WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) would make available federal economic injury disaster loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and qualifying private non-profit organizations of all sizes pursuant to the heavy rainstorms that occurred between May 1 and Sept. 30, 2013. Qualifying businesses and organizations must be located in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced today that $11.5 million in funding for military construction at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the procurement of two Virginia-class submarines has been included in the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill as a result of their collective efforts. The provisions are part of bipartisan legislation that was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today congratulated Zachary Duperry of Portland and Carolyn Liziewski of Gray on their selection as Maine’s delegates to the 52nd Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Zachary and Carolyn will join 104 other students from across the country in spending a week in the nation’s capital where they will have an opportunity to study the American political process first-hand. “I have the honor and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King today applauded the decision by the Maine Public Utilities Commission to approve a term sheet for the Maine Aqua Ventus pilot offshore wind project. The term sheet lays the foundation for a long-term contract between Maine Aqua Ventus and Central Maine Power, which controls the area where the project would be generating power. The pilot project marks the next phase in the University of Maine’s development of offshore wind technology.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement this morning: “The appropriations bill approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committee contains the necessary funding to move forward with the fifth DDG-51 in the multi-year procurement at Bath Iron Works. This is excellent news for the Navy, the taxpayers, and the shipyard. Not only will this funding help contribute to greater stability for BIW's... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today after the Senate failed to move forward on compromise legislation that would have extended the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program through November and fully off-set the cost: “I voted today to advance a compromise proposal that would have extended unemployment benefits for those who desperately need them and off-set the costs of that extension in part by adopting a bipartisan provision I... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that volunteer emergency service workers will not be required to be counted as full-time equivalent employees for purposes of healthcare coverage, which could have gutted the ranks of emergency first responders across the country. In a letter today, the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service clarified that volunteer emergency responders will not be covered by the healthcare mandate. Senators... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Paul Ford, Acting Regional Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 1, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today urge support for the State of Maine’s request for a preliminary disaster assessment following the recent ice storm that gripped much of the state. Following is the full text of Senators Collins and King’s letter: Dear Acting Administrator Ford: We write to strongly support the State... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) issued the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added only 74,000 jobs last month while the unemployment rate fell to 6.7 percent due to a reduction in the number of people looking for work: “Today’s jobs report provides the strongest evidence yet of the need to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Our improving unemployment rate, now nationally at 6.7 percent, is... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $1.1 million to the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. The funds will be used to support expansion and improvement efforts at the cemetery grounds and allow for continued burial services for veterans and their families. “We are pleased to see these funds awarded to the State," Senators Collins and King said in a joint statement. “These... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of his ongoing effort to keep people at home informed of his work in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus King sat down to discuss this week’s event in the nation’s capital. In his weekly address Senator King discussed: The confirmation of Janet Yellen to be the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. The decision to advance legislation that would extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits to the long-term unemployed. Passage of the Veterinary... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King yesterday video-conferenced with students from Oxford Hills Middle School and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. The students asked questions about local agriculture, how the Senator’s prior work experiences have prepared him for his current position, special education funding, and what it is like to be a political Independent. “It was a pleasure to connect with... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate last night unanimously passed the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act authored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Jerry Moran (R-KS). The bipartisan legislation will allow veterinarians to legally carry and dispense controlled substances to protect the health and welfare of the nation’s animals, ensure public safety, and safeguard the nation’s food supply. “I am very pleased the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act passed the Senate,”... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today joined a bipartisan push to end the inherent conflict of interest in the credit rating industry that played a key role in the 2008 financial crisis and continues to jeopardize the economic security of Mainers. In a new letter from Senator King and a bipartisan group of his colleagues, the senators pressed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman to bring real reform to the credit rating agencies – such as... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today after voting to proceed to consideration of emergency unemployment insurance legislation: “Emergency unemployment benefits are a critical safety-net for those who have lost their job through no fault of their own and who are continuing to struggle to find work outside of the standard 26-week benefit timeframe, which is why I am pleased the Senate advanced the measure today. “I do, however,... Continue Reading »
After one year in office, Senator King has distinguished himself as a thoughtful, pragmatic, and nonpartisan leader for Maine in the United States Senate, focused on building broad, bipartisan coalitions to break through the gridlock and accomplish the work of the country. A comprehensive analysis of bills sponsored and cosponsored by Senator King has earned him the label of “centrist Independent” from a leading government transparency organization, GovTrack.us, which places him... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine last Friday published a profile of U.S. Senator Angus King (Class of ’66) entitled “Man In The Middle” in which author Matthew Mosk captures King’s role in resolving the student loan crises, his thoughts on the October government shutdown, and his broader efforts at tackling partisanship in the U.S. Senate. In addition to Senator King, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King have introduced legislation that would help Maine veterans with claims made to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contending they have suffered from health problems as a result of being exposed to the herbicide Agent Orange during military training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown. For years, veterans who trained at Gagetown have attempted to gain recognition from the VA that their health problems stem from... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, last Tuesday Roll Call columnist David Hawkings penned an article outlining the major accomplishments and shortcomings of the 113th Congress. In his piece, “Lackluster Final Score for Congress This Year: 8 to 22, Hawkings names this summer’s student loan compromise as one of the top eight “most important things the 113th Congress did.” The agreement to revamp the student loan system was brokered in large part by Senator King... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today released this statement following the announcement by Time Warner Cable that it is reversing its decision and will continue to carry New England Cable News (NECN) in Maine. “Our offices heard from many constituents around Maine who were upset that they would lose access to the New England coverage that NECN provides. We are pleased that Time Warner and NECN worked together to reach an agreement that is good for... Continue Reading »
