WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) met privately with Chief Judge Merrick Garland, the President’s nominee to the Supreme Court, for approximately an hour in his Washington office. Following the meeting, Senator King released the following statement: “I strongly believe the Senate has a Constitutional obligation to consider nominations to the Supreme Court, and I take that responsibility... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a total of $1,739,294 in grant funding to five airports across Maine. The funding is awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration, an agency within the DOT. “Maine’s airports are important pieces of our state’s transportation system that... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) highlighted the work done at the University of Maine to support the forest economy and biobased industries, and emphasized the need for research and development institutions across the country to work together in support of American manufacturing and other home-grown industries. Senator King’s remarks came after a recent tour of the Katahdin region that also included... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representative Bruce Poliquin announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for displaced employees at Madison Paper. Last month, Senators Collins and King and Representative Poliquin sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez in support of the TAA petition. “This announcement is welcome news for the more than 200... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent today to the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) expressed his concerns about the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to update the overtime threshold at which an individual is considered salaried and exempt from overtime pay. Though agreeing that hardworking employees ought to receive overtime, and that the current threshold is outdated, Senator King cited his concern that the proposed rule would adversely affect... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $296,571 for parking garage improvements at the Casco Bay Island Ferry Service in Portland. “This funding to help make improvements to the parking garage at the Casco Bay Lines terminal is welcome news,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “Casco Bay Lines transports nearly one million passengers per year and is a... Continue Reading »
The Maine Delegation will be hosting an upcoming Military Academy Seminar in cooperation with the Maine Maritime Academy in Bangor on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 250 Haskell Road, from 6 – 8 p.m. Doors open and registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Students, parents and guidance counselors who are interested in the application process for the United States Military, Naval, Air Force, Merchant Marine and Coast Guard Academies, state maritime academies, as... Continue Reading »
Following the meeting, Senator King will hold a media availability SEDONA, AZ – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) will meet with Chief Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court of the United States, on Wednesday, April 13th at 10:15 a.m. in 133 Hart Senate Office Building. There will be a photo-op at the top of the meeting at 10:15 a.m. Following the meeting, Senator King will hold a brief media... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on the U.S. Department of the Treasury to revise a misguided government rule that is unfairly hurting some recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in Maine by requiring them to repay health insurance subsidies received through the Affordable Care Act. Senator King sent the letter, which was also directed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Internal Revenue Service... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), as well as Senators representing the other three public shipyards, this week introduced legislation to repeal the existing Department of Defense (DoD) long-term temporary duty (TDY) policy for shipyard workers conducting off-yard maintenance. The Senators introduced this legislation following concerns voiced in January by Vice Admiral William Hilarides, the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) called on Education Secretary John King to close the homework gap and expand home and community internet access by implementing changes they ushered into law last year through major education reform legislation. “Whether completing a homework assignment, participating in innovative learning models, communicating with a teacher outside of the school day, or applying to college... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed the Commander of U.S. Cyber Command and Director of the National Security Agency, Admiral Michael Rogers, to hasten the development of a cyber-deterrence strategy to help prevent adversaries from launching cyber-attacks against the United States. “When are we going to have a well-developed and articulated cyber-deterrence strategy?” Senator King asked. “We... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine), the Senate today overwhelmingly passed The Defend Trade Secrets Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at helping combat the loss of hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the United States to the theft of corporate trade secrets. The legislation, which is cosponsored by both Senators Collins and King, would empower companies to protect their trade secrets in federal court by creating a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King congratulated the Bangor High School Science Bowl team for advancing to the Finals of the 2016 National Science Bowl and wished them luck in the national competition, which will be held in the Washington area from April 28th – May 2nd. “We congratulate the Bangor High School Science Bowl team on their extraordinary run this season, and wish them the best of luck as they work to build on their impressive record... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will release the remaining $335.5 million in Fiscal Year 2016 funding through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Through this funding, Maine will receive another $3.89 million, in addition to the $34.85 million already allocated in October 2015. “LIHEAP is a critically important program that helps approximately... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) delivered the lunchtime keynote address at the New England Craft Brew Summit at the University of Southern Maine in Portland where he applauded Maine’s craft brewing industry for its positive impact in supporting and strengthening the state’s local economies and communities. “The creative minds in Maine’s craft brewing industry continue to build on what is an already thriving part of our local economy,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make available $290,000 in grant funding for business development projects in Maine’s rural communities through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. Entities that are eligible to apply for these grants include public bodies, nonprofit corporations, and Native American tribes, who can utilize these funds for the benefit of private, small... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Navy has provided $644 million in funding for the design and construction of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG-51) – a ship previously awarded to Bath Iron Works (BIW) as part of a multiyear procurement (MYP) contract to build 10 ships from 2013-2017. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, Senator Collins led the fight for a DDG-51 program MYP strategy, which she argued could reap... Continue Reading »
MILLINOCKET, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has informed him that she has instructed a team from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to begin leading the Commerce Department’s efforts to assist rural communities in Maine, like Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway, and Lincoln, as they work to recover from the economic downturn resulting from the closure of several area... Continue Reading »
MILLINOCKET, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and officials with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration met with local leaders in the Katahdin region to discuss economic development opportunities within the forest products industry. Senator King and the officials, including the Regional Director for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), also toured several businesses in the area, including PK Floats in Lincoln, Scotts Co.... Continue Reading »
