WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the Senate today passed a much-needed measure to combat the spread of the Zika virus, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on his colleagues to fund similar efforts against another pressing public health and safety crisis: America’s heroin and opioid epidemic. Senator King was joined on the Senate floor this evening by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), as the two continued to advocate for their legislation that would dedicate $600 million in emergency... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today offered an amendment to pending Senate legislation that would help more disabled American veterans obtain the student loan forgiveness benefits they are entitled to under current law. The bipartisan amendment, filed by Senator King and Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) appropriations bill, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded $1,093,785 to the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in East Boothbay. The award will help fund a project titled, “Microbial Community Structure and Expression of Functional Genes Involved in the Seasonal Cycling of DMSP in the Southern Ocean.” “Bigelow Laboratory is a leader in efforts to study microbes and their effect on processes within... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award a total of $380,170 in federal funding to the Maine Forest Service in support of Maine’s forest products industry. The Maine Forest Service will receive two Wood Innovation Grants through the USDA: $130,170 to establish a Maine State Wood Energy Assistance Team, and $250,000 for a program titled, “Strengthening and Expanding Maine Wood... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated the Maine International Trade Center (MITC) on being honored with the prestigious “E” Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The “E” Award is the highest honor that a U.S. organization, institution, or company can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of America’s exports. MITC was recognized for its role in supporting Maine companies as... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan B. Jarvis will visit Maine on Monday, May 16th to discuss the possible designation of privately-owned land in the Katahdin region as a national monument and to hear directly from Maine residents about the proposal. The visit comes after Senator King wrote to Director Jarvis, urging him to visit the state and directly address questions, thoughts, and... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he has successfully added a provision to the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the Department of Defense to comply with the Berry Amendment by providing initial entry service members with American-made athlete shoes upon arrival at basic training. The provision, if finally passed into law, will support domestic manufacturing, protect jobs for dedicated American workers, including... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) welcomed the House of Representative’s passage of the Nurturing and Supporting (NAS) Healthy Babies Act, legislation he has also introduced in the Senate with his colleague, Senator Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). The bill, which was passed as part of a broader legislative package, would examine the rising rate and treatment costs of neonatal abstinence syndrome or NAS, a withdrawal condition in newborns often caused by the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King welcomed the announcement that the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) and the College of the Atlantic will receive a total of $164,650 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to further their efforts in energy conservation and develop renewable energy systems. The GPCOG will receive $100,000 and the College of the Atlantic will receive $64,650. “Many Maine businesses and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senate today passed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, bipartisan legislation that funds U.S. Department of Energy programs and critical water infrastructure projects administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. The legislation, which appropriates $355 million more in funding than the Fiscal Year 2016 enacted level, will continue to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will award a total of $990,900 in grant funding to entities in Maine that foster artistic creativity and innovation in their communities. These grants will support a wide range of artistic endeavors, including public art, museum exhibits, and performances. “Maine is fortunate to have so many excellent organizations committed to developing and maintaining the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks delivered on the Senate floor this afternoon, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement that federal student loan interest rates for the 2016-2017 academic year will fall to 3.76 percent, down from last year’s rate of 4.29 percent – the best rate for students in twelve years. The reduction is the result of the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, legislation brokered by Senator King and a bipartisan group of his colleagues... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the announcement that University of New England (UNE) President Danielle Ripich plans to retire in June 2017, at which point she will have spent nearly 11 years at the helm of the University: “Over the last decade, President Ripich has been a bold and visionary leader for the University of New England,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the RESPONSE Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) to better prepare emergency responders to handle potential hazardous incidents such as crude oil train derailments, has unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. “We’ve seen it time and time again: when there’s an emergency, Maine’s first responders act, selflessly putting their lives on the lines to save... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he and Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) have introduced the Cyber Act of War Act of 2016, legislation that would require the Administration to develop a policy to determine when a cyber-attack constitutes an act of war. A clear policy does not yet exist despite the increasing vulnerability of our systems and personal information to cyber-attacks. “Cyber-space is a new and evolving battlefield in the 21st century,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated Benjamin Levesque of Lyman and Connor Archer of Stillwater for being named Maine’s top Youth Volunteers for 2016 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. In addition to being named a top volunteer for Maine, Connor Archer was also named one of the top ten youth volunteers in the nation. “Connor and Benjamin join impressive company as Maine’s top youth volunteers for 2016, and we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Thornton Academy students for their participation in the Carlos and Malú Alvarez Academic WorldQuest National Competition at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., last week. After earning the right to compete in Washington by winning the Maine state competition, the students placed 8th out of 49 high school teams from around the nation. “Congratulations to the hardworking team from... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Oak Point Associates of Biddeford has been awarded a $15 million contract from the U.S. Navy for architectural and engineering services to support Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) projects at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery and other U.S. Navy facilities across New England. NAVFAC is responsible for managing the planning, design, and construction at shore facilities operated by the U.S.... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today led a bipartisan letter calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update broadband speed definitions for the Community Connect Grant Program. Earlier this month, USDA upped broadband speed requirements for the Broadband Access Loan Program to 10mbps, while Community Connect was only upped to 4mbps. Both programs provide much-needed support for enhancing broadband in rural America.... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME – During a tour and roundtable discussion at the Maine VA Medical Center at Togus today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged top officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve the implementation of the Choice Program in Maine to provide veterans with timely and accessible health care. In late January 2016, it was revealed to members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation that, due to poor implementation of the program, more than half of eligible... Continue Reading »
