WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Sorrento Fire Department will receive a federal grant in the amount of $232,750 and the Corinth Fire Department will receive a federal grant in the amount of $142,500 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). Specifically, the funding will come through the AFG’s Vehicle Acquisition program. Sorrento will use the funding to purchase a tanker truck, and Corinth will use the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the floor of the United States Senate today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) said it’s time for the U.S. to shed its poor distinction of being one of only a few countries in the world to not offer paid family medical leave and called on Congress to pass the Strong Families Act authored by him and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). “This is about people who are living paycheck to paycheck so they don’t have to make the agonizing decision between... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that, pending the Senate work schedule, he plans to participate in an official bipartisan, bicameral Congressional delegation visit to the southwest border later this week. The trip, organized and led by his colleague U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, will include visits to the U.S. Border Patrol’s McAllen Station in South Texas and Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) announced they are introducing legislation today to provide immediate regulatory relief to America’s small financial institutions, like community banks and credit unions, that will help them to better serve their communities. As many smaller financial institutions struggle under the weight of shortsighted regulations, the RELIEVE Act would help lift the burden by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Andy Charles, the owner of Haven’s Candies in Westbrook, presented U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) with the “Hero of Main Street” Award on behalf of the National Retail Federation (NRF). NRF presented the award to Senator King in recognition of his support for brick and mortar retailers across the country. “It was an honor to receive this award from one of the true heroes of Main Street,” Senator King said. “Business owners... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate, with the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), this evening passed legislation that would replenish the Highway Trust Fund. Prior to the vote, Senator King spoke on the Senate floor in favor of a bipartisan amendment authored by Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Tom Carper (D-Del.) that would responsibly pay for the extension and force Congress to stop shirking its responsibility to pass a long-term... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award Community Concepts, Inc of South Paris a federal grant in the amount of $5,013,504 for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Franklin and Oxford Counties. “Many families in Franklin and Oxford Counties take advantage of great Head Start and Early Head Start programs to help provide their young children with the education and support... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) issued the following statement in response to new information released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that shows that more than $8.2 million seniors and people with disabilities with Medicare continue to enjoy prescription drugs savings as a result of the Affordable Care Act, saving $11.5 billion since 2010. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, more than 5,000 Mainers saved an average... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today approved the Fiscal Year 2015 Intelligence Authorization Act with an amendment authored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to issue a report to Congress on the Intelligence Community’s efforts to reduce administrative costs. “At every turn, the government should be striving to ensure that it is wisely and effectively spending taxpayer dollars.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after the United States Senate approved the nomination of Robert McDonald to serve as the next Secretary of Veterans Affairs: “I am confident that Secretary McDonald’s leadership will be a breath of fresh air for the VA and will help the Department turn a corner so that it can provide all of our veterans with the highest quality care,” Senator King said. “Secretary... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Budget Committee Hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) said that the dramatic increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the atmosphere and its role in raising global temperatures is creating a crisis situation and that the United States must lead the world to address it. “The data is clear: the dramatic rise in CO2 has led to higher temperatures in the atmosphere – and it’s leading to a crisis situation.” Senator King... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today welcomed back former intern, Willie Ellis of Farmingdale, who is participating in the 2014 U.S. Congress-Korean National Assembly Exchange Program sponsored by the Meridian International Center. As part of the program, which is aimed at expanding perspectives of American and Korean young people on the history of U.S.-Korean relations, Willie introduced fellow participant and South Korean student, Haein Kim, to Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today in response to an announcement by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), the co-chairmen of the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee, that they have reached a compromise on legislation that would reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and give it the necessary tools to provide quality, timely health care to veterans: “To put it simply:... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today issued the following statement in response to the release of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) 2014 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report, which concluded that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped strengthen Medicare but that the Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund (DI) will become insolvent in 2016: “Social Security's programs are a vital lifeline for millions of Americans, including... Continue Reading »
PORTLAND, ME – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King recapped this week’s events in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address, Senator King discussed: The tragic downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 in Ukraine. The challenging international situation unfolding in Gaza. Senator King was in the Middle East this past winter meeting with the Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority, and he is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, U.S. Senator Angus King will speak at the formal investiture ceremony for U.S. District Judge Jon Levy. The Senate confirmed Levy to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine in April with the strong support of both Senator King and Senator Susan Collins. The ceremony will be held at the Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse in Portland. One hundred and sixty five guests are expected to attend, including current and past members of the Supreme Judicial,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today welcomed a series of proposed rules issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation aimed at improving rail safety and also announced his support for legislation that would create a new federal panel to better coordinate railroad hazardous materials disaster response planning among local, state, and federal governments. “This new set of proposed rules holds the potential to significantly improve the safety of communities in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks today advanced legislation he authored that would authorize a study of the York River, an important first step toward possibly attaining a special federal designation that could lead to federal investments to protect the economic and environmental value of the river. The bill now awaits consideration by the full committee. Senator King’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of 17 organizations committed to greater transparency in U.S. elections came together to announce their support for the Real Time Transparency Act introduced by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine). In a joint letter submitted to the Senate Rules Committee today, the organizations expressed their concern for the recent Supreme Court McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, which abolished caps on an individual’s total donations to federal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As more and more dark money continues to flow into the American political system following the Supreme Court’s Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today took another step forward in the fight to increase disclosure requirements and help the American people find out who exactly is trying to influence their votes. King this morning led a Senate Rules Committee Hearing to consider the DISCLOSE Act, a bill introduced by Senator... Continue Reading »
