WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today sent a letter to the leaders of a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee asking them to provide federal funding to state and local governments for the purchase of auditable election systems. “A simple and effective solution to the cybersecurity vulnerability of our voting systems is available immediately: audit the results of elections instead of trying to secure computer systems.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution designating this week, May 7th to May 13th, 2017, as Public Service Recognition Week. Public Service Recognition Week honors the vital work of federal, state, county, and local government employees and members of the uniformed services across the nation. “Public servants across all levels of government dedicate their careers to working on behalf the American... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement on the Department of the Interior’s announcement today that it will review Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: “I believe this review is unnecessary and only reignites controversy in a region that was beginning to heal and move forward. The designation was made following substantial public input that spanned the course of several years – all of which helped to create a monument that was specifically... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he has introduced two bipartisan pieces of legislation that would help identify and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles standing in the way of Maine’s ability to more effectively utilize hydro as a source of energy. The Exemptions for Small Dams Act would allow for certain dams to qualify for expedited license exemptions, thereby helping ensure that dams – like many in Maine that produce home-grown, clean... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted to approve bipartisan legislation that funds the government through the rest of this Fiscal Year. The legislation includes several provisions Senator King fought for that support critical programs across Maine. “This bipartisan legislation is poised to do a lot of good for Maine,” Senator King said. “Not only does it provide significant funds to combat the opioid crisis, but it also includes provisions that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King joined a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues to write to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies urging them to support robust funding for State Veterans’ Homes that help provide long-term care to American veterans. Federal funds provided by the State Veterans’ Home Construction Grant Program allow states to make critical facility upgrades or... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling it “one of the most ridiculous actions of any government at any level” that he had ever encountered, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to reverse her Department’s decision not to review the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Upward Bound application over a minor, unintentional line-spacing issue. “This is preposterous. This isn’t a game. This isn’t gotcha. This is about... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement on today’s launch of the Biomass to Bioproducts Pilot Plant at the University of Maine’s Technology Research Center in Old Town: “This launch not only represents another positive development for the future of Maine’s bioeconomy, but it also serves as a great example of how the private sector can partner... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rural Maine is in the midst of a public health crisis, and U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today pressed two federal health agencies to explain what is being done to help address it. Calling the crisis a “slowly emerging, catastrophic injustice”, Senator King in a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlighted how people in rural Maine are facing health challenges of an unprecedented... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin are warning Maine veterans to beware of a scam where imposters attempt to imitate the Veterans Choice Program (VCP) phone line. Through this scam, a phone line has been set up by an unknown party to potentially mimic the VCP phone line. The imposter phone line may be intended to reach veterans who inadvertently dial the VCP number incorrectly. “We urge all Maine... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As energy companies continue their push to expand the export of natural gas, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today introduced legislation to ensure that any exports would not hurt people or businesses across Maine by jeopardizing America’s competitive advantage and driving up energy prices. More specifically, the Natural Gas Consumer Protection Act would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to consider the effect that any natural gas export proposal would have... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins announced today that the government funding compromise reached last night includes a provision that would allow the Secretaries of the U.S. Departments of Labor and Homeland Security to increase the number of H-2B visas distributed to small businesses across the county. The move comes just days after Senator King led a group of his colleagues, including Senator Susan Collins, in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging them... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Maine’s U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King appeared in a joint interview on NBC’s Meet the Press today with host Chuck Todd. The Senators discussed their work to build consensus and facilitate bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. Click HERE to watch the interview. A transcript of the interview follows: “MEET THE PRESS”APRIL 30, 2017 TODD: We have joining us this morning two Senators who could theoretically buck that trend:... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today released the April edition of his podcast, Inside Maine. In the podcast, Senator King interviews Kristina Egan, Executive Director of the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), and Peggy Daigle, who has worked as City or Town Manager in several rural municipalities in Maine, most recently serving in Lincoln. The focus of this month’s podcast is the Make it in America Manufacturing Communities Act, bipartisan... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day tomorrow, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) announced the locations of the Maine collection sites. Click HERE for locations. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. At a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) led a group of 23 Senators, including Senator Angus King (I-ME), in calling on Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to reverse course and review dozens of applications for grant funding for first generation college students. The Department recently rejected these applications due to ridiculous formatting requirements. Senators Collins and Tester have learned that the U.S. Education Department denied dozens... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) has led a group of his colleagues, including Senator Susan Collins, in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging them to come to the aid of Maine businesses who are in desperate need of seasonal workers. In the letter, Senator King and his Republican colleagues strongly urged the Majority and Minority Leaders to implement cap relief within the H-2B visa program for businesses that need extra help during their peak seasons. The letter... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously approved the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would help give states and localities the tools they need to fight back against mosquitos and the viruses they carry. The bill will now be sent to the full Senate for its consideration. The HELP Committee’s unanimously approval of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King applauded yesterday's decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which confirmed that Catalyst Paper received a negligible amount of subsidies during the review period. Catalyst Paper will now be excluded from the countervailing duty order on supercalendered paper. In December 2015, countervailing duty orders were issued on supercalendered paper imports from Canada. During the course of the investigation, however, the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Bruce Poliquin were encouraged by the findings in a report released today by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) on mental health consults and access to care issues at the VA Maine Healthcare System (VA Maine). The report indicated that VA Maine has made significant improvements following a 2015 report that substantiated some instances where... Continue Reading »
