Washington, D.C. — Surrounded by a growing number of cosponsors, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) hosted a press conference this afternoon to urge their colleagues to support the Immigration Security and Opportunity Act, bipartisan legislation they introduced with 16 Senators to protect “Dreamers” and to strengthen border security. A vote on their amendment is scheduled for this afternoon. The Senators are part of the Common Sense Coalition, a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – In his inaugural hearing as Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today underscored the importance of legislation that would help address the concerns of communities near Acadia National Park (ANP) about boundary issues and the use of intertidal zones by harvesters of clams and worms. The legislation was introduced by Senators King and Susan Collins in November and a companion bill... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a statement submitted to the Congressional Record, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) recognized the 200th anniversary of the incorporation of Mexico, Maine and congratulated the town and its residents for this latest landmark in Mexico’s rich history. A representative from Senator King’s office presented the statement to town leaders last night at one of the town’s “200th birthday celebrations”. “Located in Oxford County, Mexico is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded an announcement from LignaCLT Maine, LLC that it will become the first Maine-based cross-laminated timber (CLT) company in the state. The company will open its new facility at the former Great Northern Paper mill site in Millinocket and plans to create more than 100 new jobs in the Katahdin region over five years. “Today’s announcement... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned top national intelligence officials on the lack of a national doctrine to deter cyber attacks. “I am sick and tired of going to these hearings, which I have been going to for five years, where everybody talks of cyber attacks, and our country still does not have a policy or a doctrine or a strategy for dealing with them,” said Senator King. “…We are trying to fight a global battle with our hands... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – At Penobscot Community Health Center in Bangor, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today hosted his eighth roundtable conversation to discuss strategies to combat the opioid epidemic in Maine. Joined by health care professionals, providers, and community leaders, Senator King outlined a letter he sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee today that underscores the need to prioritize the $6 billion dedicated to the opioid epidemic under the budget agreement to states hard hit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 31 senators in demanding answers on reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has halted its investigation into how credit reporting agency Equifax failed to protect the personal data of over 145 million Americans. According to the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection, this breach may have affected nearly half of all adults in Maine. “We are deeply troubled by recent news reports... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in response to the announcement from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) that they have reached a bipartisan budget agreement: “This agreement is great news for bipartisanship and contains many important provisions for Maine, including a reauthorization of community health centers that provide quality care to more than 200,000 Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King today applauded an announcement from the Unicode Consortium that it will include a new lobster emoji in the 2018 release of its standard character set. The new emoji will be available for use on social media platforms and smartphones later this year. In September 2017, Senator King wrote to the Unicode Consortium requesting it include the lobster emoji in its standard character set, citing its significant impact Maine’s culture and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Alexander Acosta urging him to release a previously undisclosed DOL cost-benefit analysis on a proposed regulation that would allow employers to create tip pools at restaurants and other establishments that have a mix of tipped and non-tipped workers. The letter also requests that the Department reopen a comment period for a minimum of 15 days following release of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that two Maine organizations will receive a total of $2,760,206 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Head Start and Early Head Start programs across the state. Midcoast Maine Community Action, based in Bath, received $1,422,044, and Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care, based in Lewiston, received $1,338,162. “Head Start programs across our state are instrumental in ensuring that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the potential adverse impacts of the Department of Interior’s proposed National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-2024. Senator King’s remarks come in response to the January announcement from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that the Trump Administration plans to expand offshore oil and gas leasing to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of senators in calling on Senate leadership to immediately reauthorize funding for community health centers. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.), King and 66 of his Senate colleagues expressed their strong support for community health centers, which provide access to cost-effective primary and preventive care for more than 200,000 people... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded four Maine organizations a total of $1,343,036 in grant funding to support rural educational and health care services. The funding, awarded through the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program, helps rural communities leverage the capabilities of telecommunications to stay connected, support their communities, and grow the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) yesterday introduced the Veteran’s Affairs Senior Executive Accountability (SEA) Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation that would strengthen accountability of senior executives at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). “The VA plays a crucial role in the lives of veterans who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation,” said Senator King. “Unfortunately, there have been several... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined leadership and employees at Avesta Housing in Portland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Landmark legislation enacted in February 1993, the FMLA provides certain employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family and medical reasons like the birth and care of a newborn child or the care of a family member with a serious... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited Tilson Technology Management, Inc., a veteran-owned national network deployment and technology professional services company based in Portland, to discuss Tilson’s Veteran and Guard/Reserve (VGR) Support Program and the importance of broadband infrastructure. “Our nation’s veterans made immense sacrifices to protect our nation, and deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our support,” said Senator King.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King wrote to the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee, urging them to include language from the Biomass Thermal Utilization (BTU) Act in any tax extender legislation. The BTU Act is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would help promote the many economic and environmental benefits that biomass thermal energy provides by qualifying biomass heating equipment for renewable energy tax credits. “Many regions of the United... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded the announcement that OTM Holdings, LLC (OTM) has purchased the Old Town pulp mill complex with plans to redevelop the site and spur economic development in Penobscot County. “The planned redevelopment of the Old Town Mill will bolster Maine’s rural economy by encouraging growth and helping to create jobs,” Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmed U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) as the Ranking Member of the National Parks Subcommittee. “For more than a century, National Parks have been passed from generation to generation, as each new age group takes on the hallowed responsibility to protect parks for those who come next,” said Senator King. “From the sheer size of the Grand Canyon and the dramatic waterfalls of... Continue Reading »
