WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously approved the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would help give states and localities the tools they need to fight back against mosquitos and the viruses they carry. The bill will now be sent to the full Senate for its consideration. The HELP Committee’s unanimously approval of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded yesterday's decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which confirmed that Catalyst Paper received a negligible amount of subsidies during the review period. Catalyst Paper will now be excluded from the countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper. In December 2015, countervailing duty orders were issued on supercalendered paper imports from Canada. During the course of the investigation, however, the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin were encouraged by the findings in a report released today by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) on mental health consults and access to care issues at the VA Maine Healthcare System (VA Maine). The report indicated that VA Maine has made significant improvements following a 2015 report that substantiated some instances where... Continue Reading »
WATERVILLE, ME – In the wake of the Trump Administration's proposal to slash funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) this week signed a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging them to fully fund the EPA’s Brownfields Program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget. The EPA's Brownfields Program assists states and local communities as they assess, safely clean up, and reuse Brownfield sites – properties that contain... Continue Reading »
WATERVILLE, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today visited Educare Central Maine, a state-of-the-art early learning center, where he underscored the importance of affordable childcare for working families across Maine and the country. During the visit, Senator King spoke with parents and childcare professionals about the Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone (PACE) Act, bipartisan legislation he re-introduced with Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.) that would update the Child and... Continue Reading »
AUBURN, ME – Flanked by Maine veterans who have been mired in the bureaucratic mess of a broken appeals process at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today called on Congress to pass the Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act. The legislation, which Senator King has cosponsored, would overhaul the current VA system to provide veterans with clear and timelier options after receiving an initial appeals decision from the VA. The... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, today to express their strong concern that the Department has refused to review the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s (UMPI) application for two grants under the fiscal year 2017 Upward Bound Program competition due to an unintentional line-spacing issue the University was not permitted to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After attending the successful launch of Flight Deck Brewing in Brunswick just last month, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would promote continued job creation in the growing craft beverage, cider, wine, and distillery industries throughout Maine and the nation. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), would cut taxes and modernize... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court: “While I did not support Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation, I do sincerely hope that the concerns that led me to vote no today will be proven wrong. I would be delighted if this were the case in the long-term. However, today I had to vote my convictions and not my hopes.” To read Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement on the U.S. strike in Syria: “The use of chemical weapons is not only an affront to all of humanity, but it also violates longstanding prohibitions against the use of these weapons as well as the 2013 agreement by the Syrian government to eliminate its chemical weapons stockpiles and manufacturing capability. Last night’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that one in 10 pregnant women confirmed with the Zika virus gave birth to a child with virus-related birth defects, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would help give states and localities the tools they need to fight back against mosquitos and the viruses they carry. Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has also... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in reintroducing the Strengthen and Fortify Existing Bridges (SAFE Bridges) Act, legislation that would begin to address the more than 56,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country. More specifically, the legislation would establish a program to provide funding specifically dedicated to repairing and replacing bridges categorized as structurally deficient. “In Maine, bridges... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that will help increase the number of homes and businesses in rural Maine that receive high-speed broadband internet: “I applaud the FCC’s decision to focus on bringing high-speed broadband access to new areas, thereby enhancing private investment and the goals of universal service in rural America,” Senator King said.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the DAIRY PRIDE Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) that would protect the integrity of dairy products and require that non-dairy products not be labeled with dairy terms like milk, yogurt and cheese. “Maine dairy farmers work hard day-in and day-out to meet FDA standards and deliver high-quality dairy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on the reported chemical attack in Syria: “These atrocities were not only aimed at the innocent men, women, and children whose lives were senselessly taken today, they were leveled against all of humanity,” Senator King said. “These heinous acts of violence, these heart-wrenching images, should remind all of us – from those... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Angus King (I-Maine), joined by a bipartisan group of Senators, today launched the new Senate Working Forests Caucus. The Caucus, which has 11 inaugural members, will serve as a forum for policies that promote and preserve America’s working forests. “Most working forests – over seventy percent nationally – are privately owned by families, who have passed down their operation from generation to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his opposition to the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. Senator King also announced that he will oppose a procedural motion to end debate to move the nomination forward. In his statement, Senator King said that, while he approached this nomination with an open mind, attended Judge Gorsuch’s hearing, and heard from Maine people on all sides of the question, several issues ultimately convinced... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Days after President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposal completely eliminating the $73 million National Sea Grant College Program, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the President calling on him to reconsider his proposed elimination of this critical program. In the letter, Senator King and his colleagues highlighted the important role that Sea Grant... Continue Reading »
MEXICO, ME – Joined by logging industry officials and career and technical educators from across the state, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today offered an economic vision aimed at helping revitalize and strengthen communities in rural Maine hard hit by mill closures and job losses. In presenting his plan – “You Can Get There From Here: Growing Maine’s Rural Economy” – Senator King also announced that he is offering a proposal for legislation that would... Continue Reading »
BATH, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered remarks today at the christening of the future USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) at Bath Iron Works. The Hudner, a 510-foot long and 9,200 ton Arleigh Burke Class destroyer, is named after Medal of Honor recipient retired Navy Captain Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., who also attended today’s ceremony. Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman on April 13, 1951 for... Continue Reading »
