ARCTIC OCEAN – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today participated in tactical training exercises aboard the USS NEW MEXICO, a nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarine, as part of the Navy’s tri-annual Ice Training Exercises known as ICEX, which is designed to help develop and hone submarine operational and warfighting capabilities in the harsh Arctic environment. “As climate change warms the Arctic environment, we must recalibrate our national security and economic... Continue Reading »
U.S. Navy Ice Camp, NAUTILUS – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) arrived in the Arctic this evening where he is touring U.S. Navy Ice Camp NAUTILUS and meeting with Navy officials who have briefed him on the Navy’s capabilities to operate in the warming Arctic environment. “Global climate change is bringing huge changes to the Arctic environment, resulting in the loss of more and more ice with every passing day. And as the ice recedes, the implications for U.S. security,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will travel to the Arctic this weekend with several Members of Congress and U.S. defense officials where they will observe and participate in a Navy training exercise known as Ice Exercise (ICEX) to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. military operations in the region and the Arctic’s strategic value to the United States. “Global warming is quickly and drastically changing the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to rethink its proposed changes to rules governing voluntary recall guidelines. The substantial changes, King warned, would impose additional burdens on businesses that could inadvertently deter the quick removal of unsafe products and pose dangers to consumers. “My opinion is that the CPSC’s proposed rule may go too far – and may have the unintended... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tonight announced that the U.S. Navy has exercised a contract option, in the amount of $642,583,946 to construct a fifth Arleigh Burke class destroyer (DDG-51) at Bath Iron Works (BIW) as a part of the 10-ship multiyear procurement contract from 2013-2017. “We worked to secure the authorization... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for Maine fishermen, recreational boaters, and on-water researchers to operate their vessels. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2013 would streamline existing federal and local regulations mandating how ballast discharge water is handled in U.S. ports and permanently exempt small vessel owners from needing to apply for permits for the incidental... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on a letter urging President Obama to engage with Congress as the Administration moves forward with developing new U.S. policy options for Syria. “The situation and our options may have grown more complicated, but we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a part of his ongoing efforts to keep the people of Maine informed of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to share this week’s events in Washington. In his recap, Senator King discussed: His floor speech Monday night outlining the impacts of climate change on Maine businesses and urging immediate Congressional action to address the issue. His testimony, as a Republican witness, before a subcommittee of the Senate Homeland... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today voted to pass legislation that will expand access to and improve the quality of child care for more than 2,500 children and families in Maine that benefit from federal child care subsidy programs. “Today’s vote marks a significant step forward towards providing quality child care services to countless families across the country,” said Senator King. “Parents who are pursuing a degree or taking on extra... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) applauded an announcement this afternoon that a bipartisan agreement has been reached to renew the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program, which expired last December. “Millions of Americans, including thousands in Maine, have struggled to make ends meet in the absence of these critical benefits. Now, thanks to the work of a small, bipartisan group of senators, including my good friend and colleague from Maine, Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today passed an amendment authored by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would mandate and make clear that Maine communities are eligible for reimbursement from the government for costs of successfully appealing inaccurate flood maps. The amendment, which was approved as part of flood insurance relief legislation by a vote of 72-22 and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week, now heads to President Obama’s desk for his... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following discussions with his colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of that committee, released the following statement: “It is undeniable; news reports this week have been downright troubling. After discussions with my colleagues today on the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am encouraged by the Committee’s resolve to move forward. Because what really matters here is that we are going to get... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the heels of three devastating reports released this week that highlight how more than 5.5 million Syrian children have been affected by the three-year-long Syrian crisis (UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on President Obama to develop and submit to Congress a more robust U.S. strategy for addressing the Syrian... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Angus King welcomed Zachary Duperry of Portland and Carolyn Liziewski of Gray, to the U.S. Capitol. Zachary and Carolyn are Maine’s delegates to the 52nd Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). They, and 104 other students from across the country, are spending the week in Washington to study the American political process first-hand. “It was great to meet Zachary and Carolyn and congratulate them on this tremendous... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Angus King video-conferenced with students from Presque Isle Middle School as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. The students asked questions about the situation in Ukraine, income inequality, the Affordable Care Act, and the Senator’s daily schedule. “I was delighted to connect with students at Presque Isle Middle School,” said Senator King. “I was very impressed by... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, announced today that he plans to introduce legislation modeled on the Gephardt Rule that would re-establish a logical tie between the vote cast on the concurrent budget resolution and the vote cast to pay for the spending authorized by that budget resolution. The Gephardt Rule, devised by former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, was used in the U.S. House of Representatives to raise... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced a bipartisan effort in the Senate to protect American dairy farmers and producers from a European initiative that would change the common names for cheeses Americans enjoy every day. “Maine’s dairy farmers and cheese producers deserve fair access to the global marketplace,” Senator King said. “This attempt to ban traditional and well-recognized names could present a serious trade barrier and have harmful... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk meets with President Obama and Congressional leaders today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, called on Congress to quickly pass a financial assistance package: “As part of an effort to forge an international response to Russia’s clear violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Congress should immediately move to consider and pass... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Testifying as a Republican witness before the Subcommittee on Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today criticized outdated, redundant, and overly-burdensome federal regulations that stifle economic growth and announced his support for bipartisan legislation that would streamline and improve the federal permitting process for major capital projects. “Androscoggin Savings Bank in Maine did not... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s remarks on the floor of the Senate this morning, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement today: “Based upon the facts as I currently understand them, I find this situation extremely troubling,” Senator King said. “At Mr. Brennan’s nomination hearing in February 2013, and in the privacy of my office, I made clear to... Continue Reading »
