WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced the membership of the Former Governors Caucus for the 114th Congress. The caucus, which will be chaired by King, Shaheen, and Rounds, is a coalition of lawmakers who want to use their experience as former state executives to work together in pursuit of practical and pragmatic solutions to the nation’s problems. “Nothing can get done in the Senate without... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At the urging of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the Department of Energy has announced that it will revise Weatherization Assistance Program guidelines (WAP) to make it easier for people in Maine to use funding provided through the program to transition to more fuel-efficient units. In February, Senator King sent a letter urging the change. “If Mainers want to transition to more efficient heating units, they should find a partner in the federal government... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $640,000 in federal disaster relief funding to the Maine Department of Marine Resources to help struggling fishermen in Maine. The funding, which is the second of three allocations, is part of a larger, previously announced $32.8 million in assistance. “Over the past few years, Maine’s fishermen have been hit hard by depleted... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and Congressman Bruce Poliquin, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, expressing concern that the Department of Commerce’s current investigation of unfair Canadian subsidies in the supercalendered paper market is overly limited in scope and could negatively affect businesses in Maine. The trade case, which was initiated by the U.S. Coalition for Fair Paper Imports and includes Madison Paper... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks delivered on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, spoke out against any effort to undercut the ongoing negotiations among the United States and its P5+1 partners to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “I think Iran is a dangerous country in terms of exporting terrorism. We see it throughout the region. There’s only one thing worse than an Iran that is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today in response to an announcement by the National Football League (NFL) that it has voluntarily relinquished its status as a tax-exempt organization: “The NFL’s decision to end its tax-exempt status is a touchdown for the American people,” Senator King said. “It’s common-sense that the league office of a successful multi-billion dollar sports organization should not enjoy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pressed Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz to use his department as a “federal quarterback” to help coordinate federal and state efforts to expand natural gas pipeline throughout New England. “This is an infrastructure problem and it’s absolutely urgent for our region. We went into natural gas in a big way, as you know, starting in about the year... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that the National Park Service, in partnership with the Maritime Administration, has awarded two Maine organizations nearly $250,000 in National Maritime Heritage grants for projects that teach about and preserve sites and objects related to our nation’s maritime history. The Wood Island Life Saving Station Association in Kittery will receive $200,000 to repair and preserve the Wood Island Life Saving... Continue Reading »
WASHIGNTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Angus King announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted $300,000 in federal funding for the Dexter Regional Airport in Dexter, Maine. “Maine’s airports serve as critical links between our communities and help to propel economic development throughout our state. This crucial funding will provide Dexter Regional airport... Continue Reading »
IQALUIT, CANADA – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a founding member of the Senate Arctic Caucus, attended the 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) in Iqaluit, Canada where the United States formally assumed its two-year tenure as Chair of the Arctic Council. Chairmanship of the Council presents the United States with the opportunity to demonstrate greater leadership within the region. “The Arctic is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) released the following statement today after voting to confirm Loretta Lynch as the next Attorney General of the United States: “With her extensive experience as a U.S. Attorney, Loretta Lynch is eminently qualified to serve as our country’s next Attorney General,” Senator King said. “I am pleased that the Senate was finally able to confirm her nomination and I welcome her as our nation’s top law... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King praised yesterday’s unanimous passage of the Steve Gleason Act of 2015, which will help support patients diagnosed with diseases like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to live more independent lives by making speech generating devices (SGDs) more accessible. Senators Collins and King are both original cosponsors of the legislation, which is named in honor of former professional football player Steve Gleason, who was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the announcement today that two hostages, including an American citizen, were killed by a U.S. counterterrorism operation in January, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement: “I am deeply saddened by today’s announcement and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Lo Porto,” Senator King said. “As a member of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Senate Climate Action Task Force, today reintroduced legislation that would encourage the research and development of renewable energy generated through waves, currents, ocean tides, and free-flowing water in lakes and rivers, known as marine and hydrokinetic power. “Our natural resources can also be our greatest assets,” Senator King said. “By... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) underscored the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in preserving lands across the country for use by future generations and called on the Senate to reauthorize and fully fund the program. “This is one of the most farsighted – in fact, visionary – statutes passed in the last one hundred years,” Senator King said. “These are... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urging the agency to consider the state of Maine’s request for disaster assistance to assist Sagadahoc County in the wake of the blizzard and flooding that occurred in late January. A disaster declaration would trigger the award of federal funds to help clean up and repair damage done by the extreme winter weather... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congressman Bruce Poliquin announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency will award the Holden Fire and Rescue Department $27,858 as part of the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG). “Maine is home to many tight-knit communities that rely on our brave and selfless firefighters in times of danger,” said Senators Collins, and King, and Congressman Poliquin... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Angus King announced today that Maine has been granted more than $150,000 to address veterans’ homelessness in Portland and Augusta Maine. As part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, this funding will go towards targeted vouchers that offer permanent supportive... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter today, U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Susan Collins asked the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service (NPS) to develop technology that would allow for the electronic purchase of National Park passes and urged them to create a pilot program to test the technology at Maine’s Acadia National Park. “Today, it is possible to buy almost anything on a smart phone;... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During his opening statement at the first meeting of the Budget Conference Committee today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) urged his colleagues to pursue a more balanced approach to the nation’s budget that relieves sequestration and continues important investments in national security, education, and infrastructure: “We cannot continue to just ignore this problem…so the question is how do we deal with it,” Senator King said. “There are... Continue Reading »
