WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) today voted in favor of S.954, the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, also known as the Farm Bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 66-27. The bill represents the most significant reform of American agricultural policy in decades and contains noteworthy measures for Maine’s agricultural community, including one offered by Senator King that levels the playing field for Maine’s domestic forest products. Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) this morning joined MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown with Chuck Todd to discuss reports of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs. You can watch the interview by clicking here and highlights are as follows: Senator King expressed his concern with the government’s reported retention of phone records and suggested that private companies hold onto the information, allowing the government to access it... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) this morning joined MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss recent reports of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs: On the program, Senator King, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, called for a more open debate on the issue: “I think there are so many layers to this issue, but the first is the one you touched upon, which is: we ought to have an open debate. People ought... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) recognized the service of those Americans and those of our allies who took part in the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. This day marks the 69th anniversary of the allied landing on the French coast at Normandy. Throughout the invasion and the battle that followed, American forces fought side by side with British and Canadian allies against Nazi tyranny. The Battle of Normandy lasted over two months, with more than... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced the Reducing Overlapping Payments Act, which aims to protect the Social Security Disability Insurance and Unemployment Insurance programs by reducing overlapping benefits. The bill requires the Social Security Administration (SSA) to suspend Disability Insurance (DI) benefits during any month in which a recipient also collects Unemployment... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement today: “As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I intend to closely scrutinize the procedures and diligence of our government when it comes to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court orders, including those associated with phone records. I will also be asking tough questions about provisions included in the USA... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Angus King (I-ME) voted today against the motion to proceed on both the Democrat and Republican student loan interest rate proposals. Senators Manchin and King will urge their colleagues to work toward passing a comprehensive student loan reform package that makes it easier and more affordable for all Americans to access higher education. Without congressional action, the interest rate on federally-subsidized Stafford student loans... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that two Maine fire departments will receive a combined $135,836 in federal grants from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). Specifically, the funding will come through AFG's Operations and Firefighting Safety Program, which provides funding for training, equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to department facilities. The Augusta Fire Department will receive $129,029 in funding, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today praised the House of Representative’s passage of the Ruth Moore Act. The legislation is named after veteran Ruth Moore of Milbridge, who was raped twice after enlisting in the Navy at age 18. Moore reported the attacks, but the attacker was never charged or disciplined, and she was labeled as suffering from mental illness and discharged from the Navy. She then fought for over twenty years before she was finally... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1919, the Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act. The legislation includes a provision in Section 8 that would allow pharmaceutical manufacturers to make labeling information for pharmacists and other health professionals available by electronic means in lieu of paper. This would mean that information on dosage, side... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) told members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that military leaders must strive to make cultural changes within the service in order to fully and effectively eradicate sexual assault within the ranks: “You all have a great deal of experience with leadership. In my experience, the personality and qualities and character of the leader infect the whole organization – whether... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today congratulated Seamus Connolly of North Yarmouth for receiving a prestigious 2013 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowship. Mr. Connolly earned the fellowship for his accomplishments and excellence in traditional Irish fiddle music. He will travel to Washington, D.C. with this year’s eight other fellows in late September for an awards ceremony at the Library of Congress and will perform in... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the United States Navy, called U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today to inform them that Bath Iron Works (BIW) has been awarded a multi-year procurement contract in the amount of $2.8 billion to construct four Arleigh Burke class destroyers (DDG-51’s) during the next five years, with the option to build a fifth ship. Senators Collins and King pledge to continue all efforts to secure the necessary funding to procure the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today sent a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Ray LaHood, expressing strong support for the applications of four Maine projects seeking to obtain competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants. Projects involving the Port of Eastport Breakwater, Howland-Penobscot River Bridge, Sarah-Mildred Long Bridge, and Downeaster train are all seeking TIGER grants in order... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – All eight members of the Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in support of a $25 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) V grant for the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge Replacement Project. “This critical infrastructure, constructed over 70 years ago, has reached the end of its service life and is in need of a full replacement,” the delegation said. “Full... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) released the following statement today on the passing of The Honorable Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ): “I join with my colleagues in the United States Senate and with the people of New Jersey in mourning the loss of Senator Frank Lautenberg. Frank was a dedicated public servant and a gifted legislator whose willingness to cross the political divide and whose passionate leadership on environmental protection, transportation, and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Representative Mike Michaud (D-ME) today applauded an announcement from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that it will offer low-interest disaster loans to Maine residents and businesses affected by apartment fires on April 29 and May 3 in downtown Lewiston. SBA Administrator Karen Mills made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor LePage requesting disaster declarations. Both declarations cover Androscoggin... Continue Reading »
King, Michaud Ask EPA to Clarify and Finalize Rules Impacting Maine’s Paper Industry WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Angus King and Representative Mike Michaud sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency today on regulations impacting Maine’s paper industry. They requested that EPA clarify a boiler rule and amend the list of non-waste fuels, which are both issues that were brought to their attention during the University of Maine’s Paper Days. “The EPA has gone... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today congratulated sixteen Maine hospitals for receiving an “A” grade in The Leapfrog Group’s most recent round of Hospital Safety Scores. The Leapfrog Group is an independent, national not-for-profit organization founded more than a decade ago by the nation’s leading employers and private healthcare experts. Hospitals awarded an “A” rating are those that are recognized for providing the highest... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today applauded an announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation that Peter Vigue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cianbro Companies, has been appointed to the newly-established National Freight Advisory Committee (NFAC). In March, Senators King and Collins sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in support of Mr. Vigue’s nomination, which is attached. “I could not be more pleased... Continue Reading »
