PORTLAND, ME – This evening, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered remarks about the leadership of pioneering polar explorer Ernest Shackleton during a University of Southern Maine (USM) Arctic forum titled, “Leadership, Exploration, and Survival: A Blueprint for Thriving in Our Changing World.” Senator King spoke about how Shackleton, whose extraordinary leadership helped successfully marshal his crew through a hazardous – and ultimately historic – journey... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded Paul Dest, the Director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, for being one of only two people across the country to be awarded the 2016 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Senators wrote a letter supporting Mr. Dest’s nomination for the award. “We are proud and excited that Paul Dest has... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In case you missed it, Mozilla, a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending a free and open web, applauded U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) for their letter earlier this week calling on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a blog post published yesterday, Heather West, a senior public policy... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In the wake of a complex cyber-attack that disrupted service to Twitter, Spotify, The New York Times and other major websites, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today called on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a letter sent today, the two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee urged the President to help... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that five Maine organizations have been awarded a total of $3,649,544 through the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program and the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program. CDFIs are private financial institutions that provide affordable loans to low-income individuals and communities to help finance community businesses—including small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated Sea Road School Principal Stephen D. Marquis, Ph.D., of Kennebunk on being named a 2016 recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. Dr. Marquis is one of only eight principals across the country who will receive the award at a ceremony on November 7, 2016. “The Bell Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions principals can receive, and we are so proud of Dr. Marquis for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree sent a letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward and fund critical dredging projects for York Harbor and the Saco River. “Small ports and harbors like York and Saco River are the economic lifeblood for many coastal communities in Maine. In allocating funds that Congress makes available to the Corps each year for the operation and maintenance of our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced the locations of the Maine collection sites. Click HERE for locations. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. At the previous... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today on the recent announcement that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to not pursue a proposed rule at this time that would have required individuals to opt in to receive mutual fund information in paper form. Senators Collins and King have strongly advocated to keep paper as the default delivery method for financial disclosures. “For our nation’s... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin responded to today’s announcement that the European Commission’s Committee on Invasive Alien Species has decided that they will not proceed with the listing of American lobster as an invasive species at the European Union level. The decision brings an end to the proposal that threatened to end live American lobster exports to EU countries. Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Lewiston non-profit New Beginnings, Inc. will receive $185,400 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to help expand New Beginnings’ outreach services and support their work to improve the lives of homeless as well as runaway youth and families in crisis. New Beginnings’ outreach program connects with youth who live outside the traditional service system in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that CEI in Brunswick has received a direct loan of $20 million as a Re-Lender through USDA Rural Development’s Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program. As a Re-Lender, CEI will use the loan to distribute fixed interest rate loans to purchase, construct, or improve community facilities, such as libraries or senior centers, in high-poverty, rural communities. “Community centers are the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Maine State Police will receive a total of $251,995 to support the Maine Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) in their efforts to protect children from Internet crime, reduce the backlog of evidence in current cases, and fund the creation of three positions within the CCU. “Far too many children across the nation are at risk of exploitation online,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Wabanaki Women’s Coalition received a total of $336,976 from the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. “The Wabanaki Women’s Coalition is a vital resource for members of Maine’s Native American communities,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.... Continue Reading »
RANGELEY, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined several of his colleagues, including Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), in praising the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) decision to reduce next year’s production quotas for nearly all Schedule II prescription opioids by 25 percent or more. Three powerful, addictive painkillers will see the most significant... Continue Reading »
RANGELEY, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has joined a coalition of his colleagues in urging the Justice Department to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute individual wrongdoing at Wells Fargo after revelations that the bank’s employees had opened millions of accounts without customer approval. In September, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued its largest penalty to date of more than $100 million to the bank for the well-documented, unfair, and abusive... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Robin Alden of Stonington, a former Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, on being named a “Champion of Change for Sustainable Seafood” by the White House. Robin is one of 12 people from across the country to receive the award, which recognizes local leaders who have devoted themselves to helping the United States become a global leader in sustainable seafood management.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will receive a total of $899,732 over three years from the Office on Violence Against Women at the Department of Justice. “Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence deserve every possible resource to report and prevent these crimes,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “We welcome this investment, which will bolster the Tribal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Shaw House, a non-profit in Bangor that serves homeless and at-risk youth, will receive a total of $140,001 through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The funding will support operations at Shaw House’s Basic Center Program (BCP) for homeless and runaway youth and their families. Senators Collins and King wrote a letter in support of Shaw House’s grant application in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Maine Office of the Attorney General will receive $197,000 through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund. Funds from the Crime Victims Fund enhance state victim compensation payments to eligible crime victims. “No one who has been the target of a crime should be forced to shoulder expenses resulting from being victimized,” Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement.... Continue Reading »
