WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after voting to suspend the nation’s debt ceiling through March 15, 2015: “Congress had for far too long gambled with the financial stability of the economy and with markets across the world by threatening to default on debt already incurred by our nation. Almost everyone agrees that we should continue to work to shrink our federal debt and deficit in a responsible way, but using the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King announced today that he has hired Kathleen Connery Dawe to serve as Director of Communications in his Washington, D.C. office. “I am excited to welcome Kathleen to my team,” Senator King said. “She is an experienced communicator who brings the kind of knowledge and communications experience that will well-serve the people of Maine.” “At a time when Washington seems paralyzed by partisanship,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Town of Buxton Fire - Rescue Department will receive a federal grant totaling $441,460 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. This competitive funding will enable the department to hire and train new firefighters. SAFER grants are administered by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Maine fire departments play an invaluable role safeguarding our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that Bath Iron Works (BIW) has been awarded a preliminary design contract for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) worth more than $21 million. BIW is now one of three shipyards in contention for the final contract. “With its skilled workforce and an outstanding record... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that they have introduced legislation to protect jobs, reduce regulatory burdens, and provide greater certainty for health information technologies (health IT). The Preventing Regulatory Overreach To Enhance Care Technology (PROTECT) Act of 2014 offers a more specific regulatory framework for health IT that promotes innovation and job creation while protecting patient safety. “Not only is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of their colleagues, today wrote a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to use all available tools to address propane shortages and price spikes that have impacted several thousand people in Maine and many more across the country. A confluence of events, including a greater than normal use of propane in the Midwest, particularly harsh winter temperatures, and infrastructure constraints, has... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Agriculture has awarded a total of $1,093,138 in grant funding to two Maine school districts and a rural health care provider through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant program. The award amounts and recipients are as follows: Maine School Administrative District #37 – including the towns of Addison, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Millbridge, Harrington, and Cherryfield... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King issued the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added only 113,000 jobs in January while the unemployment rate fell to 6.6 percent: “When taken together, the December and January jobs reports represent the two weakest consecutive months of job growth in almost two years, further underscoring the point that Congress should do more to help foster an environment that is ripe for job creation.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine up to date with his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to discuss this week’s events in Washington. In his weekly address Senator King: Applauded passage of the 2013 Farm Bill that will direct our nation’s agriculture policy over the next five years. Expressed his disappointment over the Senate’s continued failure to advance legislation that would extend... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King voted again today to advance legislation that would renew unemployment insurance and released the following statement after the bill failed to garner the necessary 60 votes to move forward: “I have heard from hundreds of constituents who are disappointed by Congress’s inability to renew emergency unemployment insurance. Many of them are people who have lost their job through no fault of their own, who are actively searching for work,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) Vice President, Clyde Wayne Crews, Jr., and CEI regulatory studies fellow, Ryan Young, on Monday wrote an op-ed for The Hill’s Congress Blog emphasizing the role of federal regulatory reform in promoting economic growth across the country. In their article, they note how the Regulatory Improvement Act, introduced by Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), will enable Congress to review and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has begun the process of evaluating domestically manufactured athletic footwear sources for possible procurement, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today. That action, known as a “Sources Sought,” is the result of language added to the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act Joint Explanatory Statement, which was included at the request of Senators Collins and King. The Defense Department... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King, the Senate today passed H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, more commonly known as the Farm Bill, by a vote of 68-32. Following the vote, Senator King released the following statement: “Following extensive negotiations, I am pleased the Senate passed the 2013 Farm Bill, which defines our nation’s agricultural policy over the next five years. Agriculture is, as it always has... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The office of U.S. Senator Angus King today announced the first rotation of constituent outreach hours for the month of February. 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 necessary.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a part of his ongoing effort 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 weekly recap, Senator King discussed his impressions of Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, as well as passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act in the Senate. This bill delays the impending increases of flood insurance rates for coastal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter yesterday, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with eight of their colleagues, urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy to reconsider proposed reductions to the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard and to protect advanced biofuel incentives that move beyond corn-based ethanol. “We are concerned that reducing the RVOs for advanced biofuels production is the wrong approach. …... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that Maine will receive $5,411,630 in additional funding through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) following the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) decision to release an additional $453 million to states. “This additional funding is welcome news as Mainers continue to cope with record-setting cold and rising heating costs,” said Senator Collins, who, along... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement today following the passage of the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act: “The flood mapping process is usually long and very complicated, and as a consequence, can often result in inaccurate maps that improperly impact insurance holders’ premiums. It is imperative that FEMA’s flood maps accurately reflect the actual, scientific flood risk to homes and communities along Maine’s coast.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King yesterday held a video conference with over 200 students from Somerset Career & Technical Center in Skowhegan as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. During their Skype, the students asked Senator King questions about this week’s State of the Union address, how he balances his time between Maine and D.C., the future of Maine’s outdoor industry, and what can be done to reduce poverty in rural... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today announced his support for the PRO Sports Act, sponsored by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), which would amend the tax code to prohibit professional sports organizations with annual revenues of more than $10 million from enjoying the same tax-exempt, 501(c)(6) status as industry trade associations and public interest groups. “Most Americans would be shocked to learn of all the tax loopholes that companies and organizations are able to... Continue Reading »
