WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins today introduced a resolution that would designate September 25, 2017, as “National Lobster Day.” Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also sponsored the resolution, which recognizes the historic and economic importance of lobster in the United... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that Fish River Rural Health Center has received a loan of $1,350,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the construction of additional facilities at its Fort Kent location. Fish River Rural Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center and has facilities in Eagle Lake and Fort Kent. The loan was allocated through the USDA’s Community Facilities Direct Loans and Guaranteed Loans... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This afternoon, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) met with Christopher Wray, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He released the following statement after the meeting: “I had a productive conversation with Mr. Wray this afternoon, which covered a wide range of topics about the responsibilities that come with leading the FBI,” Senator King said. “We spoke about U.S. national security... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging his Administration to review and help advance the Reinforcing American-Made Products, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator King and Republican colleagues that seeks to make it easier for American manufacturers to use the “Made in USA” label without weakening the “Made in USA” standard. “During this week’s Made in America Week, domestic... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the failure of the second iteration of the Senate health care bill and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to vote this week on a repeal and delay bill, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following video statement on his Facebook page: “The events of the last couple of days around here with regard to health care have given us a real opportunity to do something together on a bipartisan basis – to improve the present... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded the Town of Princeton a total of $4,978,937 to fully fund the reconstruction of the Municipal Airport’s existing runway. “Federal investments like this one help connect our rural communities and grow our economies,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We welcome this critical funding, which will help support and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Waterville Public Library for receiving the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). The award, which is given to only ten institutions nationwide each year, is the highest honor the nation bestows upon museums and libraries for exceptional service to America’s communities. “For more than 120 years, the Waterville Public Library... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today welcomed an announcement from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security will issue up to 15,000 additional H-2B visas for U.S. businesses to hire temporary workers. Senators Collins and King had repeatedly pressed both Departments and USCIS to increase the visa cap so that Maine businesses would be able to hire additional temporary employees to help their... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for legislation that would provide emergency funding to the Veterans Choice Program. The program, which helps veterans across Maine and the nation receive health within their communities, is facing an unexpected funding shortfall and, according to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is likely to run out of money in early August. The Veterans Access to Care Act of 2017, introduced by Senator Jon Tester... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $531,999 to the Steven A. Bean Municipal Airport in Rangeley to support work to expand and reconstruct the airport’s apron. “Maine’s regional airports encourage economic growth, connecting our state’s communities to vital resources and industries,” Senators... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, the Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Angus King today announced that four Maine fire departments will receive a total of $1,488,479 in federal funding through the latest round of grants awarded under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) programs. The Van Buren Fire Department will receive $20,505 to purchase thermal imaging cameras, and the Raymond Fire... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) issued the following statement in response to the release today of the new Senate health care bill: “This bill is no more encouraging than the last, which is to say it’s still terrible. It still includes drastic cuts to Medicaid that will hurt Maine seniors, children, and people with disabilities. It still shifts costs to the states. It still has inadequate... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the men and women of the Maine Army National Guard for their work in preparing the nation of Montenegro to enter the National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “First, we all on this side of the dais, I assert, often are prone to bragging about our own states. But, in this case, I cannot fail to... Continue Reading »
WASHINTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously passed the Brownfields Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (BUILD) Act, bipartisan legislation he cosponsored that would strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program. The Brownfields Program assists states and local communities through grants and technical assistance as they assess, safely clean up, and reuse... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for a bipartisan occupational licensing reform bill that would give state governments the tools to help initiate reforms to ensure bureaucratic requirements are not creating unnecessary barriers for those seeking to enter the workforce. The New Hope and Opportunity through the Power of Employment Act (New HOPE Act) will help states decide if they want to eliminate or reduce burdensome licensing requirements... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today on the passing of Peter Alfond: “Like so many others across Maine, I am saddened to learn of Peter’s passing,” Senator King said. “His generosity, along with his never-ending passion for helping others, has fundamentally changed our state for the better. Peter will be remembered for his kind heart, his great philanthropy, and his unwavering commitment to the people of Maine,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has signed onto a letter led by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) urging the agency to better prevent painkillers from flooding the market by setting lower opioid production quotas for 2018. Last year, the DEA heeded Senators King’s and Durbin’s call to address America’s opioid epidemic by reducing nearly all opioid quotas by 25 percent or more. This was the first reduction of its... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $3,907,601 in federal funding to two Maine Health Centers. Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten will receive $2,736,329 and Pines Health Services in Caribou will receive $1,171,272. “People throughout our state rely on rural health providers for the essential health services that keep them happy and healthy,” Senator King... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved up to $10 million to purchase Maine wild blueberries after the Delegation requested the Department take action earlier this year. Bonus buys help protect American farmers from unexpected market conditions by purchasing surplus goods and distributing them to food banks and other... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $1,947,230 in funding to three airports in Maine. The funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration. “Maine’s airports are vital parts of our transportation system that help bolster the tourism industry and support jobs across our state,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “This... Continue Reading »
