WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, joined three of his Senate colleagues to reintroduce legislation to increase domestic production of low-carbon, renewable energy from the natural power in ocean waves, tides and currents. The Marine Energy Research and Development Act reauthorizes marine renewable energy programs at the Department of Energy (DOE). Those programs include the national marine renewable... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) in releasing the following statement of support for the millions of citizens protesting the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong:“The extradition law... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) introduced the Saving Lives Through Better Data Act to invest in public health data infrastructure. The bipartisan bill aims to improve the nation’s public health data systems to ensure high quality, timely, and accurate information sharing in order to protect the public from health threats including viruses, prescription drug abuse, and other potentially preventable health problems.“I’m a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) led a bipartisan group of 13 senators to introduce the Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act, which aims to better understand and respond to America’s housing affordability crisis by creating a bipartisan housing task force. The task force would evaluate and quantify the impact of housing costs on other government programs, and provide recommendations to Congress on how... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his support for the Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act – which prohibits defendants from using gay or trans panic defenses in trials. “Gay panic” and “trans panic” defenses seek to excuse or mitigate crimes such as murder and assault by arguing that the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity provoked the defendant’s violent reaction, essentially blaming victims for the violence committed against... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution to recognize the 220,000 Senior Corps volunteers who collectively provided 50 million hours of community service in 2018. This resolution was cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 21 Senators, including Senators Collins and King.“Throughout the country, thousands of seniors — including more than 2,000 volunteers in... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME –Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced his support of the International Climate Accountability Act. The legislation, introduced at the two year anniversary of the Trump Administration withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, directs the United States to meet the standards established by the 2015 agreement and to mitigate the long-term damage caused by withdrawal from the international agreement.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jared Golden (D-Maine) sent a letter this morning urging President Donald Trump to provide relief to members of the lobster industry affected by the ongoing trade war with China – much as American farmers received government support to mitigate negative economic consequences. The letter emphasizes the importance of the Chinese market to Maine’s lobster industry and... Continue Reading »
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, took part in the official, bipartisan Senate delegation to Normandy, France, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II. On that day, the Allied Forces launched the largest land, air, and sea invasion in history, marking the beginning of the end of World War II. The 75th anniversary ceremony honors... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) awarded a $200,000 grant to Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC), a marine renewable energy company headquartered in Portland, Maine. The Phase I grant, awarded through the EERE’s Small Business... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that a total of $6 million in federal brownfields funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup of 14 sites in Maine, more funding than any other state in the country this year. The federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist local communities as they work to redevelop these contaminated sites in order to improve the environment and promote future... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act. The bipartisan bill would allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. Currently, there are 27 states – including Maine – with inspection programs certified by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) that meet or exceed federal inspection standards.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator King that will help give states and localities the tools they need to fight back against mosquitos and the viruses they spread. The bill was included within the larger Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) (S. 1379), and will now... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored legislation that would begin to address the more than 47,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country, including 325 bridges in Maine. This figure means 13.1% of Maine’s bridges are classified as structurally deficient, which is the sixth highest percentage in the nation. The Strengthen and Fortify Existing Bridges Act (SAFE Bridges) would establish a program to provide funding specifically dedicated to... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, and Angus King (I-ME), a cofounder of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to help expand the use of renewable wood energy. The bill would allow the use of biomass from certain federal and non-federal lands to promote healthier forests, more carbon sequestration, and cleaner transportation fuels.“Biomass is sustainable,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that his staff will hold the following constituent outreach hours for York and Oxford Counties.Outreach hours offer an opportunity for area residents to meet directly with a staff representative to discuss specific problems, legislative issues, or any concerns regarding federal government agencies. No appointment is necessary. All conversations are strictly confidential.Tuesday, June 4, 2019Goodall Library952 Main... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. —Yesterday, in a letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Neil Jacobs, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) expressed their concern about the ongoing North Atlantic right whale take reduction efforts and their significant impact on the Maine lobster industry. The delegation urged National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leadership to ensure that... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME –In honor of Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke today at Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. During his speech, Senator King paid tribute to America’s fallen heroes and honored the sacrifices of America’s veterans and their families. The annual event is put on in partnership with the Maine Veteran Coordinating Committee.“Memorial Day is a time to honor the heroism of America’s fallen servicemembers, and to come together to recommit ourselves to forming a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the May edition of Senator King’s Inside Maine podcast. This month’s podcast features U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who serves with Senator King as a co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), and Professor Henry Felch, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). Representative Gallagher joined Senator King to discuss the national security... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), announced today that the Committee has passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a number of provisions the Senator proposed that are important to national security and Maine jobs. The legislation was approved by a vote of 25-2, and will now advance to the Senate floor.“The National Defense Authorization Act is an example of how governing should work:... Continue Reading »
