WASHINGTON, D.C. – The office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced the constituent outreach hours for the second two weeks in June. Constituent outreach hours are part of Senator King’s “Your Government, Your Neighborhood” initiative and offer an opportunity for area residents to meet directly with a staff representative to discuss specific problems, legislative issues, or any concerns regarding federal government agencies. No appointment is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, today attended the “Our Ocean” Conference hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department. The conference, which focuses on sustainable fishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification, is bringing together more than 350 participants from across 80 nations – including government officials, scientists and leading international institutions – to... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King delivered an address about this week’s events in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address, Senator King discussed: The legislation passed on Wednesday to support Veterans and deal with mismanagement at the VA. The bill was negotiated by Senators John McCain and Bernie Sanders. His efforts with Republican Senator Richard Burr to improve and... Continue Reading »
York River a Good Candidate for King’s Wild and Scenic Study Bill, National Park Service Says BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) welcomed a preliminary report released by the National Park Service that found the York River is a good candidate for a Wild and Scenic River Study. Such a study could designate the York River as a Wild and Scenic Partnership River, which could foster federal investments to protect the economic and environmental value of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday evening, the United States Senate unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 2014 Intelligence Authorization Act, which includes an amendment authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) based on legislation they introduced in May 2013 as S. 1035, the Targeted Strike Oversight Reform Act. The final provision was moved to the classified annex. Senators King and Rubio requested that an this unclassified summary of the provision be made... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a Resolution, introduced by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, honoring former President, and Kennebunkport resident, George H.W. Bush on the occasion of his 90th birthday. The Resolution also honors former First Lady Barbara Bush who also celebrated a birthday this week. Text of the Senate resolution is as follows and can also be viewed by clicking here. RESOLUTION Honoring former President George H.W. Bush on the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014, a bipartisan agreement authored by Senators Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would improve veterans’ access to health care and address serious problems facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): “Today the United States Senate joined together... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is applauding revisions in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which President Obama signed into law today, that modify Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules to ease compliance for farms across Maine. Specifically, the modification shields Maine farmers from having to comply with rules aimed at large-scale oil companies. The issue was raised by Maine potato farmers during a meeting with Senator King last... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will release $5,358,043 in federal funding to Maine broadband providers through the E-rate program. The funds will be used to deliver high-speed internet access to schools and libraries throughout Maine. “In today’s high-speed world, there is no commodity more valuable than information, which is why broadband connectivity is more important than ever... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson requesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) take immediate steps to continue the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) pilot program in fiscal year (FY) 2015. Congressional authorization of this program is set to expire at the end of September. The Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Senator Collins is a member, recently... Continue Reading »
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sat down to discuss this week’s events in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address Senator King discussed: The proposed rules from the Environmental Protection Agency to limit carbon emissions from existing power plants. The EPA rules, which were announced on Monday, would lower emissions from power plants 30... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – In response to the May jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor, which revealed that the economy added 217,000 new jobs, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement calling on Congress to foster greater economic certainty in order to support the jobs recovery: “I’m pleased today’s report reveals continued job growth and that the total number of U.S. jobs has finally returned to pre-recession levels. But I think we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today welcomed legislation supported by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would help veterans start and grow small businesses. The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act, which was introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), cosponsored by King, and considered by the Committee today during a hearing, would permanently remove fees for SBA Express Loans under $350,000 for veterans, making it easier to access... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Yarmouth Fire-Rescue Department will receive a federal grant in the amount of $38,262 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This competitive funding will enable the department to purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera, Gear Washer, and boots and helmets for firefighters. SAFER grants are administered by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Fire departments... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, issued the following statement today in advance of a closed briefing for all senators on the exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl: “‘Leave no one behind’ isn’t a Hollywood catch phrase; it’s a fundamental American principle. I don’t know all of the facts around the Bergdahl exchange yet, but what I do know is this: last week there was a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on the medical device industry to be more transparent and provide consumers and policymakers with more information regarding medical device prices. Last month King filed an amendment to a tax relief bill that would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to shed light on medical device prices in an effort to help hospitals negotiate better prices for critical medical... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award $2,560,000 in federal funding to the Casco Bay Island Transit District in Portland. This project, which was selected on a competitive basis, will receive funding through the DOT’s Ferry Boat Discretionary Program. It will be used to help improve the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in response to the Administration’s forthcoming proposed carbon rules, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Climate Action Task Force, released the following statement: “These proposed rules are a significant step forward in protecting public health, combating climate change, and creating jobs in clean energy. This is an important investment in our children's future which will pay big dividends for years to come. I especially like... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has selected the Greater Portland region as one of the first 12 designated “Manufacturing Communities” nationwide under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative. IMCP is designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing in communities around the nation by supporting long-term economic development strategies that help communities... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that State Directors from the six states affected by the New England Multispecies Groundfish Fishery disaster reached agreement on a plan to allocate the $32.8 million that was secured for this disaster in the Fiscal Year 2014 funding bill. This consensus plan comes after many meetings between state directors and the National Marine Fisheries Service’s Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator John Bullard.... Continue Reading »
