WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) today hailed the Senate’s 88-12 confirmation of William Kayatta, Jr., of Cape Elizabeth, to serve as a judge on the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Today’s vote to install Kayatta on the bench ends a long nomination process that, regrettably, had been stalled on several occasions. Kayatta was originally nominated by the President on January 23rd, 2012, but never received a full Senate vote after being approved by the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Armed Services, Budget, Rules, and Senate Select Intelligence Committees, released the following statement tonight after President Obama delivered his State of the Union address: “Tonight, the President eloquently presented us with his vision for the future of America, describing the challenges that confront us today, as well as his solutions to crafting a better tomorrow. Central to his message was not only... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after his vote today to report former Senator Hagel’s nomination for U.S. Secretary of Defense out of committee. Senator Hagel’s nomination was reported out favorably and a final confirmation vote before the full Senate is expected at a future date. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet Senator Hagel personally and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) hailed the passage of S.47, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. A cosponsor of the legislation, Senator King voted in favor of the measure, which provides critical protections for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Violence Against Women Act, originally implemented in 1994 and renewed in both 2000 and 2005, expired in 2011 when the House failed to take up the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) announced today that they will be sitting next to one another during tomorrow’s State of the Union address. Senator Collins is the senior Senator from Maine while Senator King is the junior Senator from Maine. “Our country continues to face great challenges and we must work together in a bipartisan manner to find solutions. Americans want us to come together and reach agreements... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) released the following statement today regarding Karen Mills’ announcement that she will be stepping down as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA): “I have had the privilege of knowing Karen both personally and professionally for many years now, and while I am certainly saddened to learn that she will be leaving the Small Business Administration, I know that America’s small businesses, and our... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Maine Congressional delegation has written a letter to the Obama Administration expressing concern about the future of the groundfishing industry and asking that regulators act to preserve the viability of the New England groundfish fleet. The letter, which was also signed by nine other Senators and Representatives from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, asks federal officials to fully cover the cost of onboard monitoring of fishing vessels, a cost that the delegation says is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) congratulated Katherine Elliott of Scarborough and Marissa Bates of Westbrook, who on Wednesday were named Maine's top two youth volunteers of 2013 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Katherine and Marissa each will receive a $1,000 prize, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –In a continued effort to keep Mainers informed of his work in the nation’s capital, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) sat down to report on this past week’s events in the U.S. Senate and offer a brief preview of the upcoming week. Senator King primarily addressed: This week’s Armed Services Committee hearing, where he questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, about the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, in a letter to Senators Feinstein and Chambliss, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence respectively, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) requested that the Intelligence Committee consider legislation to provide an appropriate check on the executive branch’s procedure for determining whether using lethal force in a foreign country against a U.S. citizen would be lawful. The letter is a follow-up to Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today questioned John O. Brennan, President Obama’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, during Brennan’s confirmation hearing before that committee. Senator King discussed the importance of the CIA Director maintaining an open relationship with Congressional Intelligence Committees, his concern with targeted drone strikes, as well as the need... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) hailed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to approve the nomination of William Kayatta to serve as a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. With the Committee’s endorsement, the nomination will now be placed on the Senate’s Executive Calendar to be called up for a vote before the entire body at a time determined by the Majority Leader. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bill... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. released the following statement today following the U.S. Postal Service’s announcement that it intends to cut back Saturday mail delivery, beginning this coming August: “While I recognize that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is under tremendous financial pressure, I am nonetheless disappointed by the Postmaster General’s announcement that he intends to end Saturday first-class mail delivery service beginning this... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to make it easier to attract businesses and create new jobs, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) have introduced legislation to expand the geographic boundaries of HUBzones located at former U.S. military installations closed through the so-called “Base Closure and Realignment,” or BRAC process. The HUBzone, or Historically Underutilized Business Zones, program is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– In an effort to stay connected with constituents while in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) skyped yesterday from the U.S. Capitol building with employees of the Shipyard Brewery Company in Portland as they gathered for their annual employee meeting. It was the first time Senator King utilized the video-chat program to engage with Mainers at home and he looks forward to using the service more throughout his time in the Senate. During the Skype... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Armed Services Committee, today questioned President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Senator Chuck Hagel, during Hagel’s testimony before that committee. Senator King asked Senator Hagel about a variety of issues, including management of the Department of Defense, multi-year Navy procurement contracts vital to Bath Iron Works, collaboration on counterterrorism efforts, employment... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Maine Congressional Delegation today expressed deep concern over the budget shortfall facing the Jobs Corps program and the suspension of all new student enrollees at Job Corps centers across the country. In the letter, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree ask Acting Secretary Seth Harris for a full explanation of the reasons for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after his vote today to suspend the debt limit: “I am pleased that the House and the Senate were able to reach an agreement on the debt limit that not only avoids defaulting on our nation’s obligations, but that sets the Senate up to proceed with the creation of a budget for the first time in four years and holds us accountable if we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus S. King, Jr. today met with leaders of the Maine National Guard to discuss issues confronting the Maine Army and Air National Guard back in the state. Senators Collins and King sat down with Maine Adjutant General, Brigadier General James Campbell; Maine Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Jack Mosher; and Construction and Facilities Management Officer, Lt. Colonel Dwaine Drummond, this morning in Senator Collins’ Washington,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today announced that two projects in Maine will receive $1.3 million in national coastal wetland conservation grants from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Penobscot River Restoration Trust will receive $1 million for dam removal and the restoration of habitat on nearly 300 acres of the Penobscot River, improving wetland habitats along the river for native sea-run fish. The Harpswell... Continue Reading »
