WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King today joined 27 of his senate colleagues in a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, expressing concern over reports that bots filed hundreds of thousands of comments to the FCC during the net neutrality policymaking process and calling on the Chairman to delay the planned December 14th vote to roll back net neutrality rules until an investigation of the state of the record is conducted. “A free and open Internet... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed its tax bill: “Tonight, I’m disappointed, and I’m angry, because the American people deserve better. For months, moderates in the Senate reached across the aisle to colleagues – and friends – asking them to sit down and work together on a commonsense tax reform bill that supports hardworking Americans and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the dangerous impact the Senate tax reform proposal would have on the national debt. Senator King’s comments came during debate on an amendment he offered to refer the bill to committee with instructions to create a deficit-neutral proposal, which the Senate voted on tonight. His amendment was defeated by a vote of 48 to 52. “One of my concerns…that I want to focus on today, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today underscored the importance of diplomatic efforts to support and strengthen United States national security interests during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The hearing was held to receive testimony from outside experts on recommendations for a future National Defense Strategy. “Defending the national security of the United States involves a continuum, it seems to me, that goes from diplomacy to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) decision to select the University of Maine as a regional Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) program designee. The announcement includes $25 million in DOE funding, which will be disbursed over five years to eight new CHP TAP designees, including the University of Maine. The funding aims to advance the installation of cost-effective, highly... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), along with Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) today reintroduced the Preventive Health Savings Act, legislation that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive healthcare, including health screenings. “Congress has recently spent a lot of time debating the best methods of paying for healthcare, and for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, today urged caution on rushing the proposed tax reform plan through the Senate without substantial hearings, feedback from the public, or information from experts. His remarks come days ahead of a planned vote before the full Senate on the tax cut framework. “We could get 70 votes, or 80 votes, for a tax reform proposal... Continue Reading »
NORWAY, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today met with small business owners and community members in the Norway/South Paris region to underscore how supporting local businesses can grow the Maine economy. His visit came on Small Business Saturday, which falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and emphasizes the importance of supporting local small businesses, particularly during the holiday season. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. All across Maine, there... Continue Reading »
NORWAY, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today released the November edition of his Inside Maine podcast. In this edition, Senator King speaks with Carmine Pecorelli, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, about time in the military and how he’s continued his lifetime of service as a volunteer advocate for veterans. Senator King then speaks to Deo Lauria, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and the outgoing District Service Officer for the American Legion at... Continue Reading »
BELFAST, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today visited the Belfast region to hear from business leaders and community members about important issues impacting the area. Senator King began the day visiting Bank of America, met with community and business leaders at the Belfast Co-op, and visited Front Street Shipyard. He will end the day meeting with Sprague Energy at Mack Point Terminal in Searsport. ... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a grant totaling $388,000 to the University of Maine at Orono to study potato breeding and improve quality and pest resistance in the eastern United States. “Maine potatoes are a staple in homes around the country and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of funding Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which provide vital health care services to rural communities. Seventy percent of federal funding for FQHCs expired on October 1st, threatening access to health care for tens of thousands of people in Maine. “In Maine, we have 20 centers, and 70 facilities scattered all over our state and they are providing services every... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Senate approved the conference committee’s bicameral agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018, which included key victories for Maine. Senator King served on the conference committee that reconciled the differences between the Senate’s version, which passed by a vote of 89-8, and the version advanced by the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to input from leaders of the forest products industry at the October U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee field hearing at Robbins Lumber in Searsmont, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Support Act, legislation that would help sustain and strengthen rural industries and create jobs by reauthorizing the CHP technical assistance partnership (TAP), which sunset in September of this year. The bill... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the U.S. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), today spoke out against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge during an ENR Committee business meeting. The legislation considered before the committee today would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish and administer an oil and gas program in the Coastal Plain within the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), today announced his support for the Rebuilding Resilient Energy Systems Act, legislation that would encourage the building of more resilient energy systems in response to the natural disasters declared during 2017. Senator King’s support for the legislation follows a hearing before the ENR Committee today on recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today on the passing of former U.S. Navy Captain Thomas Hudner, a Medal of Honor recipient and the namesake of the future USS Thomas Hudner, an Arleigh Burke Class destroyer currently under construction at Bath Iron Works. “At the christening of the USS Thomas Hudner, I recited this quote from President John F. Kennedy: ‘As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) this week joined with a group of his colleagues to announce a bipartisan agreement that will improve the U.S. financial regulatory framework, promote economic growth, provide new protections to consumers, and strengthen small financial institutions in Maine. The agreement comes after months of hearings and outreach to stakeholders, companies, and consumers and includes measures from members on both sides of the aisle. Included in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of 30 senators in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking him to provide Congress with information detailing how the Department of Justice (DOJ) is supporting and prioritizing forensic science service providers across the nation as a part of a broader approach to combat the opioid epidemic. “The opioid crisis knows no boundaries; it reaches into homes in every... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) attended the Harvest Festival at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor and heard from Maine agriculture stakeholders, farmers and food processers. Senator King also joined members of the Maine Potato Board to highlight the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Senator King in September that would double funding to two successful U.S. Department... Continue Reading »
