WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the Senate has passed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 91-3. The legislation includes a $250 million authorization secured by Senator King for a DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer that could be built at Bath Iron Works. It also includes a provision authored in part by Senator King that would improve the HUBZone program to better stimulate economic activity at former military... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate National Guard Caucus, and Angus King, a member of the Senates Armed Services Committee, announced this afternoon that the 133rd Engineer Battalion will remain based in Brunswick, Maine. “I am so pleased to learn that the Army National Guard 133rd Engineer Battalion will stay in Maine. This is the right decision for the great state of Maine and for our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today expressed frustration with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) plan for the Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program in a report delivered to Congress to consolidate all non-VA provider programs. “The ARCH program has made a real difference for our veterans in Maine and across our country. I remember one of our veterans telling me about breaking his... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced more than $2.7 million in grant funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal grant program for the communities of Brewer, Oxford, and Wilton. Brewer will receive a $400,000 grant along with a $1,500,000 loan for sewer system improvements. Oxford will receive a $999,000 grant and a $3,601,000 loan for its new waste water treatment facility and collection... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he has hired Maine-native Morgan Cashwell as a Legislative Assistant in his Washington, D.C. office. Morgan will serve as Senator King’s principal advisor on energy and environment-related issues and will staff him for his work on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “With her firsthand knowledge of Maine and her wealth of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that, at his request, leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committee have preserved a $250 million authorization in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act for an additional DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer that could be built at Bath Iron Works. “I am very encouraged that we were able to maintain this critical authorization, which... 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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded two Housing Preservation Grants to Penquis Community Action Program Inc. (Penquis CAP) and Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) to support housing rehabilitation projects in Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Knox, and Waldo Counties. “This... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rather than vote to advance legislation that would severely undermine environmental protections for streams and wetlands, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he is leading a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demanding that the agency provide clarity on agricultural exemptions and more concise guidelines on compliance in the EPA-issued clean water rules. Senator King’s letter addresses concerns that Senator King and many farmers... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In a bipartisan letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and several of his colleagues urged leaders of the Senate and House education committees to maintain strong education technology provisions as they begin conference proceedings for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This bicameral and bipartisan letter, which was addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the... Continue Reading »
BATH, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered remarks at the Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) christening ceremony at Bath Iron Works. “As I think about this day, I think about an apparent conflict, but one which I believe is not so. We are here in the presence of a great weapon of war, but we are really creating an instrument of peace,” Senator King said. “Civilization takes work. Conflict is inherent. Throughout... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Climate Action Task Force, participated in a Climate Business Roundtable hosted by the Natural Resources Council of Maine. The roundtable, which Senator King video-conferenced into from Washington, included local business leaders and energy experts and focused on the opportunities and challenges that climate change presents to businesses in Maine. “The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the announcement from the Obama Administration that it intends to introduce U.S Special Operations Forces into Syria, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement today: “For far too long, Congress has stood by while U.S. forces have conducted operations against ISIL in Iraq and Syria – and today’s announcement will very likely put... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate early this morning passed a two-year budget agreement that avoids a default on government debt and lifts sequestration for defense and non-defense domestic spending, a move which Senator King has long advocated. Following the vote, Senator King released the following statement: “No budget is ever perfect, and this one certainly... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Angus King, and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have sent a letter to Robert McDonald, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, urging him to provide support for the crucial Access Received Closer to Home (ARCH) program for veterans who live in rural communities. In the letter, the senators stated, “ARCH provides medical care for veterans living in rural areas or for those who are burdened with long wait... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, led a bipartisan letter, along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Casey (D-PA), and Rob Portman (R-OH), to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid urging them to take up and pass legislation to extend the Perkins Loan Program. The letter was cosigned by Senator Angus King and a majority of the Senate. This critical lifeline for many... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015: “Today, the Senate took a significant step forward in bolstering our country’s cyber-defenses and giving businesses the tools they need to better protect themselves against cyber-attacks,” Senator King said. “Every day, thousands of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced that fourteen Maine businesses will receive federal grants totaling more than $1.6 million to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the state. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America (REAP) program. “More and more Maine businesses are turning to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) today announced the formation of the bipartisan Senate Regulations Caucus to address regulatory reform at the federal level. With many legislative efforts currently underway to address over-regulation, the goal of the Senate Regulations Caucus is to unify and lead these efforts to advance meaningful regulatory reform in Congress. “With thousands of new... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to reports that a two-year budget deal has been reached, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement: “For far too long, the economy has stared down the threat of a budget calamity with sequestration and teetered under the weight of crises manufactured by Congress. The American people deserve better. They deserve an economy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation that it has awarded $20 million in Transportation Investment Generation Economic Recovery (TIGER) funding to the Maine Railways Project. The funding will be used to help rehabilitate approximately 380 miles of track throughout Maine. “Maine’s railways are economic lifelines, helping to... Continue Reading »
