WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Maine Congressional delegation this week joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of New England lawmakers in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to hold a public hearing in New England so that farmers can express concerns on proposed Food Safety Modernization Act rules. The FDA recently issued two proposed rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a 2011 law revamping food safety laws to increase the safety of our food supply, which... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today announced that the China Village Fire Department will receive a $46,740 grant through 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 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is a vital source of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of fourteen other Senators, today sent a letter to Senators Mary Landrieu and Dan Coats, the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, expressing serious concern with the Department of Homeland Security's plan to study the feasibility of imposing a border crossing fee along the northern and southwestern borders. "For many border... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Angus King, I-Maine, yesterday introduced the Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy Act of 2013 (STORAGE) to encourage the development of renewable energy as a source of electricity and lower consumer costs through the deployment of energy storage technologies. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar continue to make up more of the country’s energy mix, making... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continued effort to keep Mainers informed of his work in Washington, D.C., U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) took a moment to recap the events of this past week in the U.S. Senate. In his message, Senator King addresses: This week Senator King introduced his first two pieces of legislation: o His first piece of legislation, the Biomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013, which recognizes and promotes the economic and environmental benefits... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – One day after the Obama Administration disclosed more information about its policy for using lethal force against terrorist targets outside the U.S. and areas of active hostilities, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), both members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today introduced the Targeted Strike Oversight Reform Act of 2013 or TSOR Act. The measure requires that an independent alternative analysis, commonly referred to as a... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today introduced a bill that would address a serious loophole within the Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition process and support American jobs by requiring DOD to provide initial entry service men and women in the Armed Forces with American-made athletic shoes upon arrival at basic training. The bill, authored by Senator Collins and co-sponsored by Senator King, would require DOD to treat athletic footwear like every other... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), today held a video conference with students from Brewer High School as part of his ongoing “Capitol Class with Angus” series. During his time in Washington, Senator King hopes to join with as many Maine high schools as possible in order to answer their questions about issues facing the country and to share his experiences as Maine’s junior U.S. Senator. “It was great to connect with the students and teachers... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today introduced legislation, cosponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), that would recognize and promote the economic and environmental benefits of biomass thermal energy. TheBiomass Thermal Utilization Act of 2013, or BTU Act, would amend the federal tax code to incentivize biomass energy, as it already does for several other forms of renewable energy. Currently, a host of renewable energy technologies qualify for investment tax... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to President Obama urging him to support the domestic footwear manufacturing industry as negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) continue this week in Lima, Peru. In the letter, also signed by Senators Shaheen, Warren, Cowan, and Pryor, they request that the President exclude from TPP negotiations any consideration of eliminating or phasing out duties for sensitive products of the domestic... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Armed Services Committee, recently cosponsored a bill introduced by Senators Murray (D-WA) and Ayotte (R-NH) that aims to reduce sexual assaults within the military, assist victims of the crime, and bring the assailants to justice. The Combating Military Sexual Assault (MSA)Act of 2013 would address a number of gaps within current law and policy and build upon the steps taken by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Congress inquires into allegations of misconduct at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today in a letter urged Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew not to overlook the underlying issue: that 501(c)(4) organizations are being improperly utilized to circumvent campaign finance law. “I am appalled by what appears to be an improper focus on identifying conservative 501(c)(4) applications and the undue burdens placed on such... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today announced a restructured community outreach plan that will make the federal government more accessible to a greater number of people across Maine. Among Maine’s four members of Congress, there are currently 17 congressional offices spread across the state – including one in Caribou, two in Presque Isle, three in Bangor, one in Waterville, two in Augusta, three in the Lewiston/Auburn area, three in Portland, and two... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today visited the Lewiston Police Department in honor of National Police Appreciation week. Senator King joined Police Chief Michael Bussiere and Deputy Police Chief Jim Minkowsky for a tour of the facility and took time to speak to the officers and express his gratitude for their courageous service to the people of Lewiston and Maine. “Our nation’s police officers serve their local communities bravely and selflessly.... 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-ME) sat down to recap the events of this past week in the U.S. Senate. Senator King spoke about: The Defense Department’s decision to minimize, and in some cases altogether avoid, furloughing civilian employees, including many at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. The passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013(WRDA), which... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, yesterday joined MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews to discuss the White House’s decision to release the series of emails that finalized the talking points used in the wake of the terrorist attack on the American special mission facility in Benghazi, Libya last September. On Monday, Senator King publicly called on the White House to release... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today applauded a decision by the White House to release the series of emails that finalized the talking points used in the wake of the terrorist attack on the American special mission facility in Benghazi, Libya last September. Two days ago on MSNBC, Senator King called on the White House to release the emails, stating, “I understand about executive privilege.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today praised the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. The legislation would reform the Army Corps of Engineers, provide critical flood protection, and maintain the flow of commerce by improving and updating the nation's water infrastructure. It also includes project acceleration provisions that ensures important water infrastructure projects are processed in an efficient manner and is estimated to create up... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King today applauded a decision by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to use flexibility to further minimize the furloughs of Defense Department personnel and to avoid them altogether at Navy shipyards, including Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. For months, Senators Collins and King have stood together and argued that Secretary Hagel has the authority to allow flexibility rather than force across-the-board furloughs. In... Continue Reading »
Washington, DC- Just days before the start of American Craft Beers Week, U.S. Senator Susan Collins has authored a bipartisan bill, cosponsored by Senator Angus King, that would stimulate regional economies nationwide with a reduction in the excise tax on each barrel of beer (one barrel is 31 gallons) brewed by small brewers. Under current law, brewers generally pay an $18 excise tax on each barrel brewed. Small brewers, currently defined as those that brew fewer than 2 million... Continue Reading »
