WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today reintroduced the Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act to provide medical professionals with a consistent level of legal protection while volunteering during federally-declared disasters. Under current law, the combination of federal and state efforts to protect and encourage volunteering, specifically by health care professionals, can be unclear and insufficient in the face of natural disasters.“When the worst... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is joining 25 Senate colleagues and introducing legislation that would make it easier for consumers and businesses to access incentives that encourage the use of clean energy. The Clean Energy for America Act would simplify the current tax code to streamline the process for home, business and vehicle owners to gain tax credits when they switch to cleaner energy. More specifically, the legislation consolidates the existing 44 energy tax incentives... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of New England Senators to reintroduce legislation barring oil and gas drilling off the region’s shoreline. Oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic would put vital coastline and precious ocean resources at risk, threatening a central economic engine for New England. “The waters off Maine’s coast provide a healthy ecosystem for our state’s fisheries and support a vigorous tourism... Continue Reading »
OGUNQUIT, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today presented Dr. Ruth Endicott with four long overdue medals recognizing her service to the United States during World War II. Dr. Endicott, now 102 years old, served in the Women’s Army Corps in Europe before returning to Maine to complete an education and work as a family physician in Ogunquit. During a ceremony at Dr. Endicott's home in Ogunquit, Senator King presented her with the Women’s Army Corps Ribbon, the European-African-Middle... Continue Reading »
KITTERY, ME –U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), co-chairs of the Senate Broadband Caucus, have reintroduced the Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act. While the federal government measures the economic impact of many industries, it does not produce current, reliable statistics on the economic impact of broadband on the U.S. economy – despite a national outcry for information that can inform state and federal policymakers. The... Continue Reading »
Click HERE for a high-resolution photo of John Sodergren with Trisha House of Senator Collins’ office and Barbara Hayslett of Representative Golden’s office Click HERE for high-resolution photo of Trisha House presenting the flag to John Sodergren Stockholm, ME — Representatives from U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ and Representative Jared Golden’s Aroostook County offices recently presented John C. Sodergren, a 92-year-old World War II veteran, with an American... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—A new research collaboration between the University of Maine (UMaine) and the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) will advance efforts to 3D print with wood products, creating a new market for Maine’s forest products industry. U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME) joined Daniel Simmons, the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act, bicameral legislation that would provide states, service providers, subminimum wage certificate holders, and other entities with the resources to help workers with disabilities transition into competitive, integrated employment. Currently, employers that obtain the appropriate certificate are permitted to hire people with disabilities at less than minimum wage.... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2019, legislation that would add gender identity and sexual orientation to the classes protected from discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) to ensure equal housing opportunities for all Americans. The FHA prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability but... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today in a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned U.S. leaders and experts in the nuclear energy field about the lack of conversation around nuclear waste management solutions. Senator King reiterated his support of using nuclear as a type of carbon-free power, but highlighted the United States’ more than 70 year waste build-up as fundamental problem which needs to be addressed. “Has the word ‘waste’ been... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to provide financial relief to certain civilian federal employees who have to relocate for work. The Relocation Expense Parity Act will ensure that all federal employees who qualify to have their moving costs reimbursed by the government are also repaid for the taxes owed on relocation reimbursements – a longstanding fiscal policy that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated. “It’s an old saying,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced that Maine has received $2,862,247 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs. These grants will support 249 AmeriCorps members serving the following Maine organizations: LearningWorks, Maine Conservation Corps, Healthy Acadia, and the University of Southern Maine (USM)’s Maine... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $717,102 to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to enhance existing services to victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking provided by the Maliseet Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy Center. “Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence should have access to every resource available to ensure... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of 27 Senators in sending a letter urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies to continue to fund the National Sea Grant College Program – at a minimum – at its current funding level of $80 million. The letter follows the Administration’s proposed elimination of funding for the Sea Grant Program in the fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget.“We... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined a group of 27 senators in calling for $400 million of federal funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), the only federal employment program dedicated to helping older Americans return to the workforce. In 2018, almost 60,000 older Americans with significant barriers to employment trained at community employers and earned paychecks through the Senior Community Service... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced his support for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that would ensure legal cannabis businesses can access the same banking services utilized by all other legal businesses. The bill would solve a key logistical and public safety problem in states like Maine that recently have legalized medicinal or recreational cannabis.Currently, many cannabis businesses operating under state laws... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie joined U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, and Governor Janet Mills at a groundbreaking ceremony for Maine Veterans’ Homes’ new, state-of-the-art, $91 million veterans home in Augusta today. The planned 179,000+ square foot facility will feature 138 private rooms for veterans and eligible family members, employ nearly 250 people, and be the first true... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, MAINE – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement in response to today’s release of the Mueller report:“The lengthy document released today by the Justice Department is further proof that Special Counsel Mueller and his team conducted a serious, thorough, and thoughtful investigation into the events surrounding foreign interference in the 2016 election. While I intend to carefully review these extensive... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today visited with community service advocates, non-profit leaders, and volunteers at the University of Southern Maine (USM) Lewiston-Auburn Campus to discuss how civic engagement and volunteerism can strengthen Maine’s communities. Along with Senator King, the meeting was hosted by the Maine Commission for Community Service, which works to inspire volunteerism in Maine and foster involved, responsible citizens.“From helping out at the local soup... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that five Maine tribes – the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township and the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Pleasant Point Reservation – are receiving $4,257,104 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG). “Affordable housing is key to creating and... Continue Reading »
