WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the U.S. Senate tonight passed an amendment to the transportation bill that reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), the nation’s official export credit agency and a key export tool that helps companies in Maine and across the country sell their products in international markets. The bank’s charter had expired on June 30th due to Congressional inaction. “The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins joined with five of their Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution that would designate Friday, September 25, 2015 as “National Lobster Day.” Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) also co-sponsored the resolution, which recognizes the historic and economic importance of lobster in the United States. “Since... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has passed a bill cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would help veterans start and grow small businesses. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, which passed the Senate unanimously on Friday, would waive the upfront guarantee fees on SBA Express Loans for military veterans and military reservists, making it easier and less costly to access the vital capital necessary to start a business. “Those who have sacrificed so much in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), and Angus King (I-ME) today congratulated workers at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on being recognized by the Navy for excellence in environmental stewardship. The shipyard received the Fiscal Year 2014 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Environmental Awards in recognition of its Environmental Restoration and Cultural Resources Management programs. The awards were announced at the annual SECNAV... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded $337,100 to support influenza research at the University of Maine. The grant will aid scientists in their study of influenza and the host cells it inhabits to learn how to best manipulate the virus for remedial treatment. “The flu’s pervasive and contagious nature makes it a top priority for medical researchers year in and year... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with 39 of his colleagues, introduced historic, comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT Americans. “It’s time that we as a nation put an end to the discrimination that finds refuge in the far corners of our laws and that manifests itself every day in the lives of those in the LGBT community who want nothing more than the basic rights and protections guaranteed to others,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $2,773,730 in grants to the City of Portland for investment in low-income housing projects. “Investment in low-income housing plays a critical role in helping put a roof over the heads of thousands of people in Maine every year,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “By expanding housing opportunities and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today welcomed Maine Boys Nation delegates Peter Spectre of Belfast and Seamus McDonough of Wells to Washington. The American Legion Boys Nation Program selects two representatives from each state to travel to Washington where the young leaders learn about the structure and function of the federal government. “It was great to welcome Peter and Seamus to the Capitol today,” Senators Collins and King said in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the National Institute of General Medical Sciences has awarded $118,838 to support Jackson Laboratory’s Short Course on Systems Genetics. Held in the fall, the week-long course is designed to accommodate scientists with a wide variety of backgrounds seeking to expand their knowledge of genetics. “The research done at Jackson Laboratory broadens our understanding of complex genetic... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after voting to advance a long-term solution to fix America’s aging infrastructure: “Our roads, our bridges, our transit systems – nearly all of them are in desperate need of repair, and it’s long past time that we invest the money necessary to fix them,” Senator King said. “This bill is by no means perfect, but it’s a long-term solution that would... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King announced today that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded two Community Development Block Grants totaling $1,853,497 to Cumberland County and the City of Biddeford. “Investment in low-income housing plays a critical role in helping put a roof over the heads of thousands of people in Maine every year,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today welcomed Jesse Clark, a University of Maine honors student and Calais native, to Washington. Clark, also a former intern in Senator King’s office, is in Washington as one of ten American students selected for the 2015 U.S. Congress – Korean National Assembly Exchange Program. As part of the exchange program, the American participants host their Korean counterparts for a one-day internship on Capitol... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to stem the tide of overdose deaths related to opiate abuse, Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined seven of his Senate colleagues in calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to examine the use of methadone for pain and issue guidance to state Medicaid directors to remove methadone from preferred drug lists for pain management. “The life-threatening adverse effects have raised serious concerns regarding the appropriateness of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the Protecting Our Infants Act, a bill that would direct federal agencies to develop treatment strategies for maternal opioid abuse and provide the best practices for treating babies who may be experiencing withdrawal. The legislation would require the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congressman Bruce Poliquin today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award the Skowhegan Fire Department $871,429, Andover Fire Department $21,429, North Lakes Fire & Rescue $24,953 and Littleton Fire Department $8,096 as part of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG). “The daily sacrifices made by our firefighters are instrumental to the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced the School Lunch Price Protection Act, legislation that would prevent School Food Authorities (SFAs) from being forced to raise meal prices when a school's program is financially solvent, a federal mandate known as Paid Lunch Equity. “In many cases, school lunches are the only healthy, wholesome meal that students are able to have during... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the University of Maine $201,515 in grant funding to support the study of climate change and its effect on birds’ migratory patterns and food sources. “Understanding the effects of climate change is vital to the future of our environment and economy, and the researchers at the University of Maine are on the cutting edge of that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement following a procedural vote to advance a bill funding the Federal Highway Trust Fund: “There’s no doubt that we need a long-term, comprehensive solution to fix our crumbling roads, bridges, and other important infrastructure across our nation,” Senator King said. “But I can’t vote to advance the bill when I haven’t even had the chance to review it. From major... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today are welcoming the Semiconductor Industry Association and its members to the Capitol to launch the Semiconductor Caucus. The Semiconductor Caucus aims to increase awareness of the semiconductor industry and the vast scope of products that contain semiconductors. “Semiconductors – like those manufactured by several companies in Maine – play an enormous role in our day-to-day... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Maine Department of Marine Resources will receive $264,516 in grant funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the Maine - New Hampshire Inshore Trawl Survey. The survey gathers important data on the groundfish and lobster populations in near shore waters in the Gulf of Maine, spanning from the Massachusetts coast to the Canadian border. “The health and... Continue Reading »
