BRUNSWICK, ME – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, along with a bipartisan group of their Senate and House Colleagues, are urging the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its proposal to close or consolidate 250 Farm Service Agency offices. The plan, they wrote, could be particularly disruptive to farmers in rural states like Maine who often depend on the technical assistance provided by local FSA officials. “As you... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of hiswork in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to discuss this week’s events in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address Senator King discussed: Bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate on Monday that would extend essential unemployment benefits for five months. Attorney General Eric Holder’s call to release as much information as possible from the Senate Intelligence... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Obama considers nominees to fill the seat of retiring Federal Reserve Board Governor Jeremy Stein, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues are urging him to nominate a candidate with strong community bank experience. “Nominating an individual with community banking or supervisory experience would ensure that future Federal Reserve actions and regulations are tailored and reflect a nuanced understanding of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that President Obama has appointed Patrick Keliher, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, as Commissioner of the Council of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization. The President also intends to nominate Dr. William “Bro” Adams, President of Colby College, to serve as the next Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. “We applaud the President’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, along with a bipartisan group of their New England colleagues, are urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct a thorough but expeditious review of a proposal to expand natural gas pipeline capacity in New England. Citing the limited capacity of existing natural gas pipelines and the resulting volatility of energy prices, Senators King and Collins, as well as Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Chris Murphy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) is highlighting a report released yesterday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that identifies several major areas of duplication and overlap within government agencies, programs, and initiatives that could be streamlined to reduce wasteful spending and make government more efficient. “The GAO’s report is absolutely eye-opening,” Senator King said. “I think most Americans would be shocked by the amount... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the City of Belfast has been awarded a $1,900,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which will support the reconstruction and enhancement of Front Street. By making improvements to the street and sewer line, the project aims to benefit businesses situated along Front Street, including Front Street Shipyard, which recently completed construction of a new pier. Last August,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today praised comments from Attorney General Eric Holder who this morning called for the public release of as much information as possible from the Committee’s report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program. “Attorney General Eric Holder is right – the American people ought to have the chance to read the report on the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the United States Senate voted today to approve a five-month extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. The program, which lapsed at the end of last year, provides essential support to those who have been unemployed for more than six months, enabling them to stay in the labor force as they continue their search for job opportunities. “Emergency unemployment benefits are a lifeline for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King are urging the leaders of two Senate Appropriations subcommittees to provide robust funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the State Energy Program (SEP). In a letter sent today, Senators Collins, King and 42 of their colleagues are urging the leaders of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Human Services,... Continue Reading »
BUCKFIELD, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) toured Wells Wood Turning & Finishing, Inc. in Buckfield, which is currently in the process of manufacturing the last batch of collectable Easter eggs to be used in this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll. The “Blue Robin’s Egg” batch will be part the larger 85,000 multicolored eggs ordered from the company for the White House’s annual event. “Wells Wood Turning and Finishing is an excellent... Continue Reading »
BUCKFIELD, ME – In a letter today with fifteen of his colleagues, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support new investment and resources for a Safe Transportation of Energy Products Fund to address existing and emerging issues related to the transportation of Bakken crude and other energy products. The letter also asks for increased investment for inspection personnel. “We urge you to support new funding for a Safe Transportation of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his ongoing effort to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to discuss this week’s events in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address Senator King discussed: A ceremony last Friday during which he presented Captain Lester Slate of Exeter with several service medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, for his lifesaving act of heroism during the Second World War. The surge in... Continue Reading »
AUGUSTA, ME – In response to the March jobs report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor, which revealed the economy added 192,000 new jobs, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement calling on Congress to find middle ground on a minimum wage increase: “After months of moderate job growth, today’s report is welcomed news – and when taken in combination with the revised January and February employment numbers, we are moving in the right... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), authors of the PROTECT Act (S. 2007), today issued a response to the Administration’s FDASIA Health IT Report. In 2012, Congress mandated that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in consultation with other agencies, publish a proposed strategy and recommendations on a risk-based regulatory framework for health information technology to be published by January 1, 2014. FDA’s draft report,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate this evening passed a resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that calls on President Obama to develop and submit to Congress a more robust U.S. strategy for addressing the Syrian humanitarian crisis. “As a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, I have traveled to the Middle East and seen firsthand the terrible toll the civil war in Syria is having all across the region, particularly when it comes to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tomorrow, U.S. Senator Angus King will tour Wells Wood Turning & Finishing, Inc. in Buckfield, which manufactured approximately 85,000 collectable, multicolored Easter eggs for this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll. The company employs about thirty people and manufacturers a wide variety of high-quality wood products including various handles, drawer knobs, and table legs, among many other custom products. As part of its special product line, the company... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after voting in favor of declassifying the Findings & Conclusions and Executive Summary of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report regarding the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Detention and Interrogation Program: “Our credibility around the globe depends on our reputation. Today we took an important step forward in living up to our reputation as a nation that believes in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the floor of the United States Senate, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) called for a greater investment in American manufacturing and, to that end, announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would help jumpstart innovation and promote manufacturing across Maine and the country. The Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013 would establish a network of industry-led manufacturing institutes to help bridge the gap between research... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in the wake of the Supreme Court decision McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which abolished caps on an individual’s total donations to federal candidates, parties and some political committees, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) introduced legislation that would give Americans the information they need to know about who is really funding the candidates on their ballot. The Real Time Transparency Act of 2014 would require that all contributions of... Continue Reading »
