WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the United States Senate today voted to overcome a procedural hurdle and advance legislation renewing the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. The Senate is expected to pass the bill early next week. “Emergency unemployment benefits are a critical lifeline to thousands of Mainers and millions of Americans who have been struggling to make ends meet while they continue to search for work,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During an Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of that Committee, thanked Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert for recently exercising a contract option to construct the fifth Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG-51) at Bath Iron Works (BIW) as a part of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2013-2017 multi-year DDG-51-class procurement. “I just want to thank Secretary... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with centrist colleagues Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), today proposed several pieces of legislation that take the next steps toward making the Affordable Care Act work better by providing greater choice and increasing affordability and improving flexibility for workers and businesses. “While the Affordable Care Act is far from perfect,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing concerns over recent price increases for natural gas in New England, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and a group of his colleagues from New England called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to review this winter’s natural gas prices to ensure that markets have been functioning properly and that price spikes are not the result of speculation or manipulation. “Severe price increases like those we have seen in New England can hurt... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will receive $11,420,465 million in excise tax revenues to fund fish and wildlife conservation and recreation projects. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing a record $760.9 million through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration program and $325.7 million through Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration program. Revenues come from excise... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today to the Secretary of Education, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) praised a highly successful educational pilot program in Maine called Bridge Year and encouraged the Department to closely examine it as a model of innovation as they look for ways to improve student success, shorten time to degree completion, and reduce student loan indebtedness. “I would like to draw your attention to a program in Maine that is on the frontier of this kind of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in response to reports the President will seek to restructure the government’s bulk collection of telephone call records under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act: “I am encouraged by reports that the President is preparing proposals to reform the government’s bulk collection program that are largely in line with many of the... Continue Reading »
ARCTIC OCEAN – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today participated in tactical training exercises aboard the USS NEW MEXICO, a nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarine, as part of the Navy’s tri-annual Ice Training Exercises known as ICEX, which is designed to help develop and hone submarine operational and warfighting capabilities in the harsh Arctic environment. “As climate change warms the Arctic environment, we must recalibrate our national security and economic... Continue Reading »
U.S. Navy Ice Camp, NAUTILUS – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) arrived in the Arctic this evening where he is touring U.S. Navy Ice Camp NAUTILUS and meeting with Navy officials who have briefed him on the Navy’s capabilities to operate in the warming Arctic environment. “Global climate change is bringing huge changes to the Arctic environment, resulting in the loss of more and more ice with every passing day. And as the ice recedes, the implications for U.S. security,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will travel to the Arctic this weekend with several Members of Congress and U.S. defense officials where they will observe and participate in a Navy training exercise known as Ice Exercise (ICEX) to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. military operations in the region and the Arctic’s strategic value to the United States. “Global warming is quickly and drastically changing the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rethink its proposed changes to rules governing voluntary recall guidelines. The substantial changes, King warned, would impose additional burdens on businesses that could inadvertently deter the quick removal of unsafe products and pose dangers to consumers. “My opinion is that the CPSC’s proposed rule may go too far – and may have the unintended... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tonight announced that the U.S. Navy has exercised a contract option, in the amount of $642,583,946 to construct a fifth Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG-51) at Bath Iron Works (BIW) as a part of the 10-ship multiyear procurement contract from 2013-2017. “We worked to secure the authorization... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for Maine fishermen, recreational boaters, and on-water researchers to operate their vessels. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2013 would streamline existing federal and local regulations mandating how ballast discharge water is handled in U.S. ports and permanently exempt small vessel owners from needing to apply for permits for the incidental... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on a letter urging President Obama to engage with Congress as the Administration moves forward with developing new U.S. policy options for Syria. “The situation and our options may have grown more complicated, but we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a part of his ongoing efforts to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to share this week’s events in Washington. In his recap, Senator King discussed: His floor speech Monday night outlining the impacts of climate change on Maine businesses and urging immediate Congressional action to address the issue. His testimony, as a Republican witness, before a subcommittee of the Senate Homeland... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted to pass legislation that will expand access to and improve the quality of child care for more than 2,500 children and families in Maine that benefit from federal child care subsidy programs. “Today’s vote marks a significant step forward towards providing quality child care services to countless families across the country,” said Senator King. “Parents who are pursuing a degree or taking on extra... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement this afternoon that a bipartisan agreement has been reached to renew the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, which expired last December. “Millions of Americans, including thousands in Maine, have struggled to make ends meet in the absence of these critical benefits. Now, thanks to the work of a small, bipartisan group of senators, including my good friend and colleague from Maine, Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today passed an amendment authored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would mandate and make clear that Maine communities are eligible for reimbursement from the government for costs of successfully appealing inaccurate flood maps. The amendment, which was approved as part of flood insurance relief legislation by a vote of 72-22 and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week, now heads to President Obama’s desk for his... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following discussions with his colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of that committee, released the following statement: “It is undeniable; news reports this week have been downright troubling. After discussions with my colleagues today on the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am encouraged by the Committee’s resolve to move forward. Because what really matters here is that we are going to get... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the heels of three devastating reports released this week that highlight how more than 5.5 million Syrian children have been affected by the three-year-long Syrian crisis (UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on President Obama to develop and submit to Congress a more robust U.S. strategy for addressing the Syrian... Continue Reading »
