WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted against a procedural motion to advance legislation that would compromise the independence of the Federal Reserve. After the vote, he released the following statement: “This bill has nothing to do with auditing the Federal Reserve; in fact, the Fed is already subject to an extensive financial auditing process. The bill is really about inserting Congress into the Fed’s monetary policy deliberations under the guise... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated Julia Blackwell of Woolwich and Lexie Jamieson of Scarborough for being selected as Maine’s delegates to the 54th Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Julia and Lexie will join 102 other students from across the country in spending a week in the nation’s capital where they will have an opportunity to study the American political process first-hand. “I have the honor and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that retired Major General Earl Adams of Pittston will attend the State of the Union tomorrow as his guest. General Adams served as Adjutant General and Commissioner of the Maine Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management from 1995-2001 under then-Governor King. “Earl was one of my closest advisors as Governor and remains one of my closest friends today,” Senator King said. “His leadership... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted for an omnibus appropriations bill that will fund the government through September 2016, extend tax policies that support American families and businesses, and contains a host of other provisions important to Maine. Though Senator King had concerns about how the costs of the tax deal will add to the national debt, he was not willing to vote to shut down the government or sacrifice the numerous provisions that will benefit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with his colleagues Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) to express concern about the cost of the tax extenders package set to come before the Senate tomorrow. Despite his support for many of the tax policies in the legislation, such as permanent enhancements to tax credits for working families and investment incentives for businesses, Senator King worries that the $680 billion package negotiated by Congressional... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to increase funding in the 2017 Fiscal Year budget to address the prescription drug and heroin epidemic in Maine and across the country. In the letter, Senator King underscored his call for a comprehensive approach to combat drug addiction and support the communities dealing with this public health and safety crisis. “As you are well aware, addiction to opioids, such as... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and small rural businesses to purchase or install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. “REAP funding will make it possible to rehabilitate housing,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Alba-Technic, LLC, one of five companies nationwide to win the Head Health Challenge III. The challenge is an open innovation competition held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Football League, Under Armour, and General Electric (GE) to support the discovery, design and development of advanced materials that better absorb and dissipate impact. “Alba-Technic has... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the final omnibus bill includes $1 billion toward the construction of an additional DDG-51 destroyer. This destroyer would likely be built at Bath Iron Works. This destroyer would be in addition to those already included in the current multi-year procurement contract. The omnibus bill will be... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with 24 Senators in sending a letter a to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Jeh Johnson, expressing concern about the reported lack of consistency in how the agency monitors the social media activity of people applying for U.S. Visas. The letter comes after reports that the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attack earlier this month, who entered the country on a K-1... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today following approval of the new labor contract between Bath Iron Works and the Local S6 Machinists Union: “The ratification of the labor contract required collaboration, hard work, and compromise by all parties. This represents a significant achievement and will put BIW on a viable track moving forward as they work as a team to fulfill critical Navy requirements. “Bath Iron Works... Continue Reading »
ARLINGTON, VA – In a pre-recorded video message played today at the Maine Robotics EXPO in Augusta, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) congratulated the student participants and event organizers for their interest in and commitment to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In his remarks, Senator King highlighted the importance of STEM education and told the students that they can change the world through ingenuity and innovation. “What a great... Continue Reading »
ARLINGTON, VA – This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with thousands of volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths on the graves of America’s fallen heroes as part of the Maine-based initiative Wreaths Across America. During this powerful tribute to America’s veterans and their families, Senator King delivered remarks during a ceremony at the USS Maine Mast Memorial and placed a wreath on the grave of Maine’s former U.S. Senator William... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today in response to the Department of Commerce’s countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper from Canada that was published today: “The Department of Commerce’s order is welcome news for the hardworking men and women of Madison Paper Industries who have for far too long fought an uphill battle against illegal and unfair provincial subsidies like the ones provided to the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King issued the following statement today on the tentative labor contract proposal reached between Bath Iron Works and the Machinists Union Local S6: “Bath Iron Works and its highly-skilled workers are national strategic assets essential to our country’s defense and to our state’s economy. Simply put, there is no workforce better positioned to build the Zumwalt- and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers than... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King announced today the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has passed the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act, legislation he cosponsored that would boost efforts to revitalize waterfront communities. The bill now moves to the full Senate. “Maine’s waterfront communities are not only a central part of our state’s heritage, but they’re also a crucial part of our state’s economy,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a confirmation hearing today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today urged the nominee for Commander of United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees all military operations in Central and South America, to work to reduce the flow of heroin from those countries into the United States. “We are, at this moment in time, suffering – literally – from a heroin epidemic all over the country,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing this morning with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the U.S. strategy to defeat ISIS, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) condemned calls to marginalize Muslims as a strategic mistake that would play into the hands of ISIS. In an exchange with Defense Secretary Carter, Senator King pointed out that it is a deliberate strategy of ISIS to create a division between the U.S. and Islam and such calls would undermine national... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate today overwhelmingly passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, a major bipartisan education reform bill that curtails the burdensome requirements of No Child Left Behind, reduces reliance on high-stakes testing, and ensures access to a quality education for all students. Senator King released the following statement: “Today is a victory for students, parents, and educators in Maine and across the country... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating Saturday, December 12, 2015 as “Wreaths Across America Day.” On December 12th, a convoy of volunteers is scheduled to arrive at Arlington National Cemetery to lay approximately 230,000 Maine-made balsam wreaths at the grave site of each American veteran interred there. This is the 24th consecutive year that Morrill and Karen... Continue Reading »
