WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for displaced employees at Twin Rivers Paper Company. In July, Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in support of the TAA petition, which was filed in advance of the Madawaska mill shutting down one... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today on the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States: “As this campaign for the presidency draws to a close, I am hopeful that the President-elect and Congress can work together to write a new chapter in American history – one that begins and ends with the healing of our great national divide, a chasm that has seemingly only grown throughout the course of this long and bruising... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today welcomed an announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it has awarded a total of $1,549,262 to nine Maine agricultural producers. The funding, awarded through the USDA's Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant Program, will support activities related to the processing and marketing of agricultural, value-added products. "This federal investment will assist local, independent farms... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King welcomed an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it is investing $4.4 million to assist the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District and Vassalboro Sanitary District. Boothbay Harbor will receive a $450,000 Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and a $150,000 grant, and Vassalboro will receive a $2,113,000 Water and Waste Disposal Direct Loan and a $1,700,000 grant. “Water infrastructure helps to... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined with officials from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to present Casco Bay Energy Company with OSHA’s prestigious Voluntary Protection Program Star Certification. Star Certification is awarded to exemplary worksites with comprehensive, successful safety, and health management systems. “Facilities like Casco Bay Energy are a critical component of America’s energy infrastructure, helping to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded a decision to approve Norway spruce as construction-grade dimensional lumber. Senators Collins and King commended a team of researchers from the University of Maine that conducted extensive testing on the wood species, which informed the decision by the American Lumber Standards Committee to approve Norway spruce for use in construction. The decision will benefit Maine landowners, loggers, lumber mills,... Continue Reading »
ATHENS, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today toured several local businesses in Somerset County, where he highlighted success stories in Maine manufacturing and emphasized the invaluable impact that businesses have in rural Maine towns as drivers of innovation, good jobs, and economic development. “The Somerset County businesses I toured today are proof positive that manufacturing in Maine is growing more diverse and providing new opportunities, even as we work through the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest a total of $427,000 to help six Maine small businesses purchase and install renewable energy systems or upgrade to more energy efficient equipment. The grants were awarded through the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). “These investments will help Maine small businesses adopt cost-effective and efficient renewable... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – During a “Dirigo Speaks” event hosted by AARP and the Bangor Daily News this evening, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) outlined his vision of the five most serious long-term challenges facing the State of Maine. Senator King’s list included: 1) The need for continued infrastructure improvements; 2) The impact of climate change on Maine’s inland and coast; 3) The necessity for the continued diversification of energy resources; 4) Ongoing support to... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – This evening, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered remarks about the leadership of pioneering polar explorer Ernest Shackleton during a University of Southern Maine (USM) Arctic forum titled, “Leadership, Exploration, and Survival: A Blueprint for Thriving in Our Changing World.” Senator King spoke about how Shackleton, whose extraordinary leadership helped successfully marshal his crew through a hazardous – and ultimately historic – journey... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded Paul Dest, the Director of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, for being one of only two people across the country to be awarded the 2016 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Senators wrote a letter supporting Mr. Dest’s nomination for the award. “We are proud and excited that Paul Dest has... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In case you missed it, Mozilla, a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending a free and open web, applauded U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) for their letter earlier this week calling on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a blog post published yesterday, Heather West, a senior public policy... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – In the wake of a complex cyber-attack that disrupted service to Twitter, Spotify, The New York Times and other major websites, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today called on President Barack Obama to work with Congress to strengthen the federal government’s ability to detect and repair cyber-vulnerabilities within U.S. networks. In a letter sent today, the two members of the Senate Intelligence Committee urged the President to help... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that five Maine organizations have been awarded a total of $3,649,544 through the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program and the Native American CDFI Assistance (NACA) Program. CDFIs are private financial institutions that provide affordable loans to low-income individuals and communities to help finance community businesses—including small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated Sea Road School Principal Stephen D. Marquis, Ph.D., of Kennebunk on being named a 2016 recipient of the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership. Dr. Marquis is one of only eight principals across the country who will receive the award at a ceremony on November 7, 2016. “The Bell Award is one of the most prestigious recognitions principals can receive, and we are so proud of Dr. Marquis for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree sent a letter urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward and fund critical dredging projects for York Harbor and the Saco River. “Small ports and harbors like York and Saco River are the economic lifeblood for many coastal communities in Maine. In allocating funds that Congress makes available to the Corps each year for the operation and maintenance of our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced the locations of the Maine collection sites. Click HERE for locations. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. At the previous... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today on the recent announcement that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to not pursue a proposed rule at this time that would have required individuals to opt in to receive mutual fund information in paper form. Senators Collins and King have strongly advocated to keep paper as the default delivery method for financial disclosures. “For our nation’s... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin responded to today’s announcement that the European Commission’s Committee on Invasive Alien Species has decided that they will not proceed with the listing of American lobster as an invasive species at the European Union level. The decision brings an end to the proposal that threatened to end live American lobster exports to EU countries. Senators Collins... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Lewiston non-profit New Beginnings, Inc. will receive $185,400 through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to help expand New Beginnings’ outreach services and support their work to improve the lives of homeless as well as runaway youth and families in crisis. New Beginnings’ outreach program connects with youth who live outside the traditional service system in... Continue Reading »
