WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today congratulated Wayne and Gregg Garrison of Blaine, Maine for being named the 2013 Farm Family of the Year by the Maine Potato Board. Wayne Garrison, father to Gregg Garrison, started their potato growing operation in 1965 when he purchased their homestead and 30 acres of land. Today the farm has grown into Double G Farms, Inc, a 1500-acre agri-business currently operated by Wayne, Gregg and the Garrison family. “It’s an... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an ongoing effort to keep Mainers informed of his work on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) sat down to recap the events of this past week in the U.S. Senate In his weekly recap, Senator King addressed: His remarks on the Senate floor yesterday about the immigration debate. Today, Senator King also announced that he has introduced several amendments to the comprehensive reform legislation. The confirmation of the United States Trade Representative... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) has filed several amendments to S.744, the comprehensive immigration reform bill, that would benefit students, scholars, and researchers hoping to enrich their studies through cultural exchange programs, refugees undergoing a mentally and physically exhausting transition process, and asylum-seekers who fear persecution if forced to return to their country of origin. “America draws strength from the imagination and innovation of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in reflecting on the history and contributions of immigrants in America, today expressed support for the comprehensive immigration reform bill currently pending before the U.S. Senate. “I believe this bill represents a fair-minded resolution of the current conflict over immigration. Control of the border to stem the tide of illegal immigration, penalties applied to those who broke the law, but an opportunity to earn citizenship after... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced a bill Thursday to create a national standard requiring companies to protect and secure consumers’ electronic data. Today, companies must comply with 46 different state laws in the event of a data breach. The Senators’ bill would preempt these laws and replace them with a single national standard, providing better protections and swifter responses for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Maine $220,236 in home counseling grants to help Mainers find housing, make informed housing decisions, or maintain their current home. The Maine State Housing Authority in Augusta will receive $202,807 and the Midcoast Maine Community Action (MMCA) in Bath will receive $17,429. Both organizations work to prevent homelessness by providing... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Armed Services Committee, today applauded the completed markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014. The Armed Services Committee voted 23-3, with Senator King’s support, to report the bill to the Senate floor. The comprehensive piece of legislation authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. Included in the bill are... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The President’s nominee for United States Trade Ambassador, Michael Froman, yesterday committed to visiting a New Balance facility in Maine and to working with the domestic shoe manufacturer to address concerns surrounding potential reductions in current trade protections that are critical to the preserving the company’s economic health and protecting Maine jobs. The commitment from Mr. Froman occurred yesterday after Senator King objected to the Senate... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Aroostook County will receive $500,000 in Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funding for farmers who sustained serious erosion in their fields due to recent heavy rains. The severe weather that Aroostook County has experienced has resulted in the loss of crops and the loss of top soil, which can dramatically reduce the produce yield of acreage and reduce the value of farm land. “We are... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Armed Services Committee today adopted, by a vote of 17-9, a bipartisan amendment to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) that would combat sexual assault in the military by making robust changes to the military justice system. The amendment alters the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to: Trigger an automatic review of any sexual assault case by a Service Secretary when a commander overturns the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Newcastle Fire Company will receive a federal grant in the amount of $46,075 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). Specifically, the funding will come through AFG’s Operations and Firefighting Safety Program, which provides funding for training, equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to department facilities. “These grants are a critical resource for so many... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today welcomed news that Ecoshel, a producer of premium quality shingle roofing and siding panels, intends to create 78 jobs in Ashland by manufacturing its newly-patented cedar shingle system at the Levesque Mill Complex on Levesque Mill Road. The announcement was made this afternoon by Governor Paul LePage and Ecoshel CEO Bryan Kirkey. Initial plans include the addition of up to 10 production lines over the next several years, and it is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will allocate an additional $27,000 in Emergency Watershed Protection Program funds for disaster recovery efforts pursuant to the June 2012 rain storm in northern Maine. “We are pleased the USDA recognizes the pressing need for federal flood assistance in northern Maine,” said Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today voted in favor of S.954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, also known as the Farm Bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 66-27. The bill represents the most significant reform of American agricultural policy in decades and contains noteworthy measures for Maine’s agricultural community, including one offered by Senator King that levels the playing field for Maine’s domestic forest products. Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) this morning joined MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd to discuss reports of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs. You can watch the interview by clicking here and highlights are as follows: Senator King expressed his concern with the government’s reported retention of phone records and suggested that private companies hold onto the information, allowing the government to access it... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) this morning joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss recent reports of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs: On the program, Senator King, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, called for a more open debate on the issue: “I think there are so many layers to this issue, but the first is the one you touched upon, which is: we ought to have an open debate. People ought... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) recognized the service of those Americans and those of our allies who took part in the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. This day marks the 69th anniversary of the allied landing on the French coast at Normandy. Throughout the invasion and the battle that followed, American forces fought side by side with British and Canadian allies against Nazi tyranny. The Battle of Normandy lasted over two months, with more than... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced the Reducing Overlapping Payments Act, which aims to protect the Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance programs by reducing overlapping benefits. The bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to suspend Disability Insurance (DI) benefits during any month in which a recipient also collects Unemployment... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement today: “As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I intend to closely scrutinize the procedures and diligence of our government when it comes to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court orders, including those associated with phone records. I will also be asking tough questions about provisions included in the USA... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Angus King (I-ME) voted today against the motion to proceed on both the Democrat and Republican student loan interest rate proposals. Senators Manchin and King will urge their colleagues to work toward passing a comprehensive student loan reform package that makes it easier and more affordable for all Americans to access higher education. Without congressional action, the interest rate on federally-subsidized Stafford student loans... Continue Reading »
