WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a keynote address this morning at the Progressive Policy Institute, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) underscored the need for Congress to undertake regulatory reform to help encourage entrepreneurship, promote innovation, and support economic growth. King’s remarks were delivered as part of a forum entitled, “Innovation in a Rules-Bound World: How Regulatory Improvement Can Spur Growth.” “Just this morning on the radio I heard about the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, with the support of U.S. Senator King (I-Maine), the Senate passed – by a bipartisan vote – a bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill still requires passage by the House of Representatives. “Congress’s first priority should be funding the Department of Homeland Security. It is absolutely critical – particularly now, at a time when our home front faces new national security threats nearly every day. The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with several of his colleagues, are urging the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to expedite regulations to implement provisions of the Women’s Small Business Procurement Parity Act that were included in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In a letter yesterday to SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, the Senator King and his colleagues expressed their strong support for eliminating barriers that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to two decisions from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today adopting rules to protect net neutrality and supporting the right of municipalities to construct broadband networks, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) – a strong proponent of both causes – released the following statements. On the FCC’s vote to preserve the open Internet by putting in place clear, enforceable rules, Senator King said: “This historic decision... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After voting to move forward a bill that fully funds the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the rest of the Fiscal Year, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement: “Passing a bill that fully funds the Department of Homeland Security is critical,” Senator King said. “All anyone has to do is turn on the TV or pick up the paper to understand the severity of the threats facing our country today. That’s why DHS must... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King were joined by 40 of their colleagues in raising serious concerns about the implementation of the Veterans Choice Card program. The program was established by Congress last year in response to the nationwide crisis of veterans’ access to care but has yet to be implemented as Congress envisioned. The program allows veterans who live more than 40 miles from the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today to the leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) outlined several priorities he hopes the Committee will consider when it holds a hearing on the Arctic in the coming weeks in anticipation of the United States assuming the chairmanship of the Arctic Council this April. “As our climate has changed, no region has been impacted as significantly as the Arctic – the changing Arctic is a canary... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) reintroduced the RESPONSE Act, legislation that would improve emergency preparedness and training for first responders and provide support to help emergency personnel better respond to hazardous incidents, such as crude oil train derailments and other hazmat situations. “Emergency responders bravely risk their lives every day to protect our communities, and we should support them by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today on the conclusions of a three-part study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which found that a significant portion of student borrowers who ultimately default on their education loans are those who carry relatively modest loan balances. Earlier this year, Senator King, along with Senator Richard Burr (R-N.C.), reintroduced the Repay Act, legislation that would simplify the complex... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell for answers about the National Park Service’s (NPS) process for awarding concessions contracts, and more specifically, the agency’s decision a year and a half ago to end a longstanding relationship with the Acadia Corporation (Acadia Corp.). “We had an experience a year or so ago at Acadia national park... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a statement submitted to the Congressional Record today, U.S. Senator Angus King paid tribute to the life of Wil Smith, a former associate dean at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine and a coach, mentor, and friend to countless people across the state. Wil lost a three year battle with colon cancer on Sunday morning. He was 46 years old. “There is a hole in the heart of our community today. But while Wil’s loss is felt by countless people, his legacy will... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Energy and Natural Resources Committees, called for greater United States leadership in the Arctic. Speaking at the Arctic Council Initiatives to Sustain Arctic Cooperation, King underscored the strategic importance of the Arctic and the need for expanded U.S. engagement and international cooperation in the region, particularly as... Continue Reading »
ROCKLAND, ME – Following a request from U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and several of his colleagues last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a special enrollment period for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the fee or “shared responsibility payment” when they file their 2014 taxes in states which use the Federally-Facilitated Marketplace (FFM). The announcement by CMS is directly in... Continue Reading »
ROCKLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, convened a roundtable at the Island Institute to discuss economic development and energy sustainability for Maine’s islands and remote coastal communities. Comprised of the Institute leadership and staff, as well as stakeholders from local communities, the roundtable focused on the importance of rural broadband, the impact of climate change, the transition... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – In remarks delivered this morning at Husson University to local business leaders, students, faculty, and staff, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) discussed U.S. economic growth and job gains in Maine, highlighting strategies to strengthen Maine’s economy – including reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses, expanding rural access to high-speed broadband, and increasing access to higher education and making it easier to repay student loans. “The economy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) pressed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide relief to towns in Washington County that have been hit by successive snowstorms this winter. The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine has described the snowfall this season as “unparalleled” in the past 100 years or so. These extreme storms have forced businesses to close, left residents stuck in their homes, and... Continue Reading »
“I've been hitting, hammering on that in committee meetings and Armed Services and Intelligence the past year and a half. We need a general strategy beyond just killing them and beyond treating them as military targets. We need to talk about why is this happening…” – Sen. Angus King on CNN’s New Day, January 9, 2015. BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence who has called for the U.S. to... Continue Reading »
WESTBROOK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Small Business Regional Administrator Seth Goodall, toured Pika Energy, a Westbrook-based microgrid power electronics manufacturer that employs 11 people and is on the vanguard of developing clean, renewable energy technologies. “Innovative companies like Pika Energy continue to lead the way in developing renewable technologies that will not only... Continue Reading »
SCARBOROUGH, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with several of his colleagues, sent a letter Friday to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell asking the agency to grant individuals who were uninsured in 2014 and subject to the individual responsibility payment another opportunity to enroll in 2015 coverage under the Affordable Care Act. “To help ensure a smooth transition this year, we encourage the Administration to create a special... Continue Reading »
GREENWOOD, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, visited Mt. Abram Ski Resort where he surveyed the ski area’s cutting-edge renewable energy upgrades and announced his intention to reintroduce bipartisan legislation, the bipartisan Biomass Thermal Utilization Act, which would provide tax incentives to upgrade to clean, affordable biomass wood-pellet boilers. “From our downeast coastal waters to right here in... Continue Reading »
