WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement today after working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on an agreement that would not enforce the closure of the state-owned boat launch at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge: “After consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this morning, I am pleased to say that USFWS has agreed not to enforce the closure of the boat launch, which is a critical facility for local fishermen who rely on it... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King released the following statement today on Statoil’s decision to no longer pursue its offshore wind project in Maine: “I am very disappointed to learn that Statoil intends to cease the development of its offshore wind project in Maine. I strongly believe that the floating offshore wind industry, including Statoil’s proposal, presents Maine with a once-in-a-hundred year opportunity to become a global leader in an emerging energy... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement responding to Senator McConnell’s comments regarding negotiations to raise the debt limit and end the government shutdown. “We have been involved in productive, bipartisan discussions with Senator Collins and other Republican senators, but we do not support the proposal in its... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today issued the following statement regarding Maine Army and Air National Guard, Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard employees returning to work: “We are certainly pleased that the dedicated members of the Maine National Guard and civilian federal employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and at Bath Iron Works are returning to work, but remain frustrated that they were ever furloughed in the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an impassioned speech on the floor of the United States Senate today, U.S. Senator Angus King voiced his belief that the government shutdown should not be used as leverage to negotiate changes to the Affordable Care Act or achieve any other policy objectives that otherwise could not be enacted through the normal legislative process because of the precedent it would set for legislating in the future. “My intention coming here was to help solve problems, to find... Continue Reading »
“Madam President, my intention coming here was to help solve problems, to find common ground, to work together with colleagues from both sides of the aisle. That's my history, and in fact, that was my primary motivation for running, for stepping into the shoes of my illustrious predecessor, Olympia Snowe of Maine. “And, in fact, that's what we did this summer on student loans when a small group of bipartisan senators worked together to find a compromise, work it through both sides of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A day after sending a letter to Secretary Hagel regarding the implementation of the “Pay Our Military Act,” U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today issued a statement regarding Secretary Hagel’s announcement that many Department of Defense civilians placed on furlough during the government shutdown will be asked to return to work beginning next week: “We will closely examine the Pentagon's plan to implement the guidance Secretary... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) released the following statement today: “After the events of this afternoon, I want to again extend my deep gratitude and appreciation to the U.S. Capitol Police and the many first responders who protect us day in and day out and whose swift action today surely saved lives. “I was on the Senate floor when the gun shots were fired and remained there until the lockdown was lifted, at which time I returned to my Dirksen Senate... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After voting today to fund the government, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Senate’s clean continuing resolution that would successfully avoid a government shutdown: “Mainers and Americans are tired of the political brinkmanship that plagues Congress and prevents it from doing the work of the country. Today, for the second time in less than a week, I voted to send a clean funding resolution back to the House... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement today after voting in favor of a continuing resolution that funds the government through November 15th: “As Congress nears the end of this fiscal year without having passed a budget or any appropriations legislation and, and as a result, is now quickly approaching the possibility of a government shutdown in just four days, the Senate did the right thing today... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today that the U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GD-ATP), who recently consolidated under General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS), a firm-fixed-price contract worth $255 million to procure additional M2A1 Quick Change Barrel (QCB)... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has awarded grants totaling $656,071 to four Maine police departments through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP). Funding from the CHP program is designed to help bolster the hiring of local law enforcement agencies. “These funds will greatly help to improve Maine's ability to address criminal justice and public... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today met with officials from the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Counterterrorism Division to learn more about last week’s violent siege of the Westgate Premier Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya that left scores dead. Senator King requested the briefing in order to more fully understand who was responsible for the attack,... Continue Reading »
“I want to begin with a story – a story of two young men, both 29, both married with a couple of kids. Both contracted cancer the same day, malignant melanoma, the kind of cancer that comes from a mole, not uncommon unfortunately in our society. One of these young men had insurance. In fact, he had an insurance policy that provided preventive care, and under that policy they provided a free checkup – and indeed, his insurance covered him, his ability to go and have his checkup... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Drawing upon his story as a survivor of cancer, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) took to the floor of the Senate yesterday to defend the principles of the Affordable Care Act and its effort to more broadly extend health insurance to thousands of uninsured Americans while several Republicans launched new attempts to defund the law. “This is an economic issue, but it's also a moral issue. It's about trying to help people deal with the shadow of healthcare hanging over... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today met with Seamus Connolly of North Yarmouth who was awarded a prestigious 2013 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship. Mr. Connolly earned the fellowship for his accomplishments in traditional Irish fiddle music. He is visiting Washington, D.C. to attend this year’s awards ceremony at the Library of Congress and perform a concert at George Washington University’s Lisner... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today helped cut the ribbon on the new Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Van Buren, Maine. The event marked the Senators’ first ever “virtual ribbon cutting,” as they connected in Washington, D.C. via video conference with federal, state and local officials located at the LPOE in Van Buren and the Boston offices of the General Services Administration (GSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Located... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the terrorist attack in Nairobi, Kenya: "It appears that a terrorist group based in Somalia has claimed responsibility for the horrendous killings this weekend in Kenya. According to news reports, this group has made attempts over the past several years to recruit from Somali refugee communities around the world, including England, Sweden, Russia,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In his weekly recap message, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) sharply criticized a minority of Republicans whose continued persistence to defund the Affordable Healthcare Act is pushing the United States closer to a government shutdown or a possible default on its credit. Just this morning the House of Representatives passed a short-term measure that hinges funding for the government on repealing the health care law. “As you know, a lot of the issue is revolving... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released this statement following the President’s nomination of Maine Supreme Court Justice Jon Levy to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine. “During his long and distinguished career as both an attorney and a judge, Jon has had a significant impact on the Maine judicial system by virtue of his intelligence and tireless service to the court,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement.... Continue Reading »
