WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) this week cosponsored bipartisan legislation to help Americans tackle their student loan debt. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act would allow employers to contribute up to $5,250 tax-free to their employees’ student loans – providing employees with much-needed relief and employers with a unique tool to attract and retain talented employees.“Young people seeking higher education should be able to follow... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) introduced a bill today to encourage natural gas utilities and companies to launch demand response programs, a well-established model that rewards consumers for reducing energy use. The legislation would leverage states’ success in implementing demand response pilot programs that have proven highly effective. In addition to the potential cost savings, demand response programs can guard against price... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, joined Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today in reintroducing the Restore Our Parks Act, bipartisan legislation that would address the nearly $12 billion backlog in long-delayed maintenance projects at the National Park Service (NPS). The legislation has 21 additional original cosponsors, including Senator Susan... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) took part in a Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) hearing on cybersecurity. King emphasized the need for urgent action, pushed for his legislation with Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to protect U.S. energy infrastructure from cyberattacks, and called for mandatory standards for gas pipelines. Earlier in the day, Senator King took part in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing focused on national cybersecurity and special... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that the Genesis Community Loan Fund (Genesis Fund) in Brunswick has been awarded $1,165,000 through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). This funding will support development of affordable housing and community facilities in low-income communities, and is awarded through the Capital Magnet Fund.“By providing Maine’s nonprofit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues to reintroduce the Native American Suicide Prevention Act. This legislation would help address the suicide crisis in Native communities by ensuring collaboration between states and tribal nations to design and implement statewide suicide intervention and prevention strategies that work for their communities. Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Congressman Tom Cole (R-Okla.)... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 47 Senators in opposing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) plan to gut its own payday protections for borrowers nationwide. Payday loans often carry interest rates of 300% or more, trapping vulnerable consumers in a cycle of debt. The CFPB’s own research found that four out of five payday consumers either default or renew their loan because they cannot afford the high interest and fees charged by payday... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that $1,600,000 has been awarded to the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation (SADC) to assist in the construction of a manufacturing food-processing plant in Houlton. This funding has been awarded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration and is expected to create 17 new jobs in southern Aroostook County.“This facility will create new job opportunities in Aroostook County’s already... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—In a bipartisan gesture of heartfelt gratitude toward both George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a group of their colleagues in introducing legislation to authorize the U.S. Department of the Treasury to mint $1 coins honoring the former president and first lady. President and Mrs. Bush, who had strong ties to the State of Maine, both passed away in 2018.“President and Mrs. Bush loved the State of Maine and its people, and we are... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate approved a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) as part of a public lands legislative package. The legislation passed by a vote of 92-8 will now be considered by the House of Representatives.Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) have long championed LWCF. Last month, they joined a bipartisan group in reintroducing legislation to permanently reauthorize the program. “LWCF is our country’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, the Senate passed a public lands package that includes language authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, and Susan Collins (R-Maine) that addresses the concerns of communities near Acadia National Park (ANP) about boundary issues, protects the use of intertidal zones by harvesters of clams and worms, and permanently reauthorizes the Acadia National Park... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement announcing his opposition to the nomination of William Barr to serve as United States Attorney General. In his statement, King points to Barr’s sweeping view of executive power and refusal to commit to an open process for the release of the Mueller investigation’s findings as the driving factors of his decision.“After carefully studying William Barr’s record, attending a portion of his testimony before... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), today joined a group of his Senate colleagues to call on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to finalize guidance on a rule to grow a more flexible and resilient energy grid. The rule would allow Americans to earn more value from their rooftop solar, wind, and energy storage devices that are connected to the electrical grid, thereby reducing energy market barriers... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. - As the United States and China conduct trade negotiations, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) joined a bipartisan group in sending a letter to the Trump Administration asking that the U.S. potato industry be a priority in the ongoing talks. In the bipartisan, bicameral letter signed by 39 members, they noted that the inclusion of potatoes in any U.S.-China trade deal would create... Continue Reading »
BIDDEFORD, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined staff and students at Biddeford High School to honor the 50th anniversary of the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology (BRCOT). The Center, opened in 1968, has provided Biddeford-area students the opportunity to develop practical skills and knowledge to find a career and enter the workforce.“Technical education helps the next generation build a successful career and discover their potential,” Senator King said. “Everywhere I travel... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned experts on opportunities to address the threat of climate change through clean energy alternatives and technology innovations. The Senator’s questions came during an Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee hearing on the status and outlook of energy and innovation.“We’re now at about 400-plus parts per million in carbon in the atmosphere,” said Senator King. “The last time we were there was 3.6 million years ago, when... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to send a letter urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to strengthen the Medicare Advantage program that provides quality health care to 21 million seniors and individuals with disabilities. The senators wrote to Administrator Verma requesting that she build on bipartisan efforts to increase the use of telemedicine, promote... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group in introducing legislation to combat anticompetitive practices used by some brand-name drug companies to block entry of lower-cost generic drugs. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. “Skyrocketing drug prices are making it more and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King was confirmed yesterday as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks for the 116th Congress, making him the subcommittee’s highest ranking member of the Democratic Caucus. Senator King has served as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee since January 2018.“Our national parks are a uniquely American treasure that reflect our country’s limitless natural potential, diversity of experience, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned General Joseph Votel, Commander of United States Central Command, on the status of a number of serious global threats to America’s national security, including the President’s proposed withdrawal of troops from Syria, the impact of this possible withdrawal on the fight against ISIS, and the danger of a nuclear Iran. During the hearing, Senator King referenced: President Trump’s announcement that he planned to remove troops... Continue Reading »
