WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the U.S. Senate today passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation that will help fight back against the opioid and heroin crisis raging across Maine and the nation. The legislation, which passed the House last week and includes several provisions backed by Senator King, now heads to the President’s desk for his signature to become law. In a statement following the vote, Senator King... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), along with several of his colleagues, today sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging him to schedule a vote on the emergency supplemental legislation he offered with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to provide substantial funding to address the opioid and heroin epidemic in the United States. The letter comes as the Senate is expected to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 91-year-old veteran William Schnorr of Dixfield finally received a long-overdue medal that he had earned, but never received, for his service during World War II. During a ceremony held in the Augusta office of U.S. Senator Angus King, Mr. Schnorr was awarded the World War II Victory Medal in recognition of his service to America. Senator King’s staff worked with Mr. Schnorr and his family to acquire the medal, and Senator King, who was in Washington today,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $3,930,515 to the Portland International Jetport and the Bangor International Airport. “The Portland International Jetport and the Bangor International Airport are important pieces of our transportation infrastructure that help connect Maine to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After introducing the EMPOWER Act last month, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is continuing his push to tackle poverty in Maine by introducing two pieces of legislation today that would help make it easier for people to find and keep jobs. Senator King today introduced the Access to Childcare Expansion (ACE) Act and the Leveling Access to Demonstrated Drivers of Employment Results (LADDER) Act. The ACE Act would make childcare more affordable and accessible for working... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins announced that the Senate last night unanimously passed a resolution designating September 25, 2016 as “National Lobster Day.” The Maine Senators led the “National Lobster Day” resolution, which was introduced on June 28, to recognize the economic and cultural importance of the lobster industry in Maine and around the country. “Up and down the Maine coast, lobstering remains an inseparable part... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged the Senate to move forward with his Securing Energy Infrastructure Act of 2016, legislation that seeks to protect critical U.S. energy infrastructure, like the electric grid, from potentially catastrophic cyber-attacks. Senator King spoke in support of his legislation during a hearing held by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Energy to receive testimony on the bill. “This is a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) today introduced the Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish investment tax credits (ITCs) for business and home use of energy storage. The proposed tax incentives are modeled on the current ITCs for solar energy and would apply to either large, grid-connected energy storage systems or to smaller battery systems for residential... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that he is launching a Senate Broadband Caucus. The bipartisan caucus will focus on strengthening broadband infrastructure and deployment across the country. It will also address broadband challenges facing Americans, promote bipartisan discussions about possible solutions to increase connectivity and close the digital divide in rural America, and engage with a broad range of industries and other... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today joined with a bipartisan group of his colleagues in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Mobility Fund, which is aimed at providing broadband service to rural and underserved areas. Senator King, who joined twenty-seven other senators in the letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, called for the agency to prioritize new mobile broadband deployment and to preserve and upgrade... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $337,345 to the Biddeford Municipal Airport. The funding will be used for the removal of tree obstructions in the Runway 6 approach surface and acquire one property, which is required for the obstruction removal project. “Maine’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that five Maine fire departments will receive a total of $551,431 in grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. “The AFG program is a crucial source of support for the brave men and women of fire departments across Maine who protect our communities,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “This investment will help these fire departments... Continue Reading »
BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today on the shootings that occurred in Dallas last night and St. Paul and Baton Rouge earlier this week: “I am heartsick over the horrific incidents that occurred earlier this week in Baton Rouge and St. Paul, which underline the urgent need to address the issue of deadly force frequently directed at African American men. This has to involve law enforcement and government at all levels as well as... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $7,151,182 in funding to two airports in Maine. The funding is awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration, an agency within the DOT. “Maine’s airports are vital pieces of our state’s transportation system that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), which represents more than 10,000 infectious diseases physicians and scientists across the country, today announced its endorsement of legislation introduced by U.S Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that aims to control the spread of the Zika virus. In a letter to Senator King, IDSA President Dr. Johan S. Bakken endorsed the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health (SMASH) Act, legislation introduced by Senators... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter today to the Social Security Administration (SSA) calling on the agency to help more people with disabilities return to the workforce by simplifying the work incentives in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. In his letter, Senator King calls on the agency to launch demonstration projects, that include Maine SSDI beneficiaries, in order to help policymakers best support Americans with disabilities who... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that Pines Health Services in Aroostook County will receive a $200,000 Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Community health providers like Pines Health Services offer critical services that support rural Maine communities,” said Senator King. “This federal funding will aid Pines Health Services in its important mission to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that The Opportunity Alliance will receive $2,771,947 to support its Early Head Start and Head Start programs. The grant was awarded through the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. “Head Start programs provide invaluable resources to young children and their families, helping them to develop new skills and build educational opportunities,” said... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today reintroduced the Preventive Health Savings Act of 2016, legislation that would direct the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to more accurately reflect the cost-savings of preventive healthcare, including health screenings. “For Congress to make informed decisions about the future of health care policy in this country, we need good data – and that means having the Congressional Budget... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded an announcement that the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) will receive a $7,719,173 federal grant to support infrastructure improvements and equipment and technology investments at the Port of Portland. Senator King and the other members of the Maine delegation wrote a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx in support of the project in April. “The Port of Portland is a critical... Continue Reading »
