales since the tariffs took effect. Despite the heavy losses the trade war has inflicted on Maine’s wild blueberry industry, producers have not seen any relief or assistance in the ongoing multi-billion dollar farm bailout. Just today, Senator King sent a letter... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON — Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) pressed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the accuracy of the data and assumptions the agency is using to craft new regulations on Maine’s lobstermen. The delegation is requesting additional information from NOAA about how the findings of a recently completed peer-review process will be incorporated into its draft rules... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging them to help wild blueberry producers whose livelihood has been put at risk by the ongoing Chinese trade war. In the letter, Senator King notes the value of Maine’s wild blueberry exports to China are on pace to drop by nearly 97% since 2017. Despite this massive market loss, Maine’s wild... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 45 of his senate colleagues on a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, urging him to reject a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for victims of discrimination to seek justice under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). The Proposed Rule would significantly reduce use of the disparate impact standard for fair housing enforcement – a key tool for rooting out and eliminating hidden... Continue Reading »
