WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today applauded a decision by the White House to release the series of emails that finalized the talking points used in the wake of the terrorist attack on the American special mission facility in Benghazi, Libya last September. Two days ago on MSNBC, Senator King called on the White House to release the emails, stating, “I understand about executive privilege.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today praised the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. The legislation would reform the Army Corps of Engineers, provide critical flood protection, and maintain the flow of commerce by improving and updating the nation's water infrastructure. It also includes project acceleration provisions that ensures important water infrastructure projects are processed in an efficient manner and is estimated to create up... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded a decision by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to use flexibility to further minimize the furloughs of Defense Department personnel and to avoid them altogether at Navy shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. For months, Senators Collins and King have stood together and argued that Secretary Hagel has the authority to allow flexibility rather than force across-the-board furloughs. In... Continue Reading »
Washington, DC- Just days before the start of American Craft Beers Week, U.S. Senator Susan Collins has authored a bipartisan bill, cosponsored by Senator Angus King, that would stimulate regional economies nationwide with a reduction in the excise tax on each barrel of beer (one barrel is 31 gallons) brewed by small brewers. Under current law, brewers generally pay an $18 excise tax on each barrel brewed. Small brewers, currently defined as those that brew fewer than 2 million... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continued effort to keep Mainers informed of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) sat down to recap the events of this past week in the U.S. Senate. Senator King led off the message by encouraging Mainers to reach out to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army in the wake of the tragic Lewiston fires that have left hundreds of people homeless. Senator King also spoke about: His call on his colleagues to move forward... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that a combined $3,600,000 in federal funding has been awarded for the assessment and cleanup of Brownfield sites in Maine. The federal grants awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assist in the revitalization of the Brownfield sites for future economic investments and environmental benefit. "We are pleased that the EPA has designated these sites throughout Maine as recipients of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree today applaud an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) that is has resumed previously suspended farm payments under the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC). “We’re tremendously pleased that Maine’s farmers are again receiving the payments that are so critical to the success of their work,” the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today applauds an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that it is making available an estimated $1,340,317 to 19 Maine community health centers to help uninsured Mainers enroll in affordable health insurance coverage. The funding, which is being issued by the Health Resources and Services Administration under the Affordable Care Act, will help the health centers to hire new staff, train existing staff,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), yesterday held a video conference with students from Portland High School as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. Over the course of his term in the Senate, Senator King hopes to connect with as many Maine high schools as possible in order to answer their questions about issues facing the country and to share his experiences as Maine junior U.S. Senator. Over 100 students participated in the30 minute... Continue Reading »
Mr. President, this discussion, this debate, isn't about budgets. It's not about deficits. It's about governing. That's the fundamental question that's before this body. It's about governing. I rise surprised and disappointed. I expected to come here and debate issues. Instead we're debating debating. We're having to argue and debate about the very act of getting to talk about these issues. And the problem, Mr. President, with the economy of this country right now, in my mind, is very largely... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the floor of the U.S. Senate today, Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, urged his colleagues to move forward with the federal budget process in order to further improve the economic health of the nation and to demonstrate to the American people that Congress still has the ability to solve major problems. Forty-six days have passed since the U.S. Senate approved its budget resolution, crafted in part by Senator King. Republican... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today applauds the passage of an amendment that would establish a National Endowment for the Oceans. The amendment, which Senator King cosponsored with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), passed 68-31 and will be included as part of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). The Senate is scheduled to continue debating the overall WRDA legislation throughout this week, with a vote on final passage expected in the near future. The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Maine’s Congressional Delegation applauds the announcement today by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it will not eliminate the overnight shift at Bangor International Airport (BGR) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). The shift had previously been at risk due to sequestration. “We are tremendously pleased the FAA has decided not to eliminate the overnight shift at BIA,” the Delegation said jointly. “Given the national significance of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) today congratulated Camden Hills Regional High School teacher, Mary “Margo” Marguerite Murphy, on being named one of the winners of the of the 2013 Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. The award – given to eleven teachers from across the country by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality – recognizes outstanding K-12... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today met with Maine’s two top youth volunteers of 2013, Katherine Elliot of Scarborough and Marissa Bates of Westbrook. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program named Katherine and Marissa as Maine’s top high school and middle level youth volunteers in February. The State Honorees were recognized in the nation’s capital last night for their outstanding volunteer service during the 18th annual presentation... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), praised the Senate’s final passage 69-27 of the MarketPlace Fairness Act of 2013. The legislation empowers states to enforce their own sales and use tax laws on out-of-state retailers making at least $1 million in annual online revenue. This bill does not create new taxes or increase existing taxes and passed with broad bipartisan support. “I was proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to help level... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Navy today notified U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) that it is pursuing the award of multi-year procurement contracts critical to the work of Bath Iron Works (BIW). The Navy will announce contracts for up to ten DDG-51 destroyers and associated systems for Fiscal Years 2013-2017 by June 4th. BIW is a strong competitor for some of those contracts. Senator Collins is a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) yesterday joined with members of the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland for an open conversation about his first 100 days in office as well as a discussion about major issues pending before the Senate. Senator King, who was home in Maine for the state work week, delivered opening remarks to the group of key business leaders and then fielded questions on a wide array of topics ranging... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) this week toured the state-of-the-art Van Buren Port of Entry facility, which when completed in June, will connect Maine to St. Leonard, New Brunswick. A joint venture between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the new facility will replace the existing port of entry that sustained significant damage when the St. John River flooded in 2008. Its design features several... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of 65 other Senators, sent a letter to the White House urging President Obama to take direct action in ending the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog. More than 600,000 veterans across the country are currently stuck in the backlog, with the average wait time of a claim to be processed ranging between 316 and 327 days. “It is shameful that our courageous... Continue Reading »
