WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with several of his Senate and House colleagues, today sent a letter to the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration Carolyn W. Colvin and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch urging them to ensure that the Supreme Court’s landmark marriage decisions are implemented and that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is treating marriages equally. The letter urges SSA not to penalize married same-sex couples who... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that Maine will receive $34,847,767 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) assistance. The funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will help low-income households and seniors with their energy bills. “The long, cold Maine winter can present low-income families and seniors with the impossible choice between paying for heat and paying for other necessities like... Continue Reading »
SOUTH PARIS, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) toured precision manufacturer Maine Machine Products Company in South Paris where he surveyed newly-completed energy efficiency upgrades that are expected to save the company approximately $100,000 per year. In remarks delivered at the event, Senator King emphasized how energy conservation projects, like that at Maine Machine, can help Maine businesses reduce energy consumption, protect the environment, and save money in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today passed the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would help address the alarming rise of opioid abuse among pregnant women and its effect on newborn babies. “Maine’s opioid epidemic doesn’t just affect those struggling with addiction. It hurts parents, siblings, friends, and even newborn babies,” Senator King said. “By developing an improved... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in support of Maine’s supercalendered paper industry and outlined the damaging impact that unfair Canadian trade subsidies have had on Maine businesses such as Madison Paper. “The mill workers in Madison are talented, dedicated, open to challenges, and innovative; in short, they are part of a proud paper-making community and tradition in Maine. The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King honoring the lives of the 33 lost crew members of the El Faro, four of whom were from Maine and had graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) in Castine along with another crew member who had also attended MMA. The resolution also recognizes the tireless search efforts conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, and Airforce, and offers condolences to the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks delivered on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, highlighted the growing financial toll that cyber-attacks and data breaches are inflicting on Maine businesses. Senator King’s remarks come as Congress begins consideration of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA), legislation which seeks to strengthen U.S. cyber-defenses and protect businesses by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement in advance of President Obama’s expected announcement today of a series of public and private efforts aimed at addressing the prescription drug abuse and heroin epidemic: “In Maine, we’ve lost too many friends and loved ones to opioid abuse, and today, too many people still continue to suffer under the grip of addiction – most of them in silence, not knowing where to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the following statement after opposing the advancement of a bill that would place burdensome requirements on local law enforcement as they work to safeguard communities: “State and local police departments know how to best protect and keep safe the communities they serve. The federal government should be a partner when it comes to that – not... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded an announcement that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded $6.5 million in grant funding to Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to support climate change education in Maine and across the country. “Providing students with innovative educational opportunities is crucial to engaging our nation’s students with STEM fields,” said Senator Collins. “GMRI... Continue Reading »
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a founding co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus and a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Energy and Natural Resources Committees, this morning participated in an Arctic Circle Assembly Plenary Session in which he continued his push for increased U.S. leadership in the Arctic. In his remarks, Senator King also spoke to the various security, environmental, economic, and social issues that make the region a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that Lewiston non-profit New Beginnings, which works to improve the lives of homeless youth and families in crisis, has been awarded $179,367 in grant funding through the Administration for Children and Families (ACYF). The funds will be used to support their emergency shelter. This funding was awarded through the ACYF’s Family and Youth Services Bureau. ACYF is a subsidiary of the United States Department... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $709,713 to the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and $999,120 to the University of Maine to support ongoing efforts to support producers of organic agricultural products throughout the state of Maine and the northeast region. “Maine’s thriving local food movement is driven in part by an encouraging wave of young... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to take immediate, overdue action to fully implement and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). “We are writing to urge you to take immediate action to implement and enforce the MHPAEA. It has now been over 7 years since MHPAEA was passed and... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) toured the Portland Vet Center with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Interim Regional Manager Steven Reeves. During the tour, Senator King and Mr. Reeves met with veterans and Dr. Clifford Trott, the team leader for both the Portland and Lewiston Vet Centers, to discuss the services provided at each facility and the current staffing challenges. Senator King urged Director Reeves to continue to work to fill staffing vacancies... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s announcement that he will maintain current troop levels in Afghanistan: “The President has made a difficult decision, but it is the right one,” Senator King said. “Over the past few years, with the assistance... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced today that the National Park Service has awarded funding to 10 organizations and municipalities throughout the state of Maine. This funding is provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a partnership program that provides matching funds to states and local communities for conservation of parks and open space “The LWCF is... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In an effort to help millions of low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills this coming winter, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with a bipartisan group of 40 of his colleagues, led by Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), to call on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to quickly release as much federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) heating aid as possible. “LIHEAP is the main... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Al Franken (D-Min.), today introduced legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors and the public for free. This bill, the Affordable College Textbook Act, would create a competitive grant program to support the creation and use of open college textbooks – which are available under an open license,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following last week’s tragedy at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today renewed his push to enact common-sense gun safety legislation and take action to reform the mental health system in an effort to curb gun violence in America. “We’re here today because of one more incident in a depressingly familiar series of mass shootings. All over the country this is happening in a repetitive way, and it’s... Continue Reading »
