Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced today that a total of $6 million in federal brownfields funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup of 14 sites in Maine, more funding than any other state in the country this year. The federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist local communities as they work to redevelop these contaminated sites in order to improve the environment and promote future... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act. The bipartisan bill would allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. Currently, there are 27 states – including Maine – with inspection programs certified by the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) that meet or exceed federal inspection standards.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator King that will help give states and localities the tools they need to fight back against mosquitos and the viruses they spread. The bill was included within the larger Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPA) (S. 1379), and will now... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored legislation that would begin to address the more than 47,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country, including 325 bridges in Maine. This figure means 13.1% of Maine’s bridges are classified as structurally deficient, which is the sixth highest percentage in the nation. The Strengthen and Fortify Existing Bridges Act (SAFE Bridges) would establish a program to provide funding specifically dedicated to... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, and Angus King (I-ME), a cofounder of the Senate Working Forests Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to help expand the use of renewable wood energy. The bill would allow the use of biomass from certain federal and non-federal lands to promote healthier forests, more carbon sequestration, and cleaner transportation fuels.“Biomass is sustainable,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that his staff will hold the following constituent outreach hours for York and Oxford Counties.Outreach hours offer an opportunity for area residents to meet directly with a staff representative to discuss specific problems, legislative issues, or any concerns regarding federal government agencies. No appointment is necessary. All conversations are strictly confidential.Tuesday, June 4, 2019Goodall Library952 Main... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. —Yesterday, in a letter to Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere Dr. Neil Jacobs, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) expressed their concern about the ongoing North Atlantic right whale take reduction efforts and their significant impact on the Maine lobster industry. The delegation urged National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) leadership to ensure that... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME –In honor of Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) spoke today at Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. During his speech, Senator King paid tribute to America’s fallen heroes and honored the sacrifices of America’s veterans and their families. The annual event is put on in partnership with the Maine Veteran Coordinating Committee.“Memorial Day is a time to honor the heroism of America’s fallen servicemembers, and to come together to recommit ourselves to forming a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the May edition of Senator King’s Inside Maine podcast. This month’s podcast features U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who serves with Senator King as a co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), and Professor Henry Felch, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA). Representative Gallagher joined Senator King to discuss the national security... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), announced today that the Committee has passed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included a number of provisions the Senator proposed that are important to national security and Maine jobs. The legislation was approved by a vote of 25-2, and will now advance to the Senate floor.“The National Defense Authorization Act is an example of how governing should work:... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — Amidst ever-increasing numbers of robocall scams, the U.S. Senate voted 97-1 today to pass legislation cosponsored by Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to increase federal law enforcement’s authority to put a stop to these illegal calls. The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act makes it easier for regulators to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, promotes call authentication and blocking... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) have introduced legislation that would make it easier for small farms and ranches to provide locally-produced meats to consumers. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has also joined as an original cosponsor. The Processing Revival and Instrastate Meat Exemption Act, (PRIME Act) would give individual states the option to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as beef, pork, goat or lamb to consumers,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Delivering Elderly Lunches and Increasing Volunteer Engagement and Reimbursements (DELIVER) Act of 2017, legislation that would promote volunteerism within meal delivery programs and help provide meals to more seniors across America. Specifically, the legislation would increase the existing charitable mileage tax deduction rate of 14 cents per mile – which has remained unchanged for more than two... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, a bipartisan bill backed by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would provide financial relief for the families of U.S. servicemembers who have died while on active duty. The bill reverses a provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to ensure that Gold Star children who receive Survivor Benefit Plan income are taxed at their individual income rate, and not at far higher trust... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to introduce the Military Voter Protection (MVP) Act, which would ensure that servicemembers are provided with ballots and registration cards necessary to vote while deployed overseas. The legislation would also provide servicemembers with instruction from trained personnel on how to cast their vote in their registered state.“In the midst of our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 44 Senators to introduce a resolution asserting support for women’s reproductive rights, including the right to safe, legal abortion. The resolution, which affirms Senator King’s support of women’s access to reproductive health care and women’s right to make their own health care decisions, comes on the heels of legislative efforts in Georgia, Alabama, and other states intended to undermine women’s reproductive rights... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the Ecology School in Saco has been awarded an $8,660,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Rural Development. This investment will be used to construct an environmentally friendly 7,000 square-foot dining commons and a 9,000 square-foot dormitory as well as to convert the existing farmhouse into office space. The Ecology School currently has 14 employees, and this project will allow for the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services has awarded $1,000,000 to the Clark Island Wetlands Conservation Project in Saint George. As part of the project, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) will purchase an additional 168 acres of Clark Island neighboring the existing 250-acre Clark Island conservation area. The overall site will protect breeding and migratory habitats for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in requesting guidance from the Department of Treasury for the implementation of the carbon capture utilization and storage tax credit program. The program was established through the FUTURE Act, a bipartisan bill supported by Senator King and passed as part of the December 2017 tax bill. Despite the fact that the FUTURE Act became law well over a year ago, taxpayers remain unable to claim the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a co-chair of the bipartisan Senate RV Caucus, announced his support for the Travel Trailer and Camper Parity Act. The legislation would amend the tax code to extend the same tax treatment for towable recreational vehicles (RV) as motorized RVs currently enjoy – correcting an imbalance created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.“The day I left office as Governor in 2003, my wife and I departed with our two children in a 40-foot RV for... Continue Reading »
