WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today cosponsored the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine that could protect against multiple strains of the flu virus and offer more effective and longer-lasting protection than current annual vaccines. The legislation calls for a total investment of $1 billion – $200 million for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – In a continuation of the Maine Delegation’s concerted efforts to remove the unfair and harmful tariff on U.S. lobster exports to China, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer, calling on him to make the lobster industry a priority in the ongoing trade negotiations with the Chinese government.“[T]he U.S. lobster industry continues to be... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators to reintroduce the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act to address the driver shortage in the trucking and logistics industry, as well as enhance safety training and job opportunities for young workers. In addition to Senator King, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Joe... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package by a vote of 363-62. The legislation previously passed the Senate by a vote of 92-8 and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) have long championed LWCF. Last month, they joined a bipartisan group in reintroducing... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the February Edition of his Inside Maine Podcast. This month’s edition features Kate Dempsey, Maine State Director of the Nature Conservancy, and Stephanie Clement, Conservation Director at Friends of Acadia, who join Senator King to discuss the Senate’s recent passage of a public lands legislative package, which was advanced by a vote of 92-8. The legislation included the permanent... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would help members of the independent workforce find flexible, portable benefits that fit their needs and the nature of their work. Specifically, the bipartisan Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act would establish a $20 million grant fund for states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to experiment with portable benefits models... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden today met with Governor Janet Mills at the U.S. Capitol. During today’s meeting, the Delegation and the Governor discussed opportunities for greater collaboration between the federal delegation and state government, and additional ways to produce results that improve life for the people of Maine.“We are all defined, first and foremost, by our commitment to the people of Maine,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King today announced his support for the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and guarantee that women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. “In the decades since Congress first passed the Equal Pay Act, we’ve seen real progress to close the wage gap – but it’s also clear that there is still work to be done,” said Senator King.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues to send a letter to the Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, urging them to protect our electrical systems and infrastructure from potential cyberattacks by banning the use of inverters made by the Chinese-owned company, Huawei Technologies Co, Ltd. In addition to Senators King and Collins, the letter was... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) has received $255,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for substance use disorder. This funding has been awarded through DHHS’ National Institute on Drug Abuse.“The important work being done at The Jackson Laboratory is making great strides to conquer a disease that affects far too many families in Maine and across the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined all the members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to call on Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats to make the mandated reports on foreign election interference in U.S. elections available to all members of the committee.Last year, the administration issued an executive order for agencies to prepare two reports following a U.S. election – the first a threat assessment prepared by the Director of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined his colleagues to send a bipartisan letter to Chairman Pai of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advocating for a public feedback mechanism to allow consumers and states to have a two-way conversation with the FCC that informs and improves broadband coverage maps and data collection, and provides more accurate reporting on broadband access. The Senators’ letter said in part,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) this week cosponsored bipartisan legislation to help Americans tackle their student loan debt. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act would allow employers to contribute up to $5,250 tax-free to their employees’ student loans – providing employees with much-needed relief and employers with a unique tool to attract and retain talented employees.“Young people seeking higher education should be able to follow... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced a bill today to encourage natural gas utilities and companies to launch demand response programs, a well-established model that rewards consumers for reducing energy use. The legislation would leverage states’ success in implementing demand response pilot programs that have proven highly effective. In addition to the potential cost savings, demand response programs can guard against price... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after voting to advance a bipartisan spending bill and avoid another unnecessary government shutdown: “I am relieved that Congressional negotiators were able to come together to fund the government and avoid another unnecessary shutdown,” said Senator King. “The last shutdown caused immense harm to millions of Americans, including federal workers, federal contractors, and Americans... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, joined Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today in reintroducing the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The legislation has 21 additional original cosponsors, including Senator Susan... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) took part in a Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) hearing on cybersecurity. King emphasized the need for urgent action, pushed for his legislation with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to protect U.S. energy infrastructure from cyberattacks, and called for mandatory standards for gas pipelines. Earlier in the day, Senator King took part in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on national cybersecurity and special... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that the Genesis Community Loan Fund (Genesis Fund) in Brunswick has been awarded $1,165,000 through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). This funding will support development of affordable housing and community facilities in low-income communities, and is awarded through the Capital Magnet Fund.“By providing Maine’s nonprofit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues to reintroduce the Native American Suicide Prevention Act. This legislation would help address the suicide crisis in Native communities by ensuring collaboration between states and tribal nations to design and implement statewide suicide intervention and prevention strategies that work for their communities. Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Congressman Tom Cole (R-Okla.)... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 47 Senators in opposing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) plan to gut its own payday protections for borrowers nationwide. Payday loans often carry interest rates of 300% or more, trapping vulnerable consumers in a cycle of debt. The CFPB’s own research found that four out of five payday consumers either default or renew their loan because they cannot afford the high interest and fees charged by payday... Continue Reading »
