WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) congratulated Katherine Elliott of Scarborough and Marissa Bates of Westbrook, who on Wednesday were named Maine's top two youth volunteers of 2013 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. As State Honorees, Katherine and Marissa each will receive a $1,000 prize, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to... 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-Maine) sat down to report on this past week’s events in the U.S. Senate and offer a brief preview of the upcoming week. Senator King primarily addressed: This week’s Armed Services Committee hearing, where he questioned U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, about the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, in a letter to Senators Feinstein and Chambliss, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence respectively, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) requested that the Intelligence Committee consider legislation to provide an appropriate check on the executive branch’s procedure for determining whether using lethal force in a foreign country against a U.S. citizen would be lawful. The letter is a follow-up to Senator... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today questioned John O. Brennan, President Obama’s nominee to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, during Brennan’s confirmation hearing before that committee. Senator King discussed the importance of the CIA Director maintaining an open relationship with Congressional Intelligence Committees, his concern with targeted drone strikes, as well as the need... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) hailed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote to approve the nomination of William Kayatta to serve as a judge on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals. With the Committee’s endorsement, the nomination will now be placed on the Senate’s Executive Calendar to be called up for a vote before the entire body at a time determined by the Majority Leader. “I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bill... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. released the following statement today following the U.S. Postal Service’s announcement that it intends to cut back Saturday mail delivery, beginning this coming August: “While I recognize that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is under tremendous financial pressure, I am nonetheless disappointed by the Postmaster General’s announcement that he intends to end Saturday first-class mail delivery service beginning this... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to make it easier to attract businesses and create new jobs, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) have introduced legislation to expand the geographic boundaries of HUBzones located at former U.S. military installations closed through the so-called “Base Closure and Realignment,” or BRAC process. The HUBzone, or Historically Underutilized Business Zones, program is administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– In an effort to stay connected with constituents while in Washington, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) skyped yesterday from the U.S. Capitol building with employees of the Shipyard Brewery Company in Portland as they gathered for their annual employee meeting. It was the first time Senator King utilized the video-chat program to engage with Mainers at home and he looks forward to using the service more throughout his time in the Senate. During the Skype... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Armed Services Committee, today questioned President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Senator Chuck Hagel, during Hagel’s testimony before that committee. Senator King asked Senator Hagel about a variety of issues, including management of the Department of Defense, multi-year Navy procurement contracts vital to Bath Iron Works, collaboration on counterterrorism efforts, employment... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter to the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, the Maine Congressional Delegation today expressed deep concern over the budget shortfall facing the Jobs Corps program and the suspension of all new student enrollees at Job Corps centers across the country. In the letter, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree ask Acting Secretary Seth Harris for a full explanation of the reasons for... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement after his vote today to suspend the debt limit: “I am pleased that the House and the Senate were able to reach an agreement on the debt limit that not only avoids defaulting on our nation’s obligations, but that sets the Senate up to proceed with the creation of a budget for the first time in four years and holds us accountable if we... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus S. King, Jr. today met with leaders of the Maine National Guard to discuss issues confronting the Maine Army and Air National Guard back in the state. Senators Collins and King sat down with Maine Adjutant General, Brigadier General James Campbell; Maine Army Chief of Staff, Colonel Jack Mosher; and Construction and Facilities Management Officer, Lt. Colonel Dwaine Drummond, this morning in Senator Collins’ Washington,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) today announced that two projects in Maine will receive $1.3 million in national coastal wetland conservation grants from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The Penobscot River Restoration Trust will receive $1 million for dam removal and the restoration of habitat on nearly 300 acres of the Penobscot River, improving wetland habitats along the river for native sea-run fish. The Harpswell... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) hailed the confirmation of Senator John F. Kerry (D-Massachusetts) to become the next U.S. Secretary of State, thereby succeeding current Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton. Senator King said: “I was honored today to cast my vote in support of Senator Kerry’s nomination and congratulate him on his confirmation by the Senate to become our next Secretary of State. John was one of the first Senators I met... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I–Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, met with Chief Counterterrorism Advisor John O. Brennan, who is President Barack Obama’s nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Senator King was the first Member of Congress that Mr. Brennan visited before his confirmation hearings next week. Following their half-hour meeting, Senator King released the following... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, in a video message to Mainers, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) recapped the historic events of last night, when the U.S. Senate voted in a bipartisan manner to modify the filibuster rules to ease the legislative gridlock that has plagued the institution in recent years. Senator King specifically spoke to the historic significance of the rule change, noting, “I think a lot of the commentators that have talked about the compromise that was... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in his first roll call votes, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) supported a filibuster rule reform package agreed to by Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The package limits filibusters on motions to bring legislation to the floor for consideration, expedites the nomination process for judgeships and executive branch candidates, and makes it easier for bills to enter conference between the House and Senate. “The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) announced that he has agreed to cosponsor S.47, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which was introduced yesterday by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). The bill strengthens existing programs that support victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. “Throughout its history, the Violence Against Women Act has played a vital role in assisting countless... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) met with Gary Allen of Great Cranberry Island, who arrived in the nation’s capital on January 21st after having run seven hundred miles through ten states to raise money for charities. Averaging forty-seven miles per day, the veteran runner braved the winter elements and crushing fatigue to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project, the American Cancer Society, and the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-Maine) joined Senators Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) in supporting a proposal to reform the Senate’s filibuster rule. The measure, Senate Resolution 4 (S. Res 4), is comprised of the following four components: 1. Eliminating the Filibuster on Motions to Proceed 2. Instituting a “Talking... Continue Reading »
