WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) marking April 17 through April 25, 2021 as National Park Week. The resolution encourages people around the country and world to spend time in America’s treasured national parks. In honor of National Park Week, entrance into all national parks will be free on Saturday, April 17. Led by Senators King and Daines – the Chairman and Ranking Member... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Administration to fund initiatives to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing on American soil. These provisions were included in the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America Act and signed into law as part of the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act.“We write today to encourage you to prioritize securing funding to implement the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today stressed the climate dangers posed by methane, an extremely dangerous greenhouse gas released during natural gas extraction. Senator King has been outspoken about the environmental dangers of methane emissions, and is a leader in the cause to repeal the Trump Administration’s relaxation of methane regulations – with plans to undo that policy change through the Congressional Review Act (CRA) in the weeks ahead.“I’ve been an advocate of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen calling for the Treasury Department to clearly communicate that state and local governments can designate mental health and substance use disorder services as an acceptable use for funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan. In their letter, the senators emphasize the mental toll of the coronavirus pandemic on Americans... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today questioned General Paul Nakasone, Director of the National Security Agency (NSA), on current United States strategies to deter foreign adversaries from launching cyberattacks, or striking U.S. critical infrastructure. Developing a layered cyber deterrence strategy was the key focus outlined in the March 2020 final report of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and the proposed approach was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) led a bipartisan group of his Senate colleagues – including Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) – in a letter urging Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to allow state, tribal, and local governments to use funds allocated through the American Rescue Plan to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in local water supplies and farmland. In their letter, the Senators highlight the potentially dangerous effects of PFAS... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that the U.S. Department of Treasury will allocate at least $56,234,176 to Maine businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The SSBCI is designed to leverage additional funding sources for small businesses, and is expected to help provide at least $503 million in capital to support Maine small businesses and entrepreneurs as the state continues its recovery from the impacts of the coronavirus... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that a total of $1,975,008 in emergency payments have been awarded to Maine Veterans’ Homes locations to help respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This funding was provided through provisions of the Fiscal Year 2021 Department of Veterans Affairs appropriations bill that was signed into law last December. The law allowed VA to use up to $100 million of unobligated funding appropriated under the CARES Act to... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to urge the quick distribution of the $200 million in COVID-19 relief funding for logging and log hauling businesses that was included in the December COVID-19 relief package. In February, Senator Collins and Representative Golden led 19 of their colleagues – including Senator King – in sending initial letters... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Angus King (I-ME), Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), the four legislative members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, released the following statement regarding President Joseph R. Biden’s nomination of John C. “Chris” Inglis to be the inaugural National Cyber Director (NCD) and Jennifer Easterly to be the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):“We are pleased that... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has been awarded a total of $749,856 to support GMRI’s Gulf of Maine Blue Innovation Recovery program. This program seeks to provide direct support to local seafood-related startups and small businesses adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This competitive funding was awarded through the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Scaling Pandemic... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced the hiring of three new staff members to support his efforts to serve Maine people. Pat Bond, an energy and environmental policy specialist, has joined Senator King’s legislative team to serve as his Senior Policy Advisor. In addition, Maine natives Natalie Hodgman and Nancy Billings have joined Senator King’s team to serve as Staff Assistants – having previously served as interns in Senator King’s office.“Throughout the... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement by the Treasury Department allowing states to use their allotments through the American Rescue Plan to cover the cost of tax relief that aligns with federal efforts to eliminate taxes on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits. The decision allows states that adopt federally-approved tax treatment of PPP loans and some unemployment benefits to use federal funds to cover... Continue Reading »
Kittery, ME—U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) hosted Acting U.S. Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker in Maine today. They toured facilities at Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and met with leadership and employees.“I am delighted that Acting Secretary Harker was able to join us today to visit the best shipyards in the country and honor Harvey C. Barnum Jr.,” said Senator Collins. “Despite the challenges of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $280,000 to support existing small businesses, attract new ones, and bolster job creation in Penobscot, Androscoggin, Kennebec, and Aroostook Counties. Each of the following organizations will receive $70,000: Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that Senator King is joining a group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel urging the FCC to ensure that state, local, and tribal government are engaged in efforts to update nationwide broadband maps. Following decades-long use of inaccurate data maps that denied broadband funding to eligible communities, the FCC was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s official announcement that 18 community health centers will receive $40,964,875 in funding provided by the American Rescue Plan to support their tireless efforts against the largest health threat to face the U.S. in a century. Senator King strongly supported the inclusion of this funding in the American Rescue Plan, and voted... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care and Downeast Community Partners a total of $2,804,308 for their Head Start and Early Head Start Programs.“Head Start programs are instrumental in helping children to cultivate new skills and receive educational opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success,” said Senators Collins and King in a... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would revise federal mandatory drug sentencing policies to allow for judicial discretion. By allowing flexibility in the courtrooms, the Smarter Sentencing Act gives federal judges the authority to conduct individualized reviews to determine the appropriate sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses.“When nonviolent offenders spend decades in prison, we’re wasting valuable time and... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 6 of his Senate colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to bring in new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) leadership to address the growing opioid epidemic that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. makes up only 4.6% of the world population, but consumes 80% of the world’s opioids. The amount of prescription opioids sold in the US has nearly quadrupled since 1999. At the same time, overdose deaths involving opioids... Continue Reading »
