WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the President’s signing of The Music Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill which will ensure songwriters are paid fair value for their songs. The legislation will set up a new simplified licensing entity to make it easier for digital music companies to obtain a license to play songs, and help songwriters be paid a fair market value for their music.“My mother started me with piano lessons... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Maine Superior Court Justice Lance Walker, a native of Piscataquis County, to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. “During his nearly two decades of experience as both an attorney in private practice and as a judge in Maine’s judicial system, Justice Walker has demonstrated that he has the intelligence, temperament, and integrity required for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded an announcement that ND Paper LLC has reached an agreement to purchase the Old Town Mill, which has been idled since the previous owners ended operations at the mill in 2015. ND Paper will shift the mill’s operations and invest in capital improvements to reduce manufacturing costs. The Old Town Mill is expected to reopen in early 2019 and will support more than 100 jobs in the region. This is the latest investment in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted in favor of legislation that would overturn the administration’s final “junk insurance” plan rule, which would expand the number of insurance plans that are not required to provide health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. The legislation, which Senator King cosponsored, fell one vote short of the 51 votes needed for passage. “I’ve met with Maine people with pre-existing conditions,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded Dr. Levesque Elementary School in Frenchville, Falmouth High School, and Yarmouth Elementary School for being recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools. These Maine schools are three of only 349 public and private schools across the nation being recognized for this achievement in 2018. “The Blue Ribbon designation is a testament to the vital work educators across the state of... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that 17 community health centers in Maine will receive a total of $4,980,138 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Expanding Access to Quality Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services (SUD-MH) awards. This funding will better equip health centers to help individuals and families overcome substance use disorders and improve mental health. “The opioid epidemic has already... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) addressed attendees at the annual Blaine House Conference on Service and Volunteerism at the University of Maine to congratulate participants and celebrate their contributions to Maine. The event was sponsored by the Maine Commission for Community Service, and included members of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. “Whether it’s providing healthcare to those who cannot afford coverage, ensuring our older citizens can thrive in place, or supporting... Continue Reading »
BANGOR, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) introduced the Invest in America Act, legislation that will create competitive grant programs to expand the workforce, modernize training tools, and promote job creation. Organizations that wish to apply for these grants would first apply for a planning grant to help prepare an Invest in America plan that identifies industries and occupations to be targeted as part of the implementation phase of a project. Planning grant recipients would then... Continue Reading »
BREWER, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) met with Maine people in recovery and treatment providers at the Bangor Area Recovery Network (BARN) in Brewer to discuss the importance of pre-existing condition protections for those seeking to recover from substance use disorders (SUDs). SUDs are considered a pre-existing condition, meaning that if allowed to discriminate against individuals with pre-existing conditions, insurers could refuse to cover or increase prices for individuals who... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: “Over the past several weeks, so many Maine people – particularly women – have shared with me their stories about how they have been affected by this nomination fight. All I can say to them today is that we cannot give up hope. The work is not over; it is just beginning.” Senator King originally announced his... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke on the Senate floor to detail his decision to vote against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve on the Supreme Court. In his speech, Senator King emphasized Judge Kavanaugh’s judicial philosophy on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and a woman’s right to choose, his refusal to recuse himself from cases on presidential power relating to the President that appointed him that may come before the Supreme... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement after reviewing the FBI’s supplementary background investigation into Judge Brett Kavanaugh:“The FBI report that I reviewed today does not confirm or contradict Judge Kavanaugh’s statements, nor does it undermine the credible testimony of Dr. Ford. For me, my decision is based on Judge Kavanaugh’s record, which indicates an overly rigid judicial philosophy that would threaten protections for healthcare,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King (I-Maine) applauded the passage of legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years. The legislation, which passed with strong bipartisan support, authorizes funding for all FAA programs, including FAA operations, research and development, aviation programs, extension of expiring authorities, airport planning... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) voted for the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and includes many provisions that will help Maine families and communities affected by the opioid crisis. The legislation was the result of months of bipartisan hearings and discussion on the opioid crisis. Senator King has previously supported several core provisions of the legislation, which will improve the federal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, applauded the ENR Committee’s passage of the Restore Our Parks Act, a bipartisan bill led by Senators King, Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) that aims to address the $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at the National Park Service (NPS). The Committee also approved legislation cosponsored by Senator King... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree announced that the University of Southern Maine’s Veterans Upward Bound program has been awarded $275,155 from the U.S. Department of Education. “USM’s Veterans Upward Bound program is the only one of its kind in the State of Maine, and one of two such programs in New England. Since being awarded funds, USM has been working diligently to recruit veterans for the program,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), a founder and co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to designate a funding carve out within the $600 million rural broadband e-Connectivity Pilot Program established in the March 2018 omnibus appropriations bill. The senators urged the USDA to work with states to determine eligible areas for a funding set aside within... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) visited the Tambrands manufacturing facility in Auburn to tour the facility and meet with the company’s senior leadership and employees. The company is owned by Proctor & Gamble and recently celebrated 50 years in business; with approximately 400 employees, Tambrands is Auburn’s largest private employer and produces between 8 and 9 million Tampax tampons per day, which are shipped all over the world.“Tambrands has been investing in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement that Millinocket-based nonprofit Our Katahdin has been awarded $5.3 million from the Economic Development Administration. The funding will help Our Katahdin build critical infrastructure, including roads, water, sewer, power and broadband on the 1,400-acre former Great Northern Paper mill site in Millinocket. In June, Senators Collins and King wrote in support of Our Katahdin’s... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke at the Portland Housing Authority’s (PHA) 75th Anniversary Celebration at Sagamore Village in Portland. The celebration included staff members, community partners and approximately 300 residents of Sagamore Village, a PHA facility, as well as Portland city officials and Maine state legislators. “For 75 years, the Portland Housing Authority has brought stability into the lives of the region’s families, seniors, and those... Continue Reading »
